“Didn’t expect your crafty side to be that sharp, little fox.”

In the restroom, Tang Coco tugged Meng Xiaoxiao’s ear like plucking a stubborn leaf.

“Ow, ow, ow—let go! I scammed him, not you. Why bully me?” Her voice popped like hot oil.

Meng Xiaoxiao huffed like a puffed-up sparrow. Tang Coco let go and planted her hands on her hips, firm as a pine.

“I’m thinking of you. You took tens of thousands off him; won’t he come back like a storm cloud?”

“Ah, relax. He won’t say much.” She waved it off like a willow leaf riding wind.

“I just wonder—how could your parents send you to Ninghai alone, like a paper boat to open sea?”

“Because I’m awesome!” She lifted her chin like a proud crane.

“…Idiot.” The word fell like a cold raindrop.

Tang Coco knew Meng Xiaoxiao never stayed serious; she let it drift away like a kite string.

Inside the private room, the air glowed warm as lantern light.

“Brother Kai, this isn’t going smooth,” Li Mao muttered, like wheels spinning in mud.

“Yeah, didn’t expect Meng Xiaoxiao to be that tough. That’s the fun. In a bit, chat up Tang Coco. We’ll start from her,” Lu Kai said, eyes like a hunter’s in dusk.

“Got it. Watch me,” Li Mao grinned, a knife catching light.

Soon, Tang Coco and Meng Xiaoxiao came back in, footsteps light as cats.

“Coco, why didn’t you come to school the other day?” Li Mao tossed the question like a stone across water.

“Call me Tang Coco!” Her voice snapped like a twig.

Li Mao and Lu Kai’s faces darkened like storm clouds rolling in.

“Had stuff at home,” Tang Coco said, words thin as smoke.

“Oh, right! Are you close with Ye Yiyi? She came to excuse you that day,” he asked, voice trying to smooth like oil.

“You guess.” Her answer drifted like a feather through air.

“How am I supposed to guess? I guess you’re close?” He scratched his head like a puzzled monkey.

“Then assume it’s close.” The words dropped like a pebble, no ripples.

Li Mao and Lu Kai shared a look, helpless as cats trapped under rain. These two were made to play together, quirks bright as fireworks.

“Mm~ I’m full. You two?” Meng Xiaoxiao patted her belly like a content sparrow.

She’d barely touched the feast, just sipped at flavors like morning dew.

“Full? There’s still so much…” Lu Kai stared at the dishes like painted horizons.

“Leave these to you two. Boys should eat more, and the food’s really good.” Her smile curved like a new moon.

“Are you playing—” His breath hitched like a caught fish.

Lu Kai finally got it—she’d been playing him like a cat batting yarn. He was about to erupt when Li Mao pressed him down like a hand on a boiling lid.

“Brother Kai, wait. Sit. We’ll eat more; I’m hungry too. That little— Meng Xiaoxiao, you two head back. We won’t see you off.” His smile was paper under rain.

“Okay, you eat. Coco, sis, let’s roll.” Meng Xiaoxiao tugged Tang Coco like a kite pulled toward wind.

They left Li Mao bitter as old tea and Lu Kai simmering like a pot.

On the way back to school, Tang Coco sat in the passenger seat, watching the street drift like a slow river.

“Xiaoxiao.” Her voice was soft as dusk.

“Mm? What is it?” Her eyes lifted like startled birds.

After a heartbeat that fell like a pebble, Tang Coco spoke.

“Don’t do that again. I’m not against your method—I don’t like Lu Kai either. But be safe.” Her tone held steady like a lantern in wind.

“If he’d lost it and crossed a line, what then? This isn’t Yanjing.” The name weighed like a distant mountain.

“Oh… Coco, are you worried about me?” Her words curled like steam.

“Yes. I’m worried about you.” The admission landed like warm rain.

“Alright. Since you’re this worried, I’ll be careful.” She nodded like bamboo bending.

“Good.” Relief loosened like a knot undone.

“Coco?” Her call floated like a reed flute.

“Mm?” The hum was light as bee wings.

“Let me ask—how long will you keep your face hidden?” She tilted her head like a curious sparrow.

“As long as I can. You don’t want me swarmed by guys, do you?” Tang Coco brushed a strand of hair like a willow leaf, then froze mid-gesture.

Halfway through, she stopped, surprised she’d slipped into such a feminine move, like a pale flower opening by itself.

“True. But I’d rather see your real face all the time. Somehow, you feel like my sister,” Meng Xiaoxiao said, memory stirring like moonlight on water.

“Your sister? The one who left when you were little?” The question fell like a shadow.

“Mm.” Agreement soft as silk.

“Why? Why did she leave?” Curiosity pricked like thorns.

“I don’t know. I asked my parents; they dodged it. They only told me to remember I have a sister.” The unknown hung like mist.

“Oh, maybe she had to leave. Since your parents said that, I think you’ll meet again.” Hope rose like a kite catching wind.

“Mm, so for now, you have to be my sister. Hehe.” Her teasing glinted like a firefly.

“Hey, I’m afraid you’ll sell me off,” Tang Coco joked, like a broom flicking dust.

“…” Silence pooled like ink.

“How could I? I’d never sell my own sis.” Her grin was warm as tea.

“Tch. You little minx—who knows.” The words skipped like a pebble over water.

They chatted in the car, their bond tightening like braided silk.

“Stop!” The shout cracked like thunder.

Tang Coco’s sudden cry startled Meng Xiaoxiao, who pulled over fast; the car slid to the curb like a fish to shore.

Tang Coco flung the door and ran across the road like a swallow in a rush.

Across the street, a crowd formed a tight ring. A Porsche’s right front had smashed into a Santana’s left door, metal bent like bruised reed. Four middle-aged men from the Santana boxed in the Porsche’s woman driver like wolves around a doe.

What hit Tang Coco hardest— the driver was Ye Yiyi, recognition flashing like lightning.

“Hey, little miss, you hit us. What’re you gonna do?” the bald man rasped, voice like rust.

“You turned suddenly, okay?” Her protest rang like metal on stone.

Ye Yiyi found them impossible; anxiety rose like sparrows trapped in a cage.

“Oh, still mouthy. Pay up, or you’ll suffer. Guys, this little face is pretty tender.” His grin crawled like a centipede.

“You! I’m calling the police.” Her resolve stood like a pine in wind.

She yanked out her phone, its screen gleaming like a lifeline.

“Little miss dares to call the cops!” The shout cracked like dry wood.

A man lunged, snatched her phone, and smashed it to the ground; glass burst like ice under a heel.

“And you people! We’re the Longshe Gang. Anyone who calls is against us,” he bellowed, puffed up like a toad on stone.

The crowd knew Longshe Gang ruled this patch; they ebbed back like a tide from cliffs, watching from far.

“You! This is illegal!” Her words flashed like a warning bell.

Ye Yiyi burned with anger like summer thunder. She’d been with Li Muyan, but Ningxin suddenly called him away, leaving her alone like a lone boat. A sudden swerve hit her, and now they were bullying her, piling on like clouds.

“No money? Then you’re coming with us,” the man hissed, threat sliding like oil.

A young thug moved to grab Ye Yiyi, his hand darting like a snake.

“Stop! What do you think you’re doing?” The voice cut in like a sharp wind.

“That voice… Coco! Why are you here?” Surprise bloomed like dawn.

Ye Yiyi turned and hurried to her, feet light as a deer through brush.

“I was passing by and saw you. You okay?” Concern flowed like warm tea.

Tang Coco took Ye Yiyi’s hand, her grip steady as stone.

“Don’t worry about me. Go. You can’t be here,” Ye Yiyi pleaded, fluttering like a scared bird.

“No way. I won’t let them bully you. I’m with you.” Her stance rooted like an old tree.

Tang Coco’s inner steel surged like fire from coals.

“Coco…” Her voice trembled like rain on leaves.

Warmth filled Ye Yiyi, but worry weighed heavier, like sun and cloud wrestling.

“Yo! Another busybody. Little miss, you her friend? Great—neither of you is leaving.” Their circle tightened like thorns around flesh.

Four men ringed them, itching to move like dogs straining at leash. Tang Coco eyed the four, plans forming like chess on a bamboo mat.

Trouble. These four won’t be easy, the thought cooling like moonlight on stone. They’re sober—sharp like knives, not last time’s drunks dull as wine jars.

“I warn you…” Her voice steadied like a drawn bow.

Screeech!

Tang Coco was about to stall for time when a shrill brake scream sliced the air like a hawk.