Little Pink Starfish

Recently, the citizens of Tiandu City had been extremely gossip-hungry.

And the source of their gossip? The revered City Lord’s Mansion.

Because their aloof, noble, untouchable Gao Ling Zhi Hua (flower on a high mountain ridge) of a City Lord, Ziche Shubai, had suddenly grown very close to a man.

Rumor had it that they were “sharing the same bed, eating together, training together, going in and out together,” and that the City Lord was even personally teaching this man martial arts, hand-in-hand.

Such an extraordinary best friendship was bound to be an ongoing hot topic—for a long, long time.

It was said that this good friend of the City Lord was incredibly handsome, with a particularly pleasing voice.
It was said that this good friend of the City Lord had a gentle personality, treating everyone with refined courtesy.
It was said that this good friend of the City Lord wasn’t as strong, but he was extremely eager to learn.
It was said that this good friend of the City Lord was endlessly considerate and thoughtful toward him.
It was said that this good friend of the City Lord was highly intelligent and had already become his right-hand man.
It was said that even the head steward had tacitly acknowledged that this good friend was qualified to be the City Lord’s personal guard…

With all these rumors circulating among the citizens, that man had been praised to the heavens.

Of course, some people questioned it: Why does the City Lord trust this man so much?

And someone, acting all mysterious, answered: “Oh, haven’t you heard? The City Lord was kidnapped when he was young but later escaped. Apparently, it was around that time that he met this person, and they formed a deep bond…”

In short, Qi Guan Rui was now famous in Tiandu City.

So famous that even when he casually stepped outside, he could hear people talking about him.

Though Qi Guan Rui had also been the center of attention in Qingyang Town, admired and followed by many, he had never encountered this kind of… situation.

Even with his deep, calculating mind, he couldn’t help but feel something strange about it.

Could it be that… he was basking in Ziche Shubai’s glow?

Another six months had passed. Qi Guan Rui rarely went out and was practically inseparable from Gu Bai.

Gu Bai spared no effort in guiding Qi Guan Rui, generously providing him with rare materials, medicinal springs, and spiritual treasures from the mansion’s treasury. His kindness to this childhood companion was truly beyond words—he was practically giving him his heart and soul.

At first, Qi Guan Rui had his doubts. But under the constant bombardment of this sugar-coated kindness, he slowly… got used to it.

Even though, thinking back on Gu Bai’s personality, he found it a bit foolish that it hadn’t changed over the years, sometimes he thought—perhaps it was good that Gu Bai remained this way. As long as he wasn’t this foolish with others.

The feeling of someone being high and mighty to everyone but revealing their flaws only to him… it was almost as if he was special.

And Qi Guan Rui couldn’t help but want to feel even more of that.

Gu Bai finished handling today’s documents. Looking up, he was surprised to see Qi Guan Rui… spacing out.

Blinking, he looked over. “Xiaoshan, what are you thinking about?”

Qi Guan Rui casually replied, “Thinking about you.”

…Boy, are you playing the ambiguous game again?

Gu Bai remained calm. “Thinking about me?”

Qi Guan Rui smiled warmly. “Thinking that it’s time for you to eat.”

Gu Bai: “…”

So I’ve basically hired myself another steward, huh?

Right on cue, the actual steward, Qin Xubo, knocked on the door. The moment he entered, he predictably announced, “Lunch is ready. Please enjoy it while it’s hot.”

Right. Always on time.

Qi Guan Rui, still smiling, walked over, took Gu Bai’s hand, and led him toward the dining hall.

Gu Bai walked in silence, completely ignoring the expressions of the bystanders.

Fine. What he had really been thinking about was—Xiaoshan was always smiling.

Gently smiling, faintly smiling, peacefully smiling, warmly smiling like a spring breeze…

To Gu Bai, these were all just normal smiles. But maintaining such an ever-present expression—wasn’t that just a smiling face paralysis?

He himself had a reason for being expressionless, but why was Xiaoshan putting on a constant smile? Wasn’t he tired…?

Just as he had this thought, Qi Guan Rui pulled him into the room and smiled again.

“I’m not tired.”

Turns out, he had said that out loud.

Thankfully, they had already reached their private quarters by then.

Qi Guan Rui was already used to Gu Bai spacing out in front of him. While setting out their dishes and utensils, he softly explained, “If you always greet people with a smile, it puts them in a better mood. That makes things easier.”

Gu Bai’s mind instantly filled in the blanks:

So, it’s forced smiling? Smiling to survive? Smiling at everyone, even when disgusted, just to please them? Xiaoshan must have had a really hard time at the bottom of society… Damn, I should have brought him here as soon as I became City Lord. Everyone listens to me—I could’ve just kept him by my side all the time! If only I hadn’t hesitated back then, he wouldn’t have suffered so much…

Gu Bai silently looked at Qi Guan Rui, feeling immense guilt.

Receiving this look—full of sympathy and regret—Qi Guan Rui’s smile stiffened for a moment.

…What the hell is this Ziche Shubai thinking now?

Qi Guan Rui’s original intention had simply been to use smiling as a disguise—a way to gain more benefits and lower others’ guard.

But now, he was suddenly feeling a very strange emotion.

Of course, at the time, he didn’t yet realize what this emotion was.

After lunch, the two of them headed to the training grounds.

This was their fixed schedule—work in the morning, train in the afternoon, cultivate in the evening. A very healthy lifestyle.

Upon entering, Gu Bai waved for the others to leave, leaving only Qi Guan Rui behind. He stood facing him.

Staring at Qi Guan Rui, Gu Bai felt a little frustrated.

Over the past six months, he had grown taller.

But Gu Xiaoshan had grown even faster.

At first, he had only been half a head taller, but now he was almost a full head taller than Gu Bai.

…Was it all the food I’ve been feeding him? Did it have some kind of growth hormone effect?!

Gu Bai sighed and looked at Qi Guan Rui again.

Damn, I really want to punch him.

Then he thought—why not?

Qi Guan Rui raised an eyebrow.

Although Ziche Shubai was usually expressionless, after all this time, Qi Guan Rui had learned to read his subtle shifts in mood.

Right now, it was frustration? Hmm… That “I want to hit you” emotion was practically radiating from him.

Surprisingly, despite being someone who hated being humiliated or losing face, Qi Guan Rui didn’t feel angry this time.

Maybe… because Ziche Shubai had no malicious intent? He thought.

Actually, this might be kind of fun.

Then, Qi Guan Rui got ready.

Sure enough, the next second, the young man across from him sharpened his gaze, cold energy beginning to rise from his body.

Right. Gu Bai’s martial physique allowed him to absorb any type of martial energy—but he had to choose one attribute for refining.

So, he chose ice.

And why?

Because as a white-clad, elegant, aristocratic young master, nothing complemented his cool and untouchable aura better than ice!

—Could you even imagine a celestial-like figure rolling around in the dirt during a fight?

Of course not.

And naturally, the perfect white-clothed man should wield a sword—but since Gu Bai was not brave (and afraid of death), he had never even considered learning swordsmanship.

Too much effort.

So, ice it was. ~(≧▽≦)/~

Qi Guan Rui had no idea what kind of ridiculous thoughts Gu Bai was having at that moment.

He was simply focused—watching Gu Bai’s hands.

They were a pair of perfect hands. The bone structure was exquisite, each joint well-defined, the fingers long and powerful.

At the same time, they were flawless—like ice sculptures that had never melted, pale to the point of near-transparency.

Yet those hands contained immense power.

When that power erupted, it made their owner seem even more unreachable, even more untouchable.

Gu Bai’s fingers trembled slightly. Frost quickly formed a thick layer of ice at his fingertips.

The next moment, his figure flickered—his fingers curling into a fist—as he suddenly appeared right in front of Qi Guan Rui.

That fist was aimed directly at his abdomen.

Qi Guan Rui’s body bent like a bow, dodging in an instant.

However, the intense cold aura still lingered in the air, leaving a layer of white frost on the fabric of his clothes.

Gu Bai, still expressionless, said, “Not bad. Now come at me from the front.”

Qi Guan Rui smiled slightly.

The air around his feet suddenly swirled, and in a flash, his entire body shot forward like an arrow, appearing directly before Gu Bai.

His speed was just as fast as Gu Bai’s earlier movement.

Then—Qi Guan Rui punched.

His fist was wrapped in what seemed like a violent storm, the force of his blow so powerful that the very air seemed to distort. The sheer force alone produced a compressed soundwave, making the atmosphere around him feel heavy and oppressive.

If that punch landed directly, it would blow straight through someone’s skull.

But Qi Guan Rui did not hold back—because the person in front of him did not need him to.

Gu Bai’s feet shifted slightly. His five fingers spread open as he reached out.

And then—his palm clamped down on that punch.

Like an iron vice, he completely stopped Qi Guan Rui’s attack.

Under the force of impact, Gu Bai’s entire body was pushed backward, his feet dragging along the ground for over ten meters before stopping.

Qi Guan Rui tried to pull his fist back, but Gu Bai’s other hand moved—aiming directly at his abdomen, preparing to strike hard.

But Qi Guan Rui had already anticipated it. His steps shifted fluidly, his body moving like a phantom, swift and elusive, as if he were a panther in the forest—dodging effortlessly once again.

Gu Bai’s fist swung into empty air.

He let out a small grunt.

Still gripping Qi Guan Rui’s fist, Gu Bai adjusted his stance, lifted his leg, and swept it out in a kick—

Qi Guan Rui, still in the midst of his agile movements, momentarily lost his balance.

Gu Bai tensed his arm muscles, and with the hand still gripping Qi Guan Rui’s wrist, he swung him forcefully—

“PAH!”

Qi Guan Rui was thrown straight across the training grounds.

However, even as his body flew through the air, his arms shifted fluidly, leveraging his momentum—his entire body flipped midair.

But—he still didn’t manage to land on his feet. He still fell to the ground.

Gu Bai let out a disappointed sigh.

Too bad, it wasn’t a faceplant.

Qi Guan Rui dusted himself off and smiled warmly. “Gege, did I improve this time?”

Meeting those clear, innocent-looking beautiful eyes, Gu Bai suddenly felt… a little guilty.

…Even though, originally, he had genuinely wanted to beat him up.