CRA Chapter 35


Wrapped around his waist was…


The club had before received two million credits through an anonymous donation and after consulting the staff at Yunbao branch, they finally decided to use the money to construct a new facility—

An outdoor venue for the aquatic races.

Not only would it come in handy as the number of aquatic race cubs increased in the future, it would also let the existing mermaid and moye cub have a more free living environment.

To build an outdoor pool of moderate size and connect it to the pool inside, would only cost them approximately one million credits.

Included was also an invisible shielding barrier which could protect the cubs from rain and wind when needed. The barrier was the kind that automatically deactivated when not required, which was very convenient.

The rest of the money was spent on an environment simulator, which was even more expensive than building the new pool and required them to take a little from the money Xie Luan had previously acquired for the club.

Although it was a large expense, Xie Luan still decided to do it after considering all aspects of the situation.

At present, the funds to maintain their club’s daily operations were still very adequate. It was therefore quite reasonable to spend money on essentials such as the new facility and the machine, they had all agreed on that.

Professionals were hired and it took a few days before the new outdoor pool was finished.

The installation of the environment simulator, however, did not need as much time and was done before the end of the day. Once the construction of the new pool was finished, Xie Luan and several of the other caretakers brought the cubs over to show it to them.

Although it was mainly for aquatic races, it was not uncommon for the terrestrial cubs to occasionally play in the water as well. When they had sufficient funds, Xie Luan even planned on also building a water playground for the cubs.

As they approached the newly built pool, they entered the scope of the environment simulator and immediately felt a change. The breeze brushing against their face was slightly different and the air had the scent of the ocean.

It was not just the wind, the sound of waves could also be heard. As soon as the cubs following the caretakers stepped into the simulation, they saw a blue ocean spread out before them.

The actual space was naturally not that large, it was simply the newly installed simulator that made it seem this way. It even manipulated the flow of water and many more aspects of the environment to make the area as similar to the ocean as possible.

Of course, there was also safety measures. The pool had an automatic rescue system, so there was no need to worry about the terrestrial cubs accidentally drowning.

The sea.

Most cubs at Yunbao branch had never seen the ocean before. But despite this, they still thought that the scene in front of them was very beautiful.

As for the two aquatic cubs, the current simulation showing the ocean gave them a very familiar and nostalgic feeling. The moye cub had already taken the initiative and was eagerly making his way towards the water. He seemed like he wanted to enter it and never leave.

Unfortunately, after just a few steps, he stumbled and accidentally turned onto his back. The moye cub waved his small legs in the air for a while and after finding that he could not turn back, hummed, calling out to the youth standing nearby.

In fact, every time the cub walked carelessly and ended up on his back, he would not immediately ask for help. The only exception was if he was in his parents’ presence.

Because he always turned over onto his shell for no reason when he walked, he was always inconveniencing people. The cub could feel other people’s impatience and so struggled, kicking his legs in the air, trying desperately to do it himself. It was first when he realized that he really could not do it on his own that he would call out to others with a humming sound.

He turned over again….

Xie Luan pressed his lips together, but still couldn’t stop a laugh from escaping. Hearing how the humming grew louder after his suppressed laughter, Xie Luan gave a low cough and squatted down to turn the moye cub back. He then held him in his arms.

“If you turn over in the future and there are no adults around, you can ask the other cubs for help. They will certainly be willing to help you.” Although the possibility of no adults being around was very small, Xie Luan touched the moye cub’s hard shell and said this in a soft tone.

The moye cub, who was being held by the youth, was very obedient. The little sharp tail was shaking behind him as he raised his head, humming to the youth.

Although the youth in front of him had just a moment ago laughed when he was on his back, the cub knew that he had not laughed at him. Besides, the youth had helped him, turning him over very gently without making him feel the slightest discomfort.

Cubs were actually much more perceptive than many people thought. When it came to sensing other people’s emotions and attitude towards them, cubs were especially susceptible.

The people who would be good to them and those who would be bad to them, the cubs could often distinguish them simply through instinct.

With the two cubs in his arms, Xie Luan walked up to the water’s edge and gently placed the cubs in the shallow water.

Although it was just an ocean environment fabricated by an environment simulator, the mermaid cub could still not help but shake his tail lightly when he looked at it.

“Ah~”

The mermaid cub glanced at the water and then back at the youth. He wanted to explore the waters, but he did not want to leave the youth who was standing on the shore. Ultimately the mermaid cub did not swim into the deepest part, but stayed nearby and tried his hardest to call out to the youth with a strong and clear sound.

“Gale, go and have fun.” After Xie Luan said this, he stood still to make clear that he would stay there and watch.

Hearing his words as well as seeing that he did not move, the cub felt reassured enough to swim and explore the depths of the sea with a sense of novelty.

For many of the other cubs, this was also their first time seeing the ocean and just like the mermaid cub they were filled with curiosity and excitement, many of them trying to enter the water to play.

Lin Yi had prepared all the shooting tools early in the morning and now directed the camera at this simulated ocean area. This was something that the staff had discussed and decided before.

They were going to introduce the new venue to the cubs and let them play to their heart’s content. In the meantime they would also take some pictures and later update their club’s official Xingyou account, taking the opportunity to make a new promotional video as well.

When Lin Yi was taking the pictures, Xie Luan lifted the round cub lying on his shoulder and held him in his arms. He gently stroked his back and touched the two small horns in his head— objectively speaking, the nox cub should not be included in the picture.

Xie Luan believed that the wrongdoings of his race should not be put on the young nox’s shoulders and that he shouldn’t be held responsible for their sins. The cub had still been in his egg when what happened took place, he had not done anything wrong. He was a good child.

To this day, Xie Luan still believed this. But he also knew that others did not feel the same as he did and that there would always be people out there that would act with blind hatred. Encountering them was inevitable.

Because of this, it was only reasonable to try to avoid conflict.

Even better would be if this conflict never happens, and the best way to do that right now was to keep the nox cub away from the public’s eye.

“Meaah.” Softly licking the youth’s snow white fingertips, the nox cub marked his scent and then snuggled into the youth’s embrace, simultaneously trying to half-hook his tail around the youth’s wrist.

Although he knew that the nox was now a grown up, Xie Luan could not refuse him while he was in his current form and let him snuggle into his arms without any objections. It had already become a habit to let the cub be close to him.

The cub looked very fluffy and round, like a ball with two small horns on its head. His pale blue eyes were bright and pretty, and when he was happy he would unconsciously tilt his tail and make a low sound in his throat. No matter how you looked at it, it was very difficult to refuse this adorable creature.

Touching and touching, Xie Luan traced his fingers along the cub’s soft fur all the way to his fluffy little tail. It was at this moment that he suddenly thought of something and paused his movements.

He didn’t know why, but several times before when he was touching the nox cub’s tail, he had noticed that Zarad seemed to have a subtle look on his face.

It was just touching the tail, he did not feel like there was anything wrong with it…

Because of this, he had thought that it was just his own imagination and quickly abandoned the idea. After touching the back of the cub, Xie Luan carefully observed the cub and once again traced the fluffy tail.

The purring from the nox’s throat became louder when the tail was touched, which clearly showed that the cub was happy and liked it.

Having confirmed that the nox wanted to have his tail touched, Xie Luan felt relieved and continued playing with the soft tail.

Normally, the nox cub mostly sat on his shoulder or in his arms. But when Xie Luan was busy working, the cub would quickly sit on the side, watching him.

While touching the tail, Xie Luan was a little absent-minded. Not recalling that there was a flight of stairs behind him, he took a step back and noticed all too late that there was nothing but air.

“——“

Subconsciously tightening his hold on the cub in his arms, Xie Luan got ready to fall. There was absolutely no time to respond, no way to stop his own fall.

But almost at the same time, Xie Luan found that his arms were empty.

The nox cub was gone.

In the next second, Xie Luan suddenly felt something firmly encircling his waist, stopping his fall backward. He looked up and met a pair of cold light blue eyes with sharp pupils.

What was wrapped around his waist was…

The adult nox’s silver tail.

_______________
Translator’s note:

Many thanks to K. Samel for the coffees. ❤️

Somehow the assignments just keep rolling in, but I will try to do a whole chapter next week.

On another note, it was very interesting to read your comments on the last chapter, although they did vary a bit and there were some exceptions, many were quite similar. Fascinating. ^^


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