Little Pink Starfish

Chose a Woman Over Brothers

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t know what Soft Bone Powder was, but seeing that Second Brother Gu couldn’t even stand up, she figured it had to be some kind of anesthetic. She frowned, glancing at the ex-pirates still desperately fighting the big black bear, and her voice turned cold as she asked, “These guys are the bad guys?”

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei both nodded firmly. They tied up the Second Young Master—how could they not be bad guys?

Xiao Wei anxiously asked Gu Xingyan, “Second Young Master, where’s the Seventh Prince?”

Gu Xingyan looked at Yu Xiaoxiao. Shouldn’t she, his sister-in-law, be asking that question first?

Xiao Wei said, “Second Young Master, don’t look at the princess. Where’s the Seventh Prince?” If his princess actually remembered the Seventh Prince right now, Xiao Wei swore he’d volunteer to become a eunuch in the palace!

Gu Xingyan pointed toward a relatively decent-looking wooden hut in the valley. “The Seventh Prince and Nanny Wei are in there.”

Without waiting another second, Xiao Wei and Xiao Zhuang sprinted toward the wooden hut. With the princess here to watch over the Second Young Master, they needed to rescue the Seventh Prince immediately.

All the ex-pirates were busy trying to save their Boss from the raging mother bear, so no one was guarding the hut. Xiao Zhuang kicked open the locked door, and the two stormed inside.

The hut wasn’t soundproof. Nanny Wei had been holding little Yu Ziyi and listening anxiously to the chaos outside. The more she heard, the more terrified she became. Just as she was trembling in fear with the prince in her arms, Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei appeared like gods descending from the heavens.

“Nanny Wei,” Xiao Zhuang called as he entered the hut, “how’s the Seventh Prince?”

Soft snoring filled the room, and the two men instantly fell silent.

Yu Ziyi was sound asleep. Gu Xingyan and Nanny Wei had endured everything just to keep the child safe these past few days. As a result, they both looked much thinner, while the Seventh Prince was still a plump, fair, little dumpling.

“He’s… asleep?” Xiao Zhuang’s mouth twitched. There was chaos and carnage outside, and the Seventh Prince was peacefully snoring? Were all children born to the Empress this out-of-the-ordinary?

Nanny Wei suddenly went weak at the knees and collapsed to the floor, crying out to them, “What took you so long?!”

Xiao Wei quickly stepped forward to take Yu Ziyi from her arms, worried she might drop him. “How is the Seventh Prince?”

Xiao Zhuang helped Nanny Wei up as she wept, “I was so scared something would happen to him!” These past few days had been constant anxiety for her, never sleeping fully, always on alert. She was utterly drained.

Xiao Wei looked down to check on the prince—just in time to see him blow a little bubble with his soft snoring.

“He looks fine,” Xiao Zhuang muttered from the side, still twitching at the mouth.

Xiao Wei adjusted his grip and gently covered the prince’s chubby face with the blanket, then said to Xiao Zhuang, “Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoxiao was still with Gu Xingyan. He was sitting down while she squatted beside him, watching the battle between man and beast not far off.

Gu Xingyan asked, “Sister-in-law, why are you the one here?” In his mind, when his family found out he and the Seventh Prince had been kidnapped, his older brother should’ve come to the rescue. How did it end up being just the princess with Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei?

“Oh,” Yu Xiaoxiao said casually, “I came into the mountains to catch some fat rabbits. Didn’t expect to find you here, Second Brother.”

Gu Xingyan suddenly felt a deep, inexplicable sadness.

Yu Xiaoxiao had been pondering something for a while and finally asked, “Second Brother, aren’t you a general? How did you end up kidnapped by a bunch of farmers?” Seriously, wasn’t that an embarrassment to soldiers everywhere?

Gu Xingyan now not only felt sad but could practically cough blood.

Yu Xiaoxiao glanced at the Boss, who had been torn and mauled by the mother bear into a bloody mess, and said, “Second Brother, don’t you think that guy’s dumb? Why not just give the bear cubs back to their mom? Why hold onto them? There’s barely any meat on those little things.”

Gu Xingyan snapped, “That guy’s an idiot.”

“Tut.” Yu Xiaoxiao clicked her tongue, then turned to Gu Xingyan and said, “Second Brother, how’d you get caught by an idiot like that?”

Gu Xingyan: …

“Maybe we should just kill them all and cover it up,” Yu Xiaoxiao suggested. “If word gets out, Second Brother, you’ll be seen as a total wimp.”

Gu Xingyan was silent for a long moment, then said, “Sister-in-law, can we just not talk for a bit?” If this went on, he might seriously lose the will to live.

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Don’t worry, Second Brother. I didn’t see anything today.” She even made a motion like zipping her lips.

“Thanks, Sister-in-law,” Gu Xingyan said with tears in his eyes. Am I really that much of a wimp?

Just then, the Boss, caught in a life-or-death chase, spotted the two of them chatting leisurely under the crooked-neck tree. His eyes went bloodshot. He and his brothers were fighting for their lives while those two were over there chatting?! Was there no justice in the world?! Holding the two bear cubs, the Boss charged toward the tree.

Seeing this, Gu Xingyan’s expression changed. “Sister-in-law, go!”

Yu Xiaoxiao rubbed her nose and said, “Second Brother, maybe we really should just kill them all and be done with it.”

“That’s a bear!” Gu Xingyan shouted.

Yu Xiaoxiao stood up. Worried that a fight might break out and accidentally hurt the drugged Gu Xingyan, she casually tossed him into the crooked tree, saying, “Second Brother, I’ll get you down later.”

“No, wait—!”

Before he could finish, Gu Xingyan was already in the treetop.

The Boss stumbled toward the tree just in time to see the girl toss Gu Xingyan to the top with one hand. Every hair on his body stood up. Could I throw Gu Xingyan up there with one hand? …Definitely not.

“Sis-sister?” Er Gouzi finally made it back to his sister’s side.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at the guy who Xiao Wei had previously kicked flying, her face deadpan. “Er Gouzi.”

Er Gouzi spread his arms, standing in front of her. “Don’t be scared, Sis. I’m here. Run!”

The Boss nearly coughed up blood. Was this guy blind?! What part of that girl looked scared?! Without a second thought, he threw the two bear cubs at Yu Xiaoxiao. Whoever brought them in should be the one to face their mom’s wrath!

“Don’t catch them!” Gu Xingyan shouted from the treetop.

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t like the cubs, but she couldn’t just let them fall to their deaths either. Standing on tiptoe, she caught them easily, one in each hand, holding the little black furballs by the scruff.

“Boss!” Er Gouzi cried out, seeing the man toss the cubs to his sister. He was heartbroken and furious. “You’re not my big bro anymore!”

The Boss really did cough up blood this time. This is what they call choosing a woman over your brothers, huh?!

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Pinky says: Ooh! I know this one! It’s called a ‘red flag’!