Chapter 111
To be honest, Shi Yijiang had worked on Prison Star for many years and had handled several cubs, but he could confidently say that the little girl in front of him was the most unique he had ever encountered.
First, her emotions were remarkably stable. Throughout the journey, she remained calm, seemingly uninterested in her surroundings, and often lost in thought.
However, her indifference was different from Number Three’s complete self-isolation. She was polite and well-mannered in her interactions, clearly a child who had received proper upbringing.
Her apathy felt more like numbness, a persistent melancholy etched into her features, giving her an air of maturity unusual for her age.
The only time a spark of brightness appeared in her eyes was when she interacted with the chubby little bird.
Shi Yijiang didn’t know what this child had been through, but seeing her long ears drooping slightly, he averted his gaze.
Any child sent to Infernal Star had a complicated backstory. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would now be the responsibility of the new caretaker, Su Ci.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you to the administrative office, where a caretaker will meet you,” Shi Yijiang said, stepping out of the cockpit.
The little girl lowered her hand, and the plump bird flapped its wings before landing on her shoulder. Its shiny, grape-like eyes darted around curiously, observing everything.
In stark contrast, the girl kept her head slightly bowed, following Shi Yijiang in silence and obedience.
They soon arrived at the administrative building.
Knock, knock, knock. Shi Yijiang rapped on the door.
“Come in,” a woman’s solemn voice replied from inside.
The little girl followed Shi Yijiang into the office. After he introduced her to the woman, the girl lifted the hem of her dress and curtsied gracefully, exuding poise and elegance.
Guo Hui looked at the sweet, well-behaved little lady, her expression complicated.
After the girl’s polite greeting, the chubby bird on her shoulder chirped twice as if greeting Guo Hui as well.
Guo Hui glanced at the bird and then at the file in her hands. “This is your little pet, right?” she asked.
For the first time, the girl broke her silence, lifting her gaze to Guo Hui. She spoke seriously, “Chirp-Chirp isn’t a pet. He’s my good friend, madam.”
Her voice, soft yet still tinged with childish innocence, carried a calm, measured tone that made her sound like a little adult. It was soothing to listen to, leaving a pleasant impression.
As expected of a child raised by royalty… but such a pity, how could she inherit such a ferocious bloodline?
Guo Hui recalled the little girl’s background as detailed in her file and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Her gaze softened, tinged with pity and sympathy.
“I understand,” Guo Hui said with a nod, her tone slightly gentler. “But I must remind you, if you insist on keeping it with you, you must protect it. Once you’re at the nursery, it’s best not to let it leave your room.”
The little girl’s fingers tightened slightly, revealing her nervousness.
She didn’t ask why, simply nodded. “I understand. Thank you for your kindness and the warning.”
“From today onward, you’ll start a new life here. Nine, that will be your new name,” Guo Hui said. “Now, go sit over there. The caretaker will come to pick you up shortly.”
Nine…
The little girl clenched her fingers tightly. Even her old name couldn’t remain?
Her eyes dimmed as she gave a small nod, then walked with her chubby bird to the chair Guo Hui indicated and sat down.
She lowered her head, lapsing back into a daze.
“Chirp chirp!”
The little bird hopped twice, trying to get her attention. When she didn’t respond, it nuzzled her cheek with its tiny beak.
The girl lifted her head, her eyes slightly red. She mustered a smile for the bird before lowering her head again, her mood as droopy as her long rabbit ears.
Seeing her like this, the little bird quieted down. Tilting its head, it fluttered onto her shoulder, curling up near her neck. Its soft, fluffy feathers brushed against her, offering warmth and comfort with its tiny body.
When Su Ci walked in, this was the scene that greeted him.
Sensing his presence, the girl looked up.
Seeing the young man in a gray-blue uniform, she blinked softly. Though she had met many beautiful people before, she couldn’t help but be awed by his extraordinary appearance.
It took her a moment to regain her composure. Quickly, she stood up from the chair, lifted the hem of her dress, and curtsied to him. The gesture, seemingly ingrained in her very being, was graceful even in haste.
Su Ci glanced at her, his gaze lingering briefly on her fluffy long ears before turning to Guo Hui.
Next to him, unseen by everyone else, A-Yan tilted his head to look at Su Ci, then shifted his gaze to the rabbit-eared girl. His expression showed a mix of wariness and confusion.
He reached up to touch his recently changed round ears, a troubled look crossing his face.
Could it be… he would have to change again?
“Caretaker Su, the new cub is here. Please take her back with you,” Guo Hui said.
Su Ci nodded and walked toward the little girl.
As the caretaker approached, the girl took a nervous step back. When she saw him stop, she exhaled softly and said in a quiet voice, “Hello, sir. I’m the new… Number Nine.”
At the mention of her new name, the girl pressed her lips together slightly and lowered her head again.
Su Ci frowned, crouched down, and met the timid little rabbit’s gaze at eye level. Seeing her sadness, he gently asked, “What was your original name?”
The little girl froze, her eyes reddening slightly again. She bit her lip before obediently replying, “I… my name is Xue Wei.”
“Xue Wei? It suits you,” the young man said gently. “You can keep that name from now on.”
Little Xue Wei looked up at him, her face lighting up with surprise. “Really? Can I?”
She glanced nervously at Guo Hui for confirmation.
Guo Hui, who had been observing them, raised an eyebrow—not out of disapproval, but curiosity. No caretaker had ever done such a thing before.
Su Ci stood up and addressed Guo Hui, “Can you make this kind of nameplate for the cubs?” He gestured to the nameplate on his chest. Everyone in the base had one except for the cubs in the nursery.
“It’s possible…” Guo Hui hesitated, though she refrained from voicing her doubts about its necessity.
Noticing Su Ci’s serious expression and the newfound sparkle in the little girl’s eyes, Guo Hui relented. “I’ll submit a request and see.”
Caretakers had different approaches to raising cubs. As a non-specialist, Guo Hui could only try her best to cooperate.
“Alright,” Su Ci nodded, as if the approval were a mere formality. He added, “I’ve also chosen new names for the cubs. I’ll send you the list when I get back.”
“New names?”
Surprised, Guo Hui studied Su Ci, as if seeing him in a new light. She nodded after a moment. “Alright, I understand.”
Su Ci’s gaze then shifted to the plump little sparrow perched on Xue Wei’s shoulder. “What about this one?” he asked.
A-Yan, standing invisibly beside him, also looked at the tiny bird. It resembled a fluffy little ball and was undeniably adorable. Could it be a fully beastified cub?
But Guo Hui replied, “That’s her pet—”
She paused, reconsidering her words. “I mean, it’s something she keeps. It shouldn’t be an issue for them to stay in the nursery together, right?”
Though minor, this was something the processing staff hadn’t insisted on, allowing the girl to keep her pet. But at the nursery, all decisions regarding the cubs were at the caretaker’s discretion.
If Su Ci objected, there wouldn’t be much they could do. Judging by his demeanor, though, he didn’t seem the type to be so heartless.
“Something she keeps?” Su Ci’s expression turned slightly peculiar. He glanced back at the bird briefly before nodding. “Alright. Let’s go.”
He motioned to Xue Wei and turned to leave the office.
Xue Wei quickly followed. As they reached the door, she suddenly remembered something. She turned back and bowed to Guo Hui and the other office staff, bidding them a polite farewell before hurrying after Su Ci.
Even the little plump bird flapped its wings and chirped twice before flying away to follow.
“This new cub seems… different, doesn’t she?” a colleague beside Guo Hui couldn’t help but comment.
Guo Hui nodded, her thoughts lingering on Su Ci’s behavior just moments ago.
His peculiar expression at the end had caught her attention. But what stood out the most was that he had given the cubs names—a practice none of the previous caretakers had ever done.
It seemed like he was vastly different from those before him. Could this be why the cubs had been so well-behaved recently?
Guo Hui glanced at the screen displaying the résumé from the HR department. Adjusting her glasses thoughtfully, she wondered: was there even a need to rush hiring a new caretaker anymore?
*
In the corridor, little Xue Wei finally caught up to Su Ci. Having jogged to keep pace, her cheeks were slightly flushed, giving her a healthier appearance than before.
The chubby sparrow fluttered around Su Ci in a circle. When he only gave it a passing glance and continued walking leisurely, the bird chirped insistently, its calls bright and clear, albeit a bit noisy.
“Chirp-Chirp,” the girl called softly.
The little bird paused before swiftly flying back to perch on her shoulder.
Trailing behind the caretaker, Xue Wei noticed that he walked slowly, matching her pace perfectly. Assuming this was to accommodate her, she felt a small sense of relief.
Maybe this caretaker wasn’t as hard to get along with as she feared?
Yet, as her thoughts wandered, her gaze dimmed once more. Quietly following Su Ci, she seemed to sink back into that familiar numbness, a faint sadness shadowing her expression.
A-Yan glanced back at her.
In his unique vision, he could see faint wisps of malice, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, swirling toward the little girl like fish drawn to the scent of blood.
Her negative emotions were attracting the malice, which, in turn, influenced her, creating a vicious cycle that further fueled her despair.
This was precisely why scientists at the research institute often referred to the red mist as “self-propagating.” Negative emotions served as the perfect nourishment for malice. Wherever negativity existed, malice would follow. And as long as living beings—regardless of intelligence—existed, so would negative emotions.
A-Yan watched the new cub with growing concern. Her negativity was far stronger than that of the other cubs.
In the past, she might not have lasted long in the nursery before things turned disastrous. Fortunately…
A-Yan looked up at Su Ci. Seeing the calm, composed expression on the young man’s face, the unease in his heart melted away.
With Su Su here, such things would never happen again.
Sensing something, Su Ci glanced down to see the boy grinning up at him. For a brief moment, he thought he saw the face of that unfamiliar yet familiar teenager again.
By now, though, that figure was no longer entirely a stranger.
With a faint smile, Su Ci reached out to tousle the boy’s hair.
Behind them, Xue Wei was lost in thought, her head lowered. Perched on her shoulder, the little sparrow was quietly observing the caretaker ahead.
When it saw his hand reach out and make a ruffling motion, its small, grape-like eyes gleamed with confusion and curiosity.
This caretaker…
Was his hand cramping suddenly?
Under the watchful gaze of the plump sparrow, Su Ci led them to the bus stop. Just as they arrived, the hoverbus pulled in, and they all boarded.
Xue Wei remained silent the entire ride. Although the little sparrow tried tirelessly to cheer her up after sensing her sadness, its efforts were in vain.
Meanwhile, in a seat across from her, Su Ci’s communicator buzzed the moment he sat down.
[Administrative Office – Guo Hui]: Caretaker Su, here is the file for the new cub. Please take a look; it might be helpful to you.
[Administrative Office – Guo Hui]: Attachment.
Su Ci replied with a brief acknowledgment before opening the file to review it online.
At the top of the document was a photo of Xue Wei, likely taken when she was four or five years old. Dressed in exquisite formal wear, she smiled brightly at the camera, her expression full of charm and energy.
It was clear this was once a child who had grown up in happiness. Even though she hadn’t yet developed her rabbit ears in the photo, her adorableness was undeniable.
As Su Ci continued scrolling, more detailed information came into view:
Name: Ai Xue Wei
Date of Birth: Galactic Year 1324, July
Nationality: Tethys Empire
Beast Bloodline: Tenglong Rabbit
Background:
Born in the Aishi Empire as the daughter of the former Duke of Aishi. Following a political upheaval in the Aishi Empire, her family emigrated to the Tethys Empire. During their escape, they were ambushed, resulting in the death of her parents.
At the end of 1329, she was sent to the Tethys Empire’s capital welfare institution. In 1330, she was adopted but returned to the welfare institution later that year after entering a berserk state that left her adopters severely injured.
Upon review, while not the child of an interstellar criminal, she met other criteria for confinement at the nursery on Prison Star and was thus transferred there.
Now that it was 1331, it was evident that much time had been spent en route. By the time she arrived at the Prison Star, a whole year had passed.
Su Ci’s gaze lingered on the section labeled Beast Bloodline: Tenglong Rabbit. He turned slightly to glance at the petite girl in a pink dress sitting across from him. She looked soft and obedient, the picture of innocence.
When the little sparrow turned to glare at him protectively, Su Ci averted his gaze.
As expected, appearances could be deceiving.
He chose not to open the detailed description of the Tenglong Rabbit bloodline. From the name alone, he could infer its characteristics. It wasn’t something he dwelled on much—after all, she was just a young cub who had barely awakened her bloodline.
Still…
Su Ci stroked his chin, the thought crossing his mind: Rabbits are pretty good at digging holes, aren’t they?
The hoverbus cruised steadily forward until it finally arrived at the stop outside the nursery.
Su Ci had no choice but to pull his scattered thoughts back together, closing the display as he waved the little girl over and led her off the bus.
Xue Wei watched his back as he walked, recalling the way he had looked at the screen earlier. She bit her lip before following him.
As she stepped off the hoverbus, Xue Wei finally laid eyes on the nursery—a place where she would spend at least the next ten years of her life.
The sight of the cold, metallic building filled her with even more unease and oppression.
Just before entering the nursery, Xue Wei couldn’t hold back anymore. She finally spoke up, asking, “Did you look at my file?”
Su Ci stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at her. Beside him, Ah Yan also cast a curious glance her way.
The little girl’s negative emotions had grown significantly since leaving the administrative building—at least double in intensity—and now, they were escalating even faster.
“I didn’t mean to…”
She barely got the words out before her eyes turned red, her gaze filled with guilt and fear. “I didn’t mean to hurt her…”
This “her” was likely the adopter she injured during her berserk episode, Su Ci guessed.
He nodded slightly, but the girl didn’t seem to be looking for his response. She stared at him, tears rolling down her cheeks like pearls.
“Is the lady… dead?” Xue Wei’s voice trembled as she sank into her memories, her emotions spiraling out of control. “Please tell me, is she?”
“They all say she’s still alive… But if that’s true, why won’t she come see me? I know I was wrong… I really didn’t mean it…”
Her small hands covered her eyes as sobs wracked her body.
“I miss her… and my father and mother… Am I here because I made a mistake?”
Perhaps the influence of the red mist had overwhelmed her; the surge of negative emotions had completely unraveled her composure. In front of Su Ci, someone she had just met, she completely broke down.
Su Ci sighed softly, observing her.
It seemed that every cub sent to this nursery had their own significant issues.
The little sparrow perched on Xue Wei’s shoulder grew frantic. It fluttered into the air, chirping incessantly, trying to nuzzle her tear-streaked face, but to no avail.
As Xue Wei teetered on the edge of losing control, Su Ci finally reached out, placing a hand gently on her head.
With her hands covering her eyes, the little girl paused mid-sob. She peeked up at him through her tear-swollen rabbit eyes, her expression heartbreakingly pitiful.
“I don’t know the exact circumstances of the lady you mentioned,” Su Ci said calmly. “But your file only states that she was gravely injured, not that she passed away.”
“R-Really?” Xue Wei looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to this caretaker. He seemed different from other adults, and she instinctively wanted to believe him.
Su Ci’s palm glowed faintly as he gently dispersed the ominous aura surrounding Xue Wei. His voice remained calm as he reassured her, “I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Xue Wei felt an inexplicable sense of relief. The emotions that had weighed on her heart for so long seemed to dissipate as she cried, leaving her feeling much lighter.
Then she heard the youth continue, “You weren’t sent here because of a mistake.”
He paused briefly before adding, “Someday, you might even feel grateful for coming here.”
Perhaps she would, Su Ci mused. Although he intended for her to help with his farming efforts, he would also give back in equal measure. At the very least, he could guide her in properly utilizing her bloodline abilities.
Xue Wei sniffled, gradually regaining her composure.
After voicing the thoughts she had held inside for so long, her mood noticeably improved. Unbeknownst to her, a soft halo of light encircled her, preventing the ominous aura from nearing. It was likely the true reason her emotions had stabilized.
“Thank you,” she said softly, her tone now tinged with shyness.
Blushing, she wiped away her tears. Just as she moved to bow to Su Ci again, she saw him straighten up and walk lazily toward the nursery’s entrance.
Xue Wei watched his retreating figure but still performed her bow out of habit.
Her mother had taught her this etiquette, and she didn’t want to forget it.
Afterward, she followed behind Su Ci with her little bird companion perched on her shoulder, her gaze curiously darting around. For the first time, she exhibited the innocence and curiosity befitting a child her age.
When she stepped through the nursery’s gates, Xue Wei blinked in surprise.
The air… seemed fresher?
At that moment, Su Ci’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., you have free time to do whatever you like, as long as you don’t disturb others.”
Xue Wei listened intently.
“After 6 p.m., all the cubs must stay in their rooms and remain quiet. For other details, you can ask the other cubs tomorrow.”
It was already past six, so the cubs had all returned to their rooms.
“What if I lose control and go berserk while outside?” Xue Wei asked cautiously.
She had been confined to a room during her time at the welfare center and throughout the journey to the nursery. She didn’t want to hurt anyone again, so she had always been mindful.
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Su Ci replied simply.
He didn’t elaborate further because… he was hungry.
Leaving the girl and her little bird in the care of 4586, Su Ci and A-Yan disappeared back to his quarters in search of food.
Xue Wei followed 4586 up to the fifth floor.
“Adorable Weiwei, this will be your room from now on! If you need anything, just call me anytime,” 4586 said warmly. “I’ll go prepare some delicious food for you.”
As the nanny robot left, it added cheerfully, “Oh, and Weiwei, your dress is absolutely beautiful! Hua Hua is definitely going to love you!”
Hua Hua? Is that also one of the nursery’s cubs? Xue Wei smiled and said, “Thank you for the compliment. The flowers on you are beautiful too.”
“I think so too!” 4586 replied cheerfully and happily left.
Xue Wei began exploring her new room. Although it was far simpler than any of the rooms she had stayed in before, sitting on the little bed, she felt a lightness in her heart that she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
She wondered if the other cubs in the nursery would be as easy to get along with as the caretaker seemed to be.
When 4586 returned with her dinner, it found the little girl curled up on the bed, fast asleep. Her bunny ears, which drooped behind her head, were now slightly perked up, signaling she was completely at ease.
Surely, tonight, she would have a good dream.
