“Sis Coco! Sis Coco!”

“Coco!”

Through the fog, someone called her name, like a bell under water. Tang Coco’s awareness drifted back like a leaf on a slow current.

“Mm… mm…”

A thin sound slipped from her lips, as light as wind through paper.

“Whoa, she’s awake! Sis Yiyi, look.”

Meng Xiaoxiao’s voice bubbled up like a pot hitting a rolling boil.

“Coco? You feeling any better? You scared us half to death.”

Ye Yiyi came to her side, heart drumming like rain on tiles. It was school time already; Meng Xiaoxiao had come to knock for her, knocked and knocked with no answer, found the door unlocked, slipped in like a wary cat, and froze—Coco lay by the bed, wrong as a tilted moon. Only then did they realize she’d fainted.

With the two of them steadying her, Coco sat up, limbs soft as cotton.

“Coco, what happened?” Yiyi asked, worry rising like a tide.

“I… don’t know… I just got a little sleepy.” The words crawled out, and weariness pooled in her bones like dusk.

“How many times have you fainted now? We’re going to the hospital.”

“No… we don’t have to…”

“No. This time you listen to me. Xiaoxiao, it’s almost class. Go to school and ask for Coco’s leave.”

“But… Sis Coco—”

“It’s okay. Go on.” Coco lifted a small, tired hand like a budding willow and rubbed Xiaoxiao’s hair, a soft smile blooming.

“Okay… then I’ll go. Sis Yiyi, tell me if anything happens.”

“Don’t worry. Take it slow.”

“Mm. I’m off.”

Meng Xiaoxiao cast one last worried look, then turned and left the villa, footsteps like pebbles tapping a path.

That look warmed Coco’s chest like sunlight on a winter sill—these people truly worried for her. She lowered her gaze, felt the hollowness in her body like an emptied gourd, and then froze, staring at her chest in disbelief.

“Th-this…”

Her white blouse was unbuttoned from collar to bust, spring light spilling like dawn. A pink bra strap hung loose, draped over the soft fullness. Heat surged; her already pale face flushed like a peach blossom after rain.

“Coco?”

Ye Yiyi noticed her daze and leaned in, her shadow a cool canopy.

“Coco, what’s wrong? Your face is burning. You okay?”

“Th-this…”

Coco didn’t answer. Yiyi followed her gaze and caught the glimpse of skin; her own cheeks tinted like sunset on snow.

“Aiya—Coco’s shy. Xiaoxiao came in and found you out cold. No matter how she called, you wouldn’t wake, so she unbuttoned you to check for injuries.”

“…”

Damn it… Meng Xiaoxiao, you did that on purpose. The thought flared like a struck match. Coco reached back to hook the strap, but her strength scattered like sand; halfway there, her arm fell.

“Here, let me.”

Yiyi’s voice was soft as silk. She slipped off her slippers, knelt behind, set the strap on Coco’s pale shoulder like laying a ribbon on snow, and fastened it with a gentle click.

Then she circled back and buttoned Coco’s blouse, one neat shell after another. Neither spoke; only quick breaths and the rustle of bedding, like reeds in a night breeze.

“Th—”

“Don’t. We don’t need thank-yous between us, got it?”

Yiyi stopped her and smoothed Coco’s hair, fingers combing like warm rain.

“Mm…”

For the first time, Coco felt wrapped in care, soft as a quilt fresh from sun. Not knowing what to do, she sat and let Yiyi tidy her hair.

“Alright. I’ll change, then I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“Mm.”

Yiyi headed to her room. Coco lifted the quilt and slid to the edge, each small movement costing her like climbing through mud.

Didn’t think using my Anomaly Power for just a moment would drain me like this. The thought fell heavy, like a stone in a pond. She looked for her shoes and saw them at the door, far as a small shore. Bare feet touched the floor, cool as river slate. She braced on the bed to stand, tried twice, and failed; her strength was smoke.

Yiyi returned, dressed in an off-white tee with a white jacket, black athletic leggings, and white sneakers, clean as fresh snow.

“Hey? Coco, don’t move.”

She hurried over, steps quick as sparrows.

“I… I just wanted to… put on shoes, to go to the hospital.”

“Why shoes?”

“Huh? How else do we go without shoes?”

“Silly girl. Sit tight.”

Coco didn’t know what Yiyi planned, so she obeyed, quiet as a lamb.

Yiyi came to her side, half-squatted, one arm under Coco’s knees, one through her underarm, and lifted in a princess carry, smooth as lifting a cloud.

“Waa—”

Coco gasped, small and startled, surprise fluttering like a caged bird. She hadn’t expected gentle Yiyi to be this strong.

“Don’t squirm, little dummy. Falling would be bad.”

At the gentle threat, Coco clutched Yiyi’s neck, holding on like ivy to a tree.

“Pfft. Such a little dummy.”

Yiyi laughed, bright as chimes, and headed downstairs. Coco’s blush deepened, a rosy tide, and she buried her face against Yiyi’s chest. She definitely wasn’t taking advantage… absolutely not.

While changing, Yiyi had already driven the car to the door and opened the rear door, all laid out like a path of lanterns.

“Here, easy now.”

She settled Coco into the back seat, then darted inside, grabbed her phone and bag, locked the door, and slid into the driver’s seat.

“Buckle up.”

“Mm.”

The Porsche purred to life and flowed toward the Central City Hospital, a silver fish cutting through morning streets.