Chapter 17

*She Is My Wife*
Silence.
Enough?
Jewels scattered—sharp colored light—Zhu Yu looked down—dust almost cut apart.
Of course enough—she should be happy—dreams started with “when I’m rich.”
She knelt—picked gems one by one from dust.
Paradis manager said: succeed by lowering pride—scolded, bullied—fine.
Zhu Yu was fine—left ear in, right ear out—if ugly, hypnotize: they curse Zhu Yu, what’s that to Xiaoyu?
Bai Shuzhou was different.
Every word landed—chewed even in pain.
Joy and hope exchanged for—jewels.
Ungrateful to think so.
Zhu Yu held it in. “You’re rich.” A short sigh.
Two jobs, repair scraps—pathetic before these stones.
Bai Shuzhou never blinked—casual jewels—no meaning—even the ring Zhu Yu wore like a one-credit coin.
Toss in air—lose—no care.
Then Zhu Yu—what was she?
Unsigned ex-wife. Fake People’s Star. In the book—traitor, prisoner, foil for suitors.
Peace too long—shack too small—close enough to forget—they were not equal.
Zhu Yu looked up—cold in Bai Shuzhou’s eyes—standing vs sitting—gap reversed, heaven and earth apart.
“Not enough?”
Zhu Yu shook her head.
“What else do you want?”
“I don’t know.” Pinch wrist. “Shouldn’t be like this—heart also priced—higher bid.”
Sister taught: everything has price—pay to get—don’t want what you can’t afford.
Zhu Yu toyed with gems. “What can I do for you?”
Bai Shuzhou’s grip eased—soft surrender pleased her—money and trade—the reliable reins—safe in palm.
“Just obey.” Casual, eyes down.
“Oh.” Zhu Yu. “I’ll obey.”
Spineless—she stored gems—turned to cook.
Bai Shuzhou liked mild food—Zhu Yu grabbed chilies with malice—shake—shake—two left—fried—seasoning.
Still choked tears.
Why—first love sold off.
Not first love—one-sided—
And if kindness wasn’t for money but for love—more vile.
By Bai Shuzhou’s measure every suitor beat Zhu Yu—even the scumbag original had bright future, knew how to please girls.
A mocking voice: at least you scored—unsatisfied? Thanks Princess for champagne tower cash—lifetime sponsored by Miss Bai!
—
Grand slam call-in—first time—awful! Oil choke—laugh and cough.
Watching shaking shoulders, woman in wheelchair frowned—lips parted closed—book shut.
Before grease spread—gaze sharpened.
Chaotic steps outside—killing intent.
Chirp chirp—
Yellow-green bird stumbled into the yard—circle—blood at beak—teary bean eyes met Bai Shuzhou’s.
Chirp!
Bird trembled—decided—flew to her. Bai Shuzhou lifted a hand—caught the landing.
Handkerchief wiped blood. Soft: “Someone bullied you?”
Incredibly gentle.
“Oh, a bird.” Zhu Yu turned—stole glances at Bai Shuzhou.
Gentle to everyone—except her.
Remote yard—rare visitors—few beasts.
Bird nuzzled her palm—panicked gestures—trimmed wings—tapped head—covered mouth—hoarse cry.
Reporting.
Before answer—yard gate smashed—curses.
Bang scared Zhu Yu—wok shovel tight—oil nearly splashed.
“That beast bit me and ran!”
“Tired of living—teach it a lesson.”
“Don’t ruin the face—won’t sell well.”
“Open up or we burn it!”
Bird buried head in wings—trembling in Bai Shuzhou’s palms.
Triad! Zhu Yu’s head rang—Shan’s horror stories.
Bai Shuzhou shielded the bird—eyes dark.
Her subject—lured by star pirates—sold—abused.
Vines sharpened to thorns—high rank pheromones descending—then Zhu Yu rushed her to bed—covered tail—shh to bird—drew gauze.
Outside—seven or eight voices.
Max flame—choking smoke—masked all scent.
Wok shovel—opened door before lock warped.
Scrap-filled yard crowded.
Black Hat scanned—polite enough: “See a bird? She owes money.”
Zhu Yu: “No!”
“Bullshit—I watched it fly here!”
One-eyed cyborg raised stun baton—Zhu Yu back—contempt—spat aside—“Another worthless mongrel.”
Zhu Yu silent—amazed—can beastfolk, Federation, mixed blood really smell the difference?
Zhu Yu: “Sir… pureblood Federation?”
Looks competition-grade.
“Heh—good eye. Hand over the bird or we torch the house.”
Zhu Yu blocked the shack door. “Really didn’t see anyone. Times are hard—why pick trouble?”
One-eye frowned. “All imperials—maybe cover for each other?”
Zhu Yu palmed cash—passed Black Hat behind One-eye—clear boss.
“Rough trip—rules I know—drinks on me—honest repairer—maybe cooperate later.”
Black Hat weighed—some weight.
Zhu Yu sized them—same metal triangle armbands—smugglers from the bar.
“Repairer?”
Black Hat exhaled—Zhu Yu looked timid—not fighter—half-lidded wave. “Routine check.”
No vent hood—spice made Black Hat cover nose—back turned—needle tracks on neck.
Men pushed Zhu Yu—in—ransacked.
Zhu Yu blocked the bed—smile rub hands—“See? Nothing—cooking—which crew? Red Wing or Liquid Three—”
Black Hat ignored—sharp at gauze: “On the bed?”
Zhu Yu smiled: “My wife.”
“Poor and still got a wife?” One-eye kicked wheelchair—“Mongrel and cripple.”
Zhu Yu’s smile strained—hidden hand white-knuckled.
“This chair cost a lot?” Green Hair eyed—sat bold—PT300? Three hundred eighty thousand?”
“?! Bullshit.” Leather woman swore. “Repairers that rich? No way.”
Zhu Yu froze—Nan Gong’s gift—she paid eighteen thousand—Nan Gong’s quote.
“Holy—rose-hub high spec!”
“Move—I want a turn—!”
Noise—Black Hat on Zhu Yu—eagle eyes—“How’d you get this?”
Latest gear shouldn’t exist here—natives never heard anti-gravity.
Zhu Yu hadn’t—learned watching Bai Shuzhou.
Eighteen thousand—once thought expensive—Bai Shuzhou deserved.
Nan Gong so rich…
Head down—mood worse—“wife” couldn’t save her.
Stolen title—only in crisis—no anger from Bai Shuzhou.
Vague: “Paradis partner—ordered through contacts.”
“Paradis?”
Black Hat stared deep—stopped the circus—“Pull curtain—quick look.”
Among brutal smugglers, quiet Black Hat was almost human—reasonable.
Still commodity eyes—imperials called beasts.
Zhu Yu arms wide on gauze—“No—wife is shy—you’ll scare her.”
Black Hat: “Don’t make me say it twice.”
Killing chill—one look—crisis gut—Black Hat had been military—high rank.
Why smuggling?
Zhu Yu swallowed—hooked secret cash from under bed—not told Bai Shuzhou.
“Sis—really no—know Captain Xiao? Drank together—go easy.”
“You wouldn’t want crowds staring at your wife either—bullying.”
Black Hat still—One-eye took the bag—slapped Zhu Yu’s face—“Yeah we bully you—go tell Xiao!”
Dusty palm—humiliation over pain—lip bite—in their eyes she laughed again—“Bully me—don’t bully my wife.”
Paradis taught: play along. One-eye disgusted—lost interest—“Spineless—imperial soft—house pets—beg me—”
Beg—free—Zhu Yu almost spoke—ice from gauze:
“Zhu Yu. Step back!”
Voice—noble—worth more than the lark.
One-eye changed—licked lips—“Boss.”
“So nervous—not a wife—bought—resell—”
Floor mat trampled—shoe tip lifted filthy mat—greedy hoarse—“Valuable goods—won’t touch herself.”
Nerve snapped—Zhu Yu: “Shut up!”
“I said—my wife—my line—one more filthy word—”
“Big repairer—fix us with your little wrench?” Green Hair laughed.
Zhu Yu knocked hands from gauze—muscles tight—
Must not let them see Bai Shuzhou.
Fist—challenge Black Hat—“Yard duel—if I win—”
—
Thud.
One-eye kicked from behind—waist—flew into piled appliances.
Only fools believed fair duels—gang beatdowns saved time.
Black Hat warned One-eye—“Don’t make trouble.”
“After check we leave—won’t touch family.”
Hand on gauze—finger stopped a centimeter—brow tighter.
Years of war—dense killing intent—freeze thought.
Rose flooded the room—her calves shook.
First battlefield years ago—no—worse this time.
Black Hat released pink pepper pheromone—crushed under rose—no fight.
Who?!
Chip burned—about to rip gauze—buzzing stabbed ears.
Black Hat retreated—Zhu Yu up—inhuman speed—almost lost an arm.
Backlit—girl with chainsaw—thin shadow endless—red rims—beast at bay—could bite throats.
“I really—really don’t want to kill.”
“Why push me?”
“Apologize—to my wife!”
Black-white eyes swept—steady hands—hair fell—offset one inch—heads roll.
Pirates screamed—legs noodle—crawl—invisible pressure pinned them.
Zhu Yu stepped on One-eye.
“Sorry sorry—we were wrong—our mouths—”
“Sorry spare us!!!”
Only Black Hat stood—turned—black eyes on Zhu Yu—“You?”
The woman called her—Zhu Yu.
Chainsaw nothing—cold track—coat off—silver military exoskeleton arm—joints whirring—black muzzle.
“I didn’t want to use this—for you—”
Zhu Yu learned—didn’t wait—threw saw—pinned throat—elbow joint—bent folded.
Adrenaline—courage behind her—
Bai Shuzhou behind—cannot lose—will win!
“You threaten me with that? Know who I am?”
No one knew machines like a repairer—how they run—weak points—books clear—principles same.
Exoskeleton—she’d fixed several at White Horse’s!
Veins on back of hand—punch after punch—no chance—hat crushed.
Body a drawn bow—stored hurt exploded—click from Black Hat.
“Apologize—you rude bastards—how dare insult her?!”
Bai Shuzhou was bright moon—no profanity, no lust.
They must have scared her—poor princess—shame with me—
Last punch—teeth rolled—Zhu Yu stopped—breath—maybe too hard.
No solar plexus—no vitals—self-defense—family.
Besides Zhu Yu—all pinned by mental pressure—Black Hat spat blood—“Zhu Yu—really you!”
Gauze opened inside—‘fragile’ princess looked down—dead already in her eyes.
Zhu Yu turned—met blue eyes—harmless smile—hid bloody hands—warm:
“Don’t fear—I’ll handle it!”
Ice melted—small curve.
“Good.”