When the game actually began, Tang Coco realized it wouldn’t be as simple as she’d imagined; her plan cracked like thin ice.

In about thirty seconds, Li Muyan layered up like winter bark—two short jackets, a long coat, slippers, clear-lens glasses, and a hat.

Ye Yiyi matched her like a shadow in snow, minus the glasses.

“Uh—what…?” Her eyes went round as twin moons, surprise ringing like a bell inside her chest.

She froze like a deer in winter brush—so you could play it like that?

“Alright, game on.” Li Muyan moved fast, like a cat before the door swings shut.

Poor Tang Coco got roped in, swept along like a leaf in a stream.

But she refused to fold; mind blazing like a lantern, she even won a few rounds.

Bit by bit, Li Muyan’s “gear” got peeled off like onion skins, until only a dress remained.

Ye Yiyi fared slightly better, her coat still draped over her dress like a last layer of cloud.

Fortune turns like a windmill; Tang Coco couldn’t win forever, and finally she lost a round.

“Ha! You finally lost!” Li Muyan laughed, her voice bright as tinkling glass.

Tang Coco shot her a glare, cold as frost on a window.

Her heart tangled like climbing vines—pants or T-shirt?

Under Li Muyan’s urging, Tang Coco sighed and slipped off her capri pants, revealing pink panties like peach blossoms.

She snatched a sofa cushion, held it over her thighs like a shield, and thanked her baggy tee for extra cover.

“Hey, hey, is that okay?” Li Muyan stared, speechless, like a fish out of water.

“Mind your own business. I—I’m cold, alright?” Her voice shivered like a bare branch in wind.

Li Muyan and Ye Yiyi looked exasperated, faces clouded like a storm rolling over the sea.

It was Li Muyan’s idea to tease her; shy Tang Coco was adorable, blush blooming like spring peach.

“Alright, keep going.” Ye Yiyi’s tone smoothed out like calm water, and the game flowed on.

This time Ye Yiyi lost, only shedding her coat like a fallen leaf.

Next round, Li Muyan shot Ye Yiyi a look like a signal flare.

The rules had a twist like a knot in bamboo: pick a rival and throw a hard question; if they stalled, they’d lose.

Li Muyan first lobbed one at Tang Coco; she thought hard, mind ticking like gears, and answered right.

Believing the stream had cleared, Tang Coco relaxed—then Ye Yiyi suddenly tossed another question like a stone from nowhere.

Tang Coco stalled, thoughts fogging like mist over a lake.

Ye Yiyi understood Li Muyan’s look, yet her heart stayed soft as silk, unwilling to press too hard.

She asked something she thought was simple, about a girl’s physiology, like a calendar of seasons.

But Tang Coco had only just become a girl, a seed just sprouted; how could she know those cycles?

Awkwardness pooled around her like lukewarm water.

“Pff—hahaha! You don’t know that? You lose, heh-heh.” Li Muyan’s laughter rang like bells in a courtyard.

Coco was helpless; her answer wouldn’t come, like a swallow hesitating at the eaves.

Li Muyan’s laughter sparkled while Ye Yiyi’s eyes held concern, soft as dawn light; Tang Coco didn’t want to undress.

“Hurry up. What, need help? Come on.” Li Muyan dove in like a hawk.

She grabbed at Tang Coco’s shirt, trying to tug it off, hands quick as rain.

Tang Coco refused to let another girl strip her; she braced like a cat with its back arched.

But her strength couldn’t match Li Muyan’s; Li felt born strong, a boulder in a stream.

In a few moves, she had Tang Coco pinned beneath her, wrists held in one hand like bundled reeds.

With the other, she started on the clothes, fingers prying like curious vines.

Suddenly—knock, knock—someone hit the door, a drumbeat breaking the scuffle.

Ye Yiyi, who’d been watching like a quiet crane, rose and went to open it.

At the door stood Li Meng, a neighbor from the villa district who’d met Tang Coco once.

She stood at the threshold like a shy breeze.

“Hello, sorry to disturb.” Her manners fell into place like smooth stones.

“Oh, it’s fine. What’s up?” Ye Yiyi kept her voice light, like tea steam.

“Uh… did I come at a bad time…?” Li Meng’s glance slipped sideways like a fish.

From beside Ye Yiyi, she glimpsed the room—Li Muyan over Tang Coco, clothes askew like scattered petals, no pants in sight.

Her thoughts skittered off like startled sparrows.

Ye Yiyi didn’t get it at first; then she followed Li Meng’s gaze like a thread and understood.

“Uh, don’t overthink it. They’re just messing around.” Her explanation fell like a calming rain.

“You two, enough! We’ve got a guest.” Ye Yiyi called into the room, voice clear as a bell.

Hearing that, they stopped; Tang Coco scrambled to dress, motions fluttering like moth wings.

“Come in, please.” Ye Yiyi’s invitation opened like spring, and Li Meng stepped inside like cool shade.

“Huh? It’s you!” Tang Coco blinked at the familiar face, surprise rising like a splash.

“Mm… is your injury better?” Li Meng’s cheeks flushed pink, a blossom of concern.

“I’m fine now, thanks.” Tang Coco felt a wry warmth like late-afternoon tea.

She thought, This girl’s a bit silly—my wound’s long healed—yet the care was gentle as silk.

Li Muyan cut in, straight as an arrow: “So, what brings you here?”

“Mm… I was hoping to ask you for a favor,” Li Meng said, voice hesitant like a bird on a branch.

“Alright, just say it. If we can help, we will.” Ye Yiyi’s gentleness flowed like a stream.

“Well… could I possibly stay with you for a few days, like seeking shelter from rain—just, uh, crash here a bit…?”

“What!?” The word burst out like a firecracker.