The Wrong Wedding Dress

What is love?

What is the heart?

And what is liking?

Long ago, in the early stages of the fourth simulation, Ailei had pondered these questions more than once.

Back then, Ailei was naive and bewildered.

She only felt she half-understood.

But today, the mechanized maid could finally provide an answer: Love is Master, the heart is Master, and liking is also Master.

Because Xu Xi was here, she felt joy.

A thousand words condensed into deep dependence—she simply never wanted to be apart.

"Ah—"

Ailei parted her lips slightly, accepting the piece of fish Xu Xi fed her. As she chewed, her eyes narrowed faintly, savoring the extraordinary sweetness.

……

The second month of the simulation.

In the flowerbed Xu Xi had cultivated upon his arrival, blossoms began to bloom one after another. Their hues were blue tinged with purple, swaying like the long tail of a comet—these were unmistakably the meteor flowers Ailei had specially brought.

Xu Xi remembered clearly.

The first time he had seen meteor flowers,

Ailei had explained their specific symbolism to him.

Loyalty, freedom, and eternal love.

"Swish—"

Water cascaded.

Ailei crouched down, plucking a few of the blue-purple meteor flowers to arrange in a vase indoors.

And she deliberately selected the most pristine, the most exquisite one.

"Master, for you."

Offering her loyalty.

Offering her freedom.

And that eternally enduring love.

"Thank you, Ailei. This flower is beautiful."

The summer courtyard was bright enough for every corner to be distinct, yet dim compared to the blazing sun above.

The man smiled as he accepted the flower from the mechanized maid.

And pinned it to his collar.

"Ailei, don’t you think the meteor flowers we planted this time are far more vibrant than the ones we’ve seen before?"

"Perhaps... it’s because I put more care into it this time."

Her fingers brushed lightly.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Ailei’s calm, delicate face revealed a faint trace of a smile.

……

The third month of the simulation.

The sweltering heat of summer began to fade.

Ailei was still experimenting with making luminous dishes, but she had learned her lesson—no longer preparing hundreds at once.

Xu Xi often guided her.

Yet, unfortunately,

No matter how meticulously Ailei recorded and replicated each step, even with Xu Xi directing her in person,

The final dish still fell far short of Xu Xi’s.

"Where exactly is the problem...?"

Ailei was puzzled.

Even Xu Xi himself couldn’t pinpoint the answer.

"It’s alright, Ailei. I believe it’s just a matter of time," Xu Xi reassured gently, urging the mechanized maid not to be disheartened.

Given time, she would surely create a true luminous dish.

Ailei took it to heart.

That same month,

Ailei finally decided what she wanted to do.

Boarding a futuristic aircraft, she and Xu Xi left their home, drifting across the lake in a small boat toward the opposite shore.

Mission designation: 【Honeymoon】

"Master, are you feeling too hot?"

"I’m fine."

"But I see you’re sweating a lot."

The mechanized maid was so loyal, so concerned for Xu Xi’s well-being, that she took out a tissue and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.

……

This world was eerily silent.

Few living souls wandered about.

The virtual world connected everything—whether for study or work, it could all be done in a near-realistic virtual space, far more convenient than reality.

When Xu Xi and Ailei stepped outside their home,

What lay before them

Was an entirely empty city.

Futuristic skyscrapers stood in rows, towering like giants, with countless intelligent machines maintaining them in real time.

From afar, it looked like a river of stars pouring from the heavens—a sight of indescribable grandeur.

But Xu Xi didn’t care for such scenery.

It felt too cold, too lifeless.

"Welcome to Duka City. I am your intelligent guide AI. Allow me to provide an introduction," a mechanized voice, preset with a pleasant feminine tone, detected Xu Xi’s arrival.

Even its appearance was that of a human girl, sweet and delicate.

But unfortunately,

Perhaps because it had been too long since it last served a human,

The guide robot malfunctioned abruptly.

"Master, the service quality here is far too poor. From now on, Ailei will attend to you," the mechanized maid interjected, intertwining her fingers with Xu Xi’s as they stepped into the city.

Xu Xi chuckled helplessly,

Letting Ailei lead him by the hand.

Gazing into the distance, Xu Xi saw a city of remarkable prosperity—skyscrapers, well-equipped facilities, far more expansive than the city at the start of the simulation.

"Master, between red and white, which do you prefer?"

"...White, I suppose. Red feels a bit too vibrant for me."

"I see. And what about jewelry styles? What kind do you favor?"

"Simple designs."

Ailei seemed to be confirming something.

Sometimes asking Xu Xi’s opinion on clothing, other times inquiring about jewelry preferences.

Her expression was thoughtful.

About ten minutes later, Xu Xi and Ailei arrived at the city’s shopping district. The loyal mechanized maid suggested buying new clothes to prepare for changing weather.

"Master, what do you think of this outfit?"

"It’s white, and the style is minimalist—it should suit your taste."

Though it was their first time in this mall,

Ailei moved with swift certainty.

A few steps, a few turns, and she retrieved a pristine white gown from a shop, presenting it for Xu Xi’s appraisal.

"I think it’s lovely."

Xu Xi admired it.

The gown was layered with delicate tulle, adorned with soft satin roses that fluttered in the breeze—ethereal and pure, like a cloud drifting down from the sky.

Its beauty was undeniable.

The only issue was that Ailei seemed to have chosen the wrong type of garment.

That gown wasn’t for everyday wear.

It was a wedding dress.

At Xu Xi’s reminder, Ailei "suddenly realized" and returned the dress.

When the loyal mechanized maid came back, the wedding dress was nowhere to be seen.

"Master, let’s look at gold jewelry next."

"Sure, but..." Xu Xi nodded, his face puzzled. "Ailei, since when have you been interested in gold jewelry?"

Those silver-blue eyes,

Calm and steady,

Elegantly explained: "I thought it might be useful later, so I wanted to learn in advance."

A perfectly reasonable explanation—Xu Xi couldn’t find a single flaw in it.

"Then let’s browse a bit more," Xu Xi said, holding the mechanized maid’s hand as they walked toward the jewelry section she was so eager to explore.

Selecting.

Examining.

Ailei settled on a gold ring she fancied, clumsily trying to put it on but failing repeatedly.

So she turned to Xu Xi for help.

Asking him to slide it onto her finger.

Strangely, the ring that Ailei couldn’t manage to wear no matter what slipped on effortlessly with Xu Xi’s assistance.

"How does it feel, Ailei?"

"I love it, Master. Thank you for your help."

Under the mall’s lights, the girl’s fingers traced through the air, bending and stretching with graceful movements, her gaze following the ring.

Light glanced off the band,

Cast a hazy glow onto Ailei’s retinas.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, bathed in the unique play of light and shadow, then turned to Xu Xi with a happy smile.