Tang Coco saw Meng Xiaoxiao barreling toward her, so she braced like a willow in a gust, ready for impact.

“Sis Coco!”

Thump!

They slammed together, two fawns colliding in the brush. But Meng Xiaoxiao didn’t hug Coco’s upper body; she latched onto Coco’s bare thigh, her small hands wandering like fish in warm water.

“Meng Xiaoxiao! What are you doing!”

Coco’s voice was a bright snap, and she pried the girl off like peeling ivy from stone.

“Wow, Sis Coco, you’re so pretty~”

“Enough. Sweet talker. Behave.”

“Hehe~”

“Coco’s like a living clothes rack; any outfit on you shines like moonlight on silk,” Gu Xin said with a smile as soft as dusk.

“Yeah, this little beauty is too cute,” Meng Yuting added, arms crossed like a lazy cat basking in sun.

“Oh, come on…”

Coco’s cheeks bloomed pink, like peach blossoms in spring.

“Alright, let’s get moving. We’re all getting hungry,” Ye Yiyi said, her tone light as a breeze before rain.

“Yeah, yeah, this princess is starving,” Meng Xiaoxiao huffed, rubbing her little belly like a puffed-up sparrow.

“Then let’s roll!”

They headed for the snack street. The sun slid down like an ember in ash; oil lamps and lanterns kindled, flowers of fire opening in the dusk, adding an old-time fragrance to the night.

On the way, Meng Xiaoxiao and Meng Yuting were the liveliest, sparrows hopping from stall to stall. They bought anything tasty, paused anywhere playful, while Ye Yiyi and Gu Xin stayed by Coco’s side like steady shadows.

“Coco, is there anything you want to play?” Ye Yiyi asked, hugging Coco’s left arm, her voice soft as velvet.

“Mm… I’m fine just looking. Watching is its own fun,” Coco said, smiling like a quiet pond reflecting stars.

“Is that so… Sister Gu isn’t playing either,” Ye Yiyi said to Gu Xin, who held Coco’s right arm like a calm anchor.

“Ha—me? I’ve been overseas, hardly touched any of this. Just seeing it makes me happy,” Gu Xin laughed, her tone warm as a hearth.

At her words, a knot tightened in Coco’s chest like a cloud heavy with rain. As mercenaries, strolling a lively street had been a luxury they couldn’t afford. After Coco’s own “death,” Gu Xin carried too much, like steel chains around a young heart. She’d barely had a chance to taste the spring of a girl’s joy.

“Alright! Let’s play too!”

With that spark, Coco decided to break the clouds and let in sun.

“Eh?” Both Ye Yiyi and Gu Xin blinked, puzzled, like birds startled by a sudden bell.

“Don’t freeze up! We’ll buy a few skewers, then hit the center!”

Coco grabbed one each by the hand and ran forward, three figures like kites tugged by a single thread.

“Hey! Coco, slow down! You’re in heels!”

Ye Yiyi called out, wind in her words. Gu Xin blinked, then smiled, letting herself be pulled like a leaf on a warm current.

“Coco, wear this~”

At a roadside stall glittering like a small fair, Ye Yiyi perched a pair of white cat ears on Coco’s head.

“Cute?”

Coco tilted her head, ears twitching like a small snowcat.

“Mm! Super cute~”

“Then you try this~”

Coco handed Ye Yiyi a pair of pink bunny ears, soft as cotton candy.

“Mm!”

Ye Yiyi nodded and put them on, her smile hopping like a rabbit in clover.

“And this, Xin… Sister Gu… I’ll put it on you.”

Coco lifted fluffy fox ears, her words stumbling like a pebble in a stream.

“I’ll pass~”

Gu Xin waved, gentle as moonlight.

“Don’t. Sister Gu will look extra adorable,” Ye Yiyi chimed, teasing like a silver bell.

“Alright then~”

Coco set the ears on Gu Xin, fur against midnight hair, a fox spirit blooming.

“Wow~ Sister Gu is super cute too—just as charming as Coco,” Ye Yiyi said, delight sparkling like fireflies.

“Is that so~”

Gu Xin’s smile curved, a crescent in the night.

“Well, well—where did you three run off to? Flirting by the stalls, huh?” Meng Yuting appeared with Meng Xiaoxiao, her laughter rippling like a clear stream.

“Yeah… mm… you guys… mm-mm… having so much fun,” Meng Xiaoxiao mumbled around her stuffed cheeks, one hand clutching two skewers, steam rising like incense.

“…”

The others stared, speechless, at the hamster-cheeked girl.

“Haha, I’ll pick one for Xiaoxiao too~ Lemme see… this one!”

Ye Yiyi turned back and chose pink cat ears for Meng Xiaoxiao, sugar-sweet on her head.

“Xin, I want one too~” Meng Yuting clung to Gu Xin’s arm, her voice dripping honey.

“I’ll pick for you… let me see…”

Coco turned, eyes scanning like a sparrow picking seeds.

“This! This suits you perfectly~”

She handed Meng Yuting a pair of gray dog ears, rough as a scruffy stray.

“Uh…”

Meng Yuting looked at the homely ears, her lip twitching like a string pulled too tight.

“Little kitty, you’re being very naughty,” she said, dog ears in hand, stalking forward like a graceful huntress.

“Ah? I think… it’s kind of cute?” Coco stammered, stepping back, heartbeat like a drum.

“Cute? Good—let me make you even ‘cuter’!”

Meng Yuting lunged, a playful pounce like a cat at dusk.

“Ah! Help!”

Coco spun and ran, heels tapping like quick rain. Not the tallest stilettos, thank the stars, but Meng Yuting chased and didn’t let up, laughter like wind at her back.

“Little kitty! Stand still!”

Meng Yuting’s call sliced the air like a bright ribbon.

“Hahaha~ Tingting hasn’t played like this in ages,” Gu Xin said, joy bubbling like spring water.

“Come on, let’s follow, or they’ll run too far,” she added, smile warm as a lantern.

“Okay~”

“Hey! Take some from me! I’m carrying too much to run fast~” Meng Xiaoxiao yelped, juggling skewers like a flustered street performer.