“Coco!”

Bang—the ward door slammed open, and a petite figure shot in like a sparrow breaking through reeds, shouting as she sprinted for the bed.

“Hey, hey—stop!”

Shock hit Tang Coco first, like cold water on hot iron. She yelled, hands up to halt the flying blur, but it was too late. Thump—Meng Xiaoxiao crashed straight into her.

“Waaah!”

Coco had only clawed back a bit of strength, enough to barely sit like a reed in a breeze. She couldn’t take that weight. Her scream rose like a kettle whistling. It was noon; Ye Yiyi had gone to buy lunch, and Li Muyan had just been called out by a nurse. In that short window, Xiaoxiao slipped in like a cat through a half‑open door.

“Ow, ow, ow! Get off!”

“Hehe—got a little excited…”

Meng Xiaoxiao plopped at the bed’s edge like a duck by a pond, grinning as if sunlit water danced.

“Huh? Coco, why’s your chest… yellow?”

Under the fluorescent glare, two rings of yellow liquid bloomed on Coco’s white tee, speckled with tiny bits like pulp in juice.

“Because of you!”

Coco’s cheeks flushed like peach skin. Her voice puffed up but had no thunder.

“Didn’t you see I was eating oranges!”

“Uh… oh!”

Xiaoxiao’s grin crumpled. She scratched her head like a chick ruffling feathers, tugged two tissues from the table, and reached to wipe.

“Hehe, sorry—didn’t see…”

She chuckled, hands moving like timid rain.

“Next time I’ll hold a bag of nails. Let’s see you dare to tackle me.”

Coco puffed her cheeks, a small drum ready to thump.

“Won’t, won’t. Don’t move. I’ll dry it.”

Her hand slid in, and Coco didn’t stop her. Let the kid learn by the sting, she thought; otherwise that tiger pounce would keep coming, and her small frame wasn’t built to be a wrestling mat.

But Coco had… aftereffects. She’d been a guy before; as a girl, when emotions surged like storm tide, she forgot things. Right now, she missed the glint in Xiaoxiao’s eyes—her little scheme brewing like tea.

Xiaoxiao lit up, bright as lanterns in a festival. Open season, a bold “chest‑raid” under daylight. Her heart drummed, and her strength pressed a shade too hard.

“Ah!”

A strange ripple shot through Coco’s chest, like a pebble dropped into still water. Her gaze snapped clear.

“You—!”

She shoved Xiaoxiao’s hand away and covered herself on instinct, arms folded like a startled doe guarding fawn.

“Ahem.”

A cough clipped the doorway like a knock.

“I was gone for a few minutes, and we already have in‑room service?”

Li Muyan leaned on the frame, arms crossed like a sword laid flat, amusement curling at her lips.

“Ah! You’re back.”

“Of course. If I didn’t return, this place might host something… unspeakable, right?”

Li’s smile tilted; she walked in slow, a cat entering its sun patch.

“Hey! Don’t say nonsense. She’s my classmate.”

Coco’s blush deepened, a sunset pooling under skin.

“I know. Meng Xiaoxiao, heiress of the Mengs in Yanjing. What game brings you here?”

Li dropped into the chair, long legs crossed, queenly ease like a fan flick.

“Hmph. None of your business. Who are you?”

Xiaoxiao’s chin lifted like a little blade.

“Me? Li Muyan. You should’ve heard.”

“Oh? So you’re Li Muyan? Not that special. People say you’re amazing. What are you doing here? What’s your relationship with Coco?”

Jealousy pricked like thorns; her words jabbed without a sheath.

“Me? Exactly where I should be. I’m her guardian.”

“…”

“Hey, hey—don’t make stuff up.”

Coco frowned, a small cloud darkening.

“Hah. Big talk. Anyone can brag.”

Xiaoxiao didn’t buy it; her snort was a spark.

“You two, enough. First meeting and you’re already like this.”

Coco cut in, voice a ribbon trying to bind flying kites.

“Hmph.”

“Tsk.”

“…”

Gunpowder hung in the room like dry summer heat. Thankfully, Ye Yiyi returned with lunch, steam curling from the boxes like morning mist, and the air eased under her calm hands.

“Grandpa Su spoke to me. You can be discharged tomorrow. Rest at home.”

Li Muyan said it over lunch, chopsticks clicking softly like rain on bamboo. Xiaoxiao was feeding Coco, little spoonfuls like silver minnows; Coco had already eaten a bit before.

“Oh, that’s great. But I still need a few days of bed rest…”

Coco sighed, the slow recovery dragging like a heavy kite string.

“You—just rest slowly. No rushing. I’ll get you a long leave from school.”

Ye Yiyi’s voice was warm, like tea on a cool day.

“…”

Coco felt embarrassed, face like a shy peach. Since term started, she’d only made a handful of classes; it was ridiculous. Thankfully, Ninghai University was practically a semi‑elite place; many students had special situations.

“Hey? Coco, what happened to your shirt?”

After clearing the boxes, Ye Yiyi finally spotted the yellow mark blooming like a stain of sunlight.

“Cough… uh… earlier… the orange… kind of… exploded…”

Coco spoke haltingly, eyes cutting to Xiaoxiao, who stuck out her tongue like a naughty sprite.

“Alright… I’ll get you a fresh one. That must feel awful.”

Ye Yiyi smiled and pulled out a new off‑white cotton tee, soft as a cloud.

“I’ll help her change!”

Xiaoxiao sprang up like a spring.

“No.”

Li Muyan’s word landed like a lid on a pot.

“Why?”

Xiaoxiao bristled, feathers up.

“Because… your chest’s small.”

“…”

“…”

Silence spread like frost. Fact was, tiny Xiaoxiao was still a shade better than a runway—flat with a slight curve of horizon.

“You… you… I’ll fight you!!!”

Xiaoxiao exploded, sparks flying like firecrackers.

“Alright, alright—don’t.”

Ye Yiyi stepped in, calm water dousing flame.

“You all, out. I’ll change myself.”

Coco raised a hand, fed up, mood stiff as a board.

“Yiyi‑jie, drag them out for me.”

“Okay. Call me if you need help. I’ll wait at the door.”

Ye took one in each hand, like carrying two squawking chicks, and the three slipped out of the ward.

“Brother Lu, we found her. Tang Coco’s in the VIP ward at the Central Hospital.”

Downstairs, in a black Range Rover, Li Mao spoke into his phone, voice low like smoke.

“Knew it. Good. Come back first. I’ve got plans for the afternoon.”

“Got it.”

Li Mao hung up and drove off, the car a dark fish sliding into traffic.