“Then… what do you need me to do next?” Tang Coco’s voice rose toward the starless void like a paper lantern adrift.

“No… I don’t have the right to command you,” the Fate Clock replied, its tone fading like a bell across misty water. “Your fate… I can’t change it anymore. From now on, you decide and reshape, like a sculptor at dawn. Even the destinies of those around you rest in your hands, like threads in a loom. All I can do now is return all your power to you, like a river flowing back to its source.”

Then the Fate Clock spoke to Marilyn, its timbre soft as wind through pines. “Little one, you’ve worked hard all these years, shuttling through worlds beside the one bound by fate, like a sparrow crossing winters.”

“Hmph.” Marilyn crossed her arms with a cat’s proud flick, her snort sharp as flint.

“Then… I’ll teach you technology beyond your world, like stars handed down in sketches. The rest… it’s up to you.” The voice thinned like morning fog, and light motes bloomed around them like fireflies drifting into their skin.

“That one… has done all he can,” Su Xinhua said, her calm carried like rain under leaves. “But I’m sorry. As this world’s will, I can’t break the balance to help you, like a river refusing its banks. I should return now; the task of guarding the secret is complete, like a gate closing at dusk.”

“You’re leaving?” Gu Xin asked, her brow drawn tight like a bowstring.

“Mm. I’m only a fragment of the World Will, a shard of moon in a lake. But what you’ve done helps this world. So I won’t reclaim this body’s abilities; consider it my share, like a candle left burning.”

Tang Coco swayed as the Fate Clock’s message poured in, dizziness rolling like a tide; Gu Xin caught her, steady as an oak.

“What’s wrong, Coco?” Gu Xin asked, seeing her face pale as winter paper; before Coco could answer, a strange sound skittered around them like ice splitting.

Ka-cha… ka-cha…

The surrounding space began to crack bit by bit, spiderwebs spreading like frost across glass.

“Looks like your Anomalous Energy is about to run dry, Tang Coco,” Su Xinhua said, her smile soft as moonlight on water. “I look forward to your future performance. Let’s part here, like travelers at a crossroads.”

She stepped close and brushed Coco’s cheek, a touch light as willow fluff. “So beautiful~ I hope you succeed. Good luck~”

She retreated two steps, her voice steady as a bell. “Dismiss the Asura Armor.”

“System… remove Armor…” Tang Coco whispered, her breath thin as smoke, and darkness closed over her like a falling curtain.

The moment the System dismissed the Asura Armor, the whole space detonated like a shattered mirror; everyone squeezed their eyes shut, bracing like trees in a storm. When calm returned like a tide ebbing, they opened their eyes to the familiar living room, faint particles drifting away like dust in sunlight.

“Coco…” Gu Xin cradled the girl and stroked her head, gentle as a warm breeze over wheat.

“I’ll take her,” a voice sounded, clear as a chime. Gu Xin looked up to see Su Xinhua walking over, her eyes red as a sunset, fixed on her daughter.

“Mm.” Gu Xin yielded, and Su Xinhua carried Tang Coco into the bedroom, moving like a guardian crane.

“…”

“Marilyn, what did you learn just now?” Meng Yuting asked, her curiosity fluttering like a sparrow.

“All right, I’ll tell you.” Marilyn’s tone fell into the room like soft rain, and the three women began discussing, voices weaving like threads.

Su Xinhua laid her daughter on the bed and sat beside her, quiet as a lamp in night. Memories surfaced like old film, scenes with Coco’s father rippling through her mind until she sank deep in reverie, still as a lake at dawn.

Ten minutes later…

“Mom…” Tang Coco spoke, her voice fragile as a reed. She had woken earlier, but seeing her mother’s sorrow settle like ash, she hadn’t disturbed her until now.

“You’re awake? Anywhere uncomfortable?” Su Xinhua returned to herself, concern rising like smoke from a hearth.

“No… just no strength…” Coco shook her head faintly, like a wind-touched leaf.

“I see. I’ll cook you something nice,” Su Xinhua said, the thought bright as a candle.

“Don’t… don’t… I—” Coco caught her hand with what little strength she had, grasp light as silk.

“Puh—hahaha~ Just teasing.” Su Xinhua laughed, merry as bells. “I know I have no talent for cooking, like rain that won’t light a fire.”

Coco rolled her eyes, a tidal sigh. “You awful mom…”

“Mom, don’t be too sad,” Coco went on, her tone quiet as evening. “Father did what he did… for us, like a tree breaking wind for its nest.”

“Mm. I know. I don’t blame him,” Su Xinhua said, nodding like a steady branch.

“Mm…”

“What do you plan next?” Su Xinhua asked, the question drifting like mist.

“I… want to strengthen myself first, then find that prophet,” Tang Coco said, her resolve hardening like steel from the forge. “The enemy hides in shadow, we stand in the open, like deer in a field. If we want to strike first, that prophet matters a lot.”

“I’ll help you,” Su Xinhua replied, firm as bedrock.

“By the way, the Fate Clock sent me a packet,” Coco said, her eyes brightening like stars. “It includes designs for new gear. From what it sounds like, it wants me to create a unit, like a blade of our own.”

“That’s fine,” Su Xinhua said, confidence rising like sun. “I’ve worked so hard so I could help you. Chenghua now has the strength and capital to produce independently, like a workshop roaring to life.”

“Good. I’ll assign Marilyn to you. She’ll assist you and protect you, like a hawk at your shoulder. Then I can rest easy.”

“Relax~ Don’t forget, your mother has power now too~” Su Xinhua lifted her right hand, faint golden particles blooming in her palm like dust motes in dawn.

Tang Coco smiled, warmth spreading like tea. The World Will truly had left Su Xinhua the ability.

Elsewhere, Ye Yiyi and Li Muyan had been wandering downtown for a long while, drifting through streets like leaves. They arrived in the morning, ate lunch, then kept shopping. Ye Yiyi bought piles of clothes, autumn nearing like a slow tide; soon there might be many things to handle, so she took the chance to buy now.

“What’s wrong~ Still upset?” On the drive home, Li Muyan glanced over, seeing Yiyi’s mood clouded like a rain-heavy sky, and sighed.

“No…” Ye Yiyi answered softly, head lowered like a drooping petal.

“Come on, don’t lie to me,” Li said, voice warm as a blanket. “We grew up together. I know how you look when you’re mad, like stormlight.”

“…”

“Yiyi, trust Coco,” Li pressed gently, her words steady as river stones. “She won’t abandon you. Today… that wasn’t what she meant.”

“Mm? You’ve changed a lot,” Yiyi said, surprise flickering like a candle. “You even speak for her.”

“So, don’t you trust me?” Li smiled, calm as moon on water. “I trust her. Otherwise, why would I let her get close to you, like opening a gate?”

“What happened between you two?” Yiyi asked, ignoring the reassurance, focus sharp as a needle. “Since you came back from America, your relationship changed fast, like weather over the sea.”

“Uh…” Li hadn’t expected Yiyi to care so much, hesitation pooling like shadow.

“Are you also tied to Abnormals?” Yiyi pressed, gaze tight as a clamp.

“Uh…”

“Abnormals? How would I…” Li stared ahead, words blurring like rain on glass.

“Stop the car!” Yiyi suddenly shouted, her voice cracking like thunder.

“Mm?” Li braked and stopped, the car settling like a bird to perch.

“Come here! Look into my eyes!” Yiyi pulled her arm, turning her face, urgency flaring like a match.

“…” Li obeyed, her heartbeat counting like drums.

“Are you an Abnormal? Don’t lie to me,” Yiyi asked, eyes wet as dew.

“I…” Li’s thoughts tangled like vines; she saw Yiyi’s damp gaze, remembered Yiyi already knew Coco and the others were Abnormals. Lying would be wrong, like smoke hiding fire. At last she told the truth.

“I am…”

“As expected… you all keep things from me…” Yiyi let go, sat back slowly, her whisper cold as night wind.

“No, Yiyi…” Li tried to explain, but Yiyi cut her off with a gesture sharp as a blade.

“So… one day you’ll leave me too…” Yiyi spoke with her head bowed, sorrow pooling like ink.

“I…”

“Looks like… we aren’t the same kind,” she said, her voice hollow as a shell. “I want to be alone. You go first.” She opened the door and ran, her figure streaking like a fleeing deer.

“Yiyi! Come back!” Li called, panic flaring like sparks. But unlike Coco, she remembered the restriction Ouyang had set, rules binding like iron. They were on a crowded downtown street, a tide of people flowing; she couldn’t use Anomaly Power to chase. By the time she stepped from the driver’s seat, Yiyi was already far away, a swallow vanishing into the sky. Li could only craft a tiny tracker with her Anomaly Power, flick it like a seed, and stick it to Yiyi’s hair.

“Ah…” When Yiyi melted into the crowd like rain into the river, Li sat back helplessly and called Tang Coco, her sigh long as winter wind.

Tang Coco lay resting, fruit sweet as nectar on her tongue; Su Xinhua fed her like a crane offering lotus. Her phone rang, sharp as a bell.

“Hello? Muyan, what is it?” Coco asked, alert rising like a cresting wave.

“Coco… Yiyi… ran off alone…” Li’s voice trembled like a string.

“Ran off!? What happened?” Coco almost sprang upright, shock like lightning.

“Don’t panic,” Li said, steadying her tone like a hand to the shoulder. “I put a locator on her. She won’t be in danger. But I think you should go.”

“Okay. Send me the signal. I’m going now.” Coco set down the phone and lifted the quilt, movement quick as a bird’s wing.

“What is it, Coco?” Su Xinhua asked, puzzled, her brows curving like a crescent.

“Something’s up with Yiyi. I need to find her,” Coco said, resolve bright as steel.

“Oh. Be careful,” Su answered, her concern warm as sunlight. “You’ve only just recovered a bit of Anomalous Energy.”

“Mm, I know.” Coco nodded, then remembered something, a thought flashing like a fish.

“Right, Mom. I want to discuss something…”

“No need,” Su Xinhua laughed, her smile blooming like peach flowers. “I know what you’ll say. Yiyi came to you because of this, didn’t she?”

“Mom, you…” Coco blinked, surprise rippling like water.

“Finding my daughter makes me happy enough,” Su said, light as drifting clouds. “And don’t forget, the villa I bought is right across from Yiyi’s place~ I can’t live in a hotel forever~”

“So Mom, you planned this long ago!” Coco grinned, joy hopping like a sparrow.

“Hehe~ See how capable your mom is,” Su replied, pride warm as tea.

“I love you, Mom,” Coco said, hugging her, arms tight as ivy.

“I love you too,” Su whispered, rubbing her daughter’s hair like silk. “Go on~ Don’t keep that girl worried.”

“Mm.” Coco dressed swiftly, motion sleek as a blade, and raced to the garage. A black Porsche roared out like a panther cutting through night.

“Let’s go downstairs and eat something~” Su Xinhua said to Gu Xin and the others, her tone gentle as rain.

“Okay~” Gu Xin agreed, her relief loosening like knots.

In the elevator, Meng Yuting felt she’d forgotten something, a thought slipping like a fish from the net; no matter how she chased it, it wouldn’t rise.

“Yuting, what’s wrong?” Gu Xin asked, seeing her frown gather like storm clouds over a ridge.

"N-nothing..."

Right then... inside Meng Xiaoxiao’s apartment...

"Boohoo~ boohoo boohoo~"