A Disguised Scum Alpha Marked Her Aloof Ex-Wife - Chapter 27

Bai Shuzhou was utterly exhausted, with even her breathing carrying a heavy, leaden weight.

Zhu Yu was loath to close her eyes, her gaze lingering on her dense, curled eyelashes, seemingly holding her own breath very gently for fear of disturbing that fragile contour.

Only the faint flush on the tip of her nose, tinged by desire or illness, brought a hint of color to the woman’s paper-pale cheeks; after this kiss, which was as light as a feather, she seemed to finally awaken from an ancient black-and-white scroll, her pale blue eyes misty, reflecting Zhu Yu’s small, anxious silhouette.

The kisses that followed were exceptionally soft and gentle. Bai Shuzhou rarely surrendered the dominant position, allowing the girl to explore unpracticedly and slowly, bearing a patience that bordered on indulgence.

Her fingertips clumsily navigated the icy gaps between them, until finally their ten fingers locked tightly, drawing a meager warmth from the other’s palm.

The Dragon race’s body temperature was consistently low, but Zhu Yu felt that the form in her arms tonight was as cold as a piece of chilling jade that could never be warmed.

She did not know what kind of torment she had endured, nor did she know what pain was churning beneath that seemingly calm surface. A thousand words clogged her throat, ultimately dissolving into a deeper, silent rubbing between their lips and teeth that carried a soothing intent.

For the first time, Zhu Yu realized with such immense force that even though she had seen Bai Shuzhou’s life story in text, she remained incredibly a stranger to her.

It was like holding a historical record and looking back; in the long torrent of time, an individual’s joys, anger, sorrows, and delights would become very minuscule.

She would become very powerful, and then what? Would those old past wounds still ache faintly in the silent night?

She had only glimpsed her clear, moonlit future, but knew nothing of her past, knew not how the moon rose, and knew even less… what she was thinking at this moment.

As if perceiving the girl’s sudden drop in emotion, Bai Shuzhou bit down on her lower lip with a modicum of pressure.

It carried absolutely zero threat, resembling instead a prideful cat baring its pink, tender paw pads and delivering a gentle pat.

Her cool voice carried the subtle raspy quality of desire, brushing against her sensitive ear: “Focus.”

When kissing me, you must focus a bit.

A voice like moonlight, laced with a hint of a lazy nasal tone; that solemn tone of admonishment, for Bai Shuzhou’s detached personality, was practically acting spoiled.

Zhu Yu blinked, catching the fleeting grin of satisfaction in her eyes, showing she was clearly very pleased with this kiss.

The tip of her heart softened, and she held her face protectively with both hands, imprinting a softer, pecking kiss.

Schemes and calculations, the rise and fall of the universe, all became distant and negligible at this moment.

Only their pressed body temperatures and intertwined breathing served as the sole anchor for their exhausted souls, convincing her that their two hearts were drawing closer—not merely as a result of pheromones and hormones catalyzed on the night the rut erupted.

Bai Shuzhou gently touched the tips of the girl’s hair, her lowered eyelids suddenly snapping open again, her voice dropping low with a heavy weariness as she systematically analyzed the volatile current situation for her, warning Zhu Yu not to make any response regarding Federal affairs.

Even if it were positive, it could one day become a sword of Damocles hanging high above her head, liable to drop at any moment.

She had already demanded the military department pay attention to the issue of the Zerg proliferation, but clearly, the Imperial nobles born as the ‘leaders of all spirits’ arrogantly believed that mere bugs could not pose much threat to the Empire’s foundation; their enemy from beginning to end was the Federation.

More despicably, certain individuals believed that only through war and plunder could they achieve the fastest primitive accumulation and… consumption.

Bai Shuzhou closed her eyes, knitting her brows, letting out a soft breath, her eyes filled entirely with sorrow.

She said in a soft voice: The Empire is sick.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced circles in Zhu Yu’s palm, breaking down those cold calculations for her bit by bit, like delivering a heavy entrustment.

The complex world was peeled away layer by layer in her calm narration, revealing a clear framework.

For a moment, Zhu Yu felt as though she were already standing at the highest peak looking down at the world, and she herself was her most capable minister—primed, ambitious, merely waiting for her single command.

Yet her monarch was too pale and slender, as breakable as glassware; Zhu Yu couldn’t help but ascend the steps, standing beside her near-offensively, her voice as light as a sigh: “Is your body alright?”

“Just a minor ailment,” Bai Shuzhou paused, her tone as breezy as discussing the weather, raising her hand to pinch Zhu Yu’s nose in an attempt to dispel that gravity.

“It is because I am very strong,” carrying a tiny shred of undetected pride, her entire frame sank into the soft pillows, her silver hair in disarray, her usually sharp contours softened, revealing a rare, fluffy vulnerability.

“My spiritual power is too strong, my physical capacity cannot sustain it. When the container overloads, it overflows, resulting in some chaotic situations. Resting for a period of time will fix it.”

Yet a lingering unease still swirled within Zhu Yu’s heart; she consistently felt something was amiss, yet couldn’t put her finger on it.

In the past, when she sat by the bed, even if Bai Shuzhou ignored people, her tail would gently wrap around her, being far more honest than she herself was; the physical reactions were incredibly cute. Tonight, however, there was zero movement.

She was utterly exhausted, her pulse so weak it was near-impossible to capture, her pale blue eyes flickering in the back-light before slowly closing completely.

It was already Bai Shuzhou’s rest time.

“Let me massage you?” Zhu Yu softened her voice, drawing close to her chilly ear, her warm breath fanning past. “It will feel much better. Sleep; you can only mend your body after a full sleep.”

“No.” She lifted her eyes again, staring fixedly at her.

“I won’t use that,” Zhu Yu knew what she was worried about; using an ability within the Academy of Sciences was indeed highly dangerous, so she nuzzled her, saying softly: “I just want to make you a bit more comfortable, alright?”

The girl’s gentle nuzzling action was too soft, her bright eyes staring at her without blinking, subtly dispelling even the gloom in her heart.

Rationality urged that she should make her leave.

Yet Bai Shuzhou arched an eyebrow, asking despite knowing the answer, her pinky finger poking rather wickedly against the soft flesh of Zhu Yu’s waist, her voice very light: “Which one is that?”

Unspeakable, unmentionable, known only to the two of them.

Zhu Yu grabbed her mischievous hand, and the atmosphere suddenly shifted.

Inquiring about such a private matter with such a cool, official expression sent a tingling itch shooting up from their touching fingertips.

Zhu Yu looked at her slightly upturned lips, wanting to kiss her again; how could she never get enough?

Her lips were too thin, always giving an illusion of sharpness and heartlessness, yet her lips were clearly still tinged with her color, her warmth, shimmering with moisture as she pursed them once.

Ugh, how can she be this beautiful… Zhu Yu swallowed her saliva involuntarily.

Seeing Zhu Yu blush, the woman was highly satisfied, letting out a soft laugh as her icy hand caressed her face, her palm resting fully against her cheek, her fingertips lightly tracing lines.

“Do you have a fever?”

Bai Shuzhou’s freezing hand caressed her burning cheek, her fingertips methodically mapping out its contours, her cool voice thin and crisp.

Deliberately becoming proud and aloof once more, she even leaned back a fraction, those thin lips appearing increasingly plump and moving.

Her distant eyes seemed to write: You are forbidden from kissing me.

You are forbidden from imagining a pink elephant.

You are forbidden from sinking into the soft pillows with me, letting our disordered breathing entwine. The night is too cold; you are forbidden from melting along with me, dripping warm icy water.

Forbidden…

She shouldn’t have come over at this time, and she shouldn’t have indulged like this either.

The more it was forbidden, the wilder the flames of passion grew.

Following the slight hook of her hand, the girl rose into a half-kneeling posture, her long legs supporting her weight, lowering her head devoutly, trying her best not to press against her.

Kneeling not to the gods of the heavens, but solely to her love-desire.

At a certain moment of gentle touch, the woman’s soft arms stiffened for a split second, but she adjusted quickly, her breathing slowing further as a faint aroma of roses dispersed with her exhaled heat.

The slight pain of the wounds intertwined with numbness; gasps that were forbidden from being uttered caused Bai Shuzhou to bite her lip, her clear thoughts drowning briefly.

It was merely a brief drowning and escape; at this moment, she detached herself from endurance and distress, handing her heavily scarred soul over to her lover’s gentle touch to soothe the pain.

Bai Shuzhou undoubtedly disguised herself very well, showcasing only her elegant, proud side.

But when the kisses reached the side of her neck, Zhu Yu suddenly stopped with immense restraint, unwilling to go a step further.

Gradually, wet droplets rolled down.

Bai Shuzhou opened her eyes, freezing slightly, colliding suddenly into a downpour brought by the girl.

Zhu Yu was crying.

It was like a summer night’s rain, sudden and hurried, with no time even for thunder to disturb. Zhu Yu bit her lip, bitter tears crashing down drop by drop.

“Does it hurt a lot?” Zhu Yu asked.

She didn’t continue kissing; instead, she hollowly touched the needle mark on the side of her neck, which, due to the sudden indulgence, was seeping a bead of blood onto her snow-white skin.

Like slicing the most expensive, brilliant ruby through her skin and sewing it on—beautiful and bewitching.

Does it hurt a lot?

It must hurt a lot. Why… won’t you say anything?

Her initial restraint was out of pity for her body, but right now, she was cut deep by the sight before her.

Zhu Yu tremblingly swept aside her scattered long hair, gathering it in her palm, exposing more red marks beneath the light.

There was more than one needle mark, and they were located near her most sensitive, fragile gland. Her loose hair had hidden too many medical tracks—some deep, some shallow, winding and vanishing into the depths of the sheets.

Those were wounds she had meticulously hidden, which even a heavy snowfall could not mask, pretending to be nonchalant, pretending to be at ease.

Bai Shuzhou’s skin was highly sensitive, easily leaving marks with a light touch; Zhu Yu knew an Omega’s constitution was unique, their senses many times more acute than an ordinary person’s.

Pleasure would be magnified, and pain would be magnified too.

That day at Paradis, a single injection had already been unendurable for Zhu Yu; when the needle pierced her gland, it felt as if a part of her soul had been punctured along with it, continuously leaking outward.

Lying helplessly at this moment, her hidden guidance during passion, immersing her entire senses into the drowning of a kiss… were all her sole floating log against the boundless pain.

When her lips brushed lightly against hers, Bai Shuzhou’s throat trembled; she shivered but didn’t dodge, closing her eyes instead to feel with her heart.

Her pale blue eyes plunged into darkness, feeling her lover’s kiss.

Even without the treatment of an ability, merely embracing and kissing could soothe the pain.

Even when discussing the ancient blood feud between the Empire and the Federation, Bai Shuzhou had always been highly restrained, using many neutral words to describe it rationally and detachedly; yet at this very moment, all her affection and senses seemed to be poured into her kiss with Zhu Yu.

It was a venting, a drowning, a silent tremor buried deep within the pain.

And her suppression, her pain, her minor pauses and gasps… were all captured by Zhu Yu.

Zhu Yu’s tears flowed for her pain, and also for her own slowness.

In this sea of bitterness named Bai Shuzhou, she was like a little fish leaping out of the waters of pleasure, stubbornly weeping for her wounds.

The tears were hers, yet the pain felt etched into her own bones and blood, making it impossible to separate one from the other anymore.

Bai Shuzhou endured the pain with her most relaxed posture, tapping her lips, “I’m fine. Continue.”

When a person is at their most vulnerable, they instinctively crave intimacy, coveting that temporary numbness and warmth.

Yet Zhu Yu remained entirely ignorant of everything happening to her body.

Just like waking up that morning to find Bai Shuzhou already gone; she was always so fiercely independent, sustaining everything alone.

“Can you let me see your wounds? Should I go call a doctor?”

“Aren’t we lovers? Tell me; I want to share your burdens too. Don’t keep everything to yourself…”

After a brief silence, gently, Bai Shuzhou actually broke into a laugh.

She made a move to kiss her again, entirely disregarding the bead of blood rolling down her neck, only lifting her eyes slightly after being stopped by Zhu Yu. “No. I don’t want to talk about this.”

It wasn’t a direct silence, but “I don’t want to talk about this.”

This was already a concession—tentative, bearing the weary acting spoiled of a child.

But Zhu Yu failed to comprehend this complex compromise.

She merely captured that tiny softening, hurriedly pulling away the blanket to verify her safety, just as she had done back in the rented house, checking her injuries.

The boundaries between them were already very blurred; from massaging to caretaking, they didn’t need to be separated by a blanket—skin rubbing against skin, smooth and comfortable, would yield better results.

But the action of pulling the blanket offensively crossed the final boundary of defense.

“Don’t move!”

Cold air abruptly bored into her skin, exposing those wounds that hadn’t had time to heal to the air without warning.

Bai Shuzhou’s pupils shrank sharply, her vertical pupil becoming exceptionally sharp; her body stiffened violently, a broken low growl carrying the panic of a young beast escaping her throat: “Don’t look at me.”

Her cool voice was exceptionally hoarse now, as if mixed with gravel, carrying an uncontrollable tremble. The sudden drop in pitch caused the temperature of the entire room to turn freezing.

Zhu Yu hadn’t expected her reaction to be so massive; the injuries she failed to see clearly instead left her heart increasingly insecure, hammering frantically. If she applied even a shred of force, she could tear it open again; the current frail Bai Shuzhou simply could not refuse.

Yet the woman’s eyes were rimmed with red, flashing with a startled, humiliated light, unwilling to be seen.

It was as if some defense mechanism had been triggered, but she no longer possessed the strength to raise her sharp thorns and protect herself; she could only clutch the corner of the blanket fiercely, her knuckles straining until they were white, her body convulsing slightly without control.

Wrong… wrong… Her thoughts cleared briefly, and she looked at her trembling hands in some disbelief.

As if suddenly realizing something, Bai Shuzhou parted her bloodless lips, wanting to say something to Zhu Yu, but this clear consciousness was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool—squeezing out only a few broken syllables before being swiftly swallowed by a fog of complete chaos.

She looked terrible.

“I’m sorry—” Zhu Yu was a bit at a loss.

Bai Shuzhou lifted her face, a dense cold sweat surfacing on her forehead, grit her teeth with her final strength and said: “Get out!”

Her tone was absolute and indisputable, exactly like the absolute control when she pulled her close at the very beginning, yet right now it was deployed to push her violently away.

The piercing call bell rang. A Snow Leopard Knight appeared like a ghost, forcefully “escorting” a soul-less Zhu Yu out.

The distance between them continuously widened, the air filled with the scent of disinfectant; Zhu Yu finally noticed that the soft, grand bed resembled a lonely island more than anything.

There were no shoes by the bedside, no wheelchair, no… freedom.

The tear tracks on her face were not dry yet, and the places touched by Bai Shuzhou still felt numb and painful as if burning; that shared feeling transformed into a physical blade at this moment, grinding over her heart repeatedly.

Because within her lover, that unbearable pain was particularly obvious.

She loathed her own belated realization, actually letting Bai Shuzhou endure alone for so long.

Zhu Yu wanted to break free from the Snow Leopard Knight’s control; she couldn’t leave like this!

But the moment she stepped out the door, an overwhelming aura of seawater surged forward, nearly swallowing Zhu Yu whole.

The girl’s knees went soft, and she only avoided a pathetic stumble by leaning on the Snow Leopard Knight’s grip. Lifting her eyes, she met a pair of deep blue eyes looking down at her with absolute disgust.

It was… Bai Qianze.

She had actually been waiting here the entire time!

Her brain was blasted into a complete blank by the Emperor’s terrifying pressure; fear originating from instinct caused Zhu Yu’s body to react before her thoughts, swiftly bowing as she heard herself call out with utmost respect: “Emperor.”

Melno stood not far away, one hand tucked behind her back.

The Emperor looked down indifferently, her gaze sharp as an icicle, her pure contempt physical.

An invisible spiritual power churned, far more lethal than Iselia’s outward-leaking killing intent; it silently compressed the air, bringing a suffocating sensation of impending death.

—Waste.

This word did not need to be declared aloud; it was already clearly engraved within each of her icy gazes.

“What can you even do right?” Bai Qianze’s voice sounded like jade striking stone, bearing a metallic coldness and mockery.

The moment their gazes intersected, Zhu Yu saw clearly the completely heatless amusement in those eyes, as well as the settled, undisguised murderous intent. It was not an angry warning, but a command issued casually, like brushing away a grain of dust.

She could kill her easily, as long as she wished.

That hand symbolizing supreme authority rose elegantly, drawing near Zhu Yu.

At the critical final second, the Emperor’s gaze swept over Zhu Yu’s tightly clenched fist, catching clearly the ring on her finger reflecting a blood-colored halo.

That was a gift she had given to Bai Shuzhou, yet right now it was worn on Zhu Yu’s hand.

“Tsk.” A light scoff filled with supreme loathing and disgust.

“Merely a plaything.” Bai Qianze withdrew her hand, knitting her brows as if she had touched something filthy, disdaining to spare another glance as she turned and pushed open the door to enter.

Zhu Yu still wanted to follow, but was forcibly yanked back by Melno, who asked in a low voice: “Are you that eager to die?”

Before the door could close, within the silent corridor, Zhu Yu heard very clearly Bai Shuzhou utter a call laced with a low cry: “Royal Sister…”

Alarm bells blared wildly within Zhu Yu’s heart; Bai Shuzhou’s anomalous condition and Bai Qianze’s overwhelming, tyrannical aura seemed to interweave into some ominous omen.

Disregarding Melno’s restraint, she used every ounce of her strength to break free.

Don’t bully her—even if you’re her sister, it’s forbidden!!

The door was slammed open. The anticipated hostile stand-off did not appear; the scene inside the room was entirely different from what Zhu Yu had imagined.

Inside the room, Bai Qianze was carefully cradling Bai Shuzhou in her arms in a dominant, protective posture, like guarding a breakable treasure.

With one hand she held a water cup, and with the other she was patiently feeding pills one by one to her sister’s pale lips.

At this moment, the Emperor had shed all her sharp edges, leaving behind only a near-obsessive, silent guardianship.

Yet this tender scene filled Zhu Yu with an unspeakable terror.

Her intrusion undoubtedly disturbed this bizarre tranquility, and Bai Shuzhou lifted her head at the sound. Her gaze crossed her sister’s shoulder, landing squarely upon Zhu Yu.

Within those pale blue eyes, there was no longer a single trace of the confusion and pain from moments ago, nor was there the deep affection from the past.

Leaving behind only a… through-and-through hollow coldness.

She even instinctively shrank deeper into Bai Qianze’s warm embrace.

Sensing her sister’s discomfort, the frost that had just thawed across Bai Qianze’s features froze instantly once more, her murderous intent growing thicker.

She slowly lifted her chin, her deep blue eyes locking onto Zhu Yu who stood frozen at the doorway, filled entirely with displeasure over her territory being violated.

“Get out. Do you want to hurt her again?”

“…”

Ah. Zhu Yu stood frozen at the doorway, her breathing entirely disordered.

Clearly, not long ago they were still kissing, yet right now the look Bai Shuzhou gave her seemed to have reverted to the very beginning—cold and wary.

No—it was worse. Those hollow eyes didn’t even hold hatred anymore.