Chapter 4
As Su Ci stepped into the room, the metal door slid shut behind him. The space wasn’t large to begin with, so it didn’t take long for him to spot Number Three.
In the narrow gap formed by the bed and the corner of the wall, a child huddled in the shadows. Only half of his body was illuminated by the light, revealing a pair of small, bare feet.
The child remained nestled deep in the shadows, clutching a toy ball tightly in his hands. His face was calm and expressionless, as though unaware of Su Ci’s presence.
That is, if one ignored his slightly curled toes.
The boy looked about six or seven years old, slightly older than Number Five.
His hair was jet black and smooth, reaching just to his jawline. His features, though youthful, were strikingly handsome, complemented by a pair of large, unfocused pale-blue eyes. He looked like an exquisite porcelain doll, beautiful but devoid of life.
The child appeared to be well cared for—his skin was fair and soft—but his clothes didn’t fit properly. The shirt was loose and baggy, with overly large sleeves cinched at the cuffs, while his pants were too short, exposing his ankles and a portion of his lower legs.
Su Ci recalled that, apart from Number Five’s dress, all the other cubs wore similar outfits. Probably some kind of standard issue cub attire, he thought.
Shrugging, Su Ci didn’t try to coax the child out. Instead, he spoke gently, “It’s dinnertime.”
Turning away, he placed the meal box on the small children’s desk.
The tiny desk was entirely occupied by the box. When Su Ci opened the lid, steam rose to reveal… well, let’s call it meat jelly.
As the lid lifted, the rich aroma of meat filled the room, tantalizing and hunger-inducing.
Still famished after his earlier meager tasting of meat jelly, Su Ci couldn’t resist picking up the small spoon attached to the box. He scooped up a portion and popped it into his mouth.
“Disgusting,” he muttered.
How could something that smelled so good taste so bland?
Puzzled but undeterred, Su Ci scooped another spoonful into his mouth. As he chewed, he sensed movement and looked down.
At some point, the child had crawled out from his hiding spot.
Now standing next to him, Number Three’s head barely reached Su Ci’s waist. His upturned face revealed the same unfocused blue eyes, but his slightly furrowed brows hinted at confusion.
“Do you want some too?” Su Ci asked, scooping up another spoonful and holding it out to the boy.
The child’s expression grew even more bewildered. Wasn’t this his dinner?
In all his time at the cub-rearing facility, Number Three had never encountered a caretaker who would eat a cub’s meal.
This caretaker is strange.
Instead of accepting the spoonful, Number Three stepped back and returned to his corner, sitting down with his toy ball.
The ball was a mechanical device, and as the child turned it in his hands, it emitted a soft click-clack sound. Once again, he became immersed in his own world, indifferent to everything around him.
Su Ci observed him for a moment before returning to his own meal.
But the next spoonful of meat jelly was cold. Its texture and taste had become unbearable, leaving Su Ci nearly gagging.
Cold meat jelly is a hundred times worse. Who invented this food? It’s utterly subpar.
Even Su Ci’s fondness for food couldn’t push him to eat any more. Setting the spoon aside, he prepared to deliver the next meal. Before he could leave, his communicator beeped.
Upon answering, 4586’s anxious voice came through, “Su Su, something bad has happened! Number-Eight has escaped!”
Number Eight?
Su Ci pictured the three troublemaking cubs from earlier. Xun Xiaoyu had warned him about their unstable emotions before leaving, but he wasn’t sure which one was Number Eight.
“How did he get out?” Su Ci asked.
“I opened his door, and Number-Eight slipped right past me!” 4586 replied. “But don’t worry, he can’t leave the cub-rearing facility. We just need to find him and bring him back to his room.”
Nodding, Su Ci glanced back at the quietly cornered Number Three. Whether the child noticed or not, Su Ci waved a hand and said, “I’m leaving now. Take your time eating.”
Turning, he exited the room.
Su Ci didn’t notice the way Number Three tilted his head slightly after he left. But soon, the child lowered his gaze again, clutching his mechanical ball and resuming its rhythmic click-clack rotation.
In the corridor, Su Ci debated whether to deliver Number Five’s dinner first or help 4586 locate Number Eight.
Then he felt something—a shift in the air.
A golden glint flashed through his dark eyes.
Bang—
“Ow!”
A boy tumbled onto the ground, clutching his head in pain.
The collision had left him seeing stars, though his tail cushioned his fall, making it slightly less painful.
Looking up, he was puzzled to see a dented metal wall before him. His green eyes, watering from the impact, showed confusion.
What happened?
Hadn’t he been charging down the corridor? How had he suddenly turned and crashed into a wall?
“Are you Number Eight?”
The unfamiliar but faintly familiar voice startled him. He turned instinctively and found himself face-to-face with the new caretaker, who was now crouched beside him.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, the boy’s breath hitched.
Under the bright light of the corridor, the young man seemed to be bathed in a gentle halo. His dark, beautiful eyes appeared soft and kind, but deep within them lay a tranquil stillness—as if an ancient, ferocious beast was imprisoned there, radiating an oppressive aura with just a glance.
Number Eight’s heart pounded furiously.
He had already noticed this new caretaker earlier, during the conversation with the Operations Division in the dining hall.
Normally, caretakers didn’t interest him. He knew none of them genuinely liked the cubs.
But this new caretaker had caught his attention—not for his behavior, but for his looks. He was stunning in a way Number Eight had never seen before.
That was only the first impression, though.
Soon after, Number Eight dismissed the newcomer as weak and fragile. Compared to the previous caretakers, who, while not particularly durable, at least had an imposing presence, this one seemed like he’d topple over with a puff of air.
After thoroughly mocking him in his head, Number Eight had forgotten all about the caretaker—until now.
Now, as he sat on the floor nursing his bump, he squinted cautiously at the man.
Upon closer inspection, the newcomer still looked soft and delicate, like he’d shatter with the slightest touch. That earlier oppressive feeling? It must have been a figment of his imagination.
Reaching this conclusion, Number Eight’s expression turned impatient.
What are you looking at? Don’t you know I hate caretakers?
Just as he was about to voice his irritation, the caretaker spoke.
“You’re crying?”
The voice was soft and gentle, tinged with surprise.
What? Crying?
I would never do something so pathetic! Number Eight puffed up his cheeks indignantly. “Who’s crying? I’m not crying!”
He glared at Su Ci and instinctively wiped at his eyes, trying to clear his blurry vision and make his glare fiercer.
To his dismay, his hand came away wet, the cool sensation unmistakable—it was tears.
Startled, Number Eight froze. He swiped at his eyes again, and when his fingers came back glistening with tear drops, his voice faltered.
“I-I wasn’t—I didn’t… I just hit the wall too hard…”
Su Ci squatted there, quietly observing the boy.
He looked about eight or nine years old, no more than ten. Behind him swayed a thick, gray-black tail, while his short hair—similarly gray with a touch of black—had a streak of white in the bangs.
Though not as delicate as Number Three, his features were clean and youthful, with a certain charm.
What stood out most were his vibrant emerald-green eyes, now bright with emotion, exuding vitality.
At this moment, the boy looked like a bristling puppy, fiercely insisting he hadn’t cried, even as his reddened cheeks and ears betrayed him.
Su Ci tilted his head, amused. “So… you cried because it hurt?”
“I told you, I didn’t cry! And it didn’t hurt at all!” Number Eight shouted, his tail fluffing up in indignation. It looked even bushier and more striking than before.
Huffing angrily, he scrambled to his feet, determined to ignore this annoying caretaker.
“Get out of the way! Don’t block the road!”
He shoved Su Ci, who allowed himself to be pushed back and sat down on the floor. As the boy tried to march past him, Su Ci reached out and pinched the back of his shirt collar with his long fingers.
“What now?” Number Eight turned and glared at him.
“4586 is looking for you,” Su Ci said evenly.
“So what?” The boy’s face radiated defiance.
Good question. So what?
Su Ci let go of his collar, dusted off his hands, and picked up the meal box by the door. Straightening up, he prepared to continue delivering dinner to Number Five.
Number Eight, who had been about to run off, paused when his eyes landed on the meal box.
“Is that Five-Five’s dinner?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m taking it to her,” Su Ci replied truthfully. “Do you want to come with me?”
“Hmph, who wants to see that crybaby girl?” Number Eight sneered, but after a moment added, “Is her hand better?”
Su Ci lowered his gaze and stared at the boy silently.
Under the weight of Su Ci’s calm scrutiny, Number Eight squirmed uncomfortably. Like a firecracker, he suddenly hopped a step back, snapping, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing,” Su Ci replied, withdrawing his gaze.
He glanced down the corridor. By now, 4586 should have made its way here. Why hasn’t it arrived?
Recalling the fate of 4583, Su Ci’s eyes narrowed slightly. He looked down at the boy beside him.
Unaware of the shift in Su Ci’s demeanor, Number Eight puffed up his chest and proudly declared, “Heh, no need to look for it!”
“I blocked off both the elevator and the stairway. That dumb robot can’t come down—it’s probably spinning in circles by now!”
The thought of 4586’s predicament made Number Eight burst into laughter.
Su Ci blinked and lowered his head to send a message to 4586, informing it that he had found Number Eight. Moments later, he received a reply: [The elevator is broken.]
Su Ci’s expression returned to its usual calm.
Putting away his communicator, he picked up the meal box and resumed his walk toward Number Five’s room.
Number Five’s room was right next to Number Three’s.
She shared it with Number Four, as indicated by the “4/5” on the door. At the moment, only “5” was illuminated, signifying that only Number Five was inside.
Su Ci knocked gently on the door, just as he had before.
Behind him, Number Eight gave him a curious look but was soon distracted by the screen that lit up on the door.
No child could resist the allure of electronic gadgets, and Number Eight was no exception. Before being sent to the cub-rearing facility, he had even accessed the star network.
Unfortunately, cubs in the facility were not allowed to have such devices—he didn’t even have a communicator now.
[Identity verification in progress…] A white light scanned Su Ci’s face.
[Beep—Identity verified.]
[Welcome, Apprentice Caretaker Su Ci. Room 404 currently houses Cub Number Five. Cub Number Four is away. Detected emotional state: Number Five is low in mood. Risk of berserk state increased. Would you like to open Room 404 now?]
As the text appeared on the screen, Number Eight tugged at Su Ci’s sleeve and asked, “Hey, what does all that writing mean?”
He wasn’t very literate and could only recognize a few numbers from the text.
Su Ci ignored him and tapped “Confirm.”
Like Room 403, the metal door slid silently into the walls, revealing an opening just wide enough for Su Ci to pass through.
Instead of stepping inside immediately, Su Ci leaned forward to take a look.
Number Eight, however, seeing the open door, forgot about the text and eagerly squeezed past Su Ci to enter the room.
But before he could, Su Ci grabbed him by the back of his collar once more.
“What now?” Number Eight snapped, turning back to glare at him.
“You’re being rude,” Su Ci said casually, still observing the interior of the room.
Rude? What does that even mean?
Number Eight stared at Su Ci in bafflement as the caretaker raised his hand and knocked gently on the wall again before entering.
What’s wrong with him?
Utterly confused, Number Eight stopped struggling and stood off to the side, arms crossed, while his bushy tail swayed back and forth in irritation.
The room was similar in size to Number Three’s but divided into two distinct sections.
Each side had a bed, a child-sized desk and chair, and a small cabinet.
The left side was noticeably messier, with furniture that was worn and damaged. The single bed, about 1.5 meters long, looked like it could collapse at any moment, its metal legs precariously bent. Even the floor bore claw marks, a testament to past outbursts.
By contrast, the right side was much tidier, with furniture that was well-maintained and intact.
Bright, colorful paintings adorned the walls, though their subjects were unrecognizable. Even the beds, desks, and chair backs bore smudges of paint.
Su Ci’s eyes swept over the room before settling on the small bed on the right.
Beneath the dull gray blanket was a conspicuous lump. A few strands of flaxen hair peeked out from the edge of the blanket, which trembled slightly when Su Ci knocked on the wall.
It was Number Eight’s first time entering someone else’s room.
While Su Ci observed the space, Number Eight couldn’t help but glance around with interest. Soon, however, he realized it wasn’t much different from his own room.
The paintings on the walls caught his attention. They looked childish and silly—clearly the handiwork of Number Five.
That little girl loved drawing things like this. Once, Number Eight had torn up one of her drawings, only to be beaten up by Number Four as a result.
Unable to hold back any longer, Number Eight started struggling again.
Su Ci let go of him this time.
Number Eight dashed over to the bed, grabbed the blanket, and yanked it off with a dramatic flourish.
“Number Five! Number Five! Is your hand better?”
Watching the swishing tail behind him, Su Ci couldn’t help but think this child didn’t resemble a wolf or a fox—he was more like an overenthusiastic puppy.
Number Five tried valiantly to resist, but her strength was no match for Number Eight’s. In the end, the blanket was pulled away, revealing a small girl with messy hair, red-rimmed eyes, and tear-streaked cheeks.
She sat up with her lips trembling, giving Number Eight an aggrieved look before bursting into tears again.
The previously excited Number Eight froze, clearly out of his depth. His tail, which had been wagging moments ago, drooped pitifully.
“Why… why are you crying? Isn’t your hand better now?” he mumbled as he pulled her hand closer to inspect it. Her palm was clean and unblemished, showing no signs of the burn from earlier.
“It’s all healed. So why are you crying?” Number Eight’s gaze followed Number Five’s mournful stare to the blanket still clutched in his hand.
“Tch, it’s just a blanket!” he said, frowning. “It’s not like I don’t have one. Here, take it back!”
He threw the blanket back at her, but it didn’t help. Number Five’s lips stayed quivering, and her tears kept falling like pearls from a broken necklace.
“Ah, stop crying already! If your brother finds out, I’ll get beaten up again!” Number Eight groaned, but his words only made her cry harder.
Now truly panicking, Number Eight nearly knelt down in desperation. He turned to see Su Ci leisurely walking in with the meal box and setting it on the small table.
“Hey—” Number Eight rushed over and tugged on Su Ci’s sleeve. When Su Ci looked down at him, he pointed anxiously at the crying girl on the bed.
For the first time, the fearless Number Eight gave the caretaker a pleading look.
After placing the meal box down, Su Ci walked over to Number Five, pulling a chair next to the bed and sitting down.
The chair was small and low, meant for children. Once seated, Su Ci found himself at eye level with the little girl.
Unlike some of the other cubs, Number Five showed no signs of beast-like traits. She looked like a pure human child.
Her flaxen curls framed her delicate features—her small nose and high cheekbones giving her a refined, doll-like appearance. However, her round face was abnormally flushed, either from crying or from hiding under the blanket.
She sat on the bed sobbing, her large, tear-filled eyes brimming with pitiful innocence.
Su Ci watched her silently, not saying a word.
Behind him, Number Eight fidgeted impatiently, tugging at Su Ci’s clothes and whispering urgently, “Say something!”
Su Ci remained unmoved, his gaze steady. Finally, Number Eight gave up, muttering that he should’ve just handled it himself.
But before Number Eight could come up with a plan, the girl’s cries began to subside.
Her teary eyes turned to Su Ci. She was still sniffling, but her emotions seemed to have calmed.
It was only then that Su Ci finally spoke, his voice soft and warm. “Hello, I’m Su Ci.”
The unexpected greeting startled Number Five. She blinked at him, sniffling, before responding in a soft, tearful voice, “H-hello… I’m Number Five.”
Her little voice was thick with a nasal tone, her stammering words adorably endearing.
Number Eight’s tail started wagging again. Seeing that she had finally stopped crying, he quickly interjected, “He’s the new caretaker! He came to bring you dinner!”
Number Five nodded lightly, though it wasn’t clear if she truly understood.
At that moment, Su Ci’s slender, pale hand extended toward her.
His hand was beautiful, with long, clean fingers and a healthy pinkish hue. Resting in his palm was a dark blue handkerchief.
Number Five looked up, meeting the caretaker’s gentle black eyes.
“Here,” Su Ci said softly. “Wipe your tears.”
The new caretaker spoke softly, his voice as gentle and unthreatening as his demeanor. The simplicity of his words carried a reassurance that made them more effective than any lengthy explanation—impossible not to trust.
The little girl looked at him, then at the handkerchief in his hand.
Finally, she pressed her dry, swollen lips together and reached out to take the handkerchief. She lowered her head and obediently began wiping her tears. Midway through, she froze.
Noticing her pause, Su Ci asked, “What’s wrong?”
Number Five raised her head, her tear-streaked eyes now glimmering with delight, like polished gems under the light.
She pointed to the embroidered design in the lower right corner of the handkerchief and said in a cheerful voice, “Flowers!”
The deep blue fabric was adorned with delicate white pear blossoms, their petals unfurling gracefully, with golden threads outlining the stamens. The intricate embroidery was both elegant and exquisite—a beauty unfamiliar to the cubs of Prison Star.
Even Number Eight, who had been watching from the side, leaned closer out of curiosity. “Hey, these flowers look better than the ones you draw!”
Hearing this, Number Five shot him a glance but quickly lowered her head again, continuing to gaze at the handkerchief without responding.
Oblivious to the offense in his words, Number Eight lost interest after inspecting the embroidery. He didn’t care much for such “fancy things” and muttered dismissively, “No matter how pretty it is, it’s fake. Real flowers are better—they smell nice.”
Number Five puffed up her cheeks, glaring at him indignantly. Then she clutched the handkerchief close to her chest and declared, “It smells nice!”
Doubtful, Number Eight leaned in and sniffed the handkerchief. To his surprise, it really did carry a faint, pleasant fragrance. Scratching his head, he mumbled, “But it’s fake… how can it smell?”
Number Five bared her teeth at him in mock aggression, as if ready to bite. She was no longer crying; the earlier tears and sniffles had completely subsided.
Su Ci reached out, intending to take the handkerchief back, but the moment he moved, Number Five’s fingers tightened, clutching it tightly.
Seeing her reaction, Su Ci didn’t insist. Instead, his fingertips brushed over the fabric as he remarked, “There’s pollen on it.”
“Pollen…”
The girl blinked, her tear-swollen eyes filled with curiosity and a desire to learn. “What’s pollen?”
“It’s the source of the fragrance,” Su Ci explained, glancing thoughtfully at the handkerchief.
Delighted by the answer, Number Five held the handkerchief as if it were a precious treasure, her bright eyes sparkling with joy.
“Pollen smells nice!” Her childish voice, still tinged with a nasal tone, was full of happiness.
Her excitement gradually subsided, and she looked at Su Ci with a hint of hesitation.
After a moment of deliberation, she seemed to make up her mind. Under Su Ci and Number Eight’s watchful gazes, she climbed down from the bed. Her small legs carried her quickly to the cabinet, where she pulled open the bottom drawer.
Rummaging through the drawer for a moment, she retrieved something and held it tightly in her hands as she ran back to the bed. Climbing back up, she extended her tiny hands toward Su Ci.
“For you… to trade,” she said earnestly.
In her pinkish palm lay a small black hair clip adorned with a red plastic flower no larger than a fingernail.
Su Ci stared at the hair clip, momentarily speechless.
When he didn’t take it, Number Five grew anxious. She moved closer and carefully clipped the hair clip onto his hair, just above his ear.
Once done, she leaned back to admire her handiwork. After a moment of appraisal, she nodded firmly. “Looks good!”
Su Ci: “…”
Number Eight stood nearby, wide-eyed. He recognized the hair clip—it was a gift from the older woman in the Operations Division. Number Five cherished it deeply and had always kept it hidden in her room, reluctant to wear it.
And now she had given it to this new caretaker!
Watching Number Five cradle the handkerchief, sniffing and nuzzling it as if it were more precious than the hair clip, Number Eight couldn’t suppress his jealousy.
“Hmph! It’s just a piece of cloth with fake flowers on it,” he grumbled. “When I grow up, I’ll tear down this dumb base, leave this place, and fill a whole room with real flowers for you—red, yellow, purple, whatever color you want!”
Number Five ignored him completely.
Number Eight had made such grand declarations countless times before. But Number Five knew that even if they left the base, there were no flowers on this planet…
Feeling that her trade with Su Ci was complete, Number Five happily sniffed the handkerchief’s lingering floral scent before tucking it contentedly into her pocket.
After her emotional outburst, she felt hungry.
Climbing down from the bed, she made her way to the small table. Standing on her tiptoes, she opened the meal box, releasing a rich aroma of meat mixed with the refreshing sweetness of fruit.
Number Five’s preferences included both meat and fruit.
Since Su Ci was sitting in the chair, Number Five didn’t mind and simply stood by the table. She picked up the small spoon and began eating in high spirits.
Meanwhile, the smell reached Number Eight’s nose, and his stomach let out an audible growl. He had snuck out while 4586 wasn’t looking, which meant he’d missed dinner.
Unable to resist, he scurried over to the table.
The small table was too low for him, so he crouched beside it, staring longingly at the food. Behind him, his fluffy tail wagged vigorously.
“I’m hungry too. Let me have a bite, will you?”
Watching the tail wag in front of him, Su Ci felt an urge to reach out and touch it. But before he could act, Number Five responded to Number Eight’s plea without an ounce of mercy.
“Go. Back. To. Your. Room. Eat.”
At only five or six years old, Number Five’s speech wasn’t yet fluent, but there was an undeniable authority in her words.
Su Ci, who had been focused on Number Eight’s tail, suddenly looked up at the girl in surprise.
After speaking, she lowered her head and resumed eating. Meanwhile, Number Eight, crouched on the ground, seemed to lose focus in his previously bright puppy-dog eyes.
He murmured under his breath, “Go back to my room… go back to my room…”
Then he stood up, his movements stiff but not slow, and walked toward the door.
Su Ci watched the scene unfold, then turned to look at the little girl again. After a moment’s hesitation, he stood and followed Number Eight toward the door.
At the threshold, Su Ci turned back for one last look.
The little girl raised her head to glance in his direction. One hand held her spoon while the other waved at him. Her large, round eyes curved into crescents, brimming with childlike sweetness.
Then the metal door slid shut, cutting off his view completely.
Oooo a hypnotic flower, cool! Thanks for the chapter!