Little Pink Starfish

Xiao Lan thought—what did giving dew to the gatekeeper have to do with his origins? Besides, he wasn’t lowly at all!

But before he could think more, he was already overwhelmed. The Heavenly Emperor’s body was so warm, and his kisses so comfortable, just like last time. Maybe I’ll owe him first and go find Big Sis later…

“What are you thinking about?” the Heavenly Emperor noticed the dazed expression on the boy beneath him, his voice cold and grim.

Xiao Lan obediently said, “I can’t give you this dew yet, can I owe it to you?”

“Then who are you giving it to?” the Emperor’s tone darkened dangerously. But Xiao Lan didn’t notice and cheerfully replied, “To Gatekeeper-gege! I want to go down and find my sister. I’ll give you the dew later—I’ll work hard to save more for you!”

The Emperor’s grip on his waist loosened slightly, and his cloudy gaze cleared a bit. “You exchanged dew with the gatekeeper so he would let you leave?”

“Yeah!” Xiao Lan suddenly realized he might have broken the rules. Covering his mouth, he looked at the Emperor with big eyes, rubbing his chin against the other’s in an attempt to please him. “Don’t report me, okay? I really miss my sister.”

The always icy Emperor suddenly curled his lips into a faint smile. Xiao Lan was stunned—he had never seen the Heavenly Emperor smile before. He always had a cold, distant face that made everyone afraid to approach.

“And from now on, I’ll save all my dew for you,” Xiao Lan added hastily, pulling out his gift like a peace offering.

The Heavenly Emperor responded with another kiss that slowly descended.

So once again, Xiao Lan experienced something even more comfortable than the last time. When they were done, his face was flushed red, and he thought, The Emperor was even more hardworking this time. I guess I’ll give him the bottle after all. The gatekeeper can get something else.

“Your Majesty, that felt so good. This is for you.” Xiao Lan handed over the white jade bottle.

The Emperor, seeing the spring-filled corners of his eyes and his overly eager look, accepted the gift. He paused, then tossed something onto the bed coldly. “Take this.”

Curious, Xiao Lan crawled over and picked it up. It was a jade token.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Idiot,” the Emperor said, his gaze falling on Xiao Lan’s bare back, the soft, smooth, and perked-up curves catching his eye. His voice grew darker. “A pass token for leaving.”

Xiao Lan was overjoyed. He hugged the token and kissed it, happily hopping off the bed.

The Emperor’s gaze lingered on his naked, youthful body. The room seemed filled again with the fragrance of orchids. This little thing really knows how to seduce people…

Xiao Lan hadn’t expected that one bottle of dew could be exchanged for so many “happy times.” What a good deal! The Emperor really is kind.

The next day, Xiao Lan was finally able to crawl out of bed to go find his sister. The Emperor was busy—there seemed to be some kind of demon rebellion below.

At the Southern Gate, the gatekeeper from last time was gone. Xiao Lan presented the pass token, and the replacement guard respectfully let him through.

Arriving at Penglai Island, he found his sister was not there—she hadn’t returned in a long time.

Worried, Xiao Lan used a long-distance summoning spell, but there was no response. Where did she go? Why can’t I sense her…?

Still preoccupied with his sister, Xiao Lan decided that since there wasn’t much to do in the Heavenly Realm, he’d stay in the mortal world for now and keep looking. There was so much tasty food and fun stuff here. Of course, he also got scammed a few times.

Some guys tried to lure him with the promise of doing “comfortable things.” But the moment he saw their faces, he was disgusted and beat them up. Offering him “pleasure” for dew? No thanks. Not even for free.

After over a month of searching, Xiao Lan finally found his sister Da Lan.

She looked exhausted and haggard. Xiao Lan didn’t press for what had happened—she only said she was looking for someone, but wouldn’t say who.

He stayed with her for half a month, but the person she was searching for never showed up.

One day, while they were out buying food at a tavern, someone tried to harass her. Xiao Lan was just about to act when a familiar icy voice rang out: “Come here.”

Startled, Xiao Lan turned and saw the Heavenly Emperor seated above.

“Why are you here? Are you here to eat their cloud cakes?” he asked.

Instantly, the bustling tavern fell silent. The Emperor looked at Xiao Lan and coldly said, “Had your fun? Still not willing to return?”

“I’m worried about my sister,” Xiao Lan shook his head. “It’s not that I won’t go back.”

The Emperor said nothing more. With a wave of his sleeve, both siblings fainted and woke up back in the Heavenly Realm.

Xiao Lan later learned the Emperor had given his sister a celestial registration—so now they could see each other often. But his sister seemed disappointed by this and muttered, “Maybe he doesn’t really like me.”

“Who doesn’t like you?” Xiao Lan asked, but she didn’t answer again.

After that, Xiao Lan often brought her snacks and visited. Not long after, Da Lan was assigned to the Celestial Herb Garden to tend to the plants. Around this time, Xiao Lan noticed the Emperor was asking for dew much more frequently—and seemed busier than ever.

He would often have to go absorb dew essence from the highest point in the palace to produce enough.

The Emperor would hold him and gaze silently, lost in thought. He had never lost control over anyone before, but lately he’d broken his own rules repeatedly for this little orchid—first taking him, then helping his sister. All small things, but not his usual style.

One day, Xiao Lan went to see his sister but lost his return token. He went back to look for it and discovered she had disappeared.

Panicking, he slipped into the mortal realm again but still couldn’t find her. He figured he should go back quickly—it would be bad if he got caught.

The Emperor stared at him and coldly said, “You lost your token. Go reflect in the Underworld.”

Xiao Lan froze. He knew the Emperor would be angry and punish him, but… this much? We were just doing happy things the other day…

“It’s too far,” Xiao Lan muttered, chest tightening at the thought of being far from the Emperor.

The lofty Heavenly Emperor looked down at the little orchid with a frowning face. He nearly said something to let him stay but suppressed the urge. His expression grew colder.

He couldn’t let himself be controlled by a little orchid.

“You go now.”

When everything was packed, Xiao Lan left a not-yet-full dew bottle at the Emperor’s door, feeling crushed.

In the Underworld, everything was dark and cold. Xiao Lan missed the bright Heavenly Palace. But after a while, he got used to it. He could go to the mortal world for snacks and see his sister again. There weren’t as many rules here.

Except…

Except he couldn’t be comfortable.

He stared at his drooping member. Why does it only react when the Emperor touches it? No matter what he tried, it just wouldn’t get hard on its own.

During a day off, he went down to eat his favorite cloud cakes and saw his sister walking with a tall man. Thrilled, he ran over—only to pause in confusion.

“Jie, why is your belly round like a balloon?”

Da Lan smiled and patted her belly. “Silly brother, I’m having a baby. You’re going to be an uncle!”

Thinking his brother was still naïve, she added, “You’ll understand how it all works once you grow up.”

Xiao Lan had grown up already, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.

His brother-in-law was a wolf demon leader. Because Da Lan liked eating, the two of them now lived among humans. Xiao Lan stayed with them at their home and shared what he’d been up to, asking softly, “Did you take my token?”

“No,” Da Lan said, touching her belly and quickly changing the topic. “Stay a few more days. I’m due soon.”

Just then, thunder cracked in the sky. His brother-in-law immediately shielded her. Xiao Lan stood frozen as she screamed in pain—it was time to give birth. Rain poured down in sheets.

His sister gave birth. He was now officially an uncle!

He was thrilled, bouncing around happily. But… why was the baby a black puppy?

“It’s not a dog—it’s a wolf,” Da Lan said, lovingly petting her son.

Xiao Lan promised to come again tomorrow. But he didn’t know… that this goodbye would be their last.

The Underworld fell into chaos—demonic forces invaded.

When the Heavenly Emperor heard, his face darkened. The messenger trembled. “We don’t know the full details yet. But there was a report… a bloodied Xiao Lan was seen—”

Before the generals could even finish requesting to go quell the unrest, they realized—the Emperor had vanished.

Everyone was stunned. He went down there alone?! That’s exactly what the demons want!

The Underworld was sealed by a powerful force. The Heavenly Emperor broke through by force. The entire realm was in ruin, covered in dark energy and malicious spirits. He couldn’t sense Xiao Lan anywhere.

If Xiao Lan were gone, wouldn’t that align with my original intention? No one could ever shake me again…

But at the moment he heard the news, he realized—

To hell with that.

If he couldn’t act on what he wanted, or who he loved—what was the point of being the Heavenly Emperor?

In the 19th level of the Ghost Abyss, he finally found Xiao Lan imprisoned. His face was tear-streaked and flushed from crying.

“Your Majesty!” Xiao Lan threw himself into his arms. Rubbing his eyes, he pitifully said, “I’ve saved up ten bottles of dew. Can you make me comfortable again? I’m dying of frustration.”

He pointed to his chest. Seeing the Emperor again, his heart ached and rejoiced all at once. He didn’t even know why.

The Emperor checked him over—no injuries. But seeing his pitiful little thing begging for love, he almost tore his pants off right then and bent him over the torture rack.

But now wasn’t the time.

“What happened?” he asked.

Xiao Lan’s eyes flickered.

“You won’t say?”

“N-no…” Xiao Lan whispered nervously. “It was… my brother-in-law. Don’t be mad. I’ll ask Big Sis to talk to him…”