Tang Coco rode a taxi into Ninghai City; the streets unfurled like a river of neon, and passersby ebbed like a tide.
Anxiety first, plans second—she needed work that hid her face yet earned cash.
She walked, thoughts circling like moths around a lamp, and still no answer.
So she let her feet decide, drifting down blocks like leaves on a current.
Street after street slipped by, shop signs blooming like lanterns, but nothing fit.
At the ragged edge of downtown, luck finally flickered like a match.
A new kidswear store needed a mascot, a cartoon shell big enough to swallow a person whole.
The pay was thin as porridge, but a coin is still a flame in the cold.
She explained herself; the staff were easygoing, smiles light as spring wind.
They couldn’t see her face, but her voice rang clear, a small bell that drew trust.
Rules set, costume handed over—the deal clicked into place like beads on a string.
Pay was 100 yuan per day, settled nightly, simple as counting steps.
She ducked into a corner and slipped into the huge suit like a turtle into its shell.
On the bright street, a giant yellow Pikachu bobbed at the door, catching kids’ eyes like sunflowers.
Inside the suit, heat pooled like steam in a kettle; discomfort pricked, but her will held like iron.
By afternoon, her tally was good, smiles sprouting like dandelions around her.
She never minded children; their innocence felt like clean snow under morning light.
Girls and couples tugged her for photos; it left her inwardly speechless, a sigh snagged like a fish in a net.
Work done with focus makes hours melt like sugar; at six she returned the suit.
The boss counted out 50 yuan for a half day, coins clinking like rain on tiles.
She didn’t care; a little is still a light in the dark.
Urgency pressed like a drumbeat—she had to get home before Ye Yiyi asked questions.
She hurried home; the place was quiet as a still pond, and she let out a relieved breath.
Back in her room, she undressed for a shower, confidence rising like a blush at the mirror.
Temptation hummed like a siren, but she turned the water on and chose discipline like a drawn line.
The bathroom held a luxurious tub, moon-white and inviting, yet she preferred the clean fall of a shower.
Under the hiss like summer rain, she focused on restraint and missed the sound of the front door.
“Coco, we’re back!”
The door swung open; Ye Yiyi called up the stairs, her voice flying like a swallow.
No answer, a pause hanging like a curtain.
“Did she slip out again?”
Li Muyan dropped her sling bag on the sofa, words thudding like pebbles.
“I’ll go check.”
Ye Yiyi climbed the stairs, footsteps soft as cat paws.
“Easy… easy…”
Inside, Tang Coco murmured, hands moving with care like leaves brushing water.
Ye reached Coco’s room; the door wasn’t locked, and she drifted in like a cautious breeze.
“Coco, are you there?”
Shower noise filled the air like a curtain of rain; Coco heard nothing beyond it.
Ye caught the whisper of water from the washroom and called again.
Still no answer; the bedroom’s bath and toilet shared one wide space like two pools under one roof.
“Huh? No one, yet water? Did she forget the tap?”
Seeing the washroom door ajar, Ye went over and pushed, unaware Coco was inside.
The bath and toilet were split by a single lattice panel; thinking she was alone, Coco had left it open.
Ye opened the door, and the scene hit her like lightning.
“Mm?”
“Ah!”
Coco, startled like a fawn, let out a girlish scream; shock skidded her heel, and she toppled backward.
She went headfirst into the tub, the world flipping like a bowl.
That bathroom’s water ran on auto; the tub sat already full of warm, clear water like glass.
“Splash!” “Thud!” “Ah!”
A quick chain of sounds struck Ye Yiyi’s ears—splash, a heavy thud, a sharp cry—each note like a stone in a pond.
Ye froze, surprise locking her in place like frost.
She hadn’t expected Coco in the shower—and this was the first time she’d seen Coco bare, beauty bright as moonlight.
Her cheeks flushed like cherries; then instinct snapped her back.
Seeing Coco down in the tub, she rushed over.
“Coco, are you okay?”
Coco lay in the warm water, arms crossed up and down to guard what mattered, modesty held like a shield.
In clear water, every line showed like ink on rice paper, so she covered up and couldn’t rub the bump on her head.
“Ow… it hurts…”
“Sister Yiyi… when did you get back…”
Pain clouded her face like a shadow, words stumbling as she spoke.
“We… we finished class early and hurried home. I thought you slipped out… I’m sorry, Coco.”
Her explanation fell gently, remorse soft as rain.
Coco understood; this was on her—she’d bathed without locking the door.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. Don’t apologize. Sss…”
Another sting bit her nape like a bee.
“What are you two doing? Why so loud?”
Li Muyan strolled over, eyes widening at Ye crouched by the tub and Coco in the water.
“Whoa—what are you playing? Count me in.”
Her grin curled like a cat’s as she stepped closer.
“Go… go out! Don’t come near!”
Fear kicked like a drum; Coco knew Li Muyan’s style, and this situation spelled trouble.
“Why? Yiyi can look but I can’t?”
Li didn’t stop; she came to the tub, confidence smooth as silk.
“Tsk tsk, didn’t think you two were doing that.”
“Hey! Don’t say nonsense.”
Though Coco liked Ye Yiyi, she knew her place; confession now could turn hearts like a sudden frost.
“Oh? So that’s not it?”
Li feigned surprise, eyes cutting to Yiyi’s flushed face like a flicked blade.
“Of course not.”
Coco tried to sit up; to rise, she needed a hand for leverage, but both hands stayed locked in place.
“Want to get out? Come, big sister will help.”
Li caught her difficulty, teasing smooth as honey; before Coco could refuse, she reached to grab her.
“No need!”
Seeing Li’s smug smile, Coco’s heart sank like a stone.
