Tang Coco saw Ye Yiyi slip toward the kitchen, and Li Muyan seemed to be in there too; she shook her head like a leaf in a breeze and drifted to the couch.

“Mom.” Her call was honey-sweet, warm as a cup of tea.

“Ke’er, come sit.” Su Xinhua patted the cushion like stroking a tame cat, and Tang Coco sank down like a cloud settling.

“What brings you here?” The question floated light, like a morning wind.

“Me? I’m here to mooch dinner. Tiantian’s buried at the office, no one’s cooking for me—pitiful as a stray kitten.”

Su Xinhua put on a pitiful face, a chairwoman of a global conglomerate begging a meal like snow falling in midsummer—who would believe it?

…

Tang Coco was speechless at her mom’s act, like a fish gulping at air.

“So… what’s going on with you two?” Her gaze landed on Meng Xiaoxiao perched on Su Xinhua’s lap, like a sparrow nesting.

“Oh, Xiaoxiao is so cute—such a good girl—I adore her.” Su Xinhua ruffled her hair, gentle as smoothing silk.

“Heehee—Coco-jie, your mom’s so pretty; no wonder she had such a pretty daughter.” Meng Xiaoxiao’s smile curled like a crescent moon.

“Uh…”

“Alright, you play. I’ll get you something good.” Tang Coco rose, her steps a soft ripple, and headed for the kitchen, where steam drifted like mist around Ye Yiyi and Li Muyan in aprons.

“Let me, Yiyi.” Her voice brushed close, like a feather.

“No need. Take a breather. I’ll make—ah… mm… I’ll do it.” Ye Yiyi’s words snagged like a fishhook, then slipped free.

“Mm? What were you about to call out?” Tang Coco tilted her head, teasing like a cat batting string.

“It’s nothing…” Ye Yiyi’s cheeks flushed peach-pink, and she turned back to the stove, calm as a pond. Tang Coco leaned to her ear and breathed, “Honestly, you could call her our mom.”

“Go away…” Ye Yiyi poked her with an elbow, her blush deepening like sunset.

“Ew—watch it, you two. You’re giving me goosebumps.” Li Muyan rubbed her arms, bumps rising like rice grains.

“What, you can’t handle a little sweet?” Tang Coco’s grin flickered like firelight.

“Tch. Fine. You take over here. I’m going to hang with our mom.” Li Muyan rolled her eyes like a flicked fan, stripped off her apron like shedding a shell, and strolled out.

“Pfft.”

“This girl…” Tang Coco hadn’t expected her to be that blunt; she scratched her nose, airy as a breeze, and tied on the apron.

“Let’s cook.” Her tone was bright as clinking porcelain.

“Mm.” Ye Yiyi’s reply settled soft as dew.

At dinner, maybe it was the crowd, maybe the dishes sang like spring, but everyone ate heartily; even Su Xinhua rarely indulged, yet tonight she ate till her belly felt like a drum.

Across the table, Coco’s mom chatted with Ye Yiyi and Li Muyan for a while; it seemed to be about Coco’s lodging, like whispers of rain behind paper screens; Coco’s mom barred her from eavesdropping, so Coco watched from afar while Ye Yiyi’s face bloomed pink like peach petals, then calmed, then bloomed again.

After ten, Tiantian got off work and took Su Xinhua home, like a lantern leading someone through the night.

“Alright, it’s late; everyone to bed.” Ye Yiyi’s voice was soft, like moonlight on water.

“Okay! Let’s go, Coco-jie! Let’s sleep.” Meng Xiaoxiao tugged her arm, bright as a sparrow tugging a ribbon, and ran upstairs.

“Hey, slow down—what’s the rush?” Tang Coco laughed, her words tumbling like pebbles.

“Come on, you’re mine tonight.” After the two left, Li Muyan slipped an arm around Ye Yiyi’s waist like a loop of silk.

“Hmph.” Ye Yiyi turned away, proud as a swan, and took the stairs first; Li Muyan sighed helplessly and followed like a trailing breeze.

————————

Next morning, when Ye Yiyi stepped into Tang Coco’s bedroom, the sight hit her like a storm wind.

Blankets and clothes were scattered everywhere like fallen leaves; Tang Coco sprawled diagonal across the bed like a lazy tiger, and Meng Xiaoxiao lay diagonally with her head pillowed on Coco’s stomach like a curled cat; both wore thin nightdresses, lucky it was all girls here, or the show would have been a crimson sunrise.

“You two…” Ye Yiyi clenched her fists, heat rising like summer, marched to the bed, scooped up a pillow from the floor, and hurled it at Tang Coco.

Thump!

“Ah! Enemy!” Tang Coco jolted up like a springing bow; Meng Xiaoxiao popped off her belly and rolled aside like a little gourd; Coco blinked wide, sleep-tangled like fog, raised her right hand, and a black long blade bloomed in her grip like a shard of night.

“Uh…”

“What are you doing! Put it away!” Ye Yiyi shouted, sharp as snapping ice, seeing Meng Xiaoxiao struggling to get up.

“Oh… oh…” Tang Coco blinked clear, and the blade unraveled into particles, drifting away like soot on wind.

“What’s up, Coco-jie—what are you doing?” Meng Xiaoxiao propped herself with one hand, rubbed her eyes with the other, slow as a waking fawn.

“Yiyi… what was that… you scared me.” Coco’s complaint wavered like disturbed water.

“What was that? What did you two do last night? Look at this mess.” Ye Yiyi’s temper flared like sparks.

“And you’re both young ladies—can you at least sleep like you’re in a painting?” Her scold snapped like bamboo.

“Uh… Yiyi, you don’t sleep so neatly either.” Tang Coco still had room to retort, her smile sly as a fox.

“I…” Ye Yiyi froze like a deer; she did like hugging things when she slept—and once she hugged, she didn’t let go, like ivy.

“Anyway, up—clean the room. No breakfast if it’s not tidy.” Ye Yiyi cut the topic like a knife, cheeks still pink as lotus, and left.

“Sigh… it’s your fault—you insisted on playing so late.” Tang Coco pinched Meng Xiaoxiao’s nose, playful as pinching mochi.

“Mmph! You’re so mean!” Meng Xiaoxiao wriggled, pried Coco’s fingers off like a chick pecking, then sat up and said, bright as a bell, “Didn’t you play super hard too?”

“I…” Tang Coco had no defense; last night they returned to the room, booted up the computer, and dove into two-player mini-games like ducks into water; Coco didn’t usually care for them, but once she played, it was surprisingly fun, and the hook caught quick; they kept at it past two in the morning, then wrestled over wins and losses like cubs tussling, and fell asleep when laughter ran dry.

“Alright… let’s clean, or no breakfast.” Coco gathered her white hair like moonlight into order, climbed out of bed, and started picking up clothes like gathering petals.

“Ah—my… stomach hurts. Coco-jie, you start; I’m hitting the bathroom.” Meng Xiaoxiao announced grandly, then scampered out in tiny steps like a quail, not even changing.

“You…” Coco felt helpless and annoyed, like rain and sun wrestling in the same sky.

At the table, Coco saw Ye Yiyi wasn’t truly mad, and her heart loosened like a knot untied.

“Yiyi, I’m going out tonight. I won’t be back for dinner.” Her voice was steady as a lantern.

“Oh? Who are you flirting with this time?” Li Muyan’s mouth hooked like a crescent blade.

“Hey? I don’t flirt.” Tang Coco arched a fine brow, light as a brushstroke.

“Your face flirts on its own.” Li Muyan fired back, lazy as a cat on a sill.

“Oh, then blame me.” Tang Coco spread her hands, airy as dandelion fluff; they fell back into their daily sparring like sparrows bickering on a wire.

“You—itching for a lesson, little brat?” Li Muyan’s tone sharpened like steel, but playful.

“Bleh, bleh—mad yet?” Tang Coco stuck out her tongue, impish as a sprite.

“You!”

“Alright, alright—you two.” Ye Yiyi sighed, soft as rain, then told Coco, “Okay. Be careful tonight. Stay safe.” Her smile held calm like a still lake; she trusted Coco now to guard herself.

————————

Coco spent another day at home playing with Meng Xiaoxiao, then drove out a little after five, her car humming like a river stone.

“Send me the address.” Tang Coco texted Ouyang Lingxue; the reply came quick, crisp as a bell; Coco checked it and headed out.

Ouyang Lingxue’s place lay far from Ye Yiyi’s villa, distance stretching like a long road; Coco hadn’t expected it, since Lingxue reached school early like a morning star.

She drove across the city like threading streets with silk, then circled the outer ring like a hawk skirting fields; nearly half an hour passed before she reached a quiet villa district, secluded yet sprawling like a private manor.

At the gate, the security had been notified; they waved her in like opening a fan, and as she rolled into the yard, a different scent brushed her skin—the aura of Abnormals, cool as shadowed water.

“No wonder—an Abnormal lineage,” Coco thought, the notion settling like snow, and parked. She stepped out and headed for the central three-story villa, straight as an arrow.

“Hello, Miss Tang, right?” A lady housekeeper awaited at the door, neat as a stitched hem.

“Mm.” Coco’s answer was simple as a nod.

“The Second Miss is upstairs waiting. She asks that you come in yourself.” The words were polite, smooth as porcelain.

“Got it.” Coco pushed the door open and entered; the first floor spread wide like an empty hall, with only expensive furniture and decor gleaming like polished jade; the style was simple and bright, clean as winter light, and there was no one around—not even servants—so the space felt cold and hollow, like a white room after snow.

She took the stairs to the second floor; there was another lounge, softened by feminine touches—cartoons and plush toys, a few but enough to warm the air like a small brazier.

“You’re here. Sit first. Want something to drink?” Footsteps sounded behind her like light rain, and Coco turned; Ouyang Lingxue stood in a snow-white gauze dress, white cotton slippers quiet as clouds, her hair loose down her back like silk; it was Coco’s first time seeing her like this, and Lingxue looked the purest lady she’d ever met, a plum blossom in frost.

“No need. I’m not thirsty.” Coco smiled, gentle as tea steam, and sat on the sofa.

“You look too formal right now. Like this, my sister will spot you in a heartbeat.” Lingxue set a glass of warm water before her, sat opposite, and spoke calmly, her words clear as chimes.

“Thanks, but there’s no helping it—we… don’t know each other enough.” Coco exhaled softly, like wind through bamboo.

“Is that so… I know you quite well, Shadow Division Asura.” Lingxue’s mouth curved, a quiet arc like a moon.

!!!!