The next morning, Tang Coco had only one class, yet it churned like a still pond hit by stones.
She walked in and found her desk buried under roses and envelopes, a red tide spilling like sunset petals.
One question, and she learned a flock of suitors had dropped them off, fluttering like moths toward a flame.
She reached to toss everything into the trash, firm as a gust sweeping fallen leaves.
The letters got snatched by Meng Xiaoxiao, quick as a sparrow with crumbs.
She flipped through them all class, her laughter ringing like silver bells in a courtyard.
It made Tang Coco itch to swat her, like a cat twitching at a teasing string.
“Coco-jie, these people are hilarious, their words sticky as syrup,” Meng Xiaoxiao giggled, dimples blooming like spring buds.
“Look, look, there’s even a typo—haha,” she crowed, delight popping like firecrackers.
After class, Meng Xiaoxiao laughed full-throated, her voice bright as sun on snow.
Tang Coco rolled her eyes, a cloud shading her face.
“What’s there to see? I can’t believe you laughed a whole period,” she said, her tone cool as winter water.
“I have to look. I want to see who dares to steal Coco-jie,” Meng Xiaoxiao declared, chin up like a little hawk.
Tang Coco went speechless, her patience thinning like paper under rain.
She pinched Meng Xiaoxiao’s ear, playful as a breeze tugging willow leaves.
“Enough. You never have a serious minute,” she sighed, the words drifting like smoke.
“Go deal with all this. I’ve got something to do, I’m heading out,” she added, steps already light as feathers.
“Hey, hey—let go, I’ll toss them,” Meng Xiaoxiao yelped, squirming like a fish on wet tiles.
“Hmm? Coco-jie, where are you going?” she asked, eyes bright as lanterns.
“Not telling you, heh,” Tang Coco said, mischief curling like a fox’s tail.
She ignored Meng Xiaoxiao’s puffed cheeks, round as steamed buns, and left the classroom, calm as a drifting boat.
She was going to check out the DJ club Ye Yiyi had recommended, eyes set like stars on equipment she needed.
If she wanted to borrow their gear, she had to meet them face-to-face, etiquette steady as a tea ceremony.
“Hey, hey—look, it’s Goddess Tang,” someone cried, awe rising like mist over a lake.
“Wow, for real—she’s even prettier than the photos,” another whispered, amazement blooming like night flowers.
On the way to the comprehensive building, people she passed were struck silent, dazzled like stargazers under a clear sky.
Phones lifted one after another, clicking like cicadas in summer grass.
“This feeling isn’t great,” Tang Coco thought, discomfort layering like damp cloth on skin.
Girl praise felt like warm tea in early spring, gentle and kind.
But the hot stare from guys burned like charcoal, too close for comfort.
She sped up, swift as a deer slipping through trees, and reached the fifth floor.
Knock-knock—her knuckles tapped the door to Room 513, sharp as raindrops on wood.
“Coming!” a crisp female voice answered, bright as a porcelain chime.
The door swung open, and Tang Coco blinked—this girl stood tall, a poplar brushing the sky.
She was even higher than Coco’s 173, likely 178, her gaze steady as a mountain line.
Not a campus queen, but beautiful nonetheless, clean as moonlight on tiles.
The girl saw Tang Coco and froze, stunned like a bird before lightning.
She had never seen beauty to this degree, her stare rooted like bamboo in wind.
“Um… hello, senior,” Tang Coco said, smoothing the moment like a hand over silk.
She figured the manager would be her senpai, customs neat as folded paper cranes.
“Uh… ah… h-hi,” the girl stammered, her words tumbling like pebbles.
“Is this the DJ club?” Tang Coco asked, gaze calm as a pond at dusk.
“Yes. Come in,” the girl replied, motioning like a host pouring tea.
Tang Coco stepped inside; the room was compact, a shoebox full of quiet air.
At the back by the wall, gear stood stacked like a metal forest, exactly what she needed.
“Hello, senior. I’m Tang Coco,” she said, her voice smooth as jade.
“I came to ask a favor,” she added, humility clear as a low bow.
“Oh, I’m Tian Yue,” the girl replied, her name soft as morning fog.
“Say what you need,” she said, straightforward as a straight drumbeat.
“In a few days, there’s a welcome gala,” Tang Coco explained, words steady as a metronome.
“I’d like to borrow your DJ setup to perform a piece,” she continued, intent shining like a lantern.
“Can you use this?” Tian Yue asked, doubt flickering like a candle in wind.
It was hard to believe a girl this stunning could ride the turntables, a wild horse of sound.
“Yeah. I studied for a while,” Tang Coco said, calm as a shaded stream.
“How about I play a short bit for you?” she offered, knife-clean and direct.
She moved to the gear, hands light as swallows, and made a quick adjustment.
The system was already on, humming like a hive—she figured Tian Yue had been using it.
She performed for a few minutes, rhythm rolling like waves and snapping like frost.
Today, Tian Yue was stunned for the second time, her eyes wide as full moons.
“Wow, you’re incredible. That’s expert-level, right?” Tian Yue blurted, excitement sparking like fireworks.
“Uh… not really. Real experts are way stronger,” Tang Coco said, modesty soft as cotton.
“I can lend you the gear,” Tian Yue nodded, promise solid as stone.
“But you have to agree to one condition,” she added, drawing a line like brush on rice paper.
“Huh? What condition?” Tang Coco asked, curiosity pricking like a thorn.
“You can see it—this club has only me now,” Tian Yue said, loneliness curling like smoke.
“Last year we had more than a dozen,” she continued, the number glinting like coins.
“After a mistake at a performance, everyone scattered like birds,” her voice fell, autumn-cool.
“The new freshmen see it’s only one girl here, and they won’t join, stiff as closed doors,” she sighed.
“If it goes on, the school will dissolve us, a candle snuffed by a draft,” she concluded.
“So I hope… you’ll join, and help me rebuild,” she asked, hope glowing like embers.
“Can you?”
Tang Coco went quiet, thoughts gathering like clouds over the hills.
A single girl holding out this long was no small thing, grit hard as iron.
Joining was fine in itself, a step light as a leaf.
But her situation was special, a path twisting like mountain trails.
She might not live like a normal student, fate a river with hidden stones.
After careful thought, she gave her answer, clean as the ring of a bell.
“Alright. But I can’t stay here all the time,” she said, truth clear as glass.
“I’ve got other things to do,” she added, duty tugging like a tide.
“No problem. As long as you come,” Tian Yue replied, understanding warm as sunlight.
She could tell Tang Coco wasn’t from an ordinary background, the aura rich as sandalwood.
She wouldn’t be able to sit forever in a small club, like a crane in too little sky.
“Then please take care of me, senior,” Tang Coco said, offering her hand, white as petal.
“Mm, sure,” Tian Yue answered, palm meeting palm like two leaves in rain.
“Wow, Coco, your hand is so soft,” Tian Yue exclaimed, surprise fluttering like a finch.
“...”
