Little Pink Starfish

The angel baby of Kindergarten Class 2, Pei Linglong, had gone missing.

Pei Qing and little Lingdang were being lovey-dovey at home when they got a call from the kindergarten teacher. They were so shocked their pants nearly fell off. The couple quickly threw on clothes and rushed out. On the phone, Pei Qing asked, “When did it happen? Didn’t the surveillance catch anyone suspicious?”

“It was just half an hour ago. A kid from the class said Linglong went to Class 1 to find Big Fatty, but after searching, no one found him. We checked the surveillance—no entry or exit records at the kindergarten gate…”

The kindergarten teachers were anxious. A missing child was no small matter.

And right then, the culprit who had kidnapped Little Qinglong was sitting on the roof of the kindergarten—with Little Qinglong right beside him, holding a box of strawberry cake, face covered in cream. While munching, he casually said, “You’re the phoenix egg I’ve been drooling over for years.”

“You know me?” Little Pink leaned his face on his hand, staring straight at Little Qinglong.

Little Qinglong didn’t even look up and snorted, “Your drool stinks. You’ve been staring and drooling since I was a baby. I’ll forgive you this time ‘cause of the cake.”

He finished the cake in a few bites and clapped his hands. “I’m going back to class.”

Little Pink watched the little dumpling jump down. He didn’t move right away, just mimicked Little Qinglong’s chin-leaning pose. Once the kid was out of sight, he patted his butt and casually jumped off the roof.

When Pei Qing and Lingdang arrived at the kindergarten, they found their son sitting obediently in the classroom with the other little dumplings, attending class. The teacher apologized, embarrassed. “We were careless. He was here all along. He said he was hiding in the slide tunnel on the playground.”

“As long as he’s okay. You all are very dedicated—don’t worry about it.” Lingdang, who admired knowledgeable people, was extra polite.

Pei Qing stared at his son’s round cheeks—was that cream still on the corner of his mouth?

This kid definitely wasn’t hiding in any tunnel. He’d clearly snuck off to eat. But whatever, he was safe. Pei Qing took Lingdang and went home.

The little dumpling quietly burped. He’d eaten too much this morning, but there was still the sweet taste of strawberries in his mouth. That phoenix egg wasn’t bad. Guess he knows what’s up.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yushui and King Hui of Xiapi were vacationing in Sanya, barely enjoying two days before their son showed up with a grumpy face.

“Dad, keep relaxing. I’m just watching.”

“Watch your ass!” Zhang Yushui calmly handed a bathrobe to King Hui of Xiapi and asked, “Went to Beijing to find Little Qinglong? How was it?”

Little Pink smiled. Zhang Yushui shivered. “You didn’t do anything inappropriate, did you?” Little Qinglong was only three years old.

King Hui of Xiapi laughed. “Don’t be so scared. Our son might be mischievous, but he has boundaries.” Little Pink obviously liked Little Qinglong too much to ever hurt him.

“I can only tell you—Little Qingqing is still just as tasty.” Little Pink grinned and disappeared again.

From then on, faraway in Beijing, Little Qinglong would occasionally catch sight of a phoenix egg drooling at him. Every time, the guy brought snacks. Later, when they got together, Little Qinglong asked him why he always brought food. The phoenix egg cockily replied, “Feed you more so you grow faster. Then I can eat you.”

Maybe the nutrition worked too well. In just five years, Little Qinglong grew like he was on growth hormones. Now seventeen or eighteen, he was in his second year of high school. He looked more like Lingdang—tall, handsome, and sweet-faced. The exact type of pretty boy girls adored. Every day, someone would secretly leave snacks on his desk.

“Linglong, another girl brought you snacks. So jealous,” said his deskmate, eyeing the haul.

Little Qinglong lazily leaned on his chair. “Take it. Take all of it.”

“Hahaha, same as always.” The deskmate grabbed the snacks. “There’s even imported chocolate—super expensive and delicious. But you never eat them. Everyone knows you won’t take gifts. Why do they still keep sending them?”

Without even glancing at the chocolate, Little Qinglong snorted, “Think I’m just anyone’s to feed? Tell them to stop.”

“I’ve told them like a hundred times. Still doesn’t stop,” said the deskmate, munching chocolate.

After school, the class beauty called out, “Pei Linglong, you’re on cleaning duty today.”

Little Qinglong blinked. Didn’t I just do duty recently?

The rest of the class quickly scattered with vague “oh oh”s. Little Qinglong instantly knew what was up. Since middle school, this kind of thing happened a lot. Sure enough, once the classroom was empty, the class beauty blushed and shyly said, “Linglong, I have something to tell you…”

“I don’t like you,” Little Qinglong cut her off. Her face fell. “You can go. I’ll clean.”

She froze, then grabbed her bag and left with her head down.

After cleaning, Little Qinglong got home to an empty house. He checked his phone—Dad had taken a short vacation and told him to eat on his own and take care.

“Got dragged off by Dad again.” He flopped on the couch, too lazy to cook. After slowly doing homework and showering, he went to sleep.

The next morning, after washing up, he grabbed his bag and headed to school. As soon as he stepped into the classroom, he sniffed. His deskmate teased, “So, about yesterday…”

“Don’t get so close. You’re annoying.”

The deskmate clicked his tongue. “You’ve got issues. Girls in this school are shallow—tricked by your pretty face.”

“Yet here you are staring too.” The deskmate moved closer again. “What is it? Strawberry cake? You’re eating it in the morning? Forget it, gimme some.”

Little Qinglong shoved his face away. “Stay away from my cake.”

“You don’t even like sweets?” The deskmate looked shocked. “Holy crap, who gave it to you? You never accept snacks!”

His voice was a bit loud, and the whole class heard. Thinking back to yesterday’s confession, the girls quietly assumed it must’ve been the class beauty’s cake—maybe they were together now?

Everyone looked at her with envy. If she and Linglong were a couple, that was the end of their chances. Still, they couldn’t let go so easily.

The class beauty glanced at Linglong, seeing him really eating the cake, her chest felt tight with sourness and anger. Who gave him that? Did he reject me because of them?

The first math class began. A new, young man walked in—so ridiculously good-looking and wicked that he looked like a movie villain. But a hot villain.

Students whispered. The man, scanning the crowd, instantly spotted a familiar face. Locking eyes, he curled his lips into a devilish smile. The girls gasped excitedly.

“I’m your new math teacher, Zhang Huang.”

Little Qinglong muttered, “Stupid phoenix egg.”

Class 3 of Year 2 suddenly became famous—because of their insanely attractive new math teacher. Wherever he went, people whispered about the “phoenix egg.” Little Qinglong snorted. Like anyone looks better than me.

That smile’s just creepy.

Even though he grumbled, when he thought about the morning strawberry cake, he snorted again.

After school, students noticed a flashy motorcycle parked at the gate—sleek, matte black, totally ostentatious. They gasped. Who in school was that rich? Wasn’t that a Harley?

Just then, the man at the gate hopped on the bike.

“That’s the new math teacher.”

“Damn, that’s too cool.”

“Teachers make this much money now?”

The phoenix egg spotted his delicious Little Qinglong in the crowd. “Let’s go home.”

“Go home my ass.” Little Qinglong hated being gawked at, face full of irritation.

The phoenix egg popped a helmet onto his head. “Wanna keep being stared at out here?”

“So annoying.” He snorted but climbed on obediently.

The phoenix egg smiled. The surrounding students shivered and scattered. The bike zoomed away, leaving behind a sea of gossiping faces. Turns out the hot new teacher knew the school’s prettiest boy!

At Little Qinglong’s house, the phoenix egg walked in like he owned the place. Little Qinglong blocked him. Phoenix egg raised a brow. “You want me to go through the door or climb the window? Pick one.”

“Don’t you have your own house?” Little Qinglong was annoyed.

The phoenix egg tossed his bag at him, opened the door, shed his jacket, and unbuttoned his shirt, instantly turning from serious teacher to rogue delinquent. Rolling up his sleeves, he asked, “What do you wanna eat?”

Little Qinglong puffed up his cheeks, slammed his bag on the couch, and growled, “Phoenix meat!”

“Oh, porridge it is.”

“Meat! I want meat!” Little Qinglong gritted his teeth, like he really wanted to chew him up.

Somehow, the phoenix egg started living in his house. He cooked in a cocky way, drove the motorcycle like a maniac, and even dragged Little Qinglong out in the middle of the night to fly over Beijing’s suburbs.

Little Qinglong thought this phoenix egg had serious issues.

By day, he was a proper teacher—his intimidating face made students behave. After school, he cooked, but was super rough about it. No matter what he made, Little Qinglong had to eat every bite. If he said it tasted bad, he’d get dragged out for midnight “exercise.”

Within a few days, Little Qinglong couldn’t take it. This phoenix egg seriously has problems!

One day after school, the class beauty called out, “Pei Linglong, wait—I have something to say.”

Again? I already said I don’t like you. Little Qinglong groaned inwardly. If I leave late, who knows what that phoenix egg will do to me…

“I don’t like you.”

The class beauty flinched, then said angrily, “Good, I don’t like you either. I want you to set me up with the math teacher—I like him.”

Little Qinglong choked. What the hell?! That jerk phoenix egg? What’s there to like?!

“Hey.”

A voice suddenly came from the door.

Little Qinglong turned and saw the phoenix egg leaning lazily against the doorframe. He’d definitely heard the class beauty’s confession. Now he was going to be smug.

Damn phoenix egg, always flirting with girls.

The class beauty blushed, excited and nervous. “Mr. Zhang, I—”

“Watch this.”

The phoenix egg swaggered over, grabbed Little Qinglong’s puffed-up cheeks, and kissed him right on the mouth.

The class beauty went from excited to shocked and frozen.

“Is my drool stinky?”

Little Qinglong panted, face red, unsure if from anger or embarrassment. He nearly stomped. “St-Stinks! Disgusting!”

“Try again. Say it’s sweet and I’ll stop.”

The phoenix egg still remembered the insult about his drool. Raising a brow, he added, “You’re still delicious. Let’s continue.”

Continue your damn face!

Little Qinglong fumed. How could he kiss me like that?! Even if it wasn’t bad…

“Even if I kiss you, you can’t act so smug!” Little Qinglong huffed. “Dragon and phoenix—dragon comes first! I’m telling you—”

Before he could finish, the phoenix egg leaned down and kissed him again from above.

Dragon on top?

Turns out Little Qingqing liked being ridden.

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Pinky says: FOR FUCKS SAKES WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS. I still translated it.