Chapter 55
Looking at those clear, pale blue eyes shimmering with faint fragments of light, Su Ci felt a stir in his heart. After a moment of hesitation, he reached out and gently placed his hand on the boy’s head, giving it a soft rub.
Number Three didn’t shy away from his touch.
He only lowered his head slightly, his small hands nervously gripping the flute. His body was a little tense, but compared to how he had reacted when his ears were touched before, this was already a significant improvement.
Then, he heard the caretaker say, “When you don’t like something, you need to learn to refuse—just like you did yesterday.”
Number Three tilted his head up slightly.
From his perspective, the caretaker was no longer a foggy, indistinct figure, and the information he perceived was no longer chaotic and disordered. It felt as though the fog surrounding the caretaker had lifted slightly, revealing a corner of clarity—just like that day—
The day he had reached out to grasp the colorful world, only to find himself grasping the caretaker’s outstretched hand instead.
Number Three was surprised by how calm he felt. He found that he didn’t resist the caretaker’s presence, nor did he mind letting the caretaker step closer into his world.
“Protect yourself.”
Number Three nodded. “Mm, okay.”
His soft, childlike voice, sweet and tender, was like the mewing of a tiny kitten—enough to melt anyone’s heart.
And then came another head pat from the caretaker.
For some reason, perhaps because he was starting to get used to it, Number Three found himself feeling far less nervous this time. After all… the hand on his head was genuinely warm.
After that, Number Three resumed practicing the flute.
His playing wasn’t as energetic as Number Eight’s; it was halting and fragmented. Perhaps because he was usually so quiet and lacked physical activity, his lung capacity wasn’t as strong.
For the little boy, learning to play the flute was a physically demanding task. He could only manage a few notes before needing to pause and catch his breath.
Yet, he didn’t complain. He practiced diligently, carefully adjusting his breath bit by bit. He used not only his ears but also his mental focus to sense the vibrations of the sound.
Su Ci listened to Number Three’s flute practice for a while but soon found himself growing drowsy again. He couldn’t suppress a yawn, covering his mouth with one hand. Although he hadn’t made much progress in figuring out how to restore the Earth’s balance, he had expended a fair amount of soul power on these cubs.
Still, Su Ci had always been the type to take things at his own pace. He didn’t mind spending time this way—after all, he had already mentally prepared himself for a task that could take millions of years. There was no need to rush.
Looking fatigued, the young man debated whether to return for a nap or stick to his original plan of exploring Base 24.
Just then, a sneaky figure appeared at the activity room door.
It was Number Eight—the wolf cub who was supposed to be resting in his room under 4586’s care. Yet here he was, standing at the entrance again. The nanny bot trailed after him, its digital eyes displaying a worried icon.
“Achoo!”
The wolf cub sneezed and tightened the warm jacket he was wearing. After glancing around the activity room and seeing only Number Two, Number Three, Number Six, and the caretaker, he stepped inside.
As he walked past Number Two, his gaze inadvertently met the red-haired boy’s reddish-brown tiger eyes.
Number Two was staring at him with an expression that the wolf cub couldn’t decipher but that seemed somewhat indescribable.
Feeling puzzled, the wolf cub refused to show any weakness. He tilted his chin up defiantly and walked on, ignoring whatever reaction Number Two might have had.
Having been frozen earlier, Number Eight was now fully conscious and had no memory of clinging to the tiger cub and hugging him for warmth.
Number Two watched him stride past, observing the wolf cub’s expression and demeanor. It didn’t take long to conclude that Number Eight probably had no recollection of what had happened.
While part of Number Two felt relieved, another part couldn’t help but simmer with irritation.
That wolf cub… completely ungrateful!
Meanwhile, Number Eight had already moved on from Number Two, forgetting about him entirely. He seemed to be searching for something, his eyes scanning the activity room floor. After failing to find whatever he was looking for, he wandered over to Number Three and Su Ci.
“Su Ci, have you seen my bamboo flute?”
He searched around Number Three and Su Ci but came up empty. Finally, he spoke up, sounding a little anxious: “I passed out earlier from the cold, and when I woke up in my room, my bamboo flute was gone!”
The wolf cub seemed worried. After searching the activity room thoroughly and coming up empty-handed, he returned to Su Ci and Number Three. He was about to ask Number Three again but stopped short, remembering that Number Three couldn’t see. Closing his mouth, he flicked his fluffy tail in frustration.
“Could Number Seven have picked it up?” he guessed irritably.
Su Ci thought back for a moment and nodded.
“Why didn’t you stop him then…?” the wolf cub grumbled.
Su Ci had expected him to immediately march off to demand the flute back from Number Seven. Instead, Number Eight simply muttered his complaint, then drooped his ears and plopped down next to Su Ci.
Su Ci studied the wolf cub, about to speak, when Number Eight blurted out: “So, Number Seven’s okay now? He was freezing earlier, like an ice pop!”
The mention of ice pops made the wolf cub smack his lips. He liked ice pops—they were pretty tasty. Even though he still felt a little chilly, thinking about the flavor of an ice pop made his mouth water.
“Yeah, he’s fine now,” Su Ci confirmed. “Aren’t you going to get your flute back from him?”
The bamboo flute was really just a makeshift paper one, and Su Ci could easily create another for him. But given how much the wolf cub had treasured it, Su Ci found it unusual that Number Eight wasn’t rushing to reclaim it.
After all, Su Ci had clearly noticed how much Number Eight valued that flute. For him not to retrieve it immediately was definitely out of character.
The wolf cub sat cross-legged, one elbow resting on his knee and his cheek propped up with his hand, looking deeply troubled. When he heard Su Ci’s question, he let out a long sigh. “You just don’t understand.”
Su Ci’s curiosity was immediately piqued.
“Try me?”
Even Number Three, who had been intently practicing the flute, perked up his ears.
Number Eight had been unsure of what to do, but now that someone—a trustworthy caretaker, no less—was willing to listen, it didn’t take long for him to spill his thoughts.
“The other day, when I went berserk and knocked Number Seven unconscious, remember?” The young wolf pressed his palm against his cheek, squishing his slightly chubby face into a funny shape.
Watching him distort his own face, Su Ci’s fingers itched to reach out and poke him.
“Are you even listening to me?” The wolf cub narrowed his eyes.
“Yes, I’m listening.” Su Ci nodded.
In reality, things might have been worse than Number Eight realized. If Su Ci had arrived even a little later that day, Number Seven might not have survived.
“It wasn’t entirely my fault, was it?” The wolf cub couldn’t help but defend himself. “I had the flute first! He wouldn’t talk to me properly, snatched it away, and called me dumb! Of course I got mad!”
Su Ci nodded again. “You’re right.”
The wolf cub’s mood instantly improved, his fur metaphorically smoothed. He instinctively wanted to raise his voice in self-justification but suddenly remembered something. Glancing around at Number Two and Number Six, then at Number Three nearby, he shuffled closer to Su Ci and continued in a quieter tone.
“But… today, I suddenly noticed something. Number Seven is so tiny—about the same size as Number Three…” At this point, the wolf cub scrunched his face into a tangled mess.
“Number Seven is small. And?” Su Ci asked, his tone neutral and calm.
“So…” The wolf cub hesitated. “Should I not have grabbed him like that? It feels like I almost choked him to death. The marks on his neck still haven’t faded, and they look so pitiful…”
As he spoke, the wolf cub unknowingly revealed his inner conflict, expressing his confusion and uncertainty.
He thought Number Seven was pitiful, but at the same time, he didn’t think the incident was entirely his fault. Yet deep down, there was a nagging feeling urging him—telling him that if he didn’t do something, he wouldn’t be able to let it go.
This discomfort seemed like it wouldn’t go away anytime soon.
That was why, even though Number Seven had taken his bamboo flute, Number Eight couldn’t muster the same confidence he usually had to demand it back.
“So, what should I do now?” the wolf cub asked, looking utterly lost.
It seemed he was already becoming accustomed to naturally seeking the caretaker’s advice, even confiding his most private thoughts to him.
For Number Eight, this was unprecedented. Even before he was sent to the nursery, in the environment he had grown up in, there had never been anyone he could trust in this way.
After speaking, he started feeling a bit uneasy. But as always, the caretaker didn’t disappoint him.
The young man’s gentle voice reached his ears: “If that’s how you feel, then all you need to do is apologize for the part you did wrong.”
“Apologize?”
“Yes.” Su Ci nodded. “Go and tell him you’re sorry. And if you feel that’s not enough, you can offer him some form of compensation.”
Hearing this, the wolf cub switched to propping his cheek up with one hand and once again fell into a state of internal conflict.
After a long while, he finally spoke, though not without reluctance: “Can I just compensate him without apologizing? Saying sorry feels so weird.”
Having grown up in an environment where strength dictated everything, Number Eight had never apologized to anyone before. If he made a mistake and got caught, he would just get beaten—that was how things worked. Apologizing was simply not part of the equation.
Even after arriving at the nursery, the nanny bot had tried teaching him about apologies, but the wolf cub, already set in his ways, didn’t take the robot’s lessons seriously.
Su Ci glanced at him. “Maybe that would work for other people, but Number Seven…”
Recalling the little white deer crying into his meal, Su Ci said earnestly, “I think he’d value an apology more.”
The wolf cub pouted slightly.
After another moment of hesitation, he asked again, holding on to a sliver of hope: “Do I really have to apologize?”
Su Ci shrugged. “Only if you want to feel better about it.”
After saying this, Su Ci didn’t press the matter further, leaving the decision up to Number Eight. He was curious to see what this stubborn yet soft-hearted little wolf would ultimately choose.
For the wolf cub, this truly seemed like a difficult decision. He furrowed his brows for a while before suddenly turning to look at Number Three, who had resumed practicing his flute.
He stood up, shuffled over, and plopped down next to the boy, squeezing in close. “Hey, Number Three, do you think I should apologize to Number Seven?”
Even though Number Three had been pretending to act indifferent, the wolf cub knew he had overheard their conversation. Strangely, he didn’t mind Number Three knowing about it. Perhaps it was because…
They were good friends now!
And given Number Three’s personality, he definitely wouldn’t go around spreading this. Just like the caretaker, Number Three was someone Number Eight felt he could trust.
When the wolf cub squeezed next to him, Number Three paused his flute practice and tried to subtly scoot away. But Number Eight immediately scooted closer, sticking right next to him.
Number Three furrowed his small brows in exasperation but eventually gave up on trying to move away. Tilting his head thoughtfully, he carefully considered the question before offering his advice.
He nodded and gave a soft “Mm” in his delicate, kitten-like voice.
“Ah… even you think I should apologize,” the wolf cub sighed, his face falling again. But then, resigning himself to his fate, he stood up. “Fine, I’ll go apologize to him! And get my flute back.”
Strangely enough, after making the decision, the wolf cub felt an unexpected lightness in his heart.
He grinned, his face lighting up with a familiar smile.
“Number Three, I’ll come find you this afternoon to practice the flute!” He gently patted the boy’s shoulder, speaking cheerfully. His lively green eyes were once again free of any worries.
Number Three, hearing his bright laughter, tightened his small grip on the flute. Finally, he gave the faintest of nods.
Watching the two of them, Su Ci found his own mood lifting despite the background noise of Number Six’s chaotic racket echoing in the room.
*
Nursery Room 502.
After watching 4586 escort Number Eight back to his room, the little white deer returned as well.
He had no idea that the wolf cub had woken up and gone back to the activity room. Now, sitting at the edge of his small bed with his legs dangling in the air, he held the bamboo flute in both hands, examining it with great fondness.
The flute was so beautiful! It even carried a fresh, natural scent that he could distinguish as coming from a certain type of plant.
Of course, he didn’t recognize the plant.
If only I could see what it looks like one day… he thought wistfully. Then, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.
Why does such a lovely flute have to belong to that big dumb wolf? he lamented. And how did that dumb wolf even learn to play it…?
Even though his playing wasn’t good at all, at least he managed to produce different notes.
The little white deer felt frustrated. The thing he cared about most was being handled by someone he disliked the most—it was a truly unpleasant feeling!
However, no matter how much he liked the flute, he had never considered keeping it for himself.
When he next saw the big dumb wolf, he planned to return the flute to him. And then…
Should he thank him?
The thought made the little white deer puff up his cheeks.
It’s definitely not something I want to do. But… the big dumb wolf had helped him and even gotten himself frozen unconscious. If he didn’t at least acknowledge that, it felt like a weight would remain on his chest, leaving him uneasy.
Still, thanking his nemesis was an act that required a great deal of courage for the little white deer.
After all, he hadn’t forgotten the grudge he held against the big dumb wolf for nearly choking him to death.
With a deep sigh, the little white deer leaned back onto his bed. His silvery-white curls fanned out against the bedsheet, revealing his leaf-shaped ears.
He let go of the flute and instead grabbed at his ears, tugging on them idly.
Speaking of…
The little white deer pulled his pillow closer, burying his face into it and rubbing against it vigorously. After a few moments, he gave up with a sigh and let it go, feeling a little bored.
It was always more comfortable to bury himself in a fluffy, furry tail, but unfortunately, he didn’t have one like the big dumb wolf.
The little white deer rolled onto his side and reached back to touch his own tail.
His tail was small and short, easily hidden inside his loose cub uniform. He couldn’t really see what it looked like, but to him, it felt like a little ball.
The fur was soft, but it was nothing like the big dumb wolf’s—so large, so fluffy, and perfect for burying his face in.
So envious…
The little white deer let go of his tail and lay on the bed, staring off into space. Before long, 4586 came in to deliver his lunch.
His body was still in a state of exhaustion from the earlier eruption of his bloodline power. After eating to replenish his energy, he became incredibly drowsy, his eyelids drooping uncontrollably.
Still, he didn’t want to fall asleep. He lay in bed, stubbornly keeping his eyes open.
Until—
His snow-white ears, the same color as his hair, twitched slightly. The little white deer turned his head toward the door and saw the metal panel slowly slide open. Against the backlight, the silhouette of the caretaker appeared.
The caretaker!
The little white deer’s heart lifted with delight. He was about to sit up when he spotted another figure behind Su Ci—two furry ear tips poking out. A moment later, the wolf cub’s head peeked through the doorway.
Still lying on the bed, the little white deer froze.
Number Eight is awake? Is he here to take his flute back?
Then, he heard the wolf cub and caretaker speaking. Unlike the wolf’s usual loud tone, his voice was uncharacteristically soft.
“He looks like he’s asleep…”
The wolf cub covered his mouth as he whispered, “Maybe we should come back another time…”
Hearing this, the little white deer blinked, a trace of confusion flickering in his dark blue eyes.
Since when was Number Eight so considerate? If he knew the flute was here, shouldn’t he have barged in and grabbed it right away? Why was he willing to leave just because he was “asleep”?
“Are you sure?” Su Ci’s gentle voice followed.
The wolf cub didn’t respond.
Lowering his head slightly, the little white deer could see the wolf cub’s shadow on the ground. His fluffy, bushy tail swayed back and forth, but it wasn’t the excited wag of happiness.
When the wolf cub was happy, his tail wagged much faster. This was more like he was thinking or feeling uncertain.
How strange…
The little white deer observed him for a moment before deciding to sit up. After all, he had never planned to steal the wolf cub’s flute.
He had only picked it up because he saw it lying on the ground and didn’t want it to get damaged or lost. He’d intended to return it tomorrow in the activity room.
Since Number Eight was already here, he might as well give it back now.
Suddenly sitting up, the little white deer startled the wolf cub, who had just tentatively stepped one foot into the room.
“You’re awake?” Number Eight blurted out instinctively.
The little white deer kept his expression stoic, determined not to show any weakness in front of the wolf cub. He grabbed the bamboo flute he’d left on the bed and slid off, landing lightly on the floor.
With Number Eight staring at him in confusion, the little white deer padded over with quick little steps and stuffed the flute back into the wolf cub’s hand. “Here.”
After coolly completing this act, the little white deer suddenly stopped in place. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words of thanks simply wouldn’t come out.
Meanwhile, Number Eight held the bamboo flute he had just gotten back, but contrary to what he had imagined, retrieving it from Number Seven didn’t fill him with joy.
Looking at the boy’s slightly pale face, Number Eight couldn’t help but notice—maybe it was just his imagination—that the marks on the little white deer’s neck seemed darker, even more pronounced.
In the end, the wolf cub awkwardly spoke up: “Does your neck still hurt?”
Hearing the question, the little white deer instinctively raised his hand to touch his neck. He hadn’t expected Number Eight to bring up the incident so directly.
For a moment, he didn’t answer. Number Eight glanced at him, then quickly looked away, staring at the wall instead as he muttered: “I didn’t mean it that day… I’m sorry.”
The little white deer froze completely.
He stared up at the boy, who was taller than him by a whole head, and couldn’t help but think: Is this really Number Eight? Could someone else be pretending to be him? How else could the big dumb wolf possibly apologize to me?
After awkwardly squeezing out his apology, Number Eight’s neck turned red. He couldn’t understand why those three simple words felt so much harder to say than challenging Number Two to a fight.
But now that he’d said them, he felt a sense of relief wash over him.
So, it wasn’t that hard after all!
Turning back, Number Eight saw the little white deer still staring at him in stunned silence. Feeling embarrassed again, he quickly added: “But that day, I was the one who had the flute first. Taking it back from you wasn’t wrong, so I’m not apologizing for that!”
The caretaker had told him he only needed to apologize for the part he did wrong, and not for the parts where he was right. Number Eight was simply following that advice.
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere became awkward again.
Number Eight began to suspect that he shouldn’t have said that last part, but he genuinely didn’t think he was in the wrong.
Yes, he was in the right from the beginning! And he had already apologized for the part he got wrong!
With this thought, the wolf cub regained some confidence. Still, he couldn’t help but feel that a simple apology didn’t quite seem like enough to atone for his mistake.
Because if it had been him—if someone had nearly killed him and then apologized, expecting him to forgive them—that would never happen!
As a grudge-holding Night Howling Wolf, Number Eight would absolutely not let something like that go so easily.
Putting himself in Number Seven’s shoes, the wolf cub realized that his apology alone probably wasn’t sufficient. The current, uncomfortable tension in the air seemed to stem from Number Seven’s unwillingness to accept his apology.
Did this mean he needed to offer Number Seven something else to make up for it?
While Number Eight was deep in thought, he suddenly heard:
“Um, that day, I was wrong. I didn’t follow the rules. I want to apologize to you too.”
“I’m sorry.”
The boy’s voice was soft and calm—neither sharp like when he mocked Number Eight nor fragile like after he’d been crying. His childish tone was unexpectedly tender and soothing.
Now it was the wolf cub’s turn to be stunned.
He lowered his head to look at Number Seven, but the little boy was staring down at the floor, fidgeting with his fingers awkwardly. From where Number Eight stood, all he could see was Number Seven’s fluffy silver-white curls, soft and delicate, giving off an unexpectedly well-behaved impression.
Then he heard Number Seven speak again:
“And… thank you, for helping me during my bloodline eruption and berserk state…”
The little white deer paused, too embarrassed to explicitly mention that Number Eight had hugged him. He awkwardly chose different words instead.
“Um, yeah, thank you for helping me at that time.”
“Ah… uh…”
The young wolf, completely unprepared for this kind of interaction, nervously scratched his head.
Number Seven… thanked me?!
This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event! But…
“Huh? You had a bloodline eruption and went berserk? When did that happen?” Number Eight asked, completely confused. “I didn’t know anything about that!”
ahhhhh so lovelyy