Rumble—rumble—

Rain thickened, a slate of cloud draped over Ninghai. The lively streets thinned, people ebbing away like a tide. In the park, small creatures slipped back to their nests, like seeds under soil. Yet on the north hill’s crown, raindrops shied aside. An invisible barrier cupped the pavilion, holding the wet like a hand over a candle.

Half an hour had drifted by since Tang Coco arrived. She sat on the wooden bench, a quiet harbor in the storm. Ye Yiyi curled in her arms like a small cat. Blue particles floated around them, glowing like embers, warming the air so breath felt soft again.

Worry softened her voice. Tang Coco stroked Ye Yiyi’s hair. “Feeling any better?”

“Mhm…” Her reply was a shy ripple. Ye Yiyi turned, eyes like rainlight. “You… is your mom waiting for you at home?”

“Yo~ little cutie’s still sulking~” Tang Coco pinched her cheek, kneading it like mochi, a smile rising.

“I… I’m not.” Ye Yiyi’s cheeks flushed plum-red. She turned away and pouted, a tiny cloud refusing sun.

“Alright… I talked to her. I’m still living with you. Her company keeps her swamped. With her, I’d be bored stiff.”

“Really?” Joy leapt in Ye Yiyi’s chest like a kite in wind.

“Of course~ What, that already makes you happy?” Tang Coco’s laugh was a helpless spring.

“Mmph… no. Who you live with has nothing to do with me.” Realizing she’d overreacted, Ye Yiyi hid behind a brittle shell, prickly as a hedgehog.

“Hahaha. Now I get why Mu Yan loves teasing you. You’re cute like this~”

“…”

“Alright, let’s go home. This place is all ink and shadows.”

“Mm.” Ye Yiyi nodded. She started to rise, but Tang Coco’s hand stopped her like a gentle gate.

“No need to move. I’ll carry you.” Tang Coco scooped her up in a princess carry, a tide lifting a boat.

“Eh? Then how do we get back?” Ye Yiyi hooked her arms around Tang’s neck, hanging on like ivy.

“Hehehe. We’re—going to the sky~” Tang Coco’s mouth curled, a comet tail.

“Ah?” Question marks filled Ye Yiyi’s face like stars. Then action answered her.

Black Armor surfaced again, shining like lacquered night. Mechanical wings unfurled, a sparrow stretching. Blue particles flared behind them, jetting like fireflies in a stream. Tang Coco hugged Ye Yiyi tight and launched, lifting from earth and knifing into the open sky.

“Ahhhhhhh!” Her scream cut the heavens like a white thread. Ye Yiyi clung to her neck, eyes shut, face buried in warm skin, refusing the wind. Seconds stretched; the air gentled. She cracked open her eyes, peeking like dawn through blinds.

“Wow~ It’s beautiful…” Wonder pulled her gaze outward. They were above the clouds, in a sea of light. Half the sun lingered on the horizon, a coin melting. Sunlight sugared the cloudtops, like golden cotton candy piled high.

She tore her gaze from the sky’s painting and studied the Armor again. The dark steel wasn’t cold; it felt like a midnight quilt. Under her palm, the Armor gave a strange sense of safety, a lullaby of metal.

“Coco… you Abnormals…” Memory tugged her back, a shadow over glass.

Tang Coco felt the tremor and slowed, drifting forward like a kite on a steady breeze. Her voice went soft, warm as tea. “Yiyi, we’re dangerous, yes. Because of danger, we train. We sharpen our strength, to guard ourselves—also to guard the ones we love.”

“…” Ye Yiyi leaned into Tang Coco, silent as a lantern.

“So, Yiyi… don’t worry about the danger. All our effort is to finish those things safely, sooner, and then stay beside the people we like.” Her smile was candlelight in rain.

“Mm… I understand now.” Ye Yiyi nodded lightly, like a reed agreeing with wind.

“Alright, let’s go home.” Tang Coco grinned, then sped up. She opened the I Field, wrapping them like a transparent shell. They plunged through the cloud, falling like a pearl through mist.

Past nine that night, the quiet at Meng Xiaoxiao’s place broke into shards.

Bang bang! Bang bang!

“Xiaoxiao! Xiaoxiao! Open the door. Big sis was wrong, okay?” Meng Yuting hammered the bedroom door, voice frayed like wet paper. Inside, only the thuds of clothes—thump thump thump—answered, a small storm tossed against walls.

After they finished dinner outside and got back, everyone remembered—too late—that Meng Xiaoxiao was still tied up at home. They opened the door to find her a mess, curled on the sofa, forced and trembling, like a bundled bird. Worst of all, she’d needed the bathroom since afternoon. Rope pinned her, body aching to move. She held it in, then held on longer, sleepless and tormented till now.

“Don’t you dare manage me! I’m leaving! I’m never talking to you again!” Meng Xiaoxiao’s fury cracked from behind the door. She stuffed clothes into a suitcase, her mind already at Tang Coco’s place.

“Xiaoxiao! Xiaoxiao! Sis was wrong!” Meng Yuting kept knocking, guilt gnawing like ants. Today’s chaos had swallowed her little sister from mind.

“Alright, Yuting. Xiaoxiao’s in a storm. Give her air.” Gu Xin patted her back, steady as a stone.

“But…” Meng Yuting’s brow pinched like a folded fan. Regret weighed her down.

“If she wants to stay with Coco, let her. I think Coco can help you—talk her down, nicely.” Gu Xin’s voice was a bridge over water.

“This… fine.” After a moment, Meng Yuting saw there was no other road.

“Mm. I’ll call Coco. She can come pick Xiaoxiao up.” Gu Xin turned toward the living room, fingers already dialing.

Near Ye Yiyi’s villa, Tang Coco had just landed in the rain-slick yard, still holding Ye Yiyi like a fragile bird. Her phone buzzed the moment her boots kissed the ground.

“Oh… you really managed to forget even that. I’ll go get her.” After a short call, the story was clear. Tang Coco sighed, helpless as a drifting leaf, and slipped her phone away.

“What’s up?” Ye Yiyi walked to her side, concern like a hand on the shoulder.

“Xiaoxiao and her sis are fighting. She wants to stay here a few days. I’ll go pick her up.” Tang Coco kept it simple, voice like quiet rain.

“I see. Take my car then. Be careful—roads are slick.” Ye Yiyi agreed at once, heart open like a door. Once Xiaoxiao arrived, they’d hear the whole tale.

“Mm. Mu Yan should be home. Head in.” Tang Coco pointed toward the warm light.

“Okay~” Ye Yiyi’s smile fluttered, then she slipped inside. Tang Coco took her car toward Meng Xiaoxiao’s apartment. Tonight she ran endlessly—sky to street, wind to wheels.

Twenty minutes later, Tang Coco pulled up at the apartment. There stood Meng Xiaoxiao by the curb, a light yellow cartoon dress bright as a lemon slice in rain. A black umbrella in her left hand, a suitcase hugged by the right.

Tang Coco saw and shook her head, a resigned curve. She eased the car over. A short distance behind Xiaoxiao, Gu Xin and Meng Yuting waited under shared rain, faces like wet petals. Tang Coco parked, stepped into the downpour, and lifted the suitcase into the trunk. She ushered Meng Xiaoxiao into the passenger seat. Before closing the door, she gave Gu Xin and Meng Yuting a reassuring glance, a lantern in the storm. Then she slid into the driver’s seat and pulled away.

“Alright. Still mad?” Tang Coco’s tone stayed gentle, like a breeze.

“Hmph! They crossed the line. Went out to play without me, tied me up at home, then forgot me! You don’t even know—I couldn’t move at all, even when I needed to… forget it.” The words hit like stones, then faltered at the edge of a puddle.

“Wait… you… didn’t—wet yourself, did you?” Tang Coco ventured, wincing like someone poking a beehive.

“How could I! Coco-jie! I’m not talking to you!” Meng Xiaoxiao’s cheeks flared peach-pink. Her shout puffed like steam.

“Okay okay~ I won’t say it. Whatever Xiaoxiao orders, I’ll do, hmm? I’ll take their punishment for them.” Tang Coco lifted both hands, surrendering like a flag.

“Hmph! Then you’re in trouble. This young lady is very mad.” Meng Xiaoxiao crossed her arms, a small thundercloud hugging itself.

“Uh…” Tang Coco, as always, regretted agreeing before reading the fine print.

A playful sound cut the cabin.

Grumble—grumble~

“…” Air froze for a beat, awkward as a cat caught mid-meow.

“Alright. Hungry, huh?” Tang Coco broke the silence with a smile like a lifeline.

“Duh! They tied me all day! How would I eat?” Xiaoxiao’s glare was a sparkler in rain.

“…” Tang Coco had to admit: this little firecracker burned hot. She shook her head and sighed. “Buckle up. I’ll go faster.”

Vroom!

The silver Porsche sliced through wet streets like a fish through riverlight, reaching home in a blink.

“You go in first. I’ll grab the luggage.” Tang Coco stepped out, rain beading like pearls on her sleeves.

“Okay.” Meng Xiaoxiao darted toward the door, a bright butterflied umbrella.

Tang Coco opened the trunk and hauled the suitcase. She glanced across the road at a villa—her mother’s. Lights glowed, but it felt empty, like a lantern without voices.

“Not staying here tonight? I’ll call later.” The thought passed like a bird. She dragged the suitcase inside.

She pushed the door into the living room—and stopped, stunned, like someone catching fireworks indoors.

“Wow! Auntie’s skin is so smooth. No—calling you Auntie feels weird. You’re like a big sister~” Meng Xiaoxiao sat on Su Xinhua’s lap, giggling like bells, arms looped in a sugary hug. Su Xinhua looked pleased, warmth in her eyes like tea steam.

“Wha… what is this… Mom, why are you here!” Tang Coco’s surprise sparked like flint. She hadn’t expected her mother to show up—nor for Xiaoxiao to glue herself to her mom like taffy.

“Yiyi… this…” Tang Coco turned to Ye Yiyi, bewilderment fluttering.

“I’m not really sure either… go ask Mu Yan~” Ye Yiyi winked, moonlight in her lashes, and wandered toward the kitchen, hips swaying like gentle reeds.