Chapter 53

*Beg Her*
Bai Shuzhou hired the empire’s best special teachers for White Bird—psychology plus basic life skills.
Zhu Yu had been eager—guest teacher title—teaching cute bird beat academy madmen—maybe stall—three together—
One audit class—many “basics” she did not know—nodded mysterious—fled the idea.
Imperial capital vs backwater systems—once tutored Heming homework—now feared homework from tutors too.
Luxury tutors taught White Bird letters with pictures—cosmic birth and evolution.
Zhu Yu sleepy and awed.
Academy insertion sudden—no schedule yet—shadowed colleagues—onboarding—devil day exhausted.
Spotlight made Zhu Yu vain—idol baggage—paid price.
Only private grind could look effortless outside.
Body held—day one no stretch—eight-kilometer weighted run—survived.
Last place still smiled—“Keep going!” to students.
Forum legend—gentle instructor slowed for rear encouragement—
Tail students energized—whole pack faster.
Werewolf theory—wolf king at rear guards pack—
Zhu Yu feared exposure—glad someone explained—wanted to howl.
Dying inside—that cheer was for herself.
Go! People’s Star!
Go! Think Bai Shuzhou—don’t shame wife!
Eighteen years lazy fish—with hyper beasts—maybe truly weak.
Losing to eagle fine—but deer and rabbit faster?! Some ran on four legs.
Could not show it—low-key King smile—dignity forward.
Chaos Belt triple jobs less brutal—whole academy watching—malice curiosity worship—
After work quiet precious.
Bai Shuzhou told Zhu Yu treat White Bird first. Body mostly healed—mind Zhu Yu only played games—painted outside world fun.
White Bird took healing less than Bai Shuzhou—both Alpha—sometimes fireballs rejected.
Zhu Yu slipped power in arm-wrestle games.
Care made White Bird glossy—
Weird word for human—but dry silver hair now soft—not silk like Bai Shuzhou—still proud.
“When you’re stable—we go amusement park.” Promise.
Three together!
Good—White Bird signed—new teacher sign—bunny-ear “yeah”—Zhu Yu taught.
Yay!
Desire—curiosity for outside world.
When Zhu Yu left for Bai Shuzhou—masked doctors entered—best state—sample data.
Body damage high—not peak youth—but NQ excellent—matches AH-003 fragments—confirmed identity.
“Fluctuation suggests more than one gift—body too weak—like 002—cannot bear full load.”
“Container too weak—below forecast—treasure wasted on her.”
“Federation wants raw data for aid—we gave part. Lady Yan: after mutation lifespan shortened—strengthening container maybe wrong.”
Lead woman listened—looked up—“Federation—better method?”
Subordinate hesitated—“Humanitarian—euthanasia—autopsy.”
Scorn—mask off—trash—“Why involve them?”
“This is fleeing lab’s price—obey and she’d be fine.”
She placed vial in warmer—closed careful—“Life Tree system test—you alone—no other hands.”
“Life Tree?”—“Public mate match—she—”
“Do as I say.” Narrow eyes—command—“Maximize interest in limited life.”
“Do not go gentle into that good night—”
Poem tone—thin cold—
Researchers shivered—heads lower.
Only then Feng Jiyan showed same base as Feng Jiyan—refined arrogance.
Soft blade before heart—prey relaxes.
“Feng Jiyan.”
Subordinate looked—director grabbed wrist of nobody at line end—
Crack—bone surely broken.
Muffled pain—Feng Jiyan pulled mask—peeled synth-skin—glove blue flash—dead—
Face twisted still smiling.
“Watch—stand front.” Calm—not angry.
“Yes—Mother.” Feng Jiyan sweat—smile nod.
Banned from research—she forged ID—snuck in.
“Grown.” Dead eyes appraised—“Curious—I give chance.”
“AH-003 surgery—you lead.”
“Yes—” voice shook—“won’t disappoint!”
Pride—would not beg Zhu Yu for director access—
See—I am different!
Files in hand—not as imagined.
Childhood reading mother’s books—genius—copy perfect—
Best process—top tech—all known.
“Why no anesthetic?”
“Why skip protocol?”
“Why—”
Elder light: “Unnecessary.”
“She’ll be fine—strong will to live—good sign.”
Next room—where Zhu Yu played with bird—Feng Jiyan replicated old surgery exactly.
Voiceless—strapped hidden gurney—only whimpers tears.
Nightmare replay—every detail—terror before start.
Against rules—wrong flow.
Feng Jiyan would not let knife shake.
Feng Jiyan watched all—turned to Bai Shuzhou’s room—warm ask—improving?
Sun gilded silver hair—admiration in eyes.
Wall away—curtains—light burst overhead—
World blank despair.
……
Talk—wall shudder once—brief chaos outside.
Bai Shuzhou rose—Feng’s fox eyes—fell back—sheet gripped.
Snow leopard—medical accident—AH-003 lost control—burned Feng Jiyan during treatment.
Leopard watched Feng Jiyan—ready—
Mother only stood slow—“Rest easy, Your Highness—I’ll handle.”
“Trust—”
Glass reflected fire—fleeing researchers—
White Bird corner—flames still—only defense—
Chaos—heart burning—pale hair on floor—
Rage could not burn special white walls.
Light split dark—slender figure—
Fire to cheek—purple barrier from left palm.
Gloved hand on throat—color pills into flame mouth—melt—
New analgesic.
Feng Jiyan embraced—bird quieted.
Teeth on pills—body still hot.
Stroked pale hair.
Pain split mind from body—she would worship savior.
“AH-003—want more?”
Pause—unfamiliar name—nod hard—trembling “yeah” sign.
“Good child.” Another pill—cupped face—“I cannot save you—only Her Highness can—you know.”
“Beg her mercy.”
“She eases pain easily—why not?”
“Didn’t she promise to protect you?”
“Obedient children get reward.” Sweet lethal voice.
Zhu Yu heard bird “caused trouble”—rushed with new game console—warning tape on chaos room.
Burning Feng Jiyan big or small—Zhu Yu trusted accident—passed tense leopard—opened Bai Shuzhou’s door—
White Bird on Bai Shuzhou’s shoulder—soaked shirt—butterfly bones shaking—
Kissing her hand again and again—desperate believer begging miracle.
Bai Shuzhou disliked intimacy—Zhu Yu was first.
White Bird seemed second in her arms.