TCPUAAV Chapter 20

 

(Note: the title means to be a menace basically powerful enough to stand against forces)

 

After a good night’s rest, Ruan Shiqing woke up early the next day and headed to clean the small pool with 09.

 

On his way downstairs, he made a point of checking the kitchen. The window had been left open all night, but the nutritional supplements he had left on the windowsill remained untouched.

 

It seems the little fox didn’t come by last night, he thought, or maybe he had been mistaken, and it wasn’t a fox at all.

 

Shaking his head, Ruan Shiqing changed into his work clothes, grabbed his tools, and began cleaning the pool with 09.

 

The circular pool, five meters in diameter and three meters deep, occupied a fifth of the courtyard. Built entirely by 09, it was shaded by the falling tendrils of the fallen star vines from the second floor. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering in fragments over the water.

 

It was designed as a play area specifically for the little mermaid.

 

Together, Ruan Shiqing and 09 cleaned and disinfected the pool three times. Then Ruan Shiqing installed water pipes and a filtration system. Once the pool was filled with water, he went upstairs to retrieve the eagerly awaiting little mermaid.

 

The little mermaid clutched two rubber duckies tightly in his arms, his blue eyes sparkling as he gazed at the pool.

 

“Go ahead and try it out,” Ruan Shiqing said, carrying him to the pool’s edge.

 

The pool was half-buried underground, with the exposed edge just over a meter high. This design allowed the little mermaid to easily interact with Ruan Shiqing and the others while sunbathing or playing.

 

After casting a hesitant glance back at Ruan Shiqing and receiving an encouraging nod, the little mermaid leaped into the water.

 

A cascade of ripples spread out as he plunged in. His long tail swayed elegantly, cutting through the clear water as he rolled and swam freely. The light reflecting off the surface hid the scars and rough patches on his tail, making him look like a radiant, flawless mermaid.

 

The two rubber duckies bobbed on the rippling surface as the little mermaid breached the water, his sapphire-blue eyes shimmering with delight. He picked up a duck and let out three distinct “ah” sounds, expressing his joy.

 

“It’s good that you like it,” Ruan Shiqing said with a smile. He pointed to a small mushroom-shaped shelf near the pool. “That’s yours too. You can put anything you like there.”

 

The shelf was stocked with towels, nutritional supplements, medicines, and small toys to keep him entertained.

 

Overjoyed, the little mermaid leaned out of the pool to hug Ruan Shiqing tightly, nuzzling his chest and letting out happy “ah ah” sounds.

 

Had his vocal cords healed, Ruan Shiqing would have realized that the mermaid was calling him “papa”—the word for father in the merfolk language.

 

Though he didn’t understand the mermaid’s words, Ruan Shiqing could feel his happiness. He gently placed the mermaid back into the water and pointed to 09. “If you need anything, just call 09 to get it for you.”

 

The little mermaid clung to the pool’s edge, nodding obediently before turning to 09. He let out a cheerful “ah ah,” flashing a radiant smile that meant “thank you.”

 

Thrilled by the little mermaid’s approval, 09 spun in two delighted circles before rushing back into the house, needing to distract himself from the strange, warm sensation in his circuits.

 

Ruan Shiqing chuckled and shook his head.

 

But then he realized he hadn’t seen the puppy since waking up. His gaze swept the courtyard, searching for the little rascal.

 

After searching the house in vain, he glanced up and saw a furry head peering down from the second-floor windowsill.

 

“Snowball, come down and play,” Ruan Shiqing called.

 

Rong Heng gave a disdainful snort. The courtyard is a mess, splattered with water from that artificial fish. I’m not stepping down there.

 

He turned his head away, pointedly ignoring Ruan Shiqing.

 

If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain.

 

Ruan Shiqing climbed to the second floor, scooped up the puppy, and gave him a playful rub before carrying him downstairs.

 

As they passed the workshop, Ruan Shiqing suddenly remembered the metal sphere the puppy had taken the previous day. Grabbing the pup by his scruff, he held him up and shook him lightly. “Where’s the ball I gave you yesterday?”

 

“…” Rong Heng met his gaze.

 

Not telling you.

 

Seeing the puppy’s wide, innocent eyes, Ruan Shiqing could tell he wouldn’t get an answer. He probably lost it somewhere, he thought.

 

Cradling the puppy again, he couldn’t resist tweaking one of his furry ears. “Playing dumb, huh?”

 

The nerve!

 

Rong Heng’s indignation simmered. I was helping you, you clueless human.

 

The ball’s unique material had intrigued Ruan Shiqing, and he had planned to study it further. However, with urgent matters to attend to, he decided to postpone the search.

 

Leaving 09 in charge of the cubs, Ruan Shiqing joined the Xiong brothers in the hovercar.

 

They were headed deep into the scrapyard to test the upgraded vehicle’s performance.

 

*

 

Nota watched from her hiding spot as Ruan Shiqing left the house, then stealthily made her way toward the kitchen carrying a newly scavenged heat radiator nearly half her height.

 

It was her way of repaying the earlier gift of four tubes of nutritional supplements.

 

Dragging the radiator with great effort, she finally placed it beneath the kitchen window. Standing on tiptoe, she hoisted it up onto the windowsill.

 

Just as she was about to leave, her eyes caught sight of the three tubes of supplements left on the sill.

 

Though the sight made her lick her lips, she had no intention of taking anything from this house. She was about to look away when the writing on the tube piqued her curiosity.

 

Nota recognized a few basic characters and stared intently. The tube read: “This is a thank-you gift.”

 

Climbing onto the windowsill, she squatted there, her gaze fixed on the supplements.

 

Are these for me? she wondered, her tail swishing faintly as excitement bubbled up inside her.

 

Could they be thanking me for the parts I brought yesterday?

 

After a moment’s hesitation, Nota hugged the tubes to her chest, jumped down from the windowsill, and retreated into the vines. From her hiding spot, she looked at the warm, inviting house and smiled brightly.

 

The owner of this house really is kind, she thought, feeling a rare flicker of warmth in her otherwise cautious heart.

 

Meanwhile, Ruan Shiqing and the Xiong brothers arrived at the scrapyard.

 

The massive yard, filled with piles and towers of various metal debris, was one of the official venues for the annual hovercar races. Its challenging terrain made high-speed navigation incredibly difficult.

 

Earlier in the day, a transport ship had delivered a fresh load of scrap, attracting scavengers looking for valuable items. The arrival of Ruan Shiqing’s hovercar drew curious onlookers.

 

When they saw the old, beat-up hovercar, their curiosity turned into ridicule.

 

“That thing? It’ll fall apart after one lap on the track!”

 

“Yeah, the hovercar race isn’t for just anyone to join.”

 

“Wait, the driver’s an ancient human? Do they actually think they can compete?”

 

Ignoring the murmurs, Ruan Shiqing performed a final check and indicated for the Xiong brothers to step out of the car.

 

The brothers, with their imposing physiques, gave the crowd menacing glares and waved their fists, scaring off the more timid onlookers.

 

A few bolder ones stayed, watching from a distance.

 

Ruan Shiqing donned his goggles, adjusted the controls, and activated the fuel igniters. Both engines roared to life, and the hovercar disappeared in a whirlwind of speed.

 

The sudden burst left the crowd stunned.

 

By the time they snapped out of it, the car was already out of sight, with only the fading roar of its engines in the distance.

 

“What the hell?! That was so fast!”

 

“Isn’t that the second-hand hovercar Luther bought? I heard it broke down as soon as he got it!”

 

“If it’s that fast in the race, it might even make the top ten!”

 

Amid the chatter, a wolf-eared Beastkin sneered. “Speed’s all well and good, but the hovercar race isn’t just about going fast. And the driver’s an ancient human. If they crash the thing on their first lap, what’s the point?”

 

Before he could finish, the roar of the engines returned, growing louder.

 

The old, battered hovercar reappeared, storming through the scrapyard like a thunderclap.

 

Ruan Shiqing jumped out after parking the car, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with the crowd’s astonished faces.

 

He glanced at the gawking Xiong brothers and said, “Your turn. Each of you take it for a spin. If there are no issues, we’re done here.”

 

“On it!” Xiong Yuanyuan replied, practically shoving Xiong Fangfang into the driver’s seat.

 

The hovercar roared away again, leaving the crowd buzzing.

 

With his windswept hair revealing his sharp features, Ruan Shiqing’s usual gentle demeanor seemed to gain an edge. Despite his lean and youthful appearance, none of the onlookers dared underestimate him anymore.

 

The wolf-eared Beastkin, red-faced from his earlier remarks, slunk away to the back of the crowd.

 

Others, however, approached Ruan Shiqing, bombarding him with questions.

 

“Are you entering this year’s race?”

 

“Did you buy this car from Luther? Where did you get it repaired?”

 

“Are you really an ancient human? I’ve never seen one as skilled as you!”

 

Ruan Shiqing calmly answered a few of the more common questions.

 

“I’m not entering the race.”

 

“The car belongs to Luther. I only modified it.”

 

“Yes, I’m an ancient human, but I wouldn’t call myself skilled.”

 

Before he could answer more, the Xiong brothers finished their laps and returned.

 

Xiong Fangfang hopped out and placed himself protectively in front of Ruan Shiqing.

 

“Let’s go,” he said, motioning for Ruan Shiqing to get back in the car.

 

Before leaving, Xiong Yuanyuan couldn’t resist promoting their business.

 

“He’s the owner of the new repair shop near the underground market. This car was modified by him, and as you can see, the performance speaks for itself. If you’re interested, stop by the shop sometime.”

 

With that, the brothers shooed away the crowd and drove off.

 

Left behind, the onlookers buzzed with discussion.

 

Meanwhile, the wolf-eared Beastkin slipped away unnoticed.

 

A new threat, he thought grimly, heading off to inform his boss.

 

 

 

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Yuebai, Nota, 09, Heng Heng… So many cuties around Ruan Shiqing!!

 

Thanks for reading!

For every three ko-fis, I will upload a bonus chapter~