“Coco, let’s look at that.”

Ye Yiyi pointed ahead, where a hulking hall loomed, its plaque gleaming with the words “Underground Surge” like a river’s crest.

“Sure, let’s go.”

Tang Coco nodded, a small ripple of excitement rolling through her.

Inside, the air was cool as cave water.

Few tourists drifted like scattered leaves; they waited briefly, then staff guided them to a stony bank beside a subterranean river.

Water murmured below; stone walls pressed close like mountain ribs, wrapping the channel in a hushed sense of adventure.

Under the staff’s nod, they boarded a wooden skiff with a simple canopy, old-time style, drifting forward without oars or a boatman.

Something beneath pushed them along, a silent fish in the dark.

No one would interrupt; the river kept their secret like night water.

“It’s so pretty in here~”

Ye Yiyi’s eyes drank the colored lights and the blossom decorations, stars and petals scattered across stone.

She set her big white bear plush aside like a dozing cub, slid over, and hugged Tang Coco’s arm.

A warm blush rose in Tang Coco’s chest like sunrise.

She finally understood Ye Yiyi’s tide.

She wasn’t clueless; she had weathered hearts before—Gu Xin, Meng Yuting—storms and calms.

Morning anger had flashed when she saw herself and Xu Yinuo sharing a room like two shadows.

Later, hearing Meng Yuting liked girls, a pebble dropped, ripples widening inside Ye Yiyi.

She hadn’t expected gentle, kind Ye Yiyi to love girls too, a spring turning its quiet course.

Her own heart liking girls was one thing; she used to be a man, an old river wearing a new bank.

With Ye Yiyi and Li Muyan, she had held back, keeping feelings shallow like water under ice.

She feared they’d dislike her, frost where she wanted spring.

But now the current felt different, warmer, a thaw running.

She remembered Li Muyan “bullying” her—probably a lily girl too—maybe Ye Yiyi had been tugged along like a vine.

Either way, the sky looked clear; nothing felt wrong.

“Coco? What are you thinking? You’re spacing out.”

Tang Coco came back like a bird returning to branch and found Ye Yiyi beside her, cheeks puffed like ripe peaches.

Tang smiled and slid an arm around her willow-slim waist.

“Nothing, just thinking how my Yiyi could be this cute.”

She tapped Ye Yiyi’s nose lightly, a snowflake touch, and instantly regretted it.

Something clicked—some hidden switch—and Ye Yiyi flushed scarlet like a dawn sky.

She stammered, “Wh—whose Yiyi? C-call me sis!”

Tang Coco stared, speechless, at this prickly peach.

“W-what’s with that face…” Ye Yiyi asked, hands on hips, shame blooming like heated wine.

Seeing her that adorable, Tang decided to tease, a cat flicking its tail.

She smirked. “Oh? Isn’t there a certain girl? Dragging someone into a corner, holding them tight, saying stop calling her ‘elder sister.’”

Tang Coco kept poking the ember, oblivious as Ye Yiyi reddened and clenched her small fists like drumbeats.

“Coco!!!!!”

In a rush like a breaking wave, Ye Yiyi pounced.

Tang Coco, giddy and careless, never reacted; they toppled onto the planks, the boat creaking like an old tree.

Ye Yiyi pinned Tang beneath her like a hawk over prey, fingers clamping Tang’s wrists.

“Uh… Y-Yiyi… w-what…”

Tang Coco blinked, struggling; Ye Yiyi’s strength surged like a hidden spring.

“Heh~ Talk. Keep talking.” Ye Yiyi’s smile turned cool, a riled kitten baring tiny claws.

“…I—I won’t say another word.”

“Hmph~ Dare to tease your Sister Yiyi? This is your fate.”

She released Tang’s wrists, turning away to stand, like a wave drawing back.

“Yiyi.”

She turned. As her gaze met Tang Coco, two hands surged toward her like lightning.

Tang Coco seized Ye Yiyi’s shoulders and, using her loose balance, pulled her down like a net.

“Ah! Mm!”

Ye Yiyi barely reacted before Tang drew her upper body down; a soft warmth sealed her lips.

Eyes wide, Ye Yiyi stared at Tang Coco, stunned that the gentle one would move like a sudden storm.

Her mind went blank, snowfall over fields; it was her first kiss with a girl.

Even the forceful Li Muyan hadn’t dared this.

But Tang Coco was different—once a boy—she knew the tide and how to row.

After so much “bullying,” anger had banked inside her like coals; today she finally found a place to flame.

Otherwise, everyone would keep calling her a little weak cat.

Skilled, she slipped past Ye Yiyi’s lips, breaking that small defense like ice in spring.

Ye Yiyi felt something soft and sweet enter, honey on her tongue, and her mind snapped awake.

First time being kissed by force, instinct flared like a thorn, and she bit down.

“Aaa!!!”