"Oh? And then? What's that got to do with me?" Her voice was cool, like shade beneath bamboo.

"Coco, big sis, you're such a scatterbrain. You forgot—you snatched her top spot," Meng Xiaoxiao chirped, mischief bright as a kite in spring wind.

"Huh? I wasn't trying to be number one." Confusion drifted through her like mist over a pond.

Tang Coco blinked, more lost than before, because that leaderboard wasn't hers to build; it felt like a crown blown onto her by a stray gust.

"She doesn't see it that way. You were gone for days, and she came looking for you," Meng said, the words sliding like pebbles across water.

"No way... she's that serious?" Doubt pricked like fine rain.

"Of course. And that girl is pretty—fits the top spot. But she still can't match you, Coco." Meng laughed, bright as sunlight through paper, and nuzzled close like a cat seeking warmth.

"Cut the flattery. Keep talking about Xu Ling." Coco's patience thinned like stretched silk.

"As for Xu Ling, she's the school belle's admirer and tagalong. You took her place, so she’s unhappy. I already warned her," Meng said, chin up like a sparrow trying to look like a hawk.

"Uh... with that tiny frame, what threat can you make?" Coco eyed her, amused like a breeze ruffling willow leaves.

"Anyway, Coco, be careful of that former school belle," Meng muttered, worry curling like smoke.

"Girls. Such trouble." Coco clicked her tongue, annoyance like grit between teeth.

"Heh, you say it like you're not a girl yourself." Her teasing fluttered like a tassel on a lantern.

"..."

"Relax. Even if they stir up drama, I'll stick by you and protect you!" Meng puffed up, brave as a cub before thunder.

"Just don't add to the mess and that'll be protection enough." Coco's sigh fell like a fan closing.

Meng winced, then jumped tracks like a sparrow hopping to a new branch. "I found a new K-drama. Come watch!"

"..."

"Senior, Tang Coco came back to campus. What do we do?" At her desk, Xu Ling hunched over her phone, her text stealthy as a snake in grass.

The reply came fast, crisp as a snapped twig. "I have my own way. Don't bother."

"Hmph. Let's see how long you can strut," Xu Ling sneered, pride fanned like a peacock's tail.

She put her phone away and shot a hard look at Tang Coco and Meng Xiaoxiao, her stare cold as frost on tile.

Class rolled halfway by like clouds crossing sun. The two still watched their K-drama, screen glow soft as lantern light. Suddenly, a note slid from the seat ahead to Coco's desk, quiet as a paper fish in a stream. She sat third row from the back; the front seats were all girls. The sender didn't turn, tension taut like a drawn bow.

Coco smirked to herself. Even if you passed notes in college, most professors wouldn’t care; yet someone still chose the paper route, old-school as ink on rice paper.

She unfolded it. Two elegant lines danced like crane tracks on snow.

"Watch out for Mo Zitong. She's set her sights on you. —Ouyang Lingxue."

Coco’s surprise popped like a spark in dry grass. That cold beauty Ouyang Lingxue had sent this? And Mo Zitong—who was that shadow?

"Hmm? Coco, what's that?" Meng peeked, curiosity quick as a squirrel.

"Nothing. Xiaoxiao, you know who Mo Zitong is?" Coco kept her tone light, calm like a lake at dusk.

"Mo Zitong? Mm... doesn't ring a bell." Meng frowned, thoughts drifting like fallen petals.

"Oh... it’s fine. Keep watching," Coco said, folding the note smooth as a leaf.

Between classes, in Ye Yiyi’s room, unlike Tang Coco and Li Muyan, Ye Yiyi organized her notes with care, lines neat as terraces on a green hill.

Tap-tap—footsteps approached, steady as rain on stone. Ye Yiyi looked up. It was Xu Yinuo, absent for days, smile curved like a crescent moon.

"Miss Ye, what’ve you been up to these days?" Her tone was sweet, syrup over thorns.

"Stuff at home." Ye kept it brief, calm as sealed porcelain.

"Come on, don’t lie. I asked around—your ‘cousin’ Tang Coco hasn’t shown either. Obvious it’s about her," Xu Yinuo said, nosy as wind prying at shutters.

"If you already know, why ask," Li Muyan cut in, words clean as a blade.

"Li Muyan, when will you fix that temper?" Xu Yinuo clutched her chest, wounded act fluttering like stage silk.

"What do you want?" Ye Yiyi asked, gaze steady as pine.

"I’m here with a heads-up. You two probably don’t know—she’s back," Xu Yinuo said, voice low, a bell struck under cloth.

"She?" The question hung like a lantern in fog.

"The one who went abroad," she said, meaning heavy as rainclouds.

Ye Yiyi and Li Muyan thought, the name rising from memory like a submerged stone.

"Oh? Let her come back. You think we fear her?" Li Muyan shrugged, confidence firm as rock.

"You two won’t fear her—you’ve known her a year. But..." Xu Yinuo leaned close to Ye Yiyi’s ear, whisper thin as silk. "What about your ‘cousin’?"

Ye Yiyi’s breath caught, shock bright as lightning.

"Don’t forget, the current school belle is Tang Coco. You know her temperament; if you take what’s hers, she won’t let it slide," Xu Yinuo warned, smile sharp as a hairpin.

"That’s the reminder. You owe me one," she sang, leaving with steps light as swallows.

"Li Muyan... Coco..." Ye Yiyi’s worry pooled like ink.

"Tsk. What a hassle. Don’t worry; she won’t go too far. I’ll find time to talk to her," Li Muyan said, resolve steady as a drum.

"Alright... I should tell Coco too." Ye nodded, the decision settling like snow.

The bell rang, clear as chimes. Morning classes ended. Another afternoon stretched open, empty as a courtyard after rain.

"Coco, I’m going to the airport to pick up my sister. Want to come?" Meng’s eyes shone, excited as fireflies.

"No. You two haven’t met in ages; I won’t crash your ‘bonding’," Coco said, teasing like a fan’s flick.

"Hey, it’s not like that," Meng protested, cheeks pink as peach bloom.

"Please, like I can’t guess your little schemes. Go pack. You don’t need to walk me at lunch," Coco said, her smile a thin crescent.

"Hehe, you’re the best, Coco. I’m off. Bye!" Meng waved, lively as a kite on wind.

"Bye." Coco gathered her things and left for the parking lot, steps easy as drifting clouds.