Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Heart
Hearing Tang Ting say, "As long as you grow up well, that's fine," An Nuo felt a pang of sadness. She nodded and lowered her head, her feet dangling unconsciously to the side.
Seeing her nod in response, Tang Ting couldn't help but smile. He noticed that she would respond whenever he spoke to this little cub, even if she seemed to be in a bad mood.
Luo Jin affectionately patted her head and said to Tang Ting, "I'll go find clothes for the baby to take a bath. You go and run the water for her."
She was covered in milk stains, and there was also blood all over her body from the stress she had just experienced in the medical room.
Lokin went to the wardrobe next to him to find clothes for Anno. These were all prepared in advance for her. In addition to clothes for two or three-year-olds, there were also many clothes for babies. Fortunately, Hicks mentioned the size of the cubs in the report, otherwise all the clothes prepared would have been clothes for newborns.
After Lokin had finished finding clothes for the cubs, Tang Ting had already finished running the water and came out of the bathroom.
Luo Jin handed the clothes to Tang Ting, then picked up Anuo and carried her into the bathroom.
Anno looked at the bathroom and found it to be completely different from the one in the watchtower. It was much more spacious, and most of the things inside were unfamiliar to her. There was no faucet in sight, and the bathtub, which looked like half an eggshell, seemed to be attached to the ground. However, she saw Luo Jin kick the bathtub with his foot, and the tub filled with hot water moved to the side by itself.
Luo Jin placed her on a small stool and set her up, then took out all the toiletries and put them on a small portable shelf. Tang Ting added some medicinal powder or something similar to the bathwater.
"The fragrance is too strong; it might cause allergies in babies. Tang Ting, could you check the ingredients in this bath wash?"
Tang Ting and Luo Jin squatted on the ground, huddled together, and carefully examined the ingredients of the toiletries.
"This can't be used, it'll cause an allergic reaction; this one won't work either..."
Tang Ting put aside all the bathing products that the cubs couldn't use. Although these were products specifically for bathing Fire Seed cubs, the cubs in front of him were more prone to allergies than ordinary Fire Seed cubs.
The two of them picked out more than a dozen bottles of shower gel before finding two that were usable.
Anuo sat on the stool watching the two people who were busy at work. For some reason, she suddenly wanted them to wash her and wanted to feel the gentle care they gave her.
She turned her head to look at a mirror on the wall behind her and saw her reflection in it.
Small and soft, without any signs of injury or scars, her pale blue eyes no longer held the vigilance that always guarded against everything, nor the ruthless killing intent, but instead showed some confusion and curiosity about the new world.
Yes, she has been reborn. This world is no longer the devastated and cruel world she once knew. Everything is different now. There are people who would risk their lives to protect her, and people who would gently care for and cherish her.
Perhaps she could try to grow up again, to grow up properly.
"Baby, let's take a bath. We'll feel so comfortable afterward."
After selecting the shower gel, Luo Jin squatted down in front of Anuo to prepare to undress her.
Anuo cooperated by letting Luo Jin take off her clothes. She glanced at Tang Ting, then automatically ignored him, silently reminding herself that she was only three years old and should act like a three-year-old.
Tang Ting was just wondering whether to leave when she received Anuo's gaze, when she saw Anuo climb into the bathtub by herself.
Lokin didn't help, just watched as the little cub struggled to climb into the bathtub, while she laughed uncontrollably behind it.
Tang Ting watched as the little baby struggled to crawl in for a long time, but couldn't manage it. With a smile in her eyes, she stretched out her long arm and lifted her into the bathtub.
Anno turned around and saw Luo Jin beaming. She lowered her head, her ears and the light stripe slightly red, and sat down in the bathtub with a little embarrassment and annoyance.
She wasn't angry that Luo Jin laughed at her; she was just annoyed that the bathtub was so high!
No, it's just that I'm too weak right now; I can't even climb into a bathtub!
Seeing Anuo's face flush with embarrassment, Luo Jin held back his laughter for a while before stopping. While giving her a bath, he said softly, "Baby is still young. If there's anything you can't do, be sure to ask your dad, mom, or someone else for help."
Having lived in the apocalypse for so many years, Anno had long been used to relying on herself for everything. Hearing what Luo Jin said, she lowered her eyes and nodded, then grabbed the two glowing ribbons at their tips and stuffed them into the water as well.
Seeing Anno hide the light strip, the smiles in Luo Jin and Tang Ting's eyes deepened.
"Baby's hair is so beautiful, I've never seen this color before."
As Lokin washed Anno's hair, his eyes were full of admiration.
She had seen many hair colors similar to Anno's, but because she was a Fire Seed, she had a soft glow, and her hair also had a soft sheen, which made this color look exceptionally beautiful.
With her bright, light blue eyes and exquisitely sculpted features, she stands apart from ordinary people in this interstellar era where the overall level of genetics and appearance is quite good.
As Anno listened to Luo Jin's constant praise of her appearance, she was somewhat unconvinced. Her looks had brought her nothing but trouble.
Feeling Luo Jin's slender fingers gently massaging her hair, Anuo's tense mind completely relaxed. Tang Ting would occasionally add some medicinal powder to her water, and she watched the water turn green and then pink. She also put a lot of small toys in the bathtub for her.
The little ducklings can swim by themselves and make "quack quack" sounds. There are also little fish swimming around in the bathtub, occasionally touching her legs and making her feel a little ticklish. She can't help but smile.
She tried to catch one, but the toy fish was quite agile and escaped from her grasp every time she tried.
Seeing the little cub's gaze drawn to the toys, Luo Jin and Tang Ting exchanged a smile. They knew that the little cub was too wary and defensive, like a little hedgehog, and somewhat closed off.
Perhaps she had some bad experiences on Casa, or was hurt by someone. They wanted to gradually heal her wounds, open her heart, and make her happy.
After playing for a while, Anuo leaned against the edge of the bathtub, poking the quacking duck intermittently. The faint scent of medicinal powder mixed with the pleasant fragrance of shower gel made her feel drowsy.
Seeing that the baby cubs were almost washed, Luo Jin unfolded a bath towel, and Tang Ting lifted her out of the water and wrapped her around Luo Jin.
Luo Jin carried Anuo out of the bathroom and sat her on the sofa to get her dressed. The room was heated, so she wouldn't feel cold; in fact, it was quite warm.
"Wait a minute before dressing the baby and applying some medicine."
Tang Ting took the several bottles of ointment that the other medical officers had brought and sat down next to Luo Jin, asking her to turn the cub over so it was lying face down.
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