Chapter 72
Lang Ze stood frozen in place, completely unresponsive, and Number Five couldn’t move him no matter how hard she pulled. When she finally decided to snatch the disc-shaped robot back and make a run for it, it was already too late.
Luo Shengfei strode up to Lang Ze and immediately recognized the modified cleaning robot he had worked on.
“So this is where it ended up. I thought I hadn’t brought it out,” he said with delight, instinctively reaching out his hand.
However, just as he extended his hand, Luo Shengfei regretted it, because—
He suddenly remembered that this was the nursery facility!
How could he have forgotten to take any protective measures before attempting to retrieve something from these little monsters?
Wasn’t this practically a death wish?
Sure enough, the moment that thought crossed his mind, he felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand.
Luo Shengfei let out a scream, quickly pulling his hand back and stepping away.
However, the attacker wasn’t the Lang Ze, as Luo Shengfei had imagined. It was Number Five, who had been tugging on the boy’s arm. She suddenly let go of Number Eight, grabbed Luo Shengfei’s hand, and bit down hard.
Luo Shengfei stared at the bite mark on the back of his hand, where blood was starting to bead, and couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath. He hastily retreated further.
Then he saw something that made him freeze.
Number Five, who was usually mild-mannered and one of the more agreeable cubs, now stood with her arms spread protectively in front of Number Eight. Her round, adorable eyes were wide with fury and hatred as she glared at him.
She bared her teeth at him, her light brown hair messy and fluffed up. With her two beast ears twitching and the fluffy tail swishing behind her, she looked every bit like an enraged little lion cub, brimming with aggression.
Luo Shengfei couldn’t help but step back again, sweat sliding down his forehead.
What’s going on? Is Number Five in a berserk state?
“Number Five, calm down…”
Luo Shengfei felt a wave of panic. He was just an ordinary human with no special abilities. Dealing with a berserk cub was challenging enough, but to do it with his neck still crooked? Impossible.
At that moment, he heard footsteps behind him.
It was Su Ci!
Luo Shengfei was about to warn him to stay back and call the action team when he heard the youth’s calm and gentle voice.
“Number Five.”
He called out softly to the little girl.
Luo Shengfei’s eyes widened in surprise.
Because he couldn’t turn his neck and had to stay alert for Number Five’s potential attacks, he had been watching her expression the whole time. And so, he saw the transformation with his own eyes.
As soon as the caretaker called her name, the little girl, who had been baring her teeth and poised to pounce on him at any moment, froze. Then, she began to shrink back.
The beast ears on her head drooped sadly—a clear sign of fear and timidity.
No one had scolded or struck her, yet the little girl suddenly pursed her lips. Her amber-brown eyes began to fill with tears.
Moments ago, she had been an aggressive little lion cub. Now, in the blink of an eye, she was a pitiful, teary-eyed bundle of sadness.
Luo Shengfei: ?!
What was Number Five doing? Why was she making that expression? Luo Shengfei couldn’t help but glance at Su Ci. He hadn’t done anything to her just now!
Su Ci paid him no mind.
Slowly, he walked closer and looked at the little girl who had been growling at Luo Shengfei moments earlier but was now so scared she had started to cry. A contemplative look appeared in his calm eyes.
He simply gazed at her, yet that alone exerted immense psychological pressure on Number Five.
The events of last night replayed vividly in her mind, and the fear and dread imprinted in her bloodline made her shiver involuntarily.
But she had something she wanted to protect.
“You! Don’t hurt 4583!”
Overcoming her fear, she summoned her courage and directed her ability toward Su Ci and Luo Shengfei. However, the moment she spoke, her tears began falling in big, fat drops, completely undermining any sense of authority in her words.
Of course, the effect of her ability wasn’t diminished. However, it had no impact on Su Ci, and Luo Shengfei, standing behind him, was similarly shielded by Su Ci’s presence.
Luo Shengfei wasn’t under her control, but he couldn’t help but stare at Number Five in a daze.
At that moment, the warm and gentle voice of 4583 spoke up again.
“Don’t cry, my good baby. Robots won’t get hurt. 4583 will always be here to keep you company.”
It tried to comfort her, but its words no longer had any effect on Number Five.
“Stop lying to me!”
The little girl turned around and glared fiercely at the round robot. “You can’t stay with me forever! Robots can get hurt, they can die, they can disappear forever… I don’t want this anymore!”
She shouted at 4583, her voice harsh, but her tears fell uncontrollably. The little girl was crying so bitterly that her tears streamed down like broken pearls, one after another.
Lang Ze, who had been deep in thought, his worldview shaken by a terrifying realization, snapped out of it when he heard her sobbing.
Why is Number Five crying again?!
Almost instinctively, Lang Ze raised his head to look at the caretaker, casting a pleading glance his way.
When his gaze landed on the caretaker’s calm, aloof face, the memory of last night’s “dream” resurfaced vividly in Lang Ze’s mind.
His heart skipped a beat, and the worries he had felt the previous night rushed back to him.
Would Su Su… would he ever go back to the way he was? Would he teach him to play the flute again? Would he still be someone he could rely on in times of need?
Lang Ze’s emotions shifted as he stared at Su Ci. Finally, much like Number Five, his gaze turned pitiful, his eyes reddening slightly as though he, too, was about to cry.
Su Ci couldn’t help but chuckle as he looked at the two children in front of him.
Last night… it seemed he had scared them pretty badly.
Although, if not for the surveillance footage, he wouldn’t have remembered exactly what he’d done.
He thought for a moment, then reached out to take the metal disc from Lang Ze’s hands.
Number Five was still sobbing, but seeing this, she panicked. She quickly stretched out her small hands, but in the end, just like last night, she didn’t dare step forward to snatch it back.
Having used her ability on the caretaker just moments ago, she had exhausted all her courage. To her young eyes, the caretaker was an insurmountable mountain looming over her, making it hard to breathe.
Yet, under her despairing gaze, the caretaker did something unexpected. After taking the metal disc, he gently placed it back on the ground.
The robot nanny, oblivious to the tension in the air, immediately extended its four mechanical legs and scuttled to her side, resuming its usual gentle reassurances to its “good baby.”
Number Five blinked a few times, slowly stopping her tears.
She then saw the caretaker crouch down in front of her. His deep, dark eyes, which had returned to their usual calm state, looked back at her, serene and harmless, just as they had the very first time she met him.
“Xiao Luo wouldn’t harm a robot,” Su Ci said. “In fact, 4583 was repaired by him.”
Number Five froze.
4583… was repaired by this “culprit”?
She looked at Su Ci, then at Luo Shengfei behind him, whose neck was still crooked. “Re… really?”
Her voice was thick with nasal congestion, and her reddened eyes and nose were puffy from crying. If it weren’t for the ears on her head and the tail behind her, she would look just like any ordinary young child.
Luo Shengfei, who had rarely seen this side of the cubs in the rearing facility, was taken aback.
Moreover, this was his first time witnessing Number Five’s fierce protectiveness toward the nanny robot. To be honest, it left him both shocked and strangely moved.
As a repair technician who spent his days working with machines, Luo Shengfei naturally had a special attachment to them. He often felt regret and sorrow whenever he saw a machine damaged. In this regard, he felt he could understand Number Five’s feelings.
This realization shattered some of his preconceived notions about the cubs in the rearing facility.
Even though his work frequently brought him to the facility, giving him more interaction with the cubs than most, he had always regarded them as little monsters, much like the rumors described.
He had tried to approach them with an open mind. However, just moments ago, when he was alone with Numbers Eight and Five, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear, treating them as if they were creatures that could go berserk and attack him at any moment.
Yet, Number Five’s protectiveness of 4583 made him reflect.
His gaze shifted from Number Five to Number Eight, whose face was lit with joy, and then to the other cubs who watched quietly from a distance.
Luo Shengfei suddenly realized how unfamiliar these cubs felt to him.
Or perhaps, he had never truly understood them before.
At the very least, from what he had just seen in Number Five—the youngest among them—there was more than destruction and aggression. Even at such a young age, she already had the instinct to protect her companions.
Even if that companion was a nanny robot.
Finally, Luo Shengfei understood why Caretaker Su had been willing to trade three cans of beef for his help in repairing 4583.
For a moment, Luo Shengfei was overcome with emotion.
Who would have thought this newly hired caretaker truly had such a knack for handling things?
He looked at the little girl and attempted to speak to her calmly. “Yes, I repaired 4583. But there’s still a part of it I haven’t finished. I was just trying to take it back earlier so I could complete the last bit of its modifications.”
“Don’t worry. I would never harm 4583. As a repair technician, deliberately destroying machines is something I absolutely detest!”
Number Five continued to stare at Luo Shengfei, her gaze still tinged with doubt. “But that day… 4583 hadn’t finished talking to me yet, and you… you killed it!”
She still didn’t understand why 4583 had come back to life.
Luo Shengfei was momentarily confused. He thought back carefully and eventually understood what Number Five meant by “killed.”
“Ah… that was when I had to force the robot into sleep mode. It’s a protective measure,” he explained, scratching his head. “At the time, its entire structure was falling apart. If I hadn’t cut the power, it could have been damaged even further.”
Hearing his explanation, the little girl blinked, dazed. “Is… is that true?”
“Of course!” Luo Shengfei replied with conviction.
Luo Shengfei felt utterly wronged. He hadn’t expected that his actions at the time could lead to such a severe misunderstanding.
A child of only a few years old had thought through so much! He reminded himself again to be more mindful in the future when dealing with these cubs.
“Let me show you.”
He reached out and flipped the power switch on the top of the round robot. The indicator light on the robot went dark, and the entire machine stopped moving.
When Number Five’s face turned pale, Luo Shengfei quickly pressed the switch again, and the robot powered back on.
“See? Cutting off the power only puts the robot in a temporary sleep mode. Once the power is reconnected, it’ll function again. As long as its core isn’t damaged, it can be used again after replacing its body.”
4583 cooperated perfectly, spinning around Number Five. “See, good baby? I’m fine! I was just taking a little nap.”
Only then did Number Five finally believe Luo Shengfei’s explanation.
“So that’s how it is…”
“Exactly!” Luo Shengfei said, nodding. He looked at Number Five, then at the robot circling around her. New ideas began to take shape in his mind.
Initially, he had only accepted the caretaker’s commission. Since Su Ci hadn’t given him any specific requirements, merely asking him to repair 4583, Luo Shengfei had focused primarily on practical modifications.
But now, watching the interaction between the robot and Number Five, he suddenly felt he could do even better…
Meanwhile, after listening to their conversation and understanding what had transpired, Lang Ze glanced at the caretaker, then at Number Five and the repairman.
He suddenly pulled Number Five aside.
The boy bent down and whispered something into the little girl’s ear.
Whatever he said, it initially made Number Five frown in resistance. However, after he continued speaking, she lowered her head and looked down at the round robot at her feet.
In the end, she nodded.
Seeing her comply, Lang Ze grinned and pushed her back toward the repairman.
What happened next surprised Luo Shengfei even more.
He heard the soft voice of the little girl speak up in front of him: “Thank you.”
Luo Shengfei’s jaw dropped. Did he just hear Number Five thank him?
He turned toward the sound, and there she was, her head tilted up, her round amber-brown eyes free of anger or hostility.
The transformation left him momentarily stunned.
Number Five was also looking at Luo Shengfei.
Earlier, it was Number Eight who had encouraged her to thank him. He had even said that the caretaker liked polite children.
She fidgeted with her fingers nervously.
It was only right to thank him for fixing 4583. Besides… she had misunderstood him before, treated him as a bad person, and had almost caused a “monster” to eat him…
“Thank you for fixing 4583, and also…”
Number Five lowered her head and said sincerely, “I’m sorry, Xiao Luo.”
Luo Shengfei, who had been touched moments earlier: ?!
Xiao Luo? He winced, holding his neck as he cast a mournful glance at Su Ci nearby.
This must be something she picked up from him!
Luo Shengfei was about to correct Number Five when Lang Ze chimed in. “Haha, Number Five, you’re amazing! I didn’t even teach you, and you already apologized to Xiao Luo Tuo (Little Camel). If Number Four hears about this, he’ll definitely praise you.”
Luo Shengfei: …
Forget “Xiao Luo,” what on earth is “Xiao Luo Tuo”?
He wanted to correct these two little troublemakers, but before he could, Lang Ze turned to him with an expectant gaze and asked, “Can you finish modifying 4583? And if it breaks in the future, can we come to you for repairs?”
Hearing this, Number Five’s eyes immediately lit up.
She gazed at Luo Shengfei with hope and murmured softly, “And… and 4586…”
Lang Ze perked his ears and, after catching her words, repeated loudly, “Oh, right, 4586! If it breaks in the future, can we count on you to fix it too?”
The boy’s vibrant green eyes were brimming with anticipation as they looked at Luo Shengfei, leaving him momentarily speechless. His thoughts evaporated, replaced by one startling realization:
What the heck?! That grumpy little wolf who always calls himself “Little Master” is actually smiling at me!
Feeling dazed, he nodded without thinking. “Of course, that’s my job.”
“Yay!”
Lang Ze cheered and turned to Number Five with a grin. “See? Xiao Luo Tuo agreed! If the nanny robots break in the future, we can ask him to fix them. So, don’t be sad anymore!”
Number Five nodded, and perhaps influenced by his cheerful demeanor, she couldn’t help but smile as well. She looked utterly adorable.
The little girl looked up at Luo Shengfei again and said in her sweet, soft voice, “Thank you, Xiao Luo Tuo!”
Luo Shengfei: …
Now even Number Five is calling me that! She was saying “Xiao Luo” just a moment ago!
He opened his mouth to protest but, seeing how peaceful and well-behaved the two children looked, he couldn’t bring himself to correct them.
Sigh, he thought. Xiao Luo Tuo it is. It actually sounds kind of endearing.
“Alright, I’ll take 4583 back first and return it after I’ve finished modifying it,” Luo Shengfei said.
Number Five, who had been overjoyed moments earlier, suddenly grew subdued. Her smile faded, and she hesitated, glancing between him and the round robot on the ground.
She didn’t want to be separated from 4583, just like she didn’t want to be separated from her brother. But…
“Th-then… can I come to watch?” she asked softly.
Luo Shengfei was taken aback. “Watch what?”
“Of course, watch how you modify it!” Lang Ze answered for her, and Number Five nodded vigorously, signaling that’s exactly what she meant.
Luo Shengfei was stumped.
These two… wanted to come to his workshop?
That wouldn’t be appropriate! The cubs at the nursery facility weren’t allowed to leave so easily. What if they lost control and went berserk…
But as he looked into Number Five’s now sparkling eyes, Luo Shengfei found himself unable to refuse her. He couldn’t bear to disappoint this little girl, who suddenly seemed like a tiny angel.
He opened his mouth, hesitating, caught between conflicting thoughts. Fortunately, a voice rescued him from his predicament.
“We’ll see,” Su Ci said.
To Luo Shengfei’s astonishment, the two cubs didn’t argue or persist. They obediently accepted his words and backed down!
They actually listened to Caretaker Su that much?
It seemed like the same had happened earlier—when Number Five heard Su Ci’s voice, she calmed down and stopped being aggressive…
Was this true for all the cubs? Or were Numbers Five and Eight exceptions?
Curious, Luo Shengfei glanced around at the other cubs, wondering if he could figure it out. But before he could dwell on it, Su Ci had already picked up the round robot and shoved it into his arms.
“All right, take it with you for now. Once the modifications are done, bring it back.”
Luo Shengfei could only agree. He packed the round robot into his toolbox and, with his head still tilted, left the activity room.
Su Ci followed him out but paused at the doorway, glancing back at the children inside.
The cubs remained in their respective corners, their gazes fixed on him. Some eyes were timid, others curious, and some held the clear intent of wanting to say something.
After a moment’s hesitation, Su Ci said to Luo Shengfei, “Xiao Luo, wait for me in the first-floor lobby.”
“Oh, okay.”
Luo Shengfei didn’t question it. Still processing the series of shocks he had just experienced, he obediently descended the stairs, hugging his beloved toolbox.
Standing at the doorway of the activity room, Su Ci took a moment to study the children.
The room was eerily quiet.
Earlier, he had thought these cubs were too noisy. Now that they had quieted down, he found himself feeling somewhat unused to the silence.
Crossing his arms, he tilted his head in thought, wondering how to break the awkward atmosphere. Before he could come up with a solution, Lang Ze approached him, bouncing and hopping, followed by Lu Jiao, who moved more cautiously. These two, who had interacted with him the most, were the first to come closer.
Lang Ze was quick, his movements as lively as ever. Lu Jiao trailed behind, his steps hesitant, his gaze on Su Ci filled with a mix of curiosity and wariness.
The straightforward Lang Ze came right up to Su Ci, tilted his head back, and scrutinized him for a while, focusing mainly on his eyes.
The youth’s eyes had returned to their calm, dark black, no longer the icy, terrifying shade of pale gold they had been. This made Lang Ze breathe a sigh of relief.
“You’re Su Su… right?” Lang Ze asked, already certain in his heart but still seeking confirmation.
Su Ci lowered his gaze to him and nodded.
Receiving this affirmation, Lang Ze’s mouth stretched into a wide grin, his bright green eyes sparkling as he looked at Su Ci. “So what happened last night wasn’t just a dream, was it?”
Lu Jiao, who had quietly moved closer, glanced at him upon hearing this.
So the reason Lang Ze had acted so nonchalantly when he arrived at the activity room was because he thought everything that happened last night had just been a dream?
Su Ci, looking at him, answered honestly, “Actually, I don’t remember much of what happened last night.”
However, with the surveillance footage recording everything, there was no denying it.
Lu Jiao opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Lang Ze spoke up again. “Wow! So, Su Su only becomes that strong when he’s woken up at night?”
Su Ci thought for a moment and then replied, “You could say that.”
At least, in his conscious state, he might not resort to such violent methods to resolve problems.
Lang Ze’s face showed a mix of realization and lingering fear, and the other cubs watching from a distance displayed similar expressions. They all silently came to the same conclusion:
Never wake up the caretaker again!
The caretaker’s temper when waking up was way too terrifying! QAQ
At that moment, Lu Jiao finally mustered the courage to speak. “Th-then…”
He looked into Su Ci’s calm, dark eyes and suddenly felt that his greatest worry might no longer need to be asked.
So, he changed the question instead. “What about Number Two? Last night, it seemed like he went into full beast form, and he didn’t come to the activity room today.”
He had overheard the adults from the medical office mentioning that after fully transforming, one would lose all reason and become a mindless beast. But… he didn’t think Number Two had become like that.
Then again, it didn’t seem like Number Two had retained his human memories either. Recalling the image of the fiery tiger huddled and trembling, Lu Jiao shook his head.
That wasn’t something Number Two would ever do!
Lang Ze suddenly remembered, too. If last night wasn’t just a dream, then Number Two had really saved him and Lu Jiao!
He scratched his head and asked with concern, “Yeah, is Number Two okay? Will he stay as a big tiger forever and never turn back?”
