Little Pink Starfish

Yin Jiu looked at Gu Bai, emitting a wave of killing intent.
Gu Bai: “This is business?”
Behind him, Meng Qiao clutched Gu Bai’s sleeve tightly, but unexpectedly, he didn’t think Zhang Youqing would sell him out.

Yin Jiu’s eyes darkened: “An attached condition of the business.”
Gu Bai sneered: “Not doing it.”
The killing aura around Yin Jiu almost became tangible.

Two people, one cold-blooded, the other cold-faced, stared at each other for three seconds.
Yin Jiu’s voice was full of pressure: “What condition must I meet, for you to give him to me? As long as I have it, you can name it—I’ll consider everything.”

At that moment, countless gazes swept toward Meng Qiao, who had his head poking out from behind Gu Bai.
Woc, this was the disaster caused by a beauty!
Captain was such a cool and flashy person—was he here talking business just for that reason?!
No, we don’t believe it! We don’t!

Meng Qiao shivered.
What the hell were those weird looks! Young master was a straight man with integrity okay! You old pervert, you’re going too far! I’ll drag you down with me any second now!
He felt that his manly dignity had been insulted.

Gu Bai frowned almost imperceptibly: “No conditions, not possible.”
Yin Jiu took a deep breath: “So you care about him that much……”

Gu Bai’s inner OS: With your emotional intelligence, you’re gonna be single for life, buddy. Keep going like this and your status as the main gong won’t last. If you know what’s good for you, let’s get back to business—don’t spout nonsense. I’m still giving you a shot to bond with the protagonist shou, don’t say I’m not being generous.

Finally, Yin Jiu closed his eyes and leaned back.
The storm in his heart drowned him in an instant. His gaze landed on the youth who had unknowingly attracted his entire attention, full of disappointment, yet still filled with desire to obtain him.
But at least now, he was a bit calmer.

A gleam flashed in Yin Jiu’s eyes: “Then let’s talk business.”
Gu Bai patted the small arm of Meng Qiao clinging to his clothes, comforting him: “Don’t be afraid.”
Meng Qiao relaxed slightly.
Yin Jiu: “……”
A searing eye-dagger shot straight toward Gu Bai’s hand.

Gu Bai suddenly felt a little bit of guilty pleasure.
Look who you tried to kill in the original! Now you have to act based on my face, don’t you? Wahahaha!

So he spoke with high-cold nobility: “Details.”
Yin Jiu’s gaze still hadn’t moved from Meng Qiao, but he said aloud: “Liu Qing, you explain.”
Behind him, a baby-faced man with a bitter look stepped forward and started BLABLABLA.

Thus, the layout of the room now looked like this:
Yin Jiu looking at Meng Qiao;
Meng Qiao staring at Gu Bai’s sleeve;
Gu Bai expressionless;
Gu Bai’s subordinates (⊙ o ⊙) face listening;
Yin Jiu’s subordinates —face listening.

The atmosphere was weird.
The baby-faced guy’s voice grew smaller, and smaller, and smaller… until he finally finished.

Gu Bai was still professional. He listened carefully to the details of the business, compared it with the plot in his head, and realized the event that should’ve happened a month later in the original was now moved up to three days later.
In the original plot, the protagonist shou was framed by the fake white lotus and ended up joining this mission as cannon fodder, but was saved by his old gong at a critical moment, starting their future development. And the white lotus, thinking he could use this mission to gain Yin Jiu’s favor, ended up missing Yin Jiu due to an accident—leading Yin Jiu to reunite with Meng Qiao.

So the original background was a bit complicated.

From the white lotus’s perspective: In the previous life, Meng Qiao’s early-stage water power wasn’t very useful, but later mutated into a healing ability, gaining Yin Jiu’s attention, and they eventually got together.

From the original plot’s perspective: The reborn white lotus had space ability, with healing spring water inside. He tried to use it to get close to Yin Jiu and secretly arranged for Meng Qiao to die. But instead, it led to Yin Jiu and Meng Qiao meeting early, and because Yin Jiu saved Meng Qiao’s life, they began spending time together and developed feelings.

…Of course, now the situation was, the white lotus hadn’t arrived at S City’s survivor base earlier than Meng Qiao. Meng Qiao hadn’t reunited with him, and was already under Gu Bai’s protection. As for the old pervert and the pervert eyeing the little lamb… forget it, whatever, hahaha.

Back to the point.
This mission was simply to attack a nearby small town overrun by zombies and retrieve supplies. Clearly, one mercenary group couldn’t handle it alone, so once Yin Jiu had this idea, he hesitated between inviting the Flame Mercenary Group and the Frost Mercenary Group.
Because the Flame captain was impulsive and hot-headed, Yin Jiu chose the supposedly perverted but very calm Frost captain. Plus, after learning the target of his love-at-first-sight Meng Qiao was one of the Frost captain’s “harem,” the scale tipped even further—leading to today’s invitation and negotiation.

This wasn’t much different from the original plot development.
Except in the original, Zhang Youqing secretly controlled zombies to steal the supplies.

Gu Bai’s version of Zhang Youqing was even less talkative than before, and of course, more【beep——】classy. With a super aloof posture, he reached an agreement with Yin Jiu.
For example, the town had four main streets—they’d each take two.
Also, the crystal cores inside the zombie brains belonged to whoever killed them. Upon receiving a signal…

Finally, Yin Jiu suggested mutual assistance in case of emergency, and said, “To avoid accidents, how about we each send someone to the other’s group.”
As he spoke, he stared, stared, stared—at Meng Qiao.
Clearly, he wasn’t really interested in the business.

Gu Bai felt a bit awkward.
Although he did want the protagonist shou to build feelings with his old gong, having it proposed this blatantly really gave him the illusion of sending his little bunny to the big bad wolf!

Yin Jiu continued: “I’ll send Liu Qing to your side.”
Liu Qing’s baby face looked even more miserable.
For the boss… to get a man, I… I’m willing to sacrifice myself TAT

Gu Bai turned to look at Meng Qiao, a questioning look in his eyes.
Meng Qiao, for some reason, saw worry in those cold eyes. He thought, if he didn’t go, this guy might get sabotaged by Yin Jiu’s men. In that moment, a strong sense of mission surged in him. Even though he still thought that guy was an old pervert—! He felt he should help his boss (bestie)! He couldn’t just be a freeloader! The trouble was his fault to begin with!
╭(╯^╰)╮ Young master’s not scared! Not scared at all!

Meng Qiao glanced again at the threatening (very vague) gaze of the old pervert and hardened his face: “I’ll go!”
Zhang Youqing, don’t worry! I, young master, will help you monitor him! As long as I’m here, he won’t get to do anything against you!

Although Gu Bai didn’t know why the protagonist shou suddenly became so fired up, well, at least the time to build their relationship had finally come.
Thinking about it, he felt a little satisfied!
Maybe, this really was destiny between Meng Qiao and his old gong… (huge fog)

---

Three days later.
At the city wall.
A dense crowd of people.

During these days, the captains of the four mercenary groups in S City had issued missions to gather supplies and recruited many survivors and ability users into their teams to prepare for the town assault.
After strict screening by their underlings, they had gathered about five hundred people—ready for this mission.
Everyone was excited.

Suddenly, a terrifying pressure swept through them. Everyone felt a chill rise from the depths of their souls—it was a kind of intimidation, the pressure that belonged to a top-tier ability user!
Super scary.

But they also knew…
The two leads of this mission had arrived!

“Look over there! The ones in white coats! That’s Frost Mercenary Group’s elites!”
“And those in black! That’s the top guns from Thunder Mercenary Group!”
“Captain Zhang is so handsome! Captain Yin is so cool!”
“Ahhh I really admire them!”
“But…”

“Mm, doesn’t anyone think they look like Black and White Impermanence?”
“……

Gu Bai stepped onto an ice dragon and swiftly flew to the city wall.
Yin Jiu rode a lightning dragon and also arrived on the opposite side.
Both looked down from above, extremely powerful.

Gu Bai lightly pressed his palm downward.
Those who were previously chatting all quieted down.
Gu Bai: This kind of subtle thrill, hahahahaha!

Yin Jiu waved his hand, and the aura of his Thunder Squad surged—their energy was suffocating.
His expression was cold and unapproachable.
“Set out.”

All the team members shouted: “Yes!”

Gu Bai: Damn it, my spotlight got stolen by Meng Qiao’s old gong! FML, just because I’m not the main character, I have to keep a low profile—can’t even enjoy my own act cool moment, how is that fair!

In that instant, Meng Qiao shared a telepathic connection with Gu Bai.
He glanced sideways at the incredibly cool Yin Jiu, then turned his head away: What’s there to be proud of, old pervert. Hmph! Still, Master’s got way more style!

【System prompt: Favorability with true gong -1】
【System prompt: Favorability with you +1】
【System prompt: True gong’s hostility toward you +5】

When Gu Bai saw Meng Qiao smile at him, he could almost hear the system alert. He felt a bit dazed.
He had a feeling, if this went on, even if he didn’t mess with the main couple, Yin Jiu might still try to kill him! The jealousy in those eyes was practically overflowing!

【System prompt: Your HP -5】
↑
If I don’t think of something soon, this is absolutely going to happen for real ahhhh!

Gu Bai silently wiped his face in his heart.
They were about to start spending time together alone… Hopefully Yin Jiu’s EQ could still be salvaged.

Very soon, the large group split into units and began their bold, energetic march toward the nearby town.
Everyone was full of motivation, all in high spirits and excitement.

And just as they left the base, in front of the gate, a delicate-looking boy with a gentle smile, who seemed kind to everyone, stood with his head slightly lowered, touching the prayer beads on his wrist.

Meng Qiao…
Meng Qiao, I’ve come.
In this life, I will definitely… trample you underfoot!