She blinked awake to that same old ceiling again, a blank winter sky pressing down on her mood.

In a few short days, I’ve blacked out how many times? Every time I come to, it’s the same ceiling, like a repeat cloud.

She felt first, like testing water with a toe; the ache had ebbed, only weakness pooled in her limbs like low tide. A slow glance around painted her own room in familiar strokes.

What was that back then? I was about to lose control, like a storm slipping its leash… then a woman… her face was fog.

She chased the memory like catching fireflies, but it flickered and broke, a film with missing frames. The door swung open with a soft creak, and Ye Yiyi entered with a fruit plate, color bright as a summer platter.

“Coco, you’re awake,” Yiyi said, joy lighting her eyes like sunrise over a lake.

“Mm. How did I end up back here? What time is it?” The questions spilled out like stones rolling downhill.

“You fainted this morning. Sis Ning had Muyan and me bring you home,” Yiyi said, calm as a nurse smoothing sheets.

“Sis Ning? Who’s that?” Curiosity pricked like a thorn as that blurred woman’s outline rose in her mind.

“Oh—look at me, rushing like a headless chicken,” Yiyi said with a sheepish smile, the words tumbling like scattered beans. “Sis Ning is Ningxin. She runs a big fitness club in Ninghai City, a place as lively as a beehive. Muyan and I have been a few times. She’s kind, and though she runs a gym, her medical skills are sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel. So Muyan brought her to treat you.”

“Oh. I see…” The thought sank like a pebble in a pond, ripples widening.

That Ningxin isn’t simple. This isn’t an illness; how did she patch me up? Suspicion curled like smoke.

Seeing Coco go quiet, Yiyi took it for fatigue settling like dusk. “Alright, Coco, lie down and rest first. I’ll go cook. Sis Ning’s coming tonight,” she said, voice warm as a kettle.

“Okay… then I’ll help you in a bit,” Coco offered, the words light as a leaf.

“No,” Yiyi said, firm as a closed gate. “Rest. You scared me half to death these days.”

“Don’t worry. I’m fine,” Coco said, and warmth bloomed in her chest like a small lantern.

“Nope. Rest. I’ll call you down for dinner,” Yiyi said, resolve neat as folded paper.

“…Alright,” Coco yielded, the concession soft as falling snow.

Once Yiyi left, Coco sat up, seriousness settling on her face like a mask. “System, boot up…” she whispered, voice thin as thread.

She tried to cycle her Anomaly Power, slow as a windmill in light breeze, but her body stayed ordinary, still as a dry well, no Anomalous Energy ripple at all.

Weird. Why is it like this again? The thought fell flat like a dull drum.

She flopped back, staring at the ceiling-sky, thoughts wheeling: a sea of red spider lilies, a self she used to be, a massive clock face like a moon of brass.

Wait—the dial!

She rose carefully, like standing on thin ice, went to the wardrobe, and dug for that shabby set of menswear, fabric rough as old bark. Fingers searching the pocket fished out the watch—then she froze like a deer in light.

No way. You’ve gotta be kidding me…

The watch ticked steady as rain on eaves, its face whole, its case smooth, the ruin mended like a cracked vase made new; nothing like a broken relic.

A car’s growl drifted in, sleek as a panther’s purr, cutting through her thoughts.

A red Ferrari slid to a stop at the villa’s gate, a comet burning low. Two beauties stepped out: one sultry as dusk wine, one tall as a willow. After parking, they walked in with heels tapping like castanets. They were Li Muyan and Ningxin.

Ding-dong…

“Coming!” Yiyi’s voice rang out, light as a bell, and she hurried to the door, apron flaring like a sail.

“Sis Ning, you’re here,” she said, smile bright as a lantern.

“Mhm,” Ningxin answered with a curve of lips, warmth like spring sun as she stepped inside.

“Hey! Yiyi, am I invisible? Why no hello for me?” Li Muyan huffed, puffing up like a little cat.

“You’re here every day and basically live here. Why greet you?” Yiyi shot her a side-eye, sharp as a paper cut.

“You—fine. Little brat, just you wait.” Muyan puffed her cheeks like a pouting sparrow.

“Sis Ning, look, she’s bullying me,” Yiyi said, clutching Ningxin’s arm and ducking behind her like a startled fawn—so unlike her that it would’ve stunned Coco to see.

“Then I’ll move in and protect you, how about that?” Ningxin said with a laugh, voice smooth as silk. Her words landed like a pebble in a still pool, sending Yiyi’s eyes wide.

“Sis Ning’s moving in?” Yiyi asked, shock bright as lightning.

“Yes,” Li Muyan chimed in, quick as a sparrow’s chirp. “She told me on the way. Her club’s getting a big renovation, noisy as a construction site. She needs to crash here a few days.”

“Is that alright, Yiyi?” Ningxin asked, gentle as a breeze.

“Of course! I’m thrilled. More people, more heat—this is great,” Yiyi said, happiness bubbling like a pot on the boil. Ningxin’s smile answered, soft as a petal.

“By the way, Yiyi, your friend—how is she?” Ningxin asked, concern like a steady hand.

“Oh, Coco? She’s in the bedroom. She woke up,” Yiyi said, relief clear as clear water.

“Oh? Is she really okay?” Li Muyan asked, worry pricking like needles.

“Coco says she’s fine, and she looks much better,” Yiyi said.

Tap-tap—

Footsteps kissed the stairs. After Coco heard the car, a thought bloomed—Ningxin’s here—and she descended to see for herself, curiosity leading like a silk thread.

“Hm?” The three women looked up as one, eyes drawn like moths to flame—then froze, stunned by the sight.

Bare, pale feet slipped into cotton slippers, soft as clouds. A white dress sketched her shape, the hem skimming her upper thighs like a shy wave, revealing long legs smooth as jade. Hair cascaded down her back like a dark waterfall. And that face—flawless as fresh snow—carried a just-recovered softness, a fragile dew that amplified the shock.

“Uh… hi?” Coco said, the word small as a pebble, cheeks flushing like peach blossoms as their stares prickled her skin.

“Ah—Coco, why’d you come down?” Yiyi blinked back to herself and hurried up, hands steady as rails to support her.

“I heard someone arrive, so I came to look. Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Coco said, voice calm as a resting lake.

“Tsk, tsk. I didn’t get a good look this morning. You’re too pretty—it’s downright unfair,” Ningxin said, praise flowing like warm tea.

“Uh… thanks. I’m Tang Coco,” she said politely, bowing her head like a reed in wind.

“I’m Ningxin. Just call me Sis Ning. Come, let me take a proper look at you,” Ningxin said, arms opening like wings.

“Um…” Coco didn’t finish before she was pulled in, gathered into a hug warm as a shawl.

…

Danger bells chimed in her head like wind chimes in a sudden gust. This queenly sister can’t be a wolf, right? I might be in danger.

“Uh, I’ll… go check on the soup,” Coco blurted, seizing the excuse like a lifeline, slipping free and scampering off with quick steps, a rabbit to its burrow.

“Pff—hahaha. Sis Ning, you scared her,” Li Muyan laughed, laughter tinkling like glass beads.

“Uh… what did I do wrong?” Ningxin asked, baffled as a cat at a mirror.

“Nothing. Coco’s just too shy,” Yiyi said, helpless as a sigh.

“Right… so where did you pick up a beauty like that?” Ningxin asked, voice playful as a fan’s flutter.

“Oh, that’s a story. Come on, Sis Ning, let me tell you,” Li Muyan said, perking up like a sparrow, tugging Ningxin to the sofa to chatter like a brook.

In the kitchen, steam coiled like pale snakes.

Ugh, this body—so useless. One hug from a beauty and I get jittery like a skittish colt? And that Ningxin—so casual it’s a whirlwind.

She grumbled as her eyes snagged on a jar of chili powder, red as crushed peppers, a small volcano on the counter. She glanced at the soup Yiyi had made, clear and gentle as spring water… and then her lips curled into a wicked little smile, a fox-tail flick in the shadows.