Chapter 12
Number One gazed at Su Ci, wanting to ask if he could stay.
But he could barely form simple words. In the end, he obediently cradled the clothes and socks in his arms, running over to the cabinet. He opened the bottom drawer.
Before Su Ci moved in, the dormitory had been thoroughly cleaned, and the previous caretaker hadn’t left anything behind.
Number One carefully arranged the clothes in the drawer, smoothing out every crease until they were perfectly flat. The socks were stacked neatly in pairs, aligned in an orderly row that was pleasing to the eye.
Watching this, Su Ci thought of the chaotic mess in his own spatial storage and quietly averted his gaze.
When he heard the sound of the drawer closing, Su Ci started walking toward the door.
Number One stood behind him, watching his retreating figure. He opened his mouth, trying to call out.
But no matter how hard he tried, all that came out was a raspy, meaningless “ha—ha—” sound, unpleasant to the ear.
The boy lowered his head in disappointment.
“Not coming?”
The caretaker’s gentle voice came from the doorway, cutting through his disheartened thoughts.
Number One looked up to see Su Ci standing sideways in the doorway, one hand resting on the frame to keep the metal door from closing. He was looking back at him.
Stunned for a moment, the boy quickly nodded, his face lighting up with joy. He darted through the gap near Su Ci’s legs and into the corridor.
Satisfied, Su Ci let go of the doorframe, slid his hands into the pockets of his uniform trousers, and strolled leisurely forward. Number One slowed down to walk alongside him, matching his pace as they entered the elevator together.
Though the elevator walls still only reflected Su Ci’s slim figure, Number One happily fiddled with his new outfit, a contented expression on his face.
4586 hadn’t specified the exact location of the activity room, but with the center being so small, Su Ci had no trouble finding it.
When he arrived, 4586 was stationed at the entrance, separating two children who were wrestling with each other before pushing them back inside the activity room.
Su Ci glanced into the room.
The two who had been fighting were Number Six and Number Seven. Meanwhile, Number Three was huddled in a corner, playing quietly with a metal ball, as he had done the previous day. Number Five and Number Eight were together, picking through toys.
“Su Su!”
Spotting him, the round and chubby nanny robot seemed to forget all about his tardiness that morning. It cheerfully greeted him with enthusiasm.
Su Ci nodded as 4586 began explaining his responsibilities for the day.
“The cubs can’t stay in enclosed rooms all the time. They need to interact with peers—playing, talking—activities that stabilize their emotions and promote healthy physical and mental development.”
“This also helps prevent the cubs from going berserk. Studies show that social interaction greatly reduces the likelihood of such occurrences. It’s a vital part of raising fosterlings.”
4586 continued, “So, every day from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, the fosterlings have activity time. Su Su, you’ll need to help me supervise them.”
Su Ci nodded. Hearing the mention of the time, he felt like he might have forgotten something.
He glanced at the child beside him.
Number One was looking into the activity room with a hint of envy. Noticing Su Ci’s gaze, he tilted his head up, his expression filled with innocent curiosity.
Su Ci rubbed his chin, sensing that whatever he’d forgotten didn’t have much to do with the boy.
He looked back into the activity room.
At that moment, Number Five, who had been picking toys with Number Eight, suddenly raised her head and looked toward the door.
Upon spotting Su Ci, her eyes lit up.
She quickly dropped her toy and ran over, her round, pretty eyes curving into crescents as a bright, sweet smile spread across her rosy cheeks.
She happily ran up to Su Ci, exclaiming, “Flower!”
However, when she peeked behind him and found no one there, her smile vanished instantly.
Her lips trembled, and she looked as though she might burst into tears. Her soft, childlike voice quivered with sadness. “Where’s my brother?”
It was only then that Su Ci remembered what he’d forgotten.
Glancing at his communicator, he replied, “The doctor said to pick him up at 10:00 from the medical center.”
It was just after 9:00, so he still had plenty of time. Su Ci felt no guilt at all.
Hearing this, Number Five wiped her eyes and nodded.
She glanced at the red flower-shaped hairpin tucked into Su Ci’s hair before sidling up to him. Tugging softly on the hem of his uniform, her small voice turned sweet and wheedling, like she was trying to charm him.
“Then, hurry up and bring him back,” the little girl urged, her voice soft and childlike, carrying the unique innocence and sweetness of a young cub.
But…
Su Ci raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at Number Eight, who was watching from the activity room, before turning his gaze to the seemingly harmless and adorably innocent little girl in front of him.
This little one is trying to pull this trick on me?
What Su Ci didn’t notice was that Number One, standing quietly beside him, had narrowed his black-red eyes while watching the girl. A faint hint of hostility flickered across his expression.
Due to the height difference, Number Five couldn’t fully gauge Su Ci’s reaction. Seeing that he didn’t seem to respond, she blinked in confusion.
Huh?
But her confusion quickly faded as she heard the caretaker turn to the nanny robot and say, “I’m heading to the medical center to pick up two children.”
The puzzlement in Number Five’s eyes cleared. She looked at the robot painted with yellow flowers.
4586 glanced at the five children in the room, then at Su Ci. Despite its mechanical nature, a hint of hesitation seemed to show in its movements.
Finally, it said, “Alright, but Su Su, you must come back quickly. Right now, I’m the only nanny robot in the fostering center, and I can’t handle everything alone.”
Hearing this, Number Five seemed to remember something.
Her small hand, which had been clutching Su Ci’s uniform hem, fell away and hung by her side. Her little head drooped, her earlier enthusiasm dimming.
Su Ci gave her a quick glance and nodded. “Got it. I’ll be back soon.”
Number Five watched as he stepped into the elevator, then turned back toward Number Eight. She was about to continue picking toys when she noticed the boy staring at the direction Su Ci had left, a mix of resentment and anger written across his face.
Curious, Number Five tilted her head and looked at him.
Sensing her gaze, Number Eight withdrew his eyes from the doorway, scowling as he threw the toy in his hand aside. He sat on a small stool with his chin resting on his palm, radiating a clear “stay away” attitude.
Unable to figure out his mood, Number Five shrugged it off. She picked up a metal ball from the box and quietly sat beside Number Three, spinning it in her hands.
For a while, the only sounds in the activity room were the noisy squabbles of Numbers Six and Seven.
Su Ci had barely stepped out of the fostering center when Number One trailed closely behind him.
Previously, with no one able to see him, no one had ever stopped him. Since gaining awareness, he had explored every corner of the base.
Yet, being invisible, every place had seemed the same to him. In the end, he had returned to the fostering center.
There wasn’t any particular reason—just a feeling that he should stay there.
If he had to name one, it might be that the fosterlings in the center, called “little monsters,” were perhaps his kin in some way.
Now, as he followed Su Ci into the elevator, Number One couldn’t stop glancing at the young man. Finally, he gathered his courage and reached out, tugging carefully at Su Ci’s uniform hem.
Su Ci lowered his gaze, meeting the child’s eyes with a calm and steady expression. Only then did Number One breathe a small sigh of relief.
Su Ci was slightly surprised at the boy’s wariness. His lips curved into a faint smile as he reached out to pat the child’s head. Finding the texture pleasantly soft, he couldn’t resist ruffling the boy’s hair again.
“That little girl doesn’t have what it takes to control me,” he chuckled lightly.
Number One nodded vigorously. The new caretaker was different from those before. He understood what Number Five had just attempted, which reassured him.
Su Ci left the fostering center building, trailed closely by his little shadow.
First, he checked on the patch of dirt under the spirit barrier. Overnight, the moisture in the soil had partially evaporated, but it remained damp. Other than that, there was no change.
Beneath the soil, the pear tree spirit seed had once again entered a dormant state, showing no signs of sprouting.
Su Ci frowned. With the surveillance cameras pointed at the area, he didn’t linger long, deciding to check back later that evening.
Number One, on the other hand, was captivated by the exposed patch of dirt, his eyes brimming with curiosity. It was his first time seeing bare ground like this.
Did the caretaker make this? He had a strange feeling that something beneath the soil was trying to communicate with him.
“Hunger… hunger…”
Hungry? But he didn’t have any food to give.
When Su Ci turned to leave without offering any explanation, Number One reluctantly pulled his gaze away and quickly scurried after him, following him out of the fostering center’s gates.
Su Ci glanced at the map 4586 had sent him and followed the directions to a stop about 100 meters from the fostering center.
In addition to teleportation platforms, the base had other transportation options, such as the “bus” hover vehicles. About a dozen of these vehicles operated on fixed routes throughout the base.
Though not entirely free, the fare system only deducted one point after every 30 rides, effectively making the first 29 rides free.
Before long, a hover bus arrived.
The doors opened with a facial recognition scan, and Su Ci stepped aboard.
Number One, with his short legs, found the first step—which reached up to his belly button—a daunting obstacle. Just as he prepared to climb it using both hands and feet, he felt the back of his collar being lifted.
The caretaker had picked him up and placed him onto the bus.
Dangling like a kitten carried by the scruff, Number One let his limbs hang obediently, making no struggle. Once his feet touched the ground, he quickly reached out to grab the caretaker’s uniform hem, following closely as they moved into the vehicle.
Su Ci glanced around the bus.
The cabin was well-ventilated, clean, and neat, with around 20 seats. Only two or three passengers were scattered inside, but one of them had a familiar face.
As soon as Su Ci boarded, the person waved at him warmly.
Su Ci quickly recalled the man’s face—Luo Shengfei from the maintenance team. He had been at the fostering center yesterday and had promised to do his best to repair the broken 4583.
Luo Shengfei smiled as Su Ci approached, but his expression froze slightly when his eyes landed on the red plastic flower clipped to Su Ci’s hair.
This new caretaker… has a penchant for looking pretty?
No 1 is still invisible to others…??