“Yiyi, go get her some fruit—little suns she needs right now.”

“Oh, okay.”

Ye Yiyi didn’t say more; she slipped out of the ward like a quiet breeze.

“Child, now that no one’s here, you can tell me the truth. Don’t worry—this old man’s mouth is tight as a sealed jar.”

The old doctor smiled at Tang Coco, like winter sun thawing frost.

“Uh... I... I did tell the truth,” she said, her words stumbling like loose stones.

Shock pricked her chest like a pin; she forced the words out.

“Sigh... truth is, I know there are special people in this world. It’s a secret like a moon behind clouds; most folks never see it. I once saved an old gentleman, an elder of an ancient family. He was one of them, so I learned a little.”

“...”

Unease knotted in her weak chest like tangled reeds. Fate felt too neat; she’d met a doctor with roots deeper than she’d guessed, roots reaching into another field. Whether his words were true or not, her body was brittle as glass. Even with his honeyed smile, she wouldn’t trust easily.

“Alright... if you won’t talk, we’ll let it be.” He sighed, wind through reeds.

“I’m just an ordinary man. I found out by pure coincidence, because your condition mirrors that old man’s—like twin shadows.”

“You know this yourself. You need rest now. But heed this old man: be careful, or your body will crack like thin ice.”

“Mm. Thank you, Dr. Su,” she said, her voice faint as smoke.

“Haha, alright. I’ll keep them from bothering you; rest here in peace, like a lull after rain.”

With that, the old doctor left like a fading footstep, leaving Tang Coco alone, gazing at the ceiling like a blank sky.

Couldn’t find it. The underbelly of Ninghai City is crowded with hidden heavyweights, like stones under deep water. Many big families must know Abnormals exist.

No way! I must train harder. If trouble comes and I’m powerless, it’s like swallowing sand.

But back to it: Ningxin hasn’t reached out in ages. If I want tighter control over my Anomaly Power, she’s the best help nearby, a blade still in its sheath.

“Huh? Grandpa Su left?” Ye Yiyi’s voice floated in like a small bell, as she lugged in a big bag of fruit like a harvest.

“Mm,” Coco hummed, soft as dusk.

“What did he say?”

“Mm... He said it’s nothing big; rest and I’ll be fine, like a storm passing.”

“I see... alright, I’ll peel the fruit for you.” Sweet juice would be sunlight on her tongue.

Ye Yiyi sat down and began peeling fruit, skins curling like moon ribbons.

Night draped the Imperial Walk Club, and it kept busy; guests streamed in like tides. On the fourth floor, Lielong and two male subordinates sat on the sofa, smoking like smoldering coals.

“Number Four, how’s the check?” His voice tapped the air like a blade on glass.

“On paper, same as the report—no issues. But...”

“What did you notice?”

“Even if the report’s clean, the incident itself has a few crooked angles, like doors that don’t shut.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

“For example: the seaside site in Ninghai City where those Americans died. In the photos, beyond bodies scattered like broken dolls, the gravel is oddly excessive. That place shouldn’t have that much broken stone.”

The man paused, then went on, words steady as dripping water.

“Another thing: the bodies. From our probe days ago, it seems the city lacks an Abnormal who can erase targets to that extent. Ningxin answered that the Abnormal later went out on a mission, yet she withheld the identity. That secrecy scratches at me like sand.”

“Mm...” Lielong crossed a leg, took a drag, and grunted, smoke coiling like snakes.

“Looks like Ningxin is hiding something. No matter. I’ll catch her by the leash sooner or later. When that time comes... heh.” A hunter’s net waited in his eyes.

“Tomorrow, go to the seaside scene and look. You can’t trust photos—paper moons don’t light a path.”

“Yes, sir!”

In Ningxin’s office, her assistant Xiao Qiao was reporting, voice neat as stacked files.

“Boss Ning, those people clearly came with other intentions, like fish with knives under their fins.”

“I know. They’ve got a headquarters behind them like a mountain. We can only cooperate.”

Ningxin watched the dossier in her hand like a cold river and spoke lightly.

“If they dig up Tang Coco’s matter, what then?”

“Relax. It’s not easy to trace. Even if they do, they won’t say it outright; they’ve got their own agenda, knives under silk. Worst case, if they play dirty, leaving Ninghai alive won’t be guaranteed. I still hold Coco as a trump card—though this card’s not easy to wield.”

A thin blade of killing intent flashed in Ningxin’s eyes, like lightning under a dark lid.

“Oh, I see. As long as you’ve got a plan, I’m at ease,” Xiao Qiao said, her heart settling like dust.

“Alright, you’ve worked all day. Go rest, like a leaf folding at dusk.”

“Okay.”

“Sigh...” Ningxin set the files down and breathed out, a gust that ruffled nothing.

“Right—haven’t checked on that little lass in a while. I’ll visit her tomorrow.” A fox’s smile returned to her lips.

Thinking of Ye Yiyi, Ningxin’s mouth hooked into a wicked smile, sharp as a crescent blade.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, night hummed like a low hive.

“Mm, bye-bye,” Coco whispered, her farewell light as drift snow.

Ye Yiyi held Tang Coco’s phone to her ear, because Coco lacked the strength to hold it long; her limbs felt like wet paper. She had just ended a call with Meng Xiaoxiao. After class, Xiaoxiao wanted to come, but Coco stopped her, a gentle hand over a flame.

“All set, Sis Yiyi.”

“You can tell she truly cares about you,” Ye Yiyi said, warmth rippling like tea.

“Eh... don’t start. She’s got too many tricks up her sleeve,” Coco said, the complaint fluttering like a paper fan.

“Hehe~ that means she likes you,” Yiyi teased, laughter tinkling like glass beads.

“Uh... let’s drop it. Sis Yiyi, you can head home. I’ll be fine alone,” she said, stubbornness set like a stone.

“Hm? No way! How could I leave you alone in a hospital? Mu Yan called just now. She hasn’t finished her mess and won’t make it back tonight. I’ll stay with you, a lamp by your bed.”

“Then... how will you sleep?” Her worry quivered like a thin string.

“There’s a chair. I’ll nap on it, belly-down like a cat.”

“You can’t! It’s bad for your body,” she protested, voice hopping like a startled sparrow.

“It’s fine,” Yiyi said, calm as still water.

“Or... you could get up here and sleep too...” The invitation blushed like a rose.

“Hm? What did you say?” Her eyes blinked like slow shutters.

Fluster burned like a small fire; Coco couldn’t hold it. Her pretty face reddened deeper. In the end, she gathered her old boyish bravado and shouted, a drumbeat in the quiet room:

“Let’s sleep together!!!”