“Inside Huaguo...”

Grief burned like a coal in Su Xinhua’s chest, but a cold plan spread like silk. A few days after hearing her son had “died,” she spun a web.

She held a secret like a seed cupped in the dark. The man who loved her had whispered it like wind under a door.

She refused to believe her son had vanished like smoke. Hope sat in her ribcage like a stubborn lamp that wouldn’t go out.

So she told the few she trusted to bait a net on the web. The trap gleamed like a spider’s thread in morning light.

The name “Su Xinhua” was a sealed box, not a storefront sign. In business she wore an American alias like a mask.

Only her husband, Tang Shoucheng, knew the name, and a scant circle like stones around a fire. One more man knew: Hong Wei.

Through Hong Wei, her son would know too. That thought rested like a pebble on still water, sending quiet rings.

The login trace wasn’t from the Shadow Division’s base. That cut like a knife. If not Hong Wei, in Huaguo, only one possibility remained.

“Where in Huaguo?” Her voice jumped like a spark and hung in the air.

“Ninghai City, Huaguo. That’s the last pin on the map. We can’t dig deeper there.” His words fell like cautious rain.

“Ninghai...” She tasted the name like sea-salt wind and let it sink.

“Alright. Go. Wipe the tracks clean.” Her tone went flat like a blade laid on stone.

“Understood.” The man with glasses slipped out like a shadow leaving a wall.

Alone, she sat, thoughts circling like kites tugging at their strings. Then she stood and pressed the desk intercom like a buzzer on a hive.

“Tiantian, prep a meeting. I’m laying out a new investment plan.” Her resolve set like a chess piece touching wood.

“Got it, Sister Su.” The reply came light, like a bell down a corridor.

Su Xinhua walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. The city below surged like a river of lights.

Come, she thought, let me see if that secret blooms like spring or withers like frost.

The next day, Tang Coco came early as usual. She settled into her seat like a leaf finding its branch, waiting for Meng Xiaoxiao.

“Yo—Tang the great beauty’s early today.” A sugary voice drifted in like perfume that’s too sweet.

She didn’t need to look to see Xu Ling’s painted smile. Coco kept her eyes down like a calm lake ignoring ripples.

“Hey? I’m talking to you! Didn’t you hear?” The voice rose like a kettle starting to whistle.

“Hey! Move. Don’t block the way.” A familiar voice cut in like a breeze through heavy curtains.

Coco looked up, and there was Meng Xiaoxiao, bright as morning sun on glass.

“You!” Xu Ling’s temper popped like a soap bubble.

“You what? Move.” Meng’s words snapped like a twig. In this class, she wore the little tyrant’s crown like a tilted cap.

“Hmph!” Xu Ling turned away, stiff as a cat with its tail up, and went back to her desk.

She knew Meng could talk circles like ribbons in a parade. Arguing would be a trap of her own weaving.

“Coco, come sit.” Meng’s grin broke like light through leaves.

Coco smiled back, warm as tea in winter. She liked Meng’s clean, straight swing of words.

“So? Did you see your sister?” Coco leaned in, curiosity fluttering like a moth.

“Mm! Sis Coco, listen—my sister changed a lot. Now she’s super pretty!” Joy fizzed in her like soda.

“Yeah? Seems your family’s genes are doing cartwheels.” Coco’s eyes curved like crescents.

“Hehehe, Sis Coco, you’re praising me, right?” Pride peeked out like a kitten.

“Quit preening.” Coco rolled her eyes like a tossed pearl.

“Oh, and my sis brought a friend back. Also super, super pretty. Best vibe I’ve seen—like a gentle big sister.”

“Oh? Better temperament than me?” Coco’s mischief flashed like a fox-tail.

“Um... Sis Coco, you don’t have big-sis vibes. You give off soft, adorable energy.” The tease landed like a finger poke.

“Hey! You little imp, what did you say? Itching for trouble?” Coco’s hands darted like playful fish to tickle her side.

“Hey, hey, hey! Stop! My bad, I’m kidding! I’m kidding!” Meng collapsed like a winded sparrow.

“Hmph. How am I soft...” The thought wobbled in Coco, like a lantern in a breeze.

“Right, I told my sister about you. To thank you for taking care of me, she wants to invite you home for dinner.”

“Dinner? Sure. What day?” Coco’s answer fell easy, like a coin into a bowl.

“Today. She’ll pick me up at noon. Come home with me.”

“Ah... not today. I promised someone lunch.” Her refusal slid out like a shutter closing.

“Someone? Sister Yiyi?” Meng’s eyes blinked like fireflies.

“No.” Coco shook her head, gentle as a willow.

“Then... wow, Sis Coco, don’t tell me you’ve got someone on the side.” The joke bounced like a rubber ball.

“What nonsense? I’m just buying a friend a meal.” Her tone knocked the air flat like a palm on water.

“Wow... you’ve never treated me.” The pout puffed like a tiny cloud.

“True, I haven’t. But you’ve already mooched dinner at my place.” Coco’s glance flicked like a fan.

“That’s different!” Meng’s protest rose like a flag.

Coco rolled her eyes again, the gesture smooth as a tide. But Meng kept pecking like a sparrow at crumbs.

“Alright, alright. I’ll treat you another day, okay?” She gave in like ice melting.

“Mm. Okay. Then I’ll let you off today.” Meng beamed like sunshine after rain.

“...” Coco stared at her powerless, the silence soft as cotton, while Meng giggled like a stream.

Noon came like a bell across a yard. The class emptied in a flutter like birds leaving wires.

“Let’s go. Downstairs together.” Meng grabbed her bag, quick as a rabbit.

“Mm. Let’s go.” Coco rose, smooth as lifting a veil, and they headed for the stairs.

For easier travel today, Coco had borrowed Ye Yiyi’s Porsche. The car waited like a crouching cat.

Ye Yiyi and Li Muyan would share another ride. Their plan slotted in like tiles.

At the parking lot, the air smelled like sun on concrete. “Alright, go on. I’m driving.”

“Okay. My sister’s at the gate. I’m off. Bye, Sis Coco.” Meng waved like a little flag and skipped away.

“Bye.” Coco watched her go, their paths parting like two streams at a rock.