IBO -Chapter 46 Tricks as Deep as the Sea – Previous Timeline

This novel contains sensitive and taboo content like R*pe, Mu**er etc. Read only if you are comfortable.

Song Yiran sprinted a hundred meters and arrived in front of the little ones. He spread his arms and blocked the orphanage’s gate, then, with a soulful question, asked them, “Where are you going?”

The three little ones were completely caught off guard by Song Yiran’s sudden move. Feeling guilty, they didn’t even know where to put their paws.

Song Fu glanced at Song Yang and gestured with his eyebrows and eyes: *What do we do now?*

Song Yang shook his head helplessly: *How should I know? I don’t know what to do either. You should ask Song Buli.*

Song Yang poked Song Buli with his tail, then gestured again with his eyebrows and eyes: *What do we do now? Since you led this little mission, surely you’ve got a plan, right?*

He blinked frantically at Song Buli: *Yeah, what now?*

At this moment, Song Buli was deeply conflicted, and his inner turmoil was reflected in his paws.

He kept digging at the mud on the ground, and by now he had dug four small holes.

Meanwhile, Song Yiran was also conflicted. These little ones were exchanging signals right in front of him—did they think he couldn’t see their little tricks?

Should he confront them? Or confront them? Or confront them?

But if he exposed them now, would the little ones feel embarrassed?

At this age, pride probably meant everything. Forget it—he decided not to expose them.

In the end, Song Yiran chose to be a willfully blind observer.

A gust of night wind suddenly blew past, and Song Yiran shivered from the cold.

The night wind in this interstellar era was really too cold. Better to take the little ones back first—catching a cold from this wind wouldn’t do.

He was just about to speak and persuade the little ones to return, when Song Buli seemed to have finally come up with an excuse.

Blinking his large, Kasilan-style eyes at Song Yiran, he squeezed out an ultra-cute, high-pitched voice: “Big brother~ We just saw a butterfly outside, so we wanted to go catch it~

That butterfly was so pretty~ Big brother, we’ll be back really soon~”

Song Yiran was momentarily confused by the ridiculously cute voice Song Buli had squeezed out, his emotions briefly overtaking his reason, almost nodding in agreement.

Fortunately, 555 was still clear-headed and immediately warned, “Hey! Song Yiran, wake up!

That’s obviously an excuse! Going out late at night to catch a butterfly? You’re not seriously buying it, are you?”

With 555’s reminder, Song Yiran’s reason regained control.

He squatted down and patted Song Buli’s head. “Lili, it’s too late tonight. We won’t go catch butterflies today. How about tomorrow morning, big brother will go with you to catch butterflies?”

Feeling the warmth above his head, Song Buli thought to himself, If only it could always be like this…

He made a difficult decision in his heart. Pushing Song Yiran’s hand away, he closed his eyes and shouted fiercely, “I don’t like you!” I like you the most!

“You’re too poor! And so weak! How could you raise us?” You’re the best big brother!

“I’m telling you… I… I was just pretending before! I didn’t like you at all! Don’t take care of me anymore! We don’t need you! You mind your own business!” Just kidding, I like you the most!

Words are sharp weapons that hurt. Song Buli had experienced this firsthand. These words wouldn’t hurt the body but could pierce the heart.

He knew that if he told Song Yiran the truth, Song Yiran would certainly smile and comfort them, telling them it was okay, that he didn’t mind the trouble.

Song Yiran was that kind of kind-hearted person. But… he didn’t want to bring Song Yiran any more trouble.

Song Yiran was a good person. He deserved a better life. The three of them were just burdens to him.

Should a good person be doomed to trouble just because of their kindness?

That’s not how it works. Good people shouldn’t attract trouble for doing good deeds.

As long as they stayed by Song Yiran’s side even for one day, endless troubles would keep coming.

Song Yiran had already done enough for them. He gave them food and even gave them names.

He even wanted to give them a home.

That was already enough. These past couple of days could just be considered a stolen dream.

And every dream must end.

Song Buli thought he might stumble while saying those hurtful words, but when they finally came out, they flowed smoothly.

Perhaps it was because he had heard such words countless times before.

After all, he wasn’t exactly a good kid either, being able to say such hurtful things to someone who had saved him.

Thinking of this, his heart wrinkled. If… if only they didn’t cause him trouble…

Then, could they really become a family?

Song Buli closed his eyes, waiting for Song Yiran’s judgment. What would happen?

He assumed they’d get scolded and then left to fend for themselves.

Or maybe Song Yiran would be so angry that he’d hit them to vent.

But he never imagined that what awaited him was a hug.

He was held tightly in Song Yiran’s arms, and gently patted on the head.

Song Buli wanted to say something, but felt a warmth by his eyes—Song Yiran was wiping away his tears.

Did he… just cry?

Song Buli hurriedly reached out with his little paws and touched around his eyes. Damn it—his eyes had betrayed him!

So he’d already been crying all along. His tears had even soaked the fur on his face.

Song Buli felt like his life had suddenly turned gray. He’d closed his eyes when saying those words because he was afraid that if he kept them open, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from crying.

But who would’ve thought that even with his eyes closed, he’d still cry. QAQ

Could it be that his plan had failed right from the very beginning? Damn it! QAQ

Song Buli covered his face with his paws in despair. He’d been exposed from the start…

And just moments ago, he’d still been immersed in his own “acting,” thinking how convincing his performance was.

Wuwu… it’s all his eyes’ fault for not pulling their weight! QAQ

555 hovered in the air and laughed mercilessly. “Hahahahahahaha! I’m dying of laughter! This cub’s acting is terrible! Hahaha!”

Song Yiran smoothed Song Buli’s fur while helping him save face. “He’s still so little! For a cub this young, being able to act like this is already really good! When he grows up a bit more, he’ll definitely act even better!”

Even then, Song Yiran didn’t forget to “keep things balanced.” He pulled the other two cubs into his arms as well and smoothed all their fur together.

“So why exactly were you trying to leave? Was it because of what happened at the mine today?”

After the cubs’ emotions finally settled down, Song Yiran seriously asked about the reason they wanted to run away from home.

Song Buli spoke hesitantly, with reluctance in his tone. “If we keep staying by your side, more troubles like this will keep coming for you in the future.”

“It’s fine. I’m not afraid of trouble,” Song Yiran said softly, trying to comfort him.

A flicker of hesitation passed through Song Buli’s eyes. In the end, he still said, “But… but we don’t want that. To you, we’re just a burden. Without us, you’d live better.”

“Do you think I don’t have the ability?” Song Yiran raised an eyebrow and asked in return. “Do you think I can’t handle those troubles?”

“……” All three cubs fell silent together. Not a single one made a sound.

Song Yiran took the initiative to break the awkward silence. He sighed. “Alright, fine. I really don’t have much ability.

If Saika hadn’t stepped in back then, I probably would’ve rushed in headfirst and gotten beaten so badly I wouldn’t even know which way was north.”

Song Yang’s voice was filled with reluctance. “So… we’d better not stay here…”

“You’re looking down on me!” Song Yiran suddenly blurted out.

Song Yang was stunned by this conclusion. He hurriedly shook his head in denial. “No, that’s not what I mean—”

“You are looking down on me! You think I’m poor, you think I’m weak, you think I can’t afford to raise you, you think I don’t have any strength, you think I can’t protect you!” Song Yiran pressed the issue even harder.

Song Yang could only keep refuting him. “It’s not like that! That’s not what I mean, I just think—”

But Song Yiran suddenly put the cubs down, squatted on the ground, covered his face with both hands, and burst into loud sobs.

“Think what? Think I’m weak? Think I’m poor? I don’t care—either way, you’re looking down on me! You’re too mean! The three of you are bullying me all by yourselves! I’m going to make a scene! You’re bullying me too much! Waaaah—!”

Now Song Buli panicked as well and hurried to comfort him. “Brother, don’t cry! We really didn’t mean it like that…”

Song Yang chimed in from the side. “We really didn’t mean that. We truly didn’t look down on you.”

Song Fu echoed them. “Yeah, yeah! You’re the best brother! We never looked down on you!”

“Waaah, I don’t care! My soul has been traumatized! Waaah waaah waaah—! The three of you are bullying me all together! Waaah!”

Song Yiran ignored everything, still covering his face and wailing loudly.

Even 555 was shocked by this performance and cautiously tried to comfort him. “You’re really crying? Don’t cry, don’t cry… How about I help you scold them back? Even if they can’t hear me, at least it’ll make you feel better.”

“I’m pretending to cry, but thanks anyway. Truly worthy of being a system that’s on my side!”

“Waaah, I can’t go on living! Three kids bullying one adult! Waaah! I’ve completely lost my dignity! I have no face left! Waaah—!”

Song Yiran escalated even further, lying on the ground with his face covered, rolling around and throwing a tantrum.

555 was utterly impressed by this display. “Tsk tsk tsk! What a decaying world! A grown adult throwing a tantrum in front of kids—does this trick really work?”

“You just don’t get it. Just wait and see~” Song Yiran said confidently.

Sure enough, Song Buli spun around anxiously nearby. “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said that about you! You’re the best brother, the best brother ever! I really didn’t look down on you! Please don’t cry anymore, okay? I was wrong…”

Song Fu and Song Yang also apologized together. “We’re sorry! We were wrong! We shouldn’t have thought about sneaking away.”

“Waaah, do you really know you were wrong now? Waaah—” Song Yiran still lay on the ground, fake-crying.

All three cubs nodded in unison. “We’re sorry! We really know we were wrong!”

Song Yiran immediately jumped up from the ground. He patted the dust off his butt, then pulled all three cubs into his arms.

“Hehehehe! Kids who make mistakes have to be punished!

Your punishment is… being my little brothers for the rest of your lives!”