From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 605: Do You Hear a Dog Barking?

Inside the lobby, Gu Feifei clung lightly to her older brother’s arm, her fingers curled just enough to appear affectionate without seeming clingy. She moved with him through the crowd at an unhurried pace, her chin lifted, lips curved into a practised smile as she nodded at one guest after another.

"Director Gu."

"Miss Gu."

"Such a pleasure to see you tonight."

The greetings came in a steady stream, warm and eager, and Feifei basked in them like sunlight. Each compliment, each admiring glance, made her feel lighter, as though she were floating several inches above the polished marble floor.

Tonight was different.

Tonight, no one whispered behind her back. No one gave her those thin, polite smiles that barely concealed judgment. The opportunity Aidan Wilson had handed her, so casually, so generously, had crushed every lingering rumour in its path. The scandal that once clung to her name like a shadow had evaporated, replaced by praise and curiosity.

People flocked to her now.

They asked about her, her future plans, and her connection to Aidan Wilson and the Francis family. They laughed too easily at her jokes. They leaned closer when she spoke.

Gu Feifei loved every second of it.

She imagined Willow Ramsy’s face when she saw this. The thought alone made her heart flutter with delight.

Willow, who always looked down on her. Willow, who had Micah, ridiculous, pathetic Micah, clinging to her coattails. Tonight, the contrast would be unbearable. Willow stood on the sidelines while Feifei basked in attention. Micah being whispered about, mocked, pitied. With the trap they had prepared for Micah, today would be spectacular.

Feifei’s lips curved upward, the smirk perfectly framed by her immaculate makeup.

If only her brother hadn’t interfered.

Her gaze flicked briefly toward Gu Donghai. He walked beside her with his usual composed demeanour, posture straight, expression unreadable. Ever since he’d found out about her involvement with Aidan Wilson, he’d turned cold, distant. Lecturing her about reputation, propriety, and consequences, as if she were a child who didn’t know what she was doing.

She preferred Aidan’s company. Aidan understood her ambition. Aidan encouraged it.

But Donghai had shut that door firmly.

"You’re single," he’d reminded her, more than once. "Behave like it."

The memory soured her mood slightly, but she quickly brushed it aside. Tonight was hers. She wouldn’t let anyone ruin it.

Her eyes swept the lobby, sharp and searching, scanning faces with deliberate intent.

Ramsys. She was looking for Ramsys. It didn’t take long.

Her gaze landed on Willow Ramsy near the edge of the lobby, standing slightly apart from the densest cluster of guests. Feifei’s fingers tightened around her brother’s arm.

"There," she said softly.

Without waiting for his response, she tugged Gu Donghai along, heels clicking decisively against the floor.

But halfway there, both siblings slowed. Feifei’s brows drew together.

Something was wrong.

Willow wasn’t alone, but Micah wasn’t with her either. Instead, another young man stood beside Willow, close enough that their shoulders nearly touched. He was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed simply but neatly, his posture relaxed in a way that suggested he didn’t care who was watching.

Gu Donghai stopped entirely.

The temperature around him seemed to drop several degrees.

His dark eyes fixed on the man beside Willow, sharp and assessing. His jaw tightened, the muscle in his cheek ticking once.

Feifei noticed and smiled.

Oh, tonight really was perfect.

She stepped forward, her voice bright and deliberately loud. "Oh my, Miss Willow. What a nice surprise."

Willow turned at the sound, her gaze landing on them. She inclined her head politely, but her expression was distant, as though her thoughts were miles away.

Chaos still rang in her ears.

She hadn’t wanted to come tonight. Not after everything that had happened.

Her grandmother was in the hospital. Micah had been schemed against in their own home and ended up hospitalised as well. He’d refused to come tonight, flat-out. Darcy had also changed his mind at the last minute, wanting nothing to do with this place or these people.

It had been a disaster.

Albert Ramsy had stepped in, pulling Darcy aside and talking to him for over an hour behind closed doors. Willow hadn’t heard the details, but she could guess how her grandfather had persuaded him. It always came back to Micah.

Darcy’s only weakness, surprisingly, painfully, was her adopted brother.

In the end, Darcy had agreed to show his face. Just briefly.

Willow barely had time to introduce him when Gu Feifei spoke again, her voice carrying far too well across the lobby.

"And who might this gentleman be?" Gu Feifei asked, eyes flicking to Darcy with thinly veiled disdain. "I heard the vice director of Ramsy Empire was being intimidated by a fresh celebrity, but I didn’t think it was actually true."

Several heads turned.

Willow felt her patience snap.

Here we go.

Feifei never missed an opportunity to drive a wedge between her and Gu Donghai, to provoke, to humiliate. Tonight was no different.

Before Willow could respond, Darcy spoke.

He didn’t even look at Gu Feifei.

Instead, he turned his head slightly toward Willow, his expression perfectly calm. "Older sister," he said conversationally, "do you hear a dog barking somewhere?"

Willow bit the inside of her cheek.

Years of composure saved her. Otherwise, she would’ve laughed out loud.

Gu Feifei froze.

Her face flushed an ugly shade between green and white. "Who are you calling a dog?" she snapped.

Darcy frowned faintly and lifted a hand to rub his ear, feigning mild annoyance. "Seriously," he muttered. "So loud. So annoying."

Gu Feifei pointed at him, her finger trembling. She was so angry she couldn’t even find the words to curse him properly.

Gu Donghai watched the exchange silently, his gaze flicking briefly to Willow’s hand, still resting lightly on Darcy’s elbow.

Something dark flickered in his eyes.

Willow felt Darcy tug her arm. "Sis," he grumbled under his breath, already pulling her away, "stay away from dogs and cats like that. They sound like trouble."

He didn’t bother lowering his voice.

Honestly, Darcy loathed the Gu family. Betrayers, all of them. He’d never forgiven them, not after what they’d done.

Meanwhile, Willow wasn’t one bit mad about the outcome. She was even thinking this new brother was so much like Micah, her little brother. Cool and blunt. Did spending time with Micah rub off on Darcy?

A smile spread on her face.

Darcy steered Willow toward the trio standing nearby.

"Hey," Darcy said easily, nodding at Emile, "I see you’re here too."

Emile’s face lit up. "Sister Willow! Good to see you again." Then he turned to Darcy, blinking, craning his neck behind them. "Hey, where’s Micah? Why are you here with his sister?"

Darcy greeted Dean and Jacklin politely with a slight nod before turning back to Emile, totally dismissing his question. "Look after my sister," he said firmly. "I’ve got something to take care of."

And with that, he walked away.

Just like that, dropping a bombshell as if it had nothing to do with him.

Willow watched him go, helpless.

He’d promised Micah he would help. He hadn’t expected Albert Ramsy to corner him like that, to threaten him so bluntly. Darcy had apologised to Micah afterwards, explaining that he was being forced to attend.

Micah hadn’t argued. He never could when it came to their grandfather.

So now Darcy had no choice but to be extra careful tonight.

He slipped into a side corridor, where Clyde’s assistant was already waiting. The man guided him into a private room equipped with laptops and monitoring devices.

Darcy rolled his shoulders, exhaled slowly, and got to work.

Back in the lobby, Emile stared after him, mouth hanging open.

He turned toward Willow stiffly, like a rusty robot. "What... did he just say?"

Willow sighed. "A lot happened," she said gently. "And somehow, he ended up being my brother."

Dean and Jacklin exchanged glances, equally stunned.

"If you don’t mind me asking," Dean said carefully, "you mean... adopted brother, right?"

Willow shook her head. "Biological."

They gasped.

"A swapped baby case," Willow added quietly.

Emile’s brain short-circuited.

Did Micah know? Was that why he was so close to Darcy? And, wait... did their uncle know too? Was that why Clyde was fine with Micah living with Darcy?

Everything suddenly made sense.

His expression shifted, worry replacing shock. "Micah... is he okay?"

Willow nodded. "He’s fine. He was the one who brought Darcy to us."

Dean thought of Aria’s strange behaviour lately.

Jacklin recalled how they’d once assumed Micah had feelings for Darcy.

But what shocked her most was how close the two young men were, one the true young master, the other the imposter.

Jacklin turned to Willow. "So... are you announcing it tonight?"

"To some degree," Willow said. "We planned a proper banquet, but my grandmother fell ill."

She left out the part that Darcy didn’t want to acknowledge them and the part that they had thought it was too much for Darcy to handle if they threw him into a formal banquet from the start.

Jacklin cleared her throat realising she was gossiping in another person’s life brazenly. "I apologise for our poor conduct. The news caught us off guard. As we know young master Micah well."

Willow had a good impression of these three Du Pont juniors, contrary to their uncle. "That’s alright. I can see that both Micah and Darcy are fond of your cute cousin."

Emile flushed hearing her calling him cute.

Jacklin laughed. "You haven’t seen his true colours."

The two women quickly bonded, trading stories about Micah and Emile’s mischief.

Dean and Emile, still reeling, pulled out their phones.

Emile bombarded Micah with messages.

Dean texted Aria.

Across the lobby, Gu Feifei and Gu Donghai stood frozen, one seething with frustration, the other with something colder.

And the night was only just beginning.