Little Pink Starfish

After Rebirth, I Became the Fated Omega of the Scumbag Gong’s Uncle

It’s safe to say that the kids of Lu Family Village practically grew up wandering the mountains. It wasn’t uncommon for a child to spend a night in the woods now and then, and usually, the adults didn’t worry too much about it.

But after two full days and nights of nonstop rain, even the bravest parents started to panic. The mountain behind the village had once been logged and stripped bare. Though it now appeared lush and green, the old-growth trees had long been cut down and replaced with newer saplings. The soil, however, remained loose and unstable. With the recent downpour, everyone knew: that mountain was now a serious hazard. Landslides or mudflows could happen at any moment. If they didn’t find Xue Yinhui soon, he might really be lost to the mountain.

The whole village was thrown into a frenzy. The village head went door to door, rousing everyone. Soon, the once quiet mountain village was buzzing with chaos: able-bodied men and women dropped what they were doing, made sure their children were settled, grabbed raincoats, lit torches, leashed the dogs, and began organizing search parties to rescue the missing troublemaker.

“I heard from the folks at the weather station — today’s probably our only dry window. Come tomorrow night, another storm’s expected. If that hits and there’s a landslide, we might never find the kid.”

Standing in front of the crowd, the village head looked pale, his voice shaking as he gave instructions.

“In any case, we have to find him, and fast.”

The mountain behind the village was vast, and time was tight. Su Liang was anxious beyond measure.

Classes had long been canceled due to the storm. Su Liang, in a green military raincoat, stood among the rescue team. He looked delicate and refined — not the type you’d expect to be out in the wilderness. The village head wore a conflicted expression. These were special circumstances, and every extra pair of hands meant more hope. But still…

“The rain’s just let up, but the mountain’s crawling with snakes and bugs. The trails are terrible. Teacher Su, maybe you should stay in the village and wait for updates?”

The village head rubbed his hands together nervously and stammered, face twisted in worry.

“Don’t worry about me,” Su Liang replied calmly, noticing the hesitation in the village head’s eyes. “I used to work in the mountains. And honestly, I’m pretty good at finding things.” Seeing the man still unsure, Su Liang added, “We can’t afford to wait. If it rains again, it’ll be even harder to find him. And besides — Xue Yinhui is my student. Of course I’m going to look for him.”

“But… you’re a college professor…”

The village head’s voice trailed off, still uncertain.

Just then, a tall figure strode up behind Su Liang. A firm hand landed on his shoulder.

“Village head, I’ll team up with Teacher Su.”

It was Lu Taipan.

He’d already changed into gear, a tightly packed military rucksack slung over his back, his expression somber. Without any grand promises, that simple statement put the village head at ease.

“Alright, I’ll leave Teacher Su in your hands.”

Decision made.

Su Liang couldn’t help but glance back at Lu Taipan — right into those pitch-black eyes. For a brief moment, he felt like he was back on that cruise ship case from years ago, facing a ruthless, powerful, and high-ranking special ops commander. Though he’d thought Lu Taipan had changed since moving to Lu Family Village, in this moment of crisis, the formidable aura had returned full force.

Taking a deep breath, Su Liang added, “I really am good at tracking things in the mountains.”

He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to explain further to Lu Taipan.

“Yeah. I believe you,” Lu Taipan said simply, nodding once.

Su Liang pursed his lips. Something fluttered deep inside him. He could tell Lu Taipan wasn’t just humoring him — the man truly trusted him.

---

A few hours later—

In the dense forest, footsteps squished quietly over damp underbrush and mud. A snake probe tapped against wet roots, shaking droplets from the leaves and startling several huge, unidentified insects into flight.

Although the rain had stopped, the forest air was far from refreshing. A whitish mist clung low to the ground, the humidity so thick it felt like you could wring water from the air. Just breathing in it left people exhausted and gasping.

But within that green haze, two figures moved quickly and steadily.

“Here… someone — or something — passed through here.”

Facing a dense patch of vines, Su Liang suddenly stopped and pointed at the lush plants.

“Looks like we’re on the right track,” Lu Taipan said, glancing at the nimble young man ahead of him, hiding a complex expression.

Su Liang hadn’t lied. He really was good at tracking — he’d once spent an entire summer in the mountains collecting medicinal herbs, narrowly escaping death multiple times. Despite his refined, delicate appearance, he was completely at home in this rugged wilderness. In fact, his understanding of animal trails and the forest far surpassed Lu Taipan’s, who had formal field training.

Signs that even Lu Taipan had missed, Su Liang spotted with ease.

Soon, under Su Liang’s lead, they found fresh break marks in the bushes, forming a clear path.

“The width is just right—”

Su Liang’s eyes lit up.

“This trail was probably made by wild boars,” Lu Taipan assessed, inspecting the broken branches and pointing out bits of mud and stiff black-gray hairs.

“…Even so, we can still follow it in deeper. Just because it’s a boar trail doesn’t mean a person wouldn’t use it,” he added.

Su Liang nodded. “Let’s go — while there’s still daylight.”

He stood and hurried forward — then suddenly, his vision went dark.

His knees gave out, and he nearly collapsed. Lu Taipan caught him just in time.

“Su Liang?!”

Despite his skilled movement, Su Liang had reached his physical limit.

“I’m okay… just tired. Really, I can still go on—”

But before he could finish, Lu Taipan scooped him up into his arms.

“Lu Captain — wait! I’m fine, I can walk!”

“Don’t argue. You need rest.”

His calm, firm tone left little room for debate. Su Liang felt something flutter again inside him. He was suddenly aware of Lu Taipan’s warmth seeping through the wet clothes — strong arms, a steady heartbeat.

He flushed.

Without a word, Lu Taipan carried him through the slippery terrain to a large rock, laid his jacket down, and sat him gently.

Then, he inspected Su Liang carefully.

“I’m really okay…”

“Open your mouth.”

Before he could protest, a piece of candy was placed in his mouth.

A rich, sweet flavor spread across his tongue.

Startled, Su Liang stared wide-eyed at the man. In Lu Taipan’s hand was a vividly colored candy wrapper — proof this wasn’t a dream.

Milk candy?
Cold-blooded Lu Taipan… carrying milk candy?!

“Lu-ge?”

“Rest. Recharge. We’ll talk later. That stinky brat Xue Yinhui needs finding, but so do you.”

His tone was flat but gentle as he tucked the candy wrapper back into his pocket.

Su Liang sat in stunned silence, slowly chewing. The candy melted into sweetness on his tongue — too sweet, too tender, and completely unexpected.

“Thank you… ge.”

He drank from Lu Taipan’s canteen, then shyly offered the jacket back.

“If you want more candy… just ask,” Lu Taipan murmured with a cough.

“…Okay.”

After a break, Su Liang stood again, color returning to his face. Just as they were about to move forward—

“Did you hear that?” he asked.

Lu Taipan paused. “What?”

Su Liang had thought he heard a faint cry. But Lu Taipan didn’t pick up anything unusual.

“I still want to go check.”

Lu Taipan studied him, then nodded. “Alright.”

Su Liang had prepared arguments, but the easy agreement stunned him.

“I told you — I trust you.”

…And Su Liang’s heart skipped a beat.

---

They pressed on toward the sound Su Liang had imagined, the terrain steepening, the trees thinning. It was the old logging zone, now barren and muddy.

Eventually, the trail ended at a ridge. Below was a steep ravine.

“Maybe I imagined it,” Su Liang murmured, disappointed.

But then — a scrap of green fabric fluttered in the wind.

He took a step closer—

And the ground gave way.

“Careful—!” Lu Taipan shouted.

But it was too late. The earth beneath Su Liang crumbled. Rocks and mud swept him into the gorge.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

---

Su Liang had a dream.

A very strange dream.

He sat in a pure white office — massive, pristine, more luxurious than the president’s office at Haijing University.

His nameplate read: Professor Su Liang.

Professor? Since when?

Somehow, the logic of the dream made it all feel real. He remembered grading papers, finishing work…

But he wasn’t leaving. He was procrastinating. Avoiding something…

“Professor Su Liang, you have a visitor,” announced a mechanical voice.

The door opened.

Lu Taipan walked in.

Su Liang stared.

He looked… older. More mature. Hair tied back in a sleek ponytail. Dressed in a sharp military uniform, dark and commanding.

Still devastatingly handsome.

“Su Liang,” the man greeted softly.

Su Liang’s heart skipped.

He tried to speak — “I think I’m dreaming”— but instead blurted:

“I was just spacing out a bit. Ah-Si, what are you doing here? Weren’t the kids throwing a birthday party for you?”

Lu Taipan tilted his head with a playful smirk.

“Yes, it’s my birthday.”

Then, casually undoing the top two buttons of his uniform, revealing his sculpted chest.

“I came to collect my birthday present.”

Su Liang’s brain short-circuited.

The dream version of himself blushed — because he remembered.

A promise. Whispered through trembling lips.

He’d bought… things.

Black lace. Leather straps. Soft restraints. A gag meant more for show than use.

And this morning, in a fit of shameful courage, he’d worn them under his conservative professor’s suit.

He wasn’t supposed to see Lu Taipan until later.

But here he was.

“Can I unwrap my birthday gift now?”

“No — wait—!”

Politeness was just for show.

What happened next made Professor Su Liang question everything about his pure village upbringing.

---

When he finally woke up, heart pounding, the first coherent thought in his head was:

“No way would the real Lu Captain ever be that shameless!”