By noon the next day, it was time for Li Muyan to leave. In her room, Ye Yiyi was sorting the clothes she’d take, her fingers smoothing fabric like quiet ripples.

“Muyan, take good care of yourself. You’re going with Uncle Li, so it shouldn’t be dangerous, but still—be careful.” Her voice fell soft, like spring rain on bamboo.

“Relax. Who am I? Taekwondo black belt, hello...” Li Muyan sat on the bed, giggling like a sparrow on a branch.

“Mm… true.” Ye Yiyi murmured, but worry shadowed her face; a chill moved under her skin like a draft before a storm. Maybe she was overthinking. She shook her head and forced a smile.

“Enough about me, Yiyi. While I’m gone for more than half a month, you need to keep an eye on that one.” Li Muyan stepped to her side.

“Mm, don’t worry. I won’t let her be in danger.”

“No, no—I’m worried about you. I’m afraid that one will—”

“Ahem! Talking behind someone’s back isn’t nice.” A voice cut in from the doorway.

“Uh…”

“What are you doing here?” Li Muyan snapped back to normal, hands on her hips, and asked Tang Coco.

“Hmph! I just came to look around.” Tang Coco pouted, fierce and adorable, like a kitten bristling.

“Hehe, Coco, you’re totally being tsundere.” Ye Yiyi laughed, hand over her mouth.

“Huh… am I?” Tang Coco touched her own face, baffled.

“Stay home and take care of yourself.” Li Muyan stepped up and patted Coco’s shoulder.

“Tsk, I don’t need you worrying.” Coco pushed her arm away.

“Here, this is for you.” Tang Coco took out a silver bracelet.

“Huh? Isn’t that—” Ye Yiyi recognized it at a glance.

“Yeah. Ningxin gave it to me last time, said it’s a protective charm. I don’t need it. You wear it for now.” Coco held it out to Li Muyan.

“Uh… you believe in that superstition? Wait—are you worried about me?” Li asked, shameless as summer sun.

“Heh… do you want it or not?”

“I do! How could I refuse when little Coco cares this much?” Li grinned, slipped the bracelet on, and turned her wrist to admire it. She seemed satisfied, like finding a pebble that fits the palm.

“Alright, time’s up. I’m heading to my dad’s place.” Li checked her phone, the screen bright as noon.

“Mm, I’ll carry it down for you.” Ye Yiyi stood and pulled the suitcase.

“No need, it’s not heavy.” Li snatched it back and headed downstairs. Yiyi and Coco trailed after, steps like leaves following a breeze. In a moment, Li had loaded everything into her sports car.

“Safe travels.” Ye Yiyi stepped in and hugged Li, warmth draping like a shawl.

“You’re not coming in for one?” After they parted, Li walked to Tang Coco. Coco smiled too. They bickered, but they were close friends. The two girls hugged.

“Ah?” Suddenly, Tang Coco yelped, springing back, hands clapped over her butt.

“You!” Her cheeks flushed pink like peach blossoms.

“Hee-hee. I’m off!” Li laughed, darted away, and slid into her sports car. The engine growled; she pulled out and vanished down the street like a streak of light.

Tang Coco watched the direction she left, thoughts drifting like smoke.

“I hope my worry is just extra.” She shook her head and let it go, like releasing a kite into calm sky.

Suddenly, Ye Yiyi stepped up and wrapped her arms around Coco’s waist from behind, a tremor running through her like a reed in wind.

“Mm?”

“Coco… there’s something I want to tell you.” Her voice was low, as if speaking underwater.

“Mm. Let’s go inside.”

They went in and sat on the sofa. Ye Yiyi kept holding Coco, her body still shivering, a thin thread of cold.

“Yiyi-jie, what’s wrong?” Coco frowned, worry pooling like dusk.

“I… I don’t know. I don’t know why, but I’m so worried about Muyan. It feels like something’s about to happen.” Her head bowed; the air turned heavy like a sky before rain.

Coco thought, then spoke, steady as a hand on a shoulder. “It’s okay. Trust me, she won’t run into trouble. The Li family has pull. They won’t let anything happen.”

“But—”

“Don’t overthink it. Did you forget? Tomorrow you’re taking me out, and you promised Xiao Xiao too. So—be happy, okay?” Coco smiled, sunlight breaking through cloud.

“Mm…”

“Alright. Maybe it’s just that I haven’t rested these past few days.” Ye Yiyi showed a small smile and rubbed her temple, like wiping fog from glass.

“How could you be sleeping badly?” Coco asked.

“I don’t know either. I keep having strange dreams. But the moment I wake, I remember nothing—only that my mood sinks.”

“How can that be… How about we go to the hospital and check?” Coco suggested.

“No… no need.”

“Alright, then.” Coco yielded to her, patience settling like warm tea.

“Hey, Yiyi… is Aunt Flo visiting?” Coco suddenly grinned.

“Uh… huh? Where?” Ye Yiyi glanced toward the door; no one had rung the bell.

“Not that kind of relative…” Coco put a hand to her forehead and explained.

“Then you—”

“Coco, you dare tease me!” Realization dawned; heat rose like a tide.

“Hahaha—”

Laughter spilled through the living room, the two girls chasing and play-wrestling, joy fluttering like paper cranes.