Little Pink Starfish

Qiguan Rui was momentarily stunned.

No matter how sharp and perceptive he was, he couldn’t immediately guess what was on Gu Bai’s mind.

“A tragic… past?”

Gu Bai immediately realized he had slipped up. He cleared his throat and said, “I recognize that person.” He gestured toward Wushang.

Qiguan Rui followed his gaze, narrowing his eyes.

Of course, he also recognized her—it was the same person whom Ziche Shubai had noticed at the small restaurant a few days ago. But why was Ziche Shubai still paying attention to her now?

Then, in a soft voice, he said, “Yes, we did have a brief encounter.” He paused. “What’s the matter, gege?”

Gu Bai said, “That’s a girl.”

Qiguan Rui already knew, so he simply responded, “Yes.”

Gu Bai continued, “And the one she’s holding is also a girl.”

Qiguan Rui raised an eyebrow. “A girl… and another girl.”

Gu Bai nodded. “I’ve seen the older companion of this crossdressing girl before. They look like a senior or guardian, and their face carries a shadow. If this girl wants to be with the one she loves, that senior probably won’t just stand by and do nothing.”

When Gu Bai had written about Wushang in his novel, he had only briefly mentioned this part. But in that single sentence, he had also described how Wushang lost her first love due to her master’s interference. That heartbreak left her utterly disillusioned.

Yet, because of the debt she owed her master for raising her, she later fought desperately to avenge them. In a way, her determination was not just for revenge but also a way to repay her master with her own life—so she wouldn’t have to suffer living. It wasn’t until she fell for the twisted protagonist that her heart came back to life again.

Honestly, Wushang was a good person—straightforward, with a clear sense of gratitude and vengeance, decisive and principled, aside from being exceptionally ruthless when killing. But later, her poor judgment led her to fall for a lunatic, and her values got completely skewed.

Qiguan Rui chuckled. “I see. But everyone has their own fate—it’s not really our concern.”

Gu Bai sighed. Even though he felt a little sorry for them, there wasn’t much he could do.

For one, while the gentle-looking girl was indeed pitiful, if she didn’t die, Wushang wouldn’t lose hope. Without losing hope, this part of the story would have to change drastically. If the twisted protagonist lost one of his most loyal “dog-like” followers, it would disrupt the harem’s dynamics. After all, Wushang wasn’t just any ordinary girl—she was one of the Four Immortal Fairies, and in the future, she would form alliances within the harem, causing internal conflicts and shifting its power structure.

And secondly, after spending so much time in this world, his initial kindness had already been worn down. Even if his compassion flared up again, could he really walk up to Wushang and tell her, “Hey, your master is going to die, and your lover too”? She’d probably think he was insane.

And if he didn’t say anything… well, he and Gu Xiaoshan were only here for a vacation. They had no idea when Wushang’s master would act. Was he supposed to follow them around every day, waiting for something to happen?

So, despite his regret, he truly had no way to intervene.

Qiguan Rui watched as Gu Bai nodded in agreement, deep in thought.

If a girl could be with another girl, then… could a man be with another man?

He had never heard of such things before, but Ziche Shubai seemed unsurprised by it.

Did that mean Ziche Shubai… didn’t find it repulsive?

Qiguan Rui’s gaze darkened.

Ziche Shubai was always perceptive about others, yet he seemed completely oblivious to Qiguan Rui’s desires.

But was he truly unaware, or had he already noticed and simply chosen to ignore it? …No, if he had really noticed, he wouldn’t act this way.

Even if he couldn’t fully understand Ziche Shubai’s thoughts, he had always been keenly aware of his emotional shifts.

Since there was nothing Gu Bai could do, he chose to turn a blind eye to this ill-fated pair.

—Forget it, he hadn’t even secured his own survival yet. There was no point worrying about others.

There were far too many tragic pasts among the girls in his harem novel. If he had to intervene every time he encountered one… then what was the point of the twisted protagonist?

Stealing the protagonist’s spotlight wasn’t how things worked!

They put the two girls out of their minds. As Qiguan Rui turned away, a shadow flickered silently in the distance. Only then did he return to his usual warm and gentle demeanor, leading Gu Bai to the inn.

This inn had been carefully selected in advance—it even required reservations days ahead. Otherwise, it would be completely packed.

Gu Bai took one look at the elegant surroundings and gave Qiguan Rui a thumbs-up.

Well done. Clearly, he had made detailed preparations—though, now that Gu Bai thought about it, was this brat so confident that he would definitely agree to come along?

This realization made Gu Bai feel a growing sense of crisis about his role as the elder brother…

Qiguan Rui took his hand and pulled him into the inn.

Gu Bai turned his face away.

Fine, whatever. It wasn’t a big deal.

They were staying in Room Eight of the Tianzi Suite. It was booked well in advance—had they been any later, they wouldn’t have gotten a room at all, as there were only ten available.

After settling in, the two brothers stayed in Huachao City.

Qiguan Rui had clearly put in a lot of effort, guiding Gu Bai around for the next two days with the familiarity of a local.

By the time they had explored most of the area, the Flower Festival had arrived.

And so had the overwhelming crowds, shoulder to shoulder, foot to foot.

Standing at the edge of the throng, Gu Bai hesitated.

He really didn’t want to squeeze through this mess. Wouldn’t he end up covered in sweat just by walking inside?!

He turned his head to look at Qiguan Rui.

Xiaoshan, maybe we should just go back…

Qiguan Rui smiled. “Gege, will you accompany me?”

Gu Bai: “…Fine.”

Damn it! Raising a kid is hard!

After layering himself in a black gauze robe, Gu Bai stepped out, exuding an aura of noble aloofness.

Qiguan Rui led the way with a smile, while Gu Bai’s dignified presence intimidated some of the ordinary folk, causing them to step aside out of caution.

At least it didn’t push Gu Bai to his breaking point.

They soon arrived in front of a garden.

Though called a garden, it had no real walls—more like an open plaza with only a few trees. However, flowers bloomed in endless patches, bursting in a vibrant array of colors. Fragrant scents drifted through the air, making the place feel almost like a fairyland.

At first glance, even Gu Bai had to admit it was quite beautiful.

But beyond recognizing peonies, chrysanthemums, and orchids, he had no clue about the other flowers. He also had no ability to judge their quality.

Back when he wrote about the Flower Festival in his novel, he hadn’t described the real flowers much—his focus had been on the “flowers” (women). So now, even though he was here in person, he was just taking in the sights without much appreciation.

Meanwhile, Qiguan Rui was pointing at various flowers, explaining their names and significance with expert knowledge.

Gu Bai kept his face expressionless, nodding along, exuding an aura of deep understanding.

This was the ultimate level of pretending to be knowledgeable—no one could tell he was clueless!

After touring the garden, they noticed the crowd shifting toward a specific location.

Qiguan Rui immediately understood. “Gege, the Flower Viewing Festival is about to begin.”

Gu Bai nodded and followed him.

Soon, they arrived at a grand square surrounded by countless flowers. At the center stood a tall stage, flanked by piles of fresh blossoms, with colorful silk ribbons fluttering above. Behind it, a beautifully crafted pavilion added to the scene’s elegance and charm.

Among the sea of flowers, numerous graceful figures swayed lightly, their delicate movements mesmerizing.

Gu Bai glanced at the silhouettes, then at Qiguan Rui, and silently sighed.

Ah, Xiaoshan had indeed reached the age of appreciating beauty and romance. He had flirted with girls before, and now he was deliberately taking them to a place filled with them. Should Gu Bai start preparing more betrothal gifts? Maybe help him marry three or four wives in the future?

Qiguan Rui was caught off guard by the strange look in Gu Bai’s eyes.

That gaze… Why did it feel so odd?

He had brought Ziche Shubai here with a purpose. Since he desired him, he needed to know whether Ziche Shubai had any interest in women.

…So he could decide his next move.

The two of them were clearly thinking on completely different wavelengths, yet both were secretly observing each other’s reactions.

Thus, they paid exceptionally close attention to the “flower viewing” once the festival began.

Even in the real world, women generally had less physical strength than men. In a martial arts society like this, their disadvantage was even more pronounced. And in novels written for a male audience, the status of women was even lower. While the twisted protagonist had some powerful and capable women in his harem, the overall social structure still leaned heavily toward male dominance.

Women without martial talent often led difficult lives and had to rely on men for survival. Even among the stronger ones, weren’t they ultimately dependent on the twisted protagonist? Not every woman in the harem was truly in love—many of them simply weren’t fools.

At its core, the Flower Viewing Festival was an event where men courted women, and women, in turn, had the opportunity to court men.

And the organizers? The Baihua Sect. _{[T/N: Hundred flowers.]}

As the name suggested, it was an all-female sect.

Gu Bai and Qiguan Rui had dressed quite fashionably for the occasion. One exuded an air of noble aloofness, while the other was gentle and refined. Compared to the many ordinary men in the crowd, they were far more eye-catching.

Women admired strength, but they also admired good looks. So, when some of the Baihua Sect’s disciples served them, they were particularly attentive.

One young woman was about to personally hand a cup of tea to Gu Bai, leaning in as if she might rest against him—only for Qiguan Rui to intercept the tea before she could get close.

The girl’s body stiffened in shock. Just as she timidly looked up, she met Qiguan Rui’s gaze—one filled with unmistakable malice. Her face instantly turned deathly pale.

“I-I…”

Gu Bai, puzzled, turned around to check the situation. Seeing Qiguan Rui frowning, he quickly understood.

The girl was simply scared. She must have noticed Gu Xiaoshan’s displeasure and feared being reprimanded.

So, in a cold voice, Gu Bai said, “There is no need for such attention. Just bring tea and refreshments as necessary.”

The girl hurriedly retreated, her heart pounding wildly.

She had never encountered such a terrifying look before. Was he going to eat her alive, or was he about to kill her?!

Luckily, she was used to dealing with men, so her mental fortitude was strong enough to keep her from collapsing on the spot.

Qiguan Rui, satisfied after scaring the girl away, calmly placed the teacup into Gu Bai’s hands. “Gege, have some to warm your stomach. The pastries here are quite good and should suit your taste.”

Gu Bai hadn’t seen Qiguan Rui’s previous expression, but he had noticed his actions.

…It felt like he was deliberately keeping women away.

This wasn’t even the first time.

Gu Xiaoshan had always been a bit too possessive. Right now, he was still unmarried, so it was fine if he monopolized Gu Bai’s time. But with his personality, if he married three or five wives in the future, how would he handle them all?

Then again, Gu Bai couldn’t help but feel a little smug.

Aside from this little flaw, his Gu Xiaoshan was absolutely perfect. Only he could have raised such an impeccable child~