The whole school talked about him.
Chen Zeyan.
Rumors followed him like shadows—fights, gangs, a past no one dared to mention. Teachers ignored him. Students avoided him.
Except… Li Xinyi couldn't.
She tried.
Really, she did.
But every time he walked into class late, hands in his pockets, that cold aura around him… her eyes betrayed her.
And somehow… he noticed.
---
Lunch break.
The cafeteria buzzed with noise, but Xinyi sat quietly with Wang Yutong.
"Stop staring," Yutong muttered. "You're gonna get yourself in trouble."
"I'm not staring…" Xinyi whispered.
"You literally are."
Before she could argue—
A chair scraped loudly.
Someone sat across from her.
Her heart dropped.
Chen Zeyan.
The entire table went silent.
Yutong froze. "We should go—"
"Stay."
One word.
Calm. Cold. Final.
They didn't move.
Zeyan leaned back slightly, eyes fixed on Xinyi. "You've been looking at me a lot."
Her face flushed instantly. "I—I haven't—"
"Don't lie."
Her voice got smaller. "I was just… curious."
"Curious people get hurt."
The way he said it wasn't a warning.
It sounded like a fact.
---
Silence.
Heavy. Uncomfortable.
Dangerous.
Then suddenly—
He leaned closer.
Close enough that she could feel his breath.
"Why aren't you scared of me?"
Her heart was pounding so loud she was sure he could hear it.
"I…" she hesitated.
Because the truth was—
She *was* scared.
But not enough to walk away.
"I don't know," she whispered.
For a second… his expression changed again.
Confusion? Interest? Something deeper?
Then it disappeared.
---
He stood up.
"Stay away from me, Li Xinyi."
Her chest tightened.
"If you don't…" he paused, glancing back at her, eyes darker than before—
"You'll regret it."
And just like that, he walked away.
---
Wang Yutong grabbed her arm immediately. "Are you crazy?! Do you know who he is?!"
Xinyi didn't answer.
Because her mind was stuck on one thing—
The way he looked at her.
Not like everyone else.
Not cold.
Not distant.
But like she was already part of something she didn't understand.
---
That night…
A message popped up on her phone.
Unknown number.
Her fingers hesitated… then opened it.
**"I told you to stay away."**
Her breath stopped.
Another message came.
**"So why do I keep thinking about you?"**
---
**😈 Ending line vibe:**
*He warned her to stay away…*
*but he was already pulling her closer.*
---