Little Pink Starfish

Under Qiguan Rui’s guidance, Noyce left wearing an expression that could only be described as “too much to say.”
He had already decided—he would investigate every single detail about that love rival, from his ancestors down to the present life, preferably even how many times he wet the bed as a child.

Just as Qiguan Rui, who had successfully fooled Noyce, was turning back to glance at his beloved, he happened to catch Gu Bai’s slightly conflicted gaze—of course, probably only he in this world could tell that Gu Bai was conflicted.

Qiguan Rui gently asked, “Carlo, what’s wrong?”
Gu Bai: “Nothing.”

Wait a sec… wasn’t that little scheme the second male lead just pulled kind of off? In the original novel, he didn’t make this suggestion, did he? Because the protagonist shou never paid attention to Trean, and it ended up really hurting Noyce. That part was written with extra padding by the author to express Noyce’s silent suffering and Zhu Ning’s obliviousness, leading to all kinds of misunderstandings between the two, and even later Zhu Ning doing things alone and being discovered by the second male lead. That deepened the second male lead’s pity and love for Zhu Ning and led to a long internal struggle about whether to tell his good brother the truth. Then the second male lead, who had fallen for Carlo (the original host), was also secretly pained while helping Zhu Ning. The author padded it out again, dragging the drama before the second male lead confessed to Noyce with suppressed feelings so everyone could work hard together…

The plot dragged forever, and it must’ve gone on for at least a year in-story.
Really, very much like dragging things out.

But now the second male lead had directly pushed the official gong to go investigate the scum gong.
And with the official gong’s background, they’d definitely dig up all the dirt quickly.
Did that mean the whole storyline of the second male lead painfully, tenderly falling deeper in love with Zhu Ning was just butterflied away?

Well, although the second male lead probably still liked Zhu Ning a lot right now, that so-called inescapable love…
Could it still be escaped?

Gu □□’s spirit lifted.
That depressed mood from being strong-armed by a guy with someone else in his heart instantly dissipated by more than half.
He remembered! He had been misled by the plot before! The “inescapable” part came later!
Right now—it could be escaped!

So he would try to pull him out, then!

And so, Qiguan Rui noticed the aura around Gu Bai flickering between ice-cold, very cold, a bit cold, and not very cold—his emotions were fluctuating a lot.
And he actually seemed… in a much better mood?

Gu Bai spoke: “Find me a stone-cutting master.”
Qiguan Rui: “……”
Gege wants to cut stones again?

But Qiguan Rui would never refuse a request from his beloved (→ except for a few things), so he gave the butler instructions and brought someone over.

The stone-cutting master was already used to this kind of work and quickly cut out a rare stone again.

This time it was powerful—a Level 9 rare stone!
The stone-cutting master was practically stunned, seriously!

Gu Bai picked up the stone and shoved it into Qiguan Rui’s hand: “Here.”
Qiguan Rui took it: “You…”
Gu Bai, expressionless: “Congrats on your breakthrough.”
Then he turned and left, the aura around him faintly cheerful.

As for that night when he was forcefully taken?
Since they were both men, just forget it.
Chasing a man couldn’t happen overnight anyway, and at the very least, gege had to get the second male lead’s heart first, right?
Feeling a bit shy—what now?

Qiguan Rui watched Gu Bai’s back, then noticed his slightly reddened earlobes… and couldn’t help letting out a low chuckle.
Gege is so cute.
Always this cute… really want to rub him into my belly.

And then, things returned to how they were before.
Qiguan Rui still collected rare stones every day, and Gu Bai continued to throw stones at him every day.
If there was any change, it was that the butler had become more considerate of Gu Bai.

【Butler: Since he has the ability to be taken by young master Cecil, I must make sure to keep him for young master!】

Qiguan Rui thoroughly enjoyed Gu Bai’s “pursuit.” Every day watching Gu Bai throw him longing glances but unable to confess—it was a great pleasure.
This feeling of being loved—he wanted more, more…

As for Gu Bai, he found that Qiguan Rui wasn’t going out of his way to contact Noyce, and didn’t have much interaction with the protagonist shou either.
Feeling encouraged in his pursuit, he doubled down.
…Though aside from hurling stones every day, no one could really tell how “doubled down” he was.

Time passed again.

Then Gu Bai discovered a serious problem: there were no more rare stones Σ( ° △°|||)
How was he supposed to throw anything now?!
Should he go mine another mineral zone?

After one second of serious thought, Gu Bai made a firm decision.
Of course he’d go.
He’d paid for it—this was all about judgment!
Just find another rich mining zone and make another haul.

With that in mind, he packed up, ready to head out.
And as soon as he stepped outside—

Gu Bai:
Qiguan Rui smiled faintly: “Carlo, going somewhere?”

Qiguan Rui’s expression was gentle: “Coincidentally, I was about to head out too, so I’ll accompany and protect you.” He paused, pretending to hesitate, “…Would I be intruding? Where are you going?”

No intrusion at all! Bring on more of this kind of protection!
Gu Bai nodded: “Much obliged. Mining zone.”

Qiguan Rui: “Ah, I see. Carlo, you really are dedicated.” He seemed to ponder a moment. “Since you’ve given me so many high-energy rare stones before, I feel undeserving. This time, let me pay for the raw stones.”

Gu Bai: “……”
Didn’t you say you were going out just now?! Now you’re suddenly free, huh?!
Gege gave you stones because he’s chasing you, okay! If you buy the raw stones, how’s gege supposed to show off his wealth and skill, and knock you out with rare stones?!

So Gu Bai said, “No need. I’ll pay.”

Qiguan Rui sighed, gaze a little melancholy.

Gu Bai looked at that gaze and silently turned his face away.
Originally, he thought he ought to feel heartache from that look—after all, he was supposed to be secretly in love with the second male lead. But he didn’t feel heartache. Instead, he just felt—very helpless.
That familiar egg-ache feeling…

After clearing his thoughts, Gu Bai said firmly: “Gifts are one thing. But I pay my own way.”

Qiguan Rui’s mouth twitched imperceptibly.
Even if gege lost his memory, some things really haven’t changed…
But then he thought, If his lover insisted because he wanted to give him pure gifts from the heart, his mood immediately lifted.
They really were the perfect match!

→ Even though that made no sense.

Then the two happily set off together.
This time, the location they went to was one Qiguan Rui recommended.
It was just a private mining zone, but because the backer was strong and a few quality stones had come from it, it had some reputation in the capital.

When they arrived at the entrance of the mining zone, Gu Bai looked at the sign—and felt immensely awkward.
Ma dan, isn’t this the legendary high-plot-activity location—Lotus Heart Mining Zone?!

It was a rich mine, true.
But the owner of this mine—damn it—was that white lotus from the original plot!
And because that white lotus was deeply favored by his father, even the mine’s name had his name in it!

That’s right—the white lotus was none other than Lianxin·Senter.
Who knew what the original author was thinking—among all the decently named male and sub-beastman characters, only the protagonist shou and the white lotus had such a bizarre, artsy name style.

The protagonist shou, Zhu Ning, had a name in the standard Chinese style.
But the white lotus? That was East-West fusion.
Lianxin and Senter, such a pairing?
Why not go full-on and name him Lianxin·Mary·Mystique·Tear·Senter?!
Don’t even ask—it was a whole new level of ridiculous.

Gu Bai’s heart was full of ellipses.
So many complaints, so little time.

They entered smoothly, picked up tags, had staff accompanying them, and everything could be paid by card.
The setting was decent, and the service was very attentive.
The Senter family had four or five mining zones in the capital, accounting for at least 30% of the family business each year. Lotus Heart was one of the more prosperous ones.

In the original, this place was also where the protagonist shou often wandered.
For a long time, it was his primary source of funding.

As for Zhu Ning, this romantic rival, Gu Bai thought—maybe he could poach a little.

And today was clearly a great chance, right?

However, just as Gu Bai went deeper in, preparing to pick out raw stones—he realized he was just a step too late.

Because—the protagonist shou was already triggering a plot event!

In the distance, a tall, dumb-looking figure stood upright.
In front of him, a petite youth was busy.
All around them, people gathered to watch, holding their breath.

Gu Bai: So I arrived right in time for plot.

Now, should I join in the crowd?

He considered—this was the scene where Zhu Ning shone and attracted one, two, three, four more love rivals to Noyce.
Gu Bai hesitated—if he went, and the second male lead followed, would this event reorient the plot and cause the second male lead to fall back in love with the protagonist shou?

He sighed inwardly.
Damn it, my mission’s off to a rocky start…

But just as Gu Bai was still torn and hesitating, that tall, dumb guy suddenly turned his head and spotted the two of them.
His face flashed with joy.

Gu Bai: Crap! Can’t escape now!
There was no more hesitation—he had to go…

So he briskly walked over.

Qiguan Rui was a little surprised.
Just now he had clearly sensed that gege didn’t want to go and was ready to accompany him away.
But now gege changed his mind?

Then he figured it out.
Ah, because Noyce looked over.
Gege must’ve thought: since Noyce is Cecil’s brother, of course Cecil would go too—so gege compromised.
To suppress his own discomfort for love—gege was just so lovable…

Thinking this, Qiguan Rui quickly stepped forward to walk beside Gu Bai, savoring the ambiguous closeness of walking side-by-side with his beloved.
But the next moment—when Qiguan Rui saw Gu Bai’s gaze fixed intently on the handsome youth in the crowd, not even glancing at him for a full minute—

Qiguan Rui’s expression twisted.