Two cars slid into a quiet commercial street, calm as a still pond, with upscale hotels and cafés gleaming like polished shells.

“Su-jie, let’s head inside.” Ye Yiyi’s smile curved like a crescent moon, and on the drive Gu Xin had retold everything like a stream running backward.

“Wow, didn’t know there’s another little beauty in the car.” Su Xinhua’s voice was warm as sunlight on tea. “I’m new here, so I’ll follow your lead.”

She smiled at Ye Yiyi, dimples popping like twin wells reflecting light.

They stepped into a high-end café, hushed as a grove at dusk, and the server guided them into a cozy booth like a nest in a tree.

They ordered a few coffees, steam rising like pale mist, and the conversation unfolded like ribbons in the breeze.

“Su-jie… sorry if this is bold… how old are you? Why does Tiantian call you ‘Su-jie’ too?” Ye Yiyi’s curiosity fluttered like a sparrow.

“Hahaha, me? I’m already thirty-nine.” Su Xinhua’s laugh rippled like water. “This kid’s only twenty-eight, so of course she calls me jie.”

“What!” The three girls across from her gasped, shock flashing like lightning under a clear sky.

No one expected the woman who looked like twenty-something springtime to be thirty-nine years deep like autumn.

“Heavens—no way… Su-jie, how do you maintain yourself?” Ye Yiyi’s awe shone like lantern light.

“Mm… I don’t really do much. I’m just… like this.” Su Xinhua touched her cheek, fingertips light as petals.

“Wow, I’m so jealous.” Ye Yiyi’s envy sighed like a willow.

“Let’s talk about you. You’re still students, right?” Su Xinhua let the topic drift away like leaves on water.

“Coco and I are still in school, and Sister Gu just got back from overseas.” Ye Yiyi’s tone settled like sand.

“Coco doesn’t talk much.” Su Xinhua’s eyes rested on Tang Coco like sunlight on a lake.

“Mm… she’s just shy.” Ye Yiyi’s defense rose like a quick shield.

“…” Coco’s silence beat like a drum. Inside, her pride bristled like a cat—shy, her? No way.

The server set the coffees down, cups landing soft as rain, and each girl lifted hers like cradling a small fire.

“Su-jie, what brings you back to Huaguo?” Gu Xin’s question felt like the first drop before a storm.

“This time I plan to invest in a project here.” Her words were steady as a mountain. “After so long abroad, I want to come home and breathe life in.”

“Then why choose Ninghai?” Gu Xin asked, voice clear as wind off the sea.

“Haha, it feels like fate is in the air.” Su Xinhua’s smile flowed like a river. “First day out, and I ran into you.”

“Su-jie, you’re joking.” Gu Xin’s laugh flickered like fireflies.

“Tell me about you all. How did such a cluster of little beauties meet?” Su Xinhua’s curiosity glinted like dew.

“Oh, Coco and I met in a hotel lobby, like two boats bumping under lamplight, then became besties. Coco and Sister Gu are old friends.”

“I see. That’s lovely.” A small envy tugged at Su Xinhua’s heart like a thread.

They chatted a bit more, words drifting like kites in a mild sky.

“Alright, Su-jie, we need to take Yiyi to look at villas, so we’ll slip out first.” Gu Xin rose, decisive as a blade.

“Mm, villas? Yiyi’s settling a new home?” Su Xinhua’s tone softened like evening light.

“Yeah. The old villa had some trouble.” Ye Yiyi’s explanation dropped like a pebble into water.

“What a coincidence. I’m in a hotel now too, and I want a villa.” Her plan unfurled like a banner. “Let’s go together.”

“That’s great. Maybe we’ll fall for the same area and be neighbors.” Ye Yiyi’s happiness leaped like a fish.

“Mm, let’s go.” Gu Xin’s words clicked like a clasp.

They stood and left, a little flock drifting out like cranes, with Su Xinhua and her assistant Tiantian trailing like shadows.

“Su-jie, didn’t you say we were just shopping? You never mentioned buying a villa.” Tiantian whispered, her caution thin as silk.

“Aiya, touring villas counts as shopping too.” Su Xinhua’s tone was carefree as a summer breeze. “Either way, we’re buying.”

“…” Tiantian’s expression blackened like ink spilled.

“Come on, keep up.” Su Xinhua tugged Tiantian’s hand, and they hurried forward like a pair of sparrows.

All afternoon, the girls walked through several luxury villa districts in Ninghai, their steps tracing maps like rivers branching.

At last, after Gu Xin and Ye Yiyi discussed, they returned to a seaside district at the northeast corner of Ninghai City, where waves breathed like sleeping beasts.

“Isn’t this a bit far from campus? Will classes be convenient?” Tang Coco’s gaze swept the area—there were hills, water, and woods like a painted scroll.

“It’s fine. It’s quiet here, like the inside of a shell.” Ye Yiyi’s comfort came warm as a shawl. “We don’t have many classes now. I’ll get you a car. Leave earlier.”

“…” Coco’s helplessness sank like a stone. She felt she was really being kept, like a songbird in a gilded cage.

“Su-jie, we plan to settle here. How do you like it?” Gu Xin stepped forward, calm as frost.

“Mm, it’s nice.” Su Xinhua inhaled the air like the edge of dawn. “Sea breeze and far from the city’s clangor.”

“Then let’s handle the paperwork.” Gu Xin’s decision cut clean as rain.

“Mm. Go, Tiantian.” Su Xinhua’s nod was light as a feather.

“Okay, Su-jie.” Tiantian’s reply was crisp as a bell.

Tiantian and Gu Xin headed to the sales hall, their silhouettes moving like swallows.

Because VIPs had arrived, the district manager hurried in like a tide, and the procedure flowed with speed like a river.

“Hello, please sign here.” The manager held out a sheet like a sail in wind.

“Coco, you sign.” Ye Yiyi turned, her smile soft as milk.

“Huh? Why? Aren’t you buying the villa?” Coco’s surprise pricked like a thorn.

“Nope, Sister Gu’s buying it for me.” Yiyi’s honesty shone like clean glass. “I didn’t ask my family. I don’t have villa money.”

“Uh… it’s Xin buying it for you. You sign.” Coco’s logic stacked like stones.

“Nooo, you sign.” Yiyi’s plea tumbled like beads. “I suddenly having an extra villa means explanations at home. Too much hassle.”

“…” Silence swung like a pendulum.

“Fine…” Coco stepped forward, her resolve firm as a step on a bridge.

Just then, Su Xinhua was signing, her strokes smooth as flowing silk.

“Please wait.” The manager’s voice narrowed like a thread. He didn’t dare look at Coco’s face, afraid he’d lose composure like a candle melting.

“Hello, sign here.” His finger tapped a box, small as a window.

“Okay.” Tang Coco wrote her name, the ink settling like rain on stone.

As she put the pen down, something caught her eye—the contract Su Xinhua had just signed. On the signature line were three elegant characters, “Su Xinhua,” like a seal in cinnabar.

“!” Coco’s mind boomed like a struck gong.

“Su Xinhua! Could it be—” Her thought leapt like a spark.

She turned to look at Su Xinhua, who was chatting with Tiantian, their words weaving like smoke.

“Su Xinhua… Su Xin… She’s Su Xinhua…” The truth wove itself tight as a net in Coco’s heart.

“Eh? Coco, what’s wrong?” Ye Yiyi saw Coco’s stunned look, concern rippling like a wave, and came closer.

“Oh… I’m fine.” Coco pulled her gaze back, shaking her head like leaves shivering.

“Alright, here are the keys and the default code for the smart lock.” The manager approached, earnest as a steward. “You can move in anytime. We provide full moving services. Just contact us.”

“Okay.” The answer landed like a pebble.

Coco and Tiantian accepted a small parcel, light as a bird.

After stowing it away, Coco kept her eyes on Su Xinhua, her stare like a needle threading silk.

She thought for a moment, then walked over, steps careful as stepping stones.

“Um…” Her voice floated like a drifting reed.

“Hm? What is it, little beauty?” Su Xinhua turned, her smile warm as spring water.

“Are you… Su Xinhua?” Coco’s question gleamed like the edge of a blade.

“Uh…” Su Xinhua’s expression froze like frost. Earlier, she’d told them she was Su Xin.

“Sorry, I saw it by accident.” Coco’s apology fluttered like a white flag.

“It’s fine. That’s on me.” Su Xinhua’s tone was open as sky. “I do use ‘Su Xin’ for business. I hope you can understand.”

“No worries—Su-jie is Su-jie.” Ye Yiyi jumped in, laughter tinkling like wind chimes.

“Um… can I save your phone number?” Coco’s request glowed like a lantern in night.

“Sure.” Su Xinhua smiled, light blooming like a flower, and gave her number.

“Thanks.” The gratitude fell soft as snow.

“Don’t mention it.” Her ease drifted like smoke.

“Yiyi, Xin, let’s head back. I’m a bit tired.” Coco slid her phone away, a sigh like dusk.

“Okay.” Gu Xin’s reply was crisp as steel.

“Su-jie, we’ll go first. We’ll move in tomorrow.” Ye Yiyi’s joy hopped like a sparrow. “Then we’ll be neighbors.”

“Great, I’m looking forward to it.” Su Xinhua’s farewell shone like moonlight.

Gu Xin and the three girls left first, their figures receding like ships toward the horizon.

“Su-jie, that Tang Coco…” Tiantian sidled closer, her whisper soft as moth wings.

“Mm… I saw her expression after she read my name.” Su Xinhua’s brows knit like twisted vines. “I’m thinking of something impossible.”

“You mean…” Tiantian’s instinct tightened like a bowstring. As Su Xinhua’s close assistant, she carried secrets like sealed jars.

“I don’t know. I can’t be sure.” Su Xinhua’s uncertainty drifted like fog. “Check her background.”

“Okay.” Tiantian’s answer dropped firm as a stone.

“And arrange people to set up the villa with supplies.” Su Xinhua’s taste was a map Tiantian knew by heart, like constellations. “I’ve had enough of the hotel.”

“Got it, Su-jie. I’ll handle it.” Tiantian’s efficiency flashed like a blade.

“Tang Coco…” Su Xinhua murmured the name, letting it echo like a bell.

“Coco, what’s up?” In the car, Ye Yiyi glanced back, worry like a tiny flame. Coco had looked burdened all the way.

“Nothing…” Coco shook her head, the motion small as a ripple.

“You’re thinking about Su Xinhua.” Gu Xin’s voice, from the driver’s seat, was steady as a mast.

“Mm.” The acknowledgment was a thread.

“I’ll ask Meng Yuting.” Gu Xin’s plan unrolled like silk. “If a big business figure comes to Ninghai, Yuting should know their details.”

“Okay.” Coco leaned into the seat, night air sliding in like cool water and raising goosebumps like grains of rice on skin.

She tugged her skirt hem, covering her stockinged thighs like laying a quiet blanket.

The small motion caught Ye Yiyi’s watchful eye, which perched like a bird.

“Coco… did you drink too much coffee… need the restroom?” Ye Yiyi asked, serious as a judge, though mischief flickered like foxfire.

“…” Coco didn’t register at first, her mind a blank sheet.

“Huh?” Her confusion blinked like an owl.

“Pffft—hahaha!” Laughter burst, warm as a hearth, and the car filled with sparks like stars.

That night, they returned to Meng Xiaoxiao’s apartment, lights glowing like embers, and over dinner Meng Xiaoxiao chattered about campus tales like beads on a string.

Everyone responded with smiles and quips, like bells on a breeze, except Coco, whose thoughts drifted away like a lone kite—back to Su Xinhua.

After dinner, Coco slipped into the bedroom first, showered, and dove beneath the quilt like a fox into snow.

Soon, someone else entered—this time not Gu Xin, but Meng Yuting, her presence smooth as sandalwood.

“Yo, turning in this early? What’s up?” Meng Yuting came to the bedside, her tone playful as a cat.

“Nothing… Are you staying tonight?” Coco’s question rose like smoke.

“Yeah. You move out tomorrow.” Meng Yuting’s smile hooked like a crescent. “If I don’t come tonight, no chance.”

“Oh. Go shower.” Coco’s calm lay like stones in a stream.

“Well, well, taking initiative.” Meng Yuting’s eyes sparkled like stars. “Okay, I’ll shower. Wait for me, little beauty.”

“…” The silence curled like steam.

Twenty minutes later, Meng Yuting stepped out wrapped in a towel, water beading like pearls, and Coco sat up to blow-dry her hair, warm air like sunlight on wheat.

Then the two of them slipped under the quilt, facing each other like twin moons in a lake.

“What’s wrong? Your heart’s heavy.” Meng Yuting drew Coco into her arms, her embrace steady as a harbor.

Yuting, did Xin’er tell you about Su Xinhua?

The name hung in the air like a struck spark.

Oh, that—if you hadn’t brought it up, I’d have forgotten. You two were lucky, stumbling into the one person all Ninghai’s heavyweights circle like hawks these days.

Huh? What do you mean?

Confusion gathered on her face like a small storm.

Su Xinhua just came back from overseas, like a returning tide. She’s the chair of Chenghua International and its only shareholder—she holds the whole company like a single star in her palm.

What—Chenghua International?!

The words hit like a thunderclap.

At that name, Tang Coco’s heart cinched tight; her earlier guess settled into place like a key in a lock.