Chapter 24
With a resigned sigh, Number One stood up, holding the glass tightly in his small hands. With a thought, he returned to Dormitory 303 in an instant.
Inside, Su Ci had already moved back to the dining counter. He was tearing open a packet of nutrient powder and pouring it into a glass, while the soil can on the table continued emitting its relentless signal:
“Grow—grow—grow grow grow—”
Clearly, it was trying its best—very unlike the lazy little seed in the courtyard.
Number One glanced at the soil can, giving it a silent nod of approval before turning toward Su Ci. He carefully tiptoed to place the glass back on the counter.
Despite his small stature and short legs, he managed to set the glass down without knocking it over or breaking it.
Afterward, Number One fixed his gaze on Su Ci, completely forgetting about the two spiritual seeds.
Su Ci finished mixing the nutrient powder with hot water, stirring it thoroughly before placing the steaming green liquid in front of the boy.
It was—once again—vegetable-flavored nutrient solution. Since Su Ci had exchanged for five boxes earlier, he now had 15 packets of the same flavor.
Perfect food for the child.
Number One looked at the warm glass of nutrient solution, then back at Su Ci, his black-red eyes sparkling with delight. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
The caretaker had given him food first!
He still remembered Su Ci’s reluctance that morning. Yet now, without even being asked, the caretaker had taken the initiative to prepare food for him.
Number One felt overjoyed. He climbed onto the chair obediently and sat down. Just as he settled in, Su Ci placed a box next to him.
“This is your nutrient powder. If you’re hungry, you can make it yourself…”
Su Ci trailed off, glancing at the boy’s small, frail body that barely rose above the table and then at the height of the water dispenser.
Although Number One wasn’t an ordinary human child, Su Ci’s mind occasionally surfaced with “parenting norms,” leading him to hesitate.
This might not be the best idea. Young ones still need care.
“Never mind…”
Just as Su Ci reached out to take back the box of vegetable-flavored nutrient powder, Number One wrapped his small arms tightly around it.
His gaze locked onto Su Ci’s, and though he couldn’t speak, the determination in his eyes conveyed his intent clearly: I can do it!
Number One wasn’t an ordinary child. Though he enjoyed being cared for by the caretaker, he also wanted to do what little he could.
Because…
He wanted the caretaker to like him.
When the thought crossed his mind, Number One’s gaze wavered slightly, and his fingers tightened around the box he was holding.
Although shy, his clear eyes brimmed with trust and longing as they locked onto Su Ci’s.
Faced with such a gaze, it was hard to say no. After a moment of hesitation, Su Ci relented. Seeing how insistent the child was, he decided to let him try.
After all, ordinary hot water wouldn’t harm a spirit. If Number One couldn’t manage, Su Ci could always take the box back later.
“Alright, we’ll leave it like this for now.”
At his words, the child’s face broke into a radiant smile—so pure and joyful that it was infectious, even for Su Ci.
Is it really something to be this happy about?
Though he didn’t quite understand, Su Ci couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips.
Having just exchanged five boxes of nutrient powder, Su Ci didn’t hold back at lunch. He consumed ten servings of nutrient solution and five cans of beef stew before stopping.
Even after eating so much, he only felt about 40% full.
Unlike that morning, though, Su Ci didn’t feel as frustrated. He had already identified a new source of food.
Replaying the image of the giant spider from his earlier encounter, Su Ci’s mind lingered on its sheer size. If the creature’s size was as accurate as it seemed in his memory, it must have plenty of meat.
Swallowing at the thought, Su Ci recalled that roasted spider was rumored to be a delicacy in the past.
Even if he couldn’t replicate the original flavor due to his lack of culinary skills, meat was meat—it would replenish his energy. And surely, nothing could be worse than the frozen, stale meat he’d had before.
So…
Su Ci glanced at the brightened sky outside, still veiled in the red mist. When would that spider show up again? Would it only appear during the next extreme weather event? Or… was there a way to find it?
With a flick of his mind, the Caretaker’s Handbook he had tossed into his spatial button appeared before him, lying quietly on the dining table.
A drop of Su Ci’s blood had stained the cover earlier, giving the otherwise unremarkable book a faint red hue.
Speaking of which…
Su Ci looked at the finger that had been pricked by the spider silk. Though it had completely healed, leaving no trace of the injury, it still struck him as odd—how had something as insignificant as spider silk managed to injure him?
This body is far too fragile.
Su Ci sighed.
As the planetary spirit, he was deeply tied to the state of the land. The planet’s worsening condition had undoubtedly contributed to his weakened state. If things continued to deteriorate, his vitality would only decline further.
I need to do something. Letting the planet deteriorate further isn’t an option.
With this thought, Su Ci opened the handbook.
His earlier reasoning remained unchanged—getting rid of the troublesome giant spider would also contribute to the planet’s recovery.
Yet, as he flipped through the handbook from cover to cover, even shaking it in midair for good measure, nothing fell out.
Not a trace of spider silk—or even dust—was to be found.
Su Ci stared at the handbook in thought.
Could it have fallen inside the spatial button?
Considering how thin and translucent the strand of spider silk was, finding it amidst the clutter of his spatial storage would be a challenge.
Su Ci glanced into his spatial button. Seeing the chaotic mess inside, he quickly averted his gaze with a grimace.
The less I look at that mess, the better.
Forget it. If it’s gone, it’s gone.
When the next extreme weather hit, he could hunt down the spider again and make sure to savor its taste. The operations team seemed well-versed in the spider’s behavior, likely having fought it multiple times, so he was bound to have another chance.
With that thought, Su Ci casually tossed the handbook onto the coffee table.
By then, Number One had finished his nutrient solution. Sitting quietly, he looked at Su Ci with his wide, round eyes.
He’s kind of cute.
Su Ci picked up the boy’s empty glass and placed it into the dishwasher. He then led his small “tail” to apply miniature purification arrays to the remaining water outlets in the dormitory.
After his earlier attempts, Su Ci had grown adept at crafting the arrays. He could now complete one with a single stroke—quick and efficient.
The tiny arrays were about the size of a child’s fingertip. Hidden inside the outlets, they were discreet and unobtrusive.
Due to their small size, the arrays consumed minimal energy even with daily use. A single infusion from Su Ci could sustain them for about half a month.
While Su Ci worked, Number One watched curiously, his round eyes wide with wonder. Judging by his awed expression, he seemed to grasp the purpose of the purification arrays.
Focused on his task, Su Ci ignored the child’s presence. After finishing the kitchen outlets, he moved to the bathroom.
The showerhead and pipes were integrated, making it difficult to carve the array into the interior. Instead, Su Ci inscribed the array on the back of the showerhead. The design was so small and discreet that most people wouldn’t notice it.
Not that anyone else would come into this room anyway.
Once the final purification array was complete, Su Ci turned around to find Number One watching him intently, his little face serious with concentration.
“Do you know what this is?” Su Ci asked.
Number One shook his head. He hadn’t seen anything like this in the base before. Though he’d looked at diagrams of machinery parts, none resembled what Su Ci had just created.
However, he could sense a faint energy emanating from it—imbued with Su Ci’s distinct aura. It felt similar to the purification ability he had experienced from Gu Qingchen, yet it carried a unique touch that made it even more soothing.
Su Ci turned on the water.
Splash—
Water streamed from the showerhead, and the miniature purification arrays etched into it emitted a faint glow.
Though Su Ci had inscribed three arrays on the showerhead, the light they produced during operation was barely noticeable, akin to the subtle sheen of metal reflecting under a light.
Unless someone looked very closely, they wouldn’t detect the arrays at all.
Yet these small formations worked wonders. The water that flowed out was exceptionally pure, with barely a trace of pollutants left.
Encouraged by Su Ci’s gaze, Number One stretched out his hand beneath the stream, letting the cool water cascade over his palm.
It feels so nice!
The water wasn’t just purified—it carried an unfamiliar, faint essence. Though subtle, it was undeniably present, and Number One’s body instinctively yearned for it.
He looked up at Su Ci, his black-red eyes wide with awe and admiration.
Number One knew how vital purifiers were to the base; their ability to cleanse pollutants was invaluable. But even purifiers couldn’t create something like this!
The caretaker is amazing! How did he do it?
Su Ci seemed to understand the question in the boy’s gaze. With a slight smile, he asked softly, “Do you want to learn?”
When Su Ci perfected the miniature purification array, he knew it was a valuable tool.
Water is the source of life, indispensable to all beings. If he wanted to restore the planet’s vitality, this array would undoubtedly become an essential component in the future.
Teaching someone else how to use it would mean gaining an additional ally—and who better suited than the child before him, a spirit in his own right?
Number One didn’t disappoint. At Su Ci’s question, he nodded vigorously, his sparkling eyes brimming with eagerness.
“Good. You’re teachable,” Su Ci said with a satisfied smile, reaching out to ruffle the boy’s hair.
Caught off guard by the affectionate gesture, Number One’s face turned a faint shade of red. Though he didn’t know what “teachable” meant, he understood the words that followed: The caretaker would teach him!
If he learned well, could he become as amazing as the caretaker? Would the caretaker like him even more then?
Although Number One had always known that the caretaker wasn’t his alone—there were eight cubs in the nursery now, and more would come in the future—he couldn’t help feeling a twinge of anxiety when he saw Su Ci gently caring for Number Eight earlier.
Sharing the caretaker’s attention with the other cubs was inevitable, but Number One couldn’t suppress his desire to have Su Ci’s focus linger on him just a little longer.
With desire comes motivation.
Su Ci turned off the shower head and looked down to find the boy staring at him, head tilted upward, eyes filled with anticipation.
Who could resist an eager and earnest student? Seeing Number One’s determination, Su Ci’s mood improved significantly.
He bent down and picked up the child, carrying him into the living room.
Surprised by the sudden closeness, Number One’s cheeks flushed bright red. Excitement and nervousness bubbled inside him, solidifying his resolve—
He would learn. He would work hard. If he did well, the caretaker would like him more!
Clingy pup
Quite possessive eh?