Once, Twice, and Then a Third Time

"I came to find you specifically this time, Cocolia."

Xu Yanwu said this.

"Find me? What could you possibly want from me?"

Cocolia sneered, showing Xu Yanwu no kindness. "When you come looking for me, has anything ever turned out well?"

"This..."

Cocolia's words left Xu Yanwu somewhat speechless.

Thinking about it carefully, it really did seem as Cocolia said. Whenever Xu Yanwu came to her, nothing good ever happened...

"This time really is a good thing, Cocolia. I came to help heal your injuries."

Xu Yanwu said, "Back when you helped me fend off—"

Bang!!

Before Xu Yanwu could finish, another side kick struck his kidney with the unstoppable force of lightning too fast to cover one's ears, stealing bells ringing and yielding to no one. Xu Yanwu was sent flying again, crashing into a nearby bookshelf face-first and knocking it over. The falling books buried him completely.

"An, Xu and I... he and I have something to discuss. Go outside first."

Cocolia turned to instruct An, then naturally and gently stepped forward to stroke An's head. "And Rosalia and Lilia—you were looking for them earlier, weren't you? Tell them not to sneak into the fridge and steal everyone else's snacks anymore."

The gentleness Cocolia showed An now stood in such stark contrast to the ferocity with which she had just kicked Xu Yanwu away that she seemed like an entirely different person.

Though she was a little worried about Xu Yanwu, An still listened to Cocolia and left her room.

Before leaving, however, An deliberately turned back to say something.

"Mom, Old Man finally came back for a visit. You two... don't fight."

"Alright, we won't fight..." Cocolia coaxed An out the door.

Once Cocolia shut the door, she spoke to the pile of books burying Xu Yanwu.