Chapter 56

*Too Far*
“Mm…”
Mouth open—pinch wrist—brain hunt excuse.
“I missed you—visit.” Too weak—why carry bird away?—“Afraid she’d fall—restless sleeper.”
Words stuck—Bai Shuzhou half-smiled—finger touched soft place Zhu Yu’s hand hit—
Face red—back of hand burning—stuck machine—only: “I—I’m not honest.”
…what am I saying.
“Sorry—hurt you?”
Bodies familiar yet not—past closeness instinct—Bai Shuzhou guided through fog how to please—
Married closer than most—still collar light and silver hair drop stole heartbeat.
Cannot look enough.
So soft…
Stiff uniform—fake cough—facing waking lazy open-collar Bai Shuzhou.
In her eyes—morning sneak—jealous bird removal—bad image.
Bit lip—hands on seam—fabric rub—spine straighter than parade.
“Mm—hurts.”
Unexpected—Bai Shuzhou admitted—brow up—“How compensate?”
Interrogation—not wives—superior. Aura strong—Zhu Yu same-foot to bed—puppy eyes—“Truly sorry—not on purpose.”
“Not on purpose—on purpose?” Thin voice—chin on hand—watched her fidget.
“No…!” More tense.
Pinch cheek—People’s Star became innocent dog eyes—low—handled.
“This time—why not dodge?”
Blink—yesterday—only turned head—she had coaxed yesterday—settling scores—wife revenge ten years?
Sneak cold face—grudge cute too.
“She holds grudges” became “I went too far.”
Moon-cold Bai Shuzhou—rare warmth like divine distance—only with Zhu Yu human.
“I was wrong—” small—eyes on lace.
“Where wrong?” Curious—won’t say.
“Woke you.”
“Wished I stayed asleep…?” Finger behind ear scratch.
Bird still sleeping—whispers—light and gaze sticky—
Broken jar—hands on pillow—shadow—bright desperate eyes: “Don’t sleep with others.”
Pause—white knuckles—“She’s Alpha—high match…can we not?”
First clear demand—formal—as if noble jealousy.
Bai Shuzhou laughed: “She’s not like you.”
Flame out—pupils dim—
Hated that line—any tone—bird special—wife cannot compare.
Bird knows nothing.
Mad wish—if pain transferred—open jealousy—now ashamed while wanting monopoly.
Would Bai Shuzhou tend her then?
Not kind enough—cannot be cruel—split in half.
Cool hands lifted downcast face—black eyes grievance—“I only see her as a sister.”
Worse.
Twisted mood—fried crisp edges—
Arm pulled—balance lost—into pillows—Bai Shuzhou’s embrace.
Lace on nose—low temperature clear—
Pale skin—veins under—breath mature—ears numb.
Alert rabbit—still—covered ears—dizzy in soft—chest vibration when she spoke.
Finger circles ear—whisper breath:
“Different.”
Different feeling—different tide—
Heart shook—eyes like stars falling—unlike all world.
Quiet hold—arms slow tight—Bai Shuzhou bit lip—held sigh.
Silence—souls seemed to fill gaps.
Only you move me.
Change subtle—gown outline—like cream on pancake—cherry mint—pink bloom—
More beautiful than flower opening—sprouting in lover’s heart—thousands—
Face deeper—red ears ruby—
“Like?” tangled hair—hoarse.
“Like…” careful kiss—hair pulled sting—
This time no instruction—permission—
You may do as you will.
Through silk—clumsy rub—watch her face—step probe—
In arms only—Bai Shuzhou legs tight—chin up—blue unfocused—soft gasps—
Within rules—ease her tension—
Teeth on fabric—arm on waist—imagined claiming skin—
Pulse like mountains—river at waist—broken syllables—
Uniform hard vs silk—dent—buttons undone—collar straightened—
Behind screen bird woke—hands on mouth—should not sound—heart fast—
Quiet room—water sound clear—cold voice stained—
Sweat—arms tight—silver on Zhu Yu neck—bitten lip red—restraint more tempting—
Like—love—princess—Zhou—
Cannot let others see—nor others held gentle—even different.
Small kisses—beg soft: “Sleep here tonight? No scent—I promise.”
Academy once forbade—bird could share bed—
“No.” Eyes blink—soft voice hard.
Key not Zhu Yu—her.
Reason at cliff—max concession.
Who keeps cake by pillow?
Zhu Yu more than cake.
Thirst—one sip water—hard not drink all.
“Really not?”—“I can sleep with bird—help care—”
Shadow lashes—“No need.”
“Be good—obey—”
Arm deeper—face in chest—hot—finger in hair—pinch nape gentle firm—
“No pressure—I’ll handle rest.”
“Told school—transfer you to mech department.”
Not discuss—notice.
Blamed academy stress—can refuse if unwilling.
Desire too small to dominate—hold tighter—rare compensation.
“Happy?”
Stunned—yesterday prep—Zhu Zhao hostile—Bai Shuzhou so sure—
“When? I didn’t know.”
“Now you do—maybe later.” Fingers in hair—comb treasure—
“Happy?” again—looking down.
Reward—irresistible—
Eyes closed—ignore flicker odd—forehead on chest—rose wrapped—
“…Happy!”