Ren's footsteps echoed down the hallway as he pushed through the crowd of students. His face was still hot, his wrist tingling where Li Wei had touched him.
Damn it… why does it feel like my skin is still burning?
He ducked into a quieter corner near the stairwell, pressing his back against the wall. His breath came uneven, as though he had just finished running. The serpent mark pulsed beneath his uniform, alive and restless.
"You really think you can hide from me?"
Ren's head snapped up. Li Wei was there—leaning casually against the opposite wall, arms folded, as though he had been waiting all along. His golden eyes gleamed, amused.
Ren's stomach dropped. "Were you… following me?"
Li Wei stepped forward, closing the distance with unhurried grace. "If I were, could you truly stop me?" His voice was soft, yet the air seemed to thicken around them, charged with something heavy.
Ren's back pressed tighter against the wall. "Listen, I don't know what game you're playing, but—"
He broke off with a sharp gasp when Li Wei suddenly reached out, fingers brushing Ren's collar. With slow precision, he tugged the fabric just enough to reveal the faint outline of the serpent mark.
The mark glowed faintly, as though it recognized the one who touched it.
Ren's heart stopped. "H-How…?"
Li Wei leaned close, so close Ren could feel the warmth of his breath ghosting over his neck. "Because it belongs to me," he murmured, his lips dangerously near the skin of Ren's shoulder. "Just as you do."
Ren shuddered, his knees weakening. His body betrayed him, leaning slightly toward the heat despite his mind screaming to push away.
"Stop…" Ren whispered, though his voice wavered.
Li Wei chuckled, low and velvety. "If I touch you here,"—his fingers brushed the edge of the mark—"you'll know exactly what I mean."
Ren's entire body jolted, fire rushing through his veins. His breath caught, eyes wide with panic and something he dared not name.
"Get away!" Ren shoved him hard, slipping out of Li Wei's reach. His chest heaved, and his face burned crimson.
But Li Wei only smirked, unbothered, watching him retreat. "You can fight it, Ren… but sooner or later, you'll remember."
Ren fled down the stairwell, clutching his shoulder. The mark still burned, hotter than ever, and no matter how he tried, he couldn't shake the echo of Li Wei's voice.