Little Pink Starfish

Gu Shan let go of Gu Bai’s wrist but continued holding his hand, leading him to the table before sitting down. “Gege has always been too soft-hearted. You shouldn’t trust people so easily.” He blinked playfully. “But Xiaoshan is an exception, right?”

Gu Bai expressionlessly pinched Gu Shan’s face. “If I weren’t careful, I’d be dead by now.”

Of course, he would still have someone investigate Gu Shan’s background over the past years, but he had never actually doubted his identity. After all, they had spent time together before, and despite growing up, Gu Shan’s facial features hadn’t changed much—just… become ridiculously handsome.

For now, Gu Bai planned to keep Gu Shan by his side. His own cultivation level was the highest, so if anything unusual happened, he would detect it immediately. And if Gu Shan truly had no ill intentions, then it was even better—having a brother who valued him rather than his status was a rare thing.

Gu Shan narrowed his eyes slightly and allowed Gu Bai to pinch his face. When Gu Bai finally let go, he squatted down slightly, bringing his face even closer. “Gege, want to give me a kiss too?”

Gu Bai flicked his forehead. “…Mischief.”

With the topic of identity lightly brushed aside, it was time for dinner.

Gu Bai opened the door, where the usual waiting attendants stood outside. He ordered them to prepare a feast.

Then…

“City lord, the cold dishes have arrived.”

Maidservants A, B, C, D, and E entered in a line, each carrying a dish.

“City lord, the hot dishes have arrived.”

Servants A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H entered in a line, carefully placing the dishes.

“City lord, Tian Du City’s finest brewed wine has arrived.”

The four stunning personal maids entered gracefully, each carrying a white jade wine bottle.

Pages A, B, C, and D brought in an assortment of bowls, chopsticks, and tableware…

Two young attendants carried in hot water and tea for rinsing the mouth…

X, Y, and Z brought in even more unnecessary things…

One after another, at least several dozen people entered, each bringing a single item, sneaking glances, observing discreetly, and then reluctantly withdrawing, as if unwilling to leave.

This process repeated several times until everything—both essential and nonessential—was fully prepared.

Only then did the ever-dutiful chief steward, Qin Xubo, step forward and ask respectfully, “City lord, would you like me to remain here to attend to you?”

Gu Bai: “……No need.”

The servants withdrew, the door shut.

Gu Shan: “Pfft.”

Gu Bai’s emotionless face turned toward Gu Shan, who was trying to hold back laughter, shoulders shaking.

I may enjoy watching drama, but I don’t want to be the center of it!

I literally just praised the city servants for their discipline, and now they’re making a complete fool out of me—what the hell?!

And Gu Xiaoshan! Don’t think I didn’t see you laughing your damn head off—that’s called disrespecting your elder brother, do you hear me?!

Gu Shan turned back, wiping the corner of his eye. “Gege’s subordinates are very amusing.”

Gu Bai gave him a silent look. “They lack discipline. I apologize for the disturbance.”

Gu Shan shook his head and sighed, his gaze turning soft. “I envy you.” Then he smiled gently. “Gege, don’t treat me like an outsider. Even though we haven’t seen each other for so long, in my heart, you’re still the same as before.”

Gu Bai wanted to be touched by those words, but…

Dude. I literally have a blank, stone-cold face. How do I look the same to you? Are your eyes broken?

Maybe Gu Bai’s thoughts were too obvious, because Gu Shan chuckled. “I know you well.” He tilted his head, considering something. “Your eyes haven’t changed… no, not entirely. But the essence is still the same.”

When Gu Bai looked at him, there was a trace of the caution that came with being a city lord—but the care and concern behind it were still the same as before.

Of course, Gu Bai had no idea what Gu Shan was thinking. He was too busy wondering why people were always able to read his soul through his eyes when he, himself, could never read anything from anyone else’s.

Okay, if I had to stare at someone’s eyes, the only thing I’d probably notice is eye boogers…

Shoving that absurd thought aside, Gu Bai said seriously, “Let’s eat.”

Gu Shan responded softly, “Alright.”

And so, they began their meal.

For the first time, Gu Bai felt completely at ease eating with someone else.

Sure, he was always relaxed when eating alone, but if someone only ever ate alone, wasn’t that just too sad?

Gu Shan was different.

It’s human nature—when you’ve already shown your most pathetic self to someone, it becomes easier to be yourself around them.

Back when they were kids, Gu Bai had once rolled around on the ground covered in blood in front of Gu Shan, then hugged and kissed him while covered in dirt. They had even stripped down and had water fights together.

After all that stupid nonsense, what did a little bit of inelegant eating matter?

Gu Shan didn’t seem to mind either.

He watched with a smile as Gu Bai devoured his food without an ounce of grace, chatting with him and pouring him drinks—treating him not as the untouchable City Lord of Tian Du, but simply as a friend and a long-lost older brother.

Halfway through the meal, Gu Bai noticed that Gu Shan had barely eaten anything while focusing on serving him. He thought for a moment, then began placing food into Gu Shan’s bowl as well.

Thus, in this brotherly camaraderie, the two of them… completely cleared the table.

—A martial artist’s appetite was always terrifying.

No matter how flawless Ziche Shubai’s shell appeared, he could still devour an entire cow in one sitting.

After the meal, the servants swiftly cleared everything away.

In the adjacent bath chamber, Gu Bai’s four maids had already prepared hot water and all necessary bathing supplies.

Gu Bai led Gu Shan inside. Warm steam filled the room.

At the center, a six-meter-wide bathing pool had been dug out, fed by a continuous stream of mineral-rich hot spring water infused with medicinal herbs.

For an average noble household, this would be an excessive luxury. But for Tian Du City’s lord, it was perfectly reasonable.

After all, as a High Wu Jun, Gu Bai was entitled to certain privileges.

Gu Shan’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. “This place is amazing.”

Gu Bai, having achieved his goal of showing off, nodded. “Want to soak?”

Gu Shan grinned, revealing eight pristine teeth. “Gege wants to bathe with me?”

Gu Bai: “…”

No, actually, I wanted to say that even men should have some modesty.

But obviously, in a harem novel world, only men and women needed to worry about modesty. Two men bathing together? That wasn’t romantic—that was just brotherhood.

Silently cursing his fujoshi-influenced brain, Gu Bai nodded again. “Let’s bathe together. We can talk while we soak.”

Gu Shan’s smile brightened, and he immediately started undoing his sash. “Then I won’t hold back. I’ll enjoy Gege’s hot spring bath.”

Gu Bai hesitated for a moment before turning his back to undress. “If you like it, you can use it often.”

By the time Gu Bai had stripped down to his undergarments, Gu Shan was already fully submerged in the water, gazing up at him.

Gu Bai felt a little uncomfortable.

Then, when Gu Shan casually remarked, “Gege’s body is really nice to look at,” he felt even more uncomfortable.

Still, he said nothing, maintaining his blank expression as he quickly stepped into the water.

Look, kid, I know you’re just complimenting my muscles, but did you have to say it like that?!

Inside the bath, the two of them sat about a meter apart, soaking in silence.

Honestly, Gu Bai was worried that Gu Shan might suddenly say something along the lines of “Gege, let me help you scrub your back”.

Sure, Gu Shan held a special place in his heart, but they hadn’t seen each other in years. Back then, Gu Bai had only known him as a tiny, adorable shota. Now, soaking in the bath with big, grown-up Gu Shan was already pushing the limits of his social tolerance.

Back in his past life, as a hardcore otaku, he had never been this physically close to anyone before. If things got any more intimate… his entire worldview might just collapse.

Fortunately, Gu Shan seemed to sense the limits of their current dynamic. He didn’t do anything inappropriate.

They bathed peacefully.

They finished their bath peacefully.

They dried off and dressed peacefully.

They got into bed peacefully.

Side by side.

For Gu Bai, the sudden presence of another person in bed was incredibly unsettling—especially since Gu Shan, for whatever reason, had grown absurdly tall. Gu Bai had always thought of himself as relatively tall, yet Gu Shan was still half a head taller than him.

That difference in height alone made his presence feel even bigger.

Gu Shan’s voice, deep and soothing, sounded even more magnetic in the quiet of the night. His slightly lowered chuckle brushed against Gu Bai’s ears, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine.

Gu Bai silently cursed his fate.

Ziche Shubai’s voice was naturally cold and emotionless. Because of that, Gu Bai had to deliberately make himself sound distant whenever he spoke, which often left him feeling stiff and frozen.

But now? Now he was lying next to a guy with a perfectly smooth, expressive voice, who could say whatever he wanted with zero effort?

Gu Bai could not accept this injustice.

Thankfully, Gu Shan was excellent at conversation, quickly drawing Gu Bai into a relaxed, enjoyable discussion.

At first, they simply chatted.

Then they chatted some more.

Then, before Gu Bai even realized it…

He had fallen asleep.

It was nearly midnight.

Gu Shan slowly raised his hand and, with a casual flick of his fingers, extinguished the last flickering candle on the table.

Then, he turned his head slightly, exhaling a faint wisp of black mist.

Gu Bai unconsciously inhaled it. A faint bluish tint appeared between his brows, and his body instinctively relaxed, his head tilting slightly to the side as he drifted into an even deeper sleep.

Gu Shan chuckled softly and reached out to pinch Gu Bai’s cheek.

“A city lord as powerful as you wouldn’t even consider the possibility that a mere Beginner Wu Shi like me could have a poison capable of affecting a High Wu Jun, would you?”

He leaned in closer, staring at the flawless face illuminated by the moonlight.

“Even though you seem more cautious now… you’re still just as soft-hearted as before.”

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“But since you didn’t lie to me… I won’t harm you.”

With that, he lifted his hand and released a streak of black light into the night.

A few moments later, a faint hissing sound came from outside the window.

A dark, slithering shadow appeared, bowing its black-scaled head toward Gu Shan in acknowledgment.

Then, with a flick of its body, it disappeared into the night.