Chapter 52

*Restraint*
Rejected—but natural liking—and no malice felt.
No Zhu Zhao in contacts—curious original’s notes—cold coat crisp—left glove black smears.
Smears cracked perfect order—less untouchable.
Zhu Yu stared—Zhu Zhao peeled left glove sharp.
Feng Jiyan wore gloves too—researcher habit?
Not skin—white bandages wrist to knuckles.
“Your hand—hurt?”
Zhu Zhao raised wrapped hand—slow fist—
Muscle under bandage—power lines—
Cold white skin—knuckles red—crack—
Wind—
Fist slammed her shoulder blade.
Too focused—no dodge—gasp—
Weapon demo!
Boxing wraps—hobby—
Memory flood—
Zhu Zhao mech dean—final test beat everyone—
Not personal—all beaten—
Zhu Yu lasted longest—still “fail”—data first—negotiated in—
Principal asked—Zhu Zhao no explain—slammed door—
Award ceremony—Zhu Zhao corner—cigarette—smoke profile sharp lonely—not stage—
Grudge from beating?
Not really masochist—
Dazed—no dodge—no hit back—
Meekness angered Zhu Zhao—collar grab—teeth at ear:
“Don’t test my line—here I rule.”
“But I did nothing…”
“Still argue?”
“No no.”
“Tell them—while I live Genesis won’t restart.”
“Execute me—or burn together.”
Genesis—hug arm—“Misunderstand—we oppose immoral experiments too—same side—don’t hit.”
“We means me and Bai Shuzhou—not others.”
“Oppose?” Laugh cold. “Believe yourself? Tell princess—greed chokes.”
Zhu Yu angry: “Princess is victim too!”
Salt: “You were researcher then—why not stop—seen those kids’ wounds—”
“Shut up!”
Bam—
This time palm blocked—
Flesh vs bandaged rock—both strain—
“You think I didn’t stop? What did royalty do?! Bai Shuzhou what victim!”
Strong—silver feather on arm—flipped Zhu Yu—
Cannot win.
“Don’t know—tell me—I’m investigating.” Sat floor gasping.
“……”
Punch on cotton—innocent face—rage cut off.
Deep breath—“Get out.”
Door slam—blue barrier—buzz—retreat.
EM block—cannot see in—sigh.
Mech transfer hopeless.
Day one—offended dream boss—ha.
Remote—shake numb hand—hop pain—leave.
Behind barrier Zhu Zhao watched lively hop—brow eased—then disgust—look away.
Home—searched—resume terrifying—brain science quantum—Einstein tier—
Why teach school—waste—
Top mech project still hers—arrogance earned.
Zhu Yu would crab-walk pull Bai Qianze’s braid—execute me if you dare!
Academy system—Zhu Zhao—two pages spirit papers—
Theory years ahead—stalled now—
Noetic Quanta her coinage—
Top access few—
Records—expelled for theft—
Theft?
Genesis wiped—her work kept—what stolen—nuclear button toy?
Sigh—why hate Bai Shuzhou?
“Harm” to White Bird—faces overlap—
Ptoo—Bai Shuzhou loves White Bird—cannot harm—
World may doubt—Zhu Yu stands with her—
No—world may not bully her!
Evening massage—funny stories—colosseum “big playground”—
Praised departments—skipped mech—transparent as ink on paper to Bai Shuzhou.
Liked mech—Zhu Zhao hates princess—shared honor shame—
Mech qualification lost with suspension—
Bai Shuzhou: “Sorry—could not restore your post.”
Surprised—blanket—hand harder—“Fine—I like this—safe—kind colleagues.”
“Good,” brow knit soft. “You like mechs?”
“Remember you said…”
She remembered casual likes.
Honest under that gaze—“A little.”
Finger pinch—“Tell me.”
Eyes lit—models—tech—no mechanic resists charm—
Bai Shuzhou listened.
Flash—narrow room—curtain—spoon by spoon—tail under skirt sway—
Tail—
Really grew tail there with Zhu Yu.
Zhu Yu saw mechs as guard not kill—
Human need not flesh vs danger—mech barrier—
Indifference melted—probe ambition—words changed:
“Like it—go for it.”
“I’ll help you.”
Cool hand—brief—silk distance.
Heart settled—red mole on wrist—fear gone.
“But mech dean hates me—bad idea.”
“Who could hate you?”
Fake obvious—Zhu Zhao hates princess not her.
Lashes shadow—
Soft tide voice—ears numb:
“Only do what you like. Rest—not your problem.”
First time anyone said that.
“Then I try—I like mech over strategy.”
“Mech trains spirit—better heal you both.”
“You matter most.”
Warm light massage—words out bright.
Bai Shuzhou watched lips—leg warmth almost burn—
Bit lip—hold tide in—cannot speak—
Legs back—secret for now—
Zhu Yu thought pressure wrong—harder—
Sweat on silver bangs—pushed Zhu Yu away—hoarse cold:
“Today—enough.”
Timed—contacts shorter—sad—but “Night.”
Door soft close.
Silence.
Alone—footsteps fade—
Finger on touched skin—warmth linger—
One taste—beast hunger to possess—never before—
If swallowed her—then what?
Collapsed back—hand on hot eyes—
Cannot gamble.