"Yuting, you're back."

Gu Xin sat on a stool by the bed, her voice a quiet lantern in the doorway, speaking to a stunned Meng Yuting.

"Xin'er, what's going on?"

"That white 'egg' suddenly turned into this by noon."

Gu Xin looked at the glowing cloud of particles, eyes catching light like a lake.

"Hm? Could it be related to Coco?"

"Maybe. It looks like this now, but I checked—Coco's in no life-threatening danger."

Gu Xin's gaze drifted to Tang Coco, like a ribbon settling.

"Got it..."

"Alright, I'll cook. Who knows how long it'll stay like this—we can only wait."

"I'll keep watch here."

Li Muyan nodded, resolve like a stone set.

"Okay. I'll call you when dinner's ready."

"Mm."

"What is this... holding so much energy?"

A chill pricked Meng Yuting's heart, like frost along glass, as she thought.

"Gu-jie, you came down."

Ye Yiyi sat on the living room sofa, chatting with Li Muyan; she rose, words fluttering like sparrows, as Gu Xin came downstairs.

"Mm. For now, nothing should happen. Yuting's upstairs watching. I'll make you some food."

"Let me help."

"Sure."

Gu Xin smiled, a warm brazier in winter.

"Then I'll go find Yuting-jie."

Li Muyan stood, her intent like a straight arrow.

"Mm."

Li Muyan reached the second floor and stepped into the bedroom, air cool as a pond.

"Hm? I can handle this alone."

Meng Yuting saw her come in and spoke, voice like a thin veil.

"Yuting-jie, I need to tell you something."

Li Muyan's tone sank, heavy as rain.

"I see. Come sit."

Meng Yuting paused, then pulled over a chair, wood whispering like reeds.

"Mm."

Li Muyan sat down, back steady as a board.

"What is it?"

"Yuting-jie, can I develop Anomaly Power?"

"..."

Meng Yuting hadn't expected that; surprise rippled like a dropped pebble.

"Why? Why the sudden need for power?"

She asked with a smile, mild as spring sun.

"I feel that both Yiyi and Coco might face danger. After what happened in the States, I felt how small I am before a real Abnormal."

Li Muyan lowered her head, mood dim like dusk.

"..."

Meng Yuting studied her profile, silent for a beat, then smiled:

"They're blessed, aren't they?"

"Hm?"

Li Muyan lifted her eyes, puzzled, like a cat hearing a bell.

"Yiyi and Coco have someone like you guarding them from the shadows. That's true happiness."

Meng Yuting explained, voice like a soft stream.

"Yuting-jie?"

Li Muyan still didn't get why she said that, confusion a fog wrapping her.

"Anyway, I can give you an answer. Some secret groups do exist, hungry to expand. They made drugs that awaken Anomaly Power in ordinary people."

Meng Yuting fixed her gaze on Li Muyan, words sharp as a blade.

"Really?"

Hope flared in Li Muyan, bright as a match.

"Don't be happy. I won't let you touch those drugs."

Her voice dropped, steel under silk.

"Wh-why?"

Li Muyan hadn't expected her anger; the heat stung like a spark.

"True Abnormals are born with their abilities. Anyone who awakens through drugs pays a price. The bluntest side effect is... you won't live past three years."

"!!!"

The warning struck Li Muyan like thunder; her breath stumbled.

"No help for it. Even with Anomalous Energy inside, a normal body can't bear it. Three years... is already generous."

Meng Yuting spoke with helplessness, a cloud that wouldn't break.

"..."

With the answer, Li Muyan's mood sank; her head bowed like a wilted flower.

"But don't lose heart."

Meng Yuting's words came like a lantern relit.

"Hm?"

"Your body outclasses ordinary people. If I'm right, you're a Secondary Abnormal, aren't you?"

She looked at Li Muyan's face, searching like a physician reading pulses.

"Mm..."

Li Muyan admitted it, voice small as a moth.

"That makes it much easier. Relax. You can protect them."

Meng Yuting smiled, confidence bright as noon.

"So Secondary Abnormals can use those drugs?"

Clearly, Li Muyan misunderstood, thoughts running off like a startled deer.

"Impossible!"

Meng Yuting knocked her lightly on the head, a tap like a bamboo switch.

"I said I won't let you use those drugs."

Her tone was firm, a gate latched.

"Then I..."

Li Muyan felt lost, mind a room with no doors.

"You can rely on her."

Meng Yuting pointed at Tang Coco on the bed, finger like a compass needle.

"Coco?"

"Yes."

"Hm? Why?"

"In the States, you saw Coco's Anomaly Power, right?"

"Those Mechs, right?"

"Exactly. Her Mechs can be granted to others to use."

Meng Yuting spoke coolly, words clear as ice.

"..."

The thought stunned Li Muyan; after a beat, she said:

"So that means..."

"Yes. Once she wakes, ask her for a set of Mechs. If you master them, your combat power won't be weak."

Meng Yuting waved lightly and smiled, ease like a breeze.

"..."

It sounded too easy to Li Muyan; doubt pooled like shadow.

"Will Coco agree?"

"Mm... hard to say. When she wakes, let's see which Coco she is."

Meng Yuting shook her head, uncertainty drifting like smoke.

"..."

Li Muyan pictured the red-haired version of Coco. Helplessness pressed her chest like a stone.

"Yuting-jie."

Li Muyan asked suddenly, voice tight as a bowstring.

"Hm?"

"How do you know Coco's Anomaly Power traits?"

"Uh..."

The smile on Meng Yuting's face froze, brittle as thin ice.

"Coco... told me."

"Oh, I see..."

Meng Yuting said, then turned to Tang Coco, gaze a deep well.

"When you wake, I’ll ask you clearly."

Her heart vowed, words silent as ink.

In the kitchen...

"Wow, Gu-jie, you cook like this too?"

Ye Yiyi sounded surprised, eyes bright as lanterns. From Gu Xin’s little habits, it all looked familiar.

"Hm? What is it?"

Gu Xin asked, voice light as steam.

"Your steps and methods are the same as when Coco taught me."

Ye Yiyi said, memory sweet as warm rice.

"Hm? Coco taught you?"

Gu Xin grew more puzzled, brow drawing like brushstrokes.

"Yeah. I couldn't cook. Thanks to Coco’s lessons, I can make tasty dishes now."

Ye Yiyi smiled, cheer like sunshine through leaves.

"..."

Gu Xin fell quiet, thoughts circling like migrating birds. Then she said to Ye Yiyi:

"I really want to taste your cooking, Yiyi."

She smiled, then continued:

"How about this—why don't you make this dish? I'll watch from the side."

"Okay!"

Ye Yiyi answered happily, voice bouncing like a ball.

Watching Ye Yiyi's steps, Gu Xin's mood grew heavier, weight like rain-soaked cloth.

"As expected..."

The thought tightened in her chest; the methods matched the one who had learned beside her back then, a shadow from the past.

"Gu-jie? Gu-jie?"

Ye Yiyi called to the dazed Gu Xin, voice tugging like a sleeve.

"Ah!?"

"Gu-jie spaced out. I'm done."

Ye Yiyi laughed, a bell chiming.

"Mmm, smells great. I'll handle the rest. Go call them down to eat."

Gu Xin said, warmth returning like a hearth.

"Okay."

Ye Yiyi agreed and left the kitchen, footsteps light as feathers.

"..."

Gu Xin looked at the dish Ye Yiyi made, thoughts rising and falling like waves.

After a while, everyone sat at the table, chatting as they ate, voices like wind through bamboo.

"Yiyi and Muyan, stay here tonight."

Gu Xin said, tone steady as a beam.

"Hm... is that okay?"

Ye Yiyi asked, caution like a cat at a threshold.

"Of course. There are plenty of rooms."

"Then we'll trouble you and Yuting-jie."

Li Muyan smiled, a crescent moon of ease.

"It's fine."

Gu Xin smiled, then, seeing everyone finished, stood:

"Alright, I'll clean up."

"I'll help."

Meng Yuting said too, words crisp as porcelain.

"Then I'll check on Coco..."

Ye Yiyi still couldn't relax; worry tugged like a vine.

"Mm. I'll help you tidy a room."

Li Muyan smiled, helpfulness like a steady hand.

"Mm."

Soon, Gu Xin and Meng Yuting were in the kitchen.

"What's wrong, Xin'er?"

Meng Yuting asked; she sensed Gu Xin's mood off, a chill like mist.

"Yuting... I've confirmed it. Coco is..."

Gu Xin lowered her head, voice dim as a candle.

"He's the one, isn't he."

To Gu Xin's surprise, Meng Yuting finished her thought.

"Yuting?"

Gu Xin looked at her, startled, but Meng Yuting suddenly hugged her, arms like a blanket.

"I’ve guessed it too. So let’s not drown in gloom. At least she’s alive, right? Why she became like this—when she wakes, we’ll ask her."

Meng Yuting murmured by her ear, warmth like tea.

"..."

"Mm."

Gu Xin answered softly.

"Waaah!!!!"

Suddenly, Ye Yiyi's scream rose from the second floor, sharp as a knife.

"Not good!"

Gu Xin and Meng Yuting said in unison and bolted upstairs, feet like arrows.

"Yiyi!"

Li Muyan rushed out from the next room, urgency like thunder.

When the three women entered Coco's room, they found Ye Yiyi collapsed on the floor. Nothing else seemed out of place, silence like a held breath.

"Yiyi, what happened?"

Li Muyan called. As she neared Ye Yiyi, a childish voice popped into the room:

"So noisy~"

"!!!!!"

The sudden voice froze everyone, the moment brittle as glass.

Time rolled back a few minutes. Ye Yiyi had come to Coco's room. Seeing it still unchanged, grief welled like rain. She moved to Coco’s side and leaned in, body a cautious feather. The particles flowing from Coco into the air curved around Yiyi, like fish slipping past a reed. Seeing that, she relaxed and edged closer.

"Coco... when will you wake?"

Ye Yiyi whispered before Coco, voice a candle in the dark.

"I have so many things I want to tell you..."

"Coco looks so beautiful like this."

She gazed at Coco’s white hair, snow under moonlight.

"Alright... I won’t disturb you. Good night."

She leaned in and kissed Coco, a touch soft as dew.

"Is it really okay to 'ambush' a host while they have no consciousness?"

A strange, childish voice sounded behind Yiyi then, words as crisp as beads. The suddenness shocked Ye Yiyi, fear leaping like a bird.

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