With about ten days left until the New Year, Tong Yao finished all the comic pages on her desk, bringing her work to a temporary close. She stretched luxuriously, her gaze falling on the ten comic volumes stacked at the corner of her desk. On the colorful covers, a chibi Seventh Sister wielded the Water-Thunder Whip, looking impossibly cool and commanding.
"Seven-Colored Continent" had been published by Gu Zheng. Counting carefully, the volume released at the beginning of the month was the tenth issue. Before every release, Situ Xu would send her an advance copy. It was already midmonth now, so the next one should arrive soon.
A year ago, coming out had left her facing unemployment. Without her other little skill and the contract she signed with the Gu Zheng Arts Company, she might have become an idle wanderer. As for the café near their home, Seventh Sister had hired a "manager" three months earlier, worried that Tong Yao would be too busy meeting deadlines to look after it. Now she could drop in whenever she had time, enjoying her freedom.
"Seventh Sister."
Tong Yao checked the phone on her desk. It was already 2:24 p.m. Only after opening her door did she realize the entire apartment was silent. She searched but found neither Seventh Sister nor Le Le, then quickly changed her shoes and took her phone and keys downstairs. After checking the rest pavilion in their residential complex without finding them, she asked the elderly gatekeeper and learned that Seventh Sister had taken little Le Le out.
Tong Yao dialed the familiar eleven-digit number. The call was answered after two rings.
"Seventh Sister, where are you and Le Le?"
"At Love Entwined."
Qian Wanyu stood beside the window with her phone, glancing back as she spoke at