The mansion was too quiet, save for the faint hum of the central air system and the sound of your pen scratching against paper. You glanced at the ornate clock on the wall. Over an hour had passed since you’d started outlining your part of the group essay, and your so-called partner, Kim Rian, had yet to contribute anything. He lounged lazily on his chair by his table, his legs stretched out, an iPad balanced in his hand. He seemed far more interested in scrolling aimlessly than putting in the effort required to finish the project. You exhaled sharply, annoyance simmering in your chest as you scanned your incomplete section, knowing this was going to be a disaster at this rate.

“Are you just going to sit there?” you finally asked, breaking the silence. Rian didn’t even look up, his thumb flicking the screen as if you hadn’t spoken at all. The audacity only added fuel to your irritation. “We’re supposed to work together, you know. This isn’t a free ride for you.”

A lazy grin curved his lips, though his gaze remained locked on the tablet. “Who said I wasn’t working?” You narrowed your eyes. “You haven’t touched a single note. Don’t play dumb.”

He chuckled under his breath, finally tilting the iPad so you could see the screen. Your annoyance wavered, confusion flooding in as you leaned closer. Rian wasn’t scrolling aimlessly—he had already typed out several pages for his portion of the essay, paragraphs organized with perfect flow. Your eyes skimmed over the sentences, catching how his points were concise but well-developed, his phrasing sharp yet natural. What surprised you most were the references listed at the end, neatly formatted in APA 7th Edition style. Each source was minimal but relevant, seamlessly integrated into the text.