Chapter 4
After Su Ci walked in, the metal door closed. The room was not big to begin with, so when Su Ci walked in and looked around, he saw No. 3.
In the corner, in the narrow gap formed by the bed and the wall, the child was huddled in the shadows, with only half of his body illuminated by the light, revealing a pair of bare feet.
Number Three was hiding deep in the shadows, holding a toy ball in his arms with both hands. His expression was calm and indifferent, as if he didn't notice Su Ci's approach and gaze.
Of course, if you ignore his slightly curled toes.
The child was about six or seven years old, and looked slightly older than No. 5.
His chin-length hair was black and shiny, his facial features were childish but still handsome, and with a pair of big, lifeless blue eyes, he looked like an exquisite but soulless porcelain doll.
The child was well-raised and had a fair and tender appearance, but his clothes did not fit him well. His shirt was loose, and although the cuffs were tight, they were very baggy, while his pants were a little short, revealing his ankles and part of his calves.
Su Ci remembered that, except for No. 5 who was wearing a little skirt, the other children were also wearing the same style of tops and pants. They should be considered... baby clothes, right?
He shrugged, and without letting the child out, he said softly, "It's time for dinner."
Then, Su Ci turned around and put the food box on the table.
The small children's desk was filled with the entire food box. When the lid was opened, the steaming hot food inside was revealed... well, let's call this food jelly.
As the lid opened, the aroma of meat filled the room, increasing one's appetite.
After waking up, Su Ci took a bite of jelly. Still very hungry, he couldn't help but pick up the small spoon that came with the food box, scooped a mouthful and put it into his mouth.
“It’s really disgusting.”
Why does it smell so good but taste so mediocre?
Su Ci was very confused, but that didn't stop him from scooping up the second spoonful and putting it into his mouth. As he was chewing, he suddenly had an idea. He lowered his head and saw the child who was huddled in the corner, who had crawled out at some point.
The child stood beside him, his head only reaching Su Ci's waist. He tilted his head back, his blue eyes still unfocused, but from his furrowed brows, one could see his doubt.
"Do you want to eat too?" Su Ci scooped up a spoon and brought it to No. 3's mouth.
Number Three's expression became even more confused. Isn't this... his dinner?
No breeder would steal the cubs' dinner. At least, No. 3 has never encountered such a thing in all his time at the Prison Star Nursery.
This is a weird keeper.
Number Three did not accept the food from Su Ci. He stepped back and sat down in the corner again, lowering his head and turning the toy ball in his hand.
The ball was also a mechanical product, and as the little hands turned it, it made a "click-click" sound. The child was immersed in his own world again, losing interest in everything around him.
Su Ci looked at him for a few seconds, then continued to put the spoon into his mouth, and was almost killed by the spoonful of jelly.
Cold aspic is a hundred times more disgusting. Who on earth invented this kind of food? It's so substandard!
No matter how greedy he was, Su Ci couldn't eat anymore. He put down the spoon and was about to serve dinner to the other cub when the communicator started beeping.
As soon as Su Ci answered the phone, 4586's anxious voice rang out: "Susu, this is bad, this is bad, Baba ran out!"
Number eight?
The three cubs who were making trouble appeared in Su Ci's mind. Xun Xiaoyu had reminded him before leaving that these three cubs were not very emotionally stable.
I just don’t know which one is number eight.
"Why did he come out?" Su Ci asked.
"I just opened the door and Baba slipped out," 4586 said. "But don't worry, Baba can't leave the nursery. We have to find him and get him back to his room."
Su Ci nodded, turned around to look at Number Three who was quietly playing ball in the corner, and waved his hand without caring whether he noticed or not, saying, "I'm leaving first, you can eat slowly."
Then turn and leave.
He didn't notice that behind him, No. 3 tilted his head slightly, but soon lowered it again, holding the huge mechanical ball in his small hands and continuing to click it.
Su Ci came to the corridor and was thinking about whether to deliver dinner to No. 5 first or to help 4586 find someone, when he felt something and a golden light flashed in his dark eyes.
"Bang--"
“Ouch!”
Number Eight fell to the floor, clutching his head in pain.
The collision made him see stars, but he felt less pain because the tail was cushioning his butt.
He looked up in confusion, and saw a metal wall in front of him with a dent made by his collision. His green eyes, which were filled with saline solution due to the pain, showed a bit of confusion.
What's going on?
Wasn't he rushing down the corridor? How did he suddenly turn a corner and bump into the wall?
"Are you number eight?"
A lukewarm voice sounded from the side, very strange, yet somewhat familiar.
Number Eight subconsciously turned his head and saw the new breeder squatting beside him at some point.
When their eyes met, he couldn't help but hold his breath.
In the bright light of the corridor, the young man was surrounded by a halo, and his beautiful dark eyes looked gentle.
However, in the deepest part of those eyes, there was a calmness, as if an ancient ferocious beast was imprisoned. Just one glance gave him a full sense of oppression.
Number Eight's heart was pounding.
Number Eight actually noticed it when the breeder was talking to the people from the Operations Department in the restaurant just now.
He was not interested in the breeders, as he knew that none of them truly liked them.
However, the new breeder still caught Number Eight's attention because he was so handsome! It was a kind of beauty that he had never seen in his life.
Of course, this is just a first impression.
Then Number Eight noticed the new breeder, his frail and thin figure, and his aura of non-existence.
The previous breeder, though not very good at fighting, was still quite intimidating with his tall and mighty figure. Unlike this new one, he looks like he'll fall over if you blow on him.
After expressing his contempt for the new breeder in his heart, Number Eight forgot about him. However, at this moment... his eyes rolled, and he covered his painful head and looked at the breeder cautiously.
Taking a closer look, hmm, it still looked so fragile that it would break into pieces with the slightest touch. The calm and distant oppressive feeling just now must have been his illusion.
After reaching the conclusion, an impatient expression appeared on Number 8's face.
What are you looking at? Don’t you know that I hate breeders the most? Just as he was about to speak, he heard the breeder say, “Are you crying?”
The voice was soft and light, with a hint of surprise.
What? Crying?
How could I possibly do such a cowardly thing? Number Eight puffed up his cheeks, "Who's crying? I'm not crying!"
He glared at Su Ci angrily, then subconsciously raised his hand to wipe his eyes, trying to make his blurred vision clearer and make his eyes appear more fierce.
As a result, I felt something liquid, wet and cool, like... tears?
The boy couldn't help but be stunned. He wiped his eyes again in disbelief, and when he saw the crystal tears on his fingers, he suddenly stuttered.
"It's not that I didn't... I just hit the wall..."
Su Ci squatted on the ground, looking at the child in front of him.
He was probably a little over eight years old, no older than ten, with a big gray-black tail hanging behind him.
Her hair is short, also black with gray, and there is a small tuft of white hair on her bangs. Her facial features are not as delicate as No. 3's, but she is also pretty and cute.
The most special thing is his emerald eyes, which are bright and moving because of the intense emotional fluctuations, revealing vitality.
The child at this moment was like a puppy with its fur standing on end, whimpering and trying to argue that he was not crying, but his cheeks and ears were getting redder and redder.
Su Ci tilted his head and continued to tease him: "So, you're crying because you got hurt?"
"I told you I didn't cry, and it doesn't hurt at all!" Number Eight yelled, and the hair on his tail stood up, looking even more fluffy and beautiful.
He got up angrily and decided to ignore this annoying breeder.
"Go away and don't block the road!"
Su Ci was pushed by him and sat down on the floor. When the child walked past him, he stretched out his arm and pinched the back of the child's collar with his slender fingers.
"What?" Number Eight turned around and glared at him.
"4586 is looking for you."
"Humph, so what?" The child looked arrogant.
It seems like nothing happened?
Thinking of this, Su Ci loosened the collar of No. 8, clapped his hands, stood up, bent down to pick up the food box at the door, and prepared to continue delivering food to No. 5.
Number 8, who was about to run away, stopped again after taking a look at his food box.
"Is this dinner for the 5th?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm going to send it to her." Su Ci said truthfully, "Do you want to come with us?"
"Humph, who wants to go see that little girl who cries all day?" Number Eight pouted and asked, "Is her hand healed?"
Su Ci lowered her eyebrows and looked at him quietly without saying a word.
Number Eight was clearly getting irritated by his stare. He jumped away like a lit firecracker, yelling unhappily, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"nothing."
Su Ci retracted his gaze and looked at the direction of the corridor again. Logically, 4586 should have found this place, so why hasn't he come down yet?
Thinking of the tragedy of 4583, Su Ci narrowed his eyes and looked down at the child beside him.
Number Eight didn't notice anything at all. Seeing Su Ci looking towards the corridor, he proudly put his hands on his hips and said smugly, "Hey, no need to look!"
"I've blocked the elevator and stair doors. That stupid robot can't get down at all. It must be running around in circles right now."
Thinking of the funny appearance of the nanny robot, No. 8 couldn't help laughing.
Su Ci blinked, lowered his head and sent a message to 4586, telling it that No. 8 had been found. Sure enough, as soon as he sent the message, he received a reply from 4586 saying that the elevator was broken.
Then, the expression on his face returned to being lazy again.
He put away the communicator, picked up the lunch box and continued walking towards Room 5.
-
Room number five is right next to room number three.
She and No. 4 are siblings and live together. The numbers on the door are written "4/5", but now only "5" is lit, which means that only No. 5 is in the room.
Su Ci knocked on the door as he did before.
Number 8, who was standing behind him, looked at Su Ci strangely, but his attention was soon attracted by the lit screen in the middle of the door.
No child can escape the attraction of electronic products, and No. 8 is no exception. Before being sent to the brooding center, he even went online.
Unfortunately, the cubs in the nursery are not allowed to have these devices, and he doesn’t even have a communicator now.
[Identity verification in progress…] A white light swept across Su Ci’s face.
[Ding——Authentication passed]
[Apprentice Keeper Su Ci, hello. In Room 404, cub number four is out. Testing has shown that cub number five is depressed and at increased risk of frenzy. Should Room 404 be opened immediately?]
Looking at the words appearing on the screen, Number Eight couldn't help but pull Su Ci's sleeve and asked, "Hey, what do the words above mean?"
He didn't know many words, so he could only understand a few numbers in such a long string.
Su Ci ignored him and clicked confirm.
Just like Room 3, the metal door moved silently from the middle and merged into the walls on both sides, revealing a doorway that was only wide enough for Su Ci to pass through.
Su Ci didn't rush in, but peeked inside.
However, when No. 8 saw the door open, he forgot about the words and squeezed past him impatiently, walking in carelessly.
Then, he was grabbed by the back of the collar.
Number Eight struggled for a bit, but found he couldn't move, so he turned around and glared at Su Ci angrily.
"What are you doing again?"
Because he was so upset and angry, he didn't realize that with his strength, he couldn't walk because the weak breeder grabbed his collar from behind.
"It's impolite of you to do this." Su Ci said casually while observing the room.
Politeness? What the hell is that?
Number Eight looked at him in confusion, and saw the new breeder knocking on the wall with his fingers again.
Is there something wrong with this?
Number Eight was very puzzled. In his short life, no one had ever taught him the word "politeness", let alone basic etiquette such as knocking on the door before entering someone else's room.
However, he did not struggle anymore, but stood aside with his arms folded, and his big tail behind him swung back and forth unhappily.
This room is about the same size as room number three, but it is divided into two areas, with a bed, a set of children's tables and chairs, and a cabinet on each side.
The area on the left was a little messy, with the bed, table and chairs all in tatters, especially the single bed that was about 1.5 meters long. It looked precarious, as if the four legs would break and collapse at any time.
Even the metal floor showed obvious scratches from sharp claws.
In comparison, the area on the right is more orderly and the furniture is well protected.
The walls of the entire room were covered with colorful paintings with bright paints. It was impossible to tell what the paintings were. Even the bed, table and chair backs had traces of paint.
Su Ci glanced around briefly, and his gaze finally fell on the small bed on the right.
There was a noticeable bulge under the gray quilt, with a few strands of flaxen hair showing at the edge of the quilt. When he knocked on the wall, the quilt trembled noticeably.
It was also the first time for Number 8 to enter someone else's room.
When Su Ci looked around, he couldn't help but look at it with great interest, and then found that it didn't seem much different from his room, and there were particularly childish paintings on the wall.
He knew that those were the masterpieces of No. 5. That little girl liked to draw these things the most. He had torn up her paintings before and was beaten by No. 4.
He also saw the bulge in the quilt on the bed, and finally couldn't help but struggle again.
Su Ci then let him go.
Number Eight ran to the bedside, grabbed the quilt and pulled it open with a loud noise.
"Number Five, Number Five, are your hands okay?"
Su Ci looked at the big tail wagging behind him and felt that this child looked more like a dog than a wolf or a fox.
Although No. 5 struggled hard, she was not as strong as No. 8, so she couldn't resist him and the quilt was eventually pulled off.
The little girl under the quilt had messy hair, red eyes, and her cheeks were covered with traces of undried tears.
She sat up with a pout, looked at Number Eight sadly, and tears began to fall.
Number 8, who was originally very excited, suddenly became helpless, and the big tail shaking behind him also drooped down.
"What...what are you doing? Is your hand not healed yet?" He pulled the little girl's hand and took a look, and found that her palm was white and clean, without any signs of burns.
"Isn't everything fine now? Why are you still crying?" Number Eight followed Number Five's sad gaze and saw the quilt still in his hand.
"Tsk, isn't it just a quilt?" He frowned and said, "It's not like I don't have one. I'll just give it back to you."
The young boy threw the quilt back to No. 5, but No. 5 was not coaxed. He still had a pout on his face, and tears as big as beans kept falling like pearls from a broken string.
Number Eight couldn't help but get anxious, "Oh, stop crying! If your brother finds out, I'll get beaten up again!"
After he said that, No. 5 cried even harder.
Number 8 was so bewildered that he almost fell to his knees. Turning around, he saw Su Ci walking in slowly with a lunch box, and then placing it on the small table of number 5.
"Hey..." The young boy hurried over and pulled Su Ci's clothes. When Su Ci looked down at him, he pointed at the little girl on the bed.
The fearless No. 8 looked at the breeder for help for the first time.
After Su Ci put the lunch box away, he walked towards No. 5, pulled over a chair and sat down beside the bed. Children's chairs were originally short, so when Su Ci sat down, his line of sight was just at the same level as the little girl sitting on the bed.
Like No. 3, No. 5 does not have any animalistic features and has a pure human appearance.
She had long flaxen curly hair, small and beautiful facial features, and a high nose bridge. It was not known whether she had been crying or had just been suffocated by the quilt, but her round face was red with an abnormal blush.
At this moment, the little girl was crying sadly with her mouth pursed, tears kept falling from her round eyes, she looked pitiful and cute.
Su Ci looked at her quietly without rushing to speak. Number Eight stood behind him, pouting and pulling his clothes desperately.
"Why don't you say something!" He lowered his voice and urged in a very low voice.
Unfortunately, Su Ci didn't respond at all. In the end, No. 8 became discouraged, thinking that he shouldn't rely on the breeder and should find a way himself!
However, before he could figure out anything, Number Five, who had been crying so hard, gradually subsided.
The little girl looked at Su Ci with tears in her eyes. She was still sobbing because she had just cried so hard, but it seemed that her mood had calmed down.
At this time, the black-haired young man sitting beside the bed spoke softly: "Hello, I'm Su Ci."
Number Five probably hadn't expected this reaction. He blinked blankly at first, then sniffed and whispered, "Hello... Hello, I'm Number Five."
The baby voice with a strong nasal tone and sobbing sounds very soft and cute.
Number Eight's tail couldn't help but wag again. Seeing that Number Five had finally stopped crying, he quickly interrupted and said, "He's the new breeder. He's here to bring you dinner."
Number Five nodded slightly, not knowing whether he had heard it or not.
At this time, the young man stretched out his thin white hand in front of her.
It was a very beautiful hand, with slender fingers that were clean and white, with a healthy light pink hue. On this beautiful hand lay a dark blue handkerchief.
She raised her eyes and met the young man's gentle black eyes.
"Wipe it off."
The new breeder said so.
His voice was as gentle and harmless as he was. A few simple words were more effective than a long string of words, making people unable to help but believe it.
The little girl looked at him and then at the handkerchief in his hand.
Finally, she pursed her red, swollen, and dry lips, stretched out her little hand to take the handkerchief, lowered her head obediently and wiped her eyes, and then suddenly stopped moving.
Noticing her abnormality, Su Ci asked, "What's wrong?"
Number Five looked up, and a hint of joy appeared in his eyes, which were still filled with tears. They sparkled like washed gems under the light.
She pointed to the pattern embroidered on the lower right corner of the handkerchief and said in a light voice, "Flowers."
On the dark blue background, there are a few light white pear blossoms embroidered, with petals spread out and the stamens in the middle outlined with gold thread, which looks delicate and elegant.
It was the beauty on Prison Star, and it was a beauty that No. 5 had never seen before.
Number 8, who had been watching them, couldn't help but come over and said in amazement: "This flower is more beautiful than the one you drew!"
Hearing this, Number Five looked up at him, then lowered his head to look at the handkerchief and fell silent.
Number Eight had no idea what he had just done. He looked at the embroidery on the handkerchief for a while, but the novelty soon wore off.
He himself did not like such fancy things, so he thought it was boring and said, "No matter how beautiful it is, it's fake. Real flowers are more beautiful and fragrant."
The little girl puffed up her cheeks slightly, glared at him angrily, then held up her handkerchief and said, "It smells good!"
Hearing this, Number Eight leaned over to smell it in disbelief, and found that it really was fragrant. He scratched his head and muttered, "But this is obviously fake..."
Number Five bared her teeth at him, as if she wanted to bite him, but at this moment she had completely stopped crying, and her sobbing had subsided.
Su Ci reached out, trying to take the handkerchief back, but Number Five, noticing his movement, instantly tightened his grip on the handkerchief, refusing to let go.
He didn't force it, rubbing his fingertips over the handkerchief before saying, "It's sprinkled with pollen."
"pollen……"
The little girl blinked, her eyes red and swollen from crying, filled with confusion and a thirst for knowledge. "What is pollen?"
"Pollen is the source of this fragrance." Su Ci lowered his eyes and looked at the handkerchief, thinking.
After hearing Su Ci's explanation, No. 5 became happy. She held the handkerchief in her hands like a treasure, her eyes shining, as if she had obtained the most precious treasure in the world.
"Pollen, it smells good!" Her cute little voice, although still nasal, could be heard by everyone as she was delighted.
After being happy, No. 5 looked at Su Ci, with some hesitation on his face.
Then, as if she had made up her mind, under the gaze of Su Ci and No. 8, the little girl nimbly climbed down from the bed, ran to the cabinet with her short legs, and opened the bottom drawer.
The little girl rummaged through the drawer for a while, then took something out and put it in her hand. She ran over happily, climbed onto the bed, and stretched out her little hands in front of Su Ci.
"Here, change...change this!"
On her pink little hand lay a small black hairpin, embedded in it was a red plastic flower that was smaller than the nail of her little finger.
Su Ci stared at the hairpin, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Number Five became a little anxious, so she moved closer to him, pinched the hairpin with her small hand, and carefully clipped it to the hair beside his ear.
After finishing, the little girl took two steps back, looked at it, and then nodded affirmatively: "It looks good!"
Su Ci: “…”
Number Eight was staring at the scene. He had seen this hairpin before. It was given to Number Five by the big sister from the Operations Department.
Number 5 is so precious. I usually don’t want to wear it and always hide it in the room. I didn’t expect to take it out and give it to the new breeder now!
He looked at Number Five holding the handkerchief, sniffing and rubbing it, as if he liked it more than the hairpin, and couldn't help but say sourly: "Huh, isn't it just a piece of rag printed with fake flowers?"
"When I grow up, I'll tear down this crappy base and fill your house with real flowers. Red, yellow, purple, every color you want!"
Number Five was too lazy to pay attention to him.
Number Eight had said this many times before. But she knew that even if she left the base, there would be no flowers on this planet...
No. 5, feeling that he had completed the transaction with Su Ci, happily sniffed the floral scent on the handkerchief, then put it in his pocket with satisfaction.
After crying, she felt hungry.
So she ran out of bed again, came to the table, stood on tiptoe to open the food box on it, and the rich aroma of meat filled the air, mixed with the fresh and sweet aroma of fruit.
In addition to meat, the flavors of No. 5 also include fruit.
Su Ci sat on the chair, but Number Five didn't mind. He just stood by the table, picked up the small spoon, and started eating in a good mood.
When No. 8 smelled the fragrance, his stomach growled - he had just sneaked out when No. 4586 wasn't paying attention, so naturally he didn't get to eat.
He couldn't help it and ran to the table.
The small table at number five was a little low for him, so he squatted down and looked at it eagerly, with his big furry tail swaying behind him.
"I'm hungry too, give me some food too."
Su Ci looked at his furry tail wagging in front of her and felt a little itchy, but when faced with No. 8's begging for food, the little girl showed no mercy.
"You, go back to your room and eat."
The little girl, who was only five or six years old, was not very eloquent yet, but when she said this, she exuded an indescribable aura.
Su Ci, who was originally staring at the tail of number eight, suddenly looked up at her.
After the little girl finished speaking, she buried her head in her food, while Number Eight, who was squatting on the ground, had lost focus in his originally bright puppy eyes.
He murmured, "Go back to your room and eat... Go back to your room and eat..."
Then Number Eight stood up and walked out the door stiffly but without losing speed.
Su Ci watched this scene, then looked at the little girl in surprise. After hesitating for a moment, he stood up and followed No. 8 out the door.
When he reached the door, he looked back.
The little girl in the room also looked up at him. She held a spoon in one hand and waved at him with the other, her round eyes curved into crescents...
Until the metal door closed completely, completely blocking his view.
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