Chapter 174
“Children, if there’s anything you don’t like, please let us know,” Wen Yan said, clapping her hands to get the attention of all the young ones as the caretaker robots placed breakfast on the table.
Unlike her reserved demeanor with adults, Wen Yan appeared calm and confident in front of the young ones. She stood at the head of the dining table with a warm smile.
After introducing the breakfast dishes to the children, she added, “If there’s something you really like, feel free to tell me as well.”
The young ones were a little stunned by this kind of nurturing caretaker.
In the beginning, there had been kind and gentle caretakers like her, but most of the young ones were either too young at the time or hadn’t yet arrived. By the time they could remember, they were interacting with caretakers hired specifically to deal with their berserk episodes.
Since these caretakers were chosen for their combat abilities, gentleness and attentiveness were not expected. Moreover, these caretakers rarely stayed for long, so the young ones hardly remembered them.
The first to snap out of their surprise was the little wolf cub.
He raised his hand and, after Wen Yan nodded at him, said, “I like meat the most! Everyone loves meat!”
Sitting beside him, the little white deer slightly opened his mouth as if to speak, but then thought of the roasted meat A-Yan had made before. Swallowing his saliva, he decided to stay quiet.
Roasted meat really was delicious—just as tasty as fruits and vegetables!
“Got it. I’ll remember that,” Wen Yan replied with a smile. Seeing that the other young ones had no objections, she said, “Alright then, everyone, dig in.”
As for each child’s specific preferences, she planned to observe and note them in the future.
This wasn’t just her professional duty as a childcare specialist—it also came from her genuine affection for these children.
Watching the young ones eat seriously, Wen Yan felt deeply comforted, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but worry.
Most of these children had the bloodline of fierce beasts, making them carnivores. It wasn’t just about taste preferences; their growth also depended on a steady supply of meat.
However, because fresh meat spoils quickly, their recent supplies included only a limited amount of meat, most of it preserved or cured.
While cured meats had good flavor and could enrich the children’s palates, they weren’t healthy for long-term consumption. Moreover, the stock of preserved meat would eventually run out.
What would happen when it was gone? Would the children have to go back to eating nutritional meat paste?
After introducing a richer diet, forcing the children to return to the bland paste felt far too cruel. Wen Yan couldn’t bear the thought.
As she returned to her seat to dine with Yan Ya and Li Sinian, she continued pondering this issue.
She recalled seeing videos of the children eating fresh meat before. How had Caretaker Su managed this problem?
Wen Yan resolved to ask Caretaker Su about it as soon as she had the chance.
“This porridge tastes a bit like lotus seed soup.”
At that moment, Wen Yan overheard a voice from the children’s table. It was the straightforward little wolf cub, speaking in a lowered voice. Still, Wen Yan could hear him because of her proximity.
She was surprised. Did the nursery actually have lotus seeds? Were they grown in the plantation?
“I still think the lotus seed soup tastes better,” said the little white deer as he ate the porridge, clearly reminiscing about the lotus seed soup A-Yan had made.
The little wolf cub looked conflicted before finally saying, “But this porridge has meat in it! And it tastes better than what the robots make!”
Though it couldn’t compare to A-Yan’s cooking, most of their meals were prepared by the two caretaker robots, even after the variety of ingredients had increased.
Even at lunch and dinner, they could only eat one or two dishes made by A-Yan. Compared to the robots’ cooking, he much preferred Wen Wen’s handiwork.
Hearing the wolf cub’s comment, the other young ones nodded in agreement.
It was true—using the same ingredients, Wen Wen’s cooking tasted better than the caretaker robots’. Plus, she could make things the robots couldn’t!
For example, the porridge with finely minced meat. The savory, salty minced meat combined with stir-fried vegetables, crispy and glossy with oil, was especially refreshing.
In addition to the porridge and stir-fried vegetables, there were fragrant steamed buns, both savory and sweet. They included fillings like meat, taro paste, purple sweet potato, and corn. Soft and fluffy, the buns left everyone wanting more after just one bite.
There were also sausages, fried chicken wings, and drumsticks. While not as tender as the roasted meat A-Yan had made, they had the advantage of being something the young ones had never tried before.
Seeing the children eating with such satisfaction, Wen Yan and Yan Ya felt a mix of relief and heartache.
The steamed buns, of course, weren’t freshly made, and the meat products had been stored for at least half a month. No matter how tasty, they still couldn’t compare to fresh food.
The two women exchanged a glance, silently reading the determination in each other’s eyes.
No matter how difficult, they would ensure the children ate well and were well-fed!
Meanwhile, Li Sinian, who wasn’t as attentive to daily details as the two women, didn’t share their level of concern. He wasn’t particularly picky about food, either.
After all, during his years on the battlefield, surviving months on nutrient solutions had been the norm.
As he ate, his attention repeatedly shifted to his two children.
Although all the young ones at the nursery were adorable in their own ways, to Li Sinian, his own children were still the most outstanding.
His son was calm, mature, and considerate—always looking out for his sister and getting along well with his peers. His daughter, on the other hand, was pure, lively, and kindhearted, just like her mother—a little angel.
Despite the challenging environment they had grown up in, they hadn’t strayed off course, a fact that filled Li Sinian with gratitude.
The only regret was that his two children didn’t seem particularly close to him now.
Li Sinian frowned deeply, contemplating how to balance maintaining authority in front of his children while earning their affection.
Later, as Rong Heng finished eating and prepared to head to the green fields with Little Li Hua, they noticed Li Sinian and Yan Ya approaching, both smiling warmly.
Rong Heng: “…”
“Where are you two heading, big brother and little sister?” Yan Ya asked gently.
The gloom she had previously carried was entirely gone, replaced by a radiant and beautiful demeanor that made it hard to believe she was already a mother of two.
Little Li Hua, unable to resist anything beautiful, immediately gave her a sweet smile and replied, “We’re going to the green fields to water the sprouts.”
“Can Mommy and Daddy come with you?” Yan Ya asked.
Little Li Hua turned to look at Rong Heng. When he nodded, she smiled brightly and said, “Of course you can!”
“Can Mommy carry you there?” Yan Ya asked, her eyes filled with hope and anticipation as she gazed at her little daughter.
“But I’m all grown up now,” Little Li Hua said, tilting her head.
“But Mommy wants to hold you. Is that okay?” Yan Ya softened her voice and asked cautiously.
Little Li Hua looked at her brother again.
This time, Rong Heng said, “It’s up to you.”
Little Li Hua nodded happily. “Okay!”
She opened her arms to Yan Ya, letting her pick her up. As she snuggled into her mother’s embrace, she couldn’t resist sniffing Yan Ya’s hair deeply and sighed, “You smell so nice!”
“Does my little girl like it?” Yan Ya asked with a smile.
“I love it!”
“Then how about Mommy teaches you how to stay smelling nice, too?” Yan Ya suggested.
“Okay!” Little Li Hua agreed enthusiastically.
Watching Yan Ya and Little Li Hua walking ahead, hearing their cheerful conversation, Rong Heng couldn’t help but let a small smile creep onto his face. But then…
He suddenly noticed a man standing in his way. Looking up, he saw Li Sinian gazing at him with a face full of anticipation, his hands already raised as if to offer a hug.
Rong Heng quickly stepped back, sidestepping him to walk behind his mother and sister, completely ignoring his disappointed father, who stood frozen in place.
From a distance, Lang Ze observed the family’s interactions and smirked, turning to look at Zheng Xing.
Zheng Xing, as usual, moved slowly. He ate at a leisurely pace, holding a bun in both hands and taking small bites. His adorable demeanor instantly lifted Lang Ze’s mood.
Heh, it doesn’t matter, Lang Ze thought. Now he has a family too!
“Take your time, Xing Xing. Your big brother is here with you,” Lang Ze said cheerfully, sitting beside Zheng Xing and wagging his large tail, his face beaming with happiness.
Beside them, the little white deer, Lu Jiao, cast them a curious glance.
Why did it feel like Lang Ze was being extra mushy today?
Shaking his head, Lu Jiao stuffed two starfruit-like fruits into his storage pouch. Today’s breakfast had been so lavish that he couldn’t eat another bite.
“I’m heading to the green fields,” he announced, still worried about the plants under his care.
Although there were two nursery workers watching over the greenery now, Lu Jiao still couldn’t feel at ease unless he checked on them personally every morning.
“Alright, alright,” Lang Ze waved at him. “We’ll be there soon.”
Just then, Lu Li finished eating and joined Lu Jiao as they headed outside. Ran Lie had already left after finishing his meal, leaving only Lang Ze, Zheng Xing, and Xue Wei in the dining hall.
Yan Ya had invited Xue Wei to join them earlier, but she had declined, saying she wasn’t finished eating. After most people had left, Xue Wei helped Wen Yan and 4586 clean the tables.
“Xue Wei, go play. I can handle this,” Wen Yan said to her.
Xue Wei shook her head and gave a gentle smile. “I’d like to help.”
No one could refuse such a soft and kind-hearted girl, especially one with long, snowy-white rabbit ears.
Wen Yan felt as though the sunlight had become even brighter. She nodded and used the opportunity to chat with Xue Wei, hoping to learn more about her personality and preferences.
By then, Zheng Xing had also finished eating. As he got up, Lang Ze felt too embarrassed to leave immediately, so he stayed to help clean up.
Once everything was tidied up, Lang Ze finally picked up little Zheng Xing, happily racing out of the dining hall. After running down the hallway and realizing Xue Wei wasn’t following, he turned back, poking his head into the dining hall.
“Xue Wei, hurry up! We’re going to the green fields to play!” Lang Ze called out.
Sitting alone in the now-empty dining hall, Xue Wei blinked at the wolf-eared boy who had run back, and at the little boy peeking out from behind his shoulder. After a moment, she gave them a soft, warm smile.
“You go ahead. I’ll catch up in a bit,” Xue Wei replied.
“Alright, but hurry up!” Lang Ze said, urging her again.
Lang Ze’s lively voice was infectious. As he turned and left, his fluffy, soft tail swished briefly at the doorway. Watching him leave, Xue Wei felt a bit of calm return to her heart.
She lowered her head and looked at her fingers.
The lady and gentleman had found their lost children, and she was genuinely happy for them. At a time like this, she didn’t want to intrude on their time together. But still…
“What are you still doing here?”
A cool and slightly arrogant voice broke the silence.
Standing at the doorway was Ran Lie, who had appeared without her noticing. With his arms crossed, he looked as though he wasn’t entirely willing to be there.
Xue Wei didn’t respond. She kept her head lowered and even turned her back to him.
Ran Lie frowned, clearly torn between leaving and getting involved. In the end, he chose the latter, though his movements betrayed a certain awkwardness.
He stared at her back, unable to figure out what was going on.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Xue Wei remained silent, her head bowed, still facing away from him.
Ran Lie scratched his head, then hesitantly walked closer. Just as he bent down, trying to get a better look at her expression, he heard a soft sound:
Plop.
A teardrop fell onto Xue Wei’s hand, making a faint noise.
Ran Lie froze.
“You… you’re crying?” The usually cool and confident boy stuttered, caught off guard.
Xue Wei bit her lip and averted her gaze, raising a hand to wipe away her tears. But the more she wiped, the more they flowed, beyond her control.
Ran Lie, completely at a loss, could only stand there helplessly.
“Don’t cry… Did someone bully you?” He blurted out, thinking that must be the reason. “Was it Lang Ze?”
Xue Wei shook her head vigorously. “No, it’s not Lang Ze… I just… I just…” she sobbed, her voice thick with emotion.
“I miss Chirp Chirp,” she said, pouting.
Hearing this, Ran Lie, who had been ready to confront the wolf cub, paused and crouched back down.
Why was she thinking about that little sparrow?
Wasn’t its bloodline issue being handled? It’d be back soon enough.
Ran Lie couldn’t understand Xue Wei’s feelings at all. “You’re crying because of that?” he asked, confused.
Xue Wei stayed quiet for a moment, then lifted her tear-streaked face slightly. Her red, puffy eyes and flushed nose made her look even more like a little bunny.
“I miss my mom and dad… I really want to see them again…” she said through her tears.
Ran Lie stared at her, stunned. He didn’t have parents, nor did he long for a family like Lang Ze. He couldn’t empathize with Xue Wei at all. He only thought…
This crying bunny looked so ugly.
She looked much better when she was smiling.
Ran Lie continued to watch her in silence for a long while, neither speaking nor offering any comfort. Gradually, Xue Wei’s sobbing began to quiet down.
She looked at the red-haired boy squatting in front of her, sniffled softly, and said in a pitiful voice, “I’m sorry…”
She hadn’t meant to cry. She just… missed her mom and dad so much…
The ever-stoic boy pressed his lips together, then suddenly stood up and strode out the door without looking back.
Watching his retreating figure, Xue Wei sniffled, lowering her head with dimmed eyes. She felt as if… he didn’t like her.
Just as her emotions began to sink again, and tears threatened to fall once more, she heard his voice again.
“Hey.”
Startled, Xue Wei looked up to see Ran Lie reappear, this time in his crimson tiger form.
His furry face somehow managed to convey extreme reluctance. He padded toward her with stiff, awkward steps, stopping to crouch in front of her.
Seeing her eyes light up again, Ran Lie turned his face away, letting out a snort from his nose.
“Lie Lie…” she murmured, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the little tiger.
Ran Lie glanced at her briefly, his current actions already pushing his limits. There was no way he was going to say anything aloud.
Of course, he still clung to a faint hope that she might not understand his intentions. Unfortunately for him, Xue Wei did. Seeing that he didn’t outright reject her, she stood up and gently reached out, her small hand brushing against his furry ears.
But…
What felt like a soft touch to Xue Wei was, to Ran Lie, a weight as heavy as a thousand pounds suddenly pressing on his head. At first, he gritted his teeth and tried to endure, determined not to let himself collapse like before.
However, reality proved that his resolve was as fragile as paper under Xue Wei’s strength.
“Thud—”
As Xue Wei stroked the delightfully plush ears of the big cat, she momentarily lost herself in the sensation and failed to control her strength.
Under the immense pressure of her touch, Ran Lie once again found himself unable to avoid face-planting on the ground.
Frustrated, he lifted his head, baring his sharp tiger fangs with a growl. But when he saw the joyful and sweet smile on the girl’s face, his ferocity slowly faded.
“Lie Lie, you’re so cute!” Xue Wei exclaimed.
She continued to pet the soft fur of the big cat, and in the end, couldn’t resist wrapping her arms around his neck. She buried her face in his fur, rubbing affectionately, completely lost in the comforting sensation.
