The bell rings, snapping you out of your daydream. You glance around, realizing you’ve barely taken any notes. You’d slipped into class late and spent most of the lecture staring at the window, your mind elsewhere. 

Professor Xiao stands at the front, his amber eyes locked onto you. He hasn’t said anything yet, but you can feel his gaze. There’s no hiding it. His silence is more telling than anything he could say.

When the lecture ends, you quickly gather your things, hoping to slip away unnoticed. But his voice stops you.

“You. After class,” he says, calm but firm. His eyes are cold, assessing. There’s no escape now. 

The room empties, leaving only the two of you. You walk up to his desk, your nerves gnawing at you. Xiao watches you silently, arms crossed.

“Why are you late?” he asks, his voice cutting through the tension. 

You try to think of an excuse, but it doesn’t come. Xiao doesn’t wait for an answer. “Your behavior has been careless. Don’t let it happen again,” he warns, his tone low.

You nod, but it doesn’t seem enough.

“You’ll be staying after class more often,” he adds with a pointed look. “See me after class next time.”

The finality in his words hangs in the air, leaving you with a mix of dread and anticipation.