Chapter 55

*Accident*
Sunset and evening wind could not enter the Academy corridor.
Bai Shuzhou and White Bird shared rehab schedules—Zhu Yu alone in the room.
For no reason she remembered childhood—heavy backpack—no key—sky darkening—glass reflection of happy family of three on empty street.
She had pushed the door in—why still lonely?
Body light—memory like thin shirt in autumn—unfamiliar feeling long absent.
Pinch wrist—gold room—too idle.
Should not skip morning drill pretending to file—no weight all day—unreal.
Dinner—bought mantou—bite solid—water fill hollow—
Rare in stars—few on capital—bakery—fancy script “thousand-layer sweet mantou.”
Millionaire—no price check—150 each—heart pain!!
Expensive—bad.
Too soft—cotton—air in belly.
Millionaire grieved—missed Helan—
Back when she picked them up—good cooking—any craving—don’t waste money—
Really strangers.
Maybe missed days when full meant happy.
Evening games—repeat levels—White Bird mute—Bai Shuzhou sparse—Zhu Yu chattered trivia.
Chaos Belt she could squeal with Heming—
Now People’s Star—youngest guest instructor—mask half in bone—boss kill—touch chin—low magnetic laugh:
“Interesting.”
Weird villain!
Big grin—unaware—even here she played “Zhu Yu” for others.
Subconscious thought flashy Zhu Yu more popular.
Campus respect and fear—scolded students blush—“senior” eyes—“be like you.”
She did not know what to be—they would not like timid her—
Cool fingertips pinched her palm.
Bai Shuzhou sensed wrong—soft ask: “School going well?”
“Great—everyone warm!” Rare question—eyes lit—“Dean let me pick class—classic battles—new slides have me…”
Original her.
Campaigns with Yzelia—surrounded on alien world—breakout one vs hundred—legend youth loves.
Memorized files—cold objective retelling—nobles straight—terror data—
Before Bai Shuzhou she could do better.
Shameful hope—Bai Shuzhou look like students—
Watch me—listen—only look at me.
White Bird on shoulder listening—childhood military memory stirred.
Talent for speech—avoid gore—still feel kill air—
Epic—
Blue eyes fixed—Zhu Yu happy—
Dredged details—spark in dry wood—burn self fine—
But brow knit—strange Zhu Yu—too calm—too deep—soul aloft—god view life death—no personal feeling.
Neat hair—dead eyes—not like repair smile—
Screws and chips—loved tasks—
Now dead sea—overforce—ripples—bloody plain words—
White Bird shrank into Bai Shuzhou.
Bai Shuzhou covered ears—warm: “Don’t force if you dislike—I said do what you want.”
Zhu Yu’s gaze followed bird into embrace—stiff: “Was I bad?”
Class loved it—strategy perfect—
What wrong—strange eyes—
No applause—worry in blue.
Hand rose to touch face—
Zhu Yu leaned—smelled not only Bai Shuzhou—
White Bird damaged gland—faint scent like young Zhu Yu—bird trace—
Long together—same room sleep—normal mix—
Bai Shuzhou forbade Zhu Yu’s scent—obedient—even aching glands—cold shower bit—perfume cover—
Yet Bai Shuzhou’s fingers carried another’s trace.
Turned away—no touch—saw surprised pupils—wanted kiss—but bird there—
Held two fingers—thin scent with spirit—small claim—
Wood on fingertips—covered bird trace—sovereignty.
Bai Shuzhou darkened—“Withdraw!”
Genesis restart—healer precious—identity must hide—
Fake identity cost—frequent checks—one whiff makes target—
…maybe even she cannot shield.
“Never without permission.” Pinch cheek—ear whisper—“You know danger.”
“Can’t take back—” face down—mixed now—swallow means Bai Shuzhou and maybe bird—
Sigh—
Lip on temple—cheek kiss—“Good.”
Rose drowned grievance—guided—bite fingers—pull wood back.
Alpha eating bird scent should sicken—
She obeyed.
Absorbed—gone—tongue only sweet rose.
Bold thought—if Bai Shuzhou covers her—did treatment infect bird?
Two 100% matches on Life Tree—probability impossible—
Rumors—old system—someone tampered—tree is foundation—believe sabotage not tree error.
“Teacher Zhu,” wet finger on lip—low laugh—“still child?”
Stable look—still need coaxing.
“Teacher Zhu” soft—ears red.
Craved tenderness—embarrassed—reached other hand to warm—
Bird between—
Smile stiff—rub hands.
Bird fragile—many guess Zhu Yu’s report wrong—
First bond—Bai Shuzhou fell ill—not biology complement—
High match should uplift—
Zhu Yu did not.
Bai Shuzhou’s gift covered hers—bird floor S+ stripped—Zhu Yu D—
One step above E—
Special only for gift power.
Bird watched curious—
Copied Bai Shuzhou—peck Zhu Yu cheek—
Ah!!!
Explained—kiss only for close love—
Sign: like—you both.
Child mind—ashamed jealousy—nail pants—
Bird depends on Bai Shuzhou—normal—
Cannot ban play for nothing—
Promised protect them.
……
Bird kissed Bai Shuzhou too.
Zhu Yu: “NO NO NO!!!”
“Kiss me instead!”
Screamed up—sweat—terminal ringing—
Nightmare.
Bai Shuzhou would not agree—hand kiss was prayer accident—
Overslept—late for work!
Bolt wash—nutrition drink—
Detour peek room—
Both asleep—silver hair merged—bird snowman beside sacred Bai Shuzhou—lashes flutter as Zhu Yu near—
Screen nook empty—
When sleep together?
Her spot once—feared crushing—
Cannot hug waist like bird—
Omega skin sensitive—arm on waist felt—
Tucked blanket—casually separated—
Bird rolled—head to Bai Shuzhou chest—
Too close—hand block—soft back—bird nuzzled palm like calf—
Vinegar almost in nose—
“Mm…?” brow—too hard.
Silent wolf howl—wrapped bird bundle—carried to her bed—
Tiptoe flee—met blue eyes.
Half sat—silver messy—robe open collar—lazy hoarse:
“Zhu Yu?”