The Handsome Youth Who Turned Bandit
Not knowing the full extent of his enemy’s power, Master Mo Wen chose not to press further. He had always been one to bend when needed. Looking at the young Fenglin Master, his gaze was filled with elder-like affection, and he sighed softly, “In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown up.”
In many ways, Mo Wen didn’t like children growing up. When they did, they sought their own paths and stopped being obedient. They no longer relied on you. Just like Wuhuan, who had been bewitched by a mere servant, and Gu Xingnuo, who had escaped from Yongsheng Temple.
At that moment, Gu Xingnuo sat in the main hall of his private estate, listening as the guard sent by Gu Xinglang recounted the chaos at the Zhao estate—how the princess and the third young master had gone there and stirred up trouble.
“I see,” was all Gu Xingnuo said, neither approving nor disapproving.
The guard placed a food box on the nearby tea table. “Third Young Master sent this.”
“Go on,” Gu Xingnuo waved him off.
When the guard left, Gu Xingnuo opened the box. It was wrapped in an insulated cloth, still steaming with warmth. Inside was a bowl of sweet dumplings (yuanxiao). He smiled faintly and took a bite—peanut filling, sweet and fragrant. Yet as he chewed, he let out a soft sigh. Framing Zhao Qiuming was no simple task; with his sister-in-law’s skills, masked or not, anyone could guess she was the infamous Princess Linglong.
“Da Shaoye,” Xiao Zhuang entered carrying one of his two bear cub sons.
Gu Xingnuo glanced at the fuzzballs. “You think no one here would care for them?”
“I just missed them,” Xiao Zhuang grinned.
Gu Xingnuo shook his head. A cold-blooded killer who loves fluff balls… I’ll never understand.
“Want some dumplings?” Gu Xingnuo asked.
“Third Young Master already sent me a bowl,” Xiao Zhuang replied. Even if Yu Xiaoxiao forgot, Gu Xinglang never did.
Gu Xingnuo nodded, took another bite.
“Da Shaoye, Miss Qian Mingzhu is awake.”
“Then keep her company,” Gu Xingnuo said without looking up.
“I’m not her husband!” Xiao Zhuang cried, almost panicked.
Gu Xingnuo chuckled. “Do you want to marry her?”
“No!”
“Well, I can’t meet her personally. Just pretend to be one of the kidnappers.”
“What do I say to her?”
“Tell her she’s been kidnapped. When her father pays the ransom, she’ll be released.”
Xiao Zhuang paused. Has Da Shaoye even done real bandit work before?
“Go on,” Gu Xingnuo said calmly.
“But she has a bad temper. What if she causes trouble?”
Gu Xingnuo asked, “What do you dark guards usually do with disobedient captives?”
Xiao Zhuang thought about it. “Beat them.”
“Then beat her,” Gu Xingnuo said lightly.
Xiao Zhuang’s eyes widened. Hit a girl? But she hasn’t tried to kill a prince or anything!
“Do whatever you have to. Just keep her quiet.”
“Do we really want her fat father to pay ransom?” Xiao Zhuang asked cautiously.
Gu Xingnuo gave him a meaningful smile.
Xiao Zhuang shivered. I’ve been set up, haven’t I?
“This place is yours to manage now,” Gu Xingnuo said. “You and Xiao Wei can’t be mere guards forever, right?”
“What else could we do?”
“You figure it out,” Gu Xingnuo smiled again. If it were Xiao Wei, he’d be saying he wanted to serve in the military. But Xiao Zhuang… was a simple man, content to follow orders.
“Okay…” Xiao Zhuang left the hall in a daze, bear cubs in tow.
Outside, the former pirates were busy counting silver. Seeing Xiao Zhuang come out, the First-in-Command grinned. “So, Da Shaoye gave you Miss Qian as a wife?”
“Don’t spout nonsense!” Xiao Zhuang snapped.
“Oh come on, I hear the princess wants to pair you up. She’s a looker—why not take her?”
“Mind your own business.” Xiao Zhuang glared and tried to leave.
“Wait, wait,” First-in-Command slung an arm over his shoulders, whispering, “Listen to your big brother here—just sleep with her once and she’ll fall in line.”
Sleep with her?! Xiao Zhuang’s face turned scarlet.
“If you don’t know how, I can teach you,” the man offered, far too generously.
“Get lost!” Xiao Zhuang finally exploded, kicking him away and stomping toward the backyard.
The other former pirates, despite their injuries, were grinning ear to ear. With a mountain of silver before them, everything was good. They’d overheard the exchange too and now all gave Xiao Zhuang meaningful looks.
“Don’t wanna obey? Sleep with her!” First-in-Command shouted from the ground.
“Xiong Xiong,” Gu Xingnuo’s voice came from the hall.
The pirates immediately fell silent. Oh right… they’d forgotten the big boss was still here.
Inside, Qian Mingzhu sat curled under a blanket. She saw Xiao Zhuang enter and nearly screamed, but then spotted the two fuzzy bear cubs. Instantly, her attention was drawn to the fluffy bundles.
Xiao Zhuang stood at her bedside, and seeing her staring at the cubs, stammered, “T-they’re… mine.”
Qian Mingzhu looked up. Xiao Zhuang wasn’t masked. He’d bathed, his damp hair tousled. His clothes were simple but made from quality fabric. She stared at his face a moment longer and asked, “You’re the one who beat me and my father?”
Xiao Zhuang hardened his expression. “If you don’t behave, I’ll hit you again.”
Qian Mingzhu glared. “You think I’m afraid of you?”
But it was hard to look threatening while cradling fluffy bear cubs. Xiao Zhuang finally just muttered, “Behave, and I won’t hit you.”
“What are you people?” Qian Mingzhu asked.
“Bandits,” Xiao Zhuang replied.
Qian Mingzhu smirked. “Let me see your female boss.”
“She—my boss—is busy,” Xiao Zhuang said. “You hungry? Want something to eat?”
What kind of kidnappers ask if the hostage is hungry? Qian Mingzhu glanced up again. This guy—he was young, tall, well-built. And okay, maybe a bastard, but he had a face. A really nice one. Those eyebrows, those eyes…
Such a handsome boy… what a shame he chose the path of a bandit.
Pinky says: No 304.
Little Pink Starfish 
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