Eirei Wants to Stay Forever

“Ailei, can you let go now?”

“Yes, Master.”

This head pat was probably the longest one yet.

So long that Xu Xi’s arm went numb.

But seeing the mechanical servant return to normal, no longer fragile, pitiful, or helpless, Xu Xi felt that the numbness was bearable.

“Was it the intense war that exhausted Ailei’s machine spirit?”

“Or…”

In the main control room of the ecological starship, through the synchronized projection of the starship, Xu Xi saw the dismembered limbs of the insectoid race scattered across the starry sky, and his heart fell into a silent stillness.

So-called life.

So-called fate.

Often twists and turns come with pain.

Xu Xi had no power to change it, nor any solution to break free from the predicament. The only thing he could do was to lead Ailei forward as much as possible before the fourth simulation ended.

Until that beauty could break free from the cage of malice.

…

[Simulation Year 300, you are 319 years old, Ailei has accompanied you for 297 years]

[The passage of time, the wear of the years, has left no mark on your body]

[Since the first simulation, this is the first time you have experienced eternal youth. Your physical functions remain at their peak, and this is the confidence Ailei has given you]

[Ailei-brand soft rice, everyone who eats it says it’s good]

[As the number of times you resonate with the machine spirit increases, your thinking speed becomes even faster. To relieve the monotony of long-term experiments, you regularly take time to relax with your loyal mechanical servant]

[During the spring in the climate control center, you and the mechanical servant quietly watch the flowers bloom]

Spring is the season of rebirth.

Its formation is multifaceted.

Closely related to the light of the stars and the geology of the planets.

On the cold mechanical starship, recreating the bright warmth of spring is naturally not easy, but in front of Ailei, all problems become as simple as 1+1.

Vast computing power and endless intelligent machinery can accomplish many miracles in the eyes of ordinary people.

For example, now.

The warm sun breaks through the cold clouds, turning the surface of the earth green, covering it with a light green coat of tender plants, while flowers bloom silently, spreading their fragrance.

“Ailei, did you do this?”

Xu Xi was surprised, as in the wind-swept sea of flowers, even some out-of-season flowers were blooming brilliantly.

“I thought Master would like it, so I did it.”

Ailei said so.

With an elegant posture, she poured Xu Xi the first cup of hot tea of the spring.

According to the database, this practice seemed to have special significance, though Ailei couldn’t understand it, but that didn’t stop her from imitating it.

…

[In the golden summer, with waves of heat, you and the mechanical servant go boating and fishing]

Summer is passionate, yet also tranquil.

The light and warmth of the virtual sun were adjusted to a scorching level, forming dazzling golden light spots that illuminated the residential area of the ecological starship.

With the improvement and development of the technological system.

The volume of the ecological starship had already expanded several times.

After Ailei’s modifications, it even gained a vast lake, its surface rippling with silver light, adding a unique touch to the scorching summer.

Xu Xi sat at the bow of the anti-gravity starboat, fishing.

Ailei sat not far away, her legs swinging, quietly watching the splashing water.

“Ailei, where did you catch these fish?”

“Master, the fish in the lake are fish-like creatures captured from planet RKS-4546B.”

Xu Xi silently put away his fishing rod.

If he remembered correctly.

The creatures of 4546B were all massive aquatic beasts, tens of meters long, with ferocity comparable to the mythical Leviathan.

“Master, are you not fishing anymore?”

“Ah, I suddenly remembered there are some experiments I haven’t finished.”

…

[The fishing trip ended abruptly, and once again, a miracle occurred. When the starboat started, its overly powerful propulsion force shook a fish loose, which landed on the surface of the starship]

[You stared at the twenty-meter-long behemoth that nearly crashed the starboat, falling into a long silence]

[?]

[??]

[???]

[Your silence was deafening]

[Ailei stood beside you, dignified and elegant, not the least bit surprised by the incident]

[Autumn, the season of harvest, is also the season when the weather turns cool and cold]

Leaves fell.

Withered and fragile.

Xu Xi stood at the doorstep, gazing at the shivering branches, watching the once vibrant green leaves and flowers scatter in the wind.

Perhaps the wind was too cold, making Xu Xi’s body stiff.

“Master.”

The mechanical servant timely brought clothes, draping them over Xu Xi’s shoulders. The speed of her actions made it clear she had prepared them in advance.

“Thanks, Ailei.”

Xu Xi thought the mechanical servant was very considerate.

…

[Winter, frost and snow fell, and the world became silent]

Considering the normal operation of the starship, the snowfall in winter was not set to be extremely cold.

More so, it served to create an atmosphere.

Xu Xi sat on the bridge, looking at the snow falling in the residential area while also gazing at the starry scenery outside, finding it quite fascinating.

The pure white snowy sky.

The pitch-dark starry sea.

Miraculously blended together.

“Master, do you like the universe?” Ailei asked, tilting her head as she brought Xu Xi a cup of hot tea.

Seeing Xu Xi gazing at the outer universe, she couldn’t help but ask.

“Not exactly like, more of a curiosity.”

Xu Xi took the hot tea.

Took a sip.

The warm tea flowed down his throat, bringing a comfortable warmth to his body. Swirling it, he could see the faint brown ripples in the water.

In terms of exploring the universe, Xu Xi had long passed the stage of novelty.

Frequent explorations of alien civilizations.

Long-term interstellar travel.

Had already drained all his interest.

Xu Xi explained: “I was just thinking about a long time ago, when we were still in the underground laboratory.”

Ailei remembered that time, the most difficult and rudimentary stage, when Xu Xi’s power armor even struggled to charge.

But.

Why would he suddenly reminisce about that?

“I’ve been thinking for a long time, Ailei, you love the stars so much. If one day, I could take you into space, to witness the true stars, how wonderful that would be.”

“After all, observing stars from afar is different from seeing them up close.”

The man’s voice was soft.

As he spoke.

He laughed at himself: “Back then, I thought it was so difficult, but now, it’s something I can do so easily.”

“Time… really flies.”

His voice was filled with emotion, a mix of nostalgia for the past and contemplation of the future.

Strangely.

Even though Xu Xi was sitting right in front of her.

In his familiar posture, drinking the tea she had prepared.

Ailei felt a strong sense of blurriness.

As if the distance between her and Xu Xi had been stretched extremely far, then suddenly pulled extremely close, leaving the mechanical servant at a loss.

“Thank you…”

“But I… am just a mindless machine… I don’t deserve this.”

Her speech module seemed to malfunction.

The mechanical servant’s words became fragmented.

She knelt down, gently holding one of Xu Xi’s hands, feeling the real touch, pressing it against her cheek.