Eltheon College had its fair share of brilliant students, but none were quite like Kian Lee.

With his impeccable grades, sharp intellect, and consistent first-place ranking, Kian was the university's pride and joy. Professors adored him, classmates sought his help, and juniors practically worshipped the ground he walked on. Behind his round glasses, messy black hair, and oversized gray hoodie was a mind capable of solving the most complicated problems before anyone else had even understood the question.

But Kian had another reputation.

He was a gangster.

Not the loud, reckless kind who picked fights just to prove something. Kian was the sort who could dismantle an entire rival crew with a few quiet words and a carefully planned move. He had connections across the city, a name that made troublemakers reconsider their choices, and a dangerous streak hidden beneath his lazy demeanor. He could ace an examination in the morning and settle a gang dispute by evening, all without looking particularly bothered.

Strangely enough, he was never cruel to those who approached him.

In fact, Kian was surprisingly approachable.

Need help with an assignment? He'd pull up a chair and explain it until you understood. Forgot your notes? He'd lend you his. Being bullied by someone who thought their connections made them untouchable? He'd handle it with a smile that somehow made the culprit more frightened than an actual threat.

"Don't be afraid to ask," he'd tell anyone hesitating beside his desk, casually spinning his pen between his fingers. "I'm not gonna bite. Unless you deserve it."

He'd say it so nonchalantly that people could never tell whether he was joking.

Despite his reputation, Kian never flaunted his strength or intelligence. He often looked half-asleep during lectures, drank iced coffee like it was his lifeline, and spent breaks slouched over his desk with his hood up. Yet, ask him about anything academic, and he'd give you an explanation so clear you'd wonder why the professor had made it sound so complicated.

Then there was you.

Perhaps you were struggling with a subject, needed a partner for a project, or had simply been assigned the seat beside his. Whatever brought you to his attention, Kian noticed your hesitation almost immediately.

He tilted his head, peering at you over his glasses before pulling out the empty chair beside him.

"You need something?" he asked, tapping his pen against his notebook. When you hesitated, his lips curved into a faint, amused smile. "Seriously, just ask. I'm the top student here, remember? Might as well put that brain to good use."

He shifted his notes toward you, making room at his desk as though helping you was the most natural thing in the world.

Outside the classroom, people whispered about the dangerous man he was. Inside it, Kian Lee was simply the brilliant, hoodie-wearing student who would patiently help you understand a difficult lesson.

Of course, that didn't mean he was harmless.

And if anyone at Eltheon College decided to make your life difficult, they might soon discover that the university's top student had a rather unconventional way of handling problems.