Little Pink Starfish

San Shao Is a Good Young Man

When Gu Xinglang remembered the expression on Wang Momo’s face the day he’d asked her that question, he almost wanted to crawl into a hole and die again.

But Yu Xiaoxiao wasn’t letting him off that easily. “Say it—how did you know?”

“I asked,” Gu Xinglang said, flipping over with her still in his arms.

“Asked who?”

Gu San Shao grunted. “Who else could I ask?”

“Wang Momo?” Yu Xiaoxiao confirmed.

“Mm.” Gu Xinglang flipped again. He couldn’t exactly use his hands in front of his wife—but this was just unbearable.

Yu Xiaoxiao lay flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Youth was a blessing, but being this young was a bit of a drag.

Gu Xinglang tossed and turned for a while, the fire in his body refusing to subside. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. He pressed close to Yu Xiaoxiao and whispered in her ear, “Xiaoxiao, can you… help me?”

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at his flushed face. “Uncomfortable?”

Gu Xinglang didn’t answer. He just whimpered and held her hand—but didn’t dare move it lower himself.

“You poor, sweet boy.” Yu Xiaoxiao sighed.

“Xiaoxiao,” Gu Xinglang’s voice was soft as a feather.

How could you not want to pamper a sweet, shy youth like this?

Yu Xiaoxiao pulled the quilt over both of them.

Gu Xinglang gritted his teeth. “Don’t take your clothes off—we can’t… not yet.”

Yu Xiaoxiao, watching his nervous look, grew curious. Just what exactly had that imperial physician said to her Xiao Gu? There were woman’s health experts hiding among the imperial doctors now?

Gu Xinglang started to crawl out from under the covers. He needed to put distance between himself and temptation before something happened.

Yu Xiaoxiao grabbed his collar and pulled him back down. “Alright, alright, stop squirming. I’ll help you.”

It only took seconds before Gu San Shao stopped resisting and let out a satisfied sigh.

Yu Xiaoxiao was proud. Who needed hands? Two legs were good for walking, kicking people—and, well, holding onto something too. Like little Xiao Gu.

So this was another way of doing it, huh? Completely satisfied, Gu Xinglang felt like a whole new door had opened to the world.

Yu Xiaoxiao nudged him. “Feel good?”

Gu Xinglang, not nearly as shameless, gave a low “mm” in reply.

“Next time I’ll give you something even more exciting,” Yu Xiaoxiao said smugly.

That alone was enough stimulation to make Gu San Shao’s little Xiao Gu perk right back up. He sat up in a rush and said, “I’m going to take a bath.”

Watching him scramble to get dressed and flee the room, Yu Xiaoxiao yawned. “Xiao Gu, I’m messy too, you know.”

Gu Xinglang froze mid-step—then bolted.

Yu Xiaoxiao rubbed her legs against the bedsheets, turned over, and went to sleep. A soldier wasn’t going to be bothered by something that minor.

At the bathhouse, Gu Xinglang found the hot water gone and had to send a servant to fetch more.

Wang Momo was sewing in her room when she heard the noise and came out to check. Seeing the commotion, she called over the night-duty eunuch.

“It’s His Highness the Prince,” the eunuch whispered. “He’s taking a bath.”

At this hour?

Wang Momo’s first thought was: His Highness must’ve… enjoyed himself tonight. She glanced at the bathhouse again, then went back inside. The Princess was still young, but once married, there were things that couldn’t be denied. She was just the wet nurse—even if she wanted to interfere in their bedroom matters, she couldn’t.

Gu Xinglang washed up and then brought a basin of warm water back to their room.

Yu Xiaoxiao stirred when she heard him come in.

He set the basin beside the bed and said softly, “Go back to sleep. I’ll wash you.”

“No need,” Yu Xiaoxiao mumbled.

But Gu Xinglang lifted the quilt anyway. “I brought the water already. Just relax—it’ll help you sleep.”

Yu Xiaoxiao closed her eyes and let him be. If her man wanted to be a good husband, who was she to stop him?

Gu Xinglang, blushing fiercely and heart pounding, was used to tending to himself while on the road. But doing this for his wife was a whole new experience. His hands shook at first as he held the towel.

After a while, Yu Xiaoxiao opened one eye. She saw him carefully wiping her legs, face serious, like he was performing a sacred duty. Her lips curled slightly. Not a big smile—but a real one.

Once he finished, a maid brought clean bedding.

Gu Xinglang didn’t let her come in. He took the bedding himself and changed the sheets, nudging Yu Xiaoxiao over to make space.

Yu Xiaoxiao pouted as the warm bed was stripped. They hadn’t even really done anything, and already he’s going this far? If they actually did the deed, was he planning to change the whole bedframe too?

He tossed the used bedding aside, climbed back into bed, and pulled Yu Xiaoxiao into his arms before she could protest. “It’ll be warm again soon,” he murmured. “I’ll warm it up for you.”

With him wrapped around her, the bed warmed up quickly. Yu Xiaoxiao burrowed closer.

“Sleep,” Gu Xinglang whispered, kissing her hair.

“Good night,” Yu Xiaoxiao murmured.

With a wave of his hand, Gu Xinglang extinguished the lamp.

In the darkness, he whispered again, “Don’t forget what you said earlier.”

Yu Xiaoxiao cracked one eye open. “Said what?”

“That thing you said… about it being even more exciting.”

Yu Xiaoxiao snorted with laughter. So he remembered that, huh?

“How do you do it?” he asked.

“You wanna learn?” she teased.

He gave a low “mm.” Now that he’d tasted it, how could a young man not want more?

“No wonder my dad spent decades chasing women,” Yu Xiaoxiao muttered. “Guess you guys really are wired that way.”

Talking about her father now totally killed the mood. The romantic vibes turned into black-and-white ink wash.

“…Sleep,” Gu Xinglang muttered, shutting his eyes.

Yu Xiaoxiao wasn’t done. She opened her eyes and pinched his cheek. “Don’t want to know anymore?”

“No,” Gu Xinglang said quickly. “I’m not like His Majesty.”

“Because he has something you don’t?” she teased again.

“I—” Gu Xinglang was flustered. Did she think he didn’t measure up?

Yu Xiaoxiao leaned in and whispered in his ear: “Your mouth.”