“Warning, warning! Anomalous Energy detected within one meter.”
In Tang Coco’s head, the system’s voice tolled like a cold bell under water.
What—she’s an Abnormal?!
Tang Coco stared at Avril, shock fluttering in her chest like a startled sparrow.
Her rhythm broke; Avril’s dance surged like a rising tide, and Coco missed a step.
She pitched sideways; Avril’s motion shifted like a breeze, and she caught Coco into her arms.
Coco kept staring, dazed; Avril smiled down, then breathed a soft puff against her face like spring wind.
The breath carried a light fragrance, like tea and rain; Coco’s taut nerves loosened like thawing ice.
Avril flowed back into her dance, a river of silk and shadow.
Unease pricked like needles; Coco asked the system, “Does she intend to attack?”
“For now, no; the system detects no hostility.”
Could she really be using Anomaly Power just for the show?
Coco’s thoughts tangled like vines, unable to grasp why she’d do this.
After more than five minutes, the dance reached its coda, like dusk settling.
Avril finished several difficult moves, hand slipping behind her like a magician’s wing.
A bouquet of roses bloomed from her palm; she dropped to one knee and offered them to Coco.
The guests below gasped, as if struck by a bright arrow.
Beautiful-faced Avril wore that masculine gesture like armor; its impact hit no softer than any man’s.
“Uh… what is she trying to do?”
Coco had been watching with wariness like a cat in rain; the move blindsided her.
The cheers rolled like surf, so she went with it and accepted the roses.
Fragrance rose at once, a garden opening in her hands.
Onstage, Coco took the bouquet; Avril rose and snapped her fingers with a smile.
Snap!
Bang!
The roses burst apart; petals stormed over Coco like crimson snow.
As the petals drifted down like fading sunset, the stage stood empty of Tang Coco.
“What?!”
Ye Yiyi stared at the stage, shock spreading like frost.
“Where’s Sis Coco? Wow, is this one that strong? She really pulled a big live-vanish!”
Meng Xiaoxiao blurted, while Ye Yiyi’s brows knotted deep as winter branches.
“Wait… we can’t use Anomaly Power now!”
Meng Yuting grabbed Gu Xin’s arm before she could rush forward, like a hand on a runaway horse.
“There are too many ordinary people around; we can’t expose ourselves.”
Her voice carried anger and urgency, like thunder held behind clouds.
“Yeah, I was impulsive…”
Gu Xin clenched her fist, grief and rage grinding like ice.
She’d finally found a lead on Tang Ke, and now Coco fell into a trap right under her nose.
“Thank you, everyone—hope you enjoy the rest of the night.”
Clap clap clap!
Avril said to the crowd, then left the stage amid the hum, heading for the lobby doors.
Ye Yiyi and the others hurried after her like shadows chasing light.
“Hey! You, stop!”
In the corridor, Ye Yiyi called after Avril, voice sharp as a whistle.
“What is it? Oh—who are you?”
Avril turned, wearing a surprised look like a mask.
“Where did you take Coco!”
Ye Yiyi cut straight to the point, her words like thrown knives.
“Oh~ you’re her friends, right? Relax; she’s resting somewhere.”
“I’m very interested in her; I’m heading back to see her now.”
“How can you—”
Ye Yiyi started to snap, but Xu Yinuo pulled her back like a hand on a hot kettle.
“Miss Avril, why didn’t you notify me about this program?”
Even Xu Yinuo’s tone carried heat, like summer shimmering.
“Oh~ it was an improvised piece; I don’t think there was any way to notify you.”
“You—”
Hearing that tone made Yiyi even more unhappy, temper rising like a spark to hay.
“Yiyi… let us handle it.”
When Yiyi moved to argue, Gu Xin stepped beside her, voice calm as still water.
“But—”
She was worried for Coco, fear gnawing like a rat.
“Trust us, okay? Xiaoxiao, take Sis Yiyi to the guest room and wait for us.”
“Mm!”
At a critical moment, Meng Xiaoxiao obeyed, knowing she’d only be in the way here.
“And you—you’re Yiyi’s classmate, right? Could you look after her for us first?”
Gu Xin smiled at Xu Yinuo, a smile with a quiet pull like moonlight; refusal felt impossible.
“Alright, Yiyi, let’s go…”
Soon, only Avril, Gu Xin, and Meng Yuting remained in the corridor.
“Alright, let’s speak somewhere else.”
Gu Xin’s face cooled like iron in snow as she looked at Avril.
“Hmm? You’re Coco’s friends too?”
Avril kept smiling, as if flowers kept blooming in winter.
“Drop the fake smile. I suggest we change places to talk, yeah?”
As she spoke, Gu Xin lifted her right hand; winter breathed from her palm.
An arm-length ice spike floated into being, a frost blade shimmering like a frozen comet.
