A little after ten, the sun gentled like warm milk over the city’s glass-and-steel river. In the heart of the commercial district, three slender figures walked arm in arm, drawing eyes like fish to bright silk. Ye Yiyi wore a red dress that burned like a quiet flame, while Gu Xin’s white dress fell like fresh snow. They tucked Tang Coco between them, and all three hid behind sunglasses dark as still ponds.

“Yiyi, where’re we going?” Tang Coco asked, her voice light as a sparrow hopping along a rail.

“Mm… let’s go to Aunt Qin first,” Ye Yiyi said, her cheer bubbling like spring water. “She can build you another look, and for Sister Gu—her poise opens wardrobes like sunrise opens a garden.”

“Sounds good,” Gu Xin smiled, her lips curving like a crescent moon in clear dusk.

With passersby murmuring like a low tide, the girls slipped into Aunt Qin’s boutique, bell chime crisp as porcelain.

“Hello, welcome,” the server greeted, her smile smooth as satin on a breeze.

“Hi, is Aunt Qin in?” Ye Yiyi asked, voice sweet as ripe fruit.

“Yes, she’s in the waiting room,” the server said, words steady as pebbles in a stream.

“Please take us over,” Ye Yiyi added, polite as shade under a willow.

“Of course.” The server led them to a side lounge, where Aunt Qin sat in a long black dress, a raven feather against white sofas. She sipped coffee dark as midnight, her eyes drifting over her phone like clouds over a lake.

“Aunt Qin—” Ye Yiyi chimed, sweetness bright as a bell.

“Mm? Yiyi?” Aunt Qin turned, a smile unfurling like a silk fan, though her first glance snagged on Tang Coco’s snowy hair, stark as frost on pine.

“Aunt Qin, you look even prettier,” Ye Yiyi teased, voice glittering like confetti in sun.

“All right, you silver tongue,” Aunt Qin laughed, warmth like embered wood. “Age doesn’t climb backward, no matter how you sweeten it.”

“I mean it,” Ye Yiyi giggled, light as rain on petals.

They bantered, words bobbing like lanterns on a night river.

“So, how’d you get free today? No classes?” Aunt Qin asked, tone easy as an afternoon breeze.

“Not today. I’m walking the city with friends,” Ye Yiyi said, content as sunlight on tiles.

“Right—Aunt Qin, let me introduce Sister Gu, Gu Xin,” Ye Yiyi added, tugging Gu Xin’s hand like a kite string.

“Hello,” Gu Xin said, hands folded like quiet lilies, bowing slightly with calm rippling like a still pond.

“Mm. Little one, you look very composed,” Aunt Qin praised, admiration landing like soft snow. “Mature, and cool-headed.”

“Thank you, Aunt Qin,” Gu Xin smiled, a glow gentle as late autumn light.

“Huh? This girl looks familiar,” Aunt Qin said at last, her gaze drifting like a moth toward the white-haired shadow in shades.

“It’s me, Aunt Qin,” Tang Coco said, slipping off her sunglasses like a curtain lifting.

“Coco? You dyed your hair?” Aunt Qin’s memory clicked like a lock as that face bloomed, pure as jade under water.

“Mm…” Tang Coco let the question flow by like reeds in wind.

“You young ones are bold,” Aunt Qin chuckled, her tone bright as brass on a market street. “I wanted to try something wild once, but couldn’t take the plunge. Didn’t expect you to dive in—come here, let me look.”

She drew Tang Coco closer, her hand sure as a seamstress’s chalk.

“Mm, it’s beautiful. This shade only you can carry like moonlight in winter,” Aunt Qin said, praise wrapping like silk.

“Aunt Qin, you flatter me,” Tang Coco answered, smile soft as steam off tea.

“Don’t butter her up,” Ye Yiyi cut in, mischief flicking like a wagtail’s tail. “She’ll float away.”

“…” Tang Coco fell silent, exasperation tasting like bitter melon shared by friends.

“Haha, I’ve got to hand it to Yiyi—so many little beauties around her,” Aunt Qin said, joy bubbling like a kettle.

“Not really,” Ye Yiyi waved it off, casual as grass in wind. “Aunt Qin, help Coco with matching, please. Her hair’s tricky to pair. And Sister Gu too, we’re counting on you.”

“Gladly. With seedlings this fine, my hands itch like spring soil. Come, to my studio,” Aunt Qin said, enthusiasm lighting like a lantern.

They stayed long in Aunt Qin’s studio, time running like silk through fingers. Gu Xin had clear tastes, a compass steady as Polaris; with Aunt Qin’s light touch, she spun out looks like bouquets after rain. Tang Coco became the mannequin, swapping outfit after outfit like a wind changing clothes over the hills.

Meanwhile, at the Li family compound, the villa’s air pressed heavy as low clouds. Li Muyan sat with Marilyn; her parents and grandfather shared the couch, faces set like stones in a riverbed.

“So all that happened,” Li Jingtian exhaled, breath rolling out like a tide leaving shore. Li Muyan had sketched the last days with spare strokes, while Marilyn was introduced as Tang Coco’s little sister, a link bright as silver thread.

“Yan’er, it’s our fault,” her mother said, guilt stinging like cold rain. “We never thought you’d face something this severe, and we couldn’t help.”

“Mom, it’s not on you,” Li Muyan said quickly, voice firm as an oak. “You couldn’t help anyway.”

“Yeah,” Li Shoujing muttered, his soldier’s pride scuffed like a boot on gravel. “Against Abnormals, even we military folks are helpless.”

“No, Father,” Li Muyan said, resolve sparking like flint. “Soldiers can fight Abnormals.”

“Hm? How?” Li Shoujing asked, curiosity lifting like a hawk.

“In this mess, Coco found something key,” Li Muyan said, words precise as measured gears. “A handgun made of special material. It pierces Abnormals’ defenses like ice picks through frost. If that goes military, even Abnormals will fear the army.”

“Oh? That exists? Where?” Li Shoujing leaned forward, pulse thudding like a drum.

“Coco handed it to Huaguo’s official Abnormal organization,” Li Muyan said, the path clear as a road after rain. “They’re analyzing it. Results will come fast.”

“I see,” Li Jingtian murmured, mind opening like a map. “Looks like I should make a trip.”

“They’ll likely reach out to us soon,” Li Muyan added, expectation humming like a wire in wind.

“How so?” Li Jingtian asked, gaze steady as a lantern.

“We uncovered a big conspiracy by a shadow Abnormal group,” Li Muyan said, her tone cool as steel under cloth. “They placed people in Ninghai City, and we suspect special devices scattered like seeds. The official team’s launching a thorough sweep of Ninghai City. Ningxin said they need the military’s hand. We can use this to talk equipment cooperation.”

“You’re right,” Li Jingtian nodded, interest rising like a warm front. “Shoujing, join me in the study later. We’ll draft a plan.”

“Okay,” Li Shoujing agreed, voice solid as a gate bar.

“Yan’er, you’re an official Abnormal now, right?” Li Shoujing asked, concern soft as a father’s winter shawl. “What level?”

“Mm… I’m not sure how they rank,” Li Muyan said, then tugged Marilyn’s hand like a bellpull. “Marilyn, explain.”

“Mm… do you know SS-class?” Marilyn asked, her tone even as a calm sea.

“SS-class?” Li Jingtian blinked, surprise flashing like lightning. “I’ve heard of S-class. Those few are hard to meet, and terrifyingly strong.”

“Mm,” Marilyn said, thinking with eyes half-lidded like dusk. “Muyan and Coco are similar. As for Coco—she once wiped out a whole country’s army alone. It wasn’t a big country, but still a nation.”

“What?” The room jolted, shock cracking like ice on a lake. A whole army, erased by one person—the thought thudded like a fallen tree.

“What’s so strange?” Marilyn’s voice stayed cool, like moonlight on stone. “If Muyan went all-out, in theory she could clear Huaguo’s military in half a month. That’s a mechanical-type Abnormal’s gift—made for large-scale war. It’s theory, though. Abnormals complicate the field, and surprises—like that anti-Abnormal handgun—break clean lines.”

“…” Silence settled, heavy as snow on bamboo, theory alone enough to freeze the room.

“I understand,” Li Jingtian finally said, duty threading like iron in silk. “Muyan, bring this Coco girl home for a meal sometime. We owe her, and gratitude should be warm as soup.”

“Okay,” Li Muyan answered, her assent clear as clear water.

“Then rest a bit, Yan’er,” Li Shoujing said, smile easing like sun through fog. “We’ll work with Ningxin and handle the rest.”

“Got it,” Li Muyan stood, relief fluttering like a freed bird. “Mom, Dad, Grandfather, we’ll head out.”

“Okay,” Li Jingtian replied, tone even as a steady lamp.

“Right, Yan’er—your villa’s gone, isn’t it?” her mother asked, concern pooling like dew. “Where are you staying? We’ll buy you a new one.”

“No need, Mom,” Li Muyan said, warmth rising like tea steam. “Yiyi and I plan to buy a bigger villa and live together.”

“Yiyi… she… had a fight with her family, didn’t she,” Li Jingtian said, sadness dim as overcast sky.

“Yes,” Li Muyan admitted, the word soft as a wilted leaf.

“Yan’er… keep an eye on Yiyi,” Li Jingtian said, anger glinting like steel under cloth. “If her family goes too far, tell me. The Li family won’t spare the Ye family.”

“Okay. I won’t let Yiyi suffer,” Li Muyan promised, her vow firm as bedrock.

“Good,” Li Jingtian said, the single word sitting like a stone in still water.

“We’ll go now,” Li Muyan added, farewells light as drifting reed flowers.

“Drive safe,” Li Jingtian said, care flowing like lamplight at dusk.

Li Muyan took the wheel and carried Marilyn away, tires whispering like wind over slate.

“Marilyn… did Coco really wipe out a country’s army?” Li Muyan asked in the car, the question hanging like mist.

“Of course,” Marilyn sang, a playful note bright as morning sun. “I wouldn’t lie.”

“What did Coco… used to do?” Li Muyan pressed, curiosity pricking like a thorn.

“Think of her as a mercenary,” Marilyn said, head tilting like a sparrow. “But I can’t say more. Her past is locked like a vault at high clearance.”

“I see… all right,” Li Muyan said, acceptance settling like dust on shelves.

At Ninghai International Hotel, in a luxury suite, Su Xinhua lounged in cozy home wear, eyes on the news flickering like fireflies.

“Ah… I’m bored,” Su Xinhua half-reclined, her voice sweet and lazy as summer honey. She looked twenty-something to strangers, youth smooth as porcelain.

“Let’s go shopping,” she said to her female assistant, excitement bright as neon. “I haven’t strolled my hometown streets in ages.”

“Huh? You want to go shopping, Sister Su?” the assistant asked, surprise popping like a bubble.

“What’s wrong—come on,” Su Xinhua coaxed, whining with charm like a cat in sun. “I’m dying of boredom.”

“…” The assistant went speechless, helpless as paper in rain before her boss’s playful plea.