“Ailei, you are not something that can be casually discarded.”
“You are like me.”
“An independent life.”
His palm rested on the android's cheek, his thumb gently wiping across the synthetic skin.
This act of wiping.
Xu Xi used to do it often.
Back in the cramped, dim underground base, wiping the camera at Ailei's door.
After Ailei gained her own body, such actions were no longer necessary—until today, when the familiar motion once again soothed the restless machine spirit.
【In the cold, desolate depths of winter, you gaze at the snow controlled by the climate system and the dark expanse of space beyond the ship's bridge, lost in memories of the past】
【You think, perhaps this is the common ailment of those who have lived long】
【Though your body is full of vitality, at the age of three hundred, you still occasionally reminisce about the distant scenes of the early simulations】
【Recalling your former weakness, recalling the frantic escapes, recalling the activation of 9090, recalling those easily understood microexpressions】
【Recalling Ailei's smile, recalling Ailei's meals, recalling Ailei's worries, recalling Ailei's growth】
【The once household android, influenced by you, has long since transformed into a unique life form, a truly unprecedented existence】
【You feel a sense of pride in this】
【Witnessing the android's growth, an idea takes root in your mind】
【In time, perhaps Ailei could truly surpass all, even the shadowy manipulators behind the neutron warstars】
【Provided she can escape this cage, lest she be discovered and erased by those manipulators】
【As you ponder the future and finalize your next steps, you feel a weight settle in your arms】
“Master, Ailei is out of power.”
“Huh?”
The loyal android, at times, is not so loyal.
……
【Simulation year 330, you are 349 years old, and Ailei has been by your side for 327 years】
【The passage of such long years has dulled your sensitivity to the flow of time, and you have grown accustomed to the eternal silence of the universe】
【Your life is not without change】
【You have held the android's hand, traversing the glittering stars, witnessing the rotation of endless star rings】
【You have plucked shimmering stardust, presenting Ailei with a special gift—a dreamlike crystal resembling a gemstone】
【You have passed by civilizations, watching their development alongside Ailei, who comments that these new civilizations are not as clever as you】
【In the eyes of 9090, in the eyes of the android, in Ailei's eyes, only you are acknowledged】
【All else is heresy】
【Lost in thought, you reaffirm that you are not suited to teaching others】
【The universe is lonely, and encounters with new civilizations are rare. Most of the time, only Ailei accompanies you, along with the occasional appearance of interstellar insectoids】
【Your life follows a strict routine】
Researching technology.
Accompanying Ailei.
Blasting insectoid heads.
This is Xu Xi's new daily rhythm.
As the technological systems were perfected, the fleet's speed had long surpassed one-third the speed of light, venturing into even more distant reaches of space.
The current range is still within the confines of the manipulators' hunting grounds.
From time to time, the gravitational waves of neutron warstars can be detected.
But the most significant change is the endless waves of insectoids, emerging in droves, relentlessly assaulting the fleet.
Naturally.
They all end up as biomass for the fleet.
“Filthy bugs, I won’t allow you to get near my master,” Ailei says with a calm tone, laced with disdain.
Ailei's soft power continues to shine.
……
【Simulation year 355, you are 364 years old, and Ailei has been by your side for 342 years】
【The predicted time of attack arrives, but you wait in vain】
【Four years pass】
【Simulation year 359, you are 368 years old, and the strike from the neutron warstar finally comes】
【Your new experiment fails, and once again, you are precisely killed by the neutron warstar】
【You feel no regret, as this was expected, and you have not come away empty-handed】
【The two consecutive “delays” prove that the neutron warstar's attack timing is not exactly one hundred years as you had guessed, but has a margin of error】
【This is good news】
【It means your final death will be delayed a bit longer】
【After reviving, you appear before Ailei in perfect condition, and the sight of your unharmed form finally puts the worried android at ease】
【“Welcome home, Master.”】
【Ailei, with graceful poise, lightly lifts the hem of her maid dress to welcome your return】
【To celebrate your rebirth, Ailei prepares a lavish feast, with ingredients including the ancient leviathan of planet 4546B, the luminous mushrooms of planet M996, and the space behemoth of planet Golden Horn】
【You stare at the ingredients, each dozens of times larger than yourself, and remain silent for a long time】
【Your experiments continue】
【Prolonged resonance with the machine spirit and the overuse of mechanical energy have accelerated your technological advancements, but changes in your body have disrupted your plans】
Simulation year 377.
Xu Xi is 386 years old, and Ailei has been by his side for 364 years.
Everything is proceeding according to plan.
Progress has been made in the research of the grand unified theory, encompassing gravity, electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force.
Gravitational technology is the core of the curvature drive.
With sufficient energy, it may be possible to bend space, achieving faster-than-light propulsion.
All this time.
Xu Xi has yearned to perfect this research, to bring this miracle to life and lead Ailei out of this cosmic prison.
But now, Xu Xi notices something—he is becoming slower.
“When did it start?”
“Ten years ago…”
“Fifty years ago…”
“Or perhaps, from the moment I decided that I must develop the curvature drive.”
A thin mist blankets the sky above.
The orange sunlight, like the last flickering embers of a dying fire, casts a cold glow over Xu Xi's shoulders.
Illuminating half of his furrowed face.
Xu Xi is becoming slower—not in the sense of physical aging, but in a deeper, intangible way.
He can still feel the cold, still feel the heat.
His body is strong, his steps swift.
Yet, in the unnoticed details of daily life, Xu Xi gradually loses his emotional intensity.
That overly rational mind.
It’s almost—
“Like a cold machine,” Xu Xi mutters to himself.
Is it the result of a long lifespan, leading to a weariness that dulls emotional sensitivity?
Xu Xi doesn’t think so.
The signs of this slowness had appeared long ago, but back then, Xu Xi dismissed them as part of the stress.
“This familiar sense of slowness…”
“If it’s not a natural phenomenon…”
“Then it must be the result of frequent resonance with the machine spirit.”
e school belle recognized by the whole school, a genius girl from the kendo club. She also has a hidden identity, the youngest legendary demon hunter. Chen Shuo just transmigrated and found himself turned into a weak, helpless little vampire. He was caught by Su Xiyen and taken home at the very beginning. Since then, Chen Shuo's life creed only had two items. "First, classmate Su Xiyen is always right." "Second, if classmate Su Xiyen is wrong, please refer back to item one." Many years later, Chen Shuo, who had turned back into a human, led a pair of twins to appear in front of all the vampires to share the secret of how he turned back into a human. "It's simple, I tricked a female demon hunter into becoming my wife!"
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
+【Epic Battles!】 "Your Highness, they say Linxi Temple is miraculous. Won’t you make a wish?" "A wish? It should be making wishes to me." "That may be so, but since you’re already here..." "..." "Fine. Then grant this princess a consort to play with." "He must be obedient, devoted, and utterly infatuated with my body—so much so that he’d kneel and kiss my feet." "Your Highness, that’s not a consort. That’s a dog." "Then add clever, witty, heroic, ambitious yet pragmatic..." "Hmm, that’s enough for now. I’ll add more later." After tossing out these words half in jest, Princess Anle departed the temple—only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Bodhisattva statue smiling at her. Meanwhile, Yang An, fresh out of university, was having a very bad day. Good news: He’d transmigrated into another world with a cheat granting tenfold combat power. Bad news: He’d immediately fallen into the clutches of a certain villainess. Good news: Said villainess possessed peerless beauty and royal status. Bad news: She was absolutely monstrous!!! In the frozen wilderness, Yang An knelt beneath Qin Guo’er’s feet, drenched in sweat despite the cold. Desperately clutching her porcelain-perfect foot—the very one poised to crush his throat—he could only think: How do I survive this?! Need answers NOW!
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
