From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 229: Bro, That Was the Green Light

Chapter 229: Bro, That Was the Green Light

In the Royal Dragon Pavilion, deep within the refined quiet of the lotus room, the atmosphere was solemn and heavy.

Delicate steam curled from porcelain teacups on the low table, but no one reached for their drinks. All eyes were fixed on Clyde, whose posture was rigid, as if afraid to finish what he had started saying.

The silence stretched.

Worry, pity, disbelief, and helplessness. Each emotion flickered across the faces of those present, flashing like warning signs.

Especially Lin Heye’s. His heart ached. He never thought Micah would exclude Clyde like this. He opened his mouth after a moment, his voice hoarse with something dangerously close to sorrow. "You... you mean he didn’t say anything about his birthday?"

Clyde gave a tight nod, his eyes lowered, fixated on the rim of his teacup. His fingers rested loosely around it, unmoving.

Lin Heye blinked, as if trying to process it again, and leaned back slowly. His mouth opened and closed, lost for words. He couldn’t come up with any comforting excuse.

"When did you last see him? Huh?" Dylon asked, his voice sharp.

"Wednesday," Clyde answered without looking up.

There was a short pause. It was just two days ago. And still, Micah had not invited Clyde.

"Did you guys fight or something?" Georgina asked, brows furrowed as she leaned forward, eyes squinting for details Clyde wasn’t offering.

"No. Before he left my place, I even gave him my passcode." Clyde’s voice was quiet, but firm, flat in tone as if it was a natural thing to do.

"Oh, man!" Lin Heye sat upright, a hand snapping to his mouth in disbelief.

Then he groaned, dragging a hand on his face. "What the hell did you do to him?"

"No way!" Georgina leaned forward, eyes wide and accusing. "Did you cross a line? Did you kiss him? Touch him inappropriately? What did you do?"

Clyde’s eyes lifted, startled. "No!"

But before he could defend further, Mason’s voice cut through the tension in the room.

"Knock it off, all of you!" he snapped. "The guy can’t even show his damn feelings, scared shitless the boy will find out he likes him, and now you think he came on him? Are you kidding me?"

Georgina recoiled, blinking rapidly, while Lin Heye dropped his hand and leaned back again.

The room fell into silence.

Mason exhaled slowly through his nose, then turned back toward Clyde, his tone calmer now. "Tell us why he was at your place."

Clyde’s hands moved; he arranged the teacup with saucer perfectly, before speaking. "I ran into him at La Rivière Pharmaceutical. He didn’t look well. Then... he asked to go to my place. So I took him," Clyde said carefully, his eyes distant. "He stayed all afternoon. Slept in the guest room. Left after I gave him some food."

The four people exchanged glances in bewilderment.

"Wait... wait a damn second!" Dylon exclaimed, pointing at Clyde. "He asked you to take him?"

Clyde nodded, slowly.

Dylon slapped both palms down on the table and shot to his feet. "Bro! You fool! Even I know that is a green light!"

"It’s not like that." Clyde’s voice was strained. "He just... relies on me sometimes."

Lin Heye gave a dry laugh, rubbing his temples like he had a migraine coming. "Oh God, I said it... he is a goner. This guy’s understanding of romance is worse than a five-year-old kid."

"What are we supposed to do with you?" Georgina asked with a sigh, one hand on her forehead.

Clyde pressed his lips together. "You’ve got it all wrong. He was out of it that day, emotionally drained. Vulnerable. Wanting to stay in my place was out of necessity. Not because he wanted to be with me."

Dylon crossed his arms. "Bro, he’s got parents, family, friends. Why would he come to you?"

Lin Heye gave a long-suffering shake of his head. "Please, he never gets it."

Clyde tugged at his collar, feeling frustrated. "I think... I think his relationship with his family is strained. Really strained. He never talks about them. Not once. Even when he was hospitalised, twice, he never called them. And when I asked, he dodged answering."

Mason took a sip from his tea. "Ah, it’s killing me to say it. But...I am with Dylon on this one." He looked up at Clyde, one eyebrow raised. "He is a rich kid. He’s got money. Hell, probably a dozen apartments with a live-in nanny. Why would he ask you for a place?"

"Because I was the only one giving him emotional support. That’s all I had to offer," Clyde said without flinching.

Mason leaned back, a new glint in his eyes. "Emotional support, huh?" he said, smirking. He reached into his pocket and flicked his phone screen on. "Well, from the looks of this picture, seems like someone else is providing that now."

He turned his phone toward Clyde.

On the screen was the photo. A slightly lopsided cake, warm and homemade. The caption stood out like a slap.

Mason’s smirk deepened. "Looks like he is happy. That doesn’t scream ’emotional void’ to me."

The jab was too poisonous, landing hard in Clyde’s chest. His breath caught. His eyes stayed on the photo for a long, long moment. Then slowly, he turned away, jaw set. The flicker of pain in his expression was raw, almost naked.

Clyde shot a look toward Mason, a sharp and wounded one, but stayed silent.

"What? I just stated the facts." Mason said, his eyes full of mockery.

But Clyde had already gone quiet. The truth had already landed. Heavy and bitter.

Yeah. He wasn’t the only one anymore. Micah had others. Or maybe... maybe he had found someone after that day. Someone closer. Someone who made him feel more wanted. _{fr.e ewe.bno.vel .com}

Clyde’s shoulder slumped. His gaze dropped, and for the first time since the conversation started, he looked utterly defeated.

Others looked at depressed Clyde, then turned their heads, glaring at Mason.

Georgina mouthed silently. ’What the hell is wrong with you?’

Lin Heye shot daggers at Mason.

Dylon clicked his tongue and dragged a finger across his neck like Mason was dead meat.

Mason just shrugged.