Chapter 44

*Dead Wood Blooms*
Want…me?
Words like fireworks in her heart—not hot—tingle tail to crown—fingertips shook.
Bai Shuzhou who spoke—besides that smile—face thin ice lake, calm.
Still on Zhu Yu’s wrist—knuckles pale—lashes neat, almost indifferent—only trailing tone soft at end.
Lighthouse in storm—cold shell—hooked lip at panicked fish—drew her to deeper current.
Post-amnesia Bai Shuzhou still cool—sometimes edge from eye, lip—soft fragile—sharp thorn—pride and ambition—danger from bone—lure near, willing drown.
Rising tone—question—but smile knew answer.
She waited—for Zhu Yu to say—girl feigning calm like pup showing belly, whining, circling her palm.
“Don’t want—forget it.” Seeing silence Bai Shuzhou loosened grip.
Zhu Yu hung loose—dropped half inch—nose red as blood—ears pink.
Panic—fingers clamped wrist—knuckles white.
Bit lip hard—scent barely contained.
Like dead wood soaked spring rain—used to barren—Bai Shuzhou passed and rotten wood wanted whole summer bloom.
Brilliant, lush, all heat offered.
Not only want you.
Want you…love me.
Rolled on tongue—“love” harder than gasps in passion.
Half jade taken back—unspoken tests—swallowed words.
Bai Shuzhou’s brow knit—girl’s tongue on teeth—teasing turned to sullen.
She hinted this far—how could Zhu Yu not hear—what was she thinking?
Zhu Yu felt displeasure—heart lifted—fingers retreating—summer candy melting—
Don’t let go—don’t give up!
Palm lit gold dust—a bud smaller than nail trembled out.
Green edge, soft thorns—poke Bai Shuzhou’s wrist—kitten scratch.
Both still—watched new flower.
Familiar—Bai Shuzhou’s scent—rose—too young—not like blazing bouquets.
Zhu Yu…bloomed.
Confession should have flowers.
Planned many times—failed—until this bud.
Thin—finger might break.
Spirit solid—part of her—timid—heart wrapped deep.
Too small—born in palm—cannot show.
Bai Shuzhou’s roses needed finest brush—Zhu Yu’s like roadside weed—hard to name.
Spirit solid—swallowed Bai Shuzhou’s scent—squeezed heart into this poor little thing.
“……”
Zhu Yu released careful—held flower—lost.
Flower lost too—outer leaf hugged head.
Bai Shuzhou’s fingertip touched uneasy leaf.
Cool through petal—heartbeat skipped.
Solid spirit—rare—even Bai Shuzhou practiced long.
Zhu Yu never learned—body reflex—deliver “like” direct.
Growth too fast—joy and worry.
Memory gone mostly—never taught this.
Could anyone teach themselves so far?
Bai Shuzhou thought—brow misted.
Silence panicked Zhu Yu—hand shook—bud wilted.
Before withdraw—Bai Shuzhou took the bud gentle.
As if holding Zhu Yu.
Pale light seeped fingertip into petal—dawn dew—limp petals stirred.
Bud felt warmth—swayed—slit opened.
Received like world’s treasure.
Not pretty—not jewel-bright.
Zhu Yu: …!
“For me?” Bai Shuzhou asked.
“Ah—yes!” Voice found with effort.
Through flower—Bai Shuzhou’s temperature—light—safe.
Her spirit—her part—held in Bai Shuzhou’s palm.
Bud livelier—petals wider—stem straighter—proud little flower.
“I like it very much.” Soft.
Watching it—remembered touching roses—dew-sweet—had not thought—spirit things sense with body—
Those roses before—
Face red—cannot think—images clearer.
Never told her.
Omega sensitive—Zhu Yu slow realized—Bai Shuzhou older, dominant—yet hid fragility.
Magnetic voice often hoarse—soft sounds—proud eyes hazy—worst only her name or teeth where she liked.
So—so cute…!
Emotion all on face.
Bai Shuzhou poked bud—cheek redder—stroked petal—brows curve—big dog tail almost wag.
Idiot.
Split spirit out bare.
Broken link—no control—Zhu Yu bad at that.
Ate Bai Shuzhou’s scent—gave back breath and part of herself.
If Bai Shuzhou crushed this flower—Zhu Yu’s sea of consciousness would take hit.
Short silence—what home raised Zhu Yu?
Greenhouse—no guard against malice—strong empathy—easy fool.
Even eaten dry she might say thanks.
Stroked flower—casual added terms to “service”—Zhu Yu red, waved—too polite.
Polite—wrong word—awkward.
But Bai Shuzhou liked—scent, gift, liked…
Zhu Yu floated.
Tried not look pathetic—stared at screen pretending study.
Military news—Zhu Yu’s face had been there once.
Bai Shuzhou side profile—poke petal—asked sudden: “Do you still want to go back?”
“Where?” Zhu Yu tight—no place in this world.
“The military.”
“I read your record—excellent—keeping you beside me seems unfair.”
Gossip exaggerated—she ignored—military reports did not lie.
Every battle data—including academy entry scores.
Zhu Yu should be ambitious—more diligent than anyone.
Talent gap filled with sweat—true People’s Star.
Military power—heart of rule—vacuum Zhu Yu yielded—many fought.
Bai Shuzhou too.
Maybe body strong—no political sense—cannot hold—better yield early.
Contract drafted—gaps filled—pre-amnesia pawns needed room.
No one shares power willingly.
If Zhu Yu obedient—keep her close—trinkets—within control.
That had been the plan.
Gift born for her—should grip tight.
Years ago she erred—disasters—if Zhu Yu healed her fully—
Personal sacrifice nothing before grand fate.
But ward wasted time—she knew hollowed ambition’s pain.
Curious—if Zhu Yu—new path?
If loyal—steady military—better.
Girl scratched head laughed: “Ha ha—not that amazing!”
Sincere silliness.
Bai Shuzhou regretted again.
Could not spare power—could not spare this flower.
So green—unbloomed—knows nothing.
Thrown on the board—useful tool becomes cannon fodder.
Shook head light—convincing self—“Healers don’t suit the military.”
Early gift research aimed at war machines—healing on battlefield would be staggering.
But healers—no.
Sensitive heart against endless killing—too much pain.
She would learn she saves no one.
Aura sank—cold from bone—even flat face—sorrow at eye corner.
Zhu Yu could not bear. Heart clutched—leaned close—nose near chin—warm:
“Suits. Try and know.”
“Heal self—sharper senses—healers best for war, I say.”
“My record—” guilty boast—“some exaggeration.”
In love—vain—waved original’s flag to shade her.
Her “modesty”—like instant noodle fine print: packaging for reference only.
“Life and death are relative—I’m immortal—proof: never died yet!”
Bad joke—colder from Zhu Yu.
Bai Shuzhou still laughed.
Eyes moved—pinched Zhu Yu’s cheek—better than flower—soft—want more pinch.
Reder—brave—nosed her finger—“I can help whatever you want—I’m your knight—”
Fighting maybe weak—repair, logistics, R&D matter too?
Empire testing mechs.
Trials—not combat.
Military contacted—Melnor blocked.
Still in her contacts—messages—Zhu Yu knew.
Twists unclear—natural thought—Bai Shuzhou feared her hurt—kept her from army.
So good—sick in bed still protecting her.
“I won’t disappoint you.” Look up—youth sure and bright—“Depend on me…more.”
News murmured on screen—war far from warm ward.
Zhu Yu all eyes on Bai Shuzhou—thought sincerity beats all—together—every trouble solvable.