Chapter 42

*Surplus Strength*
Zhu Yu looked—indeed a tear on slender neck, bright.
Ah—so awkward—shouting protect while crying—she touched her nose. Near Bai Shuzhou her emotions swelled; she had not been such a crier before.
Seen tears magnified feeling—expected response.
Childhood cries ignored—later she stopped. Sister said tears solve nothing—think how to fix.
Now someone wiped them—even a few silent drops—looking back felt dramatic.
White Bird on the bed swung pale legs, copied Bai Shuzhou—fluffy head poked Zhu Yu’s cheek.
Zhu Yu: “No.”
White Bird tilted confused.
“You’re a kid—you can’t poke Sister’s face.” Firm when not crying—White Bird believed.
Right—kid—knows nothing.
Accept that—the sky widened—White Bird was not here to break them up—here to join the family!
Red nose, Zhu Yu settled, thought, brow knit—reassuring wood scent.
Three people—Bai Shuzhou frail, White Bird weak—she could not stay soft. Unknown dangers—she must hold this home up!
Zhu Yu brazen told White Bird: “Call me Sister once—I protect you for life.”
First strike—did not want to share “Sister” and that slot with Bai Shuzhou—if White Bird called her sister, Bai Shuzhou was sister-in-law or sister-wife?
Only Zhu Yu would think that twist—genius—hid the smug grin.
White Bird blinked.
Another fireball.
Bai Shuzhou’s hanging hand jerked—memory flash—years ago she had said the same to White Bird, word for word…
How did Zhu Yu know—coincidence?
She promised—failed.
She had wronged many—this mess—
Not ruthless enough—could not decide—ambition beyond power—worse than body pain.
Nerves throbbed—lip bitten for color on pale cheek.
Side-eye on Zhu Yu—brows curved, clean—no plot.
Fist loosened—quiet relief.
Maybe too sensitive—court rules on everyone—Zhu Yu was different.
Silence—Bai Shuzhou spoke for White Bird: “She cannot speak. Gift damaged her vocal cords.”
Among earliest volunteer subjects AH-003 had excellent data—hopes high—awoke latest.
Fly, time, prophecy—researchers guessed bold—cruel tries—nothing.
Their past—even fragments—too heavy.
Zhu Yu’s pupils shook—hands together sorry!!!
Cannot talk yet fireballs for joy—good child—does her throat hurt?
Guilt forgot auction—this frail bird burned chains, blew a hole by the vent.
“No apology. Not your fault.” Bai Shuzhou watched guilt flicker—unsure next step was right—maybe only chance to atone.
Low ask: “Will you help her?”
Zhu Yu: “Of course!”
Bai Shuzhou pressed her hand—would not let instant yes. Word by word: “Gift is double-edged.”
Unknown field—one wrong step—abyss.
“Gift ties to spirit force. Overuse—dangerous.”
Danger heavy—hoping a flinch to cancel.
Zhu Yu lit up: “You care about me!”
“Relax—I know—I’m strong too—”
Bai Shuzhou repeating post-amnesia—cute.
Wrong focus—Bai Shuzhou pressed lips, skipped, serious: “Then treat her first. Contract terms stay—I pay more.”
Zhu Yu: “Hm? First?”
“Short term—only her. When she’s stable, if you have surplus strength…”
Tone light—putting White Bird above herself.
Heart squeezed—sour—not jealousy—ache.
Speaking of White Bird, smoke of sorrow in her brow—frozen lake under anger.
Proud Bai Shuzhou must want health most—yet gave healing priority away.
Zhu Yu did not know her past—only grieved blank years not beside her.
“Surplus strength—”
Surplus—little Yu’s strength!
Zhu Yu slipped off the blood-crystal ring, one hand Bai Shuzhou, one White Bird, her hands stacked—child’s hand game.
From massage practice—fine control both palms—not strong but detailed.
Between skin—clean gold along palm lines, wood threaded with rose, air like a stream, green shoots on the bank, waves endless.
Bai Shuzhou paused—Zhu Yu’s gold used to be pale near-transparent—now rich—finer maybe solid like vines.
Such drain—Bai Shuzhou’s body could not bear overload—that was why she squandered—Zhu Yu even without the absorbing ring should not last this…long.
Zhu Yu surprised too—meant a small show to reassure—could treat both—eat more meat.
After learning scent control, wood rooted in pheromone and fed back—output while repairing.
Bold thought: “My spirit force—catalyzed by pheromone…”
It happened.
Usually heat period—Alpha mate scent—spirit surge—loss of control.
Mom—I’m a perpetual machine! Zhu Yu stared at her hands.
Used to Bai Shuzhou’s scent—missed that when compressing she had swallowed a sip of rose into the sea of consciousness—gland warm.
Omega senses sharper—Bai Shuzhou wrapped Zhu Yu in rose—little effect.
Not her scent?
Or her special gift?
Truth one step away—but Alpha swallowing Omega scent was unheard—no precedent.
Long default: Alpha strong, Omega soft—marking was possession.
In deep bond Alpha needed Omega to smooth chaotic spirit—and breathe back pure processed energy to “feed” the mate.
They needed each other.
Research too narrow—ignored that weaker Omegas often sensed and spiraled above Alpha and Beta.
Some knew—treated as kink.
Fragile sensitive Omega stayed lucid at peak touch—
Alpha who thought they led became desire’s slave.
Cold face showed surprise clear—lip bitten—eyes on Zhu Yu bright.
Zhu Yu floated—award stage nothing—lover’s gaze was magnifier—every sneaky mood caught.
Scent spread unthinking—pulled back—afraid dislike.
Praise me—“Good. Well done.”
She loved that—dragon and shiny treasure.
Rose rolled into tongue with Bai Shuzhou’s earlier mark on her body—or deeper—
Just learned control—so much lover scent—like rose wine—dizzy—palm stream became river.
Porcelain wrist flipped—locked Zhu Yu’s pulse—cut the flood.
Hoarse magnetic: “Enough, Zhu Yu.”
Her “surplus” was rather a lot.
Palm touch—in Zhu Yu’s daze healing surged—tingle fingertips—she noticed nothing.
Alphas all wood—or deliberate?
Brow knit—glad for gift—doubt—did pre-amnesia self know and choose her…
Bed partner only?
Proud face froze brief.
Win-win. She profited.
Treatment too risky—distance until understood—else lose control.
Heat period bad enough—three to seven days—how long would this last?
No children planned—no mark from Zhu Yu—match too high—deep bond easy.
But if she accepted mark—Zhu Yu would endlessly feed pure healing?
……
A perfect tool.
Ears hot—face blank—filed whole system as—positive cycle.
Never thought gene illness might truly heal.
Height lonely—spirit vast—repair needed equal supply—SSS—almost impossible.
Zhu Yu’s daily soothe was already rare.
Should not ask more.
Contract only hoped legs healed soon—else…
Complex look at Zhu Yu.
Girl still rose-drunk—proud smile at her.