TCPUAAV Chapter 151

 

 

The rear garden of Palka Palace had also been planted with Falling Star Vines by the little maintenance bot. In just over a year, the incredibly hardy vines had grown lush and vibrant.

 

09 tended to them with great care, and now that it was the fruit season, clusters of golden Falling Star Fruits hung like little stars, giving the place an unmistakable resemblance to their old repair shop on Planet B3024.

 

The only difference was that beneath the thick canopy of vines, there was no pool for the little ones to splash and play in—only a few chairs and tables had been set out.

 

“We haven’t been home in so long,” the little dragon cub sighed, belly up and eyes fixed longingly on the stars dangling overhead. “I kinda miss it.”

 

He still thought life on B3024 was better—back then he didn’t have to do anything. His biggest worry was going to the cub school every day.

 

Now, he had to lead patrol squads around the star regions from time to time and also study with Daddy Garland on how to manage dragon clan affairs. It was enough to make his scales fall out.

 

“I miss it too,” Nota chimed in, counting on her fingers how long they’d been away. “Uncle Xiong (She literally call him “uncle bear” so I don’t know which one of the brothers it is lmao) said the Falling Star Wine that 09 brewed is finally ready to drink.”

 

Although they had Falling Star Vines here in Palka Palace and could brew wine with them too, the little ones always felt the batches from B3024 were just that much more fragrant and mellow.

 

[Why don’t we go back for a visit?] the little merboy suggested after a moment of contemplation.

 

!!!!

 

What a great idea!

 

The little dragon cub and the fox pup immediately sat up with a flip, their eyes shining brightly. Even Ruan Jiao edged closer, the feelers on his forehead swaying excitedly as he raised his hand in agreement: “Let’s go home!”

 

No sooner said than done. The very next day, the cubs came up with an excuse to skip their responsibilities, and quietly slipped away in a shuttle, preparing for a secret getaway.

 

Back when the fleet was relocated from B3024 to Sikkim, a stable jump corridor had been specially created. Nowadays, B3024 wasn’t far from Sikkim at all. And with antimatter-powered shuttles, their travel speed had nearly doubled. A round trip took only half a day.

 

The little ones planned to sneak back, drink some Falling Star Wine, and return before anyone noticed.

 

As the shuttle lifted off from the spaceport, Ruan Shiqing was on his way to see Rong Heng.

 

“The kids have already left. Are you done with your work?”

 

“Almost,” Rong Heng replied with clear frustration as he pushed a stack of documents away. “Even though I gave up the throne, this workload doesn’t feel any lighter than being emperor.”

 

It wasn’t the first time he’d made that complaint. Ruan Shiqing poured a glass of freshly brewed Falling Star Wine and sat down beside him, offering a half-hearted consolation,

“Give it a bit more time—once everything’s running smoothly, it’ll be better.”

 

He took a slow sip of wine, clearly in no hurry to help.

 

After all, Master Ruan was a genius in weapon design—not so much in political administration.

 

Rong Heng, envious, leaned over and stole a wine-flavored kiss.

 

“Hurry up. If we delay any longer, the kids will beat us back,” Ruan Shiqing leaned away, pushing him gently on the shoulder.

 

Reluctantly, Rong Heng let go, frowning as he returned to his work.

 

By the time he finally wrapped up, two more hours had passed.

 

He shoved the last stack of documents aside, called in his deputy to handle the rest, and practically dragged Ruan Shiqing to Palka Palace’s landing pad.

 

A shuttle was already waiting there, idling with its engines warm. 09, who had been waiting for a while, poked his head out of the hatch and urged, “The kids are almost there!”

 

The two boarded in a flash, and 09 promptly lifted off, chasing after the little ones’ shuttle.

 

They’d left two hours later, so by the time they arrived on Planet B3024, the sun was already setting.

 

The cubs were sprawled out on lounge chairs, completely drunk, surrounded by four or five empty wine jars. Only one jar remained unopened.

 

The Falling Star Vines swayed gently in the breeze, and the air was thick with the sweet fragrance of Falling Star Wine.

 

“Looks like we were still a step too late,” Ruan Shiqing muttered as he stepped forward and bent down to poke at the little dragon cub, who was sprawled out belly-up on the chair. The cub clearly couldn’t hold his liquor—he was all over the place, four paws tightly wrapped around the fox cub’s fluffy tail, nuzzling and flailing about.

 

The little fox had been fast asleep but was clearly not pleased to be woken up. Grumbling something under her breath, she swatted her tail and kicked the dragon cub clean off the chair.

 

The dragon cub rolled with a thud onto the cushioned ground and ended up right next to Ruan Jiao. Still pawing around aimlessly, he clambered onto Ruan Jiao’s lap and resumed snoring.

 

Ruan Jiao, at least, was behaving himself. He sat cross-legged on the mat, not asleep, but his dark red eyes were misty with emotion, and his antennae swayed gently—sometimes fast, sometimes slow—his whole presence radiating quiet contentment.

 

The little merboy lay quietly beneath the surface of the water, his tail swaying gently, the shimmering scales refracting light into dazzling colors.

 

Ruan Shiqing picked up the empty wine jars one by one and set them aside. Then he lifted the last unopened jar of Falling Star Wine and gave it a shake.

 

“There’s one left.”

 

Rong Heng took it, unsealed it, and the rich aroma of the fruit wine instantly wafted out.

“Just enough for the two of us.”

 

Without going anywhere else, the two of them simply sat down on the spot, passing the final jar of wine back and forth between them, sipping in turn.

 

Falling Star Wine was a fruit-based brew with a relatively low alcohol content, but by the time the jar was nearly empty, Ruan Shiqing was visibly tipsy. He rested his chin on his hand, half-lidded eyes gazing dreamily at the man in front of him. “Wine still tastes better at home.”

 

“Mm.” Rong Heng’s fingers traced the curve of his flushed lips, and unable to resist, he leaned in, murmuring against his mouth, “Then let’s come back often.”

 

Maybe it was the comfort of a familiar place, or maybe the gentle intoxication of the wine—but what began as a soft, fleeting kiss quickly grew difficult to contain.

 

Rong Heng pressed forward relentlessly, claiming territory as he went. Ruan Shiqing, eyes closed and relaxed, let him do as he pleased. The air around them grew warmer, filled with an undercurrent of joy and intimacy.

 

Just as things were spiraling out of control, a crisp little voice suddenly interrupted them:

“Daddy?”

 

Ruan Shiqing froze, instinctively pushing Rong Heng away as he guiltily turned toward the voice.

 

“You’re awake?” he asked the little dragon cub.

 

At some point, the cub had woken up and wandered over, now blinking sleepily up at him with big golden eyes still hazy with confusion.

 

He didn’t answer. Instead, after staring for a few seconds, he wiggled his four stubby limbs and wedged himself right between the two adults, found a comfy spot, and flopped down again—snoring softly.

 

—He clearly hadn’t sobered up. That brief moment of lucidity had just been a fluke.

 

“You little rascal,” Rong Heng muttered, jabbing a finger at the cub’s belly. Seeing he wasn’t budging, he picked him up and dumped him onto Nota’s fluffy fox tail.

 

Disturbed mid-dream, the little dragon cub flapped his bat-like wings in protest, then curled up with the soft tail in his arms and drifted off again, completely unaware that he had once again ruined a rare tender moment between his dad and papa.

 

Rong Heng was clearly still disgruntled, reaching out to tug on the cub’s horns.

 

Ruan Shiqing muttered under his breath,

 

“You’re so childish… No wonder the cubs won’t call you ‘Papa.’”

 

“What?” Rong Heng turned, not quite catching what he said.

 

“Nothing. I said—let’s go upstairs,” Ruan Shiqing replied with a grin, pulling him to his feet.

“There’s probably still a bottle of the adult wine in the kitchen.”

 

Rong Heng immediately lost interest in arguing with a child and rushed off to the kitchen. With the bottle in hand, he returned and headed upstairs with Ruan Shiqing, shoulder to shoulder.

 

From a short distance away, 09, carrying a small blanket, watched the two figures disappear inside. Accessing his extensive memory banks, he concluded that now was not the right time to disturb the gentlemen. So, he silently made his way to the backyard instead.

 

There, he gently tucked the sleeping cubs in under warm blankets.

 

Only then did he pick up his pruning shears and begin trimming back the wildly overgrown Falling Star Vines climbing up the garden wall.

 

As he worked, the little robot hummed a lullaby he had just learned.

 

The sunset bathed the landscape in a warm orange glow, gilding even the green leaves with a hint of gold. A light breeze rustled through the vines, dappling the air with shifting rays of soft light.

 

Everything was just right.

 

[Main Story Complete]

 

 

---

 

(Heli doesn’t change, after interrupting Hector and Garland, he now interrupts Ruan Shiqing and Rong Heng… Though it’s a good thing this time around, they were literally out next to their cubs, these shameless adults lmao!!)

 

I’m crying, this is the official end to our seemingly sweet but quite deep little story about a random human picking up cubs and raising them. Now all that’s left are three extras before it’s really, really done ;_;

 

Thanks for reading!