NOVPUB
Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Gugugu
Zhu Changfu’s treasured son, who was also his only child, was named Zhu Chengzhi.
Zhu Changfu had dropped out of school early in life, a regret he always carried. When he had his cherished son, he constantly urged him to study hard. Zhu Chengzhi did not disappoint, always ranking at the top of his class. He skipped several grades and at sixteen, was admitted to one of the country’s top universities. He later successfully continued his studies into a doctoral program. Before the apocalyptic world began, he entered the National Research Institute to assist his mentor with research as a doctoral student.
After the apocalyptic world commenced, father and son lost contact. Since the Research Institute was in the north, Zhu Changfu always believed his son had gone to the Beicheng Base. Unexpectedly, due to a series of mishaps, Zhu Chengzhi followed his mentor to the Yunan Base and later became separated from his teammates while returning to the Beicheng Base.
During an attack by alien species, when he was separated from the main troop, the chances of survival were slim. Upon hearing Zhu Changfu’s words, everyone couldn’t help but fall silent.
Han Jiaojiao thought for a moment, then said, "We could inquire whether there are any private bases near the incident location. Maybe they have already been rescued..."
With no body and no sight of the living, no father would ever conclude that his son was dead, even if hope was faint—it was still hope.
Han Jiaojiao’s words brought warmth to Zhu Changfu’s heart, and a glimmer of light seemed to appear in his eyes. He lifted his head and said to Han Jiaojiao with deep gratitude, "Girl, no matter what, I thank you!"
Heizi was standing by Zhu Changfu’s side, supporting his shoulder, and declared with a generous spirit, "Boss! Don’t worry, we brothers will definitely help you find the young master!"
"All of you are truly outstanding," Zhu Changfu said, looking at Heizi and then at the brothers receiving IV drips on the sickbeds, deeply moved.
He had traveled thousands of miles from the south to this place, losing many people along the way. After entering the base, he had left many behind. Now, he only had these six younger brothers left...
This time, Ahai had sustained only minor injuries but almost lost his life due to an infection... Zhu Changfu couldn’t keep being the burden to everyone here anymore. He was old, but they were still young...
With these thoughts, Zhu Changfu raised his head, his eyes blazing, and earnestly said to Lu Changyuan, "I would like to ask Brother Lu to pass a message to Han Yi for me, telling him that I, Zhu Changfu, wish to join his ranks. Of my six brothers here, three are Superpower Users, and the other three, despite not having abilities, are all well-trained and reliable, never indulging in underhand tricks."
"Boss!" Heizi and the brothers beside him couldn’t help but cry out, their faces showing deep emotion. They all could see that Zhu Changfu was arranging for their future!
Zhu Changfu waved his arm to stop them from talking and continued to Lu Changyuan, "I don’t mean to boast, but when it comes to skills, these younger brothers of mine are top-notch. If Han Yi decides to keep them, he will not regret it!... I’m old now, the world has changed, and if they keep following me, it’s just a waste."
Upon hearing these words, Lu Changyuan gave a solemn nod and said, "Don’t worry, Brother Zhu. I’ll keep that in mind."
This matter was not big, but not small either. They had already taken in a Bai Kairui who had settled in and developed a good rapport with them, and built a certain level of trust between them.
But would their luck keep holding? Would everyone they took in be as open-hearted as Bai Kairui?
—It would all depend on Han Yi’s final decision.
After finishing her milk, Han Jiaojiao silently walked into the kitchen to wash the cup. Yu Wanxi saw this, snatched the milk cup from her hands, and said, "Let me wash it. You guys have been busy outside for two days—rest a bit more."
Han Jiaojiao stood in the kitchen for a while before turning and walking upstairs, heading straight for the terrace on the third floor.
She needed to find something to do, so she wouldn’t keep mulling over things endlessly. Knowing her brother had been called away by Professor Duan’s people, her mind was in turmoil. Things from the past life, this life, the real, and the imagined...
When would her brother return? Was he with Qin Nanyi? What did Professor Duan want to talk to him about? Did the Qin family have designs on her brother?...
It wasn’t until she saw Xiaogua, Xiaodou, and Cotton Candy that her depressed mood began to ease a bit.
After two days without watering, the soil’s surface had dried out, but it didn’t matter, she had placed several big bowls full of water on it before she left, so if they got thirsty, they could just use their vines to soak up the water for a drink.
Han Jiaojiao looked at Pepper’s egg, which still showed no sign of hatching, and couldn’t help but sigh softly. Just then, Cotton Candy’s fluffy vines reached out and touched her wrist, and Jiaojiao, tickled by the white hairs on the vines, couldn’t help but laugh.
"You little guy, how did you grow a coat of fur? Are you some kind of fuzzy youngster? Ha ha..."
In her previous life, neither Xiaogua, Xiaodou, nor Pepper had been furry like Cotton Candy. Even after they grew up and came out of the ground, they had only a round patch of fluff on their bellies, which Jiaojiao guessed was to protect their soft underbellies.
But speaking of growing up... Jiaojiao pulled away the vine on her wrist, turning it over a few times for a closer look, then slowly stroked the center of the vine with the pad of her index finger, and indeed, she could feel the familiar serrated object.
Han Jiaojiao then tugged over the vines of Xiaogua and Xiaodou, inspecting each one.
— There was a shallow, inconspicuous midline down the center of the vine. When touched by a finger, one could feel a row of neat, serrated protrusions beneath the outer layer. Those were their teeth. Unlike the teeth of ordinary creatures, however, the teeth that grew on Space-Time Beasts’ vines were only there to better absorb nutrients after ensnaring their prey. They did not chew, and once the teeth sunk into the body of their prey, they would secrete a strong digestive fluid that quickly turned the prey into their own nutrients.
Perhaps comforted by Jiaojiao’s touch, the little Hourly Beasts kept making "goo goo goo" sounds.
Jiaojiao stroked each one on its top and said with a smile, "Your teeth are about to come in. It looks like I’ll have to start feeding you meat in a few days."
"Goo goo... goo goo goo..."
"But when you’re growing teeth it can be a bit uncomfortable, so you’ll have to endure, okay?" she said in a tone one might use to soothe kindergarteners, unsure if they could understand her or not...
Xiaogua and Xiaodou entangled her hand and played for a while, then started using their vines to splash water around in a water fight from the bowls.
Cotton Candy seemed to dislike getting its fur wet, deliberately avoiding the others, crawling on the side, its fluffy vines rubbing against each other, grooming its paws like a cat trying to dry the water droplets off itself bit by bit.
Han Jiaojiao was happy to play with them, so she went downstairs, brought back a chair, and sat for a while, but when she felt it was too hot, she ran down to find a sun umbrella.
Yan Xiao, seeing her running up and down busily, asked curiously, "Jiaojiao, you haven’t started raising pigeons on our rooftop, have you? I keep hearing ’goo goo’ noises up there."
Han Jiaojiao pursed her lips and smiled mysteriously, without answering.
Seeing her turn to go back upstairs, Yan Xiao hurriedly followed a few steps, "Really raising pigeons? Aren’t pigeon eggs supposed to be small?"
Han Jiaojiao waved him off disdainfully, "Don’t come up, don’t come up, I will show you in a few days!"
With that said, she picked up the umbrella and ran back to the terrace, while Yan Xiao stretched his neck and called after her, "Hey! To think you’d underestimate me, have I never seen pigeons before? ... It must be pigeons... ’goo goo goo’..."
...
