consciousness wobbled like a pole stuck in mud, bobbing up and down before finally settling. I flexed my fingers, and a jolt of icy pain shot up my arm, stiffening them to the point of numbness. The force of the impact against the floor had left me bruised, even though I'd tried to keep it light.

"Ah—" a soft groan escaped me as I pushed myself up on shaky legs. The room swam around me, and I had to lean against the wall for support. Through half-lidded eyes, I saw the玄色面板 still casting that infuriating glow.

"Finally decided to wake up?" a cold voice cut through the silence.

I whipped my head around to see him leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, that infuriatingly handsome face of his smirking down at me. The man radiated ice, literally. Even from across the room, I felt a chill creep up my spine.

"Zhang Wei, you bastard—!" I hissed, trying to glare, but my vision kept dipping to the black eyes that seemed to hold ancient wisdom and something else... something predatory.