[Order accepted. Modifying behavioral paraters.]
The shimr in Wen Wenxiu’s pupils faded. She exhaled softly, shoulders relaxing like a tight string had snapped inside her. A slow blink followed, it wasn’t dull or vacant. Her gaze just... cleared.
When her gaze lifted again to et Feng Yizhou’s, there was still the sa cunning glint there. But the fevered hunger that had laced her earlier expression was gone.
"Well..." she said, rolling her shoulders as though shaking off a long, clinging mist. "That was dramatic."
Feng Yizhou didn’t move, not imdiately. He was still on edge, expecting so delayed backlash.
But Wenxiu didn’t lunge at him or try to kiss him again. Instead, she smoothed her fingers down the front of her silk robe, then looked up with a slight, wry smile.
"I suppose that ans no more trying to pin you against the wall, mm?"
"I’d prefer it that way..." he said coolly.
She gave a small laugh, unbothered. "You’re no fun. But fine. I won’t touch you unless invited. Pity, though, you’re still my favorite view in this apocalypse."
Feng Yizhou narrowed his eyes. "You’re... taking this well."
"I’ve been brainwashed before," she said cheerfully, walking toward a cabinet to pour herself a drink. "By the system, by hormones, by my own tragic taste in n. What’s one more override? At least this one keeps from being a nuisance to you."
He watched her cautiously. "You still rember everything?"
"Of course." She sipped sothing amber from a narrow crystal glass. "I rember you walking in like a storm cloud, and pouncing like a cat in heat. Unfortunately for both of us, I was genuinely into it." She grinned over the rim. "Now I’m just, not having any sexual urge towards, I guessed it really worked, how cruel."
Feng rubbed a hand down his face. "God, you’re exhausting."
"But efficient.." she added brightly. "I had a scout report ready before you even arrived. Co on, I’ll show you."
She set her glass down and moved with effortless grace toward a heavy curtain on the far side of the room. Pulling it back revealed a wide operations map, worn and smudged, covered in neat annotations.
As she stepped aside for him to see, her robe swished against her ankles slightly. She pulled her hair into a bun, it was ti to get serious.
He approached warily, eyes scanning the layout. "These are the other zones?"
"Yes. This is Zone Four. My little kingdom. The others..." She tapped one mark in particular. "This is zone three, the people there must be in deep shit. They had tremors yesterday and those tremors we’re felt all the way here."
He stilled. "I see"
"I think they might be experiencing earthquake challenge there. Maybe, Intel doesn’t co as fast, it takes months before it gets here to be honest."
Wenxiu stepped up beside him, her voice softening.
"I may not be allowed to crave you anymore.." she said lightly, "but I still care whether you live."
".."
"Thank you but I don’t need it. You should protect yourself first. Ain’t no way I’m going to die."
"..."
"How sure are you? How do you know you’re not going to die?"
Feng Yizhou smiled, weeping his hair back "How? Cause I have soone waiting for . I’ll keep fighting until I’ve got her in my arms."
Wenxiu eyes widened as she smiled, so this was it, he had also chosen a different woman that wasn’t her.
"Very well. Outside, Chenlu will lead you to your room. Good night, brother Feng."
Feng Yizhou nodded and left the room, Wenxiu eyes watered, her horrible taste in n really ca back to haunt her.
"Ah. Ah. I really can’t win this. I should just date a woman."
Wenxiu wiped her eyes, with her sexual urges for Feng Yizhou gone, him rejecting her love didn’t feel as painful.
Even if it hurt.
{Amor dolorosus...dear. love is painful?}
"..."
"Don’t give that! This is all your fault.."
{Ehh? Wenxiu I didn’t know you were so ungrateful?}
A laugh followed as a man appeared from a void, he had pale purple eyes and a scar across his face.
{I’ve given you everything you wanted and you’re still blaming ..}
"You haven’t given anything you bastard! All you’ve done is take from !"
{".."}
{That’s right. Cause your body is mine. To think you wanted to sleep with another man when I’m here.}
"..."
"You’re no man. You’re nothing like the real thing."
The man chuckled darkly, stepping closer from the void. His boots made no sound on the polished marble floor, his lean figure clothed in a tattered long coat stitched with strange symbols. The pale light from the chandelier above caught the jagged scar that split his cheekbone like a lightning bolt, making his grin look even more twisted.
{That hurts, Wenxiu. After all we’ve been through. After all I’ve given you.}
"You gave nothing but madness," she said coldly, turning her back to him and reaching for her glass again. Her hand didn’t shake.
{Madness?} he echoed, almost fondly. {Is that what you call strength now? You were weak before . A spoiled, flirty brat with no direction. I made you better. I made you dangerous.}
"Wrong," she muttered, throwing back the last of the drink. "I was always dangerous. You just handed a bigger knife."
He approached her from behind, movents lazy, arrogant. She didn’t flinch when his fingers ghosted near her bare shoulder.
{And yet you still pine for him. Even now. That smug little hero. You think he’ll want you if he ever sees this part of you?}
"He already saw it," she whispered. "He still chose soone else."
{Then why not co back to ?} the man said, tilting his head. His voice dropped lower, velvety and venomous. {You and I are alike. We burn things to feel alive. Let him have his white-picket purity. You’ll never fit into that world. But you and ? We complint each other}
"I won’t be your puppet anymore," she said. "Not even if I have nothing left. Not even if Feng Yizhou never looks at again."
The man’s smile didn’t falter, but sothing in his eyes sharpened.
{You say that like you have a choice.}
"Do I not?"
{Not when your body still belongs to .}
In a blink, her hand snapped up. A dagger, small and wickedly sharp, appeared in her palm — summoned from a hidden slit in her sleeve. She pressed the edge to her own throat, smirking.
"Try it," she said. "Try to make kneel. See how fast I cut my own leash."
For a mont, they stood in perfect silence.
Then the man clicked his tongue. {You’ve gotten bolder. Cute. But I’m not done with you, Wen Wenxiu. Not yet.} His form flickered, edges unraveling like mist under wind. {You can lie to yourself all you want. But you’ll co back.}
She watched as he vanished into the void, leaving behind only the faint scent of charred ozone.
The mont the space was clear, Wenxiu finally sat down, every bone in her body aching. Her hands were steady — but her heart? Her heart was a riot.
She pressed her fingers to her eyes.
"I really am cursed with bad taste," she murmured, almost laughing.
Outside the door, soft footsteps approached.
A knock.
She stiffened, but then ca a familiar voice muffled and polite.
"Miss Wenxiu? I’ve brought you tea.." Chenlu said. "Per your request."
Wenxiu composed herself instantly. She flicked her fingers and the door opened on its own. "Enter."
Chenlu stepped in holding a porcelain tray with a gently steaming cup. He paused as he saw Wenxiu seated in shadow, the dim light outlining her profile.
"Is everything... alright?"
"Perfect.." Wenxiu replied. She gestured for the tray. "Put it there."
Chenlu obeyed, his expression unreadable.
As he turned to leave, Wenxiu’s voice stopped him.
"Chenlu.." she said quietly.
"Yes?"
"Do you think there’s sothing wrong with wanting soone who doesn’t want you back?"
Chenlu blinked, caught off-guard. "...No. But it hurts. I think it always hurts."
Wenxiu smiled faintly. "You’re wise."
Chenlu hesitated at the door. "Do you want to stay awhile?"
"...No. But thank you."
Chenlu gave a slight bow and exited, leaving Wenxiu alone once more.
She picked up the tea, cradled it between her palms, and stared at the ceiling for a long ti.
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