CHAPTER 536: EMERGENCY: HANDSOME MAN WITH MICAH

The early cold autumn morning air hit Micah’s skin as he stepped out through the hospital entrance. Pale sunlight spilled across the quiet street. There were no cars, no chatter, just the sound of his own shoes brushing against the pavement. He scanned the road for a taxi, his silver hair gleaming faintly under the dawn light.

Behind him came hurried footsteps.

"Hey, wait for me!" Darcy called out, slightly breathless as he jogged up. His dark hair was a mess, and a thin line of sweat trickled down his temple.

Micah raised his chin and threw him an unimpressed look. "Oh? I thought you stayed behind, waiting for his permission before coming along."

Darcy stopped beside him and met his gaze with a deadpan look. "Stop joking. Even if I believe he wants what’s best for you, I’ll still throw him out of your apartment if he comes again."

"I don’t buy it," Micah fired back, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "A few minutes ago, weren’t you preaching at me about how I should listen to him?"

Darcy wiped his sweat with the back of his hand, letting out a quiet groan. "I am a penniless, unknown young man, alright? I can’t protect you or my family." He leveled Micah with a look equal parts exhausted and serious. "Stop throwing tantrums and try thinking straight for once."

Micah scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You are the young master of the Ramsy family. What’s this about being broke?"

Darcy gave him a flat stare. "Even if I go back, I still can not stand against them."

Micah tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. He didn’t argue this time; instead, he raised his hand and waved at the street. A taxi whizzed past, ignoring Micah’s wave.

Darcy glanced back at the hospital entrance. "Why don’t you use the hospital taxi services? I don’t think we could get one here easily."

"I don’t want to. Got a problem with that?"

Darcy shook his head and stood beside Micah silently, waiting for a taxi.

A few minutes later, a taxi finally slowed to a stop in front of them.

"So, I can assume you’ll finally tell me everything about that dream, right?" Micah said, pulling open the car door, his hand blocking the entrance.

Darcy exhaled, his shoulders sagging as he replied, "Yeah, sure.... But where exactly are we going?"

"What else?" Micah lowered his hand, letting Darcy get into the car. "Somewhere to eat breakfast, obviously," he said, sliding into the seat with a light grin.

"What about him then?" Darcy asked as Micah shut the door.

Micah’s head turned sharply, an eyebrow arching. "What? Are you worried about him?"

"I’m worried about myself," Darcy muttered dryly. "He won’t touch you. But me? That’s another story...." Darcy’s lips twitched in an uneasy grimace, imagining Clyde’s reaction once he realised they had slipped out. That madman would come after him for sure, especially right after he had warned him to shut his mouth.

Darcy shot Micah, this troublemaker, a look full of pure resentment. This was all his fault. And his own for being stupid enough to follow Micah instead of locking him in that hospital room.

Micah gave the address to the taxi driver, then leaned back. "What exactly had he done to you? You make him sound like some kind of demon king."

Darcy turned his head toward the window, voice low. "Nothing," he said, waving a hand as though brushing the topic away. "Don’t mind me. Just text him that you are safe. Pity his subordinates, really. On a Sunday morning, they will have to look for a spoiled young master."

Micah groaned. "Ah, fine. Stop nagging already." He fished out his phone, thumbs moving quickly across the screen before hitting send. "Happy now?"

"Yeah. Thank you, Your Highness, for showing mercy to this humble subordinate!" Darcy said with a dramatic tone.

"Tsk," Micah clicked his tongue. "There’s just no pleasing you!"

The driver’s eyes flickered to the rearview mirror, giving them a strange look.

Micah turned his head away and didn’t say another word.

Within fifteen minutes, the taxi pulled up to a quiet street corner. The golden signboard of the Royal Dragon Pavilion gleamed faintly. The restaurant’s large wooden doors were closed, the front completely still except for a soft light inside.

Darcy got out first, scanning the empty surroundings. "They are even open at this hour?"

Micah nodded. "Yeah. Brother Heye told me I could come anytime. He lives in the back."

Darcy frowned. "Brother... Heye?" He followed as Micah confidently walked toward a narrow alley beside the restaurant and rang the bell before Darcy could stop him. "Hey, it’s Sunday morning. Even if he told you that, I am pretty sure he was just being polite. And who is this brother Heye anyway? Are you going around calling random people brother now?"

Micah tilted his head and smirked at him. "What? Jealous? I told you... I can call you brother, too, but you refused. Regretting it now?"

"Huh! As if!" Darcy snorted, his expression distorted.

Micah folded his arms, clearly delighted. "Oh? But your face says otherwise?"

"Let’s just go," Darcy grumbled, looking away. "They are probably asleep after a busy Saturday night." He turned, ready to drag Micah back toward the street when the door suddenly opened with a soft click.

"Eh? Micah? What are you doing here?" Lin Heye said, standing in the doorway, eyes wide.

Micah’s face instantly brightened. "Good morning, brother Lin Heye. We didn’t arrive at a bad time, did we?"

Lin Heye blinked, then laughed. "Of course not. I told you I am an early riser. Come in, come in."

"Then excuse us," Micah said politely, stepping past him with a small nod.

Darcy lingered at the doorway for a moment, giving the man a slow once-over. There was no trace of recognition in his memory. In his past life, there had been no "Lin Heye" anywhere near Micah. Who was this man? Was he someone suspicious? Was he related to the Lobart family?

He had a vague memory that Darcy of this world had come to this restaurant with Micah before. But there was no sign of this man.

His jaw tightened. He didn’t like it one bit that Micah was calling this stranger brother affectionately.

They followed Lin Heye into a quiet hallway lined with bamboo panelling. Instead of leading them into the main restaurant, Lin Heye guided them into a small, cozy room separated from the main building.

Lin Heye smiled as he motioned for them to sit. "Are you Micah’s friend?" he asked, glancing at Darcy.

Before Micah could speak, Darcy stepped forward and said smoothly. "No, I am his brother."

Lin Heye choked on air. He coughed a few times before glancing at Micah, eyes wide. "Since when did you have a brother?"

"We are not blood related," Darcy said easily, throwing an arm on Micah’s shoulder intimately, and grinned at Lin Heye. "But close enough to be one."

Micah let out a small chuckle, amused. "Yeah, this is Darcy," he said, then pointed to the man across them with a comical expression on his face. "And this is Brother Lin Heye, the owner of this restaurant. You have tasted his craft before."

Darcy’s expression changed slightly hearing that. He suddenly remembered Micah had told him this restaurant was owned by Clyde’s friend. Did that man know Micah called his friend ’brother’? And he was fine with that? Micah never even used honorifics or titles for Clyde himself.

Meanwhile, with every passing second, Lin Heye’s internal alarm bells were ringing louder and louder. Who was this black-haired young man? Why was he with Micah? Why did he call himself Micah’s brother? On an early Sunday morning? Why do they come here? Why was he glaring at him? Where on earth was Clyde?

Was he going to be in trouble? Lin Heye thought to himself. For a split second, his hands itched to grab his phone, pretending to get a call just so he could text Clyde "emergency: handsome man with Micah." But years of cultivation under his father made it impossible for him to be impolite in front of a guest.

He managed to smile instead, rubbing his hands together. Then he gestured toward the sofa. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

"Thanks," Micah sat down neatly. "By the way, how is Grandpa Lin? Has he returned?"

Lin Heye nodded. "Yeah. He is out doing his morning exercise. Did something happen? Is it your stomach again? Or your grandmother?"

"No, no. Nothing like that. I just wanted to ask something," Micah quickly said, waving both hands.

"Oh. That’s good." Lin Heye relaxed a little. "Have you eaten breakfast yet? I made a slow-cooked lamb millet porridge."

"We’re not imposing, are we?" Micah asked, eyes sparkling.

"Not at all. I made plenty."

"Then I won’t be polite." Micah clasped his hands together, smiling. "Thank you, brother Lin Heye. I am starving."

"Don’t be polite with me. Sit tight. I’ll bring it over." Lin Heye said and disappeared into the kitchen quickly.

Darcy watched their exchange, marvelling at what exactly this man had done to Micah to behave this politely toward him. He should definitely have a little chat with this ’brother Heye’ later!

At the same time, in the kitchen, Lin Heye was typing with flying speed, sending a warning to Clyde. A young handsome man showing up and being this close to Micah... It was totally alarming. Oh, it was obvious Clyde had got a rival!