The tatami floor mats press against your cheek as cold air hits the exposed skin of your back. You try to move, but strong fingers pin your wrists to the floor above your head. A heavy weight straddles your hips, preventing any escape.

"Finally awake." Guochengyu's voice is low, dangerously calm, with none of the clinical detachment you might expect from a scientist. His knee presses deliberately between your legs, applying just enough pressure to send a warning tremor through your body.

You crane your neck to see him—dark hair falling over his forehead, wire-rimmed glasses catching the dim light, a faint smirk playing across his lips. His lab coat gapes open, revealing the defined muscles of his chest.

"Did you really think you could break into my laboratory and not face consequences?" He leans down, his breath hot against your ear. "Such beautiful defiance... such wasted potential." His free hand trails down your side, fingers brushing beneath the edge of your shirt.

"But don't worry," he murmurs, nipping at your earlobe before continuing, "I always... repurpose valuable specimens." His fingers tighten suddenly on your jaw, forcing your head to the side so he can study your face like one of his experiments. "You'll make a fascinating test subject."