After My Death, I Became a Heartless Madman - Chapter 47

The moment the words fell, the room briefly fell into silence.

Like a sudden electric current coursing through her limbs, Song Shizhou felt her heart jolt. She then looked at Bai Ruowei’s face in disbelief.

That beautiful, sharp face was now uncharacteristically gentle. Her dazzling light green eyes lowered deeply for her, filled with something that seemed like the love countless hearts yearned for.

Song Shizhou’s throat tightened slightly as she slowly withdrew her hand.

The nearly ruined clay piece was guided back on track by Song Shizhou. She didn’t linger in front of Miss Bai for long she stood up and went to wipe a dust-covered glass vessel.

The woman’s elegant figure lingered in Bai Ruowei’s sight. Unconsciously, her gaze drifted from the clay piece to Song Shizhou. Her fingertips felt damp and soft, her vision growing tender and reluctant to look away.

She rarely recalled her childhood, as those memories were too monotonous to be worth remembering. All she remembered was her extraordinary talent, as if she were born to join the Surveillance Institute. She had spent over twenty years honing herself into the sharpest blade, steadfast even after casting aside human emotions and love.

Yet now, for the first time, she wanted to ask, why?

This was the education she had received since childhood. She was to obey the Surveillance Institute, suppress endless riots, and handle all threats to the Council. Therefore, she could not afford emotions or weaknesses.

And certainly not love.

Mr. Bai had told her that nothing in this world could compare to her mission and that, of course, included love.

This ironclad belief had been ingrained in her bones and blood, driving her for twenty years without her even realizing it. But now, for the first time, she sensed the looming collapse of this towering edifice.

No, of course not.

Her love mattered. Song Shizhou’s love mattered just as much.

Just as much as her duty and mission.

The room was quiet, save for the hum of the pottery wheel. After many struggles, the clay piece in Miss Bai’s hands was finally complete. The originally slender vase had turned somewhat stout. Bai Ruowei’s lips twitched, but she still cradled it in her palms, wanting to show it to Song Shizhou.

The elegant figure reappeared before her. Song Shizhou wore a loose black sweater with a white ghost knitted on it, looking rather adorable.

She took the clay piece, her fingers inevitably brushing against Bai Ruowei’s palm. Miss Bai’s brows furrowed slightly even the slightest touch now left her heart aching with an inexplicable sourness.

She could almost hear her own heartbeat.

Song Shizhou held the small clay piece in her palm, examining its shape carefully.

“It’s… passable.”

She couldn’t bring herself to call it ugly and instead offered encouragement,

“For a beginner, this level is already quite good.”

Miss Bai paused.

“You taught me well.”

What she meant was could there be a next time?

A next time where they held hands like this, teaching her.

But before she could speak, the figure before her had already vanished. Bai Ruowei instinctively searched for her and spotted Shizhou by the lounge door, answering a call.

Su Ziqing’s breathless voice came through the receiver.

“Zhou Zhou, I should be there in about half an hour. I’ve brought you so many gifts, they’re really heavy. Could you meet me at the alley entrance?”

She had warned her not to bring too much, but how could she possibly restrain Miss Su? The thought of all the random things Su Ziqing might have bought made her head spin.

For a moment, she didn’t respond. The person on the other end sensed her silence and instinctively paused.

Song Shizhou could actually tell that Su Ziqing’s rushed visit today was to make up for what happened last time when she had told Sister Yu about her recent situation.

But now that she was almost at the door, sending her back wasn’t realistic. So she finally replied,

“Call me when you reach the alley entrance, and I’ll come out to meet you.”

Su Ziqing sent back an “OK” emoji before hanging up. Song Shizhou set aside the ugly little clay figurine she’d been holding, only to feel an intense gaze fixed on her.

What had that person just called Song Shizhou?

Zhou Zhou.

Such an intimate name.

She had always found pet names too mushy, so she rarely addressed Song Shizhou like that. But if she didn’t, it seemed someone else would.

Her eyes lowered slightly, a thick possessiveness flickering in their depths.

She didn’t have to ask this question, no one was foolish enough to lay all their thoughts bare. Miss Bai could have easily obtained that person’s information like before, then subtly probed Song Shizhou’s attitude. But she didn’t. Because she felt it was wrong. She shouldn’t resort to those underhanded tactics anymore.

Yet she couldn’t help caring so much.

“Is someone… coming to see you later?”

People tend to seem flustered when agitated or embarrassed, and Miss Bai was no exception. Her tone and expression betrayed an uncharacteristic nervousness.

She cared.

She cared about who had spoken to Song Shizhou so intimately, who had made her laugh and chat so freely.

…Had she really waited too long?

“It’s Su Ziqing,” Song Shizhou answered.

“She heard I rented this smaller studio and insisted on bringing me some things.”

“Same reason as you.”

The moment those words fell, Bai Ruowei’s pupils trembled.

Same as her?

She silently repeated the name Su Ziqing in her mind. As someone familiar with most of the Inner City’s elite families their key members, personalities, zodiac signs, professions, blood types, social circles, she quickly recalled who this Miss Su was.

“I remember her.”

“Her family deals mainly in jewelry. In recent years, they’ve also had close business ties with the Sun family.”

Then, as if struck by a thought, she added,

“Was it this Miss Su who connected you with the Suns?”

Song Shizhou chuckled lightly, her tone indifferent.

“Are you investigating my record, Bai Ruowei?”

The air between them froze.

Song Shizhou’s expression grew weary. Bai Ruowei had always been like this too possessive, always trying to isolate her from others.

Though, to be fair, she had never crossed any serious lines.

Actually, Miss Bai hadn’t paid much attention to Su Ziqing’s arrival at first, as she had met the girl several times before. Su Ziqing had a cheerful personality and seemed equally interested in both her and Shizhou.

But hearing the faint impatience in Song Shizhou’s tone, Bai Ruowei couldn’t help but feel a subtle pang of bitterness in her heart.

Because in the past, she had been the only one who received such treatment, the one Song Shizhou shielded and protected.

Yet now, that person had become someone else.

The scent of osmanthus suddenly grew heavier, effortlessly filling the not-too-large studio. Miss Bai’s expression was serious and focused, a faint crimson glimmer flashing in her eyes.

“I’m not digging into your past. I just don’t want her calling you like that.”

She thought, Shizhou had been right that day love and possessiveness were indeed not the same thing.

But that didn’t mean she was wrong, that she couldn’t have possessiveness toward Song Shizhou.

She wasn’t wrong.

Because she truly loved Song Shizhou, and it was precisely because she loved Song Shizhou that this overwhelming possessiveness had taken root.

She didn’t want others to call her the same way, didn’t want their memories tainted by someone else’s traces, overwritten by another’s presence.

She looked up, her expression earnest and solemn, yet her voice carried a faint hint of grievance.

“Shizhou, can you not let her call you like that?”

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