Tang Coco’s lips curled into a smirk.

“Pfft—no matter what you change into, you still keep those rotten little habits.”

Gu Xin smiled with smoky grace, like incense coiling in a quiet hall.

“Can’t help it. You walked right into the tiger’s jaws.”

“Tiger’s jaws? Hah. First time I’ve met such a cute little tiger.”

“What, you look down on little tigers?”

Her brows lifted like twin feathers catching a breeze.

“Uh-huh. Then—show me what this little tiger can do today.”

Gu Xin wet her lips with a slow lick. Heat pulsed through Tang Coco like sparks hitting dry tinder; months of banked fire finally leapt the grate.

“Don’t think I can’t handle you just because you transformed.”

She shoved Gu Xin playfully to the side, rolled, and pressed her down, kissing her hard.

Without a sound, Gu Xin’s clothes were gone, like petals drifting off a branch. Tang Coco kissed and kissed, pausing only to steal a breath—not because Gu Xin couldn’t take it, but because Coco’s stamina was awful. Her hands wandered Gu Xin’s skin, sometimes giving the lightest, testing squeeze.

“Mmh—”

Gu Xin hummed, lips closed, voice soft like a cat’s purr.

“Xin’er… is it okay…”

Blush flushed hot, then hotter. Tang Coco whispered at her ear.

“You dummy…”

Gu Xin scolded with a shy blush, then closed her eyes.

“Yeah… then this idiot won’t hold back.”

It had been months; at last Tang Coco and Gu Xin were together again. Different from before, Coco slid into the rhythm herself this time. After moving with it a while, her own body turned pliant, finally melting against Gu Xin.

“Hah—so even you have a day like this.”

Gu Xin came back to herself and laughed at the Tang Coco draped over her.

“Xin’er… I…”

The feeling swelled, tide against a shore. Coco rubbed lightly against her, face scarlet.

“Alright, alright—I’ll help you.”

Gu Xin smiled with indulgent warmth.

“Mmh—”

Coco’s face reddened like a ripe peach, almost beading nectar. Gu Xin eased her aside, the two of them curling on their sides, arms entwined. Gu Xin’s hand traced Coco’s waist twice, then slowly moved lower.

“Mmh—”

Coco’s voice trembled.

Fade to black.

A long while later, the room went quiet. The two of them curled under the covers, holding tight as winter birds in one nest.

“Xin’er… why…”

Confusion first, then words. She’d been satisfied, yet Gu Xin hadn’t taken her.

“What’s this… that eager to give it to me?”

Gu Xin’s lips tipped up.

“But I already took yours before…”

“Dummy, that was my choice.”

Gu Xin pinched the bridge of Coco’s nose.

“As for today… it’s because of Yiyi.”

“Yiyi?”

Coco didn’t get it.

“Mm. You bad thing—you did that with a girl as good as her, didn’t you?”

Gu Xin shot her a glare, half ice, half tease.

“Uh… h-how did you know…”

“Marilyn told us while you were unconscious. She shared our intimacy ratings. Sleep with someone, and it breaks 100%. So we knew.”

“…”

That damn Marilyn, Coco cursed in her heart like a pebble tossed at a still pond.

“I mean… it… wasn’t me then. It was the red-haired one…”

Coco mumbled.

“No need to explain. Didn’t I say? I won’t oppose you and Yiyi.”

Gu Xin smiled.

“…”

Warmth pooled behind Coco’s ribs. Then a thought hit like cold water.

“So… Yuting knows too…”

“Yep.”

“…”

Thinking of Meng Yuting’s methods, Coco wilted like frost-touched grass.

“Relax. Yuting and I think alike. Otherwise, with her temper, the day you confessed, you wouldn’t have walked out intact.”

Gu Xin smiled helplessly.

“…”

“You two are too good to me.”

Coco burrowed in and nuzzled Gu Xin’s chest.

“Now you know we’re good? Why didn’t you remember that when you weren’t behaving.”

“I said I was wrong, didn’t I.”

“Coco… promise me. For a while, just live an ordinary life, alright?”

“Mm… I promise.”

“Good. That’s my good girl.”

“Hey, don’t treat me like a kid.”

“Hee-hee. Come on—hug my little beauty and sleep.”

For now, they set their knots aside and drifted into a sweet, shared dream.

Night in Ninghai was beautiful. Cars flowed on bright streets like linked constellations. Rivers of light ran between high-rises, painting the city like ink wash and silk.

At dawn, the villa’s beauties woke early—everyone except Tang Coco, of course.

Meng Xiaoxiao finished breakfast and headed to school. Meng Yuting left with her to make final preparations for the company’s opening. Li Muyan and Marilyn ate, then drove to the Li family compound behind Ninghai. With Li Muyan’s power restricted, Marilyn went for safety. As for Gu Xin and Ye Yiyi, once they cleaned up the table, they went straight to Tang Coco’s bedroom.

“This girl… out cold.”

Gu Xin looked at Coco snoring under a fat quilt, only a cute little head peeking out. She huffed, annoyed, yet warmed—Coco really had changed.

“Ha, that’s just Coco.”

Ye Yiyi laughed.

“Yiyi, go pick her a few outfits. We’re dragging her out today.”

“Okay.”

Yiyi turned and headed to another room.

Whoosh—

Gu Xin flipped the quilt off in one sweep, revealing the sleek curve beneath.

“Mmm—what’re you doing…”

Eyes closed, brows knit, Coco grumbled. Her dream had been warm; being yanked out of it stung.

Annoyance pricked Gu Xin. She reached out and gave a sharp pinch to Coco’s chest.

“Ah!”

The jolt made Coco yelp. She clapped her hands over herself, eyes wide, staring at Gu Xin.

“You’re a girl. Watch your image at all times. If someone lifts your quilt, that’s the reaction you should have.”

“…”

Coco stared, speechless, thinking, You’ve got to be kidding me.

Watch my image? You’re a beauty ripping people’s blankets off. That’s not “image”?

She didn’t dare say it. She tugged the quilt back up and covered herself.

“Quit covering. Put on what’s inside. Yiyi will be here any second.”

Gu Xin tossed a pink set onto the bed. Hearing Yiyi was coming—and that she was still naked—Coco scrambled up and pulled on the lingerie.

“Mm. Looks like you’re all better.”

“What’s better?”

“Does it still hurt down below?”

“Huh? It’s fine!”

Only at Gu Xin’s reminder did Coco realize her ache had vanished. Strength had seeped back into her limbs.

“Seems Marilyn was right.”

“Marilyn? What’d she say?”

“She analyzed your condition. This ‘monthly visitor’ of yours was a fake. Side effect from ending the fusion early. As long as you don’t use your Anomaly Power, you’ll recover fast. Otherwise, you think I’d dare do what I did last night?”

“…”

Coco decided she needed to find time to properly discipline that pint-sized menace. Not only keeping things from her, but teaming up with others to bully their host…

Tap, tap—

Footsteps outside. Ye Yiyi came in, a dress in each hand.

“Oh? You’re up, Coco?”

“Mm.”

Coco nodded.

“Big Sister Gu, which looks better?”

Yiyi held up two dresses. One black, with off-shoulder lines, a lace-pleated skirt, and heart-shaped mesh at chest and back. The other a bold red, wide neckline, with a gauzy skirt that floated like mist.

“Hmm… the black one. Black suits Coco’s style.”

Gu Xin folded her arms, deciding like a judge with a fan.

“Mm, I think so too.”

“Hey, hey. No one’s asking the person who has to wear it?”

Coco said, deadpan.

“Huh? No need. Didn’t I say? From now on, we’re in charge of your clothes.”

Gu Xin sounded perfectly natural.

“…”

“Yiyi, let’s get her changed.”

Gu Xin smiled at Yiyi.

“Okay!”

Yiyi agreed happily, and the two closed in on Coco.

“Uh…”

A bad feeling slunk up Coco’s spine.

Sure enough, the two went wonderfully “wild,” pinning Coco and starting a “dress-up game.” After that, they dragged her to the vanity and did a careful round of makeup.

Over an hour later, the three finally set out by car. In the back seat, Coco wore a face like she’d lost the will to live. But her look was spellbinding. White hair spilled over shoulder and back; a slanted fringe skimmed her brow like a crescent blade. Her already delicate face took on deeper allure with lip color and eyeliner. The black dress stopped at the upper thigh. Her long, toned legs ended in black canvas sneakers with white piping—the only thing she won after sacrificing a mountain of pride. Otherwise, she’d be in black heels. Most eye-catching of all were the black stockings. Whether that had been her choice was… unclear. Those long legs, sheathed in black, breathed a steady, secret temptation.

Coco shut the windows tight. A draft earlier had slipped over her like cold water, especially on those legs. First time wearing this kind of thing; her mind kept wandering. So, she sealed the glass and held her thoughts still like leaves in a jar.