Chapter 70

*Choice*
Nan Gong Xun’s breeding was excellent—proper lean. By elegant posture alone almost noble courtesy—yet words poison, painfully sharp.
Feng Jiang kept mild smile, gaze lightly passing the three.
Black-haired girl alert, holding richly dressed Princess. Red-haired woman smiling close—more serpent in Eden tempting forbidden fruit, hissing into cracks in the heart.
Bai Shuzhou cold-stared that hateful smile—no boundaries, pressing in. Long arm around Zhu Yu’s neck, pale fingertip on her chin, circling her in domain.
Cold touch made Zhu Yu jolt. She looked at Nan Gong and asked first, disgusted and incredulous:
“Are you a pervert?”
“Insult me behind my back at least!”
*Nan Gong should change surname to Sima*—this sowing discord too obvious. Broad daylight—no thought to hide.
Normal person provoked like this—follow her words and fall in emotion trap. Bai Shuzhou jealous further objectifying—or Zhu Yu hurt pride, desperate to prove—someone always uncomfortable.
She underestimated Zhu Yu’s good temper with Bai Shuzhou. One gentle fingertip guide—immediate response.
Beyond life and death, only love and hate weigh most. Rest Zhu Yu barely cared.
One taste—willing evil hound. A little love fed her.
If needed she could bite Nan Gong twice.
So Zhu Yu bared teeth back—not sharp enough, attitude clear.
Bai Shuzhou jade knuckle touched chin again. Narrow eyes narrowed—rare inner arrogance. At pressing Nan Gong—one cold scoff—distance opened at once.
“This is not the Federation. Zhu Yu kneels to no one.”
Zhu Yu echoed righteous: “This is not the Federation!”
If kneeling—the kind not spoken to outsiders. Bottom-up—greedy and adoring—so profaning her god.
Zhu Yu liked that angle. Posture low—but caught every fine expression—lost downward gaze or lifted sharp chin, clear sweat rolling drop by drop.
“Is that so?” Nan Gong smiled too. Talent in pleasure fields—she knew that look. Unexpected that misunderstanding still benefited Zhu Yu?
Post-fight “exchange” fiercer, deeper.
Only momentary pleasure and hormones masking increasingly unbalanced truth.
Nan Gong watched Zhu Yu follow Feng Jiang carrying Bai Shuzhou into meeting room—no sense of exclusion. Didn’t care what they discussed. Bai Shuzhou told her wait outside—she waited.
Nan Gong leaned on auto-sensing front door—wicked—wind pouring from door into corridor.
Zhu Yu thought she had left—long wind moved clothes—Nan Gong stood in wind. White coat too—but different swagger. Fingertips held thin deep purple cigarette.
Smoking. Blocking door. Very no public morals.
Zhu Yu alert, glanced around, distance, low: “Why still here?”
Nan Gong looked up through haze, head lazy tilt. “Don’t want to leave again?”
Zhu Yu guilty: “Nonsense!”
Nan Gong: “Someone cried and yelled, mistook me for someone, threw big tantrum… heh.”
Zhu Yu stubborn: “Impossible. How could I—tantrum at someone.”
Nan Gong arched brow: “No tantrum at someone—tantrum at me?”
Zhu Yu shameless: “We’re not close, Ms. Yan Xun. Don’t say misleading things.”
Nan Gong rolled eyes, voice not small in corridor: “Fine—sober and deny acquaintance. Know this outfit handmade custom? Someone dirtied it—unwearable…”
Monitors everywhere in corridor. Zhu Yu grit teeth, pulled her out. “Stop saying that!”
“Not true?”
“I’ll pay you!”
“Pay?” Nan Gong scanned Zhu Yu—stopped at blue ear stud. “Your whole body except organs—only that ear stud worth money.”
Zhu Yu: “…”
Covered ears—no coveting. She had been poor—poor could get rich—even by wife keeping her.
Zhu Yu swagger pulled black card—proud face—*don’t look down on me!*
Nan Gong light sneer, hand out: “Three million.”
Zhu Yu face changed fast—snatched card before touch—blank: “Don’t know you. Never met. Don’t scam.”
Nan Gong: “Handmade—know what that means? Federation diplomat standard fluid shirts—bulletproof. Top embroiderers and material experts one month per piece. Close-range laser won’t pierce. You ruined it.”
Zhu Yu: “Exaggerated. I didn’t vomit acid! Give it—I’ll wash for you.”
Nan Gong blew smoke toward surroundings—fine electronic barrier sizzled in mist. Careless: “Threw it away early.”
Zhu Yu gasped: “Three million—threw away?!”
Nan Gong stared. Zhu Yu’s biggest flaw—believed whatever others said.
Too stupid. Not first time fooled. Easy mark—follow two *tsk* and gone. Never learn.
*How survive slums?* Nan Gong scrutinized again—Zhu Yu uncomfortable—suddenly blew smoke at her.
Fine particles crackled—even high-tech disguise should break—Zhu Yu only choked, exploded in earth-shaking cough.
Too loud—even inside meeting room brief silence.
Feng Jiang paused, pretended nothing, elegant sip pale tea, continued: “Zero-One is indeed alive—here. Situation not good. You guessed?”
“I know you have thoughts. All these years no one blamed you. That year—each side had difficulty.”
“Restarting Genesis, Federation cooperation—also no choice.”
Bai Shuzhou cut slow courtesy. Direct: “What did she *foresee*?”
“Sorry. Cannot say. Classified. His Majesty specially instructed…”
Bai Shuzhou: “So you called me alone—to tell what? Be direct.”
“About His Majesty.” Feng Jiang crossed hands, more comfortable posture.
“We all know—His Majesty never had matched partner for guidance. Accumulated suppression—too heavy spirit force is burden.”
“Between you and Zero-One, late Emperor chose twin jade for you—but long after, His Majesty silently bore maintaining Zero-One.”
Feng Jiang meaningful: “This time maintenance seems too long. We need Zero-One and His Majesty—both indispensable to Empire.”
Bai Shuzhou: “…”
Woman long in high seat smiled. Extreme reason too cruel—like April cold wind. Soft:
“Life needs value—to exist.”
“We are very disappointed in AH-003’s overall performance.”
Speaking Zero-Three—eyes unblinking on Bai Shuzhou.
*We are very disappointed in you.*
Strongest gifted new generation—born carrying all expectation, precious resources tilted—one wrong thought, great fault.
Even doting Bai Qianze said—your character unsuited to rule Empire.
Feng Jiang’s gentle disguise fell. Too much eye white, pupils too deep. Emotionless reminder: “Your Highness should understand—Imperial interest above all.”
“Not much time. Empire urgently needs healthy heir. Council discussed—best plan: you combine with AH-003.”
Bai Shuzhou’s eyes vertical slits, dead on Feng Jiang: “I refuse.”
Feng Jiang spread hands: “Of course if Zhu Yu can bear dragon heir with you—we won’t refuse. But if you don’t need Zero-Three’s power—we’ll reclaim appropriately, give Zero-One, lighten His Majesty’s pressure. Also planned.”
She offered spotless white gloves like Bai Shuzhou coaxing Zhu Yu to choose. Gentle:
“Zhu Yu—and AH-003.”
Pale blue eyes shrank. Hands on knees locked tight.
Meanwhile outside Nan Gong arms crossed, staring at Zhu Yu teared by electronic smoke. “Plans for future?”
Even joking, smiling: “My offer still valid. Whenever you decide—welcome pin that brooch… shelter heartbroken Alpha.”
Brooch taken by Bai Shuzhou—Zhu Yu need not think. Nod perfunctory: “Mm. Okay.”
Nan Gong: “Quick—before war starts—not yet treason.”
Zhu Yu: “…War? When?”
“Maybe tomorrow. Maybe never.” Nan Gong shrugged. “Oh forgot—you have no real power. News slow. Pitiful.”
“See—your news from enemy me. Closest person talks secrets behind your back. Know why? Mixed blood—once war starts pray you always win—or they suspect, abandon, judge you… heh.”
Zhu Yu speechless—soon found hole: “If war really coming—why still here?”
Nan Gong flipped red hair, bright smile: “I like challenge. Never wait to die.”
“Fine. Should leave before your wife comes out—or someone suffers again.” Two fingers wave. “Half Federation blood—free kindness—”
As Feng Jiang pushed door, capsule elevator closed slowly—flamboyant red vanished.
Zhu Yu patted clothes hard—shake Nan Gong’s ill luck off. That night tossed sleepless—those lines echoing in head.
Up there she had backed up much with director access. Some classified needed password—even director—but Yu Yan’s cheat master key.
Zhu Yu held breath, tried meeting room monitor—unexpectedly Feng Jiang no jam. She and Bai Shuzhou’s talk appeared openly center screen.
Two extended hands—malicious scale.
*Zhu Yu or AH-003?*
Zhu Yu saw Bai Shuzhou pale. World silent.
One second. Two.
Woman raised hand—red mole on wrist swayed—
*Slap.*
Before choice—Zhu Yu snapped back under quilt, shut terminal, covered eyes.
World only dark. Sapphire ear stud still faintly aching.