Chapter 61

Eyes closed—trembling pupils calmed in dark.
Lashes a smallest door—shut world—for safety in confusion.
Crossed wrists white—joints crack—open cold—stiff smile—perfect “Zhu Yu” for Zhu Zhao.
“Words are not proof—data—cases—you’re expert—how else believe?”
Rhetoric—detector cannot judge.
Zhu Zhao watched from height—all tells visible—Zhu Yu lost from entry.
Leaned on bench—arms crossed—bandaged hand—scoff: “Necessary?”
“You have the answer—why lie to yourself.” Knows her masks.
“I don’t! No proof—I don’t believe!”
Red light—shock—rip chip off—lock pins blood at temple—
No pain face—fight stance—small beast fangs—suicide with unbeatable foe—
Zhu Zhao frowned—handkerchief—“Smart—don’t be rash.”
Refused—trap—blood bead to collar—
Too many doubts—if Zhu Zhao won’t say—she’ll search—
Feng Jiyan plays hearts better—youth rebels—what you find must be truth.
Zhu Zhao not Feng.
Refused—Zhu Zhao stepped—bandaged hand on wrist—slam overhead—wipe blood rough—
Struggle—help felt like humiliation—cannot accept forced kindness—
Training hard now—senses sharp—anger fuel—
One hand of Zhu Zhao—
Experience crushed—predicted—adult vs cub—wipe face.
Not gentle—red patch—result not feelings—
“You wear detector too! Say again no lie—I—!”
“I don’t need your belief.” Cold cut.
“Saving you—not begging you. Watch attitude.”
Feng gentle knife—blind soft stab. Zhu Zhao cleaver—fast cut tumor.
Direct—unacceptable.
“If Bai Shuzhou evil why bird depends—bird not stupid!”
“Bird?” Face shift—grip harder—“AH-003—no choice—cage too narrow—what does she know?”
Flame in Zhu Yu—argue for Bai Shuzhou—“Not so! She cares—teaches universe—outside—you don’t understand!”
“Use value—control—little sweet and you sell your lives—royal strategy works.”
“Bai Shuzhou—not royalty!” scream—
Ugly fight—Zhu Zhao stepped back—flick fingers—“Difference? Winner only Bai Shuzhou.”
“Thought you smart—wanted pull you—same fool.”
“Go—” let path—“Pretend nothing—die in golden lie.”
Turn away—“I speak ugly—Feng and Bai Shuzhou political—purpose. Like boiled frog—fine—don’t die before me—dirty my eyes.”
“My mech never for cowards—forget it.”
“Train dying—waste resources.”
“Then you—” hoarse breath—“what from me?”
“My use value?”
“I have nothing left to give!”
Woke to Bai Shuzhou—dream landed—heart found home—
First kiss—desire—want to hold—
Life vivid since her—
Laugh tears—gain over loss—empty came—tiny chance today—
Adventure—never imagined—
Safe room—parts—quiet—storm past glass—time meaningless—
Little want—eat live—
Hand in hand—escape off-script—
Even cannon fodder—lit stage—world heard—
Ring high—empire pride—they said—
Mind only Bai Shuzhou—
Afraid—kiss me?
Name magic—she came—pain gone—
Reason chewed Zhu Zhao—whisper—you’re fooled abandoned—
Why wake—world eats soft—
Voice lured—close dry eyes—
No tears—desert sand in eyes—itch—
Wood scent soil—ease chest—
Mind body split—light—
Childhood corridor—wait—sister blurred hand—go home—sleep—sun rises—
Touch near—gland hot—rose swallowed her—
Zhu Yu…Zhu Yu…
Blood lip—past passion—blue love—how false?
Grasp memory—love hurts more—only then alive—
Fingers tight—time moved—soft white—
Zhu Zhao pressed handkerchief on face—hide shame—“I want nothing—you have nothing.”
Wiping tears?
Breath stuck—pushed away—clear black eyes—no hate no tear—Zhu Zhao stunned—
Side face—softer—“Atone old mistake.”
“Tell me what happened—everyone riddles—why not say!”
“Not your business—should end—you—”
Wet eyes—wrist green—cold stare—“Ever told—you’re like old AH-003?”
“Coincidence or design—I won’t dig.”
“One chance—live.”
Public Zhu Yu noticed from start—
Bai Shuzhou chose her—shock—
Staff silent—coincidences normal—face only—data no match—
AH-003 national resource—stole Bai Shuzhou’s—cannot become D waste—
Childhood toy—Bai Shuzhou wants—give—
Both weak stupid.
Heart squeezed again—like imitating—
Hate being original shell—
Especially AH-003 bird—
Eyes duel—Zhu Zhao not lying—not even her reflection—
Never told—
Not alike—bird looks more like Bai Shuzhou—
Zhu Zhao picked black hair—bandage on strand—“Albinism—life draining—AH-003 forced bloom—almost ash.”
“Frequent gift—you follow.”
Bite lip—
Face check—no mask—
Fire play—old Zhu Zhao would slap—
Child AH-003 naughty—grin “doesn’t hurt”—
Zhu Yu meek—pity—pat shoulder—
Warm palm—question sank Zhu Zhao face:
“What about Bai Shuzhou’s hair—is it too—”
Slap stumble—
Damn love brain—D gene poison?
Rage—said so much—for this?
Almost strangle—poor face wants answer—fake smile—“Silver dragon—you think?”
Natural white—
If hurt burn out—invisible?
If forced need her—controlled dose—misunderstanding…
Zhu Zhao pinch face crush fantasy—“Clear? Toy—grain—guilt stand-in—discard anytime.”
Air torn—silent pain—
Later—swing hand—cold smile—“You atone too—what difference—find AH-003 not me!”
“Unrelated—why tell—I’d rather not know—must hate to live?”
Push door—walk—blood face—killing air—students part—
Alley—curl arms—no cry—shoulders shake—gland hot—
Squeeze Bai Shuzhou scent—small house breathe—
Real breath on hair up down—
Red hair legs—play hair—wait notice—
Zhu Yu still—alert gone—
Kick knee—laugh:
“Oh—People’s Star—so messy again.”