Most university teachers came early, like sparrows before the bell, to set up for the day. In Tang Coco’s classroom, the homeroom teacher Zhu Zhide had already laid out the chalk like pale mist.
At the back, Meng Xiaoxiao stared at the empty seat beside her, worry fluttering like a moth in her chest.
Is Coco-jie not coming today? What happened? Don’t let anything be wrong.
Just then, a graceful silhouette drifted through the door like a breeze. It was Tang Coco. She shielded her face and tried to slip to her seat like a cat, but her willow-slim figure drew eyes like honey draws bees.
You there—are you in our class?
Zhu Zhide saw a girl flustered and half-hidden, unreal in how good her figure was, like a movie star strayed into a lecture hall, and his voice snapped like a twig.
Uh… figures…
Heat rose first, then resignation. Tang Coco knew she was caught; the fantasy of not being seen shattered like glass. She lowered her hand like a veil falling and faced the teacher.
Yes. I’m Tang Coco… Good morning, teacher.
The room hushed at once, silence dropping like snow. Every gaze fixed on her like a hundred spotlights.
Uh…
She’d braced for this, yet the helplessness still pooled like rainwater.
Holy crap, a goddess. Damn, our class actually has a goddess.
Yeah, how did we not notice before?
My god, a goddess like this and we never saw her.
The classroom boiled over like a pot on high. The boys babbled like sparrows in the eaves.
Yeah, yeah, yeah—her!
Li Mao, by Lu Kai’s side, pointed at Tang Coco, his finger like an arrow.
Hm?
Lu Kai tore his burning gaze off Tang Coco like a brand lifted from skin and looked at Li Mao.
Yesterday I went to the restroom and saw a beauty sprint downstairs. Turns out it was Tang Coco.
Oh, that explains it. Didn’t think Tang Coco hid this deep, like the moon behind clouds.
Lu Kai’s eyes smoldered on her face and figure, thoughts kindling like coals.
Alright, quiet. Class time. Tang Coco, go to your seat first. Come earlier next time.
Got it. Thanks, teacher.
Tang Coco slipped to her seat like a shadow. The instant she sat, Meng Xiaoxiao hugged her, warmth blooming like sun through a window.
Wow, Coco-jie, you finally dared to come to school like this.
It was an accident. You buy that? Her sigh drifted like smoke.
Doesn’t matter. At least I don’t have to see the ugly version anymore.
…
Boys still stole glances, eyes glinting like fish under water. The homeroom teacher’s tone cracked like a whip.
Enough! Class starts now. Talk after.
The lesson finally settled in like rain after thunder.
Hey, Coco-jie, where’d you go yesterday? Her whisper slid over like silk thread.
Had a last-minute thing. Missed me?
Of course. I can’t live without Coco-jie now, like a vine clinging to its tree.
Oh-ho, a few hours apart and you’ve turned honey-tongued?
Really? I’m just being honest.
Please. I know your little schemes, like a cat hiding its paws.
No way, Coco-jie. Didn’t think you’d say that. I’m heartbroken, like a paper fan drooping.
Seeing her put on those puppy eyes, Tang Coco was speechless, as flat as stone.
They joked, and the class hour slid by like a stream. When the period ended, the boys turned to Tang Coco, awe shining like starlight in their eyes. They didn’t crowd her; adults knew that would sour a girl’s mood, especially a beauty of her caliber, who should be approached like a deer in a grove.
The girls were different. Five or six circled her like bright birds, chatting and laughing in a ring.
Coco, you’re so pretty.
Yeah, how do you keep your skin like that?
Questions rained down like a summer shower. Tang Coco felt awkward; she had no clue, and she couldn’t say she turned into this after a change like a chrysalis.
Hey! What are you doing? Don’t steal my Coco-jie.
Seeing a flock around Tang Coco, Meng Xiaoxiao puffed up like a little kettle.
Wow, Xiaoxiao’s adorable too.
Yeah, yeah. Our class has three beauties. One’s just too icy.
…
That one line snuffed Xiaoxiao’s small blaze like a pinch on a candle. Watching it all, Tang Coco understood: her biggest danger now was these lady hooligans, playful as foxes in a bamboo grove.
While she patiently spun excuses like silk for why she used to hide her face, a clear female voice drifted from the doorway like a bell.
Coco!
Tang Coco looked over. Ye Yiyi stood at the door in a white dress, like a snow lily in bloom.
Yiyi-jie?
Tang Coco rose and walked to the doorway, steps light as feathers.
What brings you here?
Ning-jie said you skipped breakfast. I bought you a sandwich. Wow, Coco, you really came to school barefaced.
Don’t start. It’s all Ningxin’s fault. Her temper blinked like a spark.
Don’t blame her. Isn’t this better?
Sigh…
Alright, go eat. I’ll head back—Mu Yan’s waiting. Let’s meet at the parking lot at noon, when the sun’s high.
Mm, okay.
After a brief goodbye, she returned to her seat, the plastic bag rustling like rain on leaves.
Coco, you really know Ye Yiyi?
A few girls clustered again, their curiosity pecking like sparrows.
Mm. She’s my… relative.
Oh, I see. So enviable.
They kept at it, their chatter buzzing like cicadas, and Tang Coco grew weary. The bell cut the air like a blade, and everyone settled back into place like leaves finding ground. Only then did she notice that Meng Xiaoxiao had gone quiet for a while.
Hm? What’s up with you?
Ah… ah? N-no, nothing, haha. Her laugh scattered like dry seeds.
You sure?
Tang Coco wondered if the little girl had gone silly, thoughts bumping like marbles.
I’m fine, I’m fine. Hurry and eat. Don’t let the teacher see.
Since she wouldn’t say, Tang Coco dropped it and started sneaking bites, like a squirrel with a nut. Beside her, Meng Xiaoxiao watched her profile, thoughts drifting like clouds.
With a pause between bites, Tang Coco glanced at another class beauty—Ouyang Lingxue, the cool one, frost on jade. She’d barely reacted to any of the fuss, eyes fixed on her book like a still pond.
Tang Coco didn’t know that when the girls had peppered her with questions, Ouyang Lingxue had lifted her gaze once, like an icicle catching light.
