After the Early-Deceased White Moonlight of a Wealthy Family Returns (GL) - Chapter 56

Shen You’an followed Su Wu down the stairs, and the metal door to the basement slid open upon sensing their approach. Inside was a complete array of specialized equipment. A cage of dense bars reaching the ceiling stood at the center of the room, while a nearby tool rack held various items ready for use. A cold experimental table sat to one side, its electronic data monitor emitting a steady, quiet rhythmic beep.

Shen You’an was slightly taken aback. “This is…”

“It happened suddenly, so the preparations aren’t quite exhaustive yet,” Su Wu said. “I’ve only managed to set up some temporary equipment and transferred a few things from the research institute.”

She tilted her chin slightly, gesturing for You’an to hand her the white lab coat hanging by the door. After putting it on, Su Wu tied back her long hair and skillfully donned a pair of gloves.

“Did you forget? I have a double major from university, and one of them was Medicine,” Su Wu said with a smile to the dazed Shen You’an. “Your previous blood samples are already being studied. Considering our current situation and goals, I thought that researching while training you might be more efficient.”

“You agree, don’t you?”

How could Shen You’an say no? She nodded and said obediently, “A-jie, what should I do?”

Su Wu: “Go inside first.”

Shen You’an followed Su Wu’s gaze. The cold metal cage stood solitary—silent and heavy. The chains lying scattered around the frame foreshadowed what was about to happen.

She should have resisted, but in this moment, You’an’s heart felt a strange sense of security. She walked inside and reached down to pick up a chain, intending to open the shackles and fasten them to herself.

Su Wu stepped forward. “Let me.”

“A-jie…”

“Don’t be afraid.” Su Wu held up a small circular band to show her. “This is a specially made collar. It contains a chip that can monitor your data. From now on, all your reactions will be displayed on the system.”

Before You’an could process the thought, Su Wu reached out. The moment You’an lowered her head, the black band was fitted around her neck. With a click, the chill of the metal set in. Simultaneously, on the experimental table, the monitor jumped to life, showing red and blue lines interlacing.

“Do you see? The red represents your ‘B-side’—the monster side you mentioned, your predatory instinct. The blue represents your ‘A-side’—the You’an I know best.”

Su Wu gently stroked the inch of skin on the back of You’an’s neck just above the collar.

“How does it feel? I planned to add a layer of velvet to the inner ring, but time was tight. Is it uncomfortable?”

Shen You’an shook her head.

Once she confirmed You’an was okay, Su Wu finished fastening the other restraints. You’an stood within the metal cage, her limbs bound, but the most striking feature was the single chain extending from the back of her neck, connected directly to a hook on the ceiling.

“Do you think these preparations are enough?” Su Wu asked for her opinion.

“…No,” You’an replied. She tried to move her limbs and gave a bitter smile. “A-jie, if I truly intended to, these things couldn’t hold me.”

“Next time, you should add other functions, like electric shocks or pulses,” You’an suggested quite seriously. “A-jie, you don’t need to have any reservations with me on this point. Even the things I just mentioned would only stop me for a moment; they wouldn’t control me for long.”

Su Wu gave a helpless smile. “You, of all people.”

She raised her hand and, through her glove, took out a remote control. She pressed it lightly.

“Ngh—!”

Shen You’an’s entire body shuddered. The collar around her neck tightened sharply. Her pupils, which had been human-like, instantly shifted into the shape of a beast’s as a crimson hue began to spread.

“I knew you’d be concerned about that. So, besides the monitoring chip, the leather layer of your collar has embedded electrode plates. As you said, they might not cause permanent damage, but they are enough to call a halt at a critical moment.”

Su Wu explained rationally, “This neural current suppressor stimulates your vagus nerve when I press the button. It’s the longest and most widely distributed of the cranial nerves, controlling most of the organs in the respiratory and digestive systems.”

“Now, Shen You’an, do you believe my promise?”

—If anything happens during the experiment, I will prioritize my own safety.

“I believe you, A-jie,” You’an whispered, her eyes cast down. “I just don’t believe in myself.” She looked directly at an object placed not far away. “A-jie, that… can you put that on me?”

“Are you sure?”

You’an didn’t speak, her gaze stubborn. Su Wu truly had no choice but to indulge her. She walked over and picked up the black metal-and-leather muzzle. You’an lowered her head submissively, allowing her limbs to be pulled taut by the chains and letting Su Wu’s hands wrap around her head to snap the buckle shut at the back of her skull.

You’an lifted her eyes; there was a faint red glow in those dark, almond-shaped pupils. Seeing the pained look in Su Wu’s eyes, she obediently pressed her cheek into the woman’s palm, nuzzling softly. Through the restriction of the muzzle, she whispered, “I’m fine. This is good. Let’s begin, A-jie.”

“Alright,” Su Wu replied.

She stepped out of the cage and went to the experimental table. The past few days had been enough for her team to collect and analyze suspicious items from the places You’an had been. Small test tubes were filled with various substances—liquids and gases. Su Wu placed them one by one into the factor diffuser beside her.

“No,” You’an’s voice sounded normal. “Not that one either.”

“Next one.”

“Wrong.”

When the small tube labeled “013” entered the diffuser, You’an finally changed.

She suddenly gritted her teeth, her body arching, her spine curving subtly. Inside the cage, the metal chains began to rattle and clang violently. On the monitor, the red indicator surged like a tide.

“You’an!”

“Ugh… Aaah—!”

The skin over her shoulder blades tore, and bone wings began to sprout inch by inch. The sound of the vibrating metal chains was like crashing waves, echoing incessantly in the basement.

“How are… the indicators?” You’an struggled to control her voice, trying not to sound too undignified.

“Acceptable,” Su Wu answered.

“Can you increase the dosage?” You’an asked. “I can still control this. It’s not yet at the level of… what happened on the cruise.”

Su Wu pursed her lips tightly.

“A-jie!” You’an almost growled in a pleading tone. “Increase the dosage! I must ensure I can be called back by you even when I’m on the brink of total loss of control, otherwise—”

“I know,” Su Wu said as she adjusted the molecular diffuser.

A faint, sweet fragrance suddenly wafted through the air. The scent of white roses.

Unlike the romantic imagery of the flower, the bone wings on You’an’s back had grown to full form. Parts of her body were gradually beginning to shift into black shadows. Her slender hands grew monster claws, and her tail coiled up arrogantly.

“Aaaah!”

You’an fought desperately against the instincts within her. On the screen, the red tide swept in, and the blue line representing reason made its final stand. The monitor emitted a piercing warning shriek. The basement was filled with signals of danger.

Su Wu walked to the front of the cage, the locked door separating her from You’an.

“A-jie… don’t…” You’an wailed. “Don’t come in…”

Su Wu didn’t enter, but she did something even more extreme. Standing right at the door of the cage, she picked up a scalpel and unhesitatingly sliced her own wrist.

As the skin split and blood began to flow, Shen You’an let out a muffled, agonized shout. The next second, the chains rattled with restless violence as the monster’s claws gripped the bars of the cage.

If the scent of white roses was the trigger to wake the monster, then the scent of Su Wu’s blood was what drove it to total madness. The metal muzzle was pressed into the narrow gaps between the bars. The girl’s eyes were now completely consumed by a mindless red.

[So fragrant—]

[Eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it!!!]

[Let me out, let me out, let me out!!!]

Su Wu looked at her. “You want to eat?”

The only answer was the vibration of the chains.

“Shen You’an,” Su Wu said, emphasizing every syllable. “Wake up. If you wake up, I will give you anything.”

The eyes signifying bestial madness paused for a split second. The pupils dilated and constricted. On the monitor, the blue line stagnated, then began to trend upward.

“You’re doing great. Just like that,” Su Wu encouraged. “I know you can hear my voice. Shen You’an, I know you’re hungry. You want this.” She moved her wounded hand; a stray drop of blood was snatched away by the greedy tail, which compressed itself to slip through the bars and claim the prize.

“But I also know… Shen You’an… more than this…” Su Wu said slowly, “What you want most is for me to be alive.”

CRASH!!

The monster’s claws instantly twisted the bars of the cage. The chains restraining her wrists had long since snapped into dust. Only the collar around her neck remained, pulling into a strange angle as she moved.

“Shen You’an,” Su Wu’s eyes were tender. “Don’t be afraid. You can do it.”

Simultaneously, the claws completely destroyed the cage. The woman’s waist was snatched up by a claw, tearing through the white lab coat. Just as the sharp tips were about to pierce her skin and reach her internal organs, everything stopped.

The sharp tips hovered with extreme caution, as if terrified of bruising the softest petal.

“A-jie.” The flickering black shadows on You’an’s body gradually settled. The blue line finally overrode the red. From her mouth, amidst the unintelligible beast-growls and murmurs, human speech finally emerged. “A-jie, you should have pressed the button.”

The corners of Su Wu’s mouth lifted slightly. She reached out with affection and cupped You’an’s face. “No need. You see, You’an? I knew you would do this for me.”

“You did very well.”

“Next, it’s reward time.”

The woman’s fingertips easily flicked the latch on the muzzle. With a clatter, the metal and leather contraption fell onto the cold concrete floor. Su Wu’s wrist had already stopped bleeding; the tiny tail hidden in the pearl You’an had given her was stuck over the wound like a Band-Aid.

She took Shen You’an’s claws, which had not yet returned to their original form, and placed them at the collar of her white lab coat.

“Undo it,” Su Wu said, her gaze deep. “And then, you can do whatever you want.”