Chapter 24: Sharing a Bed

Bai Yanci serious and stubborn—she cut a small piece—tasted.
Not bitter like memory—this bakery sweet—strawberry filling melted on tongue—then cream.
Mixed—delicious.
Too long without strawberry cake—she’d linked black decoctions with cake sweetness in her head.
Cake wasn’t bitter—it was sweet. She should’ve known.
Sudden: “What do you eat on the moon? Not grass and carrots—special rabbit feed?”
Eye roll—but explained: “Moon values efficiency—formulated nutrients—enough. Plus simple greens—light dressing—done.”
Yeah—sounds pitiful.
No wonder first cooking—fridge full—only carrots—rabbit only knew carrots.
Later Bai Yanci studied—other ingredients easy—good dishes.
Unlike her—kitchen equals explosion.
Phone—Jiang Ran: “Leader—Chu He’s awake—wants to see you.”
“Okay.”
Half the street not walked—but shopping done—both to SI.
Chu He already in interrogation.
Flame recovered—calmer than before.
Seeing them—old grief rose—tears wouldn’t stop.
Chu He spoke first: “Team Leader Yi—I heard you found an excuse to lock him up a few days.”
Satisfied smile—through teeth: “Good—let him suffer—learn—reflect.”
Thought—slow: “Men like that don’t reflect.”
Didn’t want to burst her dream—didn’t want her drowning in fantasy for A-Cheng.
“Yeah—he won’t—always was.” Self-mock laugh. “Every compromise—only complaint and worse.”
Head up—tears back: “Why is fate unfair—I did nothing wrong—why does heaven treat me like this?”
Bai Yanci sudden: “Being chosen firmly isn’t that important. What matters is being able to choose someone firmly—that’s the ability to love.”
“Ability to love?” Chu He puzzled.
Not only Chu He—Yi Ke shocked. Bai Yanci never talked this much to outsiders.
From the start with Chu He—“meddling”—words at the river railing.
“Someone important told me—when you can love, you’re whole and clear.”
Bai Yanci unhurried: “You can give whole love—love bravely—proves you stand steady in your own life—don’t need others’ approval to live—no one worth loving more than yourself.”
Chu He silent long—shoulders shaking—quiet tears.
Looked up soft: “Team Leader Yi—I was wrong—how long locked?”
Yi Ke held up fingers: “Seven days.”
Flame cases special at the bureau—different nature.
Chu He acted out—but flame fixed—process then observation—release.
“Team Leader Yi—you look my age—why this path? Why not be ordinary?”
“Maybe I’m stupid.” Light laugh. “Read too many fairy tales—believe in happy endings—want more good in the world.”
Chu He done—back to the apartment.
Jintian colder—Tinglan heat poor—living room icy—bedroom warmer.
Bai Yanci had fever days ago—worried: “Sister—don’t sleep in the living room these days.”
“Where then?” Offhand. “Your ugly rabbit nest?”
“Enough with the rabbit nest!” Then soft—real wounded immortal: “Living room’s cold—sofa’s bad—sleep in the room—I’ll take the sofa.”
Protest so fierce—another eye roll.
“You said cold and uncomfortable—still want the sofa?” Bai Yanci asked.
“Then what—floor’s worse.” Hugged pillow and quilt—tease: “Or—you want to share the bed?”
Bai Yanci silent—didn’t refuse.
She’d been packing—didn’t notice—silence—looked up—met Bai Yanci’s eyes.
Heart raced—nervous: “Sister—serious?”
Bai Yanci: “Why not?”
Blurted lie: “Thought rabbits were territorial—afraid you’ll turn rabbit at midnight and eat me.”
“…Rabbits are herbivores.”
Bai Yanci moved inside—space cleared beside her.
Too late to refuse—pillows and quilt back on the bed.
Inside she didn’t want to refuse—but how sleep with Bai Yanci there!
Sure enough—beside Bai Yanci—tossed forever—no position right.
Countless turns—Bai Yanci soft: “What’s wrong? Uncomfortable?”
“Nothing—insomnia.”
“Then stop moving—I’m sleeping.”
……
Thought sister would care two lines—had the innocent act ready—got slammed instead.
This rabbit—zero romance—phone useless—needs internet education.
More thoughts—finally slept.
Morning—half awake—reached beside—empty.
Bai Yanci left early.
WeChat: Out for a walk. Breakfast on table. Eat.
Table—yesterday’s strawberry cake—fresh greens and sandwiches.
Woke late—food cold.
Bai Yanci wore the ring from her green-silk hair—her flame inside—small tracker. She thought—and didn’t use it.
Just out one morning—couldn’t watch that tight.
Friends at most—close friends at top.
Know where Bai Yanci went—what right—what standing to ask?
Didn’t look—pretend not to know—see no evil—same as running away.
Lately—dream experiment—danger rating SSS—what did it mean?
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Bai Yanci out—she’d go to the Ability Bureau alone.
Last time bureau came up—maybe illusion—Bai Yanci had seemed agitated. She didn’t want Bai Yanci tangled in bureau business.
Bureau was her past—memories stored there.
Only part could be spoken—most should stay dark—forever—especially from Bai Yanci.
Didn’t want Mu meeting Bai Yanci.
Mu adopted her for experiments—if she saw immortal signs—recognized a fairy—might strike Bai Yanci—couldn’t gamble.
At the bureau Mu was gifted—years of service.
Every new drug and result—Mu’s work.
Not the main door—side entrance on ability.
Fallen god awakened—stronger than before—easy to Mu’s private lab door.
Where Mu experimented on her—old nightmare—numb now.
Sensed—Mu not in the bureau—perfect chance.
Iris lock—hid aside—waited for entry. Half an hour—a cart pushed through—she slipped in after.
Many inside—mostly known—few new faces.
“This is Director Mu’s report.” Female experimenter. “Liu-ge—why does Director want this? Old archive—nothing older.”
Liu-ge lowered voice: “You’re new—you wouldn’t know. Director had a foster daughter—this is her file.”
Female shocked: “These indicators… this isn’t ordinary human data!”