Chapter 194
Staring at the image on his communicator, Lang Ze quickly initiated a video call. It wasn’t long before Little Li Hua answered.
Judging from the background, she was sitting under a flower trellis in the greenfield area.
She held a transparent glass cup in her hands, filled with a creamy white substance. The fruit on top had already been eaten, and she was now scooping the snowy treat with a small spoon, savoring it bit by bit.
When she saw Lang Ze appear on her screen, Little Li Hua waved happily.
“Lang Ze, have you and the others arrived at Base 26?” she asked.
“We have, we have!” Lang Ze replied eagerly. “What are you eating?”
“4586 gave this to us. It’s ice cream made by Brother A-Yan,” Little Li Hua explained, scooping another bite into her mouth. The cool, sweet taste spread through her, and she couldn’t help but show a blissful expression.
For someone who rarely got to eat snacks, this thing called ice cream was simply heavenly!
Better than her favorite candy by a thousandfold—it was the legendary ice cream!
Lang Ze had never seen anyone eating it back at the space pirate base, but he had read about it during his lessons!
The base’s AI had used pictures and videos of delicious food to motivate Lang Ze to study, and the method had proven highly effective.
Lang Ze had since become quite knowledgeable about food—or at least, very enthusiastic about it.
Although Little Li Hua’s ice cream didn’t look exactly like the pictures he had seen, Lang Ze immediately recognized it.
It was a dessert best enjoyed in hot weather—cool, refreshing, and delicious. Just one bite could make you feel completely rejuvenated, as if the heat had been washed away.
And he didn’t even need to ask. Seeing Little Li Hua’s expression alone told him how incredibly tasty Brother A-Yan’s ice cream must be!
Lang Ze was practically crying with envy.
Why?! Why had Brother A-Yan made such delicious ice cream right after they left the nursery?
And to make it worse, he was feeling really hot! The crimson flames had burned away the monster and the blood mist but had also heated up the ground around them. After only a short time, Lang Ze was already sweating buckets.
But what was truly unfair—
In the video, he could also see a tiny snow-white bird perched nearby. A small cup of ice cream had been placed in front of it, and the bird was happily pecking at the treat, chirping joyfully.
Even Chirp Chirp gets ice cream?!
So the ice cream was being handed out to everyone, just like the lotus seed soup they used to share!
Watching Little Li Hua and the others eat ice cream felt torturous to Lang Ze. Unable to bear it any longer, he turned off the screen.
The video wasn’t in privacy mode, so Li Sinian, standing nearby, had also seen his adorable daughter. Watching her happily eat the ice cream, he had been smiling like a proud father.
But the screen suddenly went dark.
He hadn’t had his fill of the sight, so he turned toward the little wolf cub, only to freeze. Whatever he had been about to say was completely forgotten.
The usually cheerful, carefree Lang Ze—who seemed like he could smile through any disaster—now had red, teary eyes. The pitiful, aggrieved look on his face tugged at Li Sinian’s heart.
Among all the cubs, aside from his own children and adopted daughter, Li Sinian had always been most fond of Lang Ze.
Kneeling down, his voice softened as he asked, “Lang Ze, what’s wrong?”
The black kitten, who had been quietly eating its lunch nearby, also turned with a worried expression, and even Ran Lie put down his spoon.
Lang Ze sniffled, stepped forward, and tugged on Li Sinian’s sleeve. His fluffy tail swayed behind him as he spoke in a soft voice, “Daddy Sinian, can we go back to the nursery now? I want to go back.”
It was the first time Li Sinian had heard Lang Ze call him that.
He didn’t dislike the name—in fact, every time he’d heard the kids call his wife “Mommy Yan Ya,” he couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
These children were all so adorable that Li Sinian wished he could adopt every single one of them. Of course, he knew that wasn’t realistic. But being a caretaker at the nursery and living with them every day was already a wonderful privilege.
At this moment, being doted on by the little wolf cub, Li Sinian—once a renowned marshal of the empire—was completely at a loss.
After all, not even his eldest son Xiang Yang, nor his youngest daughter Lihua, had ever acted so affectionately toward him! Never having experienced such treatment, how could Li Sinian possibly resist?
His tone softened even further. “Are you feeling unwell? Why are you so eager to go back?”
Just a moment ago, you seemed perfectly fine—even enjoying your food with great gusto.
Lang Ze knew they had just arrived, and Su Su had specifically said they needed to stay for a week. If he gave the real reason for wanting to return, they probably wouldn’t allow it.
His mind raced as he tried to think of a reasonable excuse to justify returning to the nursery. Outwardly, however, he just pouted pitifully, looking aggrieved without saying a word.
When it came to food-related matters, the little wolf cub’s thinking became surprisingly sharp.
But before he could come up with an idea, a hover car burst out of the blood mist and stopped beside them.
The car door opened, and two figures hurriedly stepped out.
Judging by their uniform colors and nameplates, it was clear they were He Qirui, the highest-ranking leader of Base 26, and Mo Lin, the commander in charge of the battlefield.
Initially, someone else was supposed to come, but after a day and night of continuous battle, He Qirui decided it was better for the base’s soldiers to rest, clean up the battlefield, or stand guard as needed. Instead, he personally came to greet their important guests.
What he hadn’t expected, however, was to hear from the surveillance system that the young heroes who had turned the tide of battle—and who had been sent as reinforcements from Base 24—were already planning to leave!
He immediately ordered the driver to bring the car at full speed.
If he let them leave just like that, he’d be remembered as the greatest sinner in Base 26’s history! Where would he find reinforcements this capable again? And what if Base 24 thought they had mistreated the cubs, driving them away the moment they arrived?
As soon as he got out of the car, He Qirui was all smiles, looking nothing like his usual stern and imposing self. Instead, he resembled a kind and gentle grandfather.
He greeted the cubs warmly. Lang Ze, trying hard to follow the “new rules” of the nursery, glanced at his white hair. Even though his eyes were red and his mood sour, he obediently greeted him with a soft, “Hello, Grandpa.”
Ran Lie, for his part, rolled his eyes but ultimately followed suit with a curt greeting, maintaining his usual aloof and cool demeanor.
As for Zheng Xing, the moment He Qirui and Mo Lin stepped out of the car, he retreated into Lang Ze’s pocket, hiding himself. As for any formal greetings… he gave a soft meow from the pocket, considering it enough of an acknowledgment.
Although He Qirui and Mo Lin noticed the little black cat, they didn’t pay it much attention. Their focus remained on Lang Ze, who had been the one expressing a desire to leave.
“So your name is Lang Ze? What a good boy you are,” He Qirui said warmly. “Grandpa has already arranged a dormitory for you and made sure the meals are being prepared. If you need anything, just let us know. As long as it’s within our ability, we’ll make it happen!”
Lang Ze curiously looked at the old man with white hair. His kind smile made him feel unexpectedly at ease.
So, he asked, “Do you mean it?”
“Of course! Here at Base 26, as long as Grandpa is around, no one will dare bully you!” He Qirui said warmly. Then, as if remembering something, he quickly added, “Thank you for helping us defeat the monster earlier. Everyone here is incredibly grateful to you, our two little heroes…”
Before he could finish, Lang Ze raised his hand and flashed three fingers. “Three heroes! Xing Xing is a little hero too!”
He Qirui paused, startled. The information he’d received did mention three cubs from the nursery coming to assist, but he hadn’t seen the third one…
Suddenly, he thought of the little black cat. Could that be the third cub? But what role had it played in the battle?
Beside him, Commander Mo Lin’s eyes glinted briefly with understanding.
He recalled the small flying craft that had carried the young tiger into the sky. Could it have been controlled by that cub?
Although He Qirui still had some doubts, he quickly followed Lang Ze’s lead. “Yes, yes, three heroes! All of you are great benefactors to Base 26. We haven’t even had the chance to properly thank you yet. How could you think of leaving so soon?”
Perhaps because Lang Ze and Ran Lie were so young and this wasn’t a formal occasion, He Qirui leaned fully into his grandfatherly demeanor.
And it worked. Lang Ze, thoroughly flattered, was wagging his tail high in the air. Even Mo Lin, who had long been used to his superior’s serious nature, looked at He Qirui with newfound respect.
Unfortunately, while Lang Ze was clearly enjoying the attention, he hadn’t completely forgotten about the ice cream he hadn’t eaten.
But he had a new approach in mind now.
“You just said we could ask for anything, right?” he asked He Qirui.
“Yes, anything within our ability. Feel free to ask!” He Qirui replied.
“Then… does Base 26 have ice cream?”
At that moment, the little wolf cub finally revealed his true purpose. Li Sinian, who had been worried Lang Ze might be unwell, couldn’t help but laugh at the revelation.
So all that pouting and those teary eyes were because he saw Little Li Hua eating ice cream and didn’t get any himself?
But as he thought about the nursery’s prior conditions, Li Sinian’s amusement quickly faded.
Of course. Before they’d donated supplies, the nursery didn’t have access to dairy products or the ability to make ice cream. The children had likely never tasted it before.
Li Sinian clenched his fists, turning to look at He Qirui. His gaze was firm, and it was clear—if the Base 26 commander said they didn’t have ice cream, he would take the three cubs and leave immediately.
Whatever it took, the children had to get their ice cream!
He Qirui could feel the resolve radiating from Li Sinian, making him break into a nervous sweat. He realized this wasn’t a situation he could bluff his way through.
He knew who Li Sinian was. The uniform he wore reminded him that this man was now a caretaker at the nursery—still in his probationary period, perhaps, but fully authorized to take the cubs back if needed.
After a moment of thought, He Qirui said, “We don’t have ready-made ice cream, but I can have some made.”
Financially, Base 26 was far better off than Base 24. Surely they could source the ingredients for ice cream. And if all else failed…
“Your nursery has ice cream, doesn’t it?” he asked the little wolf cub with a warm smile, bending slightly to meet his gaze.
Lang Ze nodded. Not only did they have ice cream, but Brother A-Yan made it himself!
“In that case, how about this? If the ice cream we make at Base 26 doesn’t taste good, I’ll have Yun Zixu personally deliver some from Base 24. How does that sound?” He Qirui said with a bright smile.
Yun Zixu, who had just arrived after disembarking from the ship: ???
Since when did a squad captain like him become an errand boy? Escorting the mutant garlic was one thing, but now he was being roped into… delivering ice cream to cubs?!
But as he looked at He Qirui in his top-level leadership uniform and the remains of the giant monster burned to ashes by crimson flames, Yun Zixu silently swallowed his complaints.
On the way over, he had already learned about the cubs’ achievements after leaving the ship. Even though he’d witnessed their capabilities before, he was still awestruck.
During the previous battle, the cubs had been the main force, but they had several operations teams assisting them. This time, however, the entire fight was handled solely by these three cubs—and against a high-difficulty monster like the mucus giant.
With such powerful combat ability… if they wanted ice cream, they should absolutely have it! How could they be denied such a simple reward?
Under the expectant gazes of Base 26’s senior leaders, Lang Ze finally nodded.
Although he really wanted Brother A-Yan’s ice cream, trying Base 26’s version didn’t seem like a bad idea. After all, he’d never had any before, so why not try both? That would be the best outcome!
The little wolf cub’s mood brightened instantly. With a sweet smile, he said, “Thank you, Grandpa,” which left He Qirui absolutely delighted. He immediately issued orders for the ice cream to be made as soon as possible.
“Hehe, we’re getting ice cream soon!” Lang Ze happily said to Ran Lie.
Ran Lie stared at him thoughtfully.
Every time he saw Lang Ze being affectionate, he found it fascinating. But this time, he had experienced the power of it firsthand.
However…
Could he imagine himself acting like Lang Ze, cozying up to adults like this? Hmph, absolutely not!
Shortly after, He Qirui and Mo Lin escorted the group away.
Yun Zixu stayed behind to help clean up the battlefield. Over time, the people of Base 26 began to notice something unusual:
The area where the giant monster had lingered showed no signs of the blood mist returning.
