Chapter 41

*Good Girl*
How did the lesson begin?
Distance closing—Bai Shuzhou’s cool voice, lifted fingertip—when Zhu Yu consciously released pheromones, the room’s temperature seemed to rise.
Only holding hands, pulses linked—branches lush—quilt rustling—long shadows swaying on the floor-to-ceiling window.
Zhu Yu offered an open kiss, no longer afraid of hidden danger.
If some lens behind the wall watched with dark eyes, she wanted to claim territory, announce to the world:
Our love is clean. The vile one is you, scheming in shadow.
I will protect Bai Shuzhou. I am not afraid of you!
She played calm and fierce—small animal rearing up to look taller, guarding her ground.
Even slow-burn love hurried her heartbeat toward taking.
Noses touched—then soft lips.
Breath tangled; pheromones spilled. Omega senses were keener—especially for SSS+ Bai Shuzhou—the world invaded her every moment.
Zhu Yu’s presence was strongest of all.
This morning a pinch made her run red-eared; now she pressed lips and leaned in.
Warm wood threaded into a net, body heat, devout hands on cold jade.
Bai Shuzhou’s thin lips took Zhu Yu’s red, shaped beautiful, parted slightly—breath long and soft.
“Mm…”
Facing Zhu Yu’s surge, Bai Shuzhou’s narrow eyes half closed; curled lashes could not hide light—then she pulled back from haze, still cool.
Not hard—she pinched Zhu Yu’s sensitive gland at the nape. Magnetic voice on her tongue:
“Wrong.”
“I did not teach you that.”
Sudden stop—strict teacher.
Zhu Yu blinked into ice blue—knew this was penalty for poor study—bit lip, tried to reel scent in like wet candies back into a glass jar.
Tail of eyes red, pretending calm—carelessly swallowed a little of Bai Shuzhou’s scent too.
At first cold—night walk by moonlit lake, breeze.
Throat trembled—it turned sweet on the tongue, sweeter than rock sugar. Zhu Yu whimpered; jar overturned, colored candy rolled everywhere.
Wood scent she had barely contained surged again.
Bai Shuzhou was sensitive to Zhu Yu—knew how wild the girl’s feeling ran now.
Every warm thread spoke love.
Round honest eyes, lip bitten—silent stare felt like coaxing.
Gentle, deep, harmless—not the Alpha stereotype.
But she must not indulge—waste scent and heart exposed before others.
…Dangerous—in every sense.
Bai Shuzhou looked away. Cool voice dropped: “An Alpha who cannot control pheromones—what difference from a beast?”
No other punishment—only let go—and Zhu Yu panicked.
She feared cold and disappointment most—lingering scent on fingertips teasing will already weak.
She had begged to be taught; she wanted strength. Bai Shuzhou had explained in detail—still she could not control…
Study had always been easy before. Bai Shuzhou was genius; without amnesia years of polish would guide better—Zhu Yu was blank, no prior training.
This Bai Shuzhou still carried crown-prince elite education—goal mattered, process did not.
From childhood: Darwinism, top of the chain—never accept being “disabled, weak.”
Yet she had presented Omega, no second development, legs hurt, could not walk—secret anxiety projected onto Zhu Yu.
Please don’t be disappointed. Zhu Yu dug nails into her wrist—pain for clarity—forced scent back.
Skin red—no mercy on herself.
Hand behind back—from clumsy slow to crushing the sprout—wood gone—passive under tempting rose test.
Seeing progress Bai Shuzhou lifted chin, kissed her lip corner, laughed light. “Good girl.”
From cold to sweet kiss—voice brushing ear—Zhu Yu floated, ears hot, wholly led.
She loved praise like this—heart full, sour swell, poke and soft.
Kiss paused on cheek—Zhu Yu had not noticed dominance had slipped to Bai Shuzhou’s fingertips with all her joy and sorrow.
Bai Shuzhou’s gaze slid to the door. Zhu Yu drowned in the kiss—did not see it open—a girl all in white, shy, watching them close.
“You’re here?” Bai Shuzhou asked.
Zhu Yu licked lip to keep trace—mind still shouting defiance to watchers—then followed Bai Shuzhou’s look. White Bird’s eyes blank and curious as paper.
“Ah—you’re here…” Embarrassed, Zhu Yu scrambled down, coughed, pretended busy.
Then—why guilty? They were wives—look if you want!
And why was Bai Shuzhou so calm—as if used to White Bird, with special patience for her?
Bai Shuzhou had fierce boundaries. Little was allowed into her world uninvited.
But White Bird stood dazed—and Bai Shuzhou lifted a hand, soft call: “Come here.”
—Zhu Yu had only heard that tone for herself before. Intimate. Natural.
Come. I allow your approach.
White Bird’s steps were light—tap tap—almost running. She trusted Bai Shuzhou.
Zhu Yu watched White Bird sit where she had sat—quilt dented like a nest, still warm.
Socially normal, but—
Too close. Too close.
Sweetness on her heart turned sour vinegar.
She never knew she was this petty—always good at sharing—even one cake half given away.
Except love—a sliver shared made her hypersensitive.
White Bird had been out of society too long—noticed nothing—childlike. Maybe she only saw a nest; Zhu Yu’s nest, vacated—happy to sit between them.
White Bird made two fingers into little people, gestured—stopped at the twin fish jade on Bai Shuzhou’s lap.
“Like it?” Bai Shuzhou looked down, set jade between the finger-people, gentle. “It’s yours.”
Priceless paired jade—given away casually.
White Bird looked at the fish, then at Zhu Yu.
Zhu Yu’s eyes had been on Bai Shuzhou—missed the trinket. Gloriel’s apology gift was beautiful; when Zhu Yu looked the fish seemed alive, white light, swimming in a joined circle.
Collectors would know the value—like lost imperial twins—no one knew copy or original.
Zhu Yu knew nothing of that.
She only saw two fish one circle, red cord—like…couple goods.
A set!
She did not look down—fingers rubbed the blood-crystal ring Bai Shuzhou gave—single piece, no pair.
“You want one too?” Bai Shuzhou caught Zhu Yu’s waves, frowned light. “This afternoon Melnor will take you to pick stone—custom some.”
Also.
Like a wood splinter in her palm.
She knew White Bird and Bai Shuzhou were childhood friends—but this balancing still felt White Bird ranked higher.
“No no, don’t need,” Zhu Yu waved dull. She did not want jade.
Only special favor.
If yours and others’ are the same—I don’t want it.
Eyes down, wrist pinched, beating back surf—then a little fish offered.
White Bird broke off half, smiled at Zhu Yu, eyes bright—like Zhu Yu splitting cake that day.
Gentle, kind, harmless.
Heart tight—could not hate her—only chew sour air dumplings, ashamed of pettiness.
Bai Shuzhou’s social life was normal—no breach—just a gift. Her inner storm maybe overblown.
Want it?
She asked again in secret—pretty little fish—ashamed nod—under sincere eyes pretended ease and reached.
Fortune favors the bold!
Hand lifting—Bai Shuzhou took White Bird’s half back, joined her own palm into a full circle.
Twin fish jade—whole only together.
To White Bird: “No need. I will give her new ones.”
Zhu Yu’s hand hung empty—scratched head. “Haha yeah keep it, not for me—rough person, don’t wear jade.”
Brave and timid—pricked once, shell shut, words piled to hide.
Not for her anyway—why reach—awkward!
Don’t want. Never want.
“Like or dislike is normal. Don’t call yourself rough.” Bai Shuzhou frowned at self-diminish—preference needs no excuse.
Zhu Yu stubborn: “Got it—just talk…won’t again.”
She crushed low scent tight, body stiff, fake casual, one hand in pocket, eyes everywhere—very busy standing.
Bai Shuzhou’s brow deeper. “Zhu Yu?”
“Zhou—” syllable swallowed. “Your Highness.”
Eyes down, black pupils deep—mask too good to read.
Like still water vs living water—no ripple—Bai Shuzhou regretted a little pushing so hard.
White Bird watched.
Zhu Yu picked back spilled coaxing though candy in the jar was sticky, would spoil.
Bai Shuzhou: “……”
Rose scent climbed Zhu Yu’s hair, light poke.
Zhu Yu sniffed, held breath, imagined iron-blood warrior.
White Bird spat a small fireball, nervous, watching them.
“Uncomfortable?” Bai Shuzhou checked first—drew White Bird close, chin in hand. “Open mouth.”
White Bird turned to Zhu Yu—another fireball.
Eyes pleading.
Bai Shuzhou stiffened, fist hid, embraced White Bird gentle, ice flashing:
“Don’t fear. Stay here—safe. I swear no one will hurt you again.”
Zhu Yu lost—wanted to bubble and swim away—should she be here?
But fire lit White Bird’s eyes a second. Zhu Yu asked slow: “Fireballs—to make us happy?”
White Bird nodded fast.
Gift was rare.
Show ability—others happy.
Hope you happy.
No frown, no fight, no anger—I’ll spit fire for you.
Empathy strong—nose sour—Zhu Yu spread arms, hugged pale Bai Shuzhou and White Bird together, loud:
“I will protect you both!!!”
Warm arms linked three.
Too close—Bai Shuzhou’s cheek against White Bird’s hair—cold face blank a moment—calm—light bite of lip:
“Zhu Yu…”
“Yeah,” soft, cleared throat, reliable: “I’m here!”
“You’ll strangle her.”
“Ah—sorry…!”
Zhu Yu let go panicked.
Cool on her face—Bai Shuzhou’s finger wiped the tear she failed to hide.
Touching unspoken grievance.
Tiny drop—could not hold—easy to coax—eyes away, face flat, mumble:
“Weird—don’t know who cried on my face.”
Bai Shuzhou watched quiet. “Yes. Weird. One dripped on my neck too.”