So she’s that strong… The thought pricked like cold rain.

Tang Coco hadn’t expected even that brute girl couldn’t handle Mo Zitong, like steel meeting silk and losing.

Don’t worry. If she dares lay a hand on you, I won’t let her off. Her voice wrapped warm as a quilt.

Afraid Coco might spook, Ye Yiyi hurried to soothe her, like a palm calming ripples.

Embarrassment flushed like dawn light. Uh… it’s fine, I can handle it myself.

She spoke awkwardly, the thought scratching like sand—am I really that weak?

Hey! Caught you in the act! The shout crashed in like a firecracker.

Ah!! The cry popped like a balloon on a pin.

Suddenly, a figure burst through the door like a gust, making the two women jump like startled sparrows.

Muyan! What are you doing! Her words snapped like a twig.

Seeing who it was, Ye Yiyi scolded, annoyance flickering like sparks.

Just a surprise raid, checking what you two were up to, her grin hanging like a cat at the fish jar.

Li Muyan’s eyes swept over Ye Yiyi and Tang Coco like roaming searchlights.

Surprise raid? You can’t even beat a girl… The words slid in like a cold blade.

Coco muttered, her voice small as a moth tapping glass, yet Li Muyan still heard.

Huh? What’d you say? Your skin itching for trouble? Her tone cracked like a whip.

With that, Li Muyan lunged like a boar and shoved Tang Coco onto the bed.

Hey, what’re you doing? If you’ve got guts, go deal with Mo Zitong. Her words fired like arrows.

Coco shouted up at the “brute girl” pinning her, voice flaring like a torch.

Mo Zitong? Yiyi, you told her? Her brows knitted like tangled vines.

Li Muyan asked Ye Yiyi, her tone dropping like a stone into a well.

Ye Yiyi hummed, a nod light as a raindrop.

Fine, I’ll let you off for now… The words loosened like a slack rope.

Tch—sharp as a pebble click.

Li Muyan climbed off; Tang Coco sat up, smoothing clothes like ruffled feathers, and shot her a glare like a knife.

But Coco, I’m warning you—be careful of Mo Zitong; something’s off. The warning hung like a storm cloud.

Li Muyan’s tone turned serious, settling on Coco like frost.

What’s off? Her question rose like a wary sparrow.

If I truly couldn’t beat her, I’d accept it. But before a move, my vision blurred, then I blacked out, like fog swallowing a lantern.

Hm? A soft note, like a leaf catching wind.

Coco didn’t quite get it, confusion pooling like milky water.

Maybe she’d rigged the room beforehand, a web set to snare. In the end, I used family leverage so she wouldn’t target Yiyi, like iron behind a silk screen.

Li Muyan waved a hand, helplessness drooping like a wilted flower.

So that’s it. Looks like Mo Zitong’s tricks run deep, like knives hidden in silk.

Yeah, be careful. With that tiny frame, she could chew you to bones, like a tiger at dusk.

Li Muyan sneered, the sound thin as sawdust in the wind.

Tch—dry as a snapped twig.

All right, you rest. Come on, Yiyi, let’s go sleep. His grin spread like spilled ink on paper.

Seeing it all said, Li Muyan turned to Yiyi with a rogue grin, cheeky as a stray cat at night.

Get lost! Who’s sleeping with you! Her words cracked like ice on a river.

With that, Ye Yiyi ran off, footsteps scattering like beads across tile.

Wait for me—hey! His call chased her like a kite string in wind.

… The silence stretched like a gray ribbon.

Tang Coco stared at Li Muyan, face dark with lines like charcoal strokes.

Looks like I really need to keep an eye on Mo Zitong. The thought settled like a stone in water.

Ding— A chime dropped like a silver bead.

Suddenly, her phone chimed; Coco picked it up and checked, fingers moving like quick minnows.

Little darling, if you still don’t come to work this weekend, I’ll have to fire you~ —Mu Qingcheng. The words glittered sweet as candy shells.

Uh… A sigh leaked like air from a punctured balloon.

Annoyance pricked like thorns; she’d almost forgotten. With the boss pushing, she had to go this week. Still, she’d watch for Mu Qingcheng’s traps, like pits under leaves.

Ding— Another ping fell like light rain.

She’d just set the phone down when another chime came, quick as rain; no choice, she lifted it for another glance like turning a page.

Come by my place this weekend. The two bodyguards I arranged have arrived; I’ll introduce them—surprise included~ But remember, don’t go to the underground base. Come as a regular customer; someone will receive you. —Ningxin. The message unfurled like a ribbon.

… The pause hung like a gray cloud.

Why is there so much stuff… The complaint drifted like smoke from an incense stick.

Coco tossed the phone onto the bed, anger dropping like a stone in cotton.

Bodyguards, huh… Fine… I’ll at least see who they are. Resignation slid in like dusk over rooftops.

Honestly, she felt two bodyguards were useless. Besides school, she stayed at Ye Yiyi’s, life folded indoors like a paper crane.

What use were guards, shadowing her up close like glue? Even if they insisted, she wouldn’t agree, her spine stiff as bamboo.

Her only hope was their strength, a candle flicker in fog. When she moved on her own later, they might help like oars in current.

She doubted Ningxin alone could handle her if she lost control, a storm breaking its tether.

Meanwhile, at Meng Xiaoxiao’s home, three women sat on the sofa, words weaving like soft threads.

Xiaoxiao, just focus on school. Before I came, Father laid out the Ninghai plan—I'm here to prep the new company for listing, like maps unrolled.

Mm, okay, I won’t bother with any of that! I just want Sis here with me. Her smile bloomed like a morning flower.

Meng Xiaoxiao hugged Meng Yuting’s arm, clingy as ivy on a wall.

Haha, sweet talker. In a few days, Sis Gu and I might get busy; if anything comes up, tell me. Her laugh rang like little silver bells.

Okay, then… Oh right! You don’t have plans for National Day, do you? Her eyes lit like red lanterns.

National Day? Right, the holiday’s almost here. The thought rose like a bright flag.

Meng Yuting remembered, the memory lifting like sun-burned mist.

Mm-hmm, let’s go out together. Call Sis Coco. The plan bubbled like spring water.

Meng Xiaoxiao kept on, voice hopping like a sparrow on a branch.

Mm… Hesitation hung like a thin veil.

Obviously, Meng Yuting was hesitant, mood wavering like a reed in wind.

I think it’s good. You just got back, so relax for a few days. Her words fell soft as rain on tiles.

Gu Xin spoke from the side, voice warm as moonlight through gauze.

Since Xin’er says so… let’s do that. We’ll handle company stuff after National Day. The decision settled like dust on a ledger.

Yay! I’m gonna tell Sis Coco the news! Her joy sprang like a firework.

Meng Xiaoxiao jumped up, then dashed for her room to call, two steps stopping like a sudden swirl of wind.

Eh? Sis, you listen to Sis Gu so much—are you two… involved? Her mischief sparkled like fox eyes.

… The air went still like a held breath.

… Two gazes met, blank as snow.