Transmigrated as the Imperial Princess's Scumbag Alpha Ex-Wife - Chapter 15

In the pristine white nutrient solution factory, cold machinery whirred in perfect order. The supervisor strolled past with her hands clasped behind her back. Behind her, the well-trained youths exchanged glances before smoothly shifting the conversation from technical matters.

“The spacing variance needs to be kept within 3%… Have you noticed Zhu Yu acting strangely lately?”

“Everyone gets like that after working here for a while. She was the weird one when she first started.”

“No, it’s different this time. She seems really down. She didn’t even touch the free premium nutrient gummies at lunch—that’s super suspicious! Could she have been dumped? Maybe she fell for a customer at the bar?”

Little Shan raised an eyebrow at Cat’s dramatic tone, glancing at Zhu Yu, who was slumped nearby like a soft, squishy slime. “She keeps fiddling with that fake ring from the antique shop. I heard secondhand antiques can carry unclean spirits. Maybe she’s possessed.”

Completely out of sync, Cat rubbed the goosebumps on her arm. “Ugh, we live in a scientific age! Stop reading those weird forums! Her dating someone is way more likely than her being possessed, right?”

“No, it’s a fifty-fifty chance for both. They could even be happening simultaneously. Like, maybe she’s dating the ring’s former owner. Late at night, when the soul ring manifests…”

Little Shan’s ominous tone nearly made Cat’s fur stand on end.

Zhu Yu weakly lifted her head. “I’ll tell you a secret… I can hear you.”

Little Shan frowned. “Why are you so drained? Haven’t you been eating?”

Cat leaned in. “Still heartbroken? Tell us what’s wrong! We’ll help you figure it out!”

“Lately, I just… feel like I can’t keep up,” Zhu Yu murmured, taking a deep breath.

She’d been falling asleep easily lately, and the moment she got home, she had no energy for anything. Even focusing her Mental Power while massaging Bai Shuzhou had become a struggle.

Paradis wasn’t making any sales, the Manager was like a ghost, appearing and disappearing at will, and Bai Shuzhou always smiled at Nangong but gave Zhu Yu the cold shoulder…

“You’re just exhausted,” Little Shan said sympathetically, patting her shoulder. “Take some time off and rest properly.”

Zhu Yu immediately shook her head, remembering Bai Shuzhou’s icy gaze. She felt that staying home for too long would only make her less likable. At least working outside offered a temporary escape.

When it’s empty, it gets so lonely.

Slacking off at work is like finding a free entertainment venue, Zhu Yu consoled herself with a bitter smile.

That evening, she drifted listlessly to Paradis, where another wealthy “Sister” was opening a champagne tower for Nangong.

Everyone really loves Nangong, don’t they?

The golden dome on the second floor opened, showering the crowd with banknotes. Zhu Yu, seizing her revenge, tore off her coat and began gathering the money like an inverted jellyfish.

Faced with the allure of money, the young woman revealed a rare wildness, her eyes gleaming with avarice. The manager, who had been hesitating to speak, saw this and his eyes lit up. He quickly scurried away, returning moments later to mysteriously pull Zhu Yu aside.

The manager cleared his throat and, with a secretive air, handed her a treasured booklet. “If you truly want to make big money,” he said earnestly, “you could learn from this character’s persona. It’s your good fortune to resemble her even slightly—she’s incredibly charismatic and competitive!”

Zhu Yu glanced down and saw a folder containing a set of wanted posters.

The Empire’s Most Wanted Criminal: Zhu Yu.

“……”

Her vision blurred. She swallowed hard, her toes already inching toward the door, ready to bolt. “Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?”

The girl on the wanted poster stood with one hand in her pocket, a defiant smirk playing on her lips. Her plain white shirt and black pants accentuated her broad shoulders and narrow waist, her sharp gaze radiating coiled energy, like a sword about to be drawn from its sheath.

The charges listed were illegal possession of weapons and kidnapping of royalty.

Though the wanted posters meticulously avoided mentioning her military achievements, Zhu Yu flipped through the pages and froze in shock.

“Why is there a personal photo shoot here?! Isn’t she a wanted criminal?!”

“You’re so naive for a college student,” the manager scoffed. “Don’t judge everything by appearances.”

The manager, frustrated by Zhu Yu’s naivety, exclaimed, “Do you think ‘Commoner’s Star’ is just a title? The Empire’s nobles have a stranglehold on power, yet she carved her own path, shattering the myth of bloodline supremacy. A mere D-Rank Alpha even won the Princess’s favor! What a formidable woman!”

“This ‘wanted’ poster is just a charade. I’ve heard whispers—it’s all the Emperor’s scheme. The Little Imperial Consort and the Princess eloped for their honeymoon! Which young couple wants their elders breathing down their necks every day? The Emperor used this as an excuse to crush disobedient nobles! Read the news, kid—the power dynamics in the Northern District have completely shifted…”

The Little Imperial Consort himself: …As expected of a smuggler. The situation in Paradis is far too complex.

The manager spoke with fiery passion, spittle flying, then turned to Zhu Yu, who looked as bewildered as a quail. He slapped her hard on the shoulder, his expression twisted into a grimace.

“Do you know the biggest difference between you and her?”

Zhu Yu quickly shook her head, adopting a humble, eager-to-learn demeanor.

“Presence! Gaze! Carnivores are inherently more competitive than herbivores. You need to take the initiative, stop holding back! What’s the harm in shedding a few layers? The legendary Commoner’s Star seduced the Princess in her early years! Look at her uniform, her eyes…”

“It’s like a Samoyed and a wolf,” the Manager said. “One can only be a dog, while the other is incredibly handsome. You get my meaning, right?”

Zhu Yu thought to herself, Samoyeds aren’t herbivores either! They eat dog food and balanced meals of meat and vegetables. Plus, they get groomed regularly. What’s not to like?

Still, she pretended to grasp the Manager’s point, feigning sudden realization.

A low chuckle came from the doorway.

Who’s eavesdropping on confidential business matters? The Manager turned irritably, but her face lit up when she saw Nangong. Pointing at her, she said to Zhu Yu, “See? This is a wolf. You know how popular she is, right?”

Zhu Yu knew all too well. No one—absolutely no one—understood better than she did just how—annoying—this woman was!

Who smiles like that all the time? It’s so fake! Doesn’t she get tired? Zhu Yu lowered her voice and mimicked Nangong’s tone, letting out an eerie, cold laugh.

Nangong was delighted. She stepped closer, her smile widening as she ruffled Zhu Yu’s hair. “You’re not suited for this job. You should quit while you’re ahead.”

A glance out of the corner of her eye revealed Nangong’s fingernail tapping the wanted poster in Zhu Yu’s hand, making a crisp, meaningful sound. “Why not go to the Federation and become a full-time mechanic? The Empire’s backward system is like a swamp. Why would a commoner like you want to sink into it?”

Zhu Yu’s focus sharpened. Her hand, hidden in her pocket, tightened around her wrist, anticipating a clash of wills and a battle of wits.

Zhu Yu hummed in agreement. “That makes sense. I think the Federation is pretty good too.”

It was like punching cotton.

Zhu Yu drifted away. When no customers specifically requested her, she hid in a corner to relax, grabbing a fluffy colleague to nuzzle, burying her face in their fur… deliberately staying out late before going home.

With the Enchanting Saxophone gone, the journey home felt even lonelier.

She sipped a small glass of wine, her mind racing. One moment she was thinking about the astronomical bounty on the wanted poster, the next about Bai Shuzhou and Nangong’s tacit sparring. She sniffed unconsciously, then bristled with anger.

I’m the one who fixed their arcade machines! I even bought the game cartridges! Next time, I won’t let Nangong play, or maybe I’ll secretly reverse her button controls… Would that be too mean?

Does Bai Shuzhou like wolves?

In the silent street, Zhu Yu paused, then let out a few wolf howls.

Awoo—

She had a natural talent for mimicry, and her imitation was remarkably lifelike. Zhu Yu beamed with satisfaction.

Hmph, can Nangong do that? Could the original Zhu Yu do that?

A moment later, a lazy wolf howl echoed faintly from the distant wilderness in response.

Zhu Yu’s eyes widened, the alcohol’s effects fading rapidly. She quickly wrapped her coat tighter around herself and sprinted home.

There really are wolves! How terrifying!

The Wolf Clan members, roused from their slumber in the middle of the night, exchanged puzzled glances. Strange, what accent does this child have? We can’t understand her. Is she lost?

Zhu Yu had always been a sound sleeper, but tonight she tossed and turned restlessly. During her night shift, she secretly checked flight prices to the nearest Federation star system, finding them much cheaper than tickets back to the Empire’s Capital.

If she were alone, she could even buy a standing-room ticket on a cargo starship. With a little more saving, it would be enough. Paradis, who worked in smuggling, might know some discounted routes.

She wasn’t the Zhu Yu from the Commoner’s Star—she lacked her ambition and charisma.

If the original Zhu Yu had been the one surrounded by nobles that day, perhaps they wouldn’t have had to flee so hastily with the Princess.

She couldn’t protect the Princess from harm, nor could she shield her from the storms to come. In the end, she was just an ordinary person.

Physical exhaustion and discomfort dragged her mood down. Zhu Yu unconsciously touched her ring, which emitted a faint red glow in the darkness, as if freshly sated with bl00d, its crystal-clear surface gleaming.

Her eyelids felt heavy, yet her mind remained unnervingly clear. Her soul and body seemed detached, adrift in an endless winter, unable to reach the distant shore.

In the blank void, Zhu Yu suddenly heard faint moans.

Vines grew wildly, bursting into vibrant blooms that made the woman’s silver hair appear even paler, almost blending into the snow-covered landscape. Her hands remained clasped in prayer, like a martyr from sacred scrolls, on the verge of being buried by pain.

A small vine crept toward Zhu Yu, its curved tendril hooking around her little finger, silently coiling around it like a plea for help or an invitation.

Though it was summer night, the entire room was shockingly cold.

Warm yellow Mental Power scattered like fireflies as Zhu Yu numbly climbed out of bed, drew back the white gauze curtains, and saw Bai Shuzhou trembling. Her lip was bitten raw, unwilling to show weakness. The dripping bl00d blossomed into a festering rose on her neck, silently withering away.

So cold, so cold.

In the boundless chill, Zhu Yu burrowed under the covers. They huddled together tightly, their minds frozen by the cold, even their healing Abilities struggling to coalesce. Zhu Yu stubbornly pressed her face against Bai Shuzhou’s, their foreheads touching, trying to share warmth.

In the icy, snow-covered landscape, a pair of pale blue eyes lifted beneath her snow-white hair.

The girl stood alone at the world’s center, soaring and falling again and again until she was covered in wounds. The bl00d pooling beneath her bloomed into a vast field of roses, burning like wildfire.

“Again!” she cried.

A spark ignited a prairie fire. Vines supported her frail body, holding her upright with defiant pride. At last, a faint light pierced the darkness, and she saw clearly the oppressive darkness looming overhead—

It was an eye.

The sky blinked slowly, heavily.

Even with all her strength, she could only glimpse the tip of the iceberg.

Then, millions of eyes opened simultaneously, bathing the world in sudden daylight, all staring fixedly at the girl.

A silver-white scalpel pressed gently against her skin.

What are you doing? Let her go!

Remembering the surgical scars on Bai Shuzhou’s body, Zhu Yu watched in terror, desperate to shout. But her mouth opened and closed soundlessly, and no matter how hard she ran, she couldn’t get closer.

“This is your destiny,” a thunderous voice boomed.

“You will ultimately fight for humanity’s fate.”

Without chains or restraints, the girl quietly awaited the arrival of her so-called destiny.

Why aren’t you running away?!

Zhu Yu pinched her wrist hard, but felt nothing. She suddenly realized this was a dream—Bai Shuzhou’s dream.

A sharp blade sliced through her skin, and countless crimson petals erupted with the pain.

This time, Zhu Yu felt not fear, but rage.

She doesn’t want this fate!

Zhu Yu lifted her chin and roared, “If humanity’s destiny has fallen so low that it depends on a child to bear it, then it’s better to be destroyed!”

She lunged forward, grabbing little Bai Shuzhou’s hand and pulling her away.

She was an expert at escaping.

If it hurts too much, just run away. It’s not a big deal!

Call it cowardice, call it selfishness—you should live for yourself, fight for yourself. That’s human instinct!

The girl stared at their tightly clasped hands, initially confused. The red mole on her wrist flickered in the air. Even after such inhuman treatment, her pale blue eyes remained devoid of sorrow or joy.

She calmly tried to analyze everything, as she always did—deconstructing, weighing options, searching for the optimal solution.

Then, she very gently raised her hand and returned Zhu Yu’s grip.

Sweat, ragged breaths, and the encroaching darkness behind them threatened to devour everything. Those eyes were closing in, desperate to seize them.

Zhu Yu, running slightly slower, was about to be caught when silver-white wings suddenly unfurled, blotting out the sky and silently shielding her.

The scent of roses and the woman’s unique fragrance lingered, offering a comforting warmth even as the world plunged back into darkness.

The chill gradually receded as moonlight streamed through the dilapidated iron window frame, accompanied by the cicadas’ drone.

On the bed, the woman who had been held so tightly opened her eyes.

A furry head pressed close, carrying the faint scent of alcohol. The girl was curled up like a sled dog seeking warmth from humans on a snowy night, or like the melting sun itself, their skin damp where they touched.

This girl is so warm…

Bai Shuzhou pushed at her awkwardly, only to be held tighter. The girl’s soft breath tickled her neck.

Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly as she flicked her tail, hooking it around the girl’s waist. Treating her like a large body pillow, Bai Shuzhou adjusted her into a more comfortable position.

In her dream, Zhu Yu felt the vines entwining around her growing heavier. She brushed aside the slightly cold vine, only for it to reattach itself. This cycle repeated until the vine, finally losing patience, gave her a gentle but firm flick.

Hiss… Zhu Yu stilled, sinking into a deep sleep.

The next morning.

Zhu Yu groggily opened her eyes to find that breathtakingly beautiful face mere inches away.

At such close range, its flawless perfection was on full display.

The woman slept peacefully, a rare smile gracing her lips. Her silver hair cascaded softly like snow, her breath light and shallow.

Zhu Yu’s heart softened involuntarily.

The tail, wrapped around her waist, nudged her in protest at her suppressed laughter. Amused, Zhu Yu patted it soothingly.

Cold and smooth.

Such an adorable little tail, so clingy.

This was a truly wonderful dream.

Zhu Yu gazed at the beautiful silver tail, thoroughly charmed. She decided to sleep a little longer.

She instinctively pinched her wrist, only for the tail to entwine around it, gently pushing her fingers apart one by one.

The smile froze on Zhu Yu’s lips.

Wait, there’s a sensation… this isn’t a dream.

A tail… where did this tail come from?

She instinctively gripped it, her eyes snapping open in disbelief, only to meet the gaze of the tail’s owner.

The woman’s icy eyes were rimmed with red, her sharp gaze softened by wisps of hair. Her voice was clear and devoid of any guilt at being caught:

“Let go.”