A Disguised Scum Alpha Marked Her Aloof Ex-Wife - Chapter 44

You want… me?

When those words fell into Zhu Yu’s ears, the effect was no less than fireworks exploding in her heart. It was not a scorching heat, but a tingling numbness that shot from her tailbone all the way to the crown of her head, even making her fingertips tremble uncontrollably.

Yet Bai Shuzhou, who had said those words, still looked as calm as a lake covered in thin ice, aside from that faint trace of a smile.

Her fingertips were still clasped around Zhu Yu’s wrist, her knuckles pale and cold. The curve of her lowered lashes was neat to the point of indifference. Only when her ending tone lifted softly did a nearly imperceptible softness leak out.

Like a lighthouse standing motionless in a storm, wrapped in a cold aura that warned strangers away, yet deliberately curving her lips at this little fish floundering in panic, drawing her toward even more turbulent undercurrents.

After losing her memory, Bai Shuzhou was still cool and indifferent, but occasionally, sharpness would show through—from the corners of her eyes, from her lips. Soft and fragile, yet condensed into the sharpest thorn, swaying with pride and ambition. That dangerous aura radiating from her bones enticed people closer, yet made them willingly drown there.

The gently rising ending tone made it a question, and her faintly smiling voice seemed to already know the answer.

But she insisted on waiting. Waiting for Zhu Yu to say it herself. Waiting for the young woman to wear that deliberately calm face, like a little country dog voluntarily exposing its belly, whimpering as she turned in circles in Bai Shuzhou’s palm.

“If you don’t want it, forget it.” Seeing Zhu Yu stay silent for a long time, Bai Shuzhou deliberately loosened her grip.

Zhu Yu had already been lightly hanging in front of her, and with that, she dropped half an inch. The tip of her nose instantly flushed red enough to drip blood, even the roots of her ears dyed scarlet.

She finally panicked. Her fingertips abruptly tightened, gripping Bai Shuzhou’s wrist and refusing to let go, the pads of her fingers turning faintly white from the force.

Zhu Yu bit her lower lip hard, frantically suppressing the pheromones about to spill out.

She felt like a dying piece of wood drenched in spring rain. Clearly, she had already grown used to barrenness in the first half of her life, yet when Bai Shuzhou passed by, even rotten wood would desperately want to bloom into an entire summer.

She wanted splendor, wanted full bloom, wanted to hold all her blazing warmth before this person.

Not only…

I want you.

I want you… to love me.

This sentence rolled over her tongue countless times, but “love” seemed even harder to say aloud than the gasps of desire.

She thought of the half jade pendant Bai Shuzhou had taken back earlier, thought of all those unspoken probes, and in the end still swallowed the words down.

Bai Shuzhou’s brows gently furrowed. The young woman’s hesitation, that tiny motion of pressing her tongue against her teeth, instantly turned Bai Shuzhou’s teasing mood into an indescribable frustration.

She had already hinted this actively. How could Zhu Yu still not understand? What exactly was she thinking?

Zhu Yu keenly sensed her displeasure, and her heart leapt into her throat. What made her panic even more was that Bai Shuzhou’s fingertips had already started to withdraw. One step slower, and this hard-won ambiguous atmosphere would become sticky and cloying like candy melting in summer.

Don’t let go. Don’t give up on me!

In her urgency, Zhu Yu’s palm suddenly lit with a layer of fine golden light. Then a flower bud no bigger than a fingernail trembled as it peeked out from the glow.

The edges of the petals were still tinged green, and even the thorns on the stem were soft. They lightly poked Bai Shuzhou’s wrist like a small animal’s paw scratching once.

The two of them, locked in stalemate, both froze and stared at this newborn flower.

A familiar scent, belonging to Bai Shuzhou.

This was a rose, yet it was far too tender, completely incomparable to those bouquets in passionate full bloom.

Zhu Yu…

Had bloomed.

When confessing, one should have a bouquet.

Zhu Yu had planned it several times and failed several times. Until this moment, she finally bloomed a tiny bud.

The bud was thin and small, as if the lightest poke of a finger could snap it.

The feeling of mental power condensing into physical form was too wondrous. This flower also seemed to be a part of Zhu Yu, timid and uneasy, its soft heart still hidden deep within, wrapped in layer after layer.

Too small. Although it was born in her palm, it was not presentable.

Bai Shuzhou’s roses were so beautiful that only the finest brushstrokes of an oil painting could capture them. But this one that Zhu Yu had bloomed seemed like wild grass growing by the roadside; if one did not look closely, one could hardly identify the variety.

This was a physical form condensed from her mental power. It was the feeling she had squeezed out with all her might after swallowing Bai Shuzhou’s pheromones.

And it had become this pitifully small flower.

“…”

Zhu Yu nervously opened her hand, holding up the flower, utterly at a loss.

The flower was also at a loss, the outermost leaves hugging its head.

But in the next second, Bai Shuzhou’s fingertips gently touched that uneasy little leaf.

The coolness of her fingertip traveled through the petal, and Zhu Yu’s heartbeat suddenly skipped.

It was very difficult for mental power to materialize. Only very few people could do it.

Even Bai Shuzhou had deliberately practiced countless times before she succeeded.

But Zhu Yu had never learned. It was her body’s instinctive reaction, her desire to place “I like you” before Bai Shuzhou in the most direct way.

Zhu Yu was growing too quickly, too astonishingly. It made Bai Shuzhou happy, yet also faintly worried.

Most of her memories had been erased, but she vaguely remembered that she had never taught Zhu Yu this.

Could someone really reach this point without a teacher?

Bai Shuzhou fell into thought, and a faint layer of white mist seemed to veil her cool brows again.

Her silence made Zhu Yu panic even more. The hand holding the flower bud trembled lightly, and the bud also drooped listlessly, unable to support the full weight of her expectation and joy.

But just as she was about to take her hand back, Bai Shuzhou suddenly raised her hand and gently held that flower bud.

As if she were holding Zhu Yu too.

Pale white light seeped from Bai Shuzhou’s fingertips into the petals bit by bit, like morning dew slowly soaking through the drooping petals.

The flower bud seemed to feel the warmth too. It swayed lightly, and the tightly closed petals actually opened a tiny crack.

Bai Shuzhou accepted it, her movements gentle as though she were receiving the most precious treasure in the world.

Even if this little flower was not beautiful, and did not shine like a jewel.

Zhu Yu: ……!

“For me?” Bai Shuzhou asked.

“Ah, mm!” Zhu Yu had to use a great deal of strength to find her voice again.

Through that flower, she could clearly feel the temperature of Bai Shuzhou’s fingertips. It was very light, yet inexplicably reassuring.

That was her mental power. A part of her. And at this moment, Bai Shuzhou was carefully holding it in her palm.

In Bai Shuzhou’s hand, the flower bud became more and more vivid. The petals opened a little further, and even the stem stood straighter, as though proudly announcing its own existence.

It had quite the air of a little flower gaining success.

“I like it very much,” Bai Shuzhou said softly.

Zhu Yu looked at it and suddenly remembered the roses she had touched unintentionally before… Those roses had been bright and passionate, with sweet dew floating on the petals. She had not thought much about it at the time, but now, feeling Bai Shuzhou’s gentle touch, she suddenly realized that things condensed from mental power seemed to be able to share sensation with the original body.

Then before, those roses…

Zhu Yu’s face instantly flushed again, and she did not dare think further. But the more she restrained herself, the clearer those images became.

Bai Shuzhou had never told her about this.

An Omega’s body was more sensitive. Zhu Yu slowly realized that although Bai Shuzhou seemed older and had always occupied the dominant position, she was also secretly suppressing her own fragility, never letting Zhu Yu see.

The woman’s magnetic voice was often hoarse enough to burn, soft hums spilling between her lips and teeth. When her proud eyes swept over Zhu Yu in a haze, even at her most unbearable, she merely called Zhu Yu’s name in a low voice, or left teeth marks on the places she liked.

So, so cute…!

The young woman’s emotions were written clearly all over her face.

Bai Shuzhou lightly poked the flower bud, and Zhu Yu’s cheeks reddened another shade. Her fingertips brushed over the petals, and Zhu Yu’s brows and eyes curved, like a large dog whose fur had been stroked smooth, its tail nearly wagging.

Idiot.

She had actually separated out her mental power without holding anything back.

Once the connection was broken, she would be unable to control it. Zhu Yu was already bad at this to begin with.

She had eaten Bai Shuzhou’s pheromones, then exhaled and returned them without reservation, even sending a part of herself back along with them.

If Bai Shuzhou crushed this flower now, Zhu Yu’s sea of consciousness would be directly attacked too.

Bai Shuzhou fell into a brief silence. She suddenly became very curious. What kind of family, what kind of environment, had raised Zhu Yu into this kind of personality?

It was as if she had grown up in a greenhouse, completely unguarded against the malice of the outside world. She had strong empathy and was very easy to deceive.

Even if Bai Shuzhou ate her clean right now, this idiot might even thank her.

Bai Shuzhou gently stroked the flower and casually proposed increasing the compensation for Zhu Yu’s “services.” Sure enough, the young woman’s face turned bright red, and she waved her hands repeatedly, saying there was no need to be so polite.

Ah. “Polite.” That wording was not good either. Awkward and distant.

But Bai Shuzhou had shown that she liked it. She liked Zhu Yu’s pheromones, liked her ability, liked…

Zhu Yu began to float a little.

She also did not want to look so useless, so her gaze drifted toward a certain spot, and she seriously pretended to observe it.

The floating screen was broadcasting military news. Not long ago, Zhu Yu’s face had also appeared on it.

Bai Shuzhou looked at Zhu Yu’s side profile, her fingertip lightly poking the petals on and off, then suddenly asked, “Do you still want to go back?”

“Back where?” Zhu Yu’s heart tightened. In this world, she did not have anywhere she could go back to.

“The military.”

“I’ve looked over your combat achievements. They’re excellent. If I keep you trapped by my side, it seems a little unfair to you.”

Rumors always contained exaggerations and baseless claims. Bai Shuzhou treated those romantic scandals as though she had not seen them, cold-faced. But military reports could not be falsified.

Bai Shuzhou had read the detailed data for every battle Zhu Yu had fought, including her grades when she had first entered military academy.

Zhu Yu should be very ambitious. She was more diligent than anyone.

She had made up for the gap in talent with sweat, and that was what had created the true Star of the Common People.

Military authority was the heart of political power. The power vacuum Zhu Yu had yielded had already been seized by many parties.

Bai Shuzhou was no exception.

Perhaps Zhu Yu’s physique was indeed strong enough, but she did not understand political schemes. Things one could not protect were better handed over early.

When drafting the agreement with Zhu Yu, Bai Shuzhou had already thought of who should take over those vacancies. Before losing her memories, she had left behind many hidden stakes, all of which needed an opportunity to develop.

No one was willing to share power.

If Zhu Yu was obedient enough, Bai Shuzhou did not mind keeping her properly at her side, giving her some insignificant sweetness within the range she could control.

Originally, that was what Bai Shuzhou had planned.

What was more, Zhu Yu’s ability was practically born for her. She should hold on to her even more firmly.

She had already made mistakes years ago, resulting in a series of disasters. If she could coax Zhu Yu into completely curing her…

An individual’s sacrifice was not worth mentioning before grand destiny.

But Bai Shuzhou had already wasted too much time in hospital rooms. She knew very well that sense of powerlessness and pain, that feeling of being hollowed out and having ambitions that could not be reached.

She was very curious. If it was Zhu Yu, would there be a new possibility?

If Zhu Yu truly was loyal enough, and could also stabilize the military… of course that would be even better.

The young woman scratched her head and answered with a smile, “Ha, ha, ha! I’m not that amazing!”

It carried sincere foolishness.

Bai Shuzhou regretted it again.

She could not bear to give up power, and she could not bear to give up this flower either.

It was even so young and inexperienced that it had not yet bloomed and understood nothing.

If it rashly entered the chessboard, even if it was useful, it would only become cannon fodder.

Bai Shuzhou gently shook her head, as if trying to persuade herself. “Healing ability users are not suited for the military.”

In truth, the earliest research on ability users had been for the sake of cultivating war machines. If such an ability could be used on the battlefield, the effect would be astonishing.

But healing types were not suited.

Using a sensitive heart to face endless slaughter was too painful.

In the end, she would learn that she could not save anyone.

Bai Shuzhou’s aura sank. That coldness seemed to seep from her very bones. Even with a faint expression, sorrow would still flow out from the corners of her eyes.

Zhu Yu could not bear seeing her like this most. Her heart felt pinched, and she hurriedly bent forward, tilting her head close to Bai Shuzhou’s face. The tip of her nose nearly touched the woman’s chin as she said warmly:

“It is suited. How would you know if you don’t try?”

“It can heal yourself, and it’s also more sensitive. If you ask me, healing types are the most suited for the battlefield.”

“You can tell just by looking at my combat record.” Zhu Yu guiltily boasted, “Although some parts are exaggerated.”

Before love, she floated. She had also become vain, pulling out the original body’s great banner to shield her lover from a little light.

Her “modesty” was like the tiny line in the corner of an instant noodle packet: promotional image for reference only.

“And life and death are relative,” she thought, then added another sentence. “I am immortal. The evidence is that I’ve never died!”

Such a terrible joke became even colder when spoken by Zhu Yu.

But Bai Shuzhou still laughed.

Her gaze moved slightly, and she pinched Zhu Yu’s face. It felt even better than the flower. Soft and warm, making one unable to resist pinching a few more times.

Zhu Yu’s face grew even redder, but she still gathered the courage to rub against Bai Shuzhou’s fingertips.

“I can help you, no matter what you want. After all, I’m your knight—”

She might not be that good at fighting, but she could do maintenance, logistics, or research and development. Those were important too, right?

It just so happened that the Empire was also testing mechas.

Only testing, not participating in actual combat.

People from the military had looked for her several times, but Melno had blocked them.

However, those people were also in her contacts and had sent her messages, so Zhu Yu still knew about it.

Zhu Yu was not very clear about those twists and turns. She naturally felt that Bai Shuzhou was worried she would be injured, which was why she did not want her to return to the military.

She’s so good, sob sob. Even sick in bed, she’s still thinking of protecting me.

“I won’t disappoint you.” She lifted her head and looked at Bai Shuzhou. Her tone carried the unique certainty and clarity of youth, so full of vitality. “You can also rely on me… a little more.”

On the floating screen, the news was still faintly broadcasting. War and conflict seemed very far away from this warm hospital room.

At this moment, Zhu Yu’s heart and eyes were full of Bai Shuzhou. Naively, she believed that sincerity could overcome everything. As long as they were still together, all difficulties could be solved.