Chapter 8

*A Fleeting Heartbeat*
Curtain open—sun in.
Steam softened the gray hut.
Helan set bowls: “Eat hot—Heming can get more—noodles free refill—eat your fill.”
Bai Shuzhou opened eyes—Helan stalled—
Distant—cold—noble—not unpleasant.
Sky-colored eyes.
“Thank you—for saving me.” Nod—light crisp voice—rare formal.
World quiet a second.
Helan regretted not more beef.
Clean as glazed art on the pillow.
While Zhu Yu fetched noodles—Bai Shuzhou changed—Helan’s old dress—folded bedside.
Zhu Yu didn’t dress her—loose sleepwear style—alone—no help wanted.
Wide cloth—bones finer—wind chime—voice would ring.
Heming small wow—pushed milk—“No thanks! Fairy sis drink—get well!”
“No.” Cold—then—“Thank you.”
Heming lit up.
Helan sent kid out.
Zhu Yu on yard chair—squatting—lonely back.
Bai Shuzhou frown at sight—bully always around—she knew scumbag second-gen guilt.
Door—Zhu Yu looked back—dirty buns in hand—
Bai Shuzhou imagined pitiful pick-up—perform—one bowl—saint act.
Zhu Yu always—
Weak bait—pity hook—class gap gossip—
Face colder—Zhu Yu panic-stuffed dirty bun—swallow—
Bad—unhygienic—
Rinse or peel skin—inside innocent—
Awful—but better than swill cafeteria—
Looked away—chopsticks—fast elegant—no splash—no sound—
Heming outside asking “what’s that good?”—genetic lottery—
Zhu Yu not god-tier—Helan reconciled—
“Sisters have it hard.”
Chopsticks pause.
“Fight?” Glance at leg—dance—low mood normal—
“Life is long—troubles pass—nothing but death matters.”
“When I found you—she held you begging save—never gave up on you.”
“……”
Put down chopsticks—“Done eating.”
Helan noted—not full—vanished bowl—
Weird portion—
“Heming—another bowl—I take Xiaoyu to work.”
To Bai Shuzhou: “Don’t be shy—sick eat more—noodles cheap—enough.”
Nod.
Zhu Yu peek—“Paid already—eat more—”
Off to work—breadwinner—new—nervous—solid.
Single-parent easy life—internship no pay—
Factory huge—white floors—machines hum.
Helan leopard-lead—“niece”—summer job—no ID hassle.
Lunch included—all you can—
Zhu Yu awaited noon.
Uniform—repeat packaging—screws on the machine.
Girl with leaking rock MP3—boring.
Wondered internals—no production access—ads everywhere—greatest blessing—few sips full—
Save time for what?
Life already long—
What’s Bai Shuzhou doing—bored too—
Forgot books—bed only—blacken and kill me—
Shiver—reformed swear—
Bathroom mirror—thunderstruck—
Same face as hers—
How did original play sea scumbag—
Custom mask of her face—nested doll curse—
Nightmare chase explained—
Whistle—lunch queue—
Smile—“New—hi—I’m Xiaoyu—good music taste.”
“Shan.”
One-character names—easy forget—
Lunch is nutrient packs—cheapest—five yuan—overflow flavors sometimes—
“Nutrient” no nutrition—trademark joke—
“Thanks!” agent whisper—
Alpha stamina—only dividend—
Strip—smell—swallow—bread expanding—
Full—eighty-year tube feeding—sixty years shortcut—
Fast life on this diet—
Pay rent debt—little left until palace—
Not safe even then—
Rivals want her dead—
If die—home? warm safe—
Scared thought—pinch wrist—life precious—
Bai Shuzhou waiting—
Original bastard return?
Damn nutrient fluid—ate two more free bags—
Happy flavor maybe drugs—
Helan food pricey—broken hot pot—fixable—
Fist—skill—get rich—
Princess eating slow—stray cat happiness—
They are happiness—
Shan: weird colleague.
Energetic till clock-out—green onion among wilted—
Wilting walk home—crooked alleys vs white factory—
Future disappointing—
Plan toys mood fix fridge saw game—
Too tired—fix hot pot only—
Light in yard—lighthouse—cooking smell—
Adventure for this homecoming—
Helan there too—warm coins pressed—“eat first—”
Complex look—door—mountain of dishes—“Zhu Zhou—”
Fake name—Bai Yu / Zhu Zhou—
Respectful full name—
Pupils shake—
Insult?
Cold figure glance—blinked—accepted.
Discovered—she answered!
Expressionless—“Bai Yu. Come.”
Her surname—her given name.
Boom—heart—buzz—rust—sparks—
Hand on chest—spring winding—
Can’t fix.
Match lit—daughter could have this name—
Herself roasted for flirting—
Ears burn—
Butterfly—grandmother—only kisses—hate her—no daughter possible!!