The girls played to their hearts’ content, riding the night like fireflies, and only returned to the hotel after ten.
Huff, huff—nope, Xiaoxiao’s done for, lungs pumping like little bellows.
Meng Xiaoxiao reached the lobby, already panting like a spent deer.
Who told you to eat so much? Careful—you’ll puff up like rising dough.
Meng Yuting patted her back, disdain dripping like cold rain.
As if—look who chased Sis Coco to the lakeside and almost fell into the moonlit water.
She puffed her cheeks like a sulking sparrow.
Hey! You little brat!
Meng Yuting’s anger flared like a struck match.
Aah—so tired—need rest—need a hug—Coco, let’s go sleep-sleep, like a kitten seeking a warm lap.
Uh…
Tang Coco looked at her, speechless, like a statue in drizzle.
Acting like she hadn’t seen her sister’s anger, Meng Xiaoxiao wobbled toward Tang Coco like a drifting reed.
Get back here! If you don’t explain, I’ll make sure you “rest” tonight!
Her voice cracked like a whip.
Meng Yuting barked, grabbed her ear like a hook, and dragged her toward the elevators.
Help—kidnapping!
Her cry flapped through the lobby like a startled crow.
Her scream trailed away like a kite string fading.
Let’s head up too, like leaves rising on a breeze.
Gu Xin said to Ye Yiyi and Tang Coco.
Mm.
With that, the three took the elevator back to their floor, the car humming like a calm tide.
Alright, Coco, go rest well; we’ve got tons to play tomorrow, like lanterns waiting to be lit.
Outside the elevator, Ye Yiyi smiled gently, warmth like spring sunlight, and spoke to Tang Coco.
Mm, okay.
Tang Coco nodded, like a reed dipping in wind.
Call me if anything comes up, she said, her voice warm as a lamp.
Got it, she chirped, light as a sparrow.
She turned and headed for her room, steps soft as moth wings.
Coco!
Her name rose behind her like a bell.
Suddenly Gu Xin’s voice came from behind. Panic dropped through her chest like a stone into a lake. Had she been found out?
W-what’s up? she asked, her smile paper-thin.
Thank you…
The words were like a warm sip of tea.
Gu Xin smiled. Tang Coco had seen that smile before—joy from the heart, like sunlight breaking through clouds. It seemed Gu Xin hadn’t felt this in a long time.
Haha, Sis Gu, don’t be so formal with me—good night, she laughed, chimes bright as glass.
Tang Coco smiled back, then hurried to open her door and slip inside, like a fish to water.
Phew—hope I didn’t let anything slip, worry fluttering like a moth.
Leaning against the door, she patted her chest, heart still skittering like a startled rabbit. She shook her head and walked in, steps settling like dust.
A bath, then. I overdid it today, the thought rising like warm steam.
She spoke softly, hands sliding behind her back to untie the waist ribbon; it brushed her legs like a breeze and fell to the floor. As it slipped, the ancient-style dress loosened and pooled like moonlight, revealing the inner layer. Alone, she felt no shyness, and she eased the rest off, laid it on the bed like folded clouds, and headed for the bathroom.
She reached the bathroom and found the tub already filled with warm water, steam curling like morning fog.
Hm? Are hotels this attentive now? Her surprise lifted like a wing.
She tested the water; the heat was just right, like a held palm. She shut the door, shed the last layer, and stepped into the tub to sit, limbs sighing like reeds.
Mm… so boring, the silence an empty room.
She sat in the bath. She’d long grown used to her own body; bathing stirred little feeling, like rain on stone.
System, come out and chat for a bit, her words drifting like bubbles.
Bored, Tang Coco summoned the system from within, like knocking on a hidden door.
System initialized. This system’s primary function is to assist the host in using Anomaly Power, aiding growth in battle—not to serve as a voice chat for killing time.
The voice was cold as ice.
A cold female AI voice filled her mind, carrying a hint of displeasure like frost on glass.
…
You… what did you just say? Her doubt rippled like water.
She froze for a beat, then asked, puzzled, like a cat tilting its head.
If the host didn’t hear, the system will not repeat, words closing like a door.
That only confirmed it—why had the system turned like this? Confusion coiled like smoke.
I—I heard you. Why… are you like this? Her uncertainty hung like fog.
She asked inwardly, thoughts tapping like rain.
This system has no issues, the tone flat as slate.
No way… since when do you talk this much? And with tone? Alarm pricked like thorns.
This system has no issues, the refrain dull as a drum.
The same answer returned, like a drumbeat. Tang Coco thought it over; maybe the system had changed in ways she didn’t know, like currents under dark water.
Fine. Any new progress with the Anomaly Power? Hope flickered like a candle.
Currently, none. The system still recommends activating the Split-Body; it may assist the main body, advice steady as a signpost.
Split-Body! Right—how did I forget that? Memory snapped back like a taut string.
She slapped her forehead, chiding herself, thoughts scattering like startled sparrows.
Tomorrow I have to check if they’re wearing it on them, resolve settling like a stone.
She said it, wiped herself down, and rose from the tub, water slipping like silver threads. She took the towel from the wall, wrapped herself, and left the bathroom, footfalls soft as mist.
Mm… better put clothes on; this is inconvenient, the notion tugging like a breeze.
She thought that and looked around. Her suitcase was nowhere, emptiness pooling like shadow.
Huh? Didn’t they say they’d deliver it? Doubt pebbling her thoughts.
Maybe it was put somewhere else… The guess drifted like a leaf.
One hand clutching the towel, she searched the room. Suddenly she saw her suitcase on the dressing room floor, a dark block of certainty.
So it’s here… Relief exhaled like steam.
She hauled the case, dragged it to the bed, crouched, and slowly opened it, movements gentle as moonlight. But she didn’t notice—the ribbon from her ancient-style dress, the one that had fallen to the floor, was gone, vanishing like a snake into grass.
