The Cubs Can’t Possibly Be This Well-Behaved! – CH50

Chapter 50

Number Three had already been hesitant, but now, faced with Number Eight’s overwhelming enthusiasm, he couldn’t help but regret his actions.

He felt like a little creature that had just poked its head out of its protective shell, only to find the world outside blazing with sunlight—so intense and overwhelming that it made him want to retreat back into his shell.

But Number Eight wasn’t about to give him the chance to back out.

“Number Three, do you have something to say to me?” The boy was brimming with excitement, his green eyes gleaming with encouragement as he looked at Number Three.

Come on, say it! You’re going to ask me to stay, right?

The warmth, the energy, and the anticipation in Number Eight’s voice made it impossible to let him down.

Number Three pressed his lips together, releasing Number Eight’s sleeve from his small hand. Instead, his hands clasped together tightly in front of him, and eventually, he lowered his head.

Number Eight froze in surprise.

The boy standing in front of him barely reached his chest, so Number Eight could clearly see the two fluffy little ears that suddenly appeared atop Number Three’s head.

They were black, tiny, and tucked into Number Three’s dark hair, almost invisible unless one looked closely.

What’s this about?

Number Eight tilted his head, noticing the faint blush creeping across Number Three’s downturned face.

He suddenly realized something. Glancing over at the caretaker, Number Eight shifted his body slightly to shield Number Three from view before leaning closer to whisper, “Number Three, are you offering to let me touch your ears?”

Number Three blinked, his pale blue eyes peeking up furtively. He was met with Number Eight’s bright green eyes, curved into cheerful crescents as he smiled.

Leaning in conspiratorially, Number Eight lowered his voice as if this were a secret meant only for the two of them.

Staring at Number Eight’s tall figure standing protectively before him, Number Three hesitated but eventually nodded gently. In a soft, childlike voice, he whispered, “Mhm.”

Although it wasn’t intentional, Number Three had overheard the transaction between Number Eight and the caretaker in the hallway earlier.

Maybe Number Two hadn’t understood, but Number Three and Number Eight had both traded ear-touches with the caretaker in exchange for flute lessons. Number Three instantly understood what was happening.

The potato chips? Number Three knew exactly where they came from.

Those three chips had cost Number Eight a tail-touch as payment, and one of them had been given to him.

The chips were delicious…

Even though Number Eight had practically forced them on him, Number Three had eaten them. And for the entire afternoon, Number Eight had taught him how to play the flute.

Not giving anything in return didn’t sit well with Number Three. That was why, at the last moment, he had mustered the courage to grab Number Eight’s sleeve and expose his ears.

This was part of the deal they had discussed back in the activity room.

At the time, Number Three had refused, but now… he had already reaped the benefits.

Even if it had been Number Eight forcing those benefits onto him… Number Three thought with quiet grievance, lowering his head further.

But Number Eight didn’t react as Number Three had imagined. He didn’t ruffle his head or mess with his ears.

Instead, the little wolf cub extended two fingers, and much like the caretaker earlier, gently pinched one of Number Three’s small ears.

Number Eight’s touch was surprisingly delicate, a stark contrast to his usual boisterous nature. With just his fingertips, he softly squeezed the tiny, furry ear.

Before Number Three could even register the sensation, Number Eight had already released him.

“Your ears are so soft and small. I was scared I might break them!” Number Eight said in awe, rubbing his fingertips together as if savoring the sensation. He then touched his own furry ears, as though comparing the two.

For some reason, Number Three, who rarely displayed any strong emotions, felt his face flush. He was suddenly a little annoyed and muttered, “They… they won’t break…”

Even in frustration, the boy’s speech was slow, his voice soft and milk-sweet, almost enough to make Number Eight melt on the spot.

“Number Three, you’re just so adorable!”

Laughing, Number Eight couldn’t resist sneaking another pinch at Number Three’s other ear. This time, he used slightly more pressure but still didn’t hurt the boy.

Number Three’s ears felt completely different from his own. It was fascinating.

Just as Number Eight was about to go in for another pinch, Number Three had caught on. He stepped to the side, evading the touch, bent down to pick up his metal ball, and hugged it tightly to his chest. He even closed his already blind eyes as if to shut out the world entirely.

But after a moment of waiting, Number Eight’s hand didn’t come down again. Instead, the sound of his cheerful laughter filled the air.

“Ha ha, I’m coming to play with you again tomorrow!” Number Eight declared cheerfully.

Hearing this, Number Three instinctively furrowed his small brows.

He still preferred being alone… but the thought of Number Eight bringing the flute along stirred a faint sense of anticipation in his heart.

He really wanted to learn how to play the flute quickly. He wanted to see that vibrant, colorful world again, and the big brother who waved to him from within it.

But he wasn’t very bright. After an entire day of lessons, he still hadn’t grasped it, which meant he would need a lot more time to practice.

And to practice, he would need the flute.

“Well, I’m off then!”

Even though Number Eight noticed Number Three’s reluctant expression, he didn’t care at all. As long as Number Three didn’t voice his objections, he could just pretend he didn’t see it!

After all, if he didn’t come tomorrow, he’d end up alone again—something he absolutely didn’t want. He and Number Three were friends now, and friends were supposed to play together. Otherwise, how could they call themselves friends?

“See you in the activity room tomorrow!”

Now fully revived, the little wolf cub bounded out of Number Three’s room, then urged the caretaker, “Let’s hurry back! This young master needs to sleep so tomorrow can come faster!”

Having something to look forward to made the arrival of tomorrow feel even more exciting.

Su Ci ignored Number Eight’s exuberance, glancing back into Number Three’s room. The little boy had already turned away, retreating once more into the corner to hide himself. Only then did Su Ci withdraw his gaze and escort Number Eight back to Room 503.

When Su Ci exited the room, he happened to see 4586 pushing a food cart toward the elevator, likely having just collected the empty meal trays for cleaning.

For some reason, Su Ci felt like the yellow-flower-covered head of 4586 had a faint, shallow dent in it.

Noticing Su Ci, 4586 chirped energetically, “Su Su! The babies all ate well today, how wonderful!”

It seemed eager to share its joy with Su Ci. Its soft and sweet voice flowed smoothly, with none of the previous static-laden harshness.

Su Ci nodded lightly.

As he reached the third floor and prepared to exit the elevator, the nanny robot spoke again.

“Su Su, today’s work is all wrapped up! Don’t forget to write growth diaries for the babies!”

“A rich and nutritious breakfast replenishes the energy cubs use up while growing at night and kickstarts their energetic mornings. It’s a very important meal time, so Su Su, don’t be late!”

“Well then, sweet dreams tonight~ Goodnight!”

Its mechanical hand pressed a button, and the elevator doors slowly closed in front of Su Ci. As the elevator descended, he tilted his head slightly.

Did 4586 let something slip today?

He thought back, realizing it hadn’t reminded him to wake up at five. Has it finally given up?

Su Ci shrugged slightly and headed back to his dormitory.

The dormitory was quiet. On the coffee table in the living room, the little spiritual seed was enthusiastically shouting motivational slogans, a stark contrast to its usual lethargy whenever Su Ci returned.

Next to it, the canisters of spiritual water had been arranged. The seeds soaking in the enriched water, stimulated by its aura, had already begun to split open slightly.

Their growth rate was far ahead of the little spiritual seed’s progress. Perhaps feeling provoked by these ordinary seeds, the little spiritual seed seemed to be working extra hard.

Su Ci nodded in satisfaction.

The living room lights didn’t turn on automatically as they usually did. It was only when Su Ci entered that the motion sensor activated, illuminating the room.

“A-Yan?”

The small figure that normally raced to greet him as soon as he spoke was nowhere to be seen this time.

Remembering A-Yan’s dim gaze when he left earlier, Su Ci couldn’t help but frown. The next moment, his spiritual awareness spread out.

Within seconds, Su Ci’s spiritual form appeared in the nursery courtyard.

A small figure crouched by the protective barrier, its back turned to him. Su Ci looked at the child, his brows knitting even tighter. He hesitated briefly before calling out, “A-Yan.”

The child’s body trembled.

Hearing Su Ci’s voice, not only did he not turn around, but he also raised his hands to cover his head, curling up as if trying to make himself smaller.

Su Ci approached and crouched down beside him.

It was A-Yan. However…

A-Yan shuffled slightly to the side. Feeling the caretaker’s gaze on him, he finally lifted his head and glanced timidly at Su Ci. His small hands slowly lowered from his head.

To Su Ci’s surprise, perched atop the boy’s head were two furry, pointed ears. They had been pressed flat, but as the child dropped his hands, the ears bounced upright with surprising elasticity.

The fur on the ears was a patchy light gray, uneven in color and texture. They looked not only dirty but also scruffy and unkempt.

A-Yan’s gaze was pitiful, but seeing those fuzzy ears, a trace of amusement flickered in Su Ci’s normally calm eyes.

Noticing this, A-Yan immediately lowered his head in dejection.

“How did these appear?” Su Ci asked.

He reached out and gently grasped one of the furry ears, rubbing it lightly between his fingers. Although not as soft or smooth as Number Eight’s ears, it was still pleasantly fluffy to the touch.

A-Yan’s face flushed slightly. So… this is what it feels like to have his ears touched…

As for Su Ci’s question, A-Yan didn’t know how to answer.

Even though the caretaker hadn’t said anything particularly harsh when leaving earlier—and had even promised to teach him formations tomorrow—A-Yan had still keenly sensed a distance between them.

It felt as if an invisible barrier had risen between them.

And… the caretaker seemed unhappy.

Despite feeling sad about this sense of estrangement, A-Yan wasn’t confused by it. It felt inevitable, almost natural. What weighed on him more was the desire to make the caretaker happy again.

That was when he thought of Number Eight’s ears.

If only I could grow furry ears too…

If he had fluffy ears, the caretaker could pet them whenever he was upset, and his mood would improve, wouldn’t it?

A-Yan fantasized about what it would be like to grow soft, furry beast ears.

When he came back to his senses, he realized something was off.

He reached up and felt a strange, unfamiliar sensation on his head. Rushing to the bathroom, he discovered—he had actually grown two beast ears!

His initial excitement didn’t last long. Soon, he realized his ears weren’t as soft and smooth as Number Eight’s or as cute in shape as Number Two’s. Even the color was patchy and uneven, making them look scruffy and dirty.

They were ugly and didn’t feel nice to touch either.

A-Yan became upset. He wanted to make his ears prettier and more pleasant to touch.

He concentrated hard, but the ears only became worse. The fur grew unevenly, becoming longer in some places and shorter in others, and increasingly coarse and messy.

In the end, A-Yan retreated into a state of dejection.

And so, when Su Ci returned, he was greeted by this scene.

“They won’t change back?” Su Ci asked with a chuckle.

Spirits born from inanimate matter don’t have fixed forms. It’s only after they grow and develop their unique understanding of the world that they settle into a stable form.

Much like how a demon cultivates to take on a human form—it takes years of effort to achieve a proper likeness. Those with shallow cultivation often give themselves away with imperfections.

For spirits in their early stages, they are constantly absorbing and interpreting the world, making it a period of rapid and frequent changes to their form.

Although it was long, long ago, Su Ci still faintly remembered the many laughable moments from his own infancy as a spirit.

What had once felt humiliating now seemed nostalgic in hindsight.

Su Ci rubbed A-Yan’s furry ears gently. He didn’t even notice how tender his gaze had become.

But A-Yan saw it. Watching the faint smile on the caretaker’s face, the dejection in A-Yan’s eyes slowly faded, and he broke into a silly grin.

The caretaker smiled!

Does that mean he’s happy now?

The whole reason he wanted to grow furry ears was to make the caretaker happy. If that goal had been achieved, then it didn’t matter if the ears were ugly or not.

To Su Ci, A-Yan growing beast ears was likely a result of being influenced by the other cubs at the nursery—especially since he had let A-Yan touch Number Eight’s ears earlier.

“They’ll go back to normal in a few days. Don’t worry.”

Su Ci gave A-Yan’s ears another pat. Their form was tied to A-Yan’s will. As soon as he stopped fixating on them, the ears would naturally disappear.

“Okay!” A-Yan nodded firmly.

“Let’s go back.”

Su Ci stood up and looked down at the child’s clumsy movements. Finally, he extended his hand to A-Yan.

From the very beginning, A-Yan had done nothing wrong. He was so well-behaved and considerate—tidying his room, caring for the spirit seed, cooking delicious meals… He was even exceptionally diligent in learning the heavenly script.

A-Yan always placed Su Ci’s needs first. Even though he liked potato chips and star-chain fruit himself, he would eat only a little and leave the rest for Su Ci.

As the Earth Spirit, Su Ci was long accustomed to the reverence and devotion of other beings. Yet even so, it was hard to resist someone like A-Yan.

Perhaps it was because Su Ci had never experienced such dire circumstances before.

Though Su Ci maintained an attitude of acceptance, prepared for the possibility that it might take hundreds or thousands of years to restore the earth, it was impossible for his mood to remain unaffected.

In such a situation, having such a thoughtful and well-mannered child—one who was also a spirit—by his side provided a measure of solace.

Su Ci understood: the problem wasn’t with A-Yan.

It was with himself.

He had witnessed the cycle of life and death countless times, endured the pain of countless separations, and yet he still couldn’t control his own heart. That was why, upon realizing the growing bond between himself and A-Yan, Su Ci’s first instinct had been to distance himself.

But running away wouldn’t solve anything.

When he had just realized that A-Yan wasn’t in his room, the surge of panic and urgency he felt was all too real. It left him deeply unsettled.

What would he do in the future, when A-Yan’s lifespan inevitably came to an end?

And yet, pushing the child away and ignoring him entirely wasn’t something Su Ci could bring himself to do. Perhaps he could have, once upon a time, but not now. Not in this perilous era, where the earth was full of danger. He couldn’t abandon A-Yan.

A-Yan was still too small and fragile, his body covered in wounds. If he hadn’t met Su Ci, he might have already faded into nothingness…

Su Ci couldn’t bring himself to let go of the child, nor could he suppress his emotions. The only thing he could do, for now, was to try his best to ensure A-Yan lived as long as possible.

A-Yan stared at Su Ci’s outstretched hand, his gaze momentarily blank. Then, like stars suddenly igniting in the night sky, his eyes lit up, shining brightly.

He reached out his small hand and grasped Su Ci’s fingers tightly, as if once he held on, he never wanted to let go.

Feeling the strength in A-Yan’s grip, Su Ci sighed inwardly, then led the boy back to the dormitory.

*

After they left, beneath the protective barrier in the courtyard, a tiny, delicate leaf emerged from the budding tip of one of the fruit vines buried in the soil.

Next to the vine, in a patch of slightly looser soil, a tender, green sprout also peeked out, breaking through the surface.

“Yah!”

As soon as the sprout appeared, the previously silent little spirit seed let out a high-pitched cry, and then—

“Whew whew… Woo hoo hoo~”

“Whew whew… Woo hoo hoo~”

It sounded like it had completed an important task and could finally rest. Its snores, now rhythmic and steady, seemed even sweeter and more content than before.

*

In Room 303, the lights soon dimmed, and shortly after, the noisy nursery fell into peaceful silence.

Everyone seemed to be asleep. Even the little spirit seed’s motivational chants had finally ceased.

Only in Room 202, the red-haired boy lying on the bed tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Eventually, he lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

Every time he closed his eyes, the image of Number Eight letting the caretaker touch his tail replayed in his mind. It was like an unshakable nightmare!

Unable to find peace, Number Two finally resolved that if Number Eight was still free to roam tomorrow, then he would…

He would…

Think about it more.

*

Time ticked by, and soon sunlight began to creep over the horizon, the sky growing brighter and brighter.

This morning, the 303 dormitory was unusually quiet. When the clock struck 5 a.m., no alarms went off, and the animated book spirit on the wall didn’t lose its mind. Everything was serene.

A-Yan, who had woken early to guard against any unexpected interruptions to the caretaker’s sleep, waited on high alert. In the end, however, nothing happened.

Su Ci awoke naturally from his sleep, with no surprises disturbing the tranquility.

A-Yan felt a little unsettled by the unusually peaceful morning.

Still, it was a good thing that the caretaker could sleep well!

A-Yan watched Su Ci’s profile, observing his movements and secretly counting his long, thick, curled eyelashes.

The caretaker, who had just woken up, seemed to be in a dazed state, staring blankly at the ceiling. His slow, languid blinks suggested his mind hadn’t fully returned to clarity yet.

With prior experience, A-Yan didn’t dare to approach him at this time.

He silently counted the minutes. About ten minutes later, the fog in the young man’s eyes finally lifted, and he was fully awake.

Su Ci tilted his head slightly and found himself meeting the child’s wide, unblinking gaze.

“A-Yan,” he said softly. His just-woken voice was slightly husky, carrying a tone even gentler than usual, with an inexplicable allure.

A-Yan’s ears twitched at the sound, as if they were itchy. He instinctively shook them before breaking into a shy, spirited smile, silently greeting Su Ci.

Su Ci couldn’t resist raising his hand to ruffle the boy’s hair.

A-Yan’s furry ears hadn’t disappeared overnight. In fact, their fur seemed to have grown softer and less scruffy.

Instead of avoiding the ruffling, A-Yan leaned into Su Ci’s palm, eyes half-closed like a purring kitten basking in its owner’s affection.

Su Ci indulged himself for a while before withdrawing his hand, satisfied.

“Alright, time to get up and eat.”

With a good mood, he swung his legs out of bed and got up. A-Yan, waiting for him to leave, climbed out of bed with his hair a mess from sleep and began tidying up his bedding.

Then the bustling but happy morning began.

A-Yan placed a can of chicken in the cooking processor to roast and got busy with other tasks. By the time Su Ci had brushed his teeth, washed his face, and prepared the nutrient solution, the roasted chicken was fresh out of the processor!

Su Ci plated the chicken and prepared to figure out how to operate the machine for the next dish. Just as he was about to experiment, A-Yan popped his little head over and began tapping on the control panel.

Su Ci quickly grasped the process and, in gratitude, reached out to ruffle the boy’s fuzzy ears again.

Being able to touch something so soft and fluffy anytime really was a delight.

“A-Yan, you’re the best,” he said sincerely.

A-Yan beamed with pride. Once Su Ci had his fill of ear-ruffling, A-Yan jumped off the stool and darted into the living room to tend to the spirit seed.

“Hungry… hungry…”

The moment he got close, the spirit seed started its usual cries for food. A-Yan reached for the nutrient solution, but his sharp eyes caught something new, and they lit up with excitement.

He leaned over the coffee table, examining the soil container closely. After careful inspection, he confirmed—

He wasn’t imagining things! On the previously unchanged soil surface, a tiny green sprout had emerged.

The sprout was smaller than half a grain of rice, tender and green, and incredibly cute.

The spirit seed had finally sprouted!

Sensing something, Su Ci walked over, holding a cup of nutrient solution and sipping from it as he came.

He glanced at the newly-sprouted little plant, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes. “Not bad. It’s finally starting to sprout.”

Of course, this didn’t mean he was satisfied.

Because—

The three regular seeds soaking in the spiritual water cans around the soil container had already split open after a night of nourishment. Tiny green tips were peeking out from their cotyledons, and if left for another day, they would likely be ready to transfer to soil.

Perhaps sensing Su Ci’s dissatisfaction, the spirit seed’s cries for food gradually quieted, sounding almost pitiful.

A-Yan, however, misinterpreted this.

Having experienced the weakness of hunger himself, A-Yan worried the spirit seed might suffer from hunger and quickly prepared the nutrient solution. After diluting it per the instructions, he watered the spirit seed carefully.

The once dejected spirit seed immediately perked up upon receiving the nourishment, forgetting all its woes.

“Grow! Grow! Grow-grow-grow!”

“Grow! Grow! Grow-grow-grow!”

Perhaps proud of its progress, the spirit seed’s chants became even louder and more spirited.

Carrying the cans of spiritual water to change it out, Su Ci paused, listening to the overly enthusiastic seed, and frowned slightly.

So noisy.

And with this spoiled sprout around, A-Yan was bound to get distracted during his lessons…

After changing the water for the ordinary seeds and returning from the kitchen, Su Ci had already made up his mind.