A few women sat in the lounge, laughter fluttering like paper cranes, most of it teasing Tang Coco.

By then the hall had swelled like a tide, people schooling in twos and threes, each cluster chatting over its own little weather.

Suddenly, a woman in a red gown, hair coiled like a glossy knot, a mic shining in her hand, slipped onto the center stage like a crimson ribbon.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our banquet. We’ll begin shortly.”

The host spoke with a smile, her voice smooth as silk, and the hall drifted like smoke as people sought partners and ideal seats.

“Looks like the investors behind this amusement island have deep waters,” Ye Yiyi said, her gaze sweeping the mixed crowd of foreigners like a lighthouse beam.

“Pixis... I don’t remember a conglomerate by that name. It’s probably not their real banner,” Meng Yuting murmured, her thought rising like mist.

“Mm, I haven’t heard of it either. I bet someone will explain soon,” Gu Xin said, fruit juice cool as dew slipping down her throat.

“Right,” Meng Yuting nodded, the motion small as a raindrop.

Sure enough, within minutes the woman in the long gown returned to the center stage, steps crisp as tapping jade.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our banquet officially begins. First, please welcome the General Manager of Pixis Amusement Island, Miss Xu Yinuo, eldest daughter of the Xu family of Ninghai City, to deliver the opening words.”

Amid the buzz that hummed like a hive, Xu Yinuo walked up in a wine-red gown and red heels, her hair draped down her back like a dark waterfall, a smile calm as moonlight.

On looks alone you’d never guess she was still a college student; she seemed a different creature from the mischievous Xu Yinuo of everyday life, mask smooth as lacquer.

Tang Coco felt a prickle like cold rain; if she hadn’t witnessed Xu Yinuo’s “methods,” she might have been fooled by that polished shell.

“She’s so young,” Meng Xiaoxiao breathed, chin propped in her hands like a small bridge; she’d never seen Xu Yinuo around campus.

“Of course. She’s in my class,” Ye Yiyi said, giving Xu onstage a glance like a quick brushstroke, then cutting a look toward Tang Coco like a flicked blade.

“Uh...” Tang Coco caught Ye Yiyi’s look and went wordless, her heart knocking like a sparrow; she hadn’t thought Ye would still remember tonight.

“Huh? She’s still a student?” Meng Xiaoxiao’s curiosity rose like a cat’s tail.

“Mm. The Xu family prizes cooperation with foreign capital; I heard this deal worked because of threads Xu Yinuo pulled,” Ye Yiyi said, voice steady as a metronome.

“Oh.” Meng Xiaoxiao answered, the sound soft as a pebble dropping.

“Didn’t expect someone her age to be the GM of this island; seems the Xu family hung a lantern of hope on her,” Meng Yuting said, wine warming her like firelight.

“After this, the Xu family’s influence in Ninghai City will swell like a river after rain,” Ye Yiyi said, words even as oars.

“Tch. Once my sister gets her company up, she’ll leave them in the dust,” Meng Xiaoxiao said, arms crossed like a shield, stubbornness bright as flint.

“Hm? Yuting-jie’s starting a company too?” Ye Yiyi turned to ask, eyes round as coins.

“Yeah. My family wants me to expand business here in Ninghai; after the National Day holiday, I’ll be busy as a hive,” Meng Yuting said, her smile light as smoke.

“Wow, I’m jealous—building your own thing feels like flying a kite into blue sky,” Ye Yiyi said, envy tugging like a string.

“Don’t worry, Yiyi. I believe you’ll be a powerhouse too,” Gu Xin said with a gentle smile, words warm as tea.

“Mm...” Ye Yiyi’s reply fell soft, confidence wilting like a leaf in shade.

“What about Coco? What are you planning?” Meng Yuting suddenly steered the boat toward Tang Coco, smile curling like a crescent.

“Ah? I...” Tang Coco blinked, caught off guard, mind scattering like startled fish.

“If you ask me, Coco should try modeling; she’d crush it,” Meng Yuting said, lips lifting like a fine hook.

“Um... no way,” Tang Coco waved her hand, laughter light as bells; she couldn’t imagine being a model—Meng Yuting had to be teasing.

“It’s fine. As long as Coco stays by my side,” Ye Yiyi said suddenly, words landing like a tossed pebble in a quiet pond.

“Ah!?” The women all stared, surprise flaring like sparks; Tang Coco was the most stunned, heart leaping like a deer.

My little Yiyi... you’re not drunk, are you? I don’t remember how much red wine you had... saying that out loud to everyone—her thought skittered like a startled bird.

“Uh... no... I mean... with Coco by my side, it’s easier to take care of her...” Ye Yiyi realized what she’d said, blush blooming like peach blossoms as she rushed to explain.

“Haha, all right, we get it,” Meng Yuting laughed, eyes saying “I know,” and Ye Yiyi’s cheeks reddened deeper, color rising like evening clouds.