Little Pink Starfish

Lu Taipan wasn’t the type to overthink or shy away. While he’d been in town, working by day and brooding by night, he’d spent the past few days turning over a certain thought again and again.

And by now, the answer had gradually become clear.

No matter what, he couldn’t go on living without Su Liang.

He liked Su Liang.

He really liked him. The kind of like where he wanted to share a bed, hold him close to his heart, and spend the rest of his life together.

Before seeing Su Liang that night, Lu Taipan had been leaning against a tree, mentally rehearsing an extremely thorough plan—how to bring it up, how to subtly ask if Su Liang had a girlfriend in the city.

And if he didn’t—he’d ask if Su Liang might consider dating someone in Lu Family Village. Someone who could cook and clean, had a good pension, owned a house and car in Haicheng, and had a couple medals of service. The only problem was… there was, uh, an extra appendage in the pants.

If Su Liang refused, he had backup plans…

But when he actually saw the young man walking slowly out from the school building, every strategy he’d crafted evaporated.

All Lu Taipan could feel was the thunder of his own heartbeat and an overwhelming rush of joy.

It had only been a few days, but Su Liang looked even more attractive.

If not for the fact that Lu Taipan had once led troops and dealt with life-or-death situations, he might not have been able to maintain even a shred of his outward composure. Luckily, the darkness of night hid the flush rising on his face.

“Coming all this way from the town with such a heavy watermelon… thank you, Lu-dui,” Su Liang said softly.

He had no idea about Lu Taipan’s internal struggle, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that the man standing under the shade looked at him like a starving wolf who hadn’t eaten meat in three days. Everything he said sounded normal—but that gaze made Su Liang’s heart race uncontrollably.

“Not a bother,” Lu Taipan muttered.

Then they both fell into silence, awkwardly standing together under the shadow of the tree.

After a while, Su Liang snapped out of it and reached for the watermelon—but Lu Taipan pulled it away and, without hesitation, took the lesson plans from Su Liang’s arms too.

“It’s heavy. I’ll carry it. I’ll walk you to the dorm.”

Su Liang blinked, momentarily stunned.

“It’s really not that heavy.”

“Still. I should be the one to carry it.”

They accidentally made eye contact again—then quickly looked away.

Their hearts thudded like drums.

Honestly, neither of them could remember what they were even talking about as they walked toward the dorm, nerves frazzled and minds elsewhere.

The moon cast a silvery glow over the path, illuminating it like a trail of coins. Lu Taipan stole a glance at the moon, then at the young man beside him.

He suddenly remembered the plan he’d abandoned—and realized he still hadn’t asked what he’d meant to.

“Xiao Liang…”

“What is it?”

Su Liang turned to look at him.

The moonlight shone in his eyes, clear as a spring and filled with starlight.

“I…”

Do you want to date someone?

“…The moon looks nice tonight.”

Calm, unshakable, once nicknamed “Snake Master” for his nerves of steel—at that moment, Lu Taipan’s mind completely blanked.

Even he didn’t know why that stupid sentence fell out of his mouth.

But strangely, Su Liang paused at those words. Lu Taipan caught a glance from him—something unreadable in his expression.

“What is it?” he asked, awkward and a little flustered.

“Nothing… just remembered something the Japanese say about that,” Su Liang said softly.

“What do they say?”

Su Liang didn’t answer.

He just pressed his lips together—and then, couldn’t help but laugh.

That quiet laugh made Lu Taipan’s heart flutter. He felt as if he’d been swept into the clouds—intoxicated by a dizzying sweetness flooding his veins.

He forgot everything else.

The strategies. The questions. The moment Su Liang smiled like that, he forgot it all.

He licked his lips, feeling something dark and feral coil within him—tangled with the affection he’d buried so deeply.

If not for sheer willpower, he might’ve already—

He took a deep breath.

Calm down, he told himself, stop staring, or you’ll do something stupid.

But he didn’t know… he wasn’t the only one dazed by the moon that night.

“The moon really is beautiful tonight.”

It was just a casual phrase—but Su Liang knew exactly what that line implied elsewhere. And the thought made his chest fill with a strange joy.

He couldn’t remember what they’d talked about on the way. Just that the moon was beautiful.

And the man beside him even more so.

When they finally reached the dorm, Su Liang opened the door and tugged the light cord. The dim bulb overhead flicked on—

And in that instant, they both saw what was in the middle of the room.

Snakes.

Dozens of them.

Black, red—thin as fingers—slithering toward the shadows beneath the bed and corners of the room.

Even Su Liang, who’d seen his fair share of bugs and rats on construction sites, froze in horror. He sucked in a breath, body going stiff.

Lu Taipan instantly noticed something was wrong. His face darkened, and his eyes gleamed with danger.

He strode forward and yanked Su Liang behind him, shielding him as his gaze landed on the snake-covered floor.

All the pink-tinted romance evaporated from Lu Taipan in an instant—replaced with icy murder.

“Don’t be afraid.”

His voice was low, steady.

“Stay outside, somewhere well-lit.”

He set the watermelon by Su Liang’s feet, grabbed a sack, and walked straight into the room.

“Lu-dui, be careful—!”

Su Liang hesitated, unsure if he should help, but within minutes Lu Taipan reemerged with a bulging, wriggling sack in his hands.

He’d tied it tight so Su Liang wouldn’t see inside.

“All non-venomous,” he said calmly, meeting Su Liang’s eyes. “But someone put them there deliberately. I’ll go have a talk with whoever it was.”

His tone was flat, emotionless—but Su Liang could feel the rage simmering beneath it.

Not even that time on the cruise, when he’d been stabbed, had Lu Taipan looked this furious.

Su Liang sighed.

“It was Xue Yinhua, wasn’t it?”

Lu Taipan’s eyes narrowed. He stared at the gentle-looking young man in front of him—and realized he’d been right.

“I heard he really liked the last teacher. But that teacher left midway because he couldn’t handle the hardship.”

Lu Taipan’s expression twitched.

“He wanted to raise snakes with you, right? I guess this proves he’s not afraid of them. Gotta give him credit—he actually went to the trouble of collecting this many just to scare me.”

“He’s asking for it.”

But Su Liang interrupted, softly, “Lu-ge, don’t worry. I’ll talk to him tomorrow. And please don’t be angry. He really looks up to you. If you discipline him, he might be devastated. Let me handle it—after all, I am his teacher. You should trust me, right?”

That last line—especially the final “right?”—carried a soft southern lilt that made Lu Taipan’s chest go numb.

Even his anger seemed to dissipate.

…Though Xue Yinhua would be punished. He wasn’t getting away that easily.

Lu Taipan was still thinking about it when he reached out to stop Su Liang from stepping back into the room.

“You just saw snakes crawling all over that floor—how can you sleep here?!”

Su Liang blinked innocently.

“But you said they were non-venomous. And you already got rid of them. What’s the big deal?”

Lu Taipan’s face darkened even more as Su Liang continued, “I’m not some pampered princess, you know. The place I lived before… you had to sleep light or rats would chew on your toes.”

But the more Su Liang spoke, the more grim Lu Taipan’s expression became.

After a pause, he rasped out, “I only glanced at them earlier… I’m not even sure all of them were non-venomous. What if one’s still hiding in the cracks, waiting to bite you in your sleep?”

Su Liang still didn’t look fazed.

Which made Lu Taipan clench his fists.

“Tonight, you’re sleeping at my place.”

“…At your place?”

Su Liang stammered. Logically, he should’ve refused.

But when he saw Lu Taipan’s gaze—his mind went blank.

Before he could think it through, the words were already out:

“…Okay.”

---

And so, Su Liang once again returned to Lu Taipan’s traditional house—the spacious, elegant bedroom.

Compared to the dorm, the difference was staggering. Su Liang had thought the dorm was fine before… but this? This was comfort.

The second time around, he wasn’t as awkward. He even helped tidy up.

But then—right before bed—he realized he’d forgotten his pajamas.

People in the village didn’t really have pajamas. If a man changed into shorts before bed, that was already considered proper. If his wife didn’t mind, going completely naked was fine, too.

Of course, even if Su Liang wasn’t a delicate flower, there was no way he could just sleep in boxers next to Lu Taipan.

“…Should I go back and get them?”

But at that same moment, Lu Taipan asked:

“Want to wear mine?”

It was late. Su Liang didn’t want to run back and forth. After a brief pause, he nodded.

Lu Taipan hadn’t thought much of it—until he turned to the wardrobe and realized…

Su Liang was going to wear his clothes.

His shirt.

To sleep.

He stiffened. Tried to blank his mind. Tried not to imagine it.

Eventually, he picked out a clean T-shirt. “I only wore this once. It’s cotton. Want to try it?”

He handed it over without meeting Su Liang’s gaze.

Their fingers brushed. Lu Taipan wasn’t sure if it was his imagination—but Su Liang’s fingertips felt warm.

“Thanks, ge. I’ll go shower.”

Su Liang murmured and fled the room.

Lu Taipan let out a long breath and slumped down, rubbing his face.

“What the hell am I doing…”

He was ashamed of himself. It was just lending a shirt. Why was he acting like a hormonal teenager?

But his thoughts drifted—back to the feel of Su Liang’s skin when he grabbed his arm earlier…

So smooth. So soft. His hand was rough—would it leave a red mark?

He found himself miming the motion in the air.

The room suddenly felt too hot.

He looked down.

“…Fuck.”

---

Lu Taipan fled to the backyard and doused himself in freezing well water.

Only after he’d cooled off did he return—face still grim.

But when he opened the door—

He froze.

Su Liang had just finished showering and was towel-drying his hair.

Steam clung to his pink-tinged skin, and the scent of soap mixed with his natural warmth.

The shirt was clearly too big—it hung loosely, revealing collarbones, neck, and a patch of still-damp chest.

“Lu-dui?”

Su Liang turned at the intense gaze.

Lu Taipan snapped out of it.

“I—I’m going to shower!”

And just like that, the ever-calm Lu Taipan fled the room—stiff and awkward.

Su Liang blinked.

Wait… hadn’t he already showered?

He stood frozen, his mind blank.

Honestly, when he saw Lu Taipan shirtless—those muscles, those V-lines, those veins…

That body looked like a beast carved from stone. Dangerous, but inexplicably tempting.

Su Liang took a deep breath and slapped himself mentally.

What the hell am I thinking? That’s Lu-dui!

Face red, he quickly dried off and dove into bed.

Time passed.

Long enough for Su Liang to nearly fall asleep—before he heard movement.

Lu Taipan had returned.

Even though there was hot water, his skin was icy cold.

Why does he always use cold water? Su Liang wondered drowsily.

Then he heard it—Lu Taipan’s voice, low and hesitant:

“Xiao Liang… are you asleep?”

Su Liang held his breath. Didn’t answer.

After a long pause, Lu Taipan lay down beside him.

The room was quiet.

But maybe it was the heat… or the presence of the man beside him…

Su Liang couldn’t sleep.

So he stayed still—breathing lightly, not wanting to disturb him.

Then—

He felt Lu Taipan move closer.

Felt his gaze.

Felt his breath.

And then—

A calloused fingertip brushed his lips.

Lu Taipan’s voice was hoarse—almost trembling.

“You’re really testing my limits…”

And then he got out of bed.

When he returned, his body was even colder—carrying with it the faintest, musky scent.

Su Liang’s eyes flew open in the darkness.

His lips pressed shut, and his heart thundered like a drum in his chest.