Little Pink Starfish

The medical bed on the Snake Pit spaceship was extremely sturdy, but at this very moment, the metal frame let out subtle creaking sounds.

At the same time, a man’s low coaxing voice sounded.

“The medical officer said I need to perform some pheromone-release therapy on you to alleviate your allergic reaction.”

“Don’t be afraid, it won’t hurt.”

“This is just a normal… medical procedure, there’s no need to be shy.”

…

Though Lu Taipan claimed the treatment wouldn’t be painful, after a short while, a slender hand struggled out from beneath the bedsheet, reaching for the emergency call button at the head of the bed.

Unfortunately, just as the hand moved, it was covered by a larger, rougher palm. Their fingers interlaced, and the hand was firmly pinned in place.

In the greenhouse room aboard the Snake Pit spaceship, clusters of Laia flowers bloomed.

But now, in an unnoticed corner, one Laia flower’s petals had already withered. Its stem drooped heavily, quietly bearing a slightly red fruit.

The once unripe fruit was now nearing maturity.

Each segment of the fruit’s flesh gave off a honey-like sweetness, juicy, soft, and plump.

…

Inside the treatment room, the sweet fragrance tangled with the man’s dominant, cold scent, gradually blending into a thick and intense aroma.

That scent alone caused the room’s temperature to slowly rise.

…

This time, Su Liang and Lu Taipan once again took a long time to finally separate.

The ever-composed and famously reserved master of the Snake Pit now had slightly reddened eyes and uneven breath.

He stared intently at Su Liang, then abruptly got up from the medical bed.

“I need to step out for a bit.”

With those rushed words, the man fled nearly in a panic into the attached cleansing room of the medical bay.

On the bed, Su Liang was gasping for breath, his whole body soaked as if pulled from water, utterly exhausted and unable to respond to Lu Taipan.

He tried to sit up, but as soon as he moved, his clothes slipped right off his shoulder.

“Hiss…”

He sharply inhaled.

A particular lingering discomfort within his body made Su Liang’s expression shift unpredictably. First, he barely managed to grab the blanket and cover himself, then quickly clutched his collar.

When he reached for the buttons, he realized nearly all of them were missing. And not just the buttons—his previously clean hospital gown now looked like a tattered rag, barely clinging to his body.

He didn’t even need a mirror to know his visible skin was marked with “treatment traces,” and the parts not visible… were likely just as bad.

The worst area, of course, was his nape—there was a deep bite mark there, so deep it was slightly bleeding.

Even though the area had been cleaned multiple times during the “treatment,” and Lu Zhi Zhao’s pheromone scent had long disappeared, the Alpha’s overpowering possessiveness remained—his pheromones stubbornly layered over that one small patch.

Su Liang felt like he was drenched head to toe in Lu Taipan’s pheromones.

The medical officer hadn’t been wrong—Lu Taipan’s pheromones truly could cure his allergic reaction.

The full-body stinging from being allergic to Lu Zhi Zhao’s scent had vanished, but…

“Oh god…”

Su Liang collapsed back onto the bed, eyes slightly vacant.

He knew he should pull himself together and clean up the chaotic mess, but in truth, even lifting a finger felt like a chore.

They hadn’t even done anything too extreme, and yet, the treatment room was left in utter disarray. Su Liang didn’t even want to think about how he’d face the medical staff when they walked in later.

Actually, forget the medical staff—he didn’t even know how to face Lu Taipan at this point. Something about the man seemed… different now.

Even if he tried to blank out, Su Liang could still clearly hear faint, suggestive grunts coming from the cleansing room.

A while later, came the sound of running water.

After quite some time, Lu Taipan finally emerged from the cleansing room. He had taken off his black combat uniform, only a bath towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was loose, damp, and dripping with cool moisture.

Though a hint of desire still lingered in his eyes, paired with his jet-black hair and devilishly handsome face, the man now exuded a dangerous satisfaction—

Like a bloodthirsty sea monster, full and content, in an uncharacteristically good mood.

Clearly dangerous to the point of being lethal, and having just made Su Liang suffer terribly, yet the moment he laid eyes on Lu Taipan again, Su Liang couldn’t help but falter for a moment.

Damn, he was still really hot.

Lu had already cleaned himself, but when he came closer, Su Liang’s acute sense picked up a familiar scent beneath his cool pheromones—

A lingering sweetness.

Su Liang: “…”

The moment he smelled that familiar scent, all the feelings of attraction he had toward Lu Taipan instantly vanished. All that remained was a desire to forget everything that had just happened as quickly as possible.

But someone clearly wasn’t ready to let him off the hook.

Lu Taipan’s expression was calm.

“Your body hasn’t fully recovered, so this was the only way…”

As if sensing Su Liang’s weakness toward his face, Lu Taipan awkwardly brushed his hair behind his ear to show off his features more clearly.

He lowered his voice and said each word slowly and deliberately:

“You haven’t fully differentiated yet. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

After saying that, he seemed to recall something. A flicker of nervousness crossed his eyes.

He reached out and gently pressed on Su Liang’s lower abdomen.

“Does it… hurt here?”

The master of the Snake Pit asked sincerely.

“N-No…”

“But you kept saying it felt sore earlier, and your whole body was trembling.”

“Mr. Si, please! I’m begging you! Stop talking!”

Su Liang abruptly reached out and clamped his hand over Lu Taipan’s mouth.

He was so embarrassed he was on the verge of tears.

Lu Taipan blinked under Su Liang’s palm.

“…Alright.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he gave a soft promise.

But in the next second, Su Liang recoiled like a shocked cat, springing back and yanking his hand away.

“Mr. Si?!”

He raised his voice in disbelief, staring at the man who was supposed to be composed and cold.

Just now, someone had licked the center of his palm.

“…Tastes sweet.”

Lu Taipan’s voice was hoarse as he looked at Su Liang.

His expression was surprisingly composed, as if licking someone’s hand was no big deal for the infamous master of the Snake Pit.

The only thing that gave him away was the flush on his ears—so red they were practically dripping blood.

…At least one thing he’d said was true.

The calm, restrained image he’d shown Su Liang before—had all been a complete lie.