The two cars slid into a quiet commercial street, the storefronts gleaming like shells under soft light, all high-end hotels and cafés.

“Sister Su, let’s head inside.”

Ye Yiyi smiled at Su Xinhua, her smile light as wind through leaves; on the drive, Gu Xin had already recapped what happened.

“Wow, didn’t expect a little beauty in the car too. Okay—I'm new here, not familiar, I’ll follow your lead.”

Su Xinhua’s dimples showed, twin crescent moons in her cheeks.

They walked into a high-end café; the door chime fell like a silver drop. A waiter led them to a cozy booth. They ordered a few coffees, then let the talk ripple.

“Sister Su… sorry to pry… how old are you? And why does Sister Tiantian call you Sister Su too?”

Ye Yiyi asked; curiosity pawed at her like a cat.

“Hahaha—me? I’m thirty-nine. That one’s twenty-eight, so of course she calls me ‘Sister.’”

Su Xinhua hooked an arm over her assistant Tiantian’s.

“What?!”

The three across from her burst out, their shock clinking like glasses; the woman who looked twenty-eight or twenty-nine… was thirty-nine.

“Goodness—no way. Sister Su, what’s your secret?”

Ye Yiyi breathed, eyes bright like stars on a pond.

“Hmm… I don’t really do much. I’m just… like this.”

Su Xinhua touched her cheek, porcelain under soft light.

“Wow—so jealous.”

“Tell me about you. You’re all students, right?”

She steered the boat away from herself, voice calm like a slow river.

“I’m still in school with Coco, and Sister Gu’s just back from overseas.”

Ye Yiyi said.

“Coco doesn’t talk much.”

Su Xinhua smiled at Tang Coco, warmth like a sunbeam.

“Mm… she’s shy.”

Ye Yiyi explained.

“…”

Tang Coco went speechless—shy? Not her. Impossible.

The coffee arrived; the aroma rose like steam from a dark spring. The women lifted their cups, tasting, thoughts loosening like silk threads.

“Sister Su, what brings you back?”

Gu Xin asked.

“I’m planning to invest in a project here. I’ve been abroad too long. I want to come home and taste life again.”

“Why choose Ninghai?”

“Haha, it feels fated—see, first day out and I ran into you.”

“You’re teasing us.”

Gu Xin laughed, her tone light as rain.

“Then tell me—how did you all meet? So many little beauties together.”

Su Xinhua asked.

“Oh, Coco and I met at a hotel and became besties. Coco and Sister Gu are old friends.”

“I see. That’s nice.”

A hint of envy crossed Su Xinhua’s eyes, a ripple on still water; then the talk drifted easy.

“Alright, Sister Su, we’ve gotta go check out villas for Yiyi. We’ll slip out first.”

Seeing the cups nearly empty, Gu Xin stood, voice crisp as a bell.

“Mm? Villas? Yiyi’s moving?”

“Yes. The old villa had a problem.”

Ye Yiyi said.

“What a coincidence. I’m in a hotel now, just back, and I want a villa too. Let’s go together.”

“Oh? Great—let’s do it. Maybe we’ll like the same area and become neighbors.”

Ye Yiyi brightened; after this chat, Sister Su felt friendly, like spring sunlight.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Gu Xin and the others rose, their steps tidy as a line of cranes; Su Xinhua and her assistant followed.

“Sister Su, didn’t you say we were out shopping? You didn’t say we’d be buying a villa.”

Tiantian whispered by her ear, words soft as a feather.

“Aiya, shopping for villas is still shopping. Either way, we’re buying.”

Su Xinhua’s tone was breezy, like wind skimming rice fields.

“…”

Tiantian’s face went flat—black lines in a comic strip.

“Come on, keep up.”

Su Xinhua tugged Tiantian’s hand and jogged ahead, laughter skipping like stones.

All afternoon, they combed through Ninghai’s luxury villa districts; the sun rolled like a golden coin, their moods rising and dipping like waves. Finally, after conferring, Ye Yiyi and Gu Xin returned to a seaside villa zone on the northeast edge of Ninghai City; white fences lined the path, and the sea stitched lace along the shore.

“Isn’t this a bit far from school? Will it be convenient?”

Tang Coco’s gaze swept over mountains, water, trees—painted strokes of quiet living.

“It’s fine—so peaceful here. We don’t have many classes now anyway. I’ll get you a car; just leave early.”

“…”

The words landed, and Coco’s heart tugged; it felt like being wrapped in a silk ribbon, like being kept.

“Sister Su, we’re thinking of settling here. What do you think?”

Gu Xin stepped forward.

“It’s nice—sea breeze in your sleeves, and away from the city’s clamor.”

Su Xinhua looked around, a satisfied nod, eyes clear as a lake.

“Then let’s do the paperwork.”

“Mm, let’s go, Tiantian.”

“Okay, Sister Su.”

Tiantian and Gu Xin headed to the sales hall; the manager hurried in like a host greeting VIPs, the process smooth as oiled gears.

“Hello, please sign here.”

The manager held out a sheet, polite smile set like porcelain.

“Coco, you sign.”

Ye Yiyi turned to Tang Coco, voice gentle as cotton.

“Huh? Why me? Aren’t you buying?”

“No, Sister Gu’s buying for me. I didn’t ask my family, so I don’t have villa money.”

“Uh… well, it’s Xin’er buying it for you. You sign.”

“Nooo, you sign. I suddenly ‘own’ a villa; I’ll have to explain to my family, such a hassle.”

“…”

“Fine…”

Coco stepped up; just then, Su Xinhua was signing too.

“One moment, please.”

The manager told Coco, eyes lowered—he didn’t dare look straight at her face, afraid to lose composure in public.

“Hello, sign here.”

“Okay.”

Coco penned her name, strokes neat like bamboo.

As she set the pen down, her gaze flicked to the contract Su Xinhua had just signed; the signature line held three elegant characters: Su Xinhua.

“!!!!”

A shock bloomed in Coco’s head, like a gong struck.

Su Xinhua. Could it be—

She turned, eyes catching Su Xinhua chatting with Tiantian, her profile clear as a cut gem.

Su Xinhua… Su Xin… She’s Su Xinhua.

Coco’s heart thudded, a drum under silk.

“Hey? Coco, what’s wrong?”

Ye Yiyi noticed her stunned look and stepped in, concern soft as rain.

“Oh… I’m fine.”

Coco pulled her gaze back and shook her head, steadying her breath.

“Alright, here are the keys and the default code for the electronic lock. You can move in anytime. We’ll provide full moving services—just contact us.”

The manager approached, words tidy, hands offering a small packet.

“Okay.”

Coco and Tiantian accepted the bundle; the weight felt like a pebble, heavier than it looked.

Coco kept stealing glances at Su Xinhua; finally, she decided and walked over.

“Um…”

“Hmm? What is it, little beauty?”

Su Xinhua turned, her smile warm, like tea steam.

“Your name… is Su Xinhua?”

“Uh…”

Su Xinhua’s expression froze for a beat; she’d introduced herself as Su Xin earlier.

“Sorry, I saw it by accident.”

Coco rushed to ease the awkwardness, words quick like sparrows.

“It’s fine, that’s on me. I am Su Xinhua. Sorry—when I talk business, I usually use ‘Su Xin.’ I hope you understand.”

Her apology was calm, sincere like clear water.

“It’s fine—no matter the name, you’re Sister Su.”

Ye Yiyi, catching on, jumped in with a smile, smoothing things like a hand over silk.

“Um… can I… save your phone number?”

Coco asked, her voice a little tight, like a string.

“Sure.”

Su Xinhua smiled and gave her number; numbers curled into Coco’s phone like a secret.

“Thank you.”

“No need to be polite.”

“Yiyi, Xin’er, let’s head back. I’m a bit tired.”

Coco pocketed the phone and turned to Gu Xin and Ye Yiyi, the day’s weight hanging like dusk.

“Okay.”

“Sister Su, we’ll go first. We’ll move in tomorrow—then we’ll be neighbors.”

Ye Yiyi said, eyes bright.

“Great, I’m looking forward to it.”

Gu Xin and the three left, their backs tapering into the light.

“Sister Su, that Tang Coco…”

Tiantian moved close, voice lowered like a whisper through bamboo.

“Mm… I saw her face when she saw my name. And something impossible crossed my mind.”

Su Xinhua frowned slightly, a crease like a fine brushstroke.

“You mean…”

As her closest assistant, Tiantian knew the shadows and the light; some secrets had passed between them, because having someone to share your knots with is its own kind of joy.

“Not sure. I can’t confirm. Check her background.”

“Okay.”

“And send people to set up the villa with essentials. You know my taste. I’ve had enough hotel nights.”

“Got it, Sister Su. I’ll arrange it.”

“Tang Coco…”

Su Xinhua murmured the name, the syllables rolling like pebbles in a stream.

“Coco, what’s up?”

In the car, Ye Yiyi looked back at Coco in the rear seat; she’d been quiet all the way, thoughts heavy as clouds.

“N—nothing.”

Coco shook her head, the movement small as a leaf.

“You’re thinking about Su Xinhua.”

Gu Xin said from the driver’s seat, tone steady.

“Mm.”

“I’ll ask Yuting. If a big name from business shows up in Ninghai, Meng Yuting should know the details.”

“Okay.”

Coco breathed out and let herself sink into the seat; a cool breeze slipped in, raising goosebumps. She tugged her skirt down, covering the top of her nylons.

The small motion didn’t escape Yiyi’s care.

“Coco… did you drink too much coffee… need the restroom?”

Yiyi asked with perfect seriousness, her earnest face a cherry on a cake.

“…”

For a second Coco didn’t process.

“Huh?”

Then she blinked, a question mark floating over her head.

“Pff—hahaha!”

Night fell; they returned to Meng Xiaoxiao’s apartment. At dinner, Meng Xiaoxiao kept spilling school stories, each one like a bead; the rest laughed and answered, voices warm as soup steam. Only Coco sat adrift, her mind chasing Su Xinhua’s shadow.

After dinner, Coco slipped to the bedroom first, showered, and dove under the quilt; soon, someone else came in—not Gu Xin this time, but Meng Yuting.

“Yo, already in bed? What’s up with you?”

Meng Yuting came to the bedside, her tone teasing, smile hooked like a fishhook.

“Nothing… You staying here tonight?”

Coco asked, voice a whisper.

“Yep. You move out tomorrow; if I don’t come tonight, no chance.”

Meng Yuting’s lips curved, playful as a fox.

“Oh. Go shower.”

Coco said it calmly, a soft push like a fan’s breeze.

“Hey now, taking the initiative? Okay, I’ll shower. Wait for me, little beauty.”

“…”

Twenty minutes later, Meng Yuting walked out in a towel, water beads clinging like pearls. Coco sat up and blow-dried her hair, the dryer humming like a summer cicada. Then they lay down face to face, sharing the quilt’s warm cave.

“What’s wrong? Your heart’s heavy.”

“Yuting, did Xin tell you about Su Xinhua?” The name hung between them like a lit match.

“Oh, that—if you hadn’t asked, it would’ve slipped my mind like a leaf on water.”

“You two really lucked out—ran into the one person every big shot in Ninghai is watching, under every spotlight.”

“Huh? What’s going on?” Curiosity fluttered up like a startled sparrow.

“Su Xinhua just got back from overseas, salt wind still on her sleeves.”

“She’s the chair of Chenghua International—and its only shareholder, every key to that tower in her hand.”

“You could say Chenghua International is hers alone, like a ship with one captain and one helm.”

“What—Chenghua International!” The name cracked like thunder in clear sky.

Her chest tightened; hearing that name, Tang Coco’s hunch clicked into place like a puzzle piece…