Chapter 157
After watering and fertilizing the plants, and harvesting the newly ripened fruits, the cubs finished preparing the ingredients for the day’s meals. Each of them received a small bowl of soft, sweet lotus seed soup as a treat.
Carrying their bowls out of the kitchen, they all sat on the steps in front of the nursery’s first-floor hall, forming a neat row.
Even Ran Lie had made a special trip back to his room, shifted back to his human form, and changed into a fresh set of cub clothing. He carefully packed a few scattered items into his new storage pouch.
His “possessions” were sparse—just two sets of cub clothing, some tea leaves gifted by Xue Wei, and paper and pens for practicing writing.
Though his belongings were few, his mindset had shifted from his previous extreme stubbornness. Now, with a sense of calm and stability, he looked forward to the day he could fill the storage pouch Brother A-Yan had given him.
Once he had finished helping with the ingredients, Ran Lie joined the others on the steps with his own bowl of lotus seed soup, sitting in a row with his friends.
The freshly cooked lotus seed soup exuded a warm, sweet aroma. The lotus seeds were soft and tender, melting in their mouths. With just one bite, the cubs all showed expressions of pure enjoyment.
It was absolutely delicious!
Even Xue Wei, who had eaten plenty of good food before, had never tasted lotus seed soup this delightful.
Perhaps it was the passage of time, or perhaps it was because she had helped prepare these meals herself, but everything tasted better to her now—even better than anything she’d ever eaten before.
Moreover…
Knowing her mother had recovered and would soon visit the nursery made her feel at ease, adding a sweeter flavor to everything she ate.
As for the dangers of this planet…
Her father was so powerful—he would surely protect her mother! Besides, Xue Wei sneaked a glance at the little Li Hua and Xiang Yang sitting nearby. If her parents learned of their existence, they would undoubtedly rush over without hesitation.
Little Li Hua was oblivious to Xue Wei’s thoughts. She scooped her lotus seed soup with a small spoon, her rosy cheeks glowing with satisfaction.
“Big Brother!” she chirped, her voice crisp and clear. “This soup is so yummy~”
Rong Heng nodded and scooped a spoonful from his bowl to feed her. Only after she had eaten did he continue with his own portion.
Meanwhile, Lu Jiao and the others focused intently on their own bowls. Even Little Zheng Xing held his bowl carefully and used a small spoon to eat slowly and methodically.
When Guo Hui arrived at the nursery, escorted by the task force through the planet’s pervasive blood mist, this was the scene that greeted her: the cubs sitting in a row on the nursery’s steps, quietly enjoying their food, each holding a small bowl.
It was a sight so heart-meltingly adorable that it made her chest feel warm.
Who wouldn’t fall in love with such sweet and well-behaved cubs?
After yesterday’s battle, the nursery’s cubs had become something of a legend. Seeing them sitting freely on the steps, eating their snacks in peace, felt perfectly natural—no one thought there was anything odd about it.
Of course, when the cubs saw so many unfamiliar adults standing at the nursery’s entrance, their previously relaxed demeanor immediately became tense.
They quickly finished their lotus seed soup, set down their bowls, and stood up one by one, warily watching Guo Hui and her team.
It was the first time the nursery had seen so many strangers arrive.
Xun Xiaoyu, who had come with the team, took the initiative to step forward. She walked out from the group, crouched beside the children, and met their eyes at their level.
“Children, where is Caretaker Su?” she asked gently.
“What do you want with him?” Ran Lie, considering himself the eldest among them, stepped forward protectively, placing himself in front of the other cubs.
Though they had fought side by side with these adults yesterday, if they posed a threat to the nursery, Ran Lie wouldn’t hesitate to bare his sharp claws at them.
Sensing Ran Lie’s hostility and the unease of the other cubs, Xun Xiaoyu quickly explained, “Don’t misunderstand. We’re here today to discuss Caretaker Su’s promotion.”
Normally, a trainee caretaker’s promotion—especially one fast-tracked—wouldn’t require such a grand spectacle. But after yesterday’s events, no one dared to take Su Ci lightly.
Naturally, they came prepared to show respect and sincerity befitting a strong and capable individual.
“Promotion?”
Hearing this, the cubs’ eyes lit up.
They knew that caretakers had probationary periods. It was rare for any caretaker to complete their full term at the nursery, and they had always worried that Su Su might leave them one day.
“Are you saying Su Su will stay?” Lu Jiao raised her hand eagerly. “If he’s promoted, does that mean Su Su can stay here forever?”
Xun Xiaoyu was slightly surprised by how affectionately the children referred to Su Ci, but she nodded with a smile. “That’s right. We’re here to persuade Caretaker Su to stay at Base 24.”
Of course, other departments, especially the plantation and operations team, were eager to recruit Su Ci. Ultimately, though, it would depend on his own choice. Still, there was no denying that Su Ci had done an excellent job teaching the nursery’s cubs.
Once the cubs understood Xun Xiaoyu’s purpose, their hostility melted away, replaced by bright smiles.
“Sister Xiaoyu, please convince Su Su to stay! Pretty please!” Lu Jiao clung to Xun Xiaoyu’s sleeve, her soft and sweet voice practically dripping with charm.
Honestly, who could resist such an adorable plea?
Xun Xiaoyu tried to keep her composure, but her voice involuntarily turned high-pitched. “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to convince him.”
“Thank you, Sister Xiaoyu!” a silver-haired boy chimed in sweetly.
His enthusiasm was contagious, and the other cubs quickly followed suit, echoing “Sister Xiaoyu” one after another. Xun Xiaoyu felt like she was floating on air.
The most surprising moment, however, came when the cool and aloof red-haired Ran Lie, after everyone else had spoken, reluctantly crossed his arms and muttered, “Thanks.”
Yesterday, she’d already been overwhelmed by how adorable the little crimson flame tiger was, but today brought even more surprises!
“No problem at all!” Xun Xiaoyu responded with a goofy grin, her demeanor completely at odds with the decisive, fearless leader she’d been while battling monsters yesterday.
The team members behind her couldn’t help but feel exasperated.
Mostly, though, they were envious and jealous—who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by such cute cubs calling them “big brother” or “big sister”?
Just look at those fluffy ears and tails—they looked so soft and perfect for petting.
“Captain Xun,” Vice-Captain Ji Yuan finally spoke up to remind her.
Xun Xiaoyu snapped out of her daze and quickly got back to business. “So, where is Caretaker Su? Can you take us to him?”
The cubs, who had been all smiles moments ago, exchanged hesitant glances.
Finally, Lu Jiao spoke up, “Su Su is sleeping. You’ll have to wait a bit.”
Xun Xiaoyu was surprised. So late in the day, and Caretaker Su was still asleep? Who had been taking care of the cubs? The nanny robots?
Recalling the sight of the cubs quietly sitting in a row on the steps, eating their food, Xun Xiaoyu was even more amazed.
Even ordinary children, unaffected by berserk tendencies, weren’t this well-behaved!
How on earth had Caretaker Su managed to create such a significant change in these cubs? Was this the difference between an expert and an ordinary person?
“Should we… wake him up?”
Xun Xiaoyu tentatively suggested, only to see all the cubs shake their heads in perfect unison—except for Ran Lie and Xue Wei, who were half a beat slower.
“No,” Lu Jiao said solemnly, “You can’t wake Su Su from his sleep.”
Seeing this, Xun Xiaoyu hesitated and turned to Guo Hui from the administrative office and her colleague for guidance.
“It’s fine. We can wait a bit longer,” Guo Hui said, adjusting her glasses. She understood Su Ci’s value and had come today with genuine intentions. Waiting a little while longer wouldn’t make a difference.
“Since we can’t discuss Caretaker Su’s situation right now, let’s talk about yours first.”
Guo Hui turned her attention to the cubs, her tone formal and serious.
Despite facing such adorable cubs, her demeanor remained professional. Apart from a slightly softer expression, she treated them no differently than she would anyone else.
The cubs couldn’t help but feel nervous. Even the usually bold and carefree Lang Ze swallowed hard.
Then, they saw Guo Hui open her briefcase and take out a series of small boxes.
“Number Two.”
When Guo Hui called out this designation, she hesitated briefly, finding it odd. Why hadn’t the cubs been numbered starting from One? However, the thought passed quickly, and she dismissed it.
She looked at the red-haired boy, whose expression was wary and hostile, and handed him the box labeled “2” without saying much.
“Number Three.”
Zheng Xing, hiding behind Lang Ze, shrank back even further.
Lu Jiao ran over, took the box from Guo Hui on Zheng Xing’s behalf, and also picked up his own.
Before long, all the cubs had received their respective boxes from Guo Hui.
Closing her briefcase, Guo Hui looked at the cubs and finally allowed a small smile to appear. “Go ahead and open them.”
Lang Ze had been itching to open his box but held back his curiosity when he saw the others remaining calm. Now that Guo Hui had given the go-ahead, he quickly opened it.
A series of soft clicks followed as the boxes were opened, revealing small name plates inside, each engraved with the cub’s name.
“This is my name—I recognize it!” Lang Ze exclaimed loudly.
“Yes, I recognize mine too,” Lu Li said, taking his nameplate from the box. Mimicking Guo Hui and the task force members, he pinned the nameplate to his chest.
The other cubs followed suit, one after another, proudly wearing their nameplates.
Even though they had been given their new names long ago, this moment felt different.
It was as if, from today onward, he had truly said goodbye to being “Number Six.”
The other children, looking at their nameplates, happily followed suit. However, the little Li Hua standing beside Rong Heng frowned deeply at her nameplate, her brow knitting into a tiny knot, as though it reminded her of something unpleasant.
The name on the plate, of course, was her full name: Fu Qiu.
Suddenly, her hand felt a little weak. QwQ
Rong Heng didn’t notice his sister’s complex emotions. After pinning on his own nameplate, he crouched down to help her attach hers.
The nameplate seemed to be made of some unique material—once it touched fabric, it adhered automatically and wouldn’t come off, no matter how much one tried to shake it loose.
“These nameplates come in a set of two. Please make sure to keep them safe,” Guo Hui explained the importance of the nameplates. She also had other announcements to make.
“Children, your performance yesterday was truly astonishing. None of us expected that, without us noticing, you had grown this much. Thank you for your contributions in protecting the base.”
Guo Hui’s tone was calm, but it carried a deep sincerity.
Hearing such straightforward praise from an adult at the base for the first time, the cubs snapped out of their joy over the nameplates and focused their attention on Guo Hui, their eyes fixed on her.
A surge of emotions rose within them, almost overwhelming.
Behind Guo Hui stood members of the task force and a few curious guards. They had all participated in the battle yesterday. Now, their gazes toward the cubs were filled not just with admiration and gratitude, but also—
Recognition.
Yes, recognition—something the cubs had never received before.
From today onward, they were no longer just the nursery’s “little monsters.” They had their own names and nameplates and had earned the acknowledgment of everyone at the base.
“To commend your bravery during this battle, your achievements have been officially recorded,” Guo Hui continued.
Perhaps the children didn’t fully grasp the significance of this, and Guo Hui didn’t intend to explain just yet. The truth about Prison Star and their origins would be revealed to them when they were older.
When the time came, these recorded achievements would grant them the right to leave Prison Star. For those who wished to join the military, these accomplishments would serve as the perfect stepping stone.
Even for ordinary careers, they would receive certain subsidies from the Star Alliance.
And yet, the oldest among them was just ten years old!
The possibilities for their future seemed endless.
Looking at the children, Guo Hui’s voice softened even further. “In addition to your recorded achievements, the base has also awarded you corresponding points as per regulations…”
While this announcement created excitement among the children, over in Dormitory 303, Su Ci had already woken up and was calmly eating breakfast.
What was happening outside naturally didn’t escape the notice of Su Ci and A-Yan.
Though Su Ci outwardly appeared disinterested, only A-Yan, sitting across from him, could see the slight curve of his lips, a hint of pride and satisfaction.
