Chapter 16

*Enough?*
Model worker Zhu Yu took half a day off.
After lunch she appeared with crooked cookies—once meticulous cat shapes now long strips.
Head high: “I made these!”
Shan, blank: “I can tell.”
Her tail of voice bubbled—cookies tasted sweeter than usual.
Yesterday dead—today still pale but flushed—like fresh soft bread from the oven.
Face screaming: Ask me! Ask what happened!
Shan and cat bit cookies, talked weather, energy, Federation hiring embroiderers—handcraft expensive in high tech—skills pay.
Rare sync—they watched Zhu Yu squirm—cat laughed: “Little Fish—why so happy?”
Girl looked down—bubbles in chest—played mature, leader tone low, finger on table, cough:
“I can’t say.”
I’m raising a dragon!
A beautiful silver dragon!!!!
Shan listening: ==?
A little tease—joy overflowed. A secret with Bai Shuzhou—sprouting quiet in her heart.
Shifting was normal on the imperial star—she knew Bai Shuzhou was dragon—but when it showed real—ah, she’s a dragon.
Tail wouldn’t retract—maybe because of the leg injury.
Ahhh dragon!!!
Tail a bit wild—waist, wrist—
Aaaaa dragon!!!!
Cat stroked chin. “You’re in love!”
Shan side-eyed. “Won the lottery?”
She swayed vague. “Sort of…”
“Actually—I’m quitting. Thanks for everything! Repairs—find me on Gui Lane.”
She dropped leaving news after joy—light tone to dull the ache.
Ivory-tower youth weren’t good at goodbyes—like autumn.
Brief friends, brief autumn—cicadas not gone.
“I’m quitting to care for family—two jobs too much—bar has day shift, nights I—”
“No need explain,” Shan said.
Flat—not the farewell Zhu Yu imagined—factory turnover huge—they didn’t even know full names.
Passing ships.
Shan: “Congrats. Going home.”
Cat chin in palm, smiling. “You’re good to family. Must be a loving home.”
Leaving, Zhu Yu looked back at the white factory—memory sweet nutrient fluid—
Lie. Industrial sweetener tasted awful!
Shan and cat waved—she ran back—hard hug.
She loved full hugs—warm, real—like biting a cookie.
“Bye! Bye!”
Not polite—she meant it. Fate half-pushed her here—confusion compressed—passing friends lit the dull stretch.
Shan saving for imperial capital—great drummer—would shine on stage. Cat enrolled Federation embroidery class—night school literacy—gifts still fish doodles.
Everyone seeking new life.
Zhu Yu walked in sunset shadow—solid ground. Bai Shuzhou seemed less hateful. Cat said raised tail meant happy—tail coiling meant like you.
Did that work for dragons?
Bai Shuzhou raised tail—seemed to—swat her.
Not hurt—light.
Not eating enough? So thin—eat more.
Already a lot—for a dragon, normal? Young in dragon years? Twenties—growing age!
Small tail. Small Bai Shuzhou.
Dream girl again—silver blue—cute yet solemn—wanted to pinch.
Beyond faint goodbye-sadness—she ached to see Bai Shuzhou—road home felt long.
Quit factory—Paradis day shift—home by evening—more time together!
New massage points—power more skilled—Bai Shuzhou’s legs had some feeling now—trembled when she pressed harder.
“Don’t hold back—say if it hurts.”
Expressing self seemed shameful to Bai Shuzhou—always grit teeth, pretend calm.
Healing power was still power—could pierce—once Zhu Yu used too much—pajamas soaked in light sweat after.
Decided—more free evenings—longer massage. Bai Shuzhou could not refuse.
Thanks? She’d smile worldly: “No need—small thing.”
Just thinking made her laugh.
Heal her—atone for original’s sins—no blackening—no death for her.
Most important—guard Bai Shuzhou’s sleep!
Sacred mission.
Mostly night shift—late return—first time seeing her unwell—heartache and guilt.
Nightmares dangerous—lost in dream—might never wake.
Sister said. Childhood nightmares—sister flicked her head awake—rough like scaring kids.
She could not bear Bai Shuzhou alone in dark after nightmare. Too lonely.
Wildflowers on the way—stream water—leaves shining—front district cake—celebration dinner.
Celebrate quit. New life. Tail!
Strictly—“revealed” tail?
Zhu Yu did not know Bai Shuzhou had not shifted in years—deeper than she thought—still like puppy’s first ears, bird’s first flight.
Her small step—humanity’s giant leap!
Bai Shuzhou never said—but softer—subtle harmony—ordered food herself—did not kick her from bed.
Maybe tail liked her.
“I’m back!”
Door—Bai Shuzhou reading—sun on silver hair, metal gleam yet soft.
Blue eyes lifted slightly—waterlight—not direct—peripheral glance—finger to next line.
Cold.
But skirt edge swayed tiny—hook—fall.
Like learning writing—one stroke, two—Zhu Yu learned tail language: raised—like; coiled—like; swat, tip wag—anyway like.
—
Cold face but tail wag—too cute!!
Zhu Yu cooked happy—blue eyes on her busy back.
When girl peeked—Bai Shuzhou read—cool forehead, hair hiding.
Tail flicked annoyed.
What was Zhu Yu happy about all day?
Strange.
Something at work?
Or… someone?
Bai Shuzhou watched every small move—Zhu Yu would not kill fish—sweet-talked Helan or boss to clean them—same now.
Lighting the stove like battle—lid shield—afraid flame would bite.
Gaze circled to the ring—looked away—brows slowly knit.
Zhu Yu chattered while cooking—sizzle—salt in the dish—trivial—no answer expected.
But Bai Shuzhou listened.
Every word—clear earnest voice—even cutting pepper—oil hissing—one person’s quiet bustle—just right—not too loud.
Off heat. Plated. Brief quiet.
Bai Shuzhou: “You quit—miss coworkers Shan and Cat?”
Silver hook voice—pulled out unspoken thought—ears red—pinch wrist.
“Not really miss—just… empty thinking we won’t meet. They’re good people.”
Sky eyes watched until she finished.
“But you said—you quit the night shift?”
“…”
Originally factory day, bar night.
Bai Shuzhou remembered every chatter—every name.
To avoid worry Zhu Yu played a small word game—let her think she quit the bar.
Bai Shuzhou listened too carefully—caught the hole at once.
“Night shift yes! Quit night—home six daily—evenings free!” True.
“Tired lately—nights free—longer massage—repair—wheelchair mods—” deflect.
“Zhu Yu. Look at me.” Cold cut.
Vines on her pulse—fast—unnecessary—black-white eyes dodged.
“You lie again.”
“So unwilling to leave?”
Silence dropped—suffocating—a name hidden.
Vines tightened—dark marks—pain—could not break free—ring glittered demon red.
Zhu Yu endured. “Bar pays more—”
Cold laugh. “Nan Gong pays more?”
Every Nan Gong visit Zhu Yu dragged her to the yard—dim light—thick cash rolled—girl counted back to door—Nan Gong watched smiling.
Voice low—anger barely hidden. “Are you that cheap?”
Pupils shrank—never scolded so by someone close—lip bite—joy stomped flat. Happy day—Nan Gong made Bai Shuzhou yell?
Private peace cracked—that hated name shoved in.
“That’s skill money—okay!”
“I need money—love money—pay me and I’ll do anything—happy?!”
Not popular like Nan Gong—generous—everyone liked Nan Gong.
Money was hard—no money no food—empty pocket panic—bullied at work she dreamed—cash stack—I quit!
Rich she’d still hoard—money was money.
Poverty worse than fear.
Cheap to Bai Shuzhou—her whole fight.
Blue eyes darkening—Zhu Yu softened, wounded tail.
Silence. Lashes shadow like cloud.
Palm turned—pulled her close—vines tried to open the clenched fist.
Zhu Yu would not—tiny pride—but the pale hand ignored her—opened—jewels poured from fingertips—shack lit brilliant.
Gems hurt the back of her hands—clattered concrete—she caught instinctively—too many—overflow trembling palms.
Plop. Plop.
Princess eyes closed. Ice voice:
“Enough?”
“Remember your place.”