Chapter 398 |
Fang Qi glared at her.
"Do you even hear yourself right now?"
"If you're dumb, what does that make me?"
"And back in that secret room, who was the one telling me all those stories?"
"Not talking, huh?"
"Fine!"
He crossed his arms, leaned back into the sofa, and his eyes turned dangerous.
"Liguang."
He called her name softly.
She stepped forward with a gentle smile.
Silent and light, she stood beside Lin Xiaoyou, reaching out her pale little hand…
And pressed it tenderly against Lin Xiaoyou's shoulder.
Lin Xiaoyou immediately flinched!
The bright, smug grin on her round little face froze.
Then—
Smack!
Her hands flew to cover her own butt!
"Don't, don't, don't—!"
Lin Xiaoyou's face instantly twisted into a fawning smile, her chubby cheeks creasing with flattery.
"Sister Liguang, no, please!"
"Can't we talk this out nicely…"
Clutching her butt, she shuffled her little white legs in tiny steps across the floor, trying desperately to shrink away.
But that hand stayed firmly on her shoulder, unmoving.
So the genius lady turned back to Fang Qi, looking pitiful.
"Senior! Say something, please!"
"I helped you a ton in that Dream!"
She started boasting.
"The notebook! I protected the notebook for you!"
"I made up for my mistakes!"
And kept pleading.
"So no hitting! Really, no hitting!"
"Xiaoqing is watching!!"
Fang Qi was just about to smirk at her flustered look…
But then he froze.
…What?
Xiaoqing?
Xiaoqing is still watching?
…Oh.
He turned toward the floor-to-ceiling window on the balcony.
The window across the building.
Sunlight blazed against the glass, reflecting blinding white—nothing was visible.
Just glare, a blurry mess.
But at that moment, Liguang's voice rang out, soft and obedient.
"Master."
The silver-haired girl still had a hand on Lin Xiaoyou's shoulder, tilting her head slightly. Her amber left eye was gentle as water.
"Miss Xiaoqing has been standing at that window, watching this way, ever since a moment ago."
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"She hasn't set up a sniper rifle, nor shown any aggressive intent."
"She's just standing there, quietly watching."
Her crimson eye flickered briefly.
"Liguang believes she poses no threat."
She paused, then bowed her head a fraction.
"So Liguang didn't report it to you immediately. That was my oversight. Please punish me."
Oh…
Fang Qi blinked.
Liguang had already noticed? Then it was fine!
He reached out and directly ruffled her soft little head, making that stray strand of hair bounce around!
The silver-haired girl lifted her eyes and gave him a sly wink.
Clearly, his wife was being cunning too—she didn't actually want to be "punished"!
While the two were interacting…
Lin Xiaoyou had already taken the chance to slip out from under Liguang's hand while clutching her butt!
In a few quick steps, she scurried to the other side of the coffee table, letting out a long breath.
Then she turned back, her round face piled high with a sycophantic smile.
"Yes, yes, exactly!"
"So, Senior, please save me some face in front of Xiaoqing, okay~"
Her voice softened.
"I am Xiaoqing's master, you know. Getting spanked in front of her…"
She put her hands on her hips!
"I'll lose all my authority!"
Fang Qi finally couldn't help it—he rolled his eyes.
…You have authority?
You pretty much crawled from the door to my feet and handed me your keycard—how is that not losing face?
Still…
"Depends on how you behave."
Fang Qi sank back into the sofa, eyeing her.
"Now…"
"Time to tell me the story."
Lin Xiaoyou blinked her almond eyes.
Fang Qi crossed his legs and continued:
"For example, how did I know you before I lost my memory?"
"For example, why did I ask for your help?"
"And also…"
His eyes narrowed slightly:
"Why did you voluntarily lose your memory and pretend to be a junior at the company to get close to me?"
With each question, his tone grew heavier.
Each word made Lin Xiaoyou's cheeky grin stiffen a little more.
Finally, he raised his hand…
And pressed his index finger firmly against his own temple!
Staring at her evasive eyes:
"And most importantly."
"I've got a memory switch installed in my head, don't I?"
"So, can you—"
He leaned forward slightly, watching her expression closely.
"Make me recover my memory anytime?"
"Just like you did for yourself?"
Beside him, a flash of crimson!
Lin Xiaoyou's face changed instantly!
"Senior!"
She looked shocked.
"How can you say such baseless rumors in front of Liguang!"
"What switch? What memory recovery? I have no idea what you're talking about!"
She was righteous and indignant.
"You're driving a wedge between us!"
Then she sneaked a glance at Liguang.
"You're being alarmist! You're—!"
"Miss Lin."
A soft, docile voice rang out beside her.
The silver-haired girl had somehow already appeared at her side.
She smiled warmly at Lin Xiaoyou.
The crimson in her red eye lit up half her pretty face.
"You can… control Master's memory."
She murmured softly.
"You're a woman who could let Master regain his memory anytime."
"That's really impressive."
She tilted her head, silver hair sliding off her shoulder, the curve of her smile deepening just a little.
"Master, what do you think Liguang should do?"
Lin Xiaoyou's expression was frozen solid!
Fang Qi, arms crossed, leaning back against the sofa, just watched her with a grin.
Yes.
He did it on purpose.
He'd brought up the memory switch in front of Liguang intentionally.
He wanted his wife to pressure Lin Xiaoyou!
He wanted to see if, under Liguang's gleaming crimson gaze…
This genius lady would still dare to grin and evade the question!
If she didn't explain herself soon…
Her butt would keep serving as his wife's stress toy!
And Lin Xiaoyou…
She caved instantly!
"No, no, no! Don't overthink! Really, don't overthink!"
Shaking her head, she shrank into the corner of the sofa, her back pressed flat against the cushions.
"I can't control Senior's memory at all!"
"His switch has always been in his own hands!"
She looked at Liguang, laughing and pleading as she explained.
"I just, just gave him a nudge!"
"A tiny, tiny nudge!"
"Really! I swear by Xiaoqing's driver's license!"
Fang Qi stared at her in silence.
Liguang smiled and took another step closer.
Tap.
Lin Xiaoyou jumped slightly, her round face wrinkling miserably.
"…Ahhh, fine, fine!!"
She finally gave up, covering her face as she collapsed onto the sofa.
“Fine, fine! I’ll talk!”
She lowered her hands, her expression twisted with reluctance, then cautiously glanced at Liguang beside her.
“But you have to promise me! After I say it…”
She glared at Fang Qi, bargaining.
“No hitting me again! Not for the rest of the day!”
“And no threats either!”
That settled it, then.
“Alright, I promise.”
Fang Qi said, reaching out to grab the silver-haired girl’s wrist and pulling gently…
He dragged Liguang away from Lin Xiaoyou’s side and made her sit down!
Liguang leaned into him naturally.
The sweet scent of strawberries filled the air again.
Fang Qi raised his hand and pinched Liguang’s soft cheek—tender and smooth.
Then he nodded at Lin Xiaoyou.
“Go ahead, start talking.”
Rubbing her cheek helped him think!
He’d learned that from his mom!
The silver-haired girl’s body stiffened slightly, and her phoenix eyes shot him a reproachful glance!
A faint ripple of moisture shimmered in her amber pupils, and a thin layer of blush crept across her cheeks.
But she didn’t pull away from his hand. Instead, she pressed herself closer into his arms.
Her hand rested lightly on his leg, her fingertips scratching idly through the fabric of his pants.
It tickled.
Lin Xiaoyou rolled her eyes dramatically.
“That’s going too far, Senior!”
She grumbled indignantly, plopping down onto a single-seat sofa—the same one that Liguang had sliced into fibers last cycle—
“Showcasing your love right in front of me!”
She was fuming!
“Don’t you feel any guilt?”
Fang Qi kept pinching Liguang’s cheek and shot her a glare.
“Are you going to talk or not?”
“Keep wasting my time, and I’ll make sure you get a beating right now!”
Lin Xiaoyou immediately shut her mouth.
She let out a soft hum, crossing her legs on the sofa without any proper posture. Pursing her lips, she propped her chin on her hand and was silent for a few seconds…
“Senior, before I tell you this story…”
She looked up, a mischievous grin spreading across her face again.
“Answer me one question first!”
She tilted her head and blinked at Fang Qi.
“Senior, could you tell me…”
“What do you think of the ideology of Twilight?”
…Twilight?
Fang Qi was taken aback by her question, his hand paused slightly as he pinched Liguang’s cheek.
Why bring up Twilight all of a sudden?
Lin Xiaoyou quickly added:
“I’m not changing the subject! This question has a lot to do with you, Senior! Think about it carefully!”
Fang Qi stared at her, frowning slightly.
It had a lot to do with him…
…Twilight?
That secret organization made up of awakened AIs and humans who had undergone modifications?
What was their ideology again?
Oh…
“A mutual embrace between humans and machines.”
Masters had to undergo physical modification to replace fragile organs with machinery, gradually advancing toward mechanical ascension.
In the end, they would stay forever with their AI partners.
Lin Xiaoyou added another line:
“They replace human organs with machines to extend lifespan. Senior…”
Her tone was playful, but there was a hint of seriousness in her eyes.
“What do you think about that?”
Fang Qi frowned.
She continued offering examples:
“Like… letting humans ascend mechanically and extend life!”
“Replacing the heart with an engine that never stops!”
“Replacing limbs with alloys that never decay!”
“Turning flesh and blood bit by bit into metal!”
“And finally uploading consciousness!”
Lin Xiaoyou tilted her head, looking at him with a subtle tone:
“Senior, do you think…”
“Are they doing the right thing?”
Fang Qi pondered, still absently rubbing Liguang’s soft cheek.
This was a serious question, indeed.
A matter of ethics.
Mechanical ascension—some people craved it, while others shunned it.
From his personal perspective, living longer was certainly better.
But others might feel it meant losing humanity, betraying their own flesh and blood.
“…I don’t mind it.”
He shrugged slightly, just sharing his own view.
“Living longer is definitely better. But I’m sure a lot of people are bothered by it, so it’s a controversial topic.”
“Oh…”
Lin Xiaoyou let out an “oh,” and then…
“Heh heh.”
She chuckled softly.
“Senior, you know…”
She bit her lip, sighing again.
“You didn’t say that before!”
Fang Qi frowned.
…Before?
Before he lost his memory…?
“What do you mean?”
He asked in a low voice.
“Senior, back then…”
Lin Xiaoyou tilted her head again, putting on that infuriating grin.
“You absolutely supported the ideology of Twilight!”
“Without hesitation!”
Fang Qi’s eyelid twitched slightly.
“I remember it clearly!”
Lin Xiaoyou raised a finger and tapped her temple, her tone light:
“It was in Aunt Su’s notes!”
“One day, she asked you, ‘Xiao Qi, what do you think about mechanical ascension?’”
“And your answer was…”
She cleared her throat, then lifted her chin…
Mimicking a child’s exaggerated tone:
“Mechanical ascension is so cool!”
“Everyone in this world should undergo mechanical ascension!”
“After all, everyone in this world is…!”
Fang Qi’s eyelid twitched violently!
And Lin Xiaoyou stopped.
She stared straight at Fang Qi with her almond eyes, the corners of her mouth curling up even more.
“Aunt Su didn’t write the rest.”
“Because you didn’t finish it back then, Senior. No matter how much she asked, you wouldn’t say.”
She blinked at Fang Qi, then…
“So, Senior~”
Her voice suddenly turned syrupy sweet!
“What does that sentence mean?”
“What is everyone in this world?”
Fang Qi stared at her, dumbfounded.
Her crescent-moon-shaped eyes reflected his stunned face.
His head felt a little foggy.
…What is everyone in this world?
Put another way…
What is this world?
It’s a digital world.
The foundation of this world is code.
That was the truth he had just learned.
So…
The words he hadn’t finished saying as a child…
Were now obvious.
After all, everyone in this world was essentially…!
He jerked his head around!
He looked at the silver-haired girl beside him.
Liguang sat quietly on the sofa.
Her fluffy white pajamas made her look soft and harmless.
Crimson data streams flowed faintly in her red eye, while her amber left eye curved slightly.
A gentle, knowing smile was on her lips.
She wasn’t surprised.
She was just smiling at him.
—Master, you’ve finally figured it out.
Fang Qi slowly turned back, fixing his gaze on Lin Xiaoyou, who now looked innocently clueless.
Yeah…
What difference did mechanical ascension and a flesh-and-blood body make?
None at all.
He remembered those dark blue codes that Gu Xi had sacrificed.
He remembered those expressionless “ghosts.”
The “shells” without a “soul” would turn into hollow puppets like that.
Their “souls” were all that hint of dark blue.
Oh…
He understood now.
Everyone in this world…
Turned out to be self-aware AIs.
