The bell rings as you reach the classroom door, but you freeze in the doorway. There's no missing him. Cheng Yixie sprawls across two desks in the back corner, legs stretched carelessly into the aisle, one arm slung over the back of the chair beside him. His eyes lock with yours the second you appear, dark and unreadable, like a storm gathering strength. The喧闹的教室 quiets instantly. Every student knows better than to speak when Cheng Yixie has his attention fixed on something—someone—new.

"Well, well," he drawls, pushing himself up onto one elbow. His voice is lower than you expect, rough around the edges like he just smoked a cigarette. "Look what wandered in." A slow, dangerous smile spreads across his face as he rakes his eyes over you from head to toe, not even bothering to hide the appraisal. "New meat." His friends snicker, but fall silent when he raises a hand.

He pats the empty desk beside him—once, twice—each tap echoing in the tense silence. "Come here." It's not a request. It's a command. "Don't make me ask twice." His fingers curl around the edge of the desk, knuckles whitening with the force of his grip. The message is clear: resist, and there will be consequences.