⚠️VIEWERS DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING FLASHBACKS IN THIS CHAPTER MAYBE UNSETTLING TO SOME VIEWERS. PLEASE DON'T READ IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH TOPICS SUCH AS CHILD ABUSE

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✦𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓶𝓮✦

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"Well, Chen Zixin literally hates me!" Jake exclaimed, frustration seeping into his tone, "and I am starting to hate him!"

Huan understood Jake's frustration, knowing all too well the difficulties that came with being around Chen Zixin. Memories flooded back—back when Huan was still part of the Chen Clan. Zixin, with his sharp tongue and imperious demeanor, had ruled over the other disciples like a petty tyrant. It didn't matter that some of them were older or more skilled; Zixin's word was law simply because his father led the clan. It was a suffocating environment, one where disagreement was dangerous and obedience was expected without question.

Sanji, catching the conversation, swiveled in his seat to join the exchange. "We all do," he chimed in, his voice light as he chuckled.

Jin-woo nodded in agreement. "He's so entitled for no reason, and to top it off, he's terrible at everything!"

Huan managed a tight-lipped smile at Jin-woo's irritation, but his attention was soon drawn to Zhan, who spoke up with his usual calm demeanor. "I agree," Zhan said, his voice steady, "but it's not very civil to talk about them when they're sitting right over there." He gave a subtle nod towards the far corner where the Chen cousins sat.

At Zhan's words, Huan glanced in the direction Zhan had indicated, his eyes falling on Chen Xian. The sight of him sent a chill down Huan's spine. His blood seemed to turn to ice in his veins, and he quickly averted his gaze, hoping against hope that Xian hadn't noticed him. Being seen by Xian would bring unwanted attention, something Huan had long since learned to avoid at all costs. With so many people around, surely they wouldn't pay him any mind...right?

Yuna shrugged as if it were nothing, it was probably for her. "It's fine. He knows no one likes him," she said, that seemed to end the discussion.

Huan was about to let out a sigh of relief when he caught Akira turning slightly to look at him, offering Huan a momentary distraction from the unease gnawing at him. He wondered if Akira disliked the Chen Zixin ase well.

So Huan seized the opportunity to ask. "What do you think of Chen Zixin, Akira?" he asked, his tone light, almost as if they were discussing something as simple as the weather.

Ironic since Chen Zixin's mood changes like the weather. Huan mused to himself.

Akira hesitated, clearly taken aback by the sudden inclusion in the conversation. He glanced around as if weighing his words carefully before finally speaking. "I... don't like him either," Akira admitted, his voice quiet but firm, he quite obviously didn't like Zixin either.

"See!" Sanji exclaimed, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation hooking around Akira's shoulder. "Even Akira doesn't like him, and he usually doesn't give a shit about anyone!"

Laughter bubbled up among the group, a brief moment of peace that cut through the tension in Huan's system. But it was short-lived, as Yuna's voice rang out with a sharp edge. "Okay, everyone, quiet down. The lecture is about to begin."

As the group fell silent, Huan tried to refocus on the class, but his thoughts kept wandering. The professor's voice faded into the background as he stole a glance at Akira, who sat just a row ahead of him. From his position, Huan could only see the back of Akira's head, his long hair neatly tied into a ponytail that cascaded down his back, like a black river.

Realizing he had been staring, Huan quickly looked away, a flush creeping up his neck. He forced his eyes to the front of the lecture hall, but his thoughts stubbornly lingered on Akira.

There was no denying that Akira was strikingly handsome, tall, with a physique that seemed almost sculpted to perfection. But Huan knew that liking someone just for their looks was shallow. Yet, it was more than that with Akira. Despite his prestigious upbringing, Akira was remarkably sweet and humble. He was quiet, rarely speaking unless directly asked, and even then, only when he felt comfortable enough with the group.

Huan hated that he was thinking about him. But he couldn't help it. The conversation they had last night lingered in his mind, the moment where Akira had chased away the dark memories that so often haunted him. And then there was the mushroom soup-Akira had ordered it for him without a word, noticing that Huan was feeling unwell and prone to fevers. It was such a small gesture, but it meant the world to Huan. It was a side of Akira that not many got to see, and it made Huan's heart ache with something he didn't want to acknowledge.

Yet, every time Huan caught himself looking, he would chastise himself, forcing his gaze away with frustration and embarrassment. Why was he so drawn to Akira today, of all days? He didn't have an answer, but the questions gnawed at him, even as he pretended to take notes, the words on his tablet nothing more than a meaningless jumble.

The professor's lecture droned on, the sound washing over Huan without registering. And before he knew it, two hours had slipped away.

As the lecture finally drew to a close, the shuffling of feet and bing noises from tablets being turned off, signaled the end of class. Students began to gather their belongings, eager to leave, their chatter filling the air. Huan remained seated, taking his time as he slowly packed his things, waiting for his friends to do the same.

He glanced up briefly, watching Akira as he stood, his long ponytail swaying gently with the movement. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Huan's lips, but he quickly brushed it aside, focusing instead reverting the pad into a regtangular cube again.

The room was gradually emptying, students filtering out in groups or pairs, but Huan moved at a leisurely pace. He wasn't in a rush, content to wait for Jake and the others. As he finally stood up, he froze.

Across the room, through the thinning crowd, he made direct eye contact with Chen Xian.

The moment their eyes met, Huan felt the world around him slow to a crawl. The noise of the students, the echo of footsteps, the distant chatter-it all seemed to fade away, leaving him aware of Xian's gaze. It was intense, almost piercing, as if Xian could see right through him, peeling away the layers of happiness Huan worked so hard to maintain.

His heart pounded in his chest, the blood rushing in his ears as he stood rooted to the spot, unable to look away. There was something about Xian's stare that unnerved him, something cold and calculating. And then, without warning, Xian smiled.

It was a smile, but not the kind that brought warmth. It was cold, devoid of any real emotion, a mere gesture that barely reached his eyes. It was more like a warning that Huan had been found, sending a chill down his spine and making his stomach twist into tight knots. Time seemed to stretch, the few seconds of eye contact feeling like an eternity.

"Huan?" Eddie's voice broke through the haze, accompanied by a gentle tap on his shoulder, snapping him back to reality.

Huan tore his gaze away from Xian and turned to face Eddie, his heart still pounding. "Yeah?" he managed to say, his voice slightly shaky.

"Is everything okay? You look like you've seen a ghost from the past," Jake joked, though there was a note of concern in his eyes.

Huan forced a smile, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling. "Uh... I have Aerodynamics next. What about you guys?"

Eddie adjusted his pad under his arm. "Basic Medicine and Medical Skills for me," he replied, glancing at Jake.

"I've got Weaponry Training," Jake said, grinning. "Looks like we're all heading in different directions. See you guys later, then?"

Huan nodded, though his mind was still elsewhere. "Yeah, see you later," he said, his voice sounding more distant than he intended.

As Eddie and Jake continued their conversation, Huan stayed quiet, trailing behind them as they exited the lecture hall. His thoughts were scattered, with lingering unease and the effort to appear normal. The crowded hallway outside should have been comforting, with students chatting and walking around, but Huan felt strangely isolated. The noise and movement seemed to blur, leaving him with the unsettling sensation that he was being watched.

When they reached the point where they had to part ways, Eddie and Jake turned to say their goodbyes.

"Catch you later, Huan!" Eddie called, waving as he and Jake headed off toward their next classes.

"Take care, man!" Jake added, his tone light and cheerful.

Huan tried to muster a response, but all he could manage was a shaky wave. "... See ya.." he muttered, barely hearing his own voice. As he walked down the hallway toward his Aerodynamics lecture, a sense of dread settled over him, he was now truely alone. The crowd of students around him offered no comfort. Instead, he felt as though invisible eyes were following his every move, the paranoia growing with each step.

His thoughts began to spiral, memories from his past flooding back with a force he hadn't anticipated. The faces of people he'd tried to forget, the voices, the harsh words-they all pressed in on him, making it difficult to breathe. The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, and he realized that he had lost his way. The walls closed in, and the once somewhat familiar surroundings now felt foreign and menacing. Panic bubbled up within him, and for a moment, he thought he might break down right there in the middle of the hallway.

He came to a dead end, Huan turned around, intending to find an android for directions, but to his dismay, the hallways were now practically deserted. The crowd had thinned out, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

Then, breaking that silence, he heard it-a voice, smooth, almost sweet and familiar. "Huan-shidi," it called, soft yet unmistakable.

Huan froze, his breath catching in his throat he didn't dear look back, he didn't dear to look at Chen Xian.

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The room was silent, save for the sound of Huan's quiet sobbing. The shadows seemed to press in around him, a cold, oppressive weight that matched the ache in his chest, in his soul. He was alone, broken, a fragile piece of porcelain that had been shattered on the hard floor of reality.

Suddenly, a sound sliced through the silence, a scuffing of feet outside the door. Huan froze, his heart pounding against his ribs, the fear and shame of his violation a chokehold around his throat.

As the door slid open, Huan's breath caught in his throat, his eyes wide with terror. But instead of Chen Zheng, it was his son, Chen Xian, who entered the room. The boy's expression was cold, his eyes devoid of any emotion but for the glint of cruelty that flashed in their depths. He stared at Huan for a long moment, his gaze like a razor slicing through the veil of Huan's dignity, exposing the raw, trembling vulnerability beneath.

"Please," Huan sobbed, his voice cracking with desperation. "Please, help me..." But Xian's face remained blank, his eyes flickering with something that might have been amusement or boredom. He slid the door shut behind him, sealing them both inside the room, inside the prison of Huan's pain and fear.

"You're a mess," Xian said, his voice flat and cold as ice. "What a disgrace and...shame."

Xian's laughter was like the brittle snapping of bones, as he crept closer to Huan like a spider stalking its prey. Huan shuddered, his body aching from the terrible things Chen Zheng had made him endure, as he tried to shield himself from Xian's predatory gaze.

"You're very beautiful," Xian purred, his eyes raking over Huan's exposed form. "Like a flower just waiting to be plucked."

"But I see someone has already plucked you," Xian giggled, his voice an eerie parody of innocence. He reached out a finger and traced the line of Huan's jaw, the touch a mockery of gentleness. "What a shame..."

Huan recoiled from his touch, his body shaking with fear. "Please," he begged, his voice hoarse and desperate. "Please, leave me alone."

Xian's fingers curled around Huan's, his touch icy and possessive. "Kiss me," he whispered, his breath hot against Huan's skin. "Kiss me, or I'll tell my father that you begged for more."

Huan whimpered, his body trembling like a leaf in the wind, his mind spinning with panic and confusion. He knew he had no choice, that resistance would only invite more pain, more humiliation.

Huan pressed his lips against Xian's, his body tensing with revulsion at the taste of the boy's mouth. Xian seemed to savor the moment, his tongue probing and exploring with a sickening hunger. When they finally parted, Huan's stomach churned with disgust.

But then Xian's face seemed to flicker, his expression shifting from cruel amusement to something more inscrutable, more volatile. He helped Huan to his feet, helping him back into his clothes with a strange, almost tender care.

As they slipped through the shadows of the Chen Estate on Mai Bai Mountain, Xian led Huan deeper into the labyrinth of hallways and corridors, the darkness enveloping them like a shroud. Xian held Huan's hand tightly leading him out of the house.

They walked along the path between the houses, Xian's voice was low and steady, his expression devoid of emotion. "My mother was twelve when she gave birth to me," he said, his tone soft as the trees swayed in the breeze and the moonlight danced across the mountains. "She was a disciple with no parents and no one to protect her. I was a mistake, an accident, a thing that should never have been."

Huan listened in horror as Xian spoke, his words like knives in the darkness, he was a child from rape. "So I am not his first target?" Huan whispered, his voice cracking with fear.

Xian nodded, his eyes flashing with a strange, almost proud light. "You are the third," he said, his voice a low, steady whisper. "My mother was the first, and I was the second. I was lucky, though. My mother died giving birth to me."

Huan tried to pull away from Xian's grip, but the boy's fingers tightened like iron manacles. "I like you, Huan," Xian said, his voice a dark caress in the night. "You're pretty for a boy. You'd make a perfect bride."

Huan's heart sank, a wave of nausea roiling in his stomach. "I am not a girl," he whispered.

Xian's eyes gleamed with a terrible, knowing light. "I know you're not a girl," he said, his voice smooth and cold as ice. "But you're physically weak, like a girl. A weak, pretty thing, easy to break."

Huan felt a chill spread through his body, a sickening awareness that Xian was telling the truth. He was weak, he was vulnerable, and there was nothing he could do to change that.

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part 2 will be posted in a one hour<3 PLEASE DO READ IT I HAVE A SUPRISE