Transmigrated as the Imperial Princess's Scumbag Alpha Ex-Wife - Chapter 6

Zhu Yu sat outside the door for a long while, tilting her head back to count the stars.

She gave Bai Shuzhou ample space to hide her tears, then intermittent sounds of eating began to drift out.

The iron door offered poor sound insulation, but the woman ate so quietly that there was barely any clinking of utensils. Her refinement seemed ingrained in her very bones, carried by the wind and mingling with the rustling of the door, like some small creature meticulously savoring its meal.

Zhu Yu swallowed hard, imagining how delicious it must taste. Helan had made braised pork for dinner, and since they were already in debt, she decided to buy a bowl of it, along with a large plate of vegetables, to nourish Bai Shuzhou and help her recover from the shock.

When He Ming heard it was for the “elf sister,” he immediately picked out the most succulent pieces of meat. Only after his mother tapped him on the head did he relent, stopping short of stuffing the entire bowl into the small dish.

Helan was remarkably efficient. She had already arranged to take Zhu Yu job hunting tomorrow. Though the girl was slender and looked rather frail, likely unable to handle strenuous physical labor, her quickness and initiative were impressive. After finishing her meal, Zhu Yu proactively cleared the table and helped wash the dishes.

Originally, this was He Ming’s job, and she was thrilled. When she heard Zhu Yu mention her aerospace engineering major, she became even more enthusiastic, peppering her with questions.

The young girl stood with her hands on her hips, striking a pose reminiscent of her mother, radiating confidence. “My dream is to become a pilot! And if I’m really good, if I differentiate into an Alpha, I’ll become a Mecha Pilot!”

“Pilots are the elite of the elite, and Mecha Pilots are the aces among aces. If I’m going to do something, I’ll be the best!”

Zhu Yu thought to herself, Aerospace engineering doesn’t necessarily lead to becoming a pilot. There are so many other roles—we just handle getting you into space.

But not wanting to dampen the child’s enthusiasm, she adopted a mysterious demeanor and patted He Ming’s head. “That’s great! Keep working hard. I believe you can achieve your dreams.”

Her earnest tone made He Ming feel for the first time that an adult truly respected her aspirations. Grinning widely, she was about to burst with joy when Zhu Yu looked up and asked, “Sister Helan, does she need tutoring?”

“My grades are pretty good—perfect GPA, top 1% in my major, full scholarship coverage. I can tutor her in any subject!”

Hearing this, Helan’s eyes lit up instantly, while He Ming’s imposing demeanor instantly deflated, and she tried to flee, only to be swiftly grabbed by Zhu Yu.

“Summer vacation is the perfect time to get ahead! We can’t let the children fall behind right from the start!”

Helan had Zhu Yu give a trial lecture on a few problems. After confirming Zhu Yu’s teaching ability, her attitude made a complete 180-degree turn. She generously advanced Zhu Yu some living supplies.

Helan’s generosity made Zhu Yu feel a little embarrassed. As she carried the supplies home, she felt like she was pulling off a scam.

Taking so much from someone without any identification to offer as collateral made Zhu Yu uneasy. Though Helan didn’t mention it, Zhu Yu still handed over the only medal in her pocket, promising to retrieve it once they paid the rent.

This medal seemed to have been earned through military service, and the original owner had treasured it dearly, carefully polishing it every night before bed. On special occasions, she would pin it prominently on her evening attire.

Zhu Yu thought maliciously, Serves you right for bullying your wife! Your precious medal is now collateral!

But the medal was innocent, and so was Bai Shuzhou.

She needed to work hard, earn money quickly, retrieve the medal, and send Bai Shuzhou home.

Zhu Yu counted the flickering stars until the room fell silent before pushing the door open. The woman lay still on the bed, sleeping peacefully, her hands clasped together over her chest, silver hair cascading over her shoulder.

The first phrase that popped into Zhu Yu’s head was “Sleeping Beauty,” but fearing it might be an ill omen, she quickly shook her head to dispel the thought.

I don’t want to be Sleeping Beauty! I’ll be a healthy beauty instead!

The beauty’s brow was etched with fatigue, her eyes slightly reddened, but her complexion had improved somewhat after eating and drinking. Asleep, her icy aura softened, becoming as gentle as moonlight.

Zhu Yu wondered if their relationship had been slightly eased by the tears… just a tiny bit.

Bai Shuzhou’s rice bowl was spotless, not a single grain left behind. Zhu Yu was relieved; she had worried the princess might find the coarse food unpalatable or refuse to eat out of resentment toward her.

Eating well is the foundation of a happy life!

Bai Shuzhou was too thin, almost weightless in Zhu Yu’s arms. When they embraced, Zhu Yu could clearly feel the rise and fall of her bones. She wondered if dancers held themselves to particularly high standards of physical control.

Zhu Yu was already very satisfied that Bai Shuzhou had managed to finish the entire bowl.

Happily making her bed on the floor, Zhu Yu completely forgot that Bai Shuzhou was a dragon, a carnivore accustomed to imperial feasts where top-tier ingredients flowed like water. This single bowl was barely enough to line her stomach.

Moreover, the bowl was mostly vegetables.

Worried about digestive upset, Zhu Yu had deliberately chosen green foods. Bai Shuzhou looked like the kind of ethereal fairy who lived on dew and moonlight. Even the braised pork was carefully selected, with the fattier pieces removed.

He Ming protested indignantly, “Braised pork without the belly meat has no soul!”

Zhu Yu retorted nonsensically, “A soul is terrifying! It’ll kick your stomach in the middle of the night and give you a stomachache. I’ll just eat it myself.”

He Ming stared at her as if she were an idiot.

Zhu Yu seized the opportunity to sneak two bites of the pork. It was rich yet not greasy, utterly delicious. Helan’s cooking was truly exceptional, so good it almost made her cry.

After enduring so much chaos, Zhu Yu was exhausted. Sister Helan had given her an extra quilt, but probably hadn’t anticipated her sleeping on the floor. With the quilt used as a mattress, she had nothing to cover herself with.

Although both she and Bai Shuzhou were women, Zhu Yu was deeply concerned that sharing a bed might inadvertently offend Bai Shuzhou, given the turbulent history between them. She also worried that Bai Shuzhou might secretly strangle her in the middle of the night.

Zhu Yu double-checked all the doors and windows to ensure they were securely locked. In this unfamiliar environment, she dared not sleep with the lights off, fearing she wouldn’t be able to react quickly to any sudden emergencies.

After a moment’s thought, she hung a rope by the bed and drew the curtains for Bai Shuzhou. The light-colored fabric blocked most of the light, ensuring the interior wouldn’t be too dark.

Before lying down, Zhu Yu stood by Bai Shuzhou’s bed, tucking the blanket around her. She clasped her hands together and spoke with prayer-like sincerity:

“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, don’t kill me.”

“I’ll be useful to you.”

Her voice was soft, and her shadow stretched thin and long under the lamplight as she bowed with ritualistic solemnity.

Finally, Zhu Yu lowered the curtains and whispered, “Good night. Sweet dreams.”

With the ritual complete, Zhu Yu lay down.

Her makeshift pillow was a stack of books, and her jacket served as a blanket to cover her stomach. Imagining herself as a knight on a mission to protect the Princess in the wilderness, she could faintly hear the chirping of insects outside.

That’s pretty cool.

She would remain vigilant at all times. As long as she was there, nothing would harm the Princess!

Zhu Yu clenched her fist and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Curled up, she dreamed of transforming into the wicked dragon that had carried the Princess away.

Hearing the girl’s breathing even out, Bai Shuzhou opened her eyes. The small knife she had been clutching tightly in her arms was now warm from her body heat.

For a fleeting moment, her pale blue eyes shifted into the vertical pupils characteristic of the Dragon Clan, but they quickly narrowed again.

Using the knife hilt to lift the curtain, Bai Shuzhou gazed at the defenseless Zhu Yu lying on the floor, her silence stretching into an eternity.

The girl seemed to have anticipated her intentions. Now, with a simple flick of her wrist, Bai Shuzhou could aim the knife at Zhu Yu’s neck and eliminate her with ease.

Yet why was she sleeping so soundly?

Was she so certain that Bai Shuzhou wouldn’t strike?

Bai Shuzhou leaned down, her pale fingers silently touching Zhu Yu’s neck. The girl’s skin was warm, her pulse steady. Sensing something cold approaching, Zhu Yu exhaled a small puff of warm breath, unconsciously nuzzling against it and murmuring softly, “Sis.”

Bai Shuzhou’s wrist stiffened.

This was the first time Zhu Yu had ever called her “Sister.”

Zhu Yu was an orphan, raised in the chaotic slums, which had forged her cunning and shrewd nature. Though she possessed a fair and innocent face, her mind was deep and calculating, like a venomous snake lying in wait. She would wrap herself around your arm, whispering sweet flattery, all to deliver a more lethal strike.

She could call anyone “Sister,” except Bai Shuzhou. It was a strange stubbornness; she showered others with sweet words and romantic endearments, yet never even jokingly used the term with her.

Or had she mistaken Bai Shuzhou for someone else?

Bai Shuzhou’s gaze darkened. Uncertain, she traced the soft curve of Zhu Yu’s cheek with her fingertips, then gently pinched it.

The next morning, Zhu Yu woke with a faint ache in her cheek.

Alert, she sat up and scanned her surroundings, then carefully drew back the curtain to confirm Bai Shuzhou’s safety.

The woman lay as she had the night before, dignified and beautiful. The sight made Zhu Yu’s tense muscles relax, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Good morning,” she whispered softly.

Today was her first day back at work, and she felt a nervous flutter in her stomach. She quickly washed up and changed into her uniform.

As she washed her face, Zhu Yu was pleasantly surprised to find that the wound on her arm had almost completely healed. It only hurt if she pressed on it firmly, a testament to the Alpha’s remarkable resilience.

Great! Another medical bill saved.

No wonder Alphas were favored in this world, and why most soldiers were Alphas—they possessed a natural advantage in combat.

Rumor had it that this was a consequence of early genetic engineering. In a desperate attempt to create the “perfect human” during a crisis, scientists had pushed the boundaries of science.

However, the project was abruptly halted after a series of unforeseen complications arose, and the relevant documents remain classified to this day.

Zhu Yu wasn’t particularly interested in these historical mysteries. She was more concerned with how much she’d earn from her part-time job today. Living one day at a time, she figured she’d just drift along. The grand questions of humanity were too vast for a mere cannon fodder like her to ponder.

Bai Shuzhou was still asleep, so Zhu Yu didn’t bother with modesty and boldly changed her clothes right in front of the curtain.

Their new clothes had been given to them by Sister Helan. At fifteen or sixteen, He Ming was growing rapidly and preferred buying clothes several sizes too big, which fit Zhu Yu perfectly.

The shirt fit Zhu Yu perfectly, clinging to her skin and accentuating her sleek curves. She felt like she was wearing a bodysuit, and her entire being seemed to come alive.

Mental spark, requesting permission to engage!

She dared not laugh, fearing she might burst the seams.

Zhu Yu, who was accustomed to buttoning her shirts meticulously, had to undo two buttons just to breathe comfortably.

Without a comb, Zhu Yu hesitated to ask Helan for another favor. The woman had already helped them so much, and Zhu Yu knew how difficult life was for a widowed mother.

She ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing down the stray strands that had sprung up overnight, and tied it into a high ponytail.

Bai Shuzhou’s hair was quite long. Zhu Yu glanced back at her, wondering if she could ask the boss for an advance on her wages at the end of the day.

After paying Sister Helan and covering tomorrow’s meals, would there be enough left for a comb? She wasn’t familiar with the local prices and wages, and a knot of uncertainty tightened in her chest.

As she turned, her eyes met Bai Shuzhou’s through the gap in the gauze curtain she’d forgotten to close.

Those icy, pale blue eyes shimmered in the dim light like sapphires submerged in a clear spring, their gaze fixed intently on her.

Zhu Yu jumped in fright. Had Bai Shuzhou seen her changing just now? Would she think Zhu Yu was harassing her?

She had even admired Bai Shuzhou’s abs and V-lines for a moment, touching them and finding them quite firm and springy… Clearly, she worked out a lot. Even the scar on her lower abdomen had a unique allure.

She saw everything!

Would Bai Shuzhou think Zhu Yu was crazy? Waking up early just to admire herself?

Worse, if Bai Shuzhou realized Zhu Yu wasn’t the original owner of this body, would she send her to the Royal Academy of Sciences for dissection? She hated her so much.

The son pays for the mother’s debts—ugh, that’s not even the right relationship! But since I inherited this body, the emotional debts must have passed down too.

As Zhu Yu’s pupils trembled, desperately trying to come up with an explanation, a clear rumbling sound suddenly echoed through the quiet room.

Hungry?

Zhu Yu lowered her head, awkwardly covering her stomach.

But she quickly realized the sound wasn’t coming from her own stomach. Though she wasn’t yet familiar with this body, she would have felt something if it were her own.

Zhu Yu looked up and watched helplessly as the woman on the bed, as cold as frost and moonlight, bit her lip and silently slid under the covers. She buried her face like a clam closing its shell, leaving only the tips of her reddened ears visible.

Ah.

Too cute!!

Zhu Yu slapped her forehead and declared loudly, “I’m hungry! It’s about time I was. I’ll go get breakfast right now!”