Chapter 23

*Loss of Control and Indulgence*
Dulled senses waking—everything slow motion—
Bai Shuzhou’s pale blue eyes had become cold vertical slits—the top predator’s gaze.
Curled lashes trembled—silver-gray shadow—light no longer scattered—held every tiny expression from Zhu Yu.
—
Dragon instinct locking prey—every small move magnified—inhuman cold stare.
Zhu Yu’s helpless swallow—biting bleeding lip—breath speeding—all crystal clear.
Vertical pupils followed her—slight arc shift—at a falling tear—barely a blink.
First time Zhu Yu saw those slits so plainly.
Under cold blue—living light—a lone boat in vast blue—waves turning.
Red at eye corners—lotus layers—ethereal and fallen mist.
She was a stubborn little fish circling lotus leaves—bubbles for an answer.
Can you like me?
Please like me…!
Silver tail unconscious at waist—ice tingle—
Vines sensed something—no longer tight—in wood scent—roses bloomed soft—thorns drooped.
Zhu Yu knew nothing—no one taught—dragon in love looks how—
Old Bai Shuzhou like distant moon—visible—untouchable—million miles—
Now silence—only tangled breath in this space.
She felt the steady pulse at Bai Shuzhou’s wrist—not like her frantic heart.
Neck soft—gland thin water—cold fingertip flick—unmeant—intimate brush—
Ripple numb—
Like invitation—then pulled back—deep breath—lips pressed—wet shine—kissable—
Eyes closed—permission—last pinky brushed hot neck skin—
Boom.
Brain buzz—invisible seeds—skin itching—garden blooming—
But—what did it mean?
Zhu Yu greedy-stared—swallowed feeling—suffocating wait—
Tail tip raised—Zhu Yu suddenly let go—
Loud courage: “Actually—I’m not the original Zhu Yu—but I am Zhu Yu—sorry—I lied before.”
No more—watching Bai Shuzhou’s face—prisoner awaiting verdict—afraid this tenderness wasn’t for her—
Plop.
A drop from soaked silk hit floor.
Dead silence.
Only uneven breath.
Bai Shuzhou opened eyes— laughed angry.
“Zhu Yu.” Soft breath.
Name bitten warm—magnetic—
“Say something I don’t know.” Pinched soft nape.
…Eh?
Stunned—joy in laugh—“You knew?”
Biggest secret—undone—cool smile—
Bai Shuzhou smiled—silent—
Ears to neck—shame—seen-through thrill—
“Come here.” Slits locked—“Prove it.”
“Ah—how prove?” Face redder—stammer—exam flunk—
Panicked intro—school—hobbies—eighteen years in one dump—
Practiced long—
Stutter—“Sorry—first time—not skilled.”
First chase—first confession—all clumsy—
Bai Shuzhou huffed—obvious—or she’d kick her out—
Fingers hooked awkward—“I wanted to buy flowers…”
Romantic script—hand—confession—candles music then—
Roses on neck—pulled down—
Too many words.
One rose. One kiss.
Predatory kiss—blue eyes huge—danger under ice—
Zhu Yu fell—gentle surface—cannot refuse—sink—
Fingertip flick—shiver—relax under guide—
Mind gate open—
Heat heightens—spirit active—deep bond time—
Bai Shuzhou knew more—spirit could invade—
Arms neck—deepened kiss—between trembling lashes—spirit slipped in—
Words lie—hearts fake—memory cannot—
Scroll of life—big moments big shards—snow memories fall—
Bai Shuzhou stepped into expected clean emptiness.
Zhu Yu’s sea vast lonely—daily ice chips—no epic memory—small broken snow—
Caught a flake—only snow—
Blank—pale—endless cold silence—
Why is your past blank?
Brow knit—film washed—clicking silence—
Then—
They met eyes.
First look—blank world burst red roses—blood red—
You’re… beautiful.
Bai Shuzhou saw herself in Zhu Yu—not flattery—
Snowstorm full of their days—
Zhu Yu stole glances—more than Bai Shuzhou knew—
Gaze too hot—hand over mouth—leaks from lips—
Nights guarding dreams—door sounds—check Bai Shuzhou sleeping—nightmares—warm hold—
Counted lashes—sleepy—never finished—
Game stuck—Bai Shuzhou took controller—close—perfect run—
Zhu Yu didn’t learn—
Watched Bai Shuzhou—
Pretty lips when focused—
Silver hair at neck with cool voice—
Beautiful—
Every Bai Shuzhou—heartbeat—
Thump thump thump—
Silent scream—I like you so much.
Too hot—too honest—
Secrets deeper—all happy memory only her—
How can someone—
Be this dumb.
Wood scent rain-fresh—intense—
Bai Shuzhou’s vines soft transparent—roses drift to wood—
—
Low temperature first time boiling—
Strange love-light gold from Zhu Yu’s fingers—
Cleaner—stronger—gold on pale skin—shiver—
“Mm—ha…”
Nose touch—wet—kiss exchanged—
Not probe—not plunder—soft souls touch—
Zhu Yu’s callused fingers—silk red—
Not needed for calm—but cold fingers curled—touched back—removed ring—
Unwise—maybe mad too—
Blood crystal store—suppress—
Still not full trust—but chain loosened—
Gold broke free—dew on vines—
Gentle stroke over pink scars—
“Mm…”
Stronger pheromone—every step surprise—
Low—“Don’t extra.”
Hands on knees—heal legs now—
“Zhu Yu stop enough—you—!”
Current through skin—want stop—no chance—
Guided girl out of control—just a little more each time—
Bearable—unbearable—
Power into dark—ice melts slow—tiny before iceberg—
“Sister—hurt?”
Her wounds heal—Bai Shuzhou cracks hard to mend—
Neck sweat—silk grip—broken sounds—
Slow kiss ear—“Sister like me?”
“Sister don’t leave…”
Tick—
No answer—only faster breath—
Anxiety—no answer—
Head down—wet nose soft—“Say you… need me.”
Left hand need—right like—offered—
Must have answer—
Zhu Yu! Pupils shrink—shoulders—embrace—bite—
Omega clear-headed—temptation deadly—
Cold poison in body first loosen—
Antidote and trigger—waited long—not swallow—
“Zhu Yu—too much—control—”
Breath from moon—
“You care—” girl smiled—“I’m willing.”
Willing—for you—anything—
If spirit is dizzy love—it runs for you—
Freeze—Bai Shuzhou bit lip—won’t meet hot eyes—
“What you want—I can’t give.” Hoarse wet tail—
“I haven’t said what I want.”
In vast universe—only wanted true heart—
Simple—expensive—
Cannot promise—
What use—pain—loss of control—
Bai Shuzhou closed eyes—lashes tear—fragile cold—
“Contract—you heal me—we take what we need.”
Ice rational—interest only—
Silence sigh—“But sister…”
Why bite me—
From fingertip to inch—she didn’t move—
Opposite tone—rose happy—tail nuzzle—
Face red—shame bite—
Rational—spirit helps—no reason refuse—
“Mm… no permanent mark.”
From no mark to no permanent—
She only wanted a kiss—slow blink—
Mark—leave piece in partner’s deep mind—
Content—but in allowance—greed learned—
“Really okay sister?” Nose down—touching heart again—
Won’t speak—broken sounds escape—
Old scars—new flush—
Fed her—not only spirit—gold on tongue—Eden fruit—
Felt Zhu Yu’s spirit clumsy flow—
Long digest—
Every drop—like you like you!!
Studied spirit since child—never knew bond this—
Loud.
Full—overflow lip—cough—
Shouldn’t indulge—clear sinking—tears—voice gone—
World dancing—
Bai Shuzhou held hand—
Clumsy corrected—they danced alone—
Leg curled—ankle held—slow rub—
Cold jade warmed pink—
…
After peak—sour swell—Bai Shuzhou speechless—wood rain scent—want sleep—
Zhu Yu watched blue eyes mist—lashed satisfied tear—
Beautiful shock—
Pinch wrist—hurt—sour—
Narrow bed—Bai Shuzhou beside—hum at move—“Don’t move.”
Never dreamed this real—
Remember name again and again—different tone—
Want cry—happy—
Woman moved—Zhu Yu ears up—
Bai Shuzhou didn’t open eyes—felt heat—pinch cheek—
“Your secret—no one else.”
Others—natural us—highlighted together—
Mouth faster than thought—almost tail wag—objective add:
“Also—kiss skill terrible.”
Terrible—
Pause—
Bad? Really bad?
Sorry—“I’ll practice…!”
Idiot?
Ear hot—bite her lip—cruel—“Shut up—sleep.”
“Oh.” One bite—no cry—easy—
Eyes open sneaking—stars around moon—
“Eyes closed too.”
“Oh!” Quiet.
Tail soft between—
Good sleep—breath mixed—
Next day.
Rose cold palace ceiling—
Side still warm—smile—empty velvet—
Empty…?
Where wife—big soft fragrant wife?!
Fell from cloud—sat up—
Clink—
Cold sharp box edge—lift blanket—
Jewels blue—like lover eyes—
Why here—
Not catching falling gems—filled beside her while asleep—
Soft bed sank—gems rolled—cold legs—
Not dream.
Dazed with wealth—
One gem warm—“Ah—wife…”
What money—
Knock knock knock—
Not Bai Shuzhou’s scent—
Nose—rolled blanket—hid self and jewels—