The Creature Keeper - Chapter 17

After a thorough physical examination, Tang Rou’s body showed no abnormalities.

She rested at home for a day and finally arrived, albeit late, the following afternoon.

From a distance, she saw several Security Officers standing anxiously in front of the laboratory, each holding heavy weaponry.

They seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

In the end, they said nothing, their faces expressionless as they stepped aside to let Tang Rou pass.

Puzzled, Tang Rou twisted open the compass, unlocked the heavy explosion-proof metal door, and walked inside.

A massive tank had been added to the office.

Inside the glass chamber, a handsome young man lay at the bottom, as still as a sculpture.

When he saw Tang Rou enter, his eyes brightened. He raised his hand to open the lid of the tank and floated up from the water.

His dark green eyes stared at her unblinkingly, filled with obvious anticipation.

“Good afternoon.” Tang Rou took a bag of common candies from her bag, tore open the wrapper, and said, “Open your mouth.”

The young man obediently opened his mouth and bit down on the candy she fed him.

As the fruity sweetness spread in his mouth, the young man narrowed his eyes and quietly extended a tentacle to latch onto her clothes, gently pulling her closer to his side.

“Rou…”

The office door slowly closed, shutting out the curious gazes of the Security Officers outside.

The experience of escorting this Experimental Subject had been nothing short of a nightmare.

He was extremely agitated, especially when he saw the Experimental Base logo on their uniforms; his anger nearly shattered the tank.

In fact, he had already broken it. The Security Officers watched in shock as the strikingly beautiful young man opened the lid with one hand and slowly rose from the tank, as if the gates of hell had opened before their eyes.

The heavy weapons in their hands had no effect on him; he disarmed them in an instant with his lightning-fast tentacles, leaving weapons scattered all over the floor.

They had no doubt that this furious Experimental Subject could tear them apart.

Fortunately, just as death seemed imminent, a female bioengineer walked by, surveyed the devastation, and said calmly, “You’d better cooperate. They’re taking you to Sector S. Don’t you want to see Ah Rou?”

The Experimental Subject’s terrifying tentacles had already wrapped around two people, nearly crushing them through their thick protective suits.

Upon hearing this, the Experimental Subject hesitated strangely.

The female engineer added coolly, “Besides, if you do this, Ah Rou will definitely be angry. You don’t want to see her angry, do you? You know she’ll ignore you if she’s upset.”

The Experimental Subject pondered for a second, his pupils trembling slightly.

Then, the Security Officers-already scared out of their wits-watched as the Experimental Subject expressionlessly tossed them aside like garbage and sat back down in the tank.

He even closed the lid himself.

Aselan, the engineer, said to them, “Hurry up and take him over!”

The Security Officers snapped back to their senses, quickly gathered the scattered heavy weapons, and resumed the escort.

.

After a night of nightmares and little rest, Tang Rou finished preparing the Nutrient Solution, her eyelids heavy as she lay her head on the desk.

The laboratory was kept at a low temperature, and she unconsciously hugged her arms to herself.

Half-asleep, half-awake, someone gently draped a jacket over her shoulders.

It should have been a warm gesture, but the jacket was wet, making her feel even colder instead of warmer.

The experimental chamber could no longer contain the Experimental Subject who now came and went as he pleased.
Tang Rou opened her eyes and lightly slapped the hand lingering on her shoulder, refusing to leave. She spoke calmly, “Go back.”

The translucent tip of a tentacle hooked a strand of her hair, seemingly reluctant.

The floor was covered in water, and the wide, pale green, translucent tentacles almost filled the office, curling up shyly under her gaze, as if embarrassed.

The culprit quietly watched her.

No one knew how long he had looked at her with such eyes while she slept, like a loyal dog guarding its master.

Tang Rou pressed her brow helplessly. “Go back to your glass tank.”

“Rou…” he called softly, as if trying to buy more time by her side.

Tang Rou repeated, “Be good.”

……

When Aselan came in, Tang Rou was sitting beneath the glass wall.

The dreamy, translucent Jellyfish looked like her backdrop, outlining her silhouette with soft ribbons.

In the adjacent experimental tank, the handsome tentacled youth stared at her motionlessly.

Clearly a deadly weapon, yet inexplicably pitiful, his long lashes drooped slightly, his face expressionless, lips pressed together.

Aselan couldn’t help but ask, “What did you do to him?”

Tang Rou replied, “I hit him.”

“Huh?”

Aselan was taken aback and glanced at the Experimental Subject.

The youth rested one hand atop the other, his pale, delicate face devoid of expression, yet somehow, with just one look, his grievance was obvious.

“…”

For such a terrifying and powerful deep-sea creature, Tang Rou’s slap surely didn’t hurt.

So what was he upset about?

Sensing her gaze, the youth looked at Aselan, a hint of something flickering in his dark green eyes.

Being stared at like that, Aselan felt not only fear but also a bit of pressure.

She turned her head and said sternly, “How could you hit someone! Hurry up and apologize, look how wronged he is.”

“…”

Tang Rou turned back. Number 17 was gazing at her with wide, expectant eyes.

Like a puppy wagging its tail, staring at its owner.

She couldn’t help but laugh, put down what she was holding, and walked to the front of his tank.

A moment ago, the youth was full of grievance, but now his eyes brimmed with hope. The deadly tentacles, in an instant, pressed shyly against the glass like a bashful maiden.

Tang Rou opened the lid, and he immediately straightened up and leaned out.

His dark green eyes quietly watched her, saying nothing.

Tang Rou suppressed a smile and spoke softly, “I’m sorry, are you angry?”

Number 17 was troubled.

He could never be angry with Tang Rou, but he didn’t want to miss this rare closeness.

At a loss, she reached out her hand. “Let me see.”

The youth obediently placed his hand in her palm.

His fingers were long and slender, his skin flawless, cold and perfect like a sculpture.

Tang Rou asked, “Does it hurt?”

Aselan couldn’t help but interrupt: “How could he possibly…”

Only to see the youth nod expressionlessly, his thick lashes drooping, making him look all the more pitiable.

Tang Rou gently rubbed the back of his hand and apologized, “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again. Can you forgive me?”

Aselan, “…”

Fine.

She shouldn’t have said anything.

Number 17’s tail tip, hidden beneath the water, stretched and curled in delight. He pursed his lips, looked away with restraint, and said, “I can.”