Chapter 81
After responding with a quick “Okay,” Lang Ze dashed toward A-Yan. But after running a few steps, he turned back and saw Lu Jiao slowly leading Zheng Xing by the hand. Without hesitation, he darted back.
“Xing Xing, I’ll carry you over!”
With that, he scooped the child up in one swift motion and resumed his energetic sprint toward A-Yan.
Watching Zheng Xing, looking like a doll, being carried so effortlessly by Lang Ze, Lu Jiao froze for a moment, unable to suppress a tinge of envy at the cub’s strength.
Lang Ze is really so strong! he thought. Will I grow as tall and sturdy as Lang Ze when I’m his age?
“Youyou! Hurry up!”
Lang Ze’s cheerful voice rang out from afar.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Lu Jiao quickly responded, “Coming!”
He ran after them, and by the time he caught up, Lang Ze had already set Zheng Xing down. Both of them were crouched on the ground, staring intently at the muddy soil.
“What are you looking at?”
Lu Jiao crouched down beside Lang Ze, his curiosity piqued as he joined their gaze.
“Little sprouts!”
Answering his question, Lang Ze pulled him closer, showing an unusual degree of care and caution for someone so typically boisterous.
“Be careful not to step on them! A-Yan said they’re very fragile!”
Hearing this, Lu Jiao froze in place. It was only then that he noticed what Lang Ze was referring to.
The muddy patch of soil before them looked much softer and darker than the surrounding earth, almost black. Among this black soil were tiny green specks peeking out.
Upon seeing the tender green sprouts, Lu Jiao, initially on high alert, was momentarily stunned.
He recognized them instantly.
As a herbivore, Lu Jiao had an innate attraction to and affinity for greenery. Back when he was at the orphanage, his favorite activity was basking in the sun with the plants in the yard.
He even had a plastic bowl filled with sand in his room, where he grew a single blade of grass. Its fresh grassy scent every night made him feel as though he was always surrounded by nature.
But since arriving at the nursery facility, he hadn’t seen any living plants for a long, long time. That little blade of grass had stayed behind at the orphanage. He wondered if the robotic caretaker had taken good care of it…
Looking at the tiny green sprouts before him and feeling the vibrant life emanating from them, Lu Jiao suddenly felt his nose sting, his eyes growing misty.
“These are…plants…” he murmured.
“Yes,” A-Yan’s voice chimed in. “These are baby plants, just planted today. Aren’t they growing well?”
Lu Jiao nodded vigorously.
Yes, they’re growing so well…
Feeling the vitality radiating from the seedlings, a wave of emotion surged through Lu Jiao’s heart, making his nose sting even more. Struggling to contain his emotions, he whispered, “Thank you for bringing me to see them…”
A-Yan gave him a puzzled look but still replied, “You’re welcome.”
Just then, Lu Jiao asked, “Will they grow up well? Dr. Gu said the environment here isn’t good, and it’s hard for plants to survive…”
At this, the little boy’s eyes turned red again.
He stared at the tiny green sprouts in the soil. The thought of them possibly dying in the future filled his face with sorrow and pain.
Seeing the little crybaby about to tear up again, A-Yan felt a hint of a headache but patiently reassured him, “There’s no need to worry about that. With Su Su here, they’ll grow up just fine.”
Lu Jiao blinked, With Su Su here…
That’s right! Su Su is so capable—surely they can keep these adorable plants alive!
With that thought, Lu Jiao perked up immediately.
Then, he heard A-Yan continue, “Do you see those vines over there?”
Looking up, Lu Jiao noticed Lang Ze pointing at a few vines nearby.
“I know what those are!” Lang Ze said excitedly. “Those are star-chain fruit vines, the ones that grew the sweet and fragrant fruit we ate yesterday!”
“Exactly,” A-Yan nodded, explaining further. “Su Su brought them back from the cultivation garden. They were originally withered, but now the vines have turned green again and even started sprouting leaves.”
Hearing this, Lu Jiao’s eyes lit up.
Lang Ze pointed to the small leaves sprouting on the starfruit vines and enthusiastically told Zheng Xing, “The leaves of the star-chain vines are star-shaped! They’re super pretty!”
Zheng Xing was still “observing” the tiny sprouts in the soil.
His mental energy had recovered a little, and at this close distance, releasing it just slightly wouldn’t hurt.
However, after having recently experienced total darkness and relying on his other senses to perceive the world, he no longer felt satisfied with the information his mental energy provided. He wanted to reach out, to touch, to feel the vibrant life of these little sprouts.
However, he couldn’t do that.
On one hand, it was due to A-Yan’s warning. On the other hand, the tiny seedlings themselves seemed to convey a message to him—they were fragile, and even the lightest touch could cause them immense harm.
Thus, Zheng Xing restrained his urge, keeping his little hands tucked safely in his pockets.
Hearing Lang Ze’s comment, he instinctively lifted his small head and turned toward the vine with the star-shaped leaves that Lang Ze had mentioned. However, the vine was too far away. With his still-recovering mental strength, he couldn’t reach it.
“I can’t see…”
His voice was soft, but Lang Ze, who was right next to him, heard it. Only then did he remember—oh right! Xing Xing couldn’t see with his eyes!
Looking at the child’s dull blue eyes, Lang Ze suddenly felt a sharp pang in his heart, like being pricked with needles. It hurt.
He had pitied Number Three before, but it had never made him feel this upset. Now, thinking about how Zheng Xing lived in a world of perpetual darkness, unable to see all the beautiful and fun things around him, Lang Ze couldn’t help but feel sorrowful.
Imitating the way the caretakers comforted him, Lang Ze reached out to gently pat the child’s head. His voice softened as he said, “It’s okay. I’ll stay with you. And in the future, when I’ve learned to play the flute, I’ll play the world for you to hear.”
Feeling the hand gently patting his head, Zheng Xing still felt a little awkward but no longer rejected the touch. And besides…
Lang Ze said he’d play the flute for him…
He nodded his small head, his soft, childlike voice replying with a crisp, “Okay.”
Learning the flute was so difficult.
Zheng Xing, already aware of how hard it was to master, sometimes worried. If he couldn’t learn the flute for a very, very long time, would he never get to experience the beauty of the world?
But now, Lang Ze had promised to play it for him!
Among the three of them, Lang Ze was the fastest learner. Surely, he would be the first to master the flute!
This thought made Zheng Xing’s lips curl into a slight smile. The mix of sadness and numbness on his face disappeared entirely.
Because even if he couldn’t learn to play the flute himself, Lang Ze would play it for him! There was nothing to worry about anymore.
Sensing Zheng Xing’s happiness, Lang Ze quietly let out a breath of relief. His resolve to master the flute grew even stronger.
It was then that A-Yan spoke.
“Actually, you can touch it.”
His calm, soothing voice was like that of a reliable older brother, inspiring trust. Zheng Xing couldn’t help but turn toward him. “I…can?”
“Mm-hmm.” A-Yan adjusted his communicator. “The leaves of the starfruit vine are sturdy enough now. A gentle touch won’t harm them.”
“Wow! Let’s go over there!”
Before Zheng Xing could react, Lang Ze had already stood up, pulling him along. Holding his small hand, Lang Ze led him toward the area where the starfruit vine was planted.
When the vines were planted, A-Yan had ensured there was ample space to move around. As long as they were careful, they wouldn’t step on the freshly planted seedlings.
Even Lang Ze, usually rough and reckless, moved with surprising caution around these tender young lives.
Before long, they arrived at the star-chain fruit vines.
These vines had been revived by Su Su’s miraculous spell and nurtured with spirit water. Planted near two small spirit buds, they were thriving.
Despite having endured harsh weather conditions like the blood-red frost flowers, the leaves hadn’t withered. They had grown from tiny green tips to the size of a thumb.
New buds were also sprouting, and by tomorrow, new leaves would likely appear.
Amidst the gray and black surroundings, the sight of this vibrant green was truly refreshing.
“Wow, these star-shaped leaves are so cute!”
Lang Ze couldn’t help but exclaim. He then guided Zheng Xing’s hand toward the largest leaf on the vine.
Zheng Xing felt a little nervous.
He had suppressed his mental energy, focusing all his attention on his fingertips. Still, when his finger finally touched the leaf of the star-chain fruit vine, he couldn’t help but feel a jolt in his heart.
It was a truly marvelous sensation.
The tiny leaf felt slightly cool to the touch, and as Zheng Xing’s fingers made contact, he faintly heard a youthful, cheerful laugh. It was full of vitality, a sound that could brighten anyone’s mood.
Startled, Zheng Xing withdrew his hand and looked quizzically at Lang Ze.
Had Lang Ze been the one laughing just now?
“Not going to touch it anymore?” Lang Ze asked.
It didn’t seem like it was him…
Zheng Xing turned back toward the star-chain fruit vine and hesitantly reached out his finger again, brushing against the small, star-shaped leaf. Unfortunately, this time, he didn’t hear the laugh again.
Nearby, Su Ci, who was moving the latest batch of spider meat into the cold storage, briefly looked toward the direction of the star-chain fruit vine. After a moment, he lazily withdrew his gaze, let out a tired yawn, and resumed his task, eager to finish quickly and get some sleep.
While Lang Ze and Zheng Xing played with the star-chain fruit leaves, Lu Jiao decided not to join them. The area was crowded, and he worried about stepping on the fragile seedlings.
Lowering his head, he began counting the seedlings. That’s when he noticed something.
“What’s special about those two seedlings? Why is everyone gathered around them?” Lu Jiao pointed to the two small spirit buds and couldn’t help but ask.
“Those are ‘Princess’ and ‘Lazybones,’” A-Yan replied.
Lu Jiao blinked. The names sounded so odd.
“Su Su named them,” A-Yan explained as he carried a bucket of water toward the spirit buds. “They help other plants grow faster but require a lot of water and fertilizer. They need to be tended to several times a day.”
Unlike the star-chain fruit vine, the two spirit buds were noticeably less lively today after enduring the frost. Their need for water and nutrients had increased significantly compared to before.
Lu Jiao followed beside A-Yan, nodding as he listened and mentally noting everything.
He understood that plants needed to “eat,” and water and fertilizer were their food. Without these, they would quickly wither and die.
“Do you have to come and feed them every day?” Lu Jiao asked.
Feed? A-Yan thought for a moment and decided the term wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Yeah,” he nodded. Su Su had entrusted him with the task, and he genuinely enjoyed doing it.
Lu Jiao looked at him with admiration.
He watched as the floating water cup gently poured water over the spirit buds, making their leaves turn a vibrant green. Finally, unable to hold back, he asked, “Do you… need any help?”
“Huh?” A-Yan turned to him.
“I mean, I can help feed them!” Lu Jiao volunteered enthusiastically.
A-Yan looked at him, thought for a moment, and asked, “Can you hear their voices?”
Lu Jiao blinked in confusion and shook his head.
A-Yan seemed to ponder this. So, not everyone could hear the voices of plants…
He explained, “I can hear them, so I know how much water and fertilizer they need. If you give them too much, they’ll get sick and die.”
Noticing how much Lu Jiao loved the seedlings, A-Yan didn’t mind sharing these details with him.
Lu Jiao’s eyes widened. “Wow, that’s amazing! You’re so cool!”
So A-Yan was that incredible—no wonder Su Su trusted him so much, even giving him such an important task and living with him.
Lowering his head in slight dejection, Lu Jiao muttered, “I can’t hear the plants… I can’t water or feed them…”
His drooping ears revealed his disappointment. In A-Yan’s dark red eyes, a peculiar emotion flickered. Actually…
Why not?
Although A-Yan enjoyed caring for the plants, he also knew that the number of plants here would only increase. He could tell just by looking at the large patch of soil Su Su had prepared.
Just digging holes and planting the 30-something seeds of ordinary plants had already taken him a considerable amount of time. What if that number grew to 300 or even 3,000?
A-Yan wasn’t worried about the supply of seeds—one star-chain vine alone could yield over a dozen seeds. Once the 30-plus seeds he had planted matured and bore fruit, there would be no shortage of seeds.
The real question was—would he have enough time to plant so many seeds?
The answer: yes, but not much.
He still needed to study heavenly scripts and formations, and he wanted to cook delicious meals for Su Su. Once the plants grew, they would provide a wider variety of ingredients, allowing him to prepare a different dish for Su Su every day.
Plus, Su Su loved eating meat, but eating spider meat every day could get tiresome. Once he became stronger, he planned to venture into the Blood Mist to hunt other creatures, diversifying their diet.
All of this required significant time and effort.
So, if Lu Jiao wanted to take over the planting tasks, why not let him?
A-Yan tilted his head, thinking it over, and realized it was entirely feasible.
His gaze shifted slightly toward the two children near the star-chain fruit vines, still playing with the leaves.
Right now, planting and fertilizing wasn’t too burdensome because there were only a few plants. But once the planting area expanded, even watering them daily would become a heavy task. Just walking a single lap around a large field would require a lot of energy, not to mention carrying water and fertilizer.
Thus, besides Lu Jiao, the other cubs should also participate in this work. A-Yan could tell that Xiao Lang Ze and Zheng Xing genuinely liked the plants too.
Xiao Lang Ze, for instance, was strong and energetic—a physique that even A-Yan envied. As for Zheng Xing…
A-Yan recalled the impression the boy had given him.
His spiritual perception was very sharp. Although he might not be able to determine the precise amount of fertilizer each plant needed like A-Yan could, he should be able to estimate it reasonably well.
It was just like how Zheng Xing instinctively knew how to operate a food processor without explanation. When assigning tasks to the children, A-Yan had a sense of what each child was best suited for.
It was a curious intuition he couldn’t explain, but he trusted it.
And even if he was wrong, it didn’t matter—there was always room for trial and error.
Having made up his mind, A-Yan’s expression toward Lu Jiao softened, but he didn’t rush. He instinctively knew that this had to be approached step by step.
For now, he decided to start with Lu Jiao, who was the most eager. Later, he could consider Lang Ze and Zheng Xing.
With that, A-Yan began operating his communicator.
In his usual calm and steady tone, he said to Lu Jiao, “If you truly want to water and fertilize the plants, it’s not impossible.”
Lu Jiao, who had been looking dejected, immediately perked up. He raised his head with hope shining in his eyes and looked toward A-Yan.
“Really?” he asked. “But I can’t hear the plants’ voices…”
If he made a mistake, the seedlings might die…
“We can assign numbers to each plant,” A-Yan suggested. “I’ll write down how much water and fertilizer each one needs each day, and then you can follow those instructions. That way, it’ll work just fine.”
It was a straightforward solution.
A-Yan could also let Lu Jiao keep the amounts within a safe range, minimizing harm to the plants, though this method might not be as effective as the precise control he could achieve.
Since there were only a few plants for now, and they had just sprouted, A-Yan thought it was better to stick with a meticulous care strategy. When the plants became more numerous and robust in the future, they wouldn’t require such precise attention.
Lu Jiao thought for a moment and felt that A-Yan’s suggestion made sense, but…
“Won’t this be too much trouble for you?”
The boy looked a bit uneasy. After all, A-Yan could easily handle it himself, but to accommodate him, he’d have to add an extra step to his work.
“It’s not trouble,” A-Yan replied. “But if you really want to do this, you’ll have to do it properly. These seedlings are very important to Su Su, and if anything happens to them, Su Su will be upset.”
A-Yan was being honest, and for that reason, he wasn’t about to hand over all the responsibilities to Lu Jiao right away. He planned to observe daily and only delegate more tasks once he was confident Lu Jiao could manage them.
Lu Jiao nodded earnestly, feeling a sense of responsibility swell in his heart. “Don’t worry! I’ll do my best and won’t let Su Su down!”
Seeing his enthusiasm, A-Yan smiled in satisfaction. “Alright, then come here tomorrow at seven in the morning. I’ll teach you how to water and fertilize the seedlings.”
The boy’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Okay, okay! I’ll be here on time!”
There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his voice. The caretakers had told him he could go anywhere in the nursery during the day, and 7 a.m. was already daytime!
The thought of being able to see the seedlings again tomorrow, water them, and “feed” them made Lu Jiao ecstatic. His joy was written all over his face, radiating the pure innocence of a young child.
Not far away, Lang Ze’s furry ears perked up.
He seemed to have overheard something… Curious, Lang Ze ran over and asked directly, “What were you guys talking about? What’s this about being on time?”
Lu Jiao couldn’t wait to share. “Brother A-Yan said he’s going to teach me how to water and fertilize the seedlings tomorrow!”
Brother A-Yan…
Hearing this title, A-Yan blinked in surprise. He scratched his own furry ears and tilted his head, considering it for a moment. It sounded… not bad.
After all, he was older than them. Of course, he could be their big brother!
Lang Ze froze slightly at the title too. He didn’t think age alone determined leadership—after all, Number Four was younger than him, but their punches packed more power…
However, when he thought about how A-Yan could read so many words, turn invisible, run so fast, and most importantly—make delicious food—he reconsidered.
If A-Yan could make tasty food for him, calling him “brother”… didn’t seem so bad.
But his attention quickly shifted to what Lu Jiao said next.
“What? You’re coming to water and fertilize the seedlings tomorrow?” Lang Ze immediately latched onto the key point—
Youyou can come out and play tomorrow! Since A-Yan would be teaching him, Lu Jiao would have to leave the room and come to the garden.
Unaware that they already had permission to leave their rooms, Lang Ze was instantly envious. He blurted out, “I want to too! I want to water and fertilize the seedlings!”
Then, he used the same tactic he had often employed with Su Ci—this time, on A-Yan.
Lang Ze wagged his big tail and looked in A-Yan’s direction, his voice soft and pleading. “Brother A-Yan, can you teach me too? I want to learn…”
A-Yan: “…”
He had actually been wondering what kind of incentive he could use to get Lang Ze to help. After all, among the three children, Lang Ze had the strongest physique, and A-Yan knew his help would be invaluable in the future.
Unexpectedly, Lang Ze was so eager to volunteer!
What surprised A-Yan even more was that Zheng Xing, who had been sitting far away touching the leaves, also stood up at this moment. Stumbling slightly, he ran over with unsteady steps.
Unlike the bold Lang Ze, Zheng Xing was much shyer. Still, he mustered all his courage and, in his soft and sweet voice, tried his best to speak:
“B-Brother A-Yan… I… I also…”
As he continued, his voice grew quieter and quieter.
Finally, with his face flushed bright red, Zheng Xing managed to squeeze out a single sentence: “Can I?”
So cute