Category: Replica (Page 1 of 4)

Chapter 32: Mercury Chronicles (Part One)

 

In an instant, Xu Huaiming’s fist struck Li Zhao’s face.

 

After the sharp pain, Li Zhao fell to the ground in a daze. His back hit the stone pavement, and he felt like his body was about to shatter. In reality, he had only fallen.

 

Li Zhao remembered when he was a child and didn’t listen to his mother. Her palms were not as soft as he had imagined. Instead of comfort, they brought endless pain. He didn’t gain his father’s approval because he was disobedient. But Li Zhao didn’t become well-behaved. Even though he was in pain and his face was swollen, he developed a rebellious mentality. He wanted everyone to hate him. He wanted

 

 to be the despised villain because only then would he be valued.

 

A metallic taste suddenly filled his mouth. Li Zhao touched his lips and realized that they were bleeding.

 

“Quite a punch.” Li Zhao glanced at Xu Huaiming, then turned and walked away gracefully toward the bridge by the lake. “Too bad you’re just a copy, destined to never receive love.”

 

Xu Huaiming watched Li Zhao’s figure gradually disappear on the bridge by the lake. There was a moment of confusion in his eyes, and then a surge of uneasiness welled up from deep within him.

 

He felt like Li Zhao was a madman. A moth fluttering in the midst of flames, seeing a companion, grasping a glimmer of hope, would trample over the other’s corpse to escape, even if one side of its wings had already been burned, even if it only had one breath left.

 

A few birds perched on the sycamore branches, their harsh chirping echoing in his ears. When they flapped their wings, a few dried leaves fell, swaying with the wind and landing at Xu Huaiming’s feet. He shifted his body and realized that he was shivering from the cold.

 

His phone in his pocket began to vibrate. Xu Huaiming only had Tan Xilu’s number saved, so he knew it was him calling. He took a deep breath and answered, trying to sound as steady as possible, “Hello.”

 

Tan Xilu asked when he would arrive at their meeting place.

 

Xu Huaiming forced a smile and replied, “I just finished work. I’ll be there soon.”

 

After the call ended, Xu Huaiming closed his eyes and looked up at the sky. He thought, “I hope the sun comes out soon.”

 

…

 

Unfortunately, Xu Huaiming and Tan Xilu couldn’t meet up. Just as Xu Huaiming had returned to the store and was getting ready to close for the day, Tan Xilu sent him a message on WeChat, saying that there was a sudden emergency at school.

 

Helplessly, Xu Huaiming had to put down his things and stay at the store.

 

The evening at the store was not as busy. Xu Huaiming sat at the bar, feeling somewhat relaxed. He casually made a strawberry juice, knowing that Tan Xilu liked this type of beverage. Xu Huaiming found it overly sweet, but he wrapped it up and planned to take it back for Tan Xilu.

 

Seeing how carefully he packaged it, Arlene, sitting on a barstool, seemed somewhat displeased and said, “Xu Ge, is it necessary? I can see that Professor Tan’s mind isn’t really on you. Is the person who came to see you today the same one from the last video?”

 

Xu Huaiming paused as he placed the strawberry juice in the bag. He looked at Arlene and replied, “You have a good memory. You actually remember that?”

 

“Of course,” Arlene propped up her chin, recalling Li Zhao, and sighed. “He’s quite famous for his dessert shop ‘Xicui,’ with chain stores all over the country. He’s considered successful, and I heard he has a strong background.”

 

“What’s this? Are you thinking of switching teams?” Xu Huaiming inserted a straw into the bag and teased.

 

“No way! Am I that kind of person?” Arlene pouted. “When it comes to desserts, it has to be Xu Ge. How else could you have captured my heart for seven years? I clearly fell in love with your culinary skills.”

 

Xu Huaiming listened to Arlene speak with lowered eyes and smiled from time to time. He wasn’t very good at socializing with people, unlike Arlene, who was lively and likable. Sometimes, he envied her or rather, envied humans in general. If he were human, he wouldn’t have so many concerns and wouldn’t be afraid of breaking up with Tan Xilu.

 

They would continue dating until they got married, perhaps even grow old together. But all these beautiful dreams were based on him being a normal person, which sadly wasn’t the case.

 

“Well, truth be told, I quite like Professor Tan,” Arlene looked at Xu Huaiming and continued, “I just feel that it’s not worth it for you, Xu Ge. When I think about the surprise proposal we prepared that day, all shattered because of one lie from Professor Tan, it makes me sad. Even though we’re dating, he lied for another man, which is just so annoying. Today, that person came to see you again. I hope he’s not here to assert his dominance. Xu Ge, you can’t lose to him, you’re the main contender.”

 

“You have quite an imagination. You should watch fewer palace dramas,” Xu Huaiming chuckled, then added, “No, he’s a friend of Ah Lu’s, someone he introduced to me some time ago. He just came to chat.”

 

“Really? Not a love rival?” Arlene clicked her tongue, seemingly a bit disappointed, believing her previous assumption. “I thought I might witness a battle between two top pastry chefs to win over a male professor.”

 

Xu Huaiming: “…”

 

A battle of that sort might not be necessary, but competing for the professor was a possibility.

 

 

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T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 31

 

“Bang…”

 

Xu Huaiming lowered his head to look at his feet. Egg yolk had splattered on them, and a glass bowl, due to inertia, spun a few times by his feet before gradually coming to a stop.

 

“Xu Ge, what’s wrong with you today? It’s happened several times,” Arlene asked hesitantly. “Are you not feeling well somewhere?”

 

“Ah?” Xu Huaiming was momentarily puzzled. He didn’t know why he felt a bit uneasy today, as if something was about to happen. He shook his head and said, “I’m fine.” Then, he picked up the glass bowl and placed it in the sink on the bar counter. He grabbed some paper towels and began cleaning the floor and his shoes.

 

The floor was a bit tricky to clean since the egg yolk was sticky. After quickly absorbing it with paper towels, he sprayed some dish soap and scrubbed it clean.

 

Fortunately, not much egg had splattered on his shoes, but after wiping away the egg, he still had to brush them carefully to make them spotless. He had bought these shoes a few days ago with Tan Xilu in mind. They were comfortable, and Xu Huaiming really liked them. He had intended to wear them for his date with Tan Xilu later that evening, but he had accidentally dirtied them just after putting them on.

 

“Xu Ge, how about you take a break in the back room? This way, your work won’t be affected,” Arlene suggested. “There aren’t many customers right now anyway.”

 

Xu Huaiming rubbed his temples, hesitated for a moment, and then looked at the several bowls and dishes he had accidentally knocked over on the bar counter earlier in the day. Finally, he nodded reluctantly and said, “Okay.”

 

There was a small resting room in the back, with only a bed inside. Sometimes, when Arlene had a late closing and couldn’t make it to her afternoon shift, she would rest there.

 

The room had a window, and Arlene always kept it open for ventilation. Now, with the wind blowing outside, a cold breeze swept through, lifting a corner of the bedsheet.

 

When Xu Huaiming slept alone, he had a habit of shutting down all his bodily functions. He hardly felt the cold. After about ten minutes of rest, he heard faint voices in his ears. The system was more alert than he was and had reactivated all his functions. Then he heard Arlene’s voice saying, “Xu Ge, wake up. There’s a customer looking for you outside.”

 

Xu Huaiming quickly woke up. He sat up on the bed and, with his peripheral vision, saw a figure by the door. He turned his head and looked outside, only to see the person smirking, a sinister smile that made him uneasy. The person called out, “Hello, Xu Huaiming, do you remember me?”

 

Xu Huaiming squinted and hesitated for a moment before asking, “Li Zhao?”

 

A dessert shop, when going straight ahead to the end, led to a small alley, and further down the alley was a senior citizens’ park. At noon, the park was usually deserted, making it a good place for a private conversation.

 

Li Zhao stopped by the bridge near the lake, turned around, and saw Xu Huaiming following him.

 

To be honest, Xu Huaiming’s appearance was too outstanding. His words and actions were almost impeccable. If Li Zhao hadn’t heard Professor Bon’s statement, he might not have suspected that Xu Huaiming was an AI. Because compared to 059, the AI he had been tending to in the lab, Xu Huaiming was exceptionally convincing.

 

The thing AI creators feared the most was that AI would develop genuine independent thoughts. They hoped that AI would have emotions like humans but also feared losing control. Xu Huaiming fell somewhere in between. What set him apart was that his creator was also an AI. AI understood the pros and cons of AI better than anyone else. So, they had crafted Xu Huaiming almost perfectly. But when AI developed emotions, it meant that the once impenetrable armor had a vulnerability, a fatal flaw.

 

In this case, Xu Huaiming’s vulnerability was Tan Xilu.

 

To be precise, it was that Tan Xilu didn’t love him.

 

So, Li Zhao looked at Xu Huaiming with disdain. He didn’t hesitate to expose Xu Huaiming’s “weakness”: “You’re an AI, aren’t you?”

 

The weather today was truly gloomy. Even though it was afternoon, the sun had barely shown its face, and the sky was gray. The sycamore leaves in the park had almost all fallen, and those that still clung to the trees were half-green and half-yellow. The air wasn’t as fresh as usual. Everything seemed to be signaling that something significant was about to happen today.

 

Upon hearing Li Zhao’s question, Xu Huaiming finally understood why he had been feeling anxious all day. It turned out that Li Zhao had found out.

 

The wind was blowing strangely, making a whistling sound. It stung Xu Huaiming’s face, and while his senses were sharp, at this moment, the inner turmoil hurt more than the wind on his face.

 

He knew that Li Zhao was interested in Tan Xilu. Due to his AI-level alertness, he had sensed it the first time he met the man. Now, Li Zhao had him by the throat. Xu Huaiming couldn’t help but wonder if Li Zhao would tell Tan Xilu.

 

If he told Tan Xilu, what would Tan Xilu do? Would he break up with him immediately? It was possible. Tan Xilu would undoubtedly feel deceived. But Xu Huaiming had no control over that. However, Tan Xilu wouldn’t care about such things. He was the real victim here. Tan Xilu was easy to appease, but Xu Huaiming knew that this time, Tan Xilu wouldn’t forgive him.

 

Xu Huaiming dared not dwell on it any longer.

 

He looked at Li Zhao and took a deep breath before asking, “What do you want?”

 

“Don’t be afraid,” Li Zhao heard the trembling in his voice and relished in it. He raised his lips and said, “I’m just curious. What would happen if Tan Xilu found out that you’re not the real Xu Huaiming? Would he be disgusted? He’s been sleeping with a stranger all this time. He’s so obedient and docile. Would he go crazy?”

 

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T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 30: The Mermaid

 

Tan Xilu once had a conflict with his mother over one thing, their choice of college majors after the college entrance examination. Initially, Tan Xilu’s first choice was not a teaching degree; he wanted to study veterinary medicine.

 

When Tan Xilu was in junior high school, he found a stray cat named Ah Miao. When he brought Ah Miao home, it was lively, running around everywhere, which was quite different from Tan Xilu’s reserved personality at the time. Ah Miao had caused quite a bit of chaos at home during the first week, breaking numerous vases. Tan’s mother was furious and even thought about throwing Ah Miao out. However, she couldn’t bear to separate them when she realized that Ah Miao was the only companion Tan Xilu had. Fortunately, Ah Miao became less rambunctious over time and even started catching mice in the house.

 

Ah Miao stayed with Tan Xilu until his senior year in high school. Tan Xilu’s career direction had been decided long ago by his parents – he would major in teaching for a stable job and an easier time finding a partner. Tan Xilu had the same thoughts, but in that year, Ah Miao fell ill.

 

When he found Ah Miao, the cat was already six or seven years old. While it was lively when he first brought it home, it had clearly aged by the time Tan Xilu entered high school. Normally, when Tan Xilu came home in the evening, Ah Miao would excitedly grab his pant leg and try to jump on him. But one day, when Tan Xilu returned, he saw Ah Miao slowly limping towards him. At that moment, Tan Xilu felt like something precious was slipping away from his grasp.

 

As it turned out, that was indeed the case. Ah Miao grew weaker day by day, and by the time Tan Xilu entered his senior year, Ah Miao sometimes wouldn’t even be waiting at the door. Still, Tan Xilu would first go and stroke Ah Miao’s fur when he came home every day.

 

One day, when he returned home, he went to find Ah Miao as usual but couldn’t locate him. Even someone as composed as Tan Xilu panicked. He searched all around the neighborhood, going to places Ah Miao might have gone. It wasn’t until seven or eight in the evening that he received a call from his father, who said that Ah Miao had been found, but the situation didn’t look good.

 

Tan Xilu rushed to the pet hospital. The driver who had hit Ah Miao explained that the cat had suddenly darted in front of his car, and he couldn’t avoid the collision. Ah Miao appeared in bad shape, lying on a small operating table, barely breathing.

 

When the doctor came out, he shook his head and said apologetically, “I’m sorry, we did our best, but the cat’s liver damage was too severe.”

 

Tan Xilu rarely shed tears. When he was a child, crying would result in his nanny withholding food, so despite the hardships and sadness he faced later in life, he refrained from crying. However, at that moment, he couldn’t hold back. He hid in his father’s embrace and cried quietly, tears soaking his father’s shirt. His father had never seen his son so devastated.

 

What no one had expected was that on the second day after being declared critically ill, Ah Miao escaped from the pet hospital, despite its painful condition. Perhaps it knew its time was running out and didn’t want to cause grief to the one who loved it. Ah Miao limped away from the entrance of the pet hospital and Tan Xilu never found it again.

 

Afterwards, Tan Xilu dreamt countless times that Ah Miao was in some hidden corner, licking its wounds to console itself, and patiently awaiting death.

 

It was this experience that led Tan Xilu to choose a major in veterinary medicine, and for this, he had many arguments with his mother.

 

Tan’s mother knew what was always bothering Tan Xilu – why couldn’t he save Ah Miao? Ah Miao still had some life left, and it could have lived for several more days, but it chose to leave on its own. She understood that Tan Xilu was tormented by this thought.

 

Despite her constant efforts to console him, Tan Xilu was determined to pursue veterinary medicine. What ultimately changed his mind was a remark from his father. He said, “On the day Ah Miao was on the operating table, you cried and wet my shirt. What if you’re the one performing surgery on a small animal on that table? Will you cry then? Who will you turn to for comfort?”

 

Tan Xilu was always a timid person. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have refrained from hinting to his parents when the nanny mistreated him, even if it meant giving away some clues. They would have noticed that something was wrong with Tan Xilu, despite being inadequate parents. Tan Xilu didn’t know how to protect himself.

 

So, in the end, Tan Xilu compromised and applied for a teaching degree.

 

Tan Xilu stood by the bed and called out softly, “Mom.” His mother, with her back turned, remained wrapped in the blankets, motionless.

 

“Mom,” Tan Xilu walked to the other side of the bed and called out again.

 

His mother had originally had her eyes open, but she closed them when she saw Tan Xilu approaching.

 

Tan Xilu crouched by the bedside, reached into the blankets, and held his mother’s hand. Due to years of holding a pen, there was a thick callus on his mother’s middle finger. When he was a child, Tan Xilu thought this callus was unsightly, but he didn’t realize that he would have one too when he grew up. Now, he understood that this callus was a mark of honor for a teacher.

 

He rubbed his mother’s palm and coaxed her, saying, “Mom, please don’t be angry. Can you open your eyes and look at me?”

 

His mother withdrew her hand from his grasp and didn’t open her eyes. She only said, “Then break up with him.”

 

Tan Xilu suddenly froze in place.

 

“Mom…please don’t do this,” Tan Xilu bit his lip, his voice starting to tremble, “I…I really can’t live without him.”

 

His mother opened her eyes, sat up, and stared at Tan Xilu, saying emotionally, “Why can’t you live without him? Wasn’t everything fine before he came back? Didn’t you say you wanted to live well? Why can’t you live without him? Xiao Lu, what’s wrong with you? It’s been seven years; if he wanted to find you, he could have come back a long time ago! Why did he come back now?”

 

A barrage of questions overwhelmed Tan Xilu, and he didn’t know which one to answer. In the end, he could only call out, “Mom.”

 

His mother, looking at her obedient and seemingly content child, moved her lips but didn’t respond.

 

What went wrong? Why couldn’t Tan Xilu be with anyone other than Xu Huaiming? He had clearly moved on, and things were finally getting better. Why did Xu Huaiming have to come back and take her beloved son away?

 

Sometimes, Tan’s mother would wonder if she had made a mistake by spoiling Tan Xilu so much back then. Maybe she should have taken the initiative, gone to see the man who had stolen her son’s heart when Tan Xilu was in love. Instead of following Tan Xilu’s wishes, she should have found out who that man was and prevented Tan Xilu from experiencing such heartbreak.

 

She also regretted being too busy with work at that time, not having time to take care of the young Tan Xilu. It allowed the wicked nanny to mistreat him. So, when Tan Xilu, covered in wounds, found solace in someone’s embrace, he obediently followed them. But the cost was too high, and she didn’t want to see Tan Xilu hurt again. He was her flesh and blood, and she couldn’t bear to see him in pain.

 

“Xiao Lu, can you please listen to Mom? Can you make Mom happy and break up with Xu Huaiming?” Her voice choked, “I’m begging you. During those years when you almost couldn’t make it, I was suffering too. I even thought that if you couldn’t make it, I would go with you. Fortunately, you only stepped one foot into the abyss, and you managed to come out on your own. But Mom really can’t bear to see you jump back in. I can’t take it, Xiao Lu.”

 

“Xiao Lu, please, can you and Xu Huaiming break up? Mom is really begging you.”

 

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T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 29: Orchid Pavilion 

 

Tan Xilu rarely cooked, and before Xu Huaiming returned home, the refrigerator was mostly filled with various instant foods or pre-cooked meals made by Tan’s mother. Due to the nature of his work, he could usually have breakfast and lunch at school, so he often made do with something simple for dinner.

 

However, Tan Xilu’s culinary skills were not particularly great. There was one time when there was only a bag of instant noodles left at home, and he reluctantly tried to cook it when he was really hungry. In the end, the noodles turned out half-cooked and inedible, so he threw them into the trash can and went to ask his neighbor Lin Changyu for some help.

 

But today, he had a sudden urge to make something for Xu Huaiming. He knew that Xu Huaiming was quite picky when it came to food. In the end, he chose to make egg drop soup, which was the easiest dish to prepare.

 

He peeled and diced tomatoes, sautéed them until they were soft, added water to bring it to a boil, and mixed flour with warm water, stirring constantly. Once it started bubbling, he poured in beaten eggs and finally sprinkled in the seasonings.

 

Tan Xilu served a bowl to Xu Huaiming, watching him take the first sip with eager anticipation. “How is it? Does it taste good?” he asked.

 

Before Xu Huaiming could answer, Tan Xilu proudly declared, “It must be delicious. I followed the recipe step by step.”

 

Xu Huaiming paused, pushed the bowl towards Tan Xilu, smiled, and said, “I think it’s not bad. You can try it.”

 

“Really?” Tan Xilu scooped up a spoonful, but as soon as it touched his mouth, he immediately rushed to the trash can and spat it out. His face contorted, and he exclaimed, “Why is it so awful? I followed the recipe exactly!”

 

Tan Xilu was a bit annoyed. It was all a lie, and he rushed to the bathroom to rinse his mouth.

 

“It’s okay, I can handle it,” Xu Huaiming said, moving the bowl back in front of himself and eating it without changing his expression, even though it was genuinely terrible.

 

In reality, it was really bad. Xu Huaiming could taste sourness, sweetness, saltiness, and bitterness all in one bowl of soup. Moreover, because he was an AI, his senses were more sensitive than a human’s, so you can imagine how much of a shock his taste buds had received.

 

But being able to eat a meal prepared by Tan Xilu was a rare treat for Xu Huaiming.

 

Seeing that the bowl was almost empty, Tan Xilu, who had come out of the bathroom and noticed Xu Huaiming still eating, hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly moved the bowl away, saying, “It’s too awful, don’t eat it.”

 

“It’s fine,” Xu Huaiming said with a serious expression, as if the taste was actually good.

 

Tan Xilu knew that Xu Huaiming was encouraging him, but it really was terrible. He had to admit that he had no talent for cooking.

 

He waved his hand and said, “You should cook from now on to avoid wasting food.”

 

Xu Huaiming smiled, reached out, and pinched Tan Xilu’s cheek, saying, “As long as you want, I can cook for you for a lifetime. The choice is yours.”

 

Upon hearing this, Tan Xilu was momentarily surprised. After a moment, he smiled and approached Xu Huaiming, their foreheads touching. He said, “What should I do? It seems I can’t be without you.”

 

Xu Huaiming’s heart skipped a beat. He raised his hand, hugged Tan Xilu’s waist, and carried him into the bedroom. He kicked the door shut with his foot, and as soon as Tan Xilu’s back touched the bedsheet, he said to Tan Xilu, “Then I’ll never leave you.”

 

So Tan Xilu kissed Xu Huaiming, allowing him to take the lead.

 

Perhaps Tan Xilu thought that this was just a commonplace phrase said in the bedroom, or maybe it was something Xu Huaiming said to appease him in response to a certain question. After all, who could guarantee never leaving someone for a lifetime?

 

But Xu Huaiming was different. He truly could never leave Tan Xilu, and he would stay by his side forever.

 

However, before Tan Xilu knew that Xu Huaiming was an AI, he would never have believed it.

 

This time, Xu Huaiming didn’t tease Tan Xilu much. After two rounds, he stopped and carried Tan Xilu into the bathroom to give him a bath. Tan Xilu rested his chin on Xu Huaiming’s shoulder and was already a bit dazed. He occasionally kissed Xu Huaiming’s chin and then became a little drowsy.

 

Afraid that he might slip in the bathtub, Xu Huaiming held him carefully. When he finished washing him thoroughly and lifted him out of the bathtub, Xu Huaiming suddenly heard Tan Xilu mutter something in his sleep.

 

He couldn’t hear it clearly, so he listened carefully and heard Tan Xilu say, “Xu Huaiming, don’t be afraid to meet my mother. She’ll definitely like you.”

 

Xu Huaiming’s heart suddenly softened. He really wanted to kiss Tan Xilu, and in fact, he did.

 

He decided not to think too much. After all, Tan Xilu was his now. Whether he was a replica of Code no.7 or not, only he could kiss Tan Xilu, only he could be with Tan Xilu without any reservations in bed, and only he could hear Tan Xilu say, “I love you.”

 

That was enough.

 

He was like barren soil, and as long as it received a little drop of rain, he could be reborn.

 

When Tan Xilu went home on the weekend, he didn’t bring Xu Huaiming with him. It would have been too presumptuous to bring him back when his mother was still upset. Tan Xilu’s mother had a strong temperament, and when she dug in her heels, she was truly stubborn. Tan Xilu knew her personality well and didn’t dare to be too impulsive.

 

He hadn’t been home for a long time. In recent years, his career had just stabilized, and his family’s home was quite far from the teacher’s college, so he had been living in the apartment he shared with Xu Huaiming. He only went home to visit during major holidays, and the last time he had been home was during the National Day holiday.

 

When Tan Xilu arrived at the entrance of the housing complex, he called his mother again. This time she didn’t answer the call.

 

Tan Xilu let out a sigh of relief, taking it as a sign that she might be willing to relent. He called his father and told him he had arrived at the gate. Soon, his father rushed out.

 

Before getting married, Tan’s father was a simple and honest man. When he reached the age to get married, he happened to meet Tan

 

‘s mother, who was four years younger. At the time, she was in the prime of her youth, with shallow dimples when she smiled. When Tan’s father saw her, he was immediately smitten and decided that he would only marry her.

 

However, Tan’s father was not very proactive, and he didn’t pursue her actively. If it hadn’t been for the fact that they happened to work on a project together, Tan’s mother might not have noticed him at all. She saw that he was serious about his work and was willing to help her with her questions. It was this academic connection that led to their relationship. People in academia often liked those who were stronger than themselves.

 

After marriage, Tan’s father became a classic example of a henpecked husband. He obeyed his wife in everything and had little say in matters. But he also doted on his wife, so over the years, they had few major conflicts. He always stood on Tan’s mother’s side. This time, he had high hopes for Tan Xilu.

 

After all, this son had the same personality as his mother—stubborn and determined. Once he set his mind on something, he would never let go. And with his son’s personality, it was likely that he would only have eyes for Xu Huaiming for the rest of his life.

 

Tan’s father patted his son’s head when they met, clicking his tongue and saying, “Looks like you’ve lost weight.”

 

“Where did you get that? I’ve been eating a lot lately,” Tan Xilu replied with a smile.

 

Father and son had not seen each other for a long time, so they exchanged pleasantries at the door for a while.

 

When Tan Xilu arrived, he had deliberately bought two boxes of snacks that his mother liked. They were quite heavy, and he carried them up to the fourth floor. When he reached the door, he was a little out of breath.

 

Tan’s father opened the door, and the house was quiet. Tan’s father carried the two boxes of snacks inside and said, “Your mother is in the bedroom. You can go in.”

 

“Okay,” Tan Xilu replied and asked, “Is she doing okay emotionally these past few days?”

 

“She’s fine. Your mother is like a tigress on the outside but a softie on the inside. She’s just afraid you’ll get the short end of the stick,” Tan’s father sighed. “I told her a few days ago that you were coming back, and she went out of her way to pickle some radishes that you like. She asked me to tell you to take them with you when you leave. Soften her up when you talk to her and maybe she’ll relent.”

 

Tan Xilu nodded and said, “I understand.”

 

He walked to the bedroom door, knocked, and got no response from inside. Finally, he called out, “Mom,” and then pushed the door open and walked in.

 

---

T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 28: The Shadow Speaks

 

This winter seemed colder than previous ones, even though Tan Xilu was dressed warmly. As he walked through the school corridor, he still felt a chill in his limbs. He rubbed his arms and entered the classroom sluggishly.

 

Recently, Tan Xilu’s open classes had been very successful. He was handsome, his teaching logic was clear, and he spoke gently. Some students recorded his classes and shared them online, which gained quite a bit of attention. Today, the usually empty classroom was unusually crowded.

 

It was the first time since he started teaching that Tan Xilu had so many students attending his class. He looked at them in slight surprise and finally chuckled, asking, “So many people today?”

 

A girl sitting in the front row replied first, “Because it’s Teacher Tan’s class, who could refuse Teacher Tan?”

 

Tan Xilu looked at the unfamiliar girl seriously and asked, “I don’t think I’ve seen you before, have I?”

 

Another girl next to her eagerly chimed in, “Because she likes you, Teacher Tan. Do you have a girlfriend?”

 

Tan Xilu was momentarily taken aback, then he realized and looked at the girl, saying, “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

 

The girl’s eyes brightened, but before she could say anything more, Tan Xilu continued, “But I do have a boyfriend.”

 

The girl looked a bit disappointed, said, “Ah,” and fell silent.

 

“All right, let’s not waste time discussing my personal life in the classroom. Let’s focus on the lesson,” Tan Xilu said, opening his textbook and beginning the class.

 

Perhaps because the classroom was full today, everyone was more active in participating. Although many students were unfamiliar faces, possibly friends from other departments, they were all attentive. Tan Xilu occasionally asked questions, and they responded well. He was quite satisfied with the class.

 

At the end of the class, he assigned a small assignment for everyone to write a summary of the lecture for the next class.

 

Tan Xilu paid attention to feedback from his students, as he believed that not every teaching method suited every student. He would adjust his teaching methods based on the students’ summaries. As a result, he consistently received excellent evaluations from his students.

 

After class, as usual, Tan Xilu slowly packed his belongings at the front of the classroom. He usually stayed in the classroom for five to ten minutes after class to answer any questions students might have. However, no students approached him today, which suggested that everyone had understood the lecture well. He picked up his laptop bag and started to leave. Just as he reached the classroom door, someone called out to him.

 

Tan Xilu stopped and turned around to see the girl who had expressed her liking for him before class.

 

“What’s up? Did you have trouble understanding the class?” Tan Xilu asked.

 

The girl shook her head, looked at Tan Xilu with a puzzled expression, and after a few seconds, she spoke, “Teacher Tan, is your boyfriend the pastry chef named Li from ‘West Essence’ Dessert Shop?”

 

Tan Xilu was taken aback, guessing that she meant Li Zhao. He replied, “No, why would you ask that?”

 

The girl seemed surprised, “Isn’t it?”

 

She picked up her phone, found the video she had saved, and showed it to Tan Xilu. “This was constantly being shared on my social media, and everyone said you were dating that pastry chef.”

 

Tan Xilu watched the video, unsure if the person who recorded it was trying to make fun of him or genuinely believed he was dating Li Zhao. The video had filters and effects that made it look romantic, and if he hadn’t known better, he might have thought the same. Tan Xilu shook his head and replied, “We’re just friends, not dating.”

 

“Really?” The girl looked disappointed and said, “But please don’t date him. My friend met him at a party yesterday, and he shamelessly asked her out. I used to have a good impression of him, but now I think he’s really cheap. You mustn’t date him.”

 

The girl emphasized her point by saying “mustn’t” twice.

 

Tan Xilu couldn’t help but smile wryly and said, “Don’t worry, my boyfriend isn’t him.”

 

Suddenly, Tan Xilu remembered this morning when he woke up, and Xu Huaiming was standing with his back to him, holding his clothes. Tan Xilu lazily reached out and pulled Xu Huaiming’s shirt. Xu Huaiming turned around and looked at him. He leaned down slightly, touched Tan Xilu’s face, and there was a faint scent of lemon on him, which Tan Xilu had recently come to love. For this reason, Xu Huaiming had replaced most of their home items with this scent.

 

Xu Huaiming asked, “What’s wrong?”

 

Tan Xilu raised his lips and said, “Nothing.”

 

He grabbed Xu Huaiming’s tie, pulled him closer, and then hugged him around the neck and kissed him.

 

Tan Xilu said, “Xu Huaiming, I love you.”

 

Xu Huaiming looked at him, smiled, and nodded, saying, “I love you too.”

 

His boyfriend was perfect, he loved him deeply, so how could he be Li Zhao? His boyfriend’s name was Xu Huaiming, unique and deeply in love with him.

 

Suddenly, Tan Xilu remembered something else and asked the girl, “You mentioned that many people shared this video. How many people, approximately? Does everyone in the school know about it?”

 

The girl replied truthfully, “Not everyone. The video was sent to Tan Sinzhe at that time, and he asked everyone to delete it…”

 

The girl suddenly realized she had said too much and quickly explained, “I wanted to confirm with you if this was really your boyfriend, so I didn’t delete it. Now that I’m sure, I’ll delete it right away.” She pressed the delete button.

 

Tan Xilu didn’t mind this too much, but he wondered if the video had reached Xu Huaiming. Although they had talked it out the night before, it was still not good to have a controversial video like that circulating, and he blamed himself for his indulgence. He didn’t even know who had recorded it, and it had spread so wildly within the school. Fortunately, Tan Sinzhe knew about his relationship with Xu Huaiming and had asked them to delete the video. Otherwise, they might have been married by now according to the rumors.

 

Thinking of Tan Sinzhe, Tan Xilu realized that he hadn’t seen the young man in a long time. He wondered how Tan Sinzhe would react to the news of Chi Yexing’s upcoming wedding.

 

Tan Xilu sighed, hoping that Tan Sinzhe wouldn’t be too upset.

 

In the evening, Tan Xilu went to the dessert shop as usual. After the New Year’s celebration, business had slowed down a bit. However, because Xu Huaiming was busy with inventory, he couldn’t come to pick Tan Xilu up. Tan Xilu went to the shop alone. When he arrived, there were only a few customers left. Arlene was tidying up, and for some reason, Tan Xilu felt that Arlene

 

 seemed a bit annoyed with him. Usually, when he came in, she would greet him with a smile and call him Teacher Tan, but today she didn’t even look at him.

 

Tan Xilu felt puzzled but didn’t dwell on it. Perhaps Arlene had dealt with difficult customers today and didn’t feel like talking. He sat down at the counter, and Xu Huaiming, who had just finished working in the back, hadn’t come out yet. She had prepared a glass of lemon water for Tan Xilu, and it was still slightly warm. Tan Xilu took a sip, enjoying the sweet and sour taste that eased the fatigue of the day.

 

With some free time on his hands, Tan Xilu picked up his phone and tried calling his mother again, but as expected, the call was still in progress. He also sent her a message asking if she had eaten, but it still showed a red exclamation mark, indicating that the message hadn’t been delivered.

 

Tan Xilu found his father’s WeChat and asked, “How is Mom doing?”

 

His father replied after a while, “She hasn’t eaten anything for a day, just staying in her room.”

 

Tan Xilu sighed. His mother had always had a good temper, but this time, it seemed she was really upset. He thought, “Well, I’ll visit home this weekend and talk to her myself.”

 

So he sent a message to his father, “Dad, try to comfort Mom and get her to eat something. I’ll be home in a couple of days to see her.”

 

His father sent a sad emoticon and then asked, “Son, is that guy really the only one for you?”

 

When his father sent this message, Xu Huaiming had just come out of the back room. He must have had an accident with one of the packaging bags, as he had white powder on his clothes and cocoa powder on his face. He looked comical, and although he had originally looked a bit unhappy, he immediately put on a smile when he saw Tan Xilu. “Alu, you’re here!”

 

Xu Huaiming’s smile was pure, filled with joy. Even from a distance, Tan Xilu could see that his eyes were filled with him.

 

When Tan Xilu was a child, he had raised a little cat named Ah Miao. It had round, shiny eyes and was a stray cat he had picked up. It was very well-behaved. When it saw Tan Xilu holding a little fish snack, its eyes would widen with excitement. It would lick Tan Xilu’s palm first, and at that moment, he would pet Ah Miao’s head. It was as if Ah Miao sought his approval before finally eating the fish snack.

 

Once, Tan Xilu had a high fever, lying in bed, seemingly on the brink of death. Ah Miao thought he was going to die and snuggled in his arms. It extended its tongue and licked Tan Xilu’s face, as if begging him not to leave.

 

Two days later, when Tan Xilu’s fever broke, he was full of energy again. Ah Miao jumped onto him and looked at him, meowing. Tan Xilu could see his own face reflected in Ah Miao’s black pupils.

 

Tan Xilu felt that Xu Huaiming looked at him in the same way as Ah Miao did back then. He was very happy and a little excited.

 

So Tan Xilu replied, “Hmm, it has to be him.”

 

Unfortunately, not long after that, Ah Miao went missing. Tan Xilu thought, “But Xu Huaiming must not leave him.”

 

He couldn’t bear the pain of losing his loved one again.

 

---

T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 27: Nine Thousand Mistakes

 

When Tan Xilu learned from the police that Xu Huaiming had gone missing, his whole being went blank. He stood in the police station, enveloped in an unreal, ethereal sensation.

 

He couldn’t quite grasp the meaning of the word “missing.” What did it mean? How could someone go missing?

 

Seeing that Tan Xilu’s reaction was off, the police officer poured him a cup of hot water and comforted him, saying, “Mr. Tan, don’t take it too seriously. It’s just a temporary disappearance. We’ve been actively searching, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

 

Tan Xilu held the cup of scalding hot water, his palm burning from the heat, but he seemed numb to everything. He moved his lips, struggling to focus his pupils, and asked the police, “Did he go missing because the truck overturned and fell off a cliff?”

 

Before the police could respond, he asked again, “Have you searched every place? How could someone go missing? As long as he’s in the car, he must be there, right? It’s just because you didn’t search properly. I’ll go look, and I’m sure I can find him.” With that, Tan Xilu set down the cup and tried to rush out.

 

The police officer, seeing his overly emotional state, quickly restrained him, saying, “Mr. Tan, please calm down. The rescue team is actively searching. It rained heavily last night, and the road is slippery in that area. Even if you go, it won’t be easy to find him. If we have any news, we’ll definitely notify you.”

 

Upon hearing this, Tan Xilu, who had been so agitated a moment ago, suddenly covered his face and crouched down. His shoulders trembled, and tears the size of beans streamed down from his eyes, falling to the floor one by one. His sobbing was quiet but conveyed profound sadness.

 

Tan Xilu had come to the police station as a friend. Not far from where the truck had overturned, a broken phone was found with Tan Xilu’s contact information on the back of the phone case. When the police asked about the relationship between Tan Xilu and the owner of the phone, Tan Xilu, still in a fit of pique, said they were just friends. However, when he heard about the truck overturning and the owner going missing, he was stunned.

 

At that moment, same-sex marriage was not yet legal, and although being gay didn’t make one a pariah, it was far from socially acceptable. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Tan Xilu had not admitted to their relationship when questioned by the police.

 

But even a blind person could see that the tearful Tan Xilu and the missing Xu Huaiming had a relationship that was far from ordinary.

 

In fact, just the day before, Xu Huaiming had sent a message to Tan Xilu, saying that he was going with the elderly man from the neighboring fruit shop to the neighboring city for some shopping. He promised to make a new cake for Tan Xilu when he returned. Tan Xilu was easy to please. Even after their prolonged cold war, he couldn’t resist the allure of good food. Moreover, Xu Huaiming had made the first move to reconcile. However, Tan Xilu, feeling a bit proud, hadn’t replied to Xu Huaiming’s message, planning to make up when they met later. But he hadn’t expected that he wouldn’t get that chance.

 

Tan Xilu’s emotional breakdown continued until his mother came to the police station to pick him up. She apologized to the police for the trouble.

 

The police waved it off, saying, “We understand, Mr. Tan. As soon as we have any news about Mr. Xu, we will notify you.”

 

Tan Xilu, in a dazed state, was led out of the police station by his mother. On the way home, they encountered a traffic light intersection. She stopped the car, looked at Tan Xilu in the rearview mirror, and called out to him, “Xiaolu.”

 

She called his name three or four times, but Tan Xilu didn’t respond. He seemed lost in thought.

 

His mother sighed. She knew that this incident had hit Tan Xilu hard. Tan Xilu hadn’t had much experience in love, and this was his first major setback. She would have preferred it if Xu Huaiming had been a heartless scoundrel who played with his feelings, rather than the sudden disappearance that left Tan Xilu bewildered.

 

His mother had never been fond of Xu Huaiming. She had seen many types of relationships in her profession as a teacher, and she knew that meeting the parents was a serious matter. When parents agreed to meet someone, it meant they saw that person as a potential family member. But Xu Huaiming had repeatedly evaded it. Why wouldn’t he meet the parents? She couldn’t help but wonder if it was because he had no intention of staying with her son.

 

Because of this, his mother had become less enthusiastic about the relationship, and she had stopped mentioning Xu Huaiming. But to be honest, Tan Xilu had changed after starting his relationship. Sometimes, he would post pictures of delicious food on social media. She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen him cook. Whenever she came home, she noticed that he had gained some weight and looked well-fed. She had come to terms with it and thought that if Xu Huaiming was willing to be in a good relationship with Tan Xilu, it was fine. Even if they broke up in the end, she could introduce him to someone else. Love was supposed to go through ups and downs.

 

But now, they were facing more than just ups and downs.

 

Tan Xilu’s emotional breakdown persisted until he finally told his parents that he wanted to live a better life.

 

And he did exactly that. He quickly obtained various qualifications and began working at a pace that surprised his mother. His mother was always afraid that he had been through something traumatic again. But when he first accepted her suggestion to go on a blind date, she realized that he had finally come to his senses and was ready to move on.

 

He was truly prepared to continue living.

 

She thought things were gradually getting better. Despite meeting so many men, Tan Xilu didn’t find anyone he liked, but that was okay. There was plenty of time, and you couldn’t just settle with anyone for the rest of your life. However, now Tan Xilu said that Xu Huaiming, who had been missing for so long, had returned, and they had reconciled.

 

His mother couldn’t possibly agree to that. She didn’t want this man who had disrupted their family to come and disturb their lives again.

 

So, before Tan Xilu could explain, she hung up the phone decisively to show her stance.

 

---

T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 26: Don’t Bother About It

 

Tan Xilu wasn’t someone who easily got angry, perhaps due to the mistreatment he suffered from his nanny during his childhood. He wasn’t accustomed to displaying his emotions on his face. The reason for this was a severe fever he had when he was younger.

 

During a dispute with a playmate, his nanny threw him into the basement, a pitch-black place that terrified the young boy.

 

He spent the entire day there in the unclean and cluttered basement, occasionally hearing the sounds of insects and mice. In this environment, coupled with some psychological effects, Tan Xilu gradually developed hallucinations of his toes being bitten off by rats. He cried in fear, wanting to hide where no one could see him, to find a protective shell. Even when he fell asleep, he was still trapped in fear.

 

It wasn’t until his nanny remembered him while making dinner that she hurriedly brought him out of the basement. She wasn’t too concerned since the employer was out of town for a few days. However, she didn’t expect that when she finally took Tan Xilu out of the basement, he was delirious, shouting for his parents.

 

Fearful of the consequences, the nanny rushed him to the hospital. Fortunately, it was only a fever, but this illness changed Tan Xilu. After waking up, he became extremely silent, and his reactions became somewhat sluggish.

 

During the time his nanny took care of him after her return, Tan Xilu also became very accommodating. Of course, at that time, he didn’t know it was called “accommodating.” He believed it was just being obedient and well-behaved. Only by being like that could he avoid going hungry and being locked in the pitch-black basement.

 

After his nanny left, he continued to be reticent, always accommodating. It seemed that he had become incapable of getting angry with others. He just knew how to agree with people, even though he was no longer the powerless child who could be thrown into the basement for any disagreement.

 

So when Li Zhao told him that Xu Huaiming was actually an AI, his first reaction was confusion, not anger.

 

Li Zhao told him on the phone, “Your boyfriend is fake; he’s not even human. He’s an AI. Don’t stay with him. He’s a fraud.”

 

Li Zhao’s tone was extremely agitated, as if the person with Tan Xilu was an irredeemable demon. For the sake of Tan Xilu, he wanted to expose the demon’s disguise and show Tan Xilu how hideous that creature was beneath the surface.

 

But after two minutes of Li Zhao’s fervent speech, Tan Xilu responded with a harsh laugh. He asked, “Did my mother pressure you into this?”

 

The flickering orange flames danced in the night, and Li Zhao absentmindedly tapped the ash off his cigarette. It was only then that he realized he had said so much, only for Tan Xilu to view it all as an excuse from his mother to push him into marriage. He didn’t believe for a moment that Xu Huaiming was a fake.

 

Li Zhao extinguished the cigarette in his hand, took a deep breath, and asked Tan Xilu, “You don’t believe me, do you?”

 

Of course, Tan Xilu didn’t believe him. Li Zhao’s words were too exaggerated, too false. He had spent so much time with Xu Huaiming, how could he possibly believe that Xu Huaiming wasn’t human? They had shared so many moments together, so many kisses. The sensation of skin against skin was so real; how could it be fake?

 

Tan Xilu’s tone wasn’t too friendly as he replied, “I know my mom wants me to settle down, and she really likes you. But you don’t have to go so far as to make up such things. I don’t know what interests you about me, but I’ve been very clear with you—I have a boyfriend. If you’re trying to slander my boyfriend just to achieve your goals, then I don’t think we have anything more to discuss.”

 

As he finished speaking, Tan Xilu saw Xu Huaiming, who was holding a glass of milk, standing in the doorway of the bedroom. The bedside lamp cast a faint light, illuminating Xu Huaiming’s face. He didn’t show much emotion, but his mysterious, dark eyes gave a strong sense of security.

 

Tan Xilu waved to him, and Xu Huaiming obediently came over.

 

The call was still connected, and Li Zhao heard Tan Xilu ask Xu Huaiming, “Do you love me, Xu Huaiming?”

 

Xu Huaiming knelt on the bed, looking at Tan Xilu. Honestly, he didn’t understand why Tan Xilu suddenly asked this question. But human thoughts were something he could never fully grasp. He shouldn’t love Tan Xilu; Professor Bowen had told him it was all an illusion, a feeling created by the system.

 

However, as the seventh body double, he should love him. He had no other choice. So he replied, “Of course, I love you.”

 

Tan Xilu then asked, “Would you lie to me?”

 

Xu Huaiming answered, “No, I wouldn’t.”

 

He told a lie because his very existence was a lie. But this lie was met with a smile from Tan Xilu, who then said to Li Zhao on the phone, “You hear that? He wouldn’t lie to me.”

 

With that, the call ended.

 

Just like you could never wake up someone pretending to sleep, Li Zhao knew he needed evidence. Mere words wouldn’t convince Tan Xilu. He had to figure something out.

 

Tan Xilu lay in Xu Huaiming’s arms, and Xu Huaiming held his waist gently, stroking his belly like petting a kitten. Tan Xilu was texting his mother, saying, “[Mom, I already have a boyfriend.]”

 

He had to tell his mother. He couldn’t let her continue like this, for the sake of Xu Huaiming and for his own sake.

 

His mother usually had a regular bedtime, always falling asleep by nine o’clock. Unexpectedly, tonight was an exception. As soon as Tan Xilu sent the message, his mother called him.

 

“Son, have you finally come to your senses? You want to be with Xiao Li now? Let me tell you, this Xiao Li is really great. He came to visit me a few days ago. Your dad is so useless; he can’t even lift groceries. Xiao Li brought them up for me…” As soon as the call connected, Tan Xilu’s mother started rambling, praising Li Zhao.

 

“Mom…” Tan Xilu interrupted her, afraid that if she continued, he would die on this bed tonight. He stopped her in time. “Mom, my boyfriend… isn’t Li Zhao.”

 

His mother was taken aback. She sat up straight in bed, a serious expression on her face. “Not Li Zhao? Then who is it? Oh? Is it that Xiao Lin? Xiao Lin is good too; his academic abilities are excellent. Your dad even attended one of his lectures.”

 

Tan Xilu pinched his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. “It’s not him either…”

 

His mother asked, “Huh? Then who is it? You, my child, why did you secretly find someone without telling me?”

 

“It’s…” Tan Xilu hesitated, trying to find a gentle way to explain that wouldn’t make his mother angry. But then he realized that even if he were gentle, his mother would still scold him. In any case, whether he died early or late, he was going to die, so he decided not to beat around the bush anymore. “It’s Xu Huaiming.”

 

Tan Xilu paused and added, “He’s back, and we’re back together.”

 

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time. Tan Xilu thought his mother had hung up until Xu Huaiming took the phone from him and called out, “Auntie, I’m Xu Huaiming, Ah Lu’s boyfriend.”

 

Only then did Tan Xilu finally hear his mother’s voice again. She didn’t respond to Xu Huaiming but turned to Tan Xilu and said, “Dear Ah Lu, don’t make your mom worry, okay?”

 

---

T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 25: Joyous Reunion

 

Xu Huaiming gently embraced Tan Xilu and helped him adjust the pillow to a comfortable position. He asked, “Is this okay?”

 

Tan Xilu felt a bit uncertain, his emotions in turmoil. This didn’t align with the script at all.

 

He gazed at Xu Huaiming, his expression sincere, and asked, “Are we just going to sleep?”

 

Xu Huaiming was taken aback for a moment and then said, “Oh? Do you want to do something else?”

 

Tan Xilu hesitated, then shook his head, saying, “Never mind, I must have been overthinking it.”

 

Xu Huaiming replied with a simple, “Okay.”

 

With only one page left in the bedtime magazine he had been reading, Xu Huaiming turned off the bedside lamp on Tan Xilu’s side and adjusted his own reading light to the lowest setting. He continued reading the magazine in the faint glow.

 

Tan Xilu turned his back and bit his finger. He couldn’t help but doubt himself. Was he pent up? Why was he so sure that Xu Huaiming would surely sleep with him today? But thinking about it, it seems that after returning, Xu Huaiming no longer enjoyed sleeping with him as much as before.

 

In fact, not long before Xu Huaiming lost contact, even when they were giving each other the silent treatment, they were still sleeping together. At that time, he thought it was easy for young couples to get frisky when they were in love, but what about now? Don’t they all say that a long separation is a better catalyst than being newlyweds? Why does Xu Huaiming not like sleeping with him as much anymore?

 

Was he tired of him?

 

The room was very quiet, with only the sound of Xu Huaiming turning the pages of the magazine, accompanied by his shallow breathing. After a while, Xu Huaiming finished reading, he closed the magazine and put it on the bedside table before turning off the bedside lamp.

 

As soon as his fingertips touched the lamp switch, a pair of hands suddenly covered his waist and abdomen. At the same time, he heard Tan Xilu’s voice, and he said, “Let’s do it.”

 

As if he was afraid that Xu Huaiming wouldn’t want to, his voice was a little aggrieved, “I want to coax you.”

 

Tan Xilu finally confessed everything to Xu Huaiming. He held Xu Huaiming close, his emotions laid bare as he spoke, “Li Zhao, he’s not just an ordinary friend of mine.”

 

He paused, fearing Xu Huaiming’s reaction, and tightened his grip on him. “He’s someone my mother introduced to me as a potential partner for arranged marriage.”

 

Xu Huaiming acknowledged that he had harbored some concerns about Li Zhao’s presence in the past. He believed that two people in love should trust each other completely without any secrets. However, he quickly adjusted his emotions. After all, he was merely a replica.

 

His existence was meant to provide Tan Xilu with a lifetime of love or gracefully exit if Tan Xilu found someone else.

 

Subjectively, he existed for Tan Xilu. If Tan Xilu no longer needed him, then he should disappear.

 

But now that Tan Xilu had confessed everything, Xu Huaiming looked into his earnest eyes and felt his heart soften. It was no wonder that Code no. 7 was so fond of Tan Xilu. Who could resist a person like him?

 

Tan Xilu tilted his head and kissed Xu Huaiming’s chin. Xu Huaiming’s chin was always smooth and clean, never sporting a trace of stubble. Tan Xilu sometimes wondered if he used some high-tech product, but the lack of roughness was not a bad thing.

 

He continued, “In the seven years you were gone, my mother has always been worried about me and afraid I couldn’t move on, so she kept pushing me to go on arranged dates. I admit that I had a new relationship, the person who brought me home the day you returned. But you already knew we had broken up because I couldn’t forget you. So that relationship ended in failure.”

 

“Li Zhao was introduced to me by my mother’s friend because my mother was present at the time. I was forced to meet him once. Later, to please my mother, I met him again. But I made it clear to him at the time that I already had you.”

 

Tan Xilu gently touched Xu Huaiming’s face as he explained, “Because you used to be unwilling to meet my parents, my mother didn’t have a favorable impression of you. So, I didn’t dare to tell her when you came back. I know you must have been jealous of Li Zhao, but there really was nothing between him and me. I truly only love you.”

 

Xu Huaiming grasped Tan Xilu’s hand as he touched his own face. Tan Xilu’s hands were used to holding chalk and writing lesson plans, but they were surprisingly free of calluses, smooth and delicate. Xu Huaiming couldn’t help but kiss his hand, and he did just that.

 

He didn’t need any vows of fidelity from Tan Xilu. As a replica, he wasn’t deserving of such promises. However, hearing Tan Xilu’s words filled him with joy. At least Tan Xilu truly cared for him in his heart, even if he saw him as Code no. 7. But for now, he was still his, and he hadn’t fallen for anyone else.

 

Xu Huaiming said, “Thank you for telling me.”

 

It gave him a temporary sense of security.

 

Tan Xilu narrowed his eyes and asked, “So, when will you be willing to meet my parents? That way, my mom won’t set me up on blind dates anymore, and you won’t have to worry about getting jealous. You’ll be the only one for me.”

 

Having watched his fair share of family dramas, Xu Huaiming understood the significance of meeting the parents. It meant that Tan Xilu was serious about their relationship, and typically, the next step after meeting the parents would be marriage. Xu Huaiming took a deep breath, finding it hard to believe what Tan Xilu had just said.

 

As Xu Huaiming remained silent, Tan Xilu furrowed his brows and asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to?”

 

He couldn’t figure out what Xu Huaiming was thinking. Did he still not want to meet his parents, just like before?

 

Tan Xilu was getting a bit frustrated. He couldn’t understand why Xu Huaiming always resisted meeting his parents. This time, he needed a clear answer.

 

But to his surprise, Xu Huaiming suddenly hugged him tightly, as if on the verge of tears, and said, “Okay, let’s meet your parents.”

 

As long as you ask, I’ll agree.

 

This time, it was Tan Xilu’s turn to be stunned. However, he quickly got undressed amidst this pleasantly surprised mood.

 

Xu Huaiming’s favorite place to kiss was Tan Xilu’s ear. He loved that small mole and would gently kiss it before lightly nibbling, making Tan Xilu ticklish and numb. Unable to contain himself, Tan Xilu said, “Hurry up.”

 

At this point, Xu Huaiming would start changing the course of action.

 

But it seemed like nothing was going smoothly today. Just as Xu Huaiming was about to remove Tan Xilu’s pants, Tan Xilu’s phone on the bedside table vibrated.

 

Getting interrupted during such a moment was truly frustrating. Tan Xilu had no intention of answering the call and said to Xu Huaiming, “Ignore it, let’s continue.”

 

Xu Huaiming responded with a faint “Hmm” and his cool lips pressed against Tan Xilu’s waist.

 

However, the persistent caller kept dialing, the phone constantly buzzing. In the end, it was Xu Huaiming who stopped first. He said to Tan Xilu, “Maybe you should answer the call, just in case it’s something important.”

 

At this point, Tan Xilu reluctantly agreed.

 

He reached for his phone and saw that it was Li Zhao calling. He hesitated for a moment. After their last meeting at the restaurant, he hadn’t planned on having any further contact with Li Zhao. Their encounter today had been by chance, and now Li Zhao was calling him unexpectedly. Tan Xilu didn’t really want to answer, but he had a bad feeling about it.

 

Xu Huaiming also noticed Li Zhao’s name on the screen. He looked at Tan Xilu and said, “I’ll go make you a cup of warm milk.”

 

Tan Xilu replied with a quick “Ah,” but before he could react, Xu Huaiming had already left the room.

 

Tan Xilu bit his lip, pondered for a moment, and ultimately pressed the answer button.

 

---

T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 24: I Want

 

They had dinner with their own thoughts, and the planned date didn’t feel as comfortable with Li Zhao’s presence.

 

Tan Xilu could sense an inexplicable hostility from Xu Huaiming toward Li Zhao. However, he didn’t know if it was because Xu Huaiming had already realized that Li Zhao was more than just a friend or if he was simply jealous, considering they had experienced similar situations in the past.

 

Before getting together with Xu Huaiming, Tan Xilu was clueless about dating. In the early stages of their relationship, they were more like regular bedmates. When one of them had the urge, they would call the other, meet up, and then part ways afterward.

 

If one of them had noticed that this arrangement was unusual, they might have opened up to each other sooner. But at the time, Xu Huaiming was still in the early stages of understanding human emotions as an AI, and Tan Xilu didn’t know what it meant to be in love.

 

The data program had given Xu Huaiming human-like emotions, but he was clumsy and couldn’t control or understand his emotions like a human. By the time he truly understood, his time was running out.

 

Tan Xilu, on the other hand, was inexperienced in relationships because he had never dated before. Moreover, same-sex marriage was not yet legal, so most same-sex couples tried to keep a low profile. Tan Xilu’s first relationship was with a man, and he was somewhat rebellious given his history as a well-behaved child.

 

After they officially became a couple, things didn’t change much from before. If there was any difference, it was that Tan Xilu could openly change his relationship status on his social media accounts from “single” to “in a relationship.”

 

Their new relationship status led to gossip among some of their acquaintances. Tan Xilu knew that Xu Huaiming didn’t like interacting with strangers, and given the sensitivity of their same-sex relationship, he often declined invitations from friends who wanted to meet him. Some friends were displeased, thinking he was being arrogant and distant, but others didn’t mind and even teased Tan Xilu, asking him to treat them to a meal for finally finding a partner.

 

In such situations, Xu Huaiming felt a pang of jealousy.

 

It all started with a “single and ready to mingle” party that included a senior student. Xu Huaiming had minimal interaction

 

 with Tan Xilu and the senior, and Tan Xilu couldn’t remember inviting the senior, but he didn’t turn him away when he arrived.

 

Tan Xilu had informed Xu Huaiming in advance that they would be returning late due to the gathering, so when it reached 10 PM and Xu Huaiming still hadn’t received a call, he became worried. Meanwhile, Tan Xilu was starting to feel a little tipsy.

 

He usually didn’t socialize much, but he had some friends who were outgoing and loved to have a good time. Tan Xilu was a kind-hearted person and found it hard to refuse, so he ended up with a flushed face after a few drinks.

 

Someone handed him another drink, and Tan Xilu shook his head, saying, “I really can’t drink anymore.”

 

He didn’t want Xu Huaiming to be upset.

 

But as the glass was pushed into his hand, Tan Xilu couldn’t bring himself to refuse again, so he reluctantly downed the drink.

 

Just after finishing the drink, Tan Xilu felt his vision blur, and he began to lose his balance. He swayed on the spot for a moment, feeling the room spin. A few seconds later, his body involuntarily leaned backward.

 

The expected pain didn’t come. Instead, when Tan Xilu opened his eyes, he found that a senior student had caught him.

 

Tan Xilu immediately regained his senses, stood up, but his legs felt weak, and he couldn’t maintain his balance. The senior student supported him and told him to be careful.

 

Tan Xilu nodded and thanked the senior politely. He was about to say something when his phone, which he had taken out earlier, rang. He answered the call, speaking hurriedly. Worried that he might fall, the senior followed him.

 

Tan Xilu reached the doorway, adjusted his clothes, and then ran outside in a hurry. He didn’t want to keep Xu Huaiming waiting and was afraid he might fall again. The senior followed him.

 

When Tan Xilu reached the entrance of the hall, he finally spotted Xu Huaiming. He jumped into the arms of the man and was instantly kissed.

 

Seeing them kiss, the senior suddenly realized that this man was probably Tan Xilu’s partner. What he hadn’t expected was that it was a man.

 

He couldn’t help but wonder if he should have made a move earlier if he had known that Tan Xilu liked men too.

 

The other man seemed to notice his presence and looked in his direction. The senior felt a shiver down his spine as he saw those eyes – eyes that didn’t belong to a human, eyes like a thousand icy knives gathering in the pupils, stabbing at him.

 

Painful and cold.

 

After their kiss, Tan Xilu finally realized that the senior had been watching. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he introduced the senior to his partner. “Senior, this is my boyfriend.”

 

The senior glanced at him and then at Xu Huaiming. He smiled and said, “That’s great. I wish you both happiness.”

 

That night, when Tan Xilu returned home, he received a regretful confession message from the senior. The message read:

 

“I once had deep affection for you, but unfortunately, I wasn’t brave enough to confess earlier. I wish you happiness, and may everything be well.”

 

After reading the message, Tan Xilu felt a pang of jealousy for several nights. During those days, he could barely focus on his classes. He couldn’t believe that he had to go through this kind of situation again because of Li Zhao.

 

Now, with Li Zhao’s presence, Tan Xilu was starting to worry about his backside.

 

However, when they finally returned home and Tan Xilu lay down on the bed, Xu Huaiming showed no signs of being upset. Instead, he worried that Tan Xilu might not have eaten properly and heated up some dumplings Lin Changyu had sent earlier in the day.

 

While eating dumplings, Tan Xilu deliberately made sure he was full, just in case Xu Huaiming had some devious plan. He even informed a teacher with whom he had a good relationship that if he didn’t receive a message by 8 AM the next day, he would be taking a week off.

 

A week should be enough, Tan Xilu thought. He didn’t want to die so young because of this.

 

However, when he lay in bed for half an hour, Xu Huaiming hadn’t done anything unusual. He was just reading a magazine as he usually did. That didn’t seem right, and Tan Xilu turned on his side to look at Xu Huaiming.

 

At first, Xu Huaiming didn’t notice Tan Xilu’s gaze. But when he did, he thought Tan Xilu wanted a goodnight kiss. So, he put down his magazine and leaned in to kiss him.

 

Tan Xilu thought that finally, things were getting started, closed his eyes, and hugged Xu Huaiming’s shoulder. They kissed for a while, but then Xu Huaiming kissed his cheek and said, “Goodnight, let’s go to sleep.”

 

Tan Xilu: “…”

 

My pants are already off, and you’re telling me this?

 

 

---

T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 23: Evening Maple Song

 

The extravagant banquet hosted by Chi Yexing was held in the largest private room on the second floor. Young people from affluent families tended to favor extravagance. Although there weren’t many people in attendance, the private room had to be the grandest, and the dishes had to be the best, no matter the cost.

 

A plate of Australian lobsters was just placed on the table, large and imposing, surrounded by crushed ice and positioned in the center. A young lady sitting nearby had never seen such a massive lobster before, and she exclaimed with a “wow,” taking out her phone from her bag to take a picture.

 

Li Zhao moved his teacup away from the edge of the table, afraid that the young lady might accidentally knock it over.

 

The young lady noticed his gesture, blushed, and apologized, “Sorry.”

 

Li Zhao smiled at her and shook his head, saying, “It’s okay.”

 

The girl smiled back at him, her cheeks even redder, and put her phone away without taking any more pictures.

 

Li Zhao inadvertently captured the heart of a young lady with a simple interaction. Chi Yexing patted Li Zhao’s shoulder and asked, “What’s up with you, kid?”

 

Chi Yexing sat on Li Zhao’s other side, and he had been drinking quite a bit, but he had a good tolerance for alcohol, so he was only slightly flushed at this point. He had invited Li Zhao to help prepare for the engagement ceremony. He had even invited several of the bride’s close friends, all in an effort to surprise her. Little did he know that after a few drinks, Li Zhao was already exchanging flirtatious glances with one of the bride’s friends.

 

“What can I do?” Li Zhao made a clicking sound with his tongue. He could tell from Chi Yexing’s expression what was going on. “What are you thinking, my friend?”

 

Chi Yexing didn’t want to waste too much time on small talk. After filling Li Zhao’s glass with wine, he began discussing the main topic of the day, “This engagement is quite important to Shanshan’s parents, so both the engagement and the proposal ceremony need to be special. Shanshan likes romance, so we can’t make it too ordinary. You need to come up with some ideas.”

 

Chi Yexing had entrusted Li Zhao with planning the engagement ceremony because Li Zhao had a wealth of experience in matters of the heart. He knew that Shanshan favored romantic gestures, and he believed Li Zhao could deliver.

 

“I think nowadays, girls like a more free-spirited kind of romance,” Li Zhao suggested. “Shanshan often posts scenic photos on her social media, so she must enjoy traveling. You could plan a trip together and propose during the journey.”

 

“That’s not a bad idea,” Chi Yexing pondered for a moment. “But I’ll need to do a lot of research for the trip. Shanshan is quite picky.”

 

“Girls, you know,” Li Zhao chuckled. “You’ll be marrying her, so putting in some extra effort is worth it, right?”

 

Chi Yexing nodded in agreement, seemingly accepting Li Zhao’s suggestion.

 

Back in their university days, Chi Yexing and Li Zhao had been aware of each other’s existence but had never really interacted. Rumors had circulated about each of them. Chi Yexing had heard that Li Zhao was a spoiled and rebellious young master, while Li Zhao had heard that Chi Yexing was a cunning schemer who had returned to the Chi family to compete for inheritance. These rumors had created a certain level of distrust between them.

 

Their first significant interaction happened because of a senior student who was interested in both of them. Chi Yexing had broken up with the senior student after learning that she was also chatting with Li Zhao. Li Zhao, being the type to swiftly move on, immediately ended the relationship as well.

 

This incident had brought them closer, and Li Zhao had realized that Chi Yexing was not as calculating as the rumors had suggested. In fact, Chi Yexing often took the blame for things he didn’t do just to avoid conflicts.

 

Chi Yexing, on the other hand, had learned about Li Zhao’s straightforward personality and his aversion to complicated relationships. This made Chi Yexing more comfortable around him.

 

Since then, they had become friends, although they still held a certain level of wariness toward each other. But they had both matured, and their priorities had shifted. Chi Yexing was focused on his career, while Li Zhao had set aside his romantic pursuits to help his friend plan an unforgettable proposal.

 

Li Zhao took a sip of his drink, the fiery liquor burning down his throat and making him feel slightly numb. At some point, the waiter had brought dessert, and the young lady next to him was enjoying a small cake.

 

Li Zhao’s gaze landed on the cake, and he remembered that Tan Xilu liked this particular kind.

 

He asked the young lady, “Do you find this cake delicious?”

 

The young lady, taken aback by the sudden question, choked a bit on her cake, coughing a few times. She then blushed and nodded, replying, “It’s very delicious.”

 

“Do you really like it?” Li Zhao inquired further.

 

Her cheeks flushed even more as she nodded again.

 

When the girl lowered her head, Li Zhao suddenly noticed that she had a mole on her earlobe, in the exact same spot as the one on Tan Xilu’s ear. His heart couldn’t help but flutter, and before he even realized it himself, he blurted out, “Are you free tonight?”

 

Li Zhao was someone who didn’t discriminate between men and women, but in recent years, he had avoided getting involved with girls to avoid complications. He was still young and wanted to have some fun for a few more years. If he could settle down and marry Tan Xilu, that would be fine, but otherwise, he would still be subject to arranged marriages within his family.

 

At the end of the second-floor corridor, there was a large balcony where you could enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Li Zhao leaned against the railing, smoking a cigarette. It was dusk, and the sun had gradually dipped below the horizon, casting lingering sunlight through the balcony’s glass windows.

 

The orange spark of a lighter flickered on and off as Li Zhao exhaled a deep breath. He remembered that after he had spoken those words, the young girl had widened her eyes, stared at him for a moment, and then slapped him. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

He had underestimated the girl, thinking she was the type he could casually invite out as he used to at parties. Little did he know that the girl was from a respectable family and Lin Shan’s junior from elementary school.

 

The slap had instantly sobered him up, leaving a bright red imprint on his face. It was then that he learned the girl was no ordinary person.

 

Before leaving, Li Zhao had brought a bottle of ice-cold mineral water with him. He had to admit that the girl had quite some strength; his face still stung, and it was probably a bit swollen.

 

With one hand, Li Zhao pressed the mineral water bottle lightly against his face, massaging it gently. As the bottle’s coldness melted, his cheeks soon became wet. Li Zhao had no choice but to put the bottle down, take a tissue from his pocket to dry his face, and then dry the water bottle. He then resumed massaging his face, repeating the process.

 

When you were alone and quiet, it was easy to think about various random things. Li Zhao found himself thinking about the scene he had witnessed at the research institute that day.

 

He had visited the institute once, entering through the back door. As he entered, he happened to see someone coming out of the laboratory and walking to the front door. He also saw that person standing by the fountain for a while, tossing something in and then picking it up. Later, when he saw Professor Bowen, he mentioned it casually.

 

The day before, when he had mentioned his visit to the professor, they had arranged to meet today because the institute was on holiday.

 

Little A didn’t seem to like Li Zhao much. When he entered, Little A had growled at him in a hostile manner, unlike his friendly behavior towards Tan Xilu. But Li Zhao had developed a liking for this AI puppy and would often squat down to pet its fur.

 

This time, Li Zhao had come to inquire about 059’s situation and how he was doing now.

 

Professor Bowen said, “059 has been working as a training instructor recently. The new AI models that have just come out still need adjustments, such as refining their body language and facial expressions, making them more natural. He’s responsible for helping them with that.”

 

“Sounds like he’s doing well,” Li Zhao teased Little A. “But what I really want to know is, did his memory truly get erased? I’ve heard that these new AI models have powerful memory capabilities. What if he regains his memories someday?”

 

“That won’t happen. You’re talking about the latest AI models,” Professor Bowen explained. “059 was independently developed by Xiao Zhou. He’s different from the latest AI models, which are designed to mimic humans completely. They can’t be distinguished from humans in terms of appearance or actions, and they can even have a certain level of independent thinking. 059 can also have his own thoughts, but he is still subject to Xiao Zhou’s control. Compared to the latest models, he’s more obedient.”

 

Li Zhao asked, “So, Professor, are you saying that the latest AI models are even more advanced?”

 

Professor Bowen became excited as he talked about it. “Absolutely! They are truly remarkable.”

 

With a hint of pride, Professor Bowen continued, “But don’t tell anyone this: the latest AI models were actually developed by the previous generation of AI. It’s a program creating another program, isn’t that amazing?”

 

He went on to explain, “AI has precise data and programs; they don’t make mistakes. So, the AI models developed by machines are more advanced than those developed by humans. Their systems rarely encounter errors.”

 

“But, you know, no matter how advanced research technology is, there are always drawbacks because machines are cold and emotionless. Regardless of replicates…”

 

---

T/N: Wishing you all a good September and welcome to Bad End month! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!