Two Fluff-Loving Fools
Xiao Zhuang and Miss Qian Mingzhu stared at each other. Now that she wasn’t yelling or throwing a fit, Xiao Zhuang had no idea what to do.
“You’ll let me go after you get the ransom?” Qian Mingzhu asked.
Xiao Zhuang nodded quickly. That’s what Da Shaoye said—no mistake there.
“Oh,” she said casually. “I’m not hungry. Let me pet your bears.”
“…What?” Xiao Zhuang blinked. “That’s all you want?”
“Would you let me leave if I asked?” she countered.
“No,” he said at once, shaking his head.
“Then what’re you asking for?” Qian Mingzhu rolled her eyes. “You guys are after money, right?” As the only daughter of Qian Taiduo, she had met more bandits than most—maybe not a hundred, but definitely close. She wasn’t scared anymore. As long as they didn’t want her life, she’d manage.
“…Fine, go ahead.” Xiao Zhuang carefully placed his bear cubs onto the bed.
Qian Mingzhu didn’t hesitate—scooping both cubs into her arms. One sniffed at her while the other licked her face, trying to figure out this new human by scent and taste.
“Don’t hug them too hard!” Xiao Zhuang warned.
“What do you feed them?” she asked.
“Goat milk,” he replied.
“They eat meat yet?”
“Not yet. But they can eat meat porridge.”
Qian Mingzhu rubbed her chin against the cub’s soft belly. “Name your price. I’ll buy them.”
Xiao Zhuang instantly lunged forward and yanked his cubs away. “Not for sale,” he growled.
She sighed. “Fine, fine. I’m no thief. I don’t steal what’s dear to others.”
Xiao Zhuang wanted to say I’m not a thief either, but then remembered Da Shaoye’s instructions and kept quiet.
“How old are they?” she asked.
“Dunno. A few months?” Xiao Zhuang shrugged. Their mother had been eaten by the princess and the Gu family. He had no clue how old the cubs really were.
Qian Mingzhu pried one’s mouth open and checked. “They’ve got teeth. You can give them bones soon.”
“You raised bears before?” Xiao Zhuang was curious.
“No,” she replied, eyes on the cub. “I had a dog. It’s getting cold. Hey, little thief, you better make clothes for them.”
“…Bears wear clothes?” Xiao Zhuang frowned.
She rolled her eyes. “Sit down. I’ll teach you how to raise them properly.”
He obediently sat. Nothing was more important than his “sons.”
By morning, the ex-pirates had finished counting money, and one of them who could read had compiled a neat ledger. Gu Xingnuo reviewed it and prepared to return to the main Gu estate. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhuang and Qian Mingzhu were still chatting in the room about the cubs.
Apparently, put two fluff addicts together and they could talk forever.
Rubbing his temples, Gu Xingnuo asked his trusted guard, “They’ve been talking all night?”
“Yes, Da Shaoye. Frankly… she seems to like Xiao Zhuang.”
Gu Xingnuo blinked. A palace guard and the daughter of the wealthiest merchant? Is that even possible?
“Da Shaoye,” First-in-Command chimed in from nearby. “They spent the whole night in one room. What’s left of her ‘innocence’? Might as well let her marry Xiao Zhuang.”
Gu Xingnuo chuckled. “You think Qian Taiduo will just accept that?”
“With Xiao Zhuang’s status as a royal guard, he’s not bad!”
Still amused, Gu Xingnuo replied, “Unless Xiao Zhuang has the guts to sleep with her for real, this won’t go anywhere.”
First-in-Command perked up. “That’s easy!”
“…You planning to drug her?” Gu Xingnuo’s smile vanished.
“No, no,” he waved his hands quickly. “Let them marry properly! If the princess helps, this could work!”
Mentioning Yu Xiaoxiao made Gu Xingnuo’s eye twitch.
Inside, Qian Mingzhu had fallen asleep, curled up with the bear cubs. For someone so proud, she looked surprisingly small and soft when asleep. Xiao Zhuang covered her with a blanket, hesitated, then left the cubs with her.
He stepped outside, locking the door behind him.
Two ex-pirates munching on mantou saw him walk by. One whispered, “Why’s he smiling like an idiot?”
“First time with a woman, clearly,” the other said wisely. “You can always tell.”
In no time, word spread through the estate—Xiao Zhuang and Qian Mingzhu were a thing.
As Gu Xingnuo boarded his carriage, he gave Xiao Zhuang a look and said, “Now that you’ve succeeded, hurry and give me a baby.”
Xiao Zhuang stood frozen. What baby? With who?!
Gu Xingnuo just smiled, patted his shoulder, and let his guard help him into the carriage.
The guard flashed Xiao Zhuang a thumbs-up before driving off.
First-in-Command ran up. “Da Shaoye, do I not need to return to the main estate?”
Gu Xingnuo said calmly, “I’m meeting General Li later. Are you sure you want to come?”
At that, the pirate blanched. “I’ll stay here and guard the place! Safe travels, Da Shaoye!”
The carriage rolled away.
Xiao Zhuang turned to him, dazed. “What did he just say to me?”
First-in-Command clapped his shoulder. “Be a man!”
Xiao Zhuang stood there, completely lost.
Meanwhile, First-in-Command sighed. Xiao Zhuang has a girl. I still don’t know how to talk to Li Wan…
Inside, Qian Mingzhu was still snuggled up with the bear cubs, snoring softly.
Back at the Gu estate…
Second-in-Command awoke to a blood-curdling scream.
As soon as he opened his eyes—bam! A pillow smashed into his face.
He instinctively rolled over, pinning down the attacker.
His hand landed on something… soft. Very soft.
Wait, am I dreaming? Why does this feel like…
“AAAAHHHHHH!” the pudgy girl beneath him screamed, shattering the morning peace.
Little Pink Starfish 
Leave a comment