“Didn’t expect Yiyi’s got a gift for the stage~” Tang Coco folded her arms, her laugh light as windchimes.

“No way~” Ye Yiyi whispered, her cheeks blooming pink like peach petals under dawn.

“Sis Coco never praises me~” Marilyn puffed her cheeks, her voice bobbing like a soap bubble.

“Fine, fine~ Lulu did great too~” Tang Coco sighed, hands up in surrender like a willow in the breeze.

Zhou Yi and Xiao Fei came over, their steps carried by the after-show tide.

“Thank you so much. That performance was a complete success!” Zhou Yi’s words sparkled like confetti in the air.

“You’re welcome~” Ye Yiyi smiled, a mild spring sun after rain.

“You haven’t had lunch, right? Let me treat you.” Zhou Yi’s offer landed like a warm hand by a brazier.

“No need~ We’ll just grab something nearby.” Ye Yiyi refused, polite as a silk fan closing.

“No way! You helped me so much. I have to treat you.” Zhou Yi stood firm, like a post in the river.

“…” Ye Yiyi glanced at Tang Coco, her eyes searching like a traveler for the North Star.

“Mm.” Tang Coco nodded, feeling the sincerity, like tea steeped just right.

“Yay! Finally food—my stomach’s about to cave in~” Marilyn hopped, a sparrow pecking at crumbs.

“Alright~ I’ll take you for something good~” Ye Yiyi patted her head, palm soft as spring rain.

“Mm~ Yiyi-jie’s the best!” Marilyn threw herself at Ye Yiyi, a kitten seeking a lap.

In her Japanese attire, Ye Yiyi looked so cute even Tang Coco wanted a hug, but the crowd pressed like waves, so she let the thought drift like a petal.

Marilyn didn’t care about crowds; she lunged for Ye Yiyi’s arms like a swallow to its nest.

Ye Yiyi wasn’t ready. She staggered back two steps, trying to steady herself like bamboo in wind.

She wore wooden clogs for the first time; she hadn’t seen the cable snaking across the floor like a dark vine.

Her clogs slid sideways, and as she fought for balance like a sailor in chop, her left ankle twisted.

“Ah!” The pain bit her like a startled dog, and she toppled backward, a leaf slipping off its stem.

“Yiyi!” Tang Coco moved fast, a flash like summer lightning.

She stepped in and hooked Ye Yiyi’s waist, stopping the fall like a firm net.

Backstage was packed, bodies and gear weaving like a crowded reef.

Two softboxes stood beside them, cables coiled like eels along the floor.

The cable yanked a base; the big box tilted toward Ye Yiyi, shadow falling like a storm cloud.

Tang Coco caught it in the corner of her eye; her pulse slammed like a drum.

Before, she’d push it aside without thinking; now her thin arms felt like glass.

In the pinch, she bent forward and shielded Ye Yiyi, head down like a turtle under shell.

The impact hit her back, pain blooming like a red flower under frost.

“Mm…” She groaned, brows knitting like tight stitches.

Her strength failed; she sank to her knees, a reed pressed by current.

Even falling, she cradled Ye Yiyi on her legs, guarding her like a ring of arms.

Clang! The softbox bounced off and crashed to the side, metal crying like a gong.

“Ah!” Zhou Yi cried out, rushing over like a gust through curtains.

Marilyn scrambled up from the floor, eyes wide like moonlit pools.

“You okay?” Zhou Yi asked, worry tangled like rain over strings.

Xiao Fei ran in from the other side, then froze, their breath held like birds in a sudden hush.

Tang Coco’s sunglasses lay on the ground, her cap gone, the disguise shed like old husk.

White hair spilled down, a winter waterfall under lights.

Her features were a perfect carving, lips pressed like ripe cherries, lashes trembling like moth wings.

Her brows arched in a fragile curve, and in her arms lay another beauty, the scene painted like a scroll.

“Mm~ Coco… are you… are you okay…” Ye Yiyi’s voice shook, tears rising like mist from a pond.

“I’m fine…” Tang Coco ground her teeth, forcing focus like a blade on a whetstone.

Inside, frustration flared like dry leaves catching fire: Damn it—can’t I get a few easy days? Why does this body keep finding trouble?

“Zhou Yi…” Tang Coco’s voice loosened, a low bell in dusk.

“Ah… huh?” Zhou Yi blinked, snapping back like a string plucked.

“Please take Yiyi to the medical room.”

“Oh—okay! I’ll take her now.” Zhou Yi hurried forward, arms steady like oars.

She carefully lifted Ye Yiyi from Tang Coco’s lap, motion gentle as lifting porcelain.

“Coco…” Ye Yiyi looked back, worry hanging like a thin rain.

“I’m fine. Go get your ankle checked. I’ll be right there.” Tang Coco forced a smile, pale as moonlight behind clouds.

“…” Ye Yiyi bit her lip, then went with Zhou Yi, carried toward the clinic like a boat to harbor.

“Marilyn! Go with Yiyi.” Tang Coco spoke with eyes closed, voice calm as a still pool.

Marilyn lowered her head and followed, quiet as a shadow on a wall.

After Marilyn left, Tang Coco turned to another girl. “Can you help me~ Give me a hand.”

“Oh, sure. I’ve got you.” The camera girl stepped in, steady as a post.

Tang Coco draped her arm over the girl’s neck and pushed herself up, movement slow as lifting a gate.

“Let’s catch up with them.” Her words were a thin thread pulling forward.

“Mm…” The girl agreed, guiding her toward the clinic like leading someone through fog.

The crowd only watched them go, kept at bay by a beauty like snow—dazzling, distant, hard to approach.

Zhou Yi brought Ye Yiyi to the mall’s medical room, lights clean as winter morning.

A doctor checked the ankle. Just a mild twist, ointment and rest like dew over leaves.

“Where’s Coco?” Ye Yiyi asked after the doctor left, worry growing like vines.

“Hold on, I’ll check.” Zhou Yi turned, hand already on the door like a bird ready to fly.

The door swung open. Xiao Fei came in, supporting Tang Coco like a brace under a beam.

“Coco!” Ye Yiyi called, voice tight as a knot.

Zhou Yi rushed to the other side and helped, their hold firm as twin pillars.

“Thanks…” Tang Coco breathed out, words soft as steam.

The camera girl stayed silent, heart fluttering like a caged finch.

Tang Coco’s soft weight leaned on her, a clean scent drifting like osmanthus in night air.

She felt guilty for the wish rising—if only the walk had been longer, the path like a ribbon unfurled.

They set Tang Coco by Ye Yiyi’s bed, the small room holding one temporary cot like a lone island.

“Coco, you’re hurt, right?” Ye Yiyi leaned in, fear pooling like ink.

“No~ I’m fine~ Just numb. It’ll fade soon.” Tang Coco smiled, thin as paper over flame.

That hit had numbed her shoulder at once, deadening both arms like cold water.

Feeling crept back bit by bit, a tide returning to shore.

“No. Let me see your back.” Ye Yiyi’s voice firmed, a line drawn like brush on rice paper.

“Uh…” Tang Coco glanced around, a touch of unease fluttering like a moth.

Zhou Yi noticed and stepped in, tact smooth as silk. “We’ll go arrange things for the club. We’ll check on you later.”

She pulled Xiao Fei out, then told the staff outside—no one comes in, words set like stones.

“Let me look at your back.” Ye Yiyi’s tone softened, fingers lifting to Coco’s sweatshirt like petals lifting dew.

“…” Tang Coco had no choice. With Ye Yiyi’s help, she slid one sleeve off, movement careful as drawing a bow.

The sweatshirt’s neckline was wide and elastic, and Coco’s shoulders were small, a delicate ridge like a crescent dune.

One sleeve down, the collar pulled low, revealing half her beautiful back, smooth as glazed jade.

The top of her chest and the elegant shoulder line showed, pale as first snow.

“Coco…” Ye Yiyi’s eyes filled at once, tears gathering like pearls.

On that tender white back, a patch of red swelling stood out like a fallen maple leaf.

“It’s my fault… I wasn’t careful…” Her voice caught, a reed bending in wind.

“Dummy, don’t say that… It was an accident. Happens.” Tang Coco spoke warm as tea, steadying the air.

“See? I’m okay.” She lifted an arm and gave a small wave, feeling returning like warmth to fingers.

“…” Ye Yiyi said nothing. She kneaded the swollen spot gently, touch light as cloud drift.

“Come here.” Tang Coco called to Marilyn, voice low and even like ripples.

Marilyn shuffled over, head down like a child after rain.

She stood in front of Tang Coco, mute, guilt clinging like damp sleeves.

Tang Coco watched her a moment, their silence deep as a still pond.

Ye Yiyi wanted to plead for Marilyn, words rising like birds to flight.

Before she spoke, Tang Coco moved—her right hand reached out, quick as a fish.

“Coco, don’t—” Ye Yiyi started, breath catching like a string pulled tight.

Tang Coco’s hand slid past Marilyn’s cheek, hooked behind her neck, and pulled her in, an embrace folding like wings.

“What’s wrong? I didn’t blame you.” Tang Coco’s voice was soft, a lantern lit in night.

“R-Really?” Marilyn lifted her head, big eyes shining like water.

“Obviously~” Tang Coco smiled, the curve easy as moon over eaves.

“Waa—wu wu wu—” Marilyn buried her face and cried, tears falling like warm rain.

“Silly child…” Tang Coco rubbed her head, palm soothing like a breeze through grass.

Ye Yiyi wiped her eyes, then hugged Tang Coco from behind, warmth layered like quilts in winter.