Chapter 48

*Aggression*
The string pulled to limit—snap—broke.
Guilt and panic fell into a pit.
She thought after canceling divorce they were more than cold contract—wives by law and vow.
She could call wife aloud—family status—no fear of exile—everything improving.
Marriage should be sacred nearly holy.
They had only light paper.
Nothing happened—nothing changed—cosmos silent.
Bai Shuzhou’s cool voice too natural—too calm—ice water on Zhu Yu’s heart—hiss of white pain smoke.
Bai Shuzhou used contract for safe relation—results only—Zhu Yu wanted the journey—feel joy and sorrow shake in chest.
Even pain—
Feeling you gave me—so alive and hot.
Looking down at pale blue—first time sky felt this empty.
Urge near destruction—stir frozen pool—break calm mask—force truth underneath—touch the heart never shown—does it beat for me?
Not only contract. Not always calm.
Fingers clamped—wrist pinned to pillow—silver hair scattered—breath tremble—melt—pearls of sweat.
Black uniform lines hard—pressed apart—white sheet curved.
Green vines wound her arm—could not match Alpha strength.
Bloody lip crushed down—Bai Shuzhou muffled pain—pale eye corner red—wrist ringed red on cold skin—brighter than mole.
Even this—allowed…?
Sister—answer me.
“Mm…!”
Pinned wrist shook. Omega skin sensitive—never handled this rough—every inch amplified.
Yet under aggression Zhu Yu still poured warm spirit—healing current—sting and tingle braided—pleasure hard to name.
She even held scent in—wood deep under skin—clear spring—rose invaded free.
Bai Shuzhou’s gaze focused. Kiss clumsy but fierce—learning fast—breath stolen.
Little finger tangled—arms—Zhu Yu buried hot face in her neck—tears fell—Bai Shuzhou shivered—tears on cold collarbone—into cool lake.
“Sister…sister…” sobbed—knocking quiet air.
Collarbone held her tears.
Bai Shuzhou blank a moment.
—Zhu Yu seemed to copy her unconsciously.
Familiar kissing.
Not knowing how—replay her lesson—angle by angle—sharp teeth at lip—not biting—only smearing blood on her mouth.
Breath tangled—warm—sweet rust.
Collarbone could not hold tears—into collar—wet hair.
Flash—years ago—afternoon.
To control subjects the Academy taught no knowledge—without Bai Shuzhou—no rest or outside time.
First lesson always obey, endure, honesty—for data.
Honesty and kindness—taming tools. Difference from mice and lab dogs—children more obedient—praise and they followed researchers.
Vessels for upper will—no self needed.
Same white clothes—empty faces—even courtyard walks—never step outside marked bounds.
Only that child in the crowd watched Bai Shuzhou—copied her moves.
Any anomaly reported—potential danger.
Melnor found her first—frowned—why?
“Because…pretty…like…” child scratched head shy.
In pale world Bai Shuzhou was fairy—eyes clearer than spring—silver softer than moon—scented grace.
She looked up bright long—brave ask: “Sister, what are you reading?”
Bai Shuzhou read—not picture books—thick classics—stone to child—ants of text crawling out.
Coffee steam—porcelain rim blue—blue-and-white cup—brown cookies—tower of white rock sugar.
Child on toes—eyed sugar—soft ask: “Sister what is this—tasty?”
Like street dog begging food. Silence—whole plate of cookies pushed over.
Small bite—never so good—black eyes near tears—peeked at sugar pile.
White bright angular—pretty…like sister.
Licked lip. Princess could not bear—lifted to chair—chin up—“Eat.”
Cheer—sugar in mouth.
So sweet!
Sugar might skew results—forbidden.
And not eaten that way—rude. Melnor moved to stop—Bai Shuzhou’s hand—soft: “Good?”
“Good!” Sweetest life!
“Sister you eat too!” sugar offered.
Bai Shuzhou looked at not-clean hand—refused—“Sister doesn’t eat—all yours.”
Child stared—strange light—suddenly cried—buried in her—would not let go.
Tears in collar—hot—Melnor could not pull off.
After—lonely silver shadow gained a tail.
Not only breaks—even private lessons—the child appeared.
Like scent-hound dog—always found her.
Annoying at first—later habit—sometimes “Where is she?”
Should not contact so much—nobody dared block the princess.
Ponytail researcher once said—giving subjects thought and wider world was cruel.
Not same world.
Then Bai Shuzhou rarely listened.
……
Zhu Yu’s hot forehead on Bai Shuzhou’s shoulder—gold thread while she blank—into hair—a golden drop—red skin.
Too fast—from mimic to melting her—instant—warm spirit slipped her sea—stars—pop—
Dark flash—Zhu Yu glimpsed thought—small girl’s back—
Bai Shuzhou snapped back—seized control—
“You—” thrust out—sharp pain—Zhu Yu woke.
Who was that child—
While kissing her—who was she thinking of?
Knee drove up—no restraint—bit lip—blood mixed—legs trembled.
“Don’t think of anyone else…!!”
Stronger body—wounded whimper—little beast—pinned her—lip to wet neck—marks downward—
Fill all attention—all thought—my scent—mad.
Cannot mark.
Then devour rose on her tongue—pour light into frail body—press down tremor and muffled sound.
Knee hooked—against Zhu Yu’s taut belly. Voice ruined—Bai Shuzhou frowned her name. “Zhu Yu…”
“Slower—you cannot bear this.”
Still a thread clear—cool fingers patted her hot gland.
Fierce girl in her eyes—wronged child robbed of candy.
Next—Zhu Yu fell into gentle arms.
Rose wrapped around her on its own—calm—soothing—rage smoothed.
Calmer—head down—pinching wrist—nails in skin—hide mess—“Sorry…”
What had she done—how treat Bai Shuzhou so—
Woman touched kissed place—blue eyes lifted from haze—mild confusion.
Why cry so wronged—like that child’s sudden wail.
Happy—why tears?
Jade finger wiped face—pinched red nose—“Don’t like it—change method.”
Zhu Yu stunned—tearful loud: “I like it…!”
Bai Shuzhou breathed light—stared: “Then why cry?”
“……”
Because jealous.
So shameful.
Maybe hormones—geomagnetic storm—no—no excuses.
Silence—small: “I feel you like her more.”
“Impossible,” brow knit. “Toward her—it’s…duty.”
“What duty?” Lip bitten—heart still racing—cling: “We’re legal wives—yours is mine—your duty is my duty!”
“And I didn’t even say who—you knew at once!”
“She’s special to you—different—I’m just curious…” Deep breath.
Mute—she could not hear how sour her fake calm was.
Side face wet—eyes begging: tell me—I’m exploding.
Zhu Yu stubborn—Bai Shuzhou’s smile faded.
She did not tell past—no habit of explain—dark memory should die with dust.
But Zhu Yu’s eyes too bright—mirror-clear—overlapped that child—pain clutched heart.
She looked at those eyes.
“……Only debt.”
Breath only sound between them.
Blood-stained lip paused—flat, almost self-punishing:
“If I said—I made her this way?”