Two sports cars—one red, one silver—sliced down the highway, twin comets streaking toward the sea beyond the city.

“Coco, you okay back there...?” Ye Yiyi’s voice was soft, like rain tapping glass, as she drove the Porsche and glanced at Tang Coco.

“I’m fine~ just... Xiaoxiao messed me up. I didn’t really wake up.” Tang Coco’s tone floated light, like a breeze teasing a wind chime.

Guilt pricked Ye Yiyi, a thorn under velvet. “Mm... sorry, last night I...” Her habit clung like a shadow—she always slept hugging a doll.

“It’s fine, Yiyi-jie. You were cute last night~” Tang Coco’s smile warmed like morning sun through gauze, easing the sting.

“Ah?... R-really?” Ye Yiyi’s eyes went wide, twin moons catching hope.

“Yeah~ like a little rabbit, pawing and nibbling.” Tang Coco laughed, bright as silver bells.

Silence fell like a curtain.

“Wow! You’re not complimenting me at all!” Ye Yiyi burst out, her voice boiling like a kettle.

“Hahaha~ don’t—don’t get worked up, watch the road...” Tang Coco waved, calm as a lake.

“Tang Coco, you’ve gone bad!” Ye Yiyi huffed, a puff of steam.

In the other four-seat sports car...

“Xiaoxiao, does Coco get sick a lot?” Gu Xin sat in the passenger seat, voice low as a shadow under an awning. Meng Yuting drove. Meng Xiaoxiao tapped at her phone in the back, screen glowing like a firefly.

“Yeah. Since school started, she’s been hospitalized several times.” Meng Xiaoxiao answered, words dropping like pebbles into water.

“From what?”

“Mm... the hospital couldn’t find anything. Her body’s fine every time, just incredibly weak.” Her sigh drifted like mist.

“Weak...” Gu Xin murmured, eyes meeting Meng Yuting’s like two lines crossing in the dark. Both believed Coco’s hospital stays were tied to Anomaly Power.

“Huh? Gu-jiejie, why are you asking so much?” Meng Xiaoxiao lowered her phone, curiosity peeking out like a cat at a window.

“No reason~ just worried.” Gu Xin smiled, a lantern glow.

“Uh-oh! Gu-jiejie, don’t tell me you’re going to make a move on Coco-jie too!” The words popped out like firecrackers.

“Ah?” Gu Xin froze, her thoughts scattering like startled birds.

“Heavens, I was wrong, totally wrong. I shouldn’t have introduced Coco-jie to you all. I should’ve hidden her away.” Meng Xiaoxiao slumped back, hugging her head, regret piling like snow.

“Pfft~ Yuting, Xiaoxiao really is your sister. That habit is exactly the same~” Gu Xin laughed, silver ripples spreading.

“Of course~ look whose sister she is! Don’t worry, Xiaoxiao. The two of us together will keep that little Coco in the palm of our hand.” Meng Yuting’s confidence flashed like a blade in sunlight.

“Really!? Sis, you’ll help me?” Hope flared in Meng Xiaoxiao’s eyes, a match catching tinder.

“Sure~”

“Yay! Then we’ve got a chance. Even Gu-jiejie ended up wrapped around your finger. Coco-jie won’t stand a chance... and then... hehe~” Her joy bubbled in the back seat like soda fizz.

“...”

“...”

Meng Xiaoxiao spun in giddy circles inside, a kite tugging at its string. The two up front exchanged a wordless look, silence steady as stone.

“Hey~ little Tingting~ when did you have me wrapped around your finger?” A teasing lilt slipped into Gu Xin’s voice, sweet and acidic like candied lemon. Her hand slid to Meng Yuting’s side waist; Yuting wore a white crop tee, summer-white like a gull.

“Ah? Ah? No... I’m driving... safety first... safety first...” Meng Yuting stammered, nerves fluttering like sparrows.

“Hmph.” Gu Xin snorted, a tiny thunderclap, and let it go.

Thirty minutes later, the two cars rolled into the seaside reception area of the amusement park. Yachts bobbed like gulls, waiting to ferry guests to the man-made island.

“Hello, please present your invitation.” A young man in formal wear approached, smile smooth as polished stone.

“Here.” Ye Yiyi took out the invitation Xu Yinuo had given her, paper crisp as a leaf.

“Thank you, Miss Ye. How many guests will you bring?” The staffer checked, polite as a silk ribbon.

“Four girls.”

“Great, I’ll register you. Please place your luggage over there in the baggage area. We’ll deliver it to your hotel room shortly.” His gesture swept like a fan.

“Mm. Let’s drop the luggage.” Gu Xin’s voice was steady, a calm tide.

“Okay.” Ye Yiyi nodded with a smile, following the attendant, steps light as petals.

Tang Coco hauled two suitcases from the car, wheels chirping like crickets. Since Ye Yiyi went to register, the extra case fell to her.

“I’ll help.” A pair of long, straight legs entered her view, pale as porcelain. The voice belonged to Gu Xin in a white short skirt; her smile curved like a crescent moon.

“Uh... no need, I’ve got it...” Recognition struck, and Tang Coco dodged her gaze, fear flitting like a moth. She knew her own eyes might betray her.

“It’s fine~ we don’t have much luggage. I’ll take it.” Gu Xin lifted the other case, easy as lifting a basket.

“Thanks...” The word tasted bittersweet, like tea with salt.

“We’re friends now. No need for thanks~” Gu Xin turned, her back straight like a bamboo stalk.

Pain tightened in Tang Coco’s chest, a thread pulling taut. From Gu Xin’s voice alone, she heard the hurt underneath, a storm sealed in glass. They once spoke about everything. Now she kept quiet, afraid of being recognized. If she could, she’d shout that she was still alive. But... she’d changed. Her reflection felt like a stranger in a rippling pond.

“All set. Let’s go.” Ye Yiyi came back with five tickets, paper fluttering like white wings.

“Yay!” Meng Xiaoxiao’s cheer leapt up like a sparrow, and the girls boarded the yacht, its bow slicing the blue like an arrow into the sea.