“Y-you... what are you doing...?”

Tang Coco glared at Li Muyan, eyes sharp like drawn blades.

“I just came to check if you’re okay. Does changing take this long?” His tone was dry as a winter breeze.

Li Muyan felt no awkwardness, calm as a still pond, and looked straight at her.

“Don’t come closer. I’m fine.” Her words bristled like little thorns.

“What are you scared of? We’re all girls here.” He spoke light as a drifting wind.

“Don’t tell me you can’t put on a dress.” His teasing swayed like a cat pawing yarn.

“No way... I...” Her protest crumbled like wet paper.

In truth, Tang Coco couldn’t handle a dress, and a worse problem had just hit her like cold rain. She had no underwear. If she put on the sundress as-is... the picture was not fit for words.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Ye Yiyi ran up the stairs, feet pattering like spring rain. She’d heard Coco’s scream and feared trouble, but she arrived to find Coco looking dangerously enticing, like a peach blossom after rain.

Seeing Ye Yiyi rush in too, Coco wished she could sink into the floor like a quail into grass. She grabbed the big quilt and wrapped herself tight, a cocoon in a storm.

“Coco, are you okay?” Ye Yiyi’s concern glowed warm as a lantern.

“Mm... I’m fine.” Her voice was soft as a cat’s paw.

“Good. You really scared me. Hurry and get dressed; dinner’s almost ready.” Her words rose like steam from a pot.

Ye Yiyi turned to leave, though a hug tugged at her like a silk thread. They’d only met today; she swallowed the urge so she wouldn’t leave a bad impression.

“W-wait...” The call behind her trembled like a plucked string.

“Hm? What’s wrong?” Her brows lifted like willow leaves.

“Yiyi... sis, come here.” Tang Coco beckoned her closer, then shot Li Muyan a glare, sharp as a knife. Ye Yiyi saw Coco had something to say and was shy about it, a sweet chance to shorten the distance between them.

“Muyan, keep an eye on the pot.” Her voice drifted toward the kitchen, like smoke curling from a stove.

“Eh... fine.” Li Muyan agreed, but before leaving he tossed Coco a look, sly as a fox in dusk.

“Alright~ tell me.” Ye Yiyi sat beside her, the faint scent around Coco like osmanthus in night air.

“Um... do you have... underwear...” Tang Coco’s voice buzzed like a mosquito, and Ye Yiyi didn’t catch it.

“Hm? What did you say? Louder~ no one else is here.” Her smile was mild as spring sun.

“Is there any I can wear... u-underwear...” Coco’s cheeks bloomed pink, like peach petals.

Ye Yiyi finally heard and understood; the earlier fluster clicked into place like beads on a string.

“Pfft—my bad, my bad. I didn’t even think of that. Coco, you’re too cute.” Her laugh bubbled like water over stones.

She went to fetch clothes, while Coco hid deeper under the quilt, a turtle retreating into shell.

Soon Ye Yiyi came back with a new set of underwear, the fabric bright as fresh snow.

“Here, it’s new. The size might be off, so make do. Tomorrow we’ll go to the city and buy you some.” Her plan stretched like a kite line into clear sky.

She handed it over. Coco looked it over and realized she had no idea how to wear it, confusion clouding like mist.

“Coco, don’t tell me you don’t know how to put it on.” Ye Yiyi’s eyes widened, round as a moon.

“Mm. I’ve never worn one before...” Shame curled around Coco like fog by a river.

“My god, what kind of orphanage were you in? That’s so irresponsible.” Her anger snapped like a spark in dry grass.

“It’s okay. Let me teach you.” Her tone warmed like a cup of tea in winter.

“Uh...” Coco tried to refuse, but Ye Yiyi had already surged forward, hands catching the quilt like quick fish.

“Hey, hey—wait!” Coco’s hands fluttered like moths near a lamp.

Shouts spilled from the second floor, bright and chaotic, like sparrows bursting from bamboo. The noise was loud enough that Li Muyan heard it, so he joined the “battle,” stride eager as a drumbeat.

They didn’t just help her dress. The two treated Tang Coco like a doll, outfits blooming one after another like a flower market in spring. They had her try all kinds of clothes, sleeves and hems swishing like waves.

Even the bunny pajamas Ye Yiyi had hidden earlier hopped out of their nest, and Coco tried them on, ears perking like young shoots.

“No! Stop...” Her plea cracked like thin ice underfoot.