The Cubs Can’t Possibly Be This Well-Behaved! – CH46

Chapter 46

Su Ci wasn’t particularly worried about whether the Star-chain fruit vines would survive.

With the support of the “Withered Wood Meets Spring” spell and the spirit water that promote plant growth, ensuring their vitality shouldn’t be too difficult.

A-Yan, watching the vines turn green again, felt his sadness dissipate entirely. And then—was it his imagination?—he noticed something unusual.

After the caretaker buried the vines in the soil, the little spirit seed, which had been in a deep slumber, seemed to “wake up.”

Unlike the spirit seed in the soil tin can that actively shouted encouragement, this one fell into a peculiar silence. It was as if it were holding its breath and gathering strength.

A-Yan tilted his head, uncertain if his perception was accurate, but a sense of anticipation began to rise within him.

Could the little spirit seed be about to sprout?

He continued staring at the buried vines, his thoughts swirling.

Su Ci, however, paid him no mind. In his view, A-Yan was already learning at an impressive speed. If the boy were too diligent, it might leave Su Ci with little energy to teach him.

Balance was key—rest was as important as study.

Stretching lazily, Su Ci decided to head to the bedroom for a nap.

Though he had slept for ten thousand years, he now found himself more prone to drowsiness than ever, likely a result of his weakened spiritual state. Sleep was necessary to replenish his depleted soul power.

Even as faint sounds of flute practice echoed through the air—likely Number Three and Number Eight at it again—Su Ci was too exhausted to care. He fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, not bothering to ask the children to stop.

The bedroom was quiet, and the caretaker’s manual, still nestled within the wall, behaved impeccably upon Su Ci’s return.

It made no noise, no movement, and worked hard to suppress its presence entirely, striving to appear as an ordinary, unremarkable work manual.

By the time Su Ci stirred awake, evening had fallen.

And then—

Gurgle, gurgle.

A loud protest from his stomach shattered the silence. His body was once again performing its classic “Empty Fortress Strategy.”

Yes, Su Ci had been woken up by hunger.

At that moment, a rich aroma of meat wafted in from beyond the bedroom door. The tantalizing scent cut through his post-sleep haze, restoring his mind to full clarity.

Sitting up, Su Ci inhaled deeply.

The next second, he appeared by the dining table, just as A-Yan was finishing setting down the last dish.

The table held four steaming plates of freshly prepared food.

When A-Yan saw the caretaker suddenly appear, he blinked in surprise before his face lit up with joy. With a bashful smile, he slid the nearest plate toward Su Ci like it was a precious treasure, then handed him a fork.

Su Ci’s gaze fixed on the plate in front of him.

Judging by the texture, it appeared to be made from canned beef cubes, but something else had been added—

After closer inspection, Su Ci realized it was Star-chain fruit flesh. Combined with the beef and stewed together, it had been transformed into an entirely new dish.

Though he couldn’t yet imagine how it would taste, the aroma was undeniably enticing.

Accepting the fork, Su Ci speared a cube of beef and popped it into his mouth without hesitation. He closed his eyes to savor it.

The bite-sized beef cube, pre-marinated for maximum flavor, remained juicy and tender after stewing. Its soft, springy texture offered just the right amount of chew. The sweetness of the Star-chain fruit perfectly balanced the richness of the beef, creating a surprisingly delightful combination.

If served over fragrant white rice, Su Ci thought he could easily eat two or three bowls in one sitting.

Unfortunately, there was no rice.

Suppressing his regret, Su Ci continued devouring the meal with gusto. After satisfying his initial hunger, his eyes wandered to another plate on the table.

This dish, too, was a meat-based one, though it wasn’t beef or chicken. Su Ci leaned in slightly, inhaling deeply before reaching a conclusion:

Lamb!

The lamb had been cut into small cubes, roasted to a golden crisp with slightly charred edges. Its surface glistened with vibrant, flavorful juices, steaming hot and perfectly complemented by a blend of spicy seasonings. It was a feast for the senses, boasting irresistible color, aroma, and taste.

Su Ci couldn’t wait to dig in.

A-Yan also took a seat at the table, sipping his vegetable-flavored nutritional drink while watching the caretaker with a cheerful expression.

He loved watching Su Ci eat. No matter how long he stared, he never got tired of it.

A-Yan had prepared a generous spread, with four plates in total. Su Ci ate to about 60% fullness, pairing the meal with his own nutritional drink, though he didn’t finish everything on the table.

Still, Su Ci didn’t keep eating.

Pushing one of the plates toward A-Yan, he said, “A-Yan, you should eat too.”

The young man’s eyes curved in a smile, his voice warm and brimming with contentment. Clearly, he had thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Sharing with A-Yan seemed entirely natural to him, not the slightest bit forced.

In fact, Su Ci, who was accustomed to eating alone, had grown comfortable sharing meals with A-Yan.

A-Yan glanced at the plate, which still held about a dozen pieces of lamb, then at Su Ci’s smiling face. Without hesitation, he picked up a fork and polished off the remaining meat.

The tender, flavorful lamb was utterly delicious!

Su Ci sipped his nutritional drink to quench his thirst. Watching A-Yan enjoy his food so thoroughly, his own mood brightened even more.

“A-Yan, how did you know how to make these dishes?” he asked.

A-Yan paused, his expression becoming slightly puzzled. He retrieved a pen and paper from his spatial button, scribbled a reply, and held it up for Su Ci to see.

[I just figured it out by looking.]

He couldn’t provide a more detailed answer.

Su Ci nodded thoughtfully, falling into contemplation.

Typically, such knowledge would only emerge if A-Yan had been exposed to these concepts during the formation of his awareness, leaving subconscious memories that resurfaced upon encountering familiar stimuli.

If this were true, it meant A-Yan’s spiritual awareness must have begun to develop before the Blood Mist engulfed Prison Star and the land became desolate. Over an incredibly long period, he had gradually evolved into a full-fledged spirit.

By the nursery’s records, A-Yan was categorized as a young spirit born off-world.

But Su Ci didn’t buy that explanation.

He could sense a profound connection to A-Yan—a kind of kinship rooted in a shared origin. This feeling had only grown stronger as A-Yan progressed in his mastery of heavenly scripts.

There was no doubt in Su Ci’s mind: A-Yan was a spirit born of this land.

Perhaps it was this innate sense of familiarity that made him increasingly soft-hearted toward the boy—or maybe it was simply that A-Yan was undeniably endearing.

If A-Yan could gain knowledge so rapidly, there might be another possibility.

As a spirit tied to rules, A-Yan’s domain of influence might grant him the ability to instinctively acquire such knowledge.

Both possibilities seemed plausible. However, if it were the latter, what kind of rules would enable such a unique capability?

Even someone as experienced as Su Ci couldn’t think of an answer.

Unable to resolve the puzzle, Su Ci decided not to dwell on it. In time, as he interacted more with A-Yan and the boy matured, the truth would eventually come to light.

At the very least, such a characteristic posed no harm—it could only benefit A-Yan’s future development. And even now, the boy was already beginning to showcase his talents.

The more Su Ci observed A-Yan, the more satisfied he felt.

But…

All living beings have a finite lifespan.

The thought crept into Su Ci’s mind, and once it was there, he couldn’t push it away.

Even if A-Yan were to live for tens of thousands or even millions of years, to someone like Su Ci, it would only be the briefest blink in an eternal existence.

In the end, it would still leave him alone.

The smile on Su Ci’s face gradually faded.

A-Yan, sensing the shift, looked uneasily at the caretaker.

The warmth that usually radiated from Su Ci’s gaze began to dim, retreating into the heavy mist that often concealed his true feelings.

A faint ache stirred in A-Yan’s chest.

In his mind, a lonely figure surfaced—a silhouette wrapped in a sense of desolation.

A-Yan opened his mouth, trying to speak. Words swirled within him, as though buried for an eternity and now struggling to emerge.

Unexpectedly, as he strained to use his voice, the notebook in his hand began flipping pages on its own.

“Swish, swish, swish—”

The sound of the pages turning echoed sharply, stopping abruptly on the second-to-last page.

On the page was a complete heavenly script, the result of A-Yan’s afternoon of diligent practice while Su Ci had slept.

The rune shimmered faintly with a golden light. With its support, A-Yan’s voice finally broke through, uttering two simple words:

“Su-Su…”

The boy’s voice was still hoarse and dry, but it was far more pleasant than before.

A-Yan gazed deeply at Su Ci, his dark red eyes reflecting the caretaker’s image as though he had been watching him for countless years.

As soon as the words left A-Yan’s lips, the script’s golden glow rapidly faded. Moments later, even the ink of the script began to blur, leaving behind only a vague outline.

After that, A-Yan could no longer produce any sound.

Su Ci was taken aback by the sudden development.

He stared blankly at A-Yan, watching as the boy extended a small hand toward him, as if yearning to touch him.

In the end, however, Su Ci did not choose to take that hand.

Avoiding A-Yan’s gaze, he ignored the dimming light in the boy’s eyes and said, with a hint of helplessness, “Didn’t I tell you not to push yourself?”

Looking at the now-faded heavenly script in the notebook, Su Ci couldn’t help but acknowledge A-Yan’s extraordinary talent. The boy had not only learned the script quickly but had unconsciously tapped into its power.

Such an act was likely instinctive, but it was a clear testament to A-Yan’s innate genius.

“For today, we’ll pause your script practice,” Su Ci said. “Tomorrow, I’ll teach you formations.”

Rising from his seat, Su Ci waved a hand, and the dishes on the table floated into the dishwasher, where they began cleaning automatically. Without another glance at A-Yan, he turned and left the dormitory.

From start to finish, Su Ci didn’t spare A-Yan another look. The coldness of his demeanor felt deliberate, but the hurried steps with which he left seemed more like a retreat.

A-Yan, however, didn’t perceive it that way.

A-Yan slowly lowered his head, his once-bright eyes dimming to unprecedented darkness.

Su Ci descended to the fourth floor via the stairs, just as caretaker robot 4586 emerged from the elevator.

Spotting Su Ci, 4586 greeted him enthusiastically, “Su-Su, it’s dinner time for the babies! Come help deliver their meals, or they’ll starve!”

Su Ci didn’t refuse and picked up Number Three’s meal before heading into Room 403.

Inside, Number Eight was still there, having spent the entire afternoon playing the flute with Number Three. The moment the aroma of food filled the air, Number Eight’s stomach grumbled loudly.

Yet, despite his hunger, he had no desire to return to his own room.

He liked being in Number Three’s room. Although Number Three wasn’t much of a talker and wouldn’t let him touch his ears, Number Three always listened quietly when he spoke, never complaining about him being noisy.

That alone made him much better company than Number Five!

“Number Eight, it’s time to go back,” Su Ci said.

Number Three let out a small sigh of relief. Though he wanted to keep practicing the flute, he figured he could rest now since they had been at it all afternoon. Without Number Eight’s flute, he had no choice but to take a break.

But clearly, Number Eight had a different idea.

The next moment, the boy threw his arms around Number Three in a dramatic hug, startling the smaller child so much that his entire body went stiff.

“I’m not going back!” Number Eight declared stubbornly, shaking his head.

Number Three’s body grew even more rigid. His pale face turned ghostly white, as if his soul might flee his body at any moment.

Su Ci silently placed the meal container on the table, his gaze steady as he looked at Number Eight.

The initially defiant boy’s eyes began to dart around nervously. His boldness and bluster quickly gave way to guilt as he avoided Su Ci’s gaze.

Pouting, Number Eight reluctantly let go of Number Three.

“Fine, I’ll go back… But why do you have to stare at me like that?” he muttered, as though Su Ci had wronged him somehow.

If it weren’t for needing Su Ci to teach him the flute, he wouldn’t let the caretaker boss him around like this. So annoying!

Grumbling under his breath, Number Eight glanced at Number Three, who had finally relaxed a little. The smaller boy quietly inched away, but not too far, afraid that Number Eight might pounce on him again.

Suddenly, Number Eight’s droopy cowlick perked up. An idea struck him, and he said excitedly, “Then I’ll go back after dinner!”

He argued confidently, “You said you’d pick me up at dinnertime, but you didn’t say if it had to be before or after dinner.”

Su Ci considered this and realized Number Eight wasn’t wrong.

He glanced at Number Three. Before Su Ci could even ask, Number Eight jumped in, cutting him off.

“Number Three doesn’t mind if I stay! Right, Number Three?”

Number Three clutched his bamboo flute tightly, his unfocused light-blue eyes showing a trace of helplessness. In the end, he gave a tiny nod, barely moving his head, and murmured a soft “Mm” in his delicate childlike voice.

Having spent the whole afternoon with Number Eight, he figured a little more time wouldn’t hurt.

“Hehe, Number Three, you’re the best!”

Number Eight grinned, his tail wagging enthusiastically as he flashed a toothy smile at Su Ci. His delight was almost palpable, his grin so wide it nearly obscured his eyes.

Su Ci suspected Number Three had only agreed because of Number Eight’s overwhelming presence, but it wasn’t a big deal. Since Number Three didn’t seem to mind, there was no harm in letting Number Eight stay a bit longer.

“Alright, you can stay a little while longer,” Su Ci said.

“Yay!” Number Eight cheered, skipping over to Su Ci’s side.

“I’ll help you grab the meal boxes! Oh, can I visit Number Five? Is Number Four back yet?” he asked eagerly, practically bouncing as he followed Su Ci out of the room.

Number Eight was closest to Number Four and Number Five, yet he had spent the entire day playing with Number Three, leaving him feeling a tiny bit guilty.

When he asked about Number Five, Su Ci paused for a moment, glancing at the metal wall separating the rooms of Number Four and Number Five.

Number Five…

She probably wouldn’t want to see Number Eight right now.

*

The metal door opened, and 4586 floated into Number Four and Number Five’s room with meal trays in hand.

Setting the food on the table, the nanny robot scanned the room until it found a small figure huddled in the shadows between the bed and the wall.

“Number Five, it’s time for dinner!” 4586 said gently.

A small girl looked up, her eyes swollen and red like lightbulbs. Sniffling, she said with a tear-choked voice, “Where’s my brother? I want my brother…”

“Number Four is still resting in the medical purification center,” 4586 replied softly, trying to comfort her. “Number Five needs to eat well so your brother won’t worry about you. He loves his little Number Five the most!”

Number Five sniffled again and gave a faint nod, but soon after, her mouth quivered, and she burst into tears once more.

“4583… it’s not coming back, is it?”

Her sobs deepened as she continued, “It saved me… but got thrown into the wall by Number Two… and now it’s dead…”

Her cries grew louder. “And my brother… my brother fought Number Two too…”

Seeing her so heartbroken, 4586 panicked. It awkwardly squeezed into the gap and clumsily wrapped its warm, albeit rigid, metallic body around the little girl.

“Don’t cry, Number Five. 4586 will always be here for you,” it said softly, patting her back with its mechanical arm.

Number Five hiccuped and slowly wrapped her small arms around 4586’s round, metal shell, nuzzling it with childlike dependence. After a long time, her sobs subsided. When she finally spoke again, her voice was soft but incredibly clear.

“4586, you need to hide.”

“What’s that, little Number Five? 4586 doesn’t understand,” the robot replied, switching its mechanical arm to a soft sponge-like material to gently pat her back.

“If I’m in danger, you have to hide,” Number Five said, her usually halting speech now firm and deliberate. “You can’t get hurt. You can’t die like 4583 did.”

The nanny robot’s programming didn’t account for such a directive, and it couldn’t fully grasp the meaning of her words.

It simply continued its preprogrammed response, “If little Number Five is in danger, 4586 will protect you without hesitation. There’s no need to be afraid.”

But Number Five’s expression suddenly shifted to anger.

“I don’t need your protection!”

Her outburst caused her head to sprout a pair of lion-like ears, and her eyes quickly took on a feral, beastly appearance.

“I don’t want you to protect me! You need to hide! Do you hear me?!”

The robot’s electronic eyes flickered, and a line of text appeared in its AI system:

[Emotional instability detected in Subject Number Five. Entering berserk state. JH05493 sedative will be administered in 30 seconds. To avoid potential harm, leave Room 404 immediately.]

[Countdown: 30, 29, 28…]

The robot’s mechanical arm began to withdraw from the girl.

But as its electronic eyes flickered uncontrollably, the arm slowly returned, once again patting Number Five’s back gently.

“Number Five… little… baby… be… good…”

Its voice glitched, the words stuttering amidst bursts of static.

Number Five, who had been on the verge of complete berserk rage, froze in place.

A soft golden light suddenly flashed before her eyes.

Before she could react, the light entered her forehead, restoring a faint clarity to her chaotic mind.

“Number Five… zzz… little… baby… zzz…”

Hearing 4586’s garbled voice, the girl shuddered violently, as though something had just dawned on her. Fear and panic overtook her face.

“4586… 4586…”

“What’s wrong? Please… please don’t die… Don’t leave me…!” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

As her sobs intensified, her tawny, beast-like pupils slowly reverted to their human form.

[Alert: Berserk state in Subject Number Five interrupted. JH05493 sedative release aborted. Proceed with immediate emotional soothing.]

As the text in 4586’s AI system updated, the flickering electricity in its electronic eyes ceased, and its voice returned to its usual soft and cheerful tone.

“Little Number Five, why are you crying again? 4586 is a robot. Robots don’t die!”

The nanny robot’s electronic eyes displayed a smiling emoji as it continued, “Are you hungry, little one? Let’s eat dinner, okay? Afterward, 4586 can draw with you!”

Seeing the robot return to its normal state, Number Five wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and gave a small nod, her lips still trembling.

“You’re such a good little baby!”

4586 spared no praise as it gently guided the girl out of the shadows and seated her at the table. “Do you want 4586 to feed you?”

Number Five shook her head. After wiping her face clean with a napkin, she picked up a small spoon and began eating the meat jelly on her plate.

4586 stayed by her side, its electronic eyes blinking affectionately as it watched her. Every time she took a bite, the robot let out an exaggerated gasp of amazement, as though she had achieved something extraordinary.

Before long, a faint smile appeared on Number Five’s face, and her emotions seemed to have completely stabilized.

In the room next door, Su Ci withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened. Glancing down at Number Eight, he said, “Come on, let’s get your dinner.”

Number Eight pouted, clearly annoyed that the caretaker had ignored his earlier questions.

Still, he didn’t dare disobey Su Ci.

After all, he and Number Three had exchanged plenty of ideas this afternoon, and he had run into several issues he planned to discuss with Su Ci during tomorrow’s activity time.

As for Number Four and Number Five…

Seeing them tomorrow would be just as good! When the time came, he would show off everything he had learned on the flute.

With that thought, all of Number Eight’s earlier frustrations vanished, and he cheerfully followed behind Su Ci, his mind already buzzing with chatter.

“Oh, right, do you still have those potato chips?”

“Yes.”

“I want some…”

“No.”

“Don’t be so stingy! Just a little, okay?” Number Eight didn’t even realize how skilled he had become at wheedling and acting spoiled around Su Ci.

“Or how about this—you tell me what you want, and I’ll trade with you!” He hesitated for a moment, then, as if making a monumental decision, said, “Except for my ears, I still have my tail!”