Little Pink Starfish

Ziche Shubai had been dazed for a long time… Qi Guanrui sat on the side, resting his chin while watching him. Ever since someone had come down to deliver documents to him, Ziche Shubai had entered that dazed state. Qi Guanrui could even see a trace of conflict and annoyance flashing in Ziche Shubai’s eyes… Such emotions were truly rare.

Raising his eyebrows slightly, Qi Guanrui went to wash a plate of fruit, skewered a piece with a silver fork, and brought it to Gu Bai’s lips. Gu Bai instinctively opened his mouth to catch it. The sweet taste spread in his mouth, and when he realized what had happened, he saw a pair of disturbingly gentle eyes… He really did look like a perfect gentleman on the surface.

At this moment, however, Gu Bai felt far from being taken care of—whoever believed they were tormenting someone but discovered they hadn’t tormented them at all wouldn’t be able to keep up such self-delusions for long. Instead, he felt exceptionally bitter.

He had thought for quite a while just now but still couldn’t come up with a reasonable way to deal with this pervert. Damn it… Did he have to use the notorious Ten Tortures of the Qing Dynasty on the freak? Gu Bai glanced at the pervert again… This guy was so meek, obedient, and compliant. Gu Bai couldn’t do it. He couldn’t, and that was the most tragic part!

Qi Guanrui maintained his submissive demeanour and continued to serve him. The smile in his eyes and at the corners of his lips were both incomparably gentle and affectionate. Lately, he had been genuinely happy.

A few days ago, after Qi Guanrui had been chained up, hope and despair had placed his heart in a state of ice and fire. It was both agonizing and exceptionally sobering. He knew Ziche Shubai was planning to deal with him, but he had no idea how he would be treated. This kind of tormenting feeling, even when he had previously been trampled into the dirt, was something he had never experienced before. Qi Guanrui had imagined ten thousand different scenarios in his mind, everything from vicious to brutal methods. He had considered all possibilities. But none of them turned out to be like this… He should have known all along that he could never guess Ziche Shubai’s intentions. But this time, being wrong brought him, for the first time, a sense of inner security.

After Ziche Shubai successfully restrained Qi Guanrui, he was only made to serve him. There was no abuse, no torture, no punishment, no handing him over to anyone else, and not even a single harsh word… Was this Ziche Shubai’s way of seeking revenge?

But Qi Guanrui had always been willing to do these things for him, never wanting anyone else to take care of Ziche Shubai… Qi Guanrui felt as though he had gained some understanding of Ziche Shubai. When it came to him, Ziche Shubai always seemed soft-hearted. Because of this softness, even his punishments had become somewhat laughable.

Qi Guanrui tentatively sought intimacy, even sneaking into Ziche Shubai’s bed at night to press and rub against him. If Ziche Shubai truly thought the past events were shameful, he should have been furious—he no longer needed to keep up any pretence. But he wasn’t. At most, Ziche Shubai would push him aside, but harsher actions? There were none.

Ziche Shubai seemed pleased seeing Qi Guanrui busying himself, such a subtle satisfaction that Qi Guanrui found endearing. At such times, when Ziche Shubai believed he had completely restrained him, Qi Guanrui felt he could genuinely get closer to Ziche Shubai… Seeing sides of him that he could never see before. Not even Gu Xiaoshan had witnessed such vivid aspects of him in the past. It felt as if they overlapped with the profound memories of Qi Guanrui’s childhood.

Because of this, Qi Guanrui felt that these days weren’t so bad. Aside from his unfulfilled desires, there really wasn’t anything unpleasant. All of Ziche Shubai genuinely belonged to him, and only he could see it.

When Ziche Shubai looked at him with the same gaze one would give a younger brother, Qi Guanrui wasn’t satisfied. And when Ziche Shubai was restrained by him and he lost the tenderness in his gaze, Qi Guanrui still wasn’t satisfied. One was the uncontrollable surge of desire, the other was the emptiness in his heart.

Qi Guanrui only knew that he wanted all of Ziche Shubai. But what exactly that “all” entailed, he couldn’t calculate. He could only explore it slowly. However, perhaps after this period of time, he could come to understand his true inner desires. For instance, even after exposing his ugliest side to Ziche Shubai, the response he received was found to be a part of what he yearned for.

Gu Bai, while pondering the meaning of life, was fed a whole plate of fruit. Then, as usual, he washed his hands in the water basin Qi Guanrui brought over, took the towel from Qi Guanrui to dry them, and even raised his head slightly to let Qi Guanrui wipe the corners of his mouth…

After this smooth sequence of actions was completed, Gu Bai helplessly covered his face. This was utterly humiliating. After pulling himself together, Gu Bai, though still mentally scratching at walls, had given up on continuing to torment Qi Guanrui. Fine, whatever. As long as the pervert was still under control, he wouldn’t waste his brainpower on this anymore!

At that moment, the pervert’s voice came again: “Gege, have some tea to soothe your throat.”

Gu Bai replied with a “hmm,” took the tea, and drank a sip. Then his hand froze. Damn it, he wanted to bang his head against the wall!

Qi Guanrui’s actions left no room for criticism. Gu Bai rubbed his temples and decided to shift focus. Speaking of which, how was that troublesome Haoyang City doing? Thinking this, Gu Bai waved his hand and brought Qi Guanrui back to the City Lord’s mansion with him—indeed, he could only feel at ease if he personally kept an eye on the pervert.

The citizens of Tiandu City were finally relieved to see the return of their City Lord, but at the same time, they also noticed the growing closeness between the City Lord and his good friend. As observant people with keen eyes, the citizens couldn’t help but notice the chains on the good friend’s wrists.

Their thoughts raced, leading to the following deduction:

Before leaving: The City Lord and his good friend were inseparable.

After leaving: Unknown, but still inseparable (→ likely with lots of drama).

Upon return: The City Lord carried his good friend straight to the basement (→ eheh).

Now: The good friend had chains added to his body.

Wasn’t the result obvious?

Clearly, the City Lord, after feeling a surge of [bleep] and facing unfulfilled [bleep], decided to [bleep] him and [bleep] him hard. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

Normally, this should have been a tragic story of “City Lord X torments an innocent young man out of frustration,” with outraged citizens reporting it. But in Tiandu City, it all turned into entertaining gossip.

For example, rumours among the citizens went like this:

Citizen A: The City Lord isn’t sexually cold after all! The old City Lord in heaven must be happy!

Citizen B: The City Lord’s love life is so dramatic; I must excitedly give him a thumbs up!*

Citizen C: Best friend, accept the City Lord’s love!

Citizen D: Should we start preparing for the wedding?

Citizen E: Gotta start saving up for the wedding gift now!

Citizen F: We must toast at the banquet!

_{*[T/N: I’m gonna start saying shit like this. “I must enthusiastically punch the air!”]}

Thus, whenever the City Lord and the pervert went out to buy groceries (To prevent escape, the City Lord had to personally accompany him), they were met with countless fiery gazes.

Gu Bai: …Am I shopping the wrong way?

Qi Guanrui, ever observant, noticed the citizens’ gazes darting to the chains on his hands, then to his face, then to Ziche Shubai’s face, before radiating fiery enthusiasm… He seemed to understand something but also felt like he didn’t understand anything. So, when he instinctively looked at Gu Bai, he sighed softly, his eyes brimming with affection.

Every citizen who saw this scene also sighed deeply.

Citizen A: It’s mutual love! City Lord, please see your friend’s feelings!

Citizen B: City Lord, don’t be so cold! Tortured romance isn’t trendy anymore!

Citizen C: Why is love always so melancholic…

Citizen D: City Lord, turn back! Please, turn back!

Gu Bai immediately felt the gazes on him grow even more fervent… What are you all thinking? I don’t understand!

Qi Guanrui moved closer to Gu Bai, reaching out to take his hand.

Gu Bai turned his head: “…What are you doing?”

Citizens: The City Lord truly doesn’t understand a man’s heart!

Qi Guanrui smiled faintly: “Gege, let’s go back.”

For the citizens who prioritized the City Lord’s happiness, this could not stand. The friend clearly loved the City Lord back!

After some nudging, a little girl carrying a basket of flowers timidly walked forward, nervously speaking up: “City… City Lord…”

Gu Bai, always patient with children, lowered his head slightly and said, “What is it?”

The little girl, her face pink and tense, nervously raised the basket, her cheeks red as she stammered: “This is… For both of you!”

Gu Bai was stunned: …Both of us?

The little girl, as if facing death, shoved the basket into their hands and bolted.

Gu Bai was dumbfounded.

Qi Guanrui glanced at the basket, his smile becoming ever softer.

In the eyes of the citizens, that was unmistakably the smile of someone basking in happiness.

Qi Guanrui leaned toward Gu Bai’s ear, his voice gentle: “Gege…”

Gu Bai snapped out of it: “What now?”

Qi Guanrui chuckled: “These flowers, how about I give them to Gege?”

Gu Bai immediately thought of the earlier scene. “Wish us… Happiness?” Happiness, my ass! Who wants to be happy with a pervert? No, wait—who the hell could even be happy with a pervert?! Are all my citizens blind, damn it?! Gu Bai felt utterly defeated. Damn it all, he had just been hit in the face by the city’s good intentions!He haughtily turned around and strode toward the City Lord’s mansion without stopping. Of course, he didn’t forget to drag the pervert along before leaving.

Behind him, countless citizens looked on with gratified smiles. Look, the City Lord clearly loves his friend back! The happy event… probably isn’t far away, is it?

Inside the City Lord’s mansion, Gu Bai bumped into the ever-busy Head Steward Qin Xubo. The steward, moving briskly, respectfully saluted: “City Lord, I was just about to seek you out.”

Gu Bai asked, “What is it?”

The steward’s expression turned even more serious: “News about Haoyang City has been gathered.”