The Cubs Can’t Possibly Be This Well-Behaved! – CH49

Chapter 49

Su Ci observed the child’s smile.

Number Seven’s hair was a soft silver with natural curls. Having just gotten up from bed, it was a bit messy, sticking out here and there.

But paired with his delicate, youthful features, his healthy, slightly flushed complexion, and the small deer antlers that protruded slightly from his forehead, the boy had a lively, playful charm.

Earlier, Number Six had also smiled at Su Ci, but Su Ci could sense the stark difference between the two.

The little monkey, Number Six, was capricious, his friendliness toward Su Ci laced with indifference. But this little white deer—Su Ci could see his own reflection clearly in the boy’s earnest gaze.

Reaching out, Su Ci took back the medical spray. After a moment’s thought, he said, “It seems like you and Number Eight don’t get along very well.”

In truth, judging by the conflict that had erupted in the activity room, “don’t get along” was putting it mildly. Had Su Ci arrived even a moment later, Number Eight might have torn into Number Seven’s throat.

No one could predict the serious consequences that would have followed if that had happened.

Admittedly, Number Eight’s bloodline had caused him to lose control. However, Su Ci had just suppressed the wolf cub’s bloodline power the day before. Unless provoked, Number Eight theoretically shouldn’t have gone berserk again so soon.

Su Ci was also convinced that if Number Seven usually behaved as amiably as he was now, the little wolf cub, with his straightforward temperament, wouldn’t have clashed with him so easily.

Hearing Su Ci’s observation, Number Seven paused, then nodded. “Yeah, I fight with that big dumb wolf all the time.”

Big dumb wolf…

Su Ci felt like he was beginning to understand the source of their discord.

“You think Number Eight is dumb?” Su Ci asked.

Number Seven widened his eyes and innocently countered, “Don’t you think so?”

Su Ci: “…”

Alright, the little wolf cub did seem a bit lacking in intelligence at times.

“Number Eight might not appreciate you calling him that,” he said at last.

However, the little white deer had his own set of beliefs.

“Then I definitely have to call him that!”

Number Seven scooped a spoonful of vegetable jelly into his mouth and mumbled, “You don’t get it. If we act too weak, we’ll be bullied!”

Even though Number Eight had nearly choked him to death today, the memory of which still filled Number Seven with fear, he was determined that the next time he faced Number Eight, he wouldn’t show a single crack in his armor.

After all, if he had almost been killed even while putting on a strong front, what would happen if he appeared even weaker? Wouldn’t they just eat him outright?

Number Two was a Crimson Flame Tiger, Number Four and Five were Red-Tailed Lions, and Number Eight was a Midnight Wolf—all ferocious, large carnivores. Even Number Three, the smallest in size, was a meat-eater.

Number Seven had observed that Number Three ate just as much as the others, even though he himself didn’t care much for food.

Whenever he faced them, Number Seven felt an instinctive fear. But the more scared he was, the more he forced himself not to show it. This was a survival rule he had figured out.

Su Ci, perceptive as ever, picked up on something. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “We?”

“Yeah!”

The little white deer nodded vigorously, his gaze at Su Ci filled with a sense of camaraderie, as if he had found a kindred spirit—or a natural ally.

“They’re all carnivores. If we don’t want to be bullied, we have to act tough! Let them know we’re not easy to mess with!”

The boy’s words brimmed with fighting spirit, but Su Ci’s focus wandered in a different direction.

“You think I’m a herbivore?”

Su Ci felt he’d been gravely misunderstood. Sure, he ate plants occasionally, but meat was his true love. A spiritual being without meat was an incomplete one!

Number Seven blinked in confusion.

Looking at Su Ci, he hesitated for a moment before replying earnestly, “I don’t know for sure. I just feel safe when I see you. There’s a voice inside me saying you can be trusted, that you wouldn’t hurt me.”

Leaning forward slightly, Number Seven looked at Su Ci seriously and asked, “Are you sure you don’t have a herbivore bloodline?”

It was the first time Number Seven had encountered someone who gave him this feeling. It wasn’t just that the caretaker appeared weak—it was something deeper, something he couldn’t quite put into words.

“I don’t have a herbivore bloodline,” Su Ci said with a shake of his head. But his gaze softened, taking on a contemplative quality.

In his mind, deer had always been creatures of great spirituality, and white deer were considered the wisest among them.

Perhaps Number Seven couldn’t perceive Su Ci’s true identity as an Earth Spirit, but his bloodline seemed to resonate on some level. This sensitivity alone was sharper than what many cultivators possessed.

And Number Seven was not yet six years old.

If this had been the ancient era, he would undoubtedly have been a genius fiercely sought after by major sects. Unfortunately, in this era, humanity’s civilization was on the brink of extinction.

Unaware of Su Ci’s thoughts, the little white deer sighed regretfully at his denial. “Alright then.”

Even though Su Ci didn’t have a herbivore bloodline, Number Seven wasn’t too surprised. After all, none of the caretakers he had met at the nursery possessed beast bloodlines.

He had asked around—those with beast bloodlines would never consider working in a place like this.

“You’re an ordinary person and not very strong, so that means we have even more reason to stick together!”

Despite his young age, Number Seven spoke with a clarity and decisiveness beyond his years. “Even though the big dumb wolf is, well, dumb, there’s one thing about him we should learn from!”

Su Ci couldn’t help but ask, “What’s that?”

“That big dumb wolf, when he can’t win a fight, teams up with Number Four and Number Five!” Number Seven huffed indignantly.

Though he himself had tried teaming up with Number Six, the monkey—

After all, they were both herbivores, and even when Number Six went berserk, while destructive, at least it didn’t trigger the overwhelming bloodline-induced fear that made Number Seven’s legs go weak, leaving him unable to run.

In theory, they should have been natural allies. But unfortunately, that monkey was far too unreliable. Most of the time, he only cared about his own amusement. Number Seven couldn’t bring himself to trust him much.

Now, seeing Su Ci, Number Seven felt like he had discovered new hope.

“Do you really need this job? Is it because your family is very poor? So even if you knew in advance how dangerous it is here, you still chose to work here?”

The little white deer’s blue-black eyes gleamed brightly as he looked at Su Ci.

“…”

Poor? Su Ci thought for a moment, then nodded.

While it wasn’t entirely accurate, he was indeed quite strapped for cash at the moment and did genuinely need this job.

Number Seven’s expression turned to one of I knew it.

“If you need this job, that means you want to stay here longer. So you should definitely listen to me!”

The little boy lobbied Su Ci with an earnestness that belied his young age. It was hard to believe he was only slightly older than Number Five.

“I can help you stay longer at the nursery! I can help you avoid getting beaten up so much, keep you out of the medical bay more often, and even help you pass the three probationary assessments!”

Number Seven declared this with unwavering conviction.

“You saw how scary Number Eight gets when he goes berserk, but I’m telling you, that big dumb wolf isn’t even in the top three in terms of strength here at the nursery.”

Number Seven began counting on his fingers. “Number Two and Number Four are about the same in strength, and they fight the most ferociously.”

Even though they were cubs, their beastly instincts drove them to fight for territory and leadership. Whether or not they went berserk, their battles were always brutal.

Of course, as long as they weren’t killed outright, they could always be revived in the medical pod.

“Number Six is a little stronger than Number Eight, but not by much. Then there’s me.” The little white deer continued confidently.

“Don’t underestimate me just because I’m a herbivore and don’t have sharp teeth or claws. My kicks hurt! I can stomp a hole into the floor.”

“And I’ve got horns too.” He touched his antlers, which were still small and covered in soft fuzz. “They’re not sharp yet, but they’ll grow.”

To hold his own at the nursery, he clearly had both talent and strength!

“As for Number Three and Number Five, they don’t like to fight, but I’m telling you, don’t underestimate them either. They’re both really strong!”

At this point, Number Seven leaned in and lowered his voice to caution Su Ci. “If you make them angry, you’ll be in big trouble.”

“Oh,” Su Ci nodded.

Seeing that Su Ci didn’t seem to take it very seriously, Number Seven couldn’t help but emphasize again, “Seriously, if Number Three goes berserk, he’s scarier than Number Two or Number Four. Don’t provoke him for no reason.”

Su Ci knew that Number Three had exceptionally strong mental power. However, as to what Number Three’s actual abilities were, Su Ci hadn’t seen them in action yet.

Not that he had any particular interest in digging into others’ secrets anyway.

“Yes, I understand,” Su Ci nodded.

Hearing this, Number Seven put on an expression of satisfaction, like a little adult thinking, This kid can be taught, which made Su Ci chuckle.

“So, since you’re helping me, what do you want me to do for you in return?” Su Ci asked.

Hearing the question, Number Seven’s eyes curved with delight.

“I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!”

His deer-like eyes sparkled, full of light and mischief. “All you need to do is protect me. I’ll tell you how to do it later!”

After all, Number Seven didn’t expect Su Ci, who was so thin and fragile, to protect him with physical strength. He figured the caretaker might not even be able to handle him if he went berserk.

But there were other ways Su Ci could be useful.

Su Ci watched the boy’s bright eyes, so full of a different kind of vitality from the little wolf cub, yet equally dazzling.

For this young white deer, the nursery must have felt like a den of predators. No wonder he was so insecure. Even though caretakers were supposed to protect the cubs as part of their job, Number Seven still relied on alliances to secure that protection.

Su Ci nodded lightly.

Still, under the boy’s expectant gaze, he said, “Maybe you could try changing the way you interact with Number Eight.”

“What?” Number Seven looked at him, puzzled.

“You’re very smart.”

Hearing this, Number Seven nodded confidently. That’s right—he was smart. He had always thought so.

“So, you might discover that you don’t have to rely on tough methods to protect yourself.”

Su Ci wasn’t fond of resolving problems with violence—though, to be fair, he hadn’t encountered many situations where he needed to.

Number Seven blinked, startled. No one had ever taught him anything like this before. Everything he knew, he had figured out on his own.

“For example?” he asked curiously.

Su Ci thought for a moment before replying, “You could try complimenting Number Eight.”

Hearing this, Number Seven’s hopeful expression crumpled. His face scrunched up in disgust. “What’s there to compliment about that big dumb wolf?”

Su Ci didn’t agree. “Didn’t you just say he knows how to team up with Number Four and Number Five? You’re teaming up with me now, which is something you learned from him, isn’t it?”

So, while Number Eight might be a bit dumb at times, he wasn’t completely without redeeming qualities.

Number Seven froze. He couldn’t refute that… but he puffed his cheeks in frustration.

“But I don’t get along with him,” the boy grumbled. “Complimenting him would be like admitting defeat! That big dumb wolf is already so full of himself. If I compliment him, his tail will shoot straight up to the sky!”

At this moment, Number Seven finally acted like a real six-year-old, showing a side of himself that was less mature.

“You said you wanted to protect yourself, right?” Su Ci asked.

“But… but…” Number Seven frowned, still resisting. “What does that have to do with complimenting him? He hurts me, and I compliment him? No way!”

“He almost choked me to death today, and he didn’t even apologize!”

As he spoke, the fear of that near-death moment seemed to rise up again. Number Seven’s lips trembled, and he said with a note of grievance, “Why should I compliment him?”

His voice had taken on a distinctly teary tone, and his doe-like eyes turned red, brimming with unshed tears, making him look especially pitiful.

Realizing that he’d shown such vulnerability, Number Seven suddenly fell silent.

He lowered his head and clutched his spoon, scooping up the vegetable jelly in silence, shoving it into his mouth one bite at a time.

The stubborn set of his posture made him look particularly resolute.

But his defiance was different from that of other children. Su Ci couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He didn’t have much experience dealing with human children, and as an Earth Spirit, he had never faced a situation like Number Seven’s.

He thought for a moment before placing a gentle hand on the boy’s head. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

The boy, who had been trying hard to calm himself, stiffened at the sound of Su Ci’s gentle, soothing voice. His lips quivered again, and before he could stop himself, his mouth drooped.

Plop—

A tear fell onto the plate.

Number Seven froze for a moment. He didn’t respond to Su Ci’s question, wiping his eyes quickly with a small hand before returning to his meal. He kept silent, still shoveling spoonfuls of food into his mouth.

Su Ci withdrew his hand, watching the quiet little boy. For the first time, he felt at a loss.

After some thought, he said, “I just think that if you try, you might get unexpected results.”

Number Seven remained silent, eating his meal without responding.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to reply; he was just afraid that if he opened his mouth, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from crying again.

Su Ci glanced at the time, then stood up and said, “I need to go. Finish your meal, alright?”

With that, he left.

Hearing the sound of footsteps fading, Number Seven finally raised his head. He watched the caretaker’s departing figure, saw the metal door open and close, and then the room was quiet again—just him, alone.

The silver-haired boy gripped his spoon tightly. After a long moment, he sniffled and lifted his left hand to wipe the tears off his face.

He didn’t even know why he had cried earlier. He just couldn’t help it.

So embarrassing…

Would this affect his alliance with the caretaker?

It should be fine, right? Number Five cried a lot too, and while Number Eight often complained about it, he still protected her. But then again… she had Number Four, her big brother.

He wasn’t like Number Five.

Staring at the tightly closed metal door, the little boy sniffled again. His blue-black deer eyes were still glistening, as though he might burst into tears all over again at any moment.

Then, as he lowered his head, his eyes lit up slightly.

Next to his meal tray, a single potato chip had appeared at some point. Its faintly spiced aroma was something he had never smelled before.

When did the caretaker put this here?

Number Seven raised his hand to wipe away his welling tears again. As he reached for the chip, he instinctively drew his hand back, wiped it clean on his uniform, and only then picked up the chip.

It smells so good.

Number Seven brought the chip to his nose, taking a gentle sniff.

He opened his mouth, hesitated, then decided to put it down. Climbing off the bed, he went to the bathroom, washed his face, poured himself a glass of water, and drank several sips to clear the lingering taste of vegetables and fruit from his mouth. Only then did he rush back, carefully pick up the chip again.

Crunch—

Number Seven took a small bite, and the next second, he was utterly conquered by the delightful flavor.

This taste… it’s amazing!

He had never eaten anything so delicious! Who knew… plant tubers could taste this good?

For a little white deer whose diet had only ever consisted of vegetables, fruit, and nutrient jelly, this spiced delight was utterly enchanting.

His mood, which had been so gloomy, brightened completely.

Thinking about how the caretaker had given it to him, the boy broke into a cheerful grin.

He felt certain now—he had found the right ally!

This was the first time Number Seven had talked so much with someone.

He felt like Su Ci had genuinely listened to him. And though the caretaker’s suggestion was highly questionable, the conversation itself had been an unusually pleasant experience for Number Seven.

Originally, he had planned to form an alliance with Dr. Gu. Among the adults he interacted with, Dr. Gu seemed the weakest and the most kind to them.

But now… it seemed he had found an even better choice.

Recalling the hand that had rested briefly on his head, Number Seven found himself momentarily dazed.

It was the first time anyone had patted his head.

In the past, he had strongly resisted such gestures. Anyone who tried to touch his head would find themselves dodged or even on the receiving end of one of his forceful kicks.

But just now… it hadn’t felt so bad?

Still… hmm, how long would this Su caretaker be able to stay at the nursery? He looked so thin and frail, with wrists so slender they seemed like they might snap at the slightest pressure.

Without someone’s help, would he even last a week?

That wouldn’t do!

No matter what, Number Seven had to help him stay. Who knew if the next caretaker would be another one of those tall, burly types?

He couldn’t bring himself to ally with those imposing adults—not because he was scared, of course, but because they gave off a naturally unfriendly vibe.

The potato chip was gone in no time, and the little white deer returned to eating his vegetable-and-fruit jelly.

Although this caretaker didn’t seem entirely reliable, he was still an adult who could accomplish far more than Number Seven could. And he had potato chips…

Number Seven swallowed a mouthful and came to a conclusion: Su caretaker was worth the effort to keep around.

But now that they were allies…

Should he really try out Su’s suggestion?

Number Seven tilted his head, his silvery curls bouncing slightly with the motion.

He didn’t want to praise Number Eight, not even a little. But adults were so full of themselves, never listening to what kids had to say. If he wanted their alliance to work long-term, he needed to show Su how ridiculous and unreliable his idea was—so he wouldn’t make such silly suggestions again in the future!

Besides, it would be a show of sincerity on his part.

Still… did he really have to compliment Number Eight? The boy’s small face scrunched up in frustration as he wrestled with the battle between logic and emotion.

Finally, he decided…

I’ll think about it after I finish dinner.

The little white deer picked up his spoon again and began eating with determination.

Speaking of which, the caretaker’s medical spray was really effective! His throat didn’t hurt at all anymore, not even a bit. This afternoon, swallowing saliva had felt like torture.

The little white deer couldn’t help but think that this caretaker wasn’t entirely useless. He’d only been here a few days, and he already carried a bottle of medical spray around with him.

If Su could help him get his own bottle, that would be perfect. Then he wouldn’t have to worry about not getting treated in time if he got injured again…

*

Out in the hallway, Su Ci, who had been standing there for a while, let out a small sigh and gently shook his head.

A-Yan is still better. These human kids…

They’re hard to understand.

Once he was certain Number Seven was fine, Su Ci turned and headed downstairs.

When he returned to Room 403, Number Eight had already finished his dinner.

As for the potato chips he’d planned to save for tomorrow, in the end, Number Eight couldn’t resist and ate them all.

When the caretaker’s figure appeared once more, the little wolf cub pouted. Although reluctant, he kept his promise and obediently got up, preparing to return to his room with the caretaker.

Su Ci didn’t enter the room; he simply stood at the door and waited.

The young wolf drooped his ears, his bushy tail hanging low and dragging on the ground as he took slow, heavy steps toward the caretaker.

His entire demeanor radiated sadness, a far cry from the happy-go-lucky wolf cub he had been before.

However, just as he had taken a couple of steps, a small hand suddenly reached out from behind and gently grabbed his sleeve.

Although Number Three’s grip was very light, Number Eight felt it immediately.

He froze for a moment, instinctively turning his head.

Number Three was holding his sleeve, tilting his little head slightly upward. His pale blue eyes were still as lifeless as ever.

Looking at his newfound friend, Number Eight couldn’t help but wonder: Could it be that Number Three doesn’t want me to leave and wants me to stay overnight?

If that was the case, then he wouldn’t have to return to his room and be alone!

Excitement surged through Number Eight, and his drooping tail instantly perked up, wagging wildly behind him. His green eyes sparkled as if they were filled with stars as he gazed at Number Three.

Although Number Three couldn’t see, he could still sense Number Eight’s fiery enthusiasm, burning as vividly as a flame.

And yet… wasn’t Number Eight’s mental energy supposed to be a cool shade of green?