Three laps wrung the class dry. Girls leaned together like willow branches, inching back with shaky knees. Boys panted like bellows. The PE reps joked like stones in a stream. Tang Coco moved as if untouched, calm as a still pond.

“Who’s the class monitor? Step over.” Duan Ruo’s voice cracked like a whip across the sun-baked track. Tang Coco patted Meng Xiaoxiao’s back like brushing dust and walked over.

Huh? This girl… stunning. The thought rippled through Duan Ruo. Tang Coco’s skin was porcelain-glazed; sunlight, a hot blade, made it brighter. Anyone else would shield such skin from the noon fire. Tang Coco didn’t care, like a crane in open sky.

“Teacher, you called me.” Polite, smooth as tea. On campus, she knew how to wear a normal-student mask.

“You’re the monitor?” “Yes.” “Oh.” Same three laps, yet she looked unspent, like a lantern with steady flame.

“Prepare your class roster and send it to me. Add my WeChat.” “Okay.” They added each other; Tang Coco rarely used it, like a locked drawer.

“Good. Lead everyone to Gym No. 2. We’re doing the swimming test today.” The words splashed like cold water. “Uh… ah?” “What’s wrong?” “N-nothing…” She shook her head, but her heart fluttered like a trapped sparrow.

“Tell them to change into swimsuits ahead of time. I’ll wait there.” “Okay…” She turned back, her breath a thin ribbon. “Everyone, head to Gym Two. Change into swimsuits…” Her voice drifted listless, like wind through reeds.

“Yay!!!” Joy popped like fireworks. The girls loved swimming; in heat like a clay kiln, water felt like a spring. The boys grinned, schemes in their eyes; first swim class in college, waves in their heads.

What do I do… Her worry knotted like tangled thread on the walk. “Coco-jie, what’s wrong?” Meng Xiaoxiao tugged her hand, light as ivy. “I…” The words stuck; shame pressed like a warm stone. Smart-as-a-fox, Meng Xiaoxiao clicked to it. “Eh~ Coco-jie’s shy, isn’t she~” “Ha? No way…” She denied, but heat bloomed; the thought of tight swimwear before so many classmates pricked her pride like needles.

“Relax~ I heard the pool here splits by gender. Don’t be shy, Coco-jie~” “Mm…” Even among girls, she felt awkward, like a cat in a crowd.

They hit the equipment room and drew new swimsuits sized to fit. No notice, no favorites; the school’s uniform style would have to do, a tide in one color. Hugging fabric, a flock of girls filed into a place too special for Tang Coco—the women’s locker room. Didn’t expect this day would come. The room was tidy as a tea house, yet she was tense, despite being casual at home or with someone she liked, like a lute tuned tight.

“Coco-jie, why are you spacing out? Come change.” Meng Xiaoxiao plopped on a bench and kicked off her little shoes, feet like white shells. “Oh… okay…” Tang Coco stepped in, breath held like a pearl.

“No privacy screens?” She looked around; locker doors served as shields, like makeshift fans. “Screens? What for?” “I… just…” Explaining would sound delicate, like silk too fine for daily wear.

Meng Xiaoxiao saw the tangled look, yarn in a basket. A spark lit in her eyes. “Eh~ I forgot, my Coco-jie is a little shy~” “What are you saying!” Tang Coco didn’t even notice the blush, dawn on porcelain.

“Come, don’t be embarrassed. I’ll help you!” Her small paws darted like sparrows. She grabbed at Tang Coco’s skirt, eager as spring wind. “Hey, hey! Wait! I can do it!” “Coco-jie’s too slow~ Don’t move~” “Xiaoxiao! People are around!” They paused and glanced around; everyone had stopped to watch, eyes like bright beads. “Uh…” “S-sorry…” Her awkward smile creaked like an old door.

“Tsk…” Xu Ling clicked her tongue and kept changing, steady as a millstone. Xu Yinuo had told her about Tang Coco’s background; trouble no longer tempted her, like fire seen from afar.

“Xiaoxiao, need help?” A girl approached, the one who’d once shared lunch, smile gentle as drizzle. “Huh?” “Huh?” The sudden offer froze them like deer in lantern light; they’d thought a lecture was coming.

“I do! Help me!” Meng Xiaoxiao reacted fast, a firework spark. She waved them over, voice like a horn. Brave girls charged not at an enemy, but at Tang Coco, a tide breaking. In a blink, those who longed to touch her piled in, toppling her onto the bench like a petal under rain. “Hey, hey! You! Ah! Don’t yank!!! Ah!!!! Meng Xiaoxiao, I’m going to kill you!!!!!” “Wow, Coco’s skin is so smooth~” “So white and slick~” Laughter rippled like water.

Thirty minutes later, the girls drifted to the women’s pool, legs light as reeds. Tang Coco trailed last, head down, steps wobbling like a newborn fawn. Duan Ruo, already in training gear, had waited ages, a rock under rain.

“What took so long? Changing clothes shouldn’t take forever! The boys are briefed and done, and you show up now!” Her voice snapped like a bamboo rod.

“The locker room door got locked! We came right away…” A girl improvised, quick as a swallow.

Duan Ruo fell silent, a still pond. If true, they weren’t at fault. Then she spotted the pretty figure. White hair tied back, moonlit silk. Deep-blue swimsuit hugging pale skin, glaze on jade. Curves traced perfect lines, like calligraphy. One odd note—the girl’s face was so red, peach-blossom hot.

“What’s wrong? Not feeling well? Why so flushed?” She stepped close, concern a small cloud. “N-nothing…” Tang Coco shook her head, numb as winter wood. Her heart sat in ashes—she’d been stripped by a dozen girls, storm over lilies.

This girl’s skin and figure were too good. Up close, Duan Ruo felt the sculpted precision, a statue warmed by sun. “Alright, get in and practice freely. In thirty minutes I’ll test your basics.” “Okay!” The girls slid into water like silver fish, splashes ringing like bells.

“Let’s go.” Tang Coco smoothed her mood like pressing silk. She turned to Meng Xiaoxiao. “Um… Coco-jie, can you swim?” Her face scrunched, swagger gone, like a kite without wind. “Of course.” “Umm… I can’t swim…” Her fingers poked together like shy sparrows, cute as sugar buns. Tang Coco wasn’t fooled; sweetness hid mischief like snow over stones.

“Huh? You never had swim class?” “No… I skipped PE back then.” Tang Coco stared, speechless, a line of dots in her mind. The rich girl had bad habits, it seemed.

“Fine, I’ll teach you.” “Yay!” Meng Xiaoxiao leaped and hugged her, face pressing into Tang Coco’s chest like a soft pillow. “Mm? What are you doing?” “Carry me down.” …

An afternoon of PE wrung Tang Coco out like a soaked towel. Meng Xiaoxiao truly had zero swimming basics, flat pond, no ripples. And the little rascal wasn’t honest during practice; she loved to steal little advantages like a cat swiping cream.

After class, on the way back to the teaching building, the air cooled like twilight tea. “Waa~ That felt so good~” Meng Xiaoxiao chirped, light as a breeze. “Didn’t expect our monitor swims so well.” “Yeah, better than the teacher’s demo.” “Right, and Coco’s easy to talk to. I hadn’t noticed before.” The girls behind them chatted like sparrows on a fence. Tang Coco felt okay—ties with classmates warmed like fresh pour.

Suddenly, Meng Xiaoxiao gripped Tang Coco’s arm hard, claws like a kitten. “What is it?” “I feel Coco-jie is getting more popular.” Her cheeks puffed like steamed buns, jealousy a green sprout. “No way. Relax. I’ll still hang out with you.” Tang Coco soothed her, voice a soft fan. Ahead stood a very pretty silhouette, moonstone bright.

“Mo Zitong?” “Why is she here?” Meng Xiaoxiao saw her too, eyes wide as saucers. “Wow wow, is this a love-triangle showdown?” The girls behind knew Mo Zitong—at that gala, she’d kissed Tang Coco before thousands, a comet across night.

“Don’t stare. Let’s move.” “Monitor, we’ll head off first~” The girls were tactful, peeling away like leaves in wind. “Mm. Bye.” Mo Zitong walked up, smiling at Tang Coco like a drifting lotus.

“Monitor? Looks like Tang Coco’s little life is going well~” “Why are you here?” “I need to tell you something.” The air tightened, a drum-skin. “… Xiaoxiao, could you grab me a water?” Tang Coco turned, voice gentle as silk. “Mm, okay.” Meng Xiaoxiao obeyed for once, a rabbit hopping off.

“Spill it. What’s with the mystery?” “You know there’s an exchange event with Yanjing University in a few days?” “Yeah, I know.” She nodded, calm as stone. “Did you agree to go?” “Yeah. I have to as class monitor. I don’t even want to go.” Reluctance rose like a sour tide.

“I knew it…” Mo Zitong leaned in, her whisper a feather-soft murmur. “Listen. This event isn’t a regular exchange.” “Huh? What do you mean?” “Yanjing University is Huaguo’s highest academy. It’s also the most mysterious. Rumor says one campus is set aside for Abnormals.” “Huh? How is that possible?”

“How could Abnormals possibly have a school just for them?”

Disbelief drifted cold in Tang Coco’s chest, like frost on glass. “If that were true, how would our Shadow Division not know?”

“You’re not wrong—everyone thinks like that. But the campus does exist.” Mo Zitong’s voice was steady, like a blade held straight. “Remember the favor I asked? If I fail, I have to follow my family’s plan and attend that campus.”

...

Tang Coco’s brows tightened, a storm gathering behind her eyes. “So what’s this got to do with the event?”

“Yanjing University runs events like this every year with other schools, all on a timetable.” Mo Zitong spoke like laying stones on a path. “This time wasn’t Ninghai University’s slot at all. For some reason, they suddenly handed Ninghai University a bunch of spots, like doors opening overnight.”

...

“So, to me, their real reason for choosing here might be you.” Her gaze was a quiet arrow slicing air.

...

“No way. If they’re targeting Abnormals in Ninghai, what if the ones who go are just ordinary students?” Tang Coco’s doubt curled like mist over water.

“No idea. Maybe they’ve got some special countermeasure.” Mo Zitong spread her hands, palms up like empty seashells.

...

“Alright. Got it. Thanks for telling me.” Relief loosened Tang Coco’s voice, like a knot easing.

“No need to thank me. Helping you is helping myself.” Mo Zitong’s smile flickered like lantern light. “By the way, I agreed to the exchange program. I’ll go with you.”

“Huh? I thought only a few freshman classes had slots?”

“Yeah. But it’s just one slot. I can swap with someone, easy.” Her tone was casual, like coins smoothing a rough road.

...

Looks like money smooths every stone...

“Okay. If that’s all, I’m heading out.” Tang Coco turned, her steps light as falling leaves. “Meng Xiaoxiao should be done shopping.”

“Did you recover your strength? I can’t feel your Anomalous Energy at all.” Mo Zitong’s senses reached out, then found only still water.

“What do you think?” Tang Coco’s mouth hooked up, a crescent catching stray light.

“Ah... then I can’t bully you anymore.” Mo Zitong’s mood dipped, like a child watching a favorite kite drift away.

...