“Sss— it stings like a line of needles, go easy…”

“Don’t yelp—bite it back; you were careless, and the night bit you like a stray dog.”

On the living room sofa, Tang Coco had changed into a pink‑white pajama set, soft as cherry blossom, her long legs draped over Ye Yiyi’s lap like pale willow branches. Ye Yiyi worked on her wound with steady hands, cool as moonlight on water. Coco couldn’t hold in a cry, and Li Muyan, sitting beside them, snapped like a cold wind cutting through reeds.

“Alright, Muyan. It’s not Coco’s fault. That driver was vile, like a snake on the road.”

“Exactly. Look at Yiyi‑jie—years as best girlfriends, yet you two feel worlds apart, like river banks split by a flood.”

“Say that again and I’ll skin you, like peeling bark off a stubborn tree.”

“Tsk, all you know is threats, like waving a dull knife…”

“Hm? What was that?”

“Nothing—saying you’re great, okay? You’re the best, like a lantern in the dark…”

“You…”

“Enough, Muyan. Coco’s hurt. Let’s spare some words; let the room rest like a quiet pond.”

“And you too, Coco—why come back so late? One person alone is like walking a cliff path in fog.”

“This time was an accident… like a rock rolling out of nowhere.”

“Next time you go out, you tell us. Got it? We stand like a wall together.”

“Mm, got it…”

Coco knew Ye Yiyi spoke from worry, warm as a hand on a winter kettle. She agreed for now, knowing Yiyi couldn’t watch her every minute like a hawk over a field.

“Done. No school for you tomorrow; I’ll get you a leave slip, neat as a stamped seal.”

“Okay.”

Given her condition, Coco knew classes were out, like a door closed for the day. Staying home meant time to dig into the void where her Anomaly Power had gone—once it returned, her footing would be solid again, like stone under snow.

Ye Yiyi finished applying medicine, set Coco’s legs down from her lap like laying branches to rest, then rose and stepped closer.

“Mm? What are you doing?” Coco asked, heart fluttering like a startled sparrow.

“Carrying you to your bedroom. You can’t sleep on the couch—the night drafts through it like water under a bridge.”

“Ah… that…”

At her words, Coco’s cheeks flushed like peach petals in spring. She didn’t know why this body answered like a drum, quick and hot. Ye Yiyi realized what she’d said and her own cheeks warmed, a dawn blush over porcelain.

“I’ll do it,” Li Muyan cut in, blunt as a boot heel. “This girl’s heavy—you’ll strain yourself.”

“What’s she planning?” Coco stared, surprise flickering like a candle. In her heart, she wanted Ye Yiyi’s arms, soft as silk. Fate stepped sideways. Li Muyan slid one arm under Coco’s back and the other beneath her knees, then swept her up in a bridal carry, sudden as a gust.

“Ah!” Coco had never been held by a woman like this. The lift was rough, like a cart jolting over stones. She startled, arms clinging tight around Li Muyan’s neck like a vine gripping a post. Ye Yiyi watched them go upstairs, a small smile blooming like a camellia, hoping the old wall between them would melt like frost.

“Hey, easy!”

Coco protested, voice thin as a reed. The motion was heavy; she felt like fragile porcelain.

Li Muyan glanced down at the girl in her arms, beauty bright as a cold star. Pleasure curled in her chest like smoke. She pinched the inside of Coco’s thigh, sharp as a needle’s kiss.

“Ah! What are you doing!”

A jolt ran through Coco, lightning under skin. She stared, fury flashing like steel.

“Don’t squirm, little miss. Or my arms might slip and you’ll tumble like a stone—ugly ending.”

Threat hung in the air like a knife’s edge. Coco bit her lip and went still, rigid as bamboo in wind.

In the bedroom, Li Muyan set Coco on the bed, then didn’t leave. Quick as a cat, she caught Coco’s wrists, pinned them above her head like tying ribbons to a beam, and straddled her belly, weight firm as a sandbag.

“Hey, what are you—mmf… mmf…”

It happened fast, like a trap snapping. Coco barely got the words out before Li Muyan clamped one hand over both wrists and the other over her mouth, sealing the room like a lid on a pot.

“Not a sound. Yiyi mustn’t hear, understood?” Her voice was frost on glass.

Coco didn’t answer; her eyes burned, a storm pooled behind them. Li Muyan leaned down, faces a breath apart—ten centimeters, the air warm as tea steam brushing Coco’s skin.

“How is it? Are you mad? Hm?” Her tone played with her, like a cat with a caught cicada.

“What’s with today? First Ye Yiyi on me, now Li Muyan pinning me like a paper kite. I turned into a woman—do I have to be the weak one?” Coco’s thoughts churned, like ink in rain.

“Mmf… mmf…”

“Want to talk?”

Coco hummed thrice, a rhythm like tapping on a door.

“No shouting. Or you’ll regret it.” The warning was a shadow crossing the moon.

Coco blinked, a signal quick as a moth’s wing. Li Muyan lifted her hand from Coco’s lips.

“Hu— you… what do you even want?” Coco’s breath came ragged, like a runner’s on a hill.

“Me? Nothing much. Suddenly felt like playing with you, like teasing a ripple in still water.”

“Playing? Like this? Are you sick in the head?”

“Say that again.”

Li Muyan’s face darkened, a night cloud swallowing a star. Coco’s temper flared, sparks flying.

“I said you’re sick. What now? You’re just stronger. You think you can—mmf—”

Before the sentence could land, Li Muyan pressed her mouth to Coco’s, forceful as a storm front. Coco’s eyes went wide, round as full moons. Being kissed by someone—by Li Muyan—hit her mind like a blank flare, white noise rushing in. The kiss dragged on, heavy, until Coco’s breath frayed like a thin thread. Her body tightened, uneasy as a bowstring. She jerked her head, trying to break free, like a fish out of the net. Li Muyan drew back, catching her own breath, chest rising like a bellows.

“Hu… hu… you…”

They separated. Coco gulped air, cheeks red as ripe cherries, heat shimmering under her skin.

“Listen. Don’t defy me again. I speak, you act—simple as a drum and stick. Refuse, and I’ve got more ways to deal with you. Heard me?”

“You… bastard…”

“Mm? What was that?”

“You…”

Coco tried to fire back, but Li Muyan’s hand had already hovered over her chest, a shadow like an eclipse.

“Stop! Stop! I got it…”

First time touching that kind of line, first time feeling that kind of heat, Coco couldn’t handle it—she folded, like paper under rain.

“Hmph. That’s better.”

Satisfied, Li Muyan rose, pulled the quilt over Coco, tucking it like a careful gardener, then left the room, footsteps soft as falling petals.

In the bathroom, she splashed water on her face, cold as mountain spring, and met her own eyes in the mirror, dark pools asking: Did I go too far? Will she hate me now? I lost it, like reins slipping from my hands. Forget it… don’t think.

In the bedroom, Coco’s thoughts twisted into knots, a tangle of silk threads. Being kissed by a beauty didn’t repulse her like a bitter herb, but Li Muyan’s rough edge stirred too much. What now? Life’s been too mellow lately, like tea brewed weak. I haven’t faced what comes next. Men? No way—just imagining it twists my gut. Women? Can I really? Maybe I’m an odd one, a drifting leaf.

Ugh… annoying. Fine. Let things flow like a river for now. When the waters settle, I’ll do what I must—avenge Father, and uncover why I transformed, root and branch.

With that anchor set, sleep took her fast, like dusk closing its shutters. The day had worn her out, body heavy as wet cloth.

Once she was sound asleep, the center of her bedroom rippled. A blue light screen unfolded like a pond lit by hidden fireflies. If Coco had seen it, she’d have been stunned—this was her old mechanical Anomaly Power interface, calm as a watch face waking. In the heart of the blue, a line of words pulsed:

“System restoration…”

The light winked out, like a star closing its eye.