Little Pink Starfish

When it came to helping his crush learn about a love rival, Gu Bai absolutely wouldn’t do it. So even though he’d rolled his eyes a hundred times in his heart, he still didn’t say anything.
As for Cecil, now that he’d finally found a topic that got the attention of his beloved, how could he not continue to dig deeper? Though normal people might take a knife for their brothers, Cecil felt that he was the kind of person who could stab his brother twice—when necessary.
Just like now.

Cecil: “I wonder what Zhu Ning likes. Carlo, if you know, could you tell me? I want to tell Nois too, to give him some help.”
Gu Bai: “Don’t know.”
Heh, ge was right as expected.

Cecil: “Did you just meet Zhu Ning? You’re both really impressive—when you were picking stones together just now, it was so eye-catching.”
Gu Bai: “Just met, thanks.”
Heh, ge knows ge was just an afterthought. Say the compliments if you want, ge can take it! Ge doesn’t look as good as Zhu Ning anyway… You shallow looks-obsessed hypocrite, ge knows all about you!

Cecil: “Do you think, with how awkward Nois is, Zhu Ning would still be willing to be his personal stone-gambling master?”
Gu Bai: “Yes.”
Heh, of course he would, the plot says so. And you think ge would say “no” and let you go invite Zhu Ning? Let ge tell you! Not a chance! Check out ge’s cool face: “Yes.”

Cecil: “They’re quite a match, don’t you think, Carlo?”
Gu Bai: “……”
Foolish second male lead, still can’t admit your own feelings? You’ll regret it later, just so you know. Heh, ge’s not gonna warn you, heh.

At first, each of his questions got a reply, and Cecil was happy for a while. But when he tried to probe by saying Nois and Zhu Ning were a good match, his little Carlo suddenly went silent.
Looks like… little Carlo really did have feelings for Zhu Ning… With Zhu Ning’s talent, if the two of them got together and joined forces, they’d be a strong team and would surely thrive.
But he couldn’t allow that.
After such a short interaction, he was already deeply in love with little Carlo—there was no way he’d let go!

In his heart, Cecil made a quiet decision.
Even if it took underhanded means, he’d make sure Nois pursued Zhu Ning as soon as possible—best if they formed a pair immediately and had babies fast! Ten or eight of them!
Then, when little Carlo was heartbroken, he’d naturally be there to comfort him…

Resolved, Cecil turned to Gu Bai with a gentle smile: “Things can’t go on like this between them. I should go remind Nois—do you want to come with me, Carlo?”

Gu Bai kept a blank face but shifted his feet.
Of course ge’s going. Ge isn’t the original character who just suffers in silence and never speaks up.
Ge’s great at sneaking in whenever there’s a chance! You, the second male lead, go hit a wall and get sad, ge’s gonna take the chance and swoop in, got it?
Ge’s so aggressive when chasing someone, even ge’s scared of ge, okay!

Cecil, whose mind had already been swirling with dark thoughts, felt a little happy when he saw little Carlo willing to walk up with him—but then immediately suspected it was because of Zhu Ning, and that happiness disappeared in a flash.
Love was such a tormenting thing—bringing joy, sorrow, anxiety.
This bitter feeling… he finally understood it too…
Zhu Ning, Zhu Ning—why did this world have to have a Zhu Ning?
If Zhu Ning had vanished from this world before anyone noticed him… wouldn’t that be great?

Cecil felt like his heart was being soaked in poison, but his face still wore a spring-like smile. He walked briskly over and stood beside his brother, whose stiff face showed his deeper nervousness and embarrassment: “Nois, haven’t you finished discussing yet?” he smiled and said, “Didn’t you say you wanted to invite Zhu Ning to be your personal stone-gambling master? Or is it that your sincerity isn’t enough?”

Nois felt like he’d been granted a pardon—his brother was still reliable, after all. He immediately nodded: “Yes, we’re still discussing the terms.”
Earlier, Zhu Ning hadn’t understood why this cold-looking beastman hadn’t responded and thought maybe he had asked for too much. Now, seeing someone who seemed better at talking come over, he relaxed a little—especially when he saw Carlo Louis, guessing that this speaker might be the one trying to recruit him. Seeing that the two beastmen seemed close, he also felt more at ease.

Gu Bai, seeing the protagonist shou and official gong facing each other, muttered internally:
You’re both guys, why can’t you just have a true man-to-man heartfelt confession! Official gong, you’re way too weak—no wonder it takes you years of dragging things out to finally get accepted by the protagonist shou! A real man charges forward with all he’s got!

Cecil noticed Gu Bai’s gaze shifting between Zhu Ning and Nois and furrowed his brows slightly. But he quickly relaxed and smiled as he asked: “Then, if it’s not too much trouble, could Lord Zhu Ning restate your conditions? Nois is very sincere—I’m sure he’ll satisfy you.”

Zhu Ning replied: “May I ask what Lord Iman thinks of that?”
Cecil stepped back slightly.

Then he asked, “What kind of small favors?”

Zhu Ning’s heart stirred.
He realized that this noble young master who seemed good at talking was actually the harder one to deal with.
Since that was the case, he might as well show half-true, half-fake sincerity.

So Zhu Ning pondered aloud: “I had a close friend, but that friend was killed by a scumbag. I want revenge, so I may need to rely on the power of the one I follow… Of course, I’m not someone who forgets kindness. If my master helps me, I will serve them for life.”

Nois’s eyes lit up and he immediately said, “I’ll help you!”
A lifetime. A lifetime. A lifetime.
That was all that filled his head now.

Gu Bai couldn’t bear to watch.
Damn, this official gong is way too impulsive! Not asking anything and just promising everything—did you check with your mom first?!
…Well, it’s not mom now—it’s “amu,” male version.

Zhu Ning was surprised. He hadn’t expected Nois to agree so readily.
Cecil couldn’t stop it in time and practically wanted to facepalm.
For the sake of his pure-minded brother, he had to patch things up: “Lord Zhu Ning, may I ask if you could at least share your… hmm, enemy’s identity first?”

Zhu Ning calmly said, “If we confirm and sign a contract, I will have no more secrets.” Then he added, “And please rest assured—my enemy’s identity is far beneath yours.”
Before Cecil could say anything more, Nois had already made the final decision: “Then let’s sign the contract!”

Cecil: “……”
Gu Bai sneakily sneered.
Foolish second male lead, this is why you don’t win the protagonist shou’s love! It’s because the shou likes dumb, loyal types! You keep doubting and overthinking—it’s the loyal dog who gets the happy ending, okay!
The charming, wandering deep-feelings male second lead is out of fashion now, got it? Official gong is for everyday life. Affectionate side characters are just for making people swoon, okay!

Cecil was speechless, but since his intention had always been to push the two of them together, now that Nois was determined to dive headfirst into a pit, he might as well let him.
—Oh, right.
Zhu Ning was out for revenge, and it seemed he wouldn’t hesitate to use underhanded means. As long as he kept showing those calculating, scheming sides in front of little Carlo, Carlo’s impression of him would surely go downhill.
Wasn’t that perfect?

Yes—revenge.
Cecil’s smile took on a hint of sweetness.
He would help Nois, together, to help Zhu Ning get revenge… He figured Zhu Ning wouldn’t mind getting his hands bloody to strike down his enemy.
Of course, it’s not like he didn’t care about his brother.
His brother’s lover wanted to do something, and he was just offering full support. And that hopelessly slow brother of his—once he fell for someone, even if that person committed arson and murder, he wouldn’t mind at all.
So he wasn’t… standing in the way of their happiness, right?

Over there, Nois had already drawn up the contract and had Zhu Ning sign it.
The terms were the most generous, but the duration was a full hundred years.
Beastmen and sub-beastmen both lived around 150 years—signing for that long basically meant for life.
That was probably the one thing Nois hadn’t forgotten even when he was blinded by love.

Cecil glanced over the contract, his lips twitching slightly, but he said nothing. Instead, he softly promised: “Since that’s the case, then Lord Zhu Ning is now one of us. Rest assured—I will assist you as well from now on.”

Cold air radiated all around Gu Bai.
Goddamn, here it comes!
The second male lead’s also falling for the protagonist shou! Damn it, he’s even offering help for revenge!
This plot is such a damn force of nature! Flip table!

At that moment, Cecil turned “casually” and looked at Gu Bai: “Carlo, would you be willing to become my personal stone-gambling master too? I’ll give you very generous terms.”
Gu Bai: “Same as Zhu Ning’s?”
Damn, that voice full of sour vinegar definitely wasn’t from ge, okay!

Cecil froze slightly.
Even that—he wanted it to be the same as Zhu Ning’s… Looks like he had to expose Zhu Ning’s true nature to little Carlo as soon as possible.

His heart sour and bitter, Cecil’s expression remained gentle: “Yes, if you’re willing.”
Gu Bai: “Oh.”
This whole secret-crush thing is so fucking frustrating!

And just like that, everything was settled in a cloud of solemnity.

Joy flickered in Nois’s eyes—though to Cecil, it just looked like he was being a total dope.
As for Zhu Ning, now that he’d found a powerful backer and saw hope for revenge, some of his deeply hidden hostility faded, and when he looked at Nois, he found this beastman somewhat pleasing to the eye.

Cecil walked side-by-side with Gu Bai but didn’t dare to touch him. Even though they were so close, even though he desperately wanted to pull him into his arms, he still couldn’t act rashly.
As for Gu Bai… he kept his poker face on as he started running mental calculations on the plot.

Should ge go find that original-novel mine cave or whatever and get more high-level strange stones? If you want to chase someone, you still need that goddamn money. Ge’s gonna smash him dizzy with a pile of strange stones, ah ah ah!

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Pinky says: This time round, Gu Bai seems to have the will of a wire, he was bent so easily.