“Sit down, Ailei.”
The sunlight was intense, and the courtyard was secluded.
After politely declining the plate of instant cubes.
Xu Xi patted the spot beside him, signaling Ailei to sit down.
Outside, the sky was filled with theSounds of construction machinery, but the scorching rays of light burned away the noise, leaving only warm hues to form a gauzy veil.
Gently draping over the girl's head.
“Yes, Master,” the loyal machine maid nodded lightly, her fingertips gently grasping the edges of her skirt as she seated herself gracefully beside Xu Xi.
Xu Xi's eyes were momentarily dazzled.
He noticed that there were tiny water droplets in the girl's hair, remnants from earlier playtime by the water.
Mysterious and eye-catching, intermittent light spots shimmering within.
Xu Xi chuckled.
He stood up and walked behind Ailei.
He undid the bundle of black-gold hair.
The girl instinctively wanted to move but heard Xu Xi's voice from behind: “Ailei, don’t move for now.”
The machine maid was obedient and loyal.
She followed Xu Xi's command, remaining seated in place, allowing those warm fingers to arrange her slightly damp hair.
“Ailei, if there’s anything uncomfortable, remember to tell me.”
“Yes, I will.”
The sunlight danced with the leaves, painting a tranquil scene.
Xu Xi's motions were gentle, his left hand cradling the delicate, slightly golden-hued hair, while his right hand, infused with mechanical power, removed the excess water droplets.
One by one.
The light strands soon regained their form, no longer slippery as before.
Ailei waited quietly, her eyes on Xu Xi's fingers, feeling the warmth weave through her hair, forming it once again into a bun.
“Alright, Ailei.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Summer's passage is always silent and swift.
Even though time was carefully planned, when the warm palm brushed through her hair and gently stroked her head, Ailei would forget about it.
Only when Xu Xi stopped and spoke did the loyal machine maid realize and offer her thanks.
She looked at him, watching Xu Xi reseat himself, and suggested to him with a tone of contrition:
“Please leave such insignificant tasks to me next time.”
She was happy.
She wanted to.
Ailei liked such intimate actions, but her duty as a maid made her feel she shouldn’t let Xu Xi handle such trivial matters.
It was important to keep clear the distinction between master and servant.
“Alright, next time for sure.”
Xu Xi smiled.
He leaned back slightly, creating some distance to better take in the finely crafted, serious mechanical visage.
“You’re really beautiful.”
He complimented.
The perfect, flawless girl seemed to have walked out of a fairy tale, without any blemishes.
Xu Xi stretched out a finger, gently tussling the girl’s bangs, revealing the silver-blue clear eyes that better gazed upon the world.
As a machine, Ailei could observe the world even without this body.
But Xu Xi felt.
At certain times, in certain aspects, a sense of ceremony was necessary.
“As long as… you like… it…” The summer wind blew in forcefully, scattering the hair in the air and blurring the voice.
Ailei’s fingers lightly pressed onto her head, ensuring Xu Xi's freshly arranged hair wouldn't be disturbed by the wind.
The early summer morning light.
Golden-hued hair.
Delicate fingers.
Combining these elements, a spectacularly beautiful scene was formed.
Xu Xi appreciated this beauty until the wind ceased, and the hair returned to its place, only then did he ask:
“Ailei, have you thought about what you want to do in the future?”
The girl immediately replied: “Serve you.”
Xu Xi: “……”
Quite lawful, quite arresting.
“Uh, I mean, besides that, is there anything else you want to do?”
Xu Xi spoke softly, in the gentlest tone possible.
This wasn’t an aimless question.
Nor was it a passing curiosity.
Not long ago, Xu Xi had witnessed the machine maid’s “play in water” and suddenly realized Ailei’s humanity had matured significantly.
Although Ailei seemed devoid of opinions, everything revolving around Xu Xi, her actions all centered on him.
However.
Recalling the previous gazing at the stars, and today’s shimmering water play.
It became clear.
Ailei’s autonomous consciousness was gradually becoming more complete.
The former home management AI was truly beginning to transform into a “person” from every aspect.
Xu Xi was pleased with this growth and thus had Ailei sit down, wanting to have a meaningful conversation with her.
“I’m sorry, I haven’t thought about anything… other than, serving you…” The machine maid girl shook her head in confusion, her hair swaying with the motion, looking utterly lost.
“Not at all, Ailei?”
Xu Xi prompted: “Anything is fine.”
Then, the machine maid began to think seriously.
Finally offering this answer.
“Cleaning, learning recipes, gardening, eliminating all your enemies.”
Xu Xi was stunned.
After all the twists and turns, Ailei’s answers still revolved around him, not from her own perspective.
“Is that not permissible, Master?” The girl said, her finger pressing against her chin, looking adorably clueless, “Ailei just wants to serve Master.”
“This… isn’t a matter of permissibility, but…”
Xu Xi sighed.
He understood his machine maid’s reply.
As a home management AI, the primary directive was certainly to serve the master, this was undeniable.
But this lovable answer wasn’t what Xu Xi was hoping for.
“Always revolving around me, centering on me, then when I’m not around, what will this child do?”
Xu Xi’s eyelids fluttered, a soft sigh in his heart.
This sci-fi simulation either ends with exhausting ten revives, dying on the battlefield, or using up one’s lifespan, reaching the end of life.
Either outcome.
As a human, Xu Xi was far more fragile than Ailei.
Thus, seeing Ailei’s increasingly human sides, Xu Xi couldn’t help but ponder, planning ahead for that uncertain future.
“Master, did Ailei do something wrong?”
Noticing Xu Xi’s altered expression, the machine maid inquired.
“No, not at all, Ailei did very well.”
Xu Xi extended his hand, stroking the machine maid’s head, speaking warmly: “I’m just a little bit tired.”
Tired?
Ailei brought out the plate of instant cubes: “Will Master have some food?”
“I…” vs. the sincere mechanical eyes, Xu Xi’s refusal stuck in his throat.
Ultimately.
He picked up the new flavor instant cube.
Taking a big bite.
“It’s quite good, Ailei,” hearing Xu Xi’s evaluation, Ailei showed a brilliant smile, happy as a human would be.
[After taking the sixth satellite city, Your life is no longer a monotonous wasteland]
[Brilliant sunlight, fresh air, green plants]
[These precious things are by your side]
[You joyfully embrace these treasures of the apocalypse, but at the same time, you worry about Ailei’s growth]
[You often think, what should be done, to raise Ailei better]
[Not a better super AI, but a better “person”]