Chapter 30

*Sleeping Beauty*
Researchers—food—Zhu Yu and Princess—swallow bite and gossip—
Close enough—clear view—
Seat chosen—visible through glowing starflowers—shadow and ponytail—
Subtle—wouldn’t be noticed—
But researchers rose like hot pie—looked with her—
Silence—heartbeat loud in hall—
Oh—made for Princess—
Dragon-snatched food tastes better—
Plating in box—carrot heart slipped—
Photos—fork surgery divide—
Short-mouth fish: ate something huge—
Shuzhou glance—careless—Zhu Yu standing with flowers flicker—
“Go—Highness.”
“Princess waits!”
Glasses push—“Why else come?”
“Only Zhu Yu ate outside before—”
Whispers—tiny spark—flame again—
Proud stand—lip press—young defiance—
No burrow—not mole—can’t dig—
Pose—deep breath—
Table tense—
Again breath—
Weird—speech stage calmer—now sauce spilled—caramel heart—
Moved—sun smile—knights let—
Steps—mind rehearsed—Feng manual read secretly—
Like sun to mountain—
History breath held—
Hello—sleep ok—more food—carving—scent faded—miss you—
Manual says pace—
Hoarse better than speech—
“Hello—wife.”
“…”
That’s it?
Researchers choke—
Concentrated miss—carrot vs feast—
Still chopsticks—
Shuzhou silent—wife…?
Despair—casual—“Can I eat with you?”
Feng would faint—
Perfect hero image—cracked—green sprout—
Shuzhou slit eyes—neither yes nor no—
Bird moved plate—pat seat—welcome—
Sat—awkward only between them—
Bird ate everything—
Shuzhou meat—Zhu Yu veg trial—eat—
Only Zhu Yu talking—
Memories—no reaction—hair behind ear—
Slow eat—less self—more for bird—
Bird mountain bowl—fireball burp—
“Full? Don’t burst—” juice—
Shuzhou soft—“Mm.”
Bird had milk and bird’s nest—
Bird frozen—
Lead stuffed antacids—bird taken—
Cold duo—
Shuzhou ice in bones—sky wide—not arrogant—far—
Maybe only needed her in strange shack—
Jade at table—mist illness—still noble—
Handkerchief—red mole—heart skip—
Knights—fancy wash basins towels—
Too much—joke poor drink rinse water—
Pool big—not cup—not bath—
Shuzhou slow wash—pink joints—
Heart fast—arrhythmia?
Danger—
Moon left—researchers swarm help—
Psychology—crime profile—coordinate face log—
Red ears—thanks—no—Gossip Academy!
Blond lead—bird and Shuzhou knew long ago here—
Sealed data—but traces remain—
New group chat—
“Against rules?”
“Don’t get caught.”
Zhu Yu renamed—“One Happy Ball People.”
“Less suspicious.”
Researchers: … stat down—
No pay—handshake—thanks later—
Blond—“One ball—rights for grassroots!”
Big burden—handshake again—
Reagent bottle—boost pheromone—smell good to mate—
Rose still dominant—first Alpha so marked—
Sensitive study vetoed—head spin—
Not bird jealousy—unique smile—chopsticks—watch leave—normal friends—
Childhood hospital—sisters forever—
Only fear—not unique anymore—
Not afraid walk alone—brief parallel lengthens loneliness—
Afraid no one at end of road—
Afraid compete—lose—escape is fear of having—
Reagent warm—not opened—
Night—room—sleeping beauty—
Not asleep—sheet hand tight—waiting—
If tail—signal—she’d charge—
Tail gone—cold Shuzhou—
Days to melt winter ice—impossible—
Qianze lazy—only death ahead—
If no love—run—live safe—
Bright future without her—
Only risk and accident—
Escape expert—no ambition—want cozy life—
Retreat drum 800 times—watch sleep—silver swan—
Snow dance beautiful—
One flake melted—
Heal legs secretly—then leave?
Sheet moved—signal—
Blue lake by moon—
Galaxy poured on her—
Full gaze—numb lake rising—
Dark senses sharp—wood bitter—plastic bun—empty filling empty heart—
Day three.
Turned away—sheet pull—thin voice:
“Get out.”