Meng Xiaoxiao felt her skin crawl under Tang Coco’s stare, like frost crawling up a window.
“Uh… Coco-jie, hear me out. I just think you’d be perfect as class sports rep. Look at your figure—if you’d show your face…”
“Shut it. Keep your voice down.”
Tang Coco’s eyes flashed like a drawn blade. She feared the classroom buzz would catch those words and spread like dandelion fluff.
“Okay, okay, I’ll drop it. Still don’t get why you’re hiding.”
Meng Xiaoxiao pouted, like a duckling pecking at a stone.
“That’s my business. If you dare spill it, you won’t like what comes.”
“What can you even do to me? Eat me? Wow… so scary…”
She widened her eyes in mock fear, like a kid teasing a sleeping tiger. Tang Coco’s knuckles itched to teach her a lesson, but the classroom was a fishbowl. And with a beauty like her, her hand refused to fall.
As they bickered, a male voice cut in, smooth as oil over water.
“Ladies, are you free at noon? May I treat you to lunch?”
Tang Coco turned. A young man in a suit with a middle part strode over, slick as a mallard.
One look at the outfit and Coco sighed inwardly: wearing a suit to class, what a blockhead.
“Sorry, we—”
“Sure. We’re both free!”
Coco had just started to refuse. Meng Xiaoxiao answered like a bell.
“Meng Xiaoxiao!”
Coco’s glare landed, cold as a winter star.
“Relax. Free food’s a blessing, right? Mind introducing yourself?”
Meng Xiaoxiao swung Coco’s arm like a willow branch, then smiled at the young man.
“Oh! Look at me, I forgot. I’m Lü Kai.”
“Lü Kai? Sounds familiar, like a name drifting in a breeze.”
“You might’ve heard of my father, Lü Maohua. He’s a deputy director.”
“Oh—an official second-generation, huh. Works for me. So, are we talking a very high-end hotel for lunch?”
“Of course. You can pick the place.”
Seeing their reaction, Lü Kai figured they were ordinary girls. Flash some cash, and they’d flock like sparrows to grain.
Meng Xiaoxiao was known in Yanjing, but in Ninghai City, few knew the storm behind her calm.
“Good. It’s settled. You head out first. Meet us after class.”
Playfulness lit her eyes like lanterns. She agreed without a second thought.
“Alright.”
Lü Kai turned and went back to his seat.
“Meng Xiaoxiao, what exactly are you plotting?”
Coco finally had a chance to ask. Her beautiful eyes held a hint of killing frost, an act she wore like a theatrical mask. Meng Xiaoxiao felt none of it.
“Plotting? Nothing. If someone offers a feast, why not go?”
“Then go by yourself. I’m not going.”
“Really not going?”
Meng Xiaoxiao smiled, bright as sun on snow.
“Not going.”
“Alright then. Classmates! Classmates, I have—mmph!”
She’d barely started before Coco clamped a hand over her mouth, a wing cutting wind.
“Fine. You win. I’ll go with you.”
“Hee-hee, Coco-jie, you’re the best!”
Meng Xiaoxiao moved in for a hug, happy as a fox with a chicken. Coco pushed her away like pushing back a tide.
“Get lost.”
“…”
Lü Kai had just sat down when his buddy leaned in, whispering like a snake in grass.
“Kai-ge, how’d it go?”
“Hmph. Of course it’s fine. Little girls like that won’t turn me down.”
“Right, right. Kai-ge is mighty. But why invite that plain one next to Meng Xiaoxiao too?”
“You don’t get it. Didn’t you see how tight they are? I’ve got a feeling Meng Xiaoxiao isn’t simple. She might be hard to sway. We can work on that Tang Coco.”
“I see. Smart as always, Kai-ge. Kai-ge, once we use Tang Coco, pass her to me. Face aside, that figure is something.”
He spoke with a lecher’s grin, like grease on a skillet.
“Fine. No problem.”
Coco and Xiaoxiao had no idea a net was tightening around them like mist over a river.
In the northern district of Ninghai City, a fitness club called the Imperial Walk Club hosted a special meeting. On the surface, it was a gym where rich folks came to burn time and money. In reality, it was the local branch of Oracle, the nation’s only official Anomaly Power organization. The one in charge here was Ningxin. She sat in a chair at the head of the conference room, voice steady as rain, facing twenty people.
“I’ll say it again. Your actions must never be seen by ordinary people. Everything stays in the dark. Things may get rough here soon. Be careful. In a few days, headquarters will send people.”
“Yes, got it, Ning-jie.”
The answer rolled through the room like a wave against pilings.
“Alright, that’s it for today. Xiao Qiao stays. The rest, dismissed.”
A woman stayed behind, wearing a pink short-sleeve and fitted jeans that traced a perfect S curve, like brushwork on silk. She was Ningxin’s assistant.
“Ning-jie, what’s up?”
“Arrange your time. A new member will join us in a few days.”
“A new member? From Ninghai?”
“Yes. I found her by chance. Her ability should be above SS.”
“What? A powerhouse like that? Will she join us willingly?”
“I’ll handle that. She’ll join. Heh.”
Xiao Qiao knew Ningxin’s temper like reading weather. She silently pitied that strong one, as if seeing another bird glide into a hunter’s snare.
Achoo!
In class, Tang Coco sneezed, sudden as a spark.
“Who’s thinking about me?”
The thought flickered, warm as tea. She set her head on the desk again, sinking toward sleep like a stone in a pond. In those soft hours, noon arrived.
“Xiaoxiao, decided on a place?”
As soon as class ended, Lü Kai hustled to Meng Xiaoxiao’s side, breath quick like a dog chasing a cart.
“Call me Meng Xiaoxiao. Let’s go to the Junlin Tianxia Hotel.”
She answered as if pointing at the brightest star on a map.
“Uh… alright. I’ll take you there?”
He hadn’t expected her to name the priciest, most luxurious hotel in Ninghai City. Pride held him up like armor, so he agreed.
“No need. We’ll go on our own. You head first.”
This time, Meng Xiaoxiao chose to walk alone with Tang Coco, like two swallows leaving the eaves.
“Okay. I’ll go reserve a table.”
Lü Kai and his shadow slipped out of the classroom, fast as eels.
“Let’s go, milady.”
Meng Xiaoxiao grinned at Coco. Coco shot her a look, smoldering like charcoal.
“Forget it. I accept my fate. How did I even meet you—ah…”
Coco sighed, the sound floating like a leaf. She followed Meng Xiaoxiao out of the classroom.
