A Disguised Scum Alpha Marked Her Aloof Ex-Wife - Chapter 5

A good while passed.

Zhu Yu pushed the door open and entered. Relying on her glib tongue and persistent pestering, she had successfully convinced Helan to give her a few days’ grace period. Helan had even given her several supplies and introduced her to a few part-time jobs through acquaintances; she should be able to repay the debt soon.

This was great—it was practically a job placement service.

Zhu Yu pumped a fist silently and shouted toward Helan’s receding back: “Thank you! Once my sister recovers, we will definitely come over to thank you properly!”

Bai Shuzhou opened her eyes to see Zhu Yu cradling a fresh pile of bottles and jars. It seemed that even that resolute, beautiful “Mama” had been bewitched by her honeyed words.

Zhu Yu was always like this.

She always relied on that harmless face to listen quietly while weaving a dense web in her heart, meticulously designing scams, acting spoiled, or selling a sob story. She would use any means necessary to achieve her goals.

Even she had been fooled by her.

As soon as Zhu Yu turned her head, she saw those pale blue eyes staring at her. Her own eyes lit up instantly: “You’re awake!”

She rushed to the bedside, desperately wanting to give Bai Shuzhou a hug. In this strange world, this was the only person she was even remotely familiar with. She reached out, only to remember her image wasn’t exactly favorable. She sniffled, suppressing her tears, and tucked her hands behind her back.

“How do you feel? Is anything hurting?”

Bai Shuzhou remained expressionless, a chill emanating from her narrow eyes. Her tone was airy and light. “Why aren’t you calling me ‘Sister’ anymore?”

She was naturally gifted with a cold, clear voice; even her sarcastic remarks sounded like shards of ice clinking together.

Zhu Yu tilted her head, not quite catching her meaning. A smile blossomed on her lips first, and the little bird in her heart chirped happily, flying out clearly through her gaze:

Is it okay?

Is it really okay to call you that?

The happy little bird flew upward—and crashed straight into a brick wall.

The pale blue eyes showed no emotional fluctuation; they were as cold as a block of ice. Then she closed them, every eyelash written with distance and loathing.

Zhu Yu belatedly understood Bai Shuzhou’s meaning. She pinched her wrist and explained in a small voice: “When traveling, it’s safer to use a fake identity. That way, if those bad people come looking, it won’t be as easy to find us.”

Bai Shuzhou remained silent. Zhu Yu quietly observed her expression before adding: “Besides… don’t you want a divorce anyway?”

The original owner had fought tooth and nail to climb up to the Princess and refused to divorce. Legally, they had to pass through a “divorce cooling-off period” and a second confirmation before the relationship could be officially dissolved.

Truly anti-human.

Zhu Yu was worried that claiming a “wife-and-wife” relationship would offend Bai Shuzhou. After all, the original owner had done so many unforgivable things to her; that bond was clearly a shackle, not a saving grace.

She supported the divorce with both hands and feet! She wanted to give Bai Shuzhou back her freedom.

Not only was the original owner unworthy of her, but even the later characters—the foxy Prime Minister of the South, the high-spirited childhood friend General… Zhu Yu felt none of them were good enough for Bai Shuzhou.

She was the bright moon, destined to be looked up to by all living beings.

Those bumpy, mistaken romances were merely pits of varying depths on her road to success.

The original owner was Bai Shuzhou’s first wife, and her first whetstone.

Zhu Yu had no desire to repeat those mistakes, nor did she want to die. Bai Shuzhou didn’t need to suffer to grow; they could avoid all of it.

The woman remained expressionless, looking as if she had fallen asleep, one finger pressed against her temple. Only when she heard the word “divorce” did she tremble slightly. Her lips curled into a mocking smile, very light and faint.

The moment we reach a new environment, she’s already this impatient?

“Someone wants to harm you,” Zhu Yu swallowed and hurriedly added, “But that person isn’t me!”

“I’m sorry for the things in the past, but I swear, I have nothing to do with those nobles who showed up. They knew you were on the ship and they still fired missiles…”

Bai Shuzhou was brilliant; she couldn’t have failed to realize this.

Zhu Yu lowered her voice: “How can I contact your people? I suspect there are traitors in the military and the nobility. Don’t be afraid, I will definitely work hard to get you home.”

The girl cupped her hand like a megaphone and whispered secrets to her. The warm breath made the tip of Bai Shuzhou’s ear go numb. Bai Shuzhou frowned and leaned further inward.

Originally, the Empress was uneasy about her coming to the border in person. It was Zhu Yu who had led a group of officers to support the idea and pushed for this trip.

The sudden heat, the Zerg attack… all the “accidents” were too coincidental. Countless eyes were fixed on them. The beneficiaries stayed silent, waiting to tear off a bloody chunk of flesh before they would be satisfied.

There were too many precedents. She didn’t believe a single word out of Zhu Yu’s mouth. She feared this was just another farce born of a dispute over dividing the spoils.

Her sister was right: the world outside was dangerous. Sincerity didn’t exist; everything was just an exchange of interests.

She was also just a link in that chain of interest.

Bai Shuzhou’s eyes dimmed. When she moved, she accidentally aggravated her wounds. She bit her lip, sucking in a low breath of cold air and swallowing a moan of pain.

Zhu Yu perked up her ears and immediately pulled out the pills Helan had given her. But as she held them out, she hesitated. Medicine from these small clinics was likely very strong and might contain hormones. It was one thing for her to take them with her robust constitution, but what if there were side effects for Bai Shuzhou?

Alphas generally had powerful physiques. In just this short amount of time, the wounds on Zhu Yu’s arms had already begun to heal significantly.

In contrast, Bai Shuzhou was deathly pale. Zhu Yu could almost see the faint blue veins beneath her fair skin, pulsing gently with her suppressed breathing.

Zhu Yu asked, “Let me wash you up a bit first, and then I’ll treat your wounds?”

On these ruins, her so-called “ability” was unusable for some reason. She was truly terrified that Bai Shuzhou would simply die.

“…”

Bai Shuzhou watched as Zhu Yu took out the medicine only to put it back with great reluctance, stuffing it into her pocket like a thief. She was so angry she almost laughed.

She closed her eyes, her expression faint as if a gust of wind could blow her away. Her thin back traced the lines of beautiful butterfly bones, resting upon a silent body. She was interested in nothing and gave no response. Zhu Yu couldn’t help but soften her voice:

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as a ‘yes.’ If it feels uncomfortable, just say so. I’ll be careful.”

Zhu Yu meticulously scrubbed a basin clean and brought over a bowl of hot water. The towel was also a friendly gift from Helan—a brand new “cartoon kitten” design in pink, which He Ming had deemed too childish.

She tested the water temperature with the back of her hand and began by wiping Bai Shuzhou’s face.

The warm, gentle sensation brushed across her cheek, causing Bai Shuzhou’s long lashes to flutter.

She was like a piece of rare porcelain; as the dust was wiped away, the dilapidated shack seemed to brighten. She opened her eyes indifferently; those pale blue eyes were the perfect embellishment, surpassing all the world’s brilliant jewels.

However, as the clothes were removed, shocking cracks appeared on the “porcelain,” snaking down into deeper places.

Omegas were mostly very sensitive. They had soft skin and soft hearts; even a small bump could leave a bruise.

But the wounds on Bai Shuzhou’s body were clearly different.

They looked like surgical scars left by sharp blades—marks that remained even after healing, aching faintly during rainy seasons over the years.

Bai Shuzhou was originally the most gifted Princess of the Empire. Her first spiritual test as a child had reached 3S. The peak many couldn’t reach in a lifetime was merely her insignificant starting point.

But she had suffered a major illness in her childhood. Her dragon wings had broken, and she could never fly again. Since then, she had been stuck in a slump, and that rare disease persisted, recurring frequently.

That was when she started to love ballet.

Since she lost the sky, she would dance on the land.

But… but now her legs were injured. Perhaps she would never again stand on that stage she was so proud of.

Zhu Yu’s fingers trembled mid-air, tracing the scars without touching them. It was as if she could feel the sharp, white blade slicing through the skin, the blood gushing out… it hurt so much.

Bai Shuzhou rarely spoke of this traumatic past, only lifting a corner of the veil in the dead of night. But the Zhu Yu of that time had listened half-heartedly, even intentionally kissing those scars. Her lips had brushed against the once-endured pain as she laughed lowly, her voice raspy:

“So beautiful.”

She had traced the pale pink scars inch by inch with her slightly calloused fingertips, speaking in an ambiguous, teasing tone. “Is this where the roses grow from?”

Bai Shuzhou couldn’t help but shudder, clenching her teeth to swallow any sign of weakness.

It was a tiny movement, but Zhu Yu noticed immediately. She lightened her touch and coaxed softly, “I’m sorry. I’ll do my best to heal you.”

She was very good at fixing things—broken alarm clocks, phones, stalled machinery. A few repairs made for a new day.

If she had to find a reason for this mysterious transmigration, perhaps she came here specifically to heal her.

Zhu Yu carefully unwound the gauze. The long, slender legs—rudely smeared with red antiseptic—were a bloody mess at the knees. The dancer’s most precious legs were mangled, the joints slightly distorted.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It must hurt so much…”

Bai Shuzhou looked down. Her indifferent eyes reflected the girl’s reddened nose. Zhu Yu carefully placed both hands over the wounds. The familiar warm light seeped through the cracks between her fingers—faint and light like fireflies.

She was the one who pushed me off the high platform. She was the one who caused the Zerg to bite me.

What is this hypocritical mourning supposed to be now? She is always like this, putting on a nauseating performance.

Bai Shuzhou’s pale blue eyes remained ripple-less, flickering with a hint of cynical hatred. It didn’t hurt. These legs, specifically, had no pain—she could no longer feel their existence at all.

She had once pursued ultimate control over her body. Thousands of practice sessions and dances were no match for Zhu Yu’s gentle push.

She could always destroy the things she cared about most with such ease.

Abilities originated from spiritual power. If the deep spiritual repair hadn’t coincidentally felt similar to the connection during a heat cycle, would she have had to wag her tail like a dog, begging her to release pheromones and comfort her?

After a long silence, Bai Shuzhou finally spoke: “Are you satisfied now?”

The girl looked up, a hint of joy in her eyes because she was finally willing to talk: “What?”

“Now, I am a complete cripple,” Bai Shuzhou looked straight into her eyes. “Just like you.”

The Empire chose beastification; the Federation chose high technology. Humanity had chosen two completely different paths toward the future.

Zhu Yu was a product of the brief honeymoon period between the Empire and the Federation. As a mixed-blood, she had no beast form and could not transform. In an Empire that worshipped martial strength and bloodlines, she was no different from someone with a congenital disability.

Bai Shuzhou repeated: “Are you satisfied now?”

The girl looked up at her. It took her a moment to process the meaning of those words. Her mouth opened and closed before she finally whispered: “I’m sorry.”

Bai Shuzhou was tired of hearing this mechanical apology. She closed her eyes in disgust.

Zhu Yu stopped talking as well. The light in her palms grew thicker, almost solidifying into a physical substance, flowing continuously into those shocking wounds.

She gave it her all, squeezing out her spiritual power like juicing a lemon. Her pressed lips grew paler and paler.

The bloody flesh wounds were healing, but she gradually felt a chill emanating from deep within Bai Shuzhou’s body, greedily swallowing energy like a black hole.

She is seriously injured…

Zhu Yu grit her teeth, wanting to push a little harder. This meager energy was merely a drop in the ocean.

Her spiritual power was already nearly exhausted; she was now at the end of her rope, her slender frame swaying precariously.

“Enough!”

The woman suddenly lifted her eyes and grabbed her wrist, forcefully cutting off the light. She said coldly, “Is self-indulgent drama that much fun for you?”

“Even if you die here right now, it won’t help me at all.”

The girl hung her head dejectedly like a puppy. She put the towel back in the basin, scrubbed it a few times, and turned to leave.

Bai Shuzhou closed her eyes, leaning against the only pillow. She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly. It was a long time before she loosened her grip on her palms.

Just wait a little longer. My sister will definitely find me as quickly as possible.

Her original communication device had been violently torn off by Zhu Yu and crushed under her heel right in front of her. The red marks on her wrists where she had been restrained still hadn’t faded.

The sound of clinking and clanging came from outside. Bai Shuzhou’s limp fingers couldn’t help but twitch before tightening again.

She only pretended for a moment before she started acting crazy again? As expected…

Outside.

Zhu Yu had cleared a space in the yard. She briefly categorized the mountain-like piles of discarded appliances and junk. Things fell from the high piles with a thud, and she only avoided a screw hitting her head thanks to her quick reflexes.

Most of it was scrap junk, along with some broken, old parts. But she could fix them! By picking and choosing, she could gather plenty of treasures. This was like putting a mouse in a grain bin.

Sister Helan is such a great person!

When the sound of banging stopped, the girl’s footsteps vanished as well. The sky gradually grew dark.

Bai Shuzhou was left alone in the dim room. The newspaper pasted on the walls faintly traced the silhouette of a draft.

At dusk, it was often quiet enough to hear one’s own heartbeat.

Bai Shuzhou looked at the window, which held a thin trace of light. She struggled to prop herself up, wanting to turn on the light.

She moved bit by bit toward the edge of the bed. Her numb legs were heavy and in the way. Not long ago, she was dancing gracefully on a stage; now, she couldn’t even feel it when she pounded her legs with force.

She was just a tiny bit away. Just that tiny bit.

Her tense knuckles couldn’t reach the switch.

She couldn’t even turn on the light.

Her pride had been snapped. Her thin shoulders trembled. She bit her lip, tears wetting the quilt drop by drop. A moment later, she wiped them away with her slender fingers.

When did I become so fragile?

There is only this one quilt; I can’t get it dirty.

Bai Shuzhou buried her face in her arms, suppressing her sobs, thinking rationally.

Click.

Suddenly, the light came on. The entire room was illuminated by a warm yellow glow.

Zhu Yu stood at the door, at a loss, watching as the woman’s muffled sobbing stopped abruptly, leaving only low gasps.

She set her things down quietly. Bai Shuzhou’s voice came from behind her: “Don’t look at me.”

The cold voice was still haughty, but so thin it seemed it would break at the slightest touch.

Zhu Yu nodded heavily and sped up her movements. Keeping her gaze in that direction, she scuttled out of the house like a crab and closed the door.

When silence returned to the room, Bai Shuzhou lifted her head from her damp arms. She saw a cup of water and a bowl of steaming food on the table next to the bed.

There was also a small, dark blue porcelain bottle with a chip in it, holding a few wild flowers.

Everything was within reach.