Little Pink Starfish

In the many days that followed, Gu Bai—who had already realized his worldview had some serious issues—lived an ordinary married life [not really] with his utterly worldview-less pervert, Qiguan Rui.
During this time, the situation in the Duke Fang’s household also spread, bit by bit, through many secret channels, circulating widely within the noble circles.
Everyone basically knew: ah, that unlucky Duke Fang, married the wrong wife, and the entire family ended in tragedy… leaving behind only one beta.

Yes, only one beta.
What did that mean?
It meant: easy to bully.
It meant: the duke’s position was still a point of manipulation!

Later, the Fang family’s side branches—that is, other lines of the Fang family, originally lower-ranking nobles who rose only because one line produced a duke—now had thoughts of scheming for that dukedom, especially since they had alphas in their own lines.
As for how they’d scheme?

According to Federation law, noble titles were granted by the royal family. The royal family held a high position in the Federation, though mostly symbolic—like a spiritual pillar. When it came to actual power, they didn’t have centralized control.
Yep, and members of Parliament also had authority in this matter.
For example, a general belonged to the military, and the military’s head—the Grand Marshal—was a senior member of Parliament. If a general wanted to, he could serve as a regular Parliament member and participate in important discussions.

—Anyway, back on topic.
To put it simply, once the royal family conferred a noble title, the eldest alpha son usually inherited it.
If the eldest son wasn’t an alpha but another son was, then it could be reconsidered—both sons could be candidates.
This was where loopholes could be found. In a case like Duke Fang’s—his whole family dead, leaving only one beta—if that beta believed he couldn’t hold the title securely, and another alpha from a side branch was willing to take the responsibility and treat the beta well, then maybe, just maybe, he could compete for the title!

So the issue arose.
First of all, the beta had to agree.
If he didn’t, neither the royal family nor Parliament would approve.
But here’s another loophole… how to make the beta agree—well, the royal family and Parliament wouldn’t interfere with that.

So in the end, many branches of the Fang family—all wanting the dukedom—began to swarm.
Naturally, anyone who wanted the title had to approach “Fang Yuan,” the beta who held the inheritance rights.

Coercion or bribery was always the go-to method.
And what followed? Was truly exciting.

Gu Bai was dumbfounded.
He didn’t even know how his dead pervert got hold of so much information, but after Qiguan Rui described everything to him so vividly, he really got a deeper understanding of certain kinds of greed… um, human nature.
Especially the kind driven by ambition.

Like currying favor with high-ranking nobles, promising to follow their lead if granted the dukedom… Like promising to gift certain industries to someone if their goal succeeded… Like plotting in the shadows to eliminate the duke’s heir… Like already setting up honeypots, banquet traps, and every scheme imaginable to make that heir forever ineligible…

Etc. etc.
Schemes were popping up one after another!

Especially when all those tricks and bribes got blocked by Qiguan Rui—who stuck to his beloved like glue and, fundamentally, was still kind of an obsessed shut-in—right at the front door, showing zero interest in letting anyone near… A lot of people were going to explode!
Ungrateful! Shameless! Illegitimately seizing the duke’s title!
He had to be destroyed!

So, when bribery failed, coercion—which was originally Plan B—was put into action.

First wave, a side branch brought a big noble along…
Entered the house, and there stood Gu Bai.
Aggressive visitors: “……”
What the hell, why is General Liu here?!
Plan: failed.

Second wave, another side branch brought several stunning beauties…
Entered the house, and there stood Gu Bai again.
Scheming visitors: “……”
What the hell, Liu the General again?!
Plan: failed.

Nth wave, a side branch brought along various interest-aligned figures…
Entered, Gu Bai still standing there.
Shady visitors: “……”
Wasn’t General Liu supposed to be a “lone wolf”?!
Plan: failed.

One failed attempt after another—all because Gu Bai was always there—anyone who had plans couldn’t move.
Otherwise, if the general found out, what would they do?!
They could only hold back…

And just then, another rumor began to circulate.
If before it was just gossip whispered behind hands, now it had some real traction!

That General Liu—on vacation, showing up like this? Totally out of character! When did he ever get this close with his personal guards—his waist, huh?!
Yes, his backing.
No other explanation!

This made people suspect…
Maybe, possibly, probably, the general had his eye on that beta?
But from all aspects, that beta didn’t seem like someone who could catch General Liu’s attention…

For that beta, if he really did manage to hook General Liu, this would be an inspirational story, okay!
So inspirational that all of our sons and daughters and grandkids who are betas should go get inspired too—quick, share your secrets!

↑
The point was, with General Liu backing him, the duke’s position could no longer be coerced—only bribed.
Because any forceful move couldn’t stay hidden anymore!
Truly, what a headache.

But there was nothing to be done.
In the eyes of all the nobles and non-nobles who wanted to bite a piece off Qiguan Rui, Gu Bai had completely tied himself to Qiguan Rui.
Even after exhausting every scheme, they couldn’t come up with anything better.
So what happened next?
Qiguan Rui inherited the title smoothly!

All those who had been busy for nothing—wasting time, energy, and…
To save face, they shamelessly began spreading scandalous rumors about “Liu Rufeng.”

Whether it was true or not!
They had to comfort their injured pride somehow!

As for the two parties at the center of it all?
Gu Bai casually pulled out… an invitation.

It was from the Federation’s First Military Academy—the one not yet forgotten by the plot.
They wanted Gu Bai to serve as a judge for the annual mecha competition.

Qiguan Rui rested his chin on Gu Bai’s shoulder. With a flick of his elegant fingers, he plucked the invitation out of Gu Bai’s hand.
He showed a gentle smile: “Gege, do you want to go?”

Gu Bai expressionlessly replied: “I’m bored anyway.”
Qiguan Rui: “……”
Gege hadn’t said anything this down-to-earth in ages.
But it was kinda cute too!

And so, the matter was happily decided.

·

After arriving at the First Military Academy, Gu Bai unsurprisingly received a warm welcome from the staff and students—including the principal… though there was a small hitch.
For example, the person he brought with him wasn’t his adjutant, but Qiguan Rui… his rumored lover… yeah, that.
Drew quite a few curious stares.

The principal, a kind middle-aged alpha who’d favored the original host back in the day, now looked upon his star pupil’s “dating life” with support and teasing.

Gu Bai, faced with those teasing gazes, could only hold a straight-faced deadpan and march off with firm steps, escaping the scalp-tingling atmosphere.
…Well, maybe it wasn’t that bad.
He’d long since gotten used to being stared at and gossiped about because of the dead pervert, okay?
By now, it barely stirred any emotional waves.
As an internally wild and lively shut-in, this was… a little frustrating, okay?

But that frustration didn’t last long.
Because whether curiosity or teasing, it was just a side dish. The main course today was the mecha tournament, duh.
So, under the principal’s lead, Gu Bai and Qiguan Rui smoothly entered the academy and just as smoothly showed up at the tournament’s opening ceremony.

Currently, half the semester had already passed, and during that time, initial grades and various test results had all been calculated.
So, the outstanding students were already selected.

And in an ABO story devoted to omega liberation, an occasion like this! At a time like this! It absolutely had to be the protagonist shou’s moment to shine [BEEP] levels of gloriousness!
What a classic setup!

Therefore, among the list of outstanding students speaking at the opening ceremony, unsurprisingly appeared the name of that beta—fake!—protagonist shou: Liang Xiao.
He was the top student in the first-year class. As a beta, he had outperformed all alphas in written and practical mecha tests—he was from the mecha department.

Yes, he was an omega who piloted mechas! An omega whose physical condition allowed him to operate mechas! An omega chosen as a seeded candidate for this year’s mecha competition!
That was what it meant to be a protagonist shou.

Like all exceptional omega protagonists, Liang Xiao had fair skin, a slim yet agile frame, a handsome face, and black hair and eyes that highlighted his extraordinary temperament.
Standing on the high podium, his gaze was firm, voice strong, fully demonstrating his worthy academic status as a top student, his determination to make this his future career despite being an omega, and the pride rooted in his bones!

As expected of a protagonist shou—shining like a star.
After that one speech, many people in the crowd became his hardcore fans, okay?

Gu Bai silently turned his face away.
Speaking of which, if it hadn’t been for the invitation, he would’ve forgotten this world still had a protagonist shou…
As a guest who accidentally barged into this world, was that maybe a bit too disrespectful to the world will?
Being this indifferent to the chosen one…