Little Pink Starfish

Outside, things were still bustling. Guests came and went, clinking glasses. In the back, Faning and the Li Family’s eldest daughter stood face to face, separated by a massive screen.

At that exact moment, Yuan Yuanyuan got smacked on the head by the boss lady in the tavern.

“Why are you still sleeping soundly indoors!” the boss lady shouted, patting Yuan Yuanyuan’s head. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the Li residence by now?”

“Why should I go to the Li residence!” Yuan Yuanyuan scrambled around the room, trying to dodge the boss lady’s attacks.

“Shouldn’t you be going there to stir things up!” the boss lady shouted while smacking her.

And so, looking thoroughly confused, Yuan Yuanyuan headed off to the Li residence, still half asleep.

Back over there, Faning and the Li Family’s eldest daughter were still staring at each other—neither expected that Yuan would actually show up, and with a strong dose of morning grumpiness no less…

“This is… really awkward for me, okay?” Faning scratched his head as he walked out from behind the screen. Only then did he realize he was wearing formal clothes.

He must’ve slipped in disguised as a guest and managed to avoid being caught in the search. The Li Family’s eldest daughter watched as Faning walked toward her. Though it was awkward, she seemed determined to finish what she had to say. Faning said to her, “If you don’t want to stay here, I can take you away right now.”

…

Silence.

The Li Family’s eldest daughter gave him a cold, domineering look and then turned away, leaving Faning standing awkwardly in the wind.

What the heck?

He’d fought his way through so much to get here, and she didn’t even look at him… Come on, this is way too humiliating, isn’t it?

“Hey, wait.” Faning chased after her and patted her on the shoulder. “Hey, boss lady, I went through a lot to get here…”

Faning was exhausted. He hadn’t come with any grand ideas… He had just always seen this girl as someone simple and kind—after all, she’d never exposed him.

Faning felt this whole marriage was suspicious and vague, like something was off. He suspected something deeper was going on, so he came charging in.

The Li Family’s eldest daughter still kept up a strong front in front of Faning, showing no hint of her true self. No one could guess what she was really feeling.

And now she calmly walked down the corridor, ignoring Faning. Even now, no one could figure out what she was thinking.

Her emotions shifted like lightning. Faning had never seen this version of the Li Family’s eldest daughter, and he was beginning to sense something was seriously wrong.

Faning was very sensitive to expressions. Having worked as a shop assistant in the mountains, he had picked up on plenty. He could instinctively tell that the girl in front of him was in a bad mood—and not interested in hearing anything he had to say.

He didn’t know what was going on, but Faning didn’t have much time.

The longer he stayed here, the greater the risk of being discovered. So Faning was trying to figure out what was going on and quickly decide on a plan: leave alone or leave with the girl.

“Do you like the groom?” Faning caught up to her. The girl answered coldly, “I don’t know him.”

“Wait… you don’t know him?” Faning was stunned.

“Today’s the first time we met. Looks like someone who can’t do anything except listen to my dad.” She suddenly turned to ask, “Do you have anything else to say?”

“Uh? I—I… no.” Faning shook his head dumbly.

“Then you should leave.” She turned away again.

Faning was completely speechless. He looked at her back, hesitated, then followed.

Honestly, Faning might not seem reliable, but in critical moments, he did have a strong sense of responsibility. He had actually been ready to leave earlier—until he heard the bride didn’t even know the groom. That made him stay.

To Faning, the Li Family Head wasn’t just a sadist in Yuan Yuanyuan’s eyes—he was one in Faning’s eyes too. For whatever reason, Faning just felt that the guy could do anything.

The Li Family’s eldest daughter walked slowly down the corridor, with a nervous Faning trailing behind. By this point, Yuan Yuanyuan had arrived at the edge of the Li residence. She looked into the house, patted her clothes, and prepared to enter.

Today, Yuan Yuanyuan was wearing all black… No one knew why she suddenly chose that outfit.

She was still using the extremely skinny figure, her entire presence exuding cranky, not-yet-awake energy. At the entrance… she slipped inside quietly, like a groundhog, burrowing her way in.

Inside—

“Don’t want to go back.”

Faning said, “Can we figure out what to do once we’re outside?”

“No.”

Yuan Yuanyuan heard that voice and thought, who’s she talking to…? That voice sounded familiar.

She had originally planned to step out, but now she ducked down instead, waiting and listening.

It sounded like… they were talking about whether to run away from the wedding?

Yuan Yuanyuan thought: Faning, damn, you’re bold. Now you’re encouraging the daughter of the Li Family to elope… That said, she was watching with wide, eager eyes.

She’d arrived a bit late and missed the earlier part. But based on experience, this definitely looked like Faning was trying to run away with the girl, and she was just too shy—or maybe being stubborn—and giving him the cold shoulder.

Even though Yuan Yuanyuan had no good impression of the Li Family’s eldest daughter, gossip was gossip—it didn’t matter who it was about. She was loving this.

Loving it so much she was tempted to break out a bag of sunflower seeds.

—In the main hall.

Ever since his daughter walked out earlier, the Li Family Head hadn’t reacted at all. This made everyone present uneasy.

Dude, your daughter just left. Didn’t you notice?

Of course, he noticed. But the Li Family Head acted completely calm, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

And to him, it really wasn’t… because this was never his true purpose today. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about his daughter’s marriage—there was just something even more important.

The Li Family Head stood at the front, looking out at the gathered crowd.

Since this was his daughter’s wedding day, nearly all the major figures from the area had come.

Now the timing was perfect. The banquet was wrapping up, the drinks were mostly finished, and the incense burning in the room was starting to fade.

The Li Family Head slowly stood up. This was the third time he stood during the banquet. Everyone assumed he was about to propose a toast and raised their glasses—only to realize his hands were empty.

“I am here,” the Li Family Head said, bowing his head slightly, his voice deep. “And I have something to announce.”

In the back, Faning and the Li Family’s eldest daughter heard his voice and looked in the direction it came from.

Underground, Yuan Yuanyuan—pretending to be invisible—also turned her head quietly.

A wind chime hanging under the eaves swayed gently in the breeze at the sound of the Li Family Head’s voice.

“I am going to join the Hundred Demon King’s army and fight for him. If anyone here wishes to join us, just stay behind after the banquet.”

The wind chime suddenly fell still.

Underground, Yuan Yuanyuan and aboveground Faning both widened their eyes.

In their hearts, both of them thought the same two words—【What the f***】…

The entire banquet fell into a sudden silence. Just moments ago, people were still clinking glasses, and now—not even breathing sounds could be heard.

Who knew what was running through everyone’s minds? Maybe not everyone thought “What the f***,” but maybe they were cursing something else. As for Yuan Yuanyuan, curled up underground, she was mentally spamming 【What the f***】 on repeat.

Holy crap… What now? She only came here because the boss lady smacked her awake. And now she had overheard something this explosive.

Now that she knew… she couldn’t pretend she didn’t. Yuan Yuanyuan’s heart pounded as her whole body tensed.

“I know… this news might catch you off guard,” the Li Family Head’s voice continued, steady and loud. “But I want you all to understand one thing—even now, I’ve given you a chance. If you choose not to seize it… I think Yuan will be your fate.”

There was a dull, wet sound—Yuan Yuanyuan wasn’t sure what it was, but it sounded like a blade sinking into flesh.

More sounds followed.

“I think you’ll all be just like me—loyal to the Hundred Demon King.” The Li Family Head’s voice seemed to move. The sound shifted near and far—he must have used some kind of demon magic. Even here, his voice was crystal clear.

“One traitor is enough—Yuan.” The voice continued, “I imagine no one has any objections, do they?”

Wearing her red wedding dress, the Li Family’s eldest daughter looked up at the wind chime dangling from the eaves as she heard her father’s voice. She sighed faintly.

Just then, she seemed to see something. Suddenly, she turned toward a screen in the distance.

Behind the screen, a shadow flickered.

She froze for a moment, then suddenly lifted her skirt and rushed forward. Faning, still stunned, snapped out of it at the sound of her footsteps and hurried after her.

“Hey, wait, what are you doing?”