Little Pink Starfish

As soon as Xue Yinhuan got a little too close to Su Liang, he was immediately overwhelmed by the residual dominance of Lu Taipan’s pheromones clinging to the youth. What should have been a simple escort mission had suddenly become extremely difficult.

“Xiao Huan, maybe you don’t have to push yourself so hard,” Su Liang said helplessly, noticing the pale color on Xue Yinhuan’s face.

“No, it’s fine—wait! I think I have a solution!”

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Xue Yinhuan suddenly lit up, raised his voice, and rummaged through his mission bag before pulling out a spray canister.

The label on the sleek cylinder gleamed under the light: Alpha Pheromone Neutralizer.

It was a common product used by Omegas to dull the intense scent of Alphas in public or sensitive situations, to avoid unnecessary conflict.

Xue Yinhuan sprayed several bursts near Su Liang’s side. The chemical fragrance slowly spread, finally diluting the aggressive traces left by the master of Snake Den enough that Xue Yinhuan could begin the mission—although he still winced occasionally like he’d been zapped by static electricity. After all, even the best neutralizer couldn’t completely erase the marks left by a dual-S Alpha.

“You… really came prepared,” Su Liang commented, a bit surprised.

Facing the teen’s stunned look, Xue Yinhuan casually shook his wrist and said, “This? Just a little trick. I get it—Snake Master probably hit his rut or something. I understand. It happened to Black Mamba once too—suddenly hit rut, stunk up the whole dorm. I had a date with someone from the Third Legion in District One, and I got kicked out of the café ‘cause they said the smell on me caused hives. I ended up fighting him for it. He lost and had to buy me a bottle of this. I’d been prepping for that meetup for weeks!”

Su Liang’s look became more complex.

“You… and Black Mamba…”

Xue Yinhuan froze, then shouted, flustered, “Hey! Not like that! We’re dormmates, okay?! He hit rut, the smell got on me—that’s all! Don’t get the wrong idea!”

“Oh,” Su Liang nodded. The explanation made sense…

But somehow, something still felt off.

In any case, thanks to the neutralizer, Su Liang and Xue Yinhuan successfully made their way to Snake Den’s command center.

Today’s schedule had Su Liang meeting up with Lu Taipan there, before heading out to visit the sanctuary for N-Farm survivors.

Su Liang had already built strong rapport with the Omega survivors. While professional therapists were available to them, many still preferred Su Liang’s presence and spiritual guidance. Extracting further clues about the N-Farm would likely fall to him.

“…It’s honestly kinda amazing. Those survivors have really intense trauma responses—our top mind-healers have trouble with them. But you, you just got started and already have them trusting you,” Xue Yinhuan chatted as they walked.

“It’s probably because my mental strength is a little unusual,” Su Liang replied vaguely, a faintly bitter smile on his lips.

He knew the real reason.

His unique mental power was one side of it. The other side was that therapists from the inner star zones had no idea how to connect with Omegas who’d endured such horrors.

But Su Liang did. Because in his past life, he had been one of them.

As they reached the end of the metallic corridor, the heavy command office doors slid silently open to reveal a group of people stepping out.

The Supreme Commander of the Earth Union, temporary Lu Family head Lu Zhen’en, and the youngest speaker of the Ning family, Ning Tangsheng, were just leaving Lu Taipan’s office.

Out in the world, any of them would be considered top-tier elites. But now, their pale faces and darting eyes made them look rather… disheveled.

To Su Liang, they resembled wet dogs.

If they had tails, they’d probably be tucked right between their legs.

“Ah—Captain Xue. Lady Su Liang,” the Supreme Commander was the first to react, greeting them with a strained smile. “What a coincidence. We’ve just finished our business here, wouldn’t want to disturb you—ha, haha…”

Su Liang and Xue Yinhuan exchanged stunned looks.

The expressions on the three departing men were unusually complicated.

Just moments ago, they had clearly heard Lu Taipan declare to their faces that the gentle-looking youth before them was Snake Den’s second master.

The Supreme Commander could force a polite response, but Lu Zhen’en’s expression stayed grim, and Ning Tangsheng… he just stared at Su Liang.

The look in his eyes was cold, wet, and creepy—like a slug slowly crawling through a damp corner.

The Commander hastily tried to leave, but Lu Zhen’en noticed that Ning Tangsheng hadn’t moved. Not only had he failed to seize the chance to slip away, he’d stopped right in front of Su Liang.

He was a soft-spoken, well-groomed young man, with a professionally trained smile and rhythm that made him seem approachable.

“It’s good to finally meet you, Su Liang. I want to apologize for everything Ning Jiayi did to you. If I’d known he was doing those things behind my back, I would’ve disciplined him properly. I actually came here hoping to apologize. I didn’t think I’d get the chance, but here you are—so, I’m truly sorry…”

“Oh, we heard you.”

Xue Yinhuan answered before Su Liang could.

With a friendly smile, the baby-faced Snake operative casually stepped in front of Su Liang, subtly shielding him.

“Just a reminder,” he added with a sweet grin, tapping his wrist terminal. A large countdown popped up. “You’d better go soon. If you’re not out of here in time, our defense system might classify you as intruders and… well, let’s just say it won’t be pretty.”

Ning Tangsheng’s smile didn’t waver, but a flicker of malice flashed behind his glasses.

“I mean no harm. I just want his forgiveness. After all—”

He leaned closer, clearly unwilling to let it go.

But before he could finish, something froze him in place.

It wasn’t just Xue Yinhuan’s cold, sharp gaze—it was a new, overwhelmingly powerful aura.

Ning Tangsheng turned his head—and found himself face to face with Lu Taipan.

Even as a Beta, Ning Tangsheng couldn’t ignore the chill in the air, the primal fear that made every cell scream run.

“You should leave,” Lu Taipan said coldly.

Under the pressure of a dual-S Alpha, the blood drained from Ning Tangsheng’s face, sweat dotting his brow. But the deeper the pressure, the darker the malice in his eyes.

Suddenly, he forced a smile.

“Of course. Snake Master, you’re still as cold as ever.”

His voice carried an odd trace of familiarity.

And in front of Su Liang, he turned and cast a sideways glance at Lu Taipan—one filled with subtle affection and longing.

“A-Ning, what nonsense are you spouting…” Lu Zhen’en trembled beside him. Just one look at Lu Taipan’s expression nearly made him faint.

Grabbing Ning Tangsheng’s arm, he dragged him away.

“It’s time to go, it’s time to go!”

With their departure, the corridor returned to silence.

Lu Taipan didn’t say anything. Even as Su Liang watched them go, he remained still.

Xue Yinhuan looked between the two, sensing something… odd.

To break the tension, he blurted out, “Ugh, what bad luck running into that old guy and that weirdo. Especially Ning Tangsheng—he keeps hitting on our boss. So annoying.”

Su Liang: “…”

Right as the words left his mouth, Lu Taipan’s gaze grew colder.

“They came to apologize,” a voice added from the side.

The butler stepped out, collecting the three guests’ teacups and—after a brief glance—dumped them into the incinerator.

As he passed Xue Yinhuan, the latter could swear the butler gave him a sympathetic look.

“…The Ning family is in trouble after the recent scandals on StarNet. They’re trying to use Snake Den’s influence to suppress the news cycle. Their apology was a pretense,” the butler calmly explained.

Lu Taipan hadn’t even intended for Su Liang to see them. Only a delay at the clinic caused the overlap.

“I understand,” Su Liang murmured.

No emotion in his voice.

Just as silence settled, the butler added one more line.

“Also, the Master has never had any private contact with Ning Tangsheng. Please don’t misunderstand—”

“Please don’t—don’t—don’t—mis—understand—”

The butler’s voice began to stutter, smoke rising from his mouth.

Lu Taipan calmly withdrew his spiritual pressure and turned to Xue Yinhuan.

“There are too many faults in this new shell. Take it for repairs.”

“Understood!” Xue Yinhuan swiftly hauled the malfunctioning android away.

Finally, only Lu Taipan and Su Liang remained.

The master of Snake Den let out a subtle sigh and glanced at his terminal.

“It’s still early. We can visit a private restaurant in Sector One for lunch before heading to the survivor base. I’ve had the venue cleared.”

“No need.”

Rejection.

“We don’t need to waste time. We can eat on the shuttle. I want to get to the base as soon as possible,” Su Liang said calmly.

Lu Taipan stared at him.

…His little cat seemed upset.

“Are you angry?” he asked after a pause, voice lower than usual.

“…Was it the marks on your back? I’m sorry. I lost control yesterday.”

He was very honest.

Su Liang didn’t respond right away.

“Can I… take a look?” Lu Taipan asked hesitantly. “I just want to check if the wound’s bad. I won’t do anything else.”

Su Liang’s silence said enough.

“I’ve already updated my suppressant formula. I swear, I just want to see if I hurt you too badly. Nothing more.”

The terrifying man who’d scared off the Union’s leaders now looked like a guilty puppy.

“…You can even put the bite inhibitor on me yourself,” he added.

Su Liang blinked, eyes widening at the memory. “What bite inhibitor? It never works on you anyway.”

His tone was quiet but not as cold as before—more like a reluctant complaint.

And that—more than anything—moved Lu Taipan.

Suddenly, he said, “The Ning family has always produced high-level Omegas. They use them to marry into other powerful families and gain influence. They’re weak, but rich.”

Su Liang looked up at him, finally making eye contact.

“I was one of their targets back then.”

Lu Taipan nodded.

Back then, the Union was in chaos. The frontlines were collapsing. Most politicians had already sold out to the Kanan. Only Snake Den and a few elite legions kept fighting.

The Ning family offered to marry into Snake Den—offering funds in exchange for a political union.

Their chosen candidate? Ning Tangsheng.

He was undifferentiated at the time, but early indicators suggested he’d be an S-rank Omega.

Su Liang’s eyes widened. “And?”

Lu Taipan lowered his gaze and chuckled.

“He was ugly, so I said no.”

…

Even though Ning Tangsheng wasn’t ugly per se, the tone Lu Taipan used made it clear he meant it.

Su Liang was stunned. He’d never heard Lu Taipan be so mean.

“Really.”

Lu Taipan raised his hand as if taking an oath.

…

What Su Liang didn’t know was that Lu Taipan had left something out.

At the time, he didn’t care who his mate was. As a dual-S Alpha, he never expected to find a true match.

He had nothing to live for. Death seemed inevitable.

When the Ning family offered Ning Tangsheng, he considered it.

Until that one mission where he was injured and met a little cat.

A skinny, hungry street cat with bright eyes and no home—but full of concern when looking at him.

That night, as the Ning family’s Omega stood on the stage, polished and polite, brimming with schemes and ambition—Lu Taipan thought:

Ugly.

And suddenly… he made a plan.

If he had to find a wife—might as well pick someone pretty.