Shi Yao heard the voice from behind—calm, yet laced with an edge of authority. He moved aside instinctively, stepping out of the way.
The figure who had spoken strode past, a tall boy with sharp, chiseled features that could only be described as strikingly beautiful. His face had a cold, refined elegance, much like the lady from the morning. But there was also a certain aloofness about him, a deliberate distance.
"Stop blocking the front door. It's not yours alone to use," the boy said curtly, his tone detached.
And rude, just like the man with glasses, Shi Yao thought, moving aside to give him the space he wanted.
"Li Yuan! It's you again. Why do you keep picking on Shi Ge?" the overly enthusiastic boy from earlier called out. His voice carried a note of challenge, as if he were gearing up for a fight.
Li Yuan, seemingly unbothered by the provocation, ignored him entirely and walked to the front of the room. He selected a seat without hesitation, his calm demeanor unwavering.
"Shi Ge, this…" the excitable boy began, but Shi Yao barely acknowledged him, brushing past to take a seat in the last row, beside the window. He wanted to stay out of the fray and observe from a distance—a vantage point to better piece together the situation he was in.
As he settled into his seat, Shi Yao felt the faintest sensation of being watched. He glanced toward the front of the room and caught Li Yuan looking in his direction.
The boy's sharp gaze lingered for a fraction of a second before shifting away, as if the moment had never happened.
Strange, Shi Yao thought, but he chose not to dwell on it.
The teacher entered, calling the class to order. The murmurs and laughter died down as introductions began. It seemed like the start of a new semester, and the room buzzed with the subdued energy of fresh beginnings.
Shi Yao leaned back in his seat, his expression calm as he quietly observed. He made note of the names and faces around him, piecing together the dynamic of the classroom.
The overly friendly boy had introduced himself as Lin Yi. He was lively, loud, and seemed to know everyone. And then there was the striking figure who had commanded the room earlier: "Li Yuan."
Shi Yao found the name slipping past his lips, murmured unconsciously, "Li Yuan…"
The sound of his own voice startled him, but it seemed no one else had heard. He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at the others to ensure his mistake went unnoticed.
It wasn't long before lunchtime arrived. The students filed out of the classroom in clusters, laughter and chatter filling the hallways.
"Yao," a voice called from outside the classroom. Shi Yao turned to see a boy peeking in, shorter than him but carrying an air of easy familiarity.
"Oh! It's Fu Sixiao. He's here for Shi Ge," Lin Yi announced loudly, his tone playful and teasing.
Shi Yao glanced at Fu Sixiao, who smiled warmly. The final piece, Shi Yao thought, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. The pieces of his situation were starting to fit together, though the picture they formed was still incomplete.
He stood, his curiosity tempered by a growing determination. Whatever this strange reality was, he would figure it out—one step, one puzzle at a time.