Jeno's footsteps echoed slowly down the hallway of the faculty building, his motorcycle helmet still gripped in his left hand while the long necklace bearing his father's company logo, NEO Corp, hung boldly across his chest. His black jacket clung to his athletic build, even though the sun had begun to set and the air was turning thick and humid. As usual, Jeno was late to class. And as usual, no lecturer dared to comment.

At NCTzen University, Jeno wasn't just another student. He was the heir to an empire, a student with untouchable connections, a powerful family name, and a reputation strong enough to make anyone think twice before approaching or even meeting his gaze. But that day, something made him stop. From the direction of the pool behind the sports building, he heard noise. A birthday song sung too loudly, with a mocking tone. He turned, ready to ignore it like always, until he heard a shriek that sounded more like panic than joy.

His pace quickened. The sound of his shoes pounded against the pavement as he ran toward the pool, and when he reached the edge, he saw her. The girl who always sat in the middle row of their class. The girl who always smiled at every male student and remained kind, even when other female students avoided her. The girl who had handed out candy earlier that day without a reason, only to be rewarded with cruel laughter and a push into the cold water. Her body trembled. Her hair clung to her face. Her eyes were wide with fear.

She wasn't swimming. She was drowning. And not one of them, Jeno's so-called friends who always lived comfortably in their cruelty, realized that this was no longer a joke.

This was bullying.

This was cruelty wrapped in laughter.

Jeno threw his helmet to the ground. His jacket came off in one swift motion before he jumped into the pool. He dove quickly, pulling the small girl to the surface and dragging her to the edge with the strong arms he usually used only for lifting weights or punching a sandbag. His eyes swept across their faces one by one. Faces that were just beginning to realize what they had done, but none of them dared speak. Jeno held the girl tightly as she coughed and leaned over beside him. His eyes sharpened. And for the first time that day, he spoke. His deep voice cut through the now heavy silence.

"Are you sure this was just a joke?"

**[ WELCOME TO AU NCT! LEE JENO IS HERE! HAVE A GOOD TIME<3 ]**