Chapter 59

*Exposure*
Morning—Zhu Yu woke hot.
Before eyes open—feathers warm on cheek and arm—pushed—half off bed—grabbed—fell.
Hiss—rub face.
Weak girl gone—giant white bird—wings had hugged her—feathers faint wood scent.
Bird back in beast form.
Floor dazed—pinch wrist—measure bird vs equipment—not self shrunk—bird too big.
Bigger than pirate days—bed fit three humans—now one curled bird not fully spread.
Bird opened—empty pupils held her—light returned—wood scent faded.
“Chirp”—nuzzle Zhu Yu.
Beast harder to feed—part feathers—hand inside—bigger dose.
Bird liked wing-hug—books said affection—no exposure worry.
Not rival—but clingy made Zhu Yu happy—nightmare answered—besides my wife cling anyone!
Too much feed—tired sometimes—Bai Shuzhou banned extra transfer—massage to pros.
Zhu Yu jealous—wife should be hers to touch—
Stared long—therapist grabbed and kneaded her too.
Jacket thin—off—tank—muscle lines—waist—casual turn to Bai Shuzhou.
She ate well—scar on belly faded—Bai Shuzhou liked stroking uneven scar—Zhu Yu kept it for that restrained pity.
Therapist straighten side-sleeping Alpha: “Flat, Your Highness.”
Zhu Yu: “Oh.”
Would not moan before Bai Shuzhou—always “not hurt.”
Therapist smiled—fascia knife—electric needles—
Flesh is flesh.
Ah ah ah!!!
Unlike gentle rehab—dough kneaded shapes—
Between “heh easy” and mute pain—therapist praised “toughest I’ve seen.”
Sounds like interrogation—should be academy torture course—legal?
Voice hoarse after—
Hoarse magnetic—mature lazy—
Actually throat hurt—slow speech.
Forced silent persona—deep eyes—whisper ear “like you so much.”
Bai Shuzhou rarely words—but body answered—hazy eyes wet kisses.
More touch—no scent or spirit—pure—pressed instinct—nights like wine—
Best when mute—no heavy future or gossip kill mood.
From shy to used—body more than words—fit perception—fight unmarked loneliness.
Bai Shuzhou hid gifts in quilt—jewels like tears glitter—
Happy uneasy—cannot drown in beauty forever—
When last talk weather and dreams?
But wife kisses me…
Cannot refuse.
Bai Shuzhou took often—must suppress peak—avoid losing control.
Reason vs desire—vertical pupils scatter—broken voice “don’t stop.”
Four words—many pauses—
Don’t—stop—
Gap long—thought surrender signal—kiss—nose pinched—light slap.
Innocent upward kiss held her—black eyes obsidian invite grow—
Under love greed swelled—want whole galaxy—or one Bai Shuzhou.
Worried frequency bad for her—studied Omega—hormone drive genes—
Cannot mark.
Respected—thought Life Tree child—strict laws—AO waste—council forbid for dragon heir.
Trained harder—not for kids—for day someone judges them—punch like Zhu Zhao—nobles hate cannot beat still beg her R&D.
Zhu Zhao excluded her—even principal no royal face—triple price lab—use only.
Rip-off—heart money pain—learn earn back—
Busy no overthink.
Bai Shuzhou wanted tail more than child—thought gene illness—memory fragments—tail and wings hugged her—
Methods failed—where wrong?
Bird flew short—Bai Shuzhou watched window shadow—ripple—
Zhu Yu applaud photos for bedridden Bai Shuzhou—
Blue eyes little joy.
Throat relapsed—hospital no cause—“too much fire”—privacy oath—
Fire throat is privacy?—capital boundaries strong—
Chaos quack said weak Alpha like princess consort—Zhu Yu gloomy “yeah.”
Don’t trust experts—
Academy still “Instructor”—few words mysterious—forget words “deep thought.”
Calm until lab—small fireball.
First heal surprise—second fire—from lost to “fun.”
Same spirit root—control on fingertip safer.
Hard when sick—feared flu—infect Bai Shuzhou—
Expensive lab—flame melt candy—space coolant—
Nape grabbed—flame out—smoking finger—Zhu Zhao fury—block—
Dead—Zhu Zhao here—permissions set?!
No attack—looked—eyes on finger.
Secret leverage—cannot win—hands behind obvious—
“Hi—coincidence—why here.”
“My lab—I supervise.”
“Goggles gloves process wrong—who taught you—how graduate?”
That’s the focus?!
Shrunk—relief—slammed table—
“Gift innate or acquired—NQ—origin—mother—Feng relation—who met princess first—royalty found you?”
Barrage—deny: “Don’t understand!”
“Truth—only I save you.” Cold—eyes through her to another.
“Don’t understand!” Hate that look—hands out—“Kill me if you can.”
Fascia knife worse—threshold high—deny all—dead pig boiling—
Face dark—collar tight—“Fool—think she loves you?”
“Now I see why royalty chose you—for your gift.”
“What mean?”
“Reserve grain—will be devoured—tell truth—I save you.”
“No—no sowing discord!”
Smirk—“Die for money and power? I won’t stop you.”
Gloved pinch face—checking mask—
Cold eyes—“You really Zhu Yu?”
“I’m Zhu Zhao.”
“…Idiot.”
Dropped gloves in bin—walked out—
“Think clear—then find me.”
Shadow eye glint—“Don’t use gift again—you’ll die.”
Nails in wrist—mind like spinning bin—
Bai Shuzhou would not hurt me?
Afternoon papers—no dual gift in records—
Human body cannot bear—
But D-rank Alpha?
First doubt identity.
Night—hesitated—no fire tell—kissed hair—“Zhou…do you have a gift?”
Silence galaxy—lashes wet—down eyes—“Why ask?”
“Curious.”
“No.” Eyes closed cold—“Go shower.”
“But I—”
Finger on lip—blue eyes afterglow tired flat—bed partners only—
“Don’t talk this in bed.”