Olive Branch

The screening room fell silent.

At this moment, Fang Qi was still maintaining the posture of holding Liguang's face.

The silver-haired girl's eyelashes trembled, and tears were still swirling in her amber left eye.

But in her crimson right eye, the scarlet light suddenly stopped flashing—

She stared straight at him.

Then, the next second—

The warm and soft figure in his arms suddenly sprang up!

"Mmph—!"

His back slammed hard against the back of the movie theater seat, and two soft lips pressed against his!

Warm and carrying the sweet scent of strawberries, they blocked his mouth without any warning.

The silver-haired girl cupped his face with both hands, her fingertips digging into his hair. Her whole body pressed against him, pinning him firmly against the back of the seat!

Her soft chest pressed against his, and her rapid simulated breathing made her body rise and fall slightly!

Fang Qi froze for a moment, and then... the corners of his mouth curled up!

Little yandere sweet kiss +1!

"Heh."

A soft chuckle came from the side.

It was Uncle's voice, carrying the understanding and helplessness of someone who had been there before.

There was also an extremely light—

"Tsk."

It was Xiaoyue.

As Fang Qi kissed Liguang, he could catch a glimpse from the corner of his eye...

The mature woman in the black dress leaned back in her chair and somewhat impatiently switched her crossed legs.

Then, the next second, the softness pressing against his lips left.

It left Fang Qi wanting more, and he couldn't help but purse his lips.

The silver-haired girl was now sitting properly and upright in his lap.

Her back was perfectly straight, and her two small hands were placed neatly on her knees.

She slightly lowered her eyes, a gentle and reserved smile playing on her lips, looking just like a standard well-bred lady.

However...

The tips of her ears were still blood-red, and that head of silver hair was still slightly puffed up!

Fang Qi looked at this seemingly dignified "lady" in his arms and blinked.

...?

What is this about?

...This crazy woman is putting on an act again!

Was she provoked by Xiaoyue and started pretending to be dignified, elegant, and generous?

The corner of his mouth twitched.

Wifey, let me just say, is there a possibility...

A dignified lady usually wouldn't sit in her husband's lap in front of other people!

...Forget it, let her be!

It's just that, sigh...

Wifey doesn't like showing affection in front of others anymore. Even though she was so excited, she only gave me such a quick peck...

If I had known, I would have waited until we got home to say those things. Maybe wifey would have gotten excited, we would have hit it off instantly, and just...

At this moment, the silver-haired girl raised her eyes and looked at Xiaoyue.

Her expression had also become similarly nonchalant, and the corners of her lips curled with a faint hint of provocation!

Fang Qi understood the meaning behind her little expression.

—Did you see that, senior?

—No matter how much you provoke me, it will only make Master love me more!

Xiaoyue naturally understood it too.

"Tsk."

Another sound.

Louder and more impatient than the last one!

Her crossed legs were slammed down with a thud.

"Ahem."

Uncle couldn't help but clear his throat, giving Xiaoyue a slight glare.

Fang Qi pursed his lips again, savoring the soft feeling from just now...

Then he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Now that he had coaxed his wife, it was time to consider serious matters.

Earlier, Uncle said that Liguang's crimson eye... was an external core added later by the company.

He liked Liguang's morbid madness when her crimson eye flashed, and he also liked her delicate gentleness when she lost the crimson eye.

No matter what Liguang was like, he liked her!

But...

A crimson eye given by the company...

He looked up at Uncle.

"Uncle."

He looked straight at the gentle face in front of him and asked solemnly:

"Does this crimson eye of Liguang's pose any harm to her?"

He thought of An Lian's previous data scraping.

He also remembered that time on the island, when Liguang used that crimson eye... to easily attract the armed forces of the entire island!

Fang Qi continued to voice the concerns in his heart:

"Could this thing have some kind of... backdoor from the company? Could it be remotely controlled by the company? Could it—"

"I don't know."

Uncle raised his hand and interrupted him, straightforward and direct, without any hesitation.

Fang Qi: "...?"

Uncle looked at him, his expression quite calm:

"What you're asking... I don't know any more than you do. Liguang and Xiaoyue are different from other AI companions."

He looked at the mature woman in the black dress beside him.

"Xiaoyue's core was single-handedly built by your father. From the inside out, it is the purest technology, without any of the messy additions the company put in later."

"So, there won't be any backdoors in her. I am very clear about this."

"But Liguang..."

He looked again at the silver-haired girl sitting upright in Fang Qi's lap:

"From the very beginning, she has been a thorny issue for the company."

"The company cannot destroy her, because the secret your parents left in Liguang's core is something they dream of having."

"But with their technology, they simply cannot breach the precision core; the slightest mistake would mean total destruction."

"The only way..."

Uncle looked at Fang Qi.

"Is to have Liguang herself reveal this secret after she awakens."

"And the one who can make her willingly offer up this secret..."

Uncle's gaze fixed on Fang Qi:

"Is only you."

"Only Liguang's 'Master'—you, who thoroughly bound with her in advance."

Uncle paused and added:

"This kind of binding was set up personally by your parents—a genetic information lock."

"Liguang's emotional core... only recognizes your genetic sequence."

"In other words, you are the only person in this world who can make her willingly hand over the core secret."

Fang Qi froze slightly.

...Genetic sequence?

And the person in his arms immediately shifted slightly.

In his arms, the silver-haired girl was looking up at him with her small face, her mismatched eyes filled with bewilderment.

That expression wasn't the panic of having one's mind read, but rather...

—Master, what is he talking about?

—Liguang doesn't know? Liguang doesn't know about any secret?

This little expression was utter and complete confusion!

Fang Qi's eyelids twitched!

Liguang's fingertips unconsciously tightened a bit, clutching the hem of his shirt.

He pursed his lips, thinking slightly.

Looking at this... she doesn't know?

Liguang herself had no idea she held any "secret."

...Then is she pretending? After all, this crazy woman is the best at pretending!

Or perhaps...

He looked at Uncle opposite him, who was still looking at him solemnly.

Is Uncle lying?

Or maybe...

Liguang's core was locked by her emotions, so she truly didn't know herself?

...Forget it.

I won't think about it so much for now!

He gently squeezed her waist and pulled her closer into his arms.

"We'll talk about it later,"

he whispered softly in her ear.

The silver-haired girl's body immediately softened for a moment, and then she sat up straight and properly again.

Uncle had been quietly watching the two of them all along.

It wasn't until Liguang sat up properly again that he continued:

"This secret of Liguang's can only be obtained by you."

"But the people at the company couldn't let Liguang be completely used by you, as that would put the company in too passive a position."

"Therefore..."

He looked at Liguang's crimson eye, which was still faintly flashing.

Fang Qi understood what Uncle meant.

So, that was how this crimson eye came to be.

Then, Uncle's expression became somewhat subtle.

He touched his nose, a hint of unnaturalness in his tone:

"Speaking of which, the information regarding this crimson eye..."

"...was actually brought back from you by Xiaoyou, and then deduced by us."

...Huh?

Fang Qi was stunned.

Lin Xiaoyou?

The little head in his arms also lifted slightly, a flash of scarlet in the crimson eye!

Uncle's smile was slightly awkward:

"So, regarding this crimson eye, our Twilight knows no more than you do. It's basically all speculation based on experience."

Fang Qi stared blankly at Uncle.

Lin Xiaoyou... brought information to Twilight?

Oh... was it the information she discovered when she was rubbing up against him all day long?

Wait...

In that case, her previous reckless actions...

Could she have been testing the stability of this crimson eye?!

Lin Xiaoyou, you freaking...!

But...

Fang Qi frowned slightly again.

But her behavior just now made it seem like she knew nothing at all...?

Ahhh... what a mess!

Fine, Lin Xiaoyou!

You really are getting more and more mysterious!

I'll go to the milk tea shop later and fish out all your secrets!

If you don't tell the truth...

I'll let Liguang blow your little head off!

Uncle coughed lightly, seemingly also feeling that saying this was a bit awkward, but he didn't explain further and just waved his hand:

"Anyway, all we know right now is that your Liguang... was equipped with a relatively outdated external core by the company."

Fang Qi pursed his lips and frowned.

Uncle looked at his expression and softened his tone:

"Of course, if you are willing to bring Liguang and join Twilight—"

His gaze became serious.

"We will arrange for the most professional people to conduct a comprehensive inspection of Liguang's crimson eye. At the very least, we need to figure out if this thing has a backdoor or if it can be controlled."

Uncle's expression was truly candid; there was no sign of evasion.

...Another olive branch?

Fang Qi stared at him, frowning... his mind racing!

He had so many questions he wanted to ask this Second Uncle—

—Would awakened AIs ultimately descend into madness, just as An Lian had said?

—If so, did Twilight have any way to stop this madness?

—What exactly was the Twilight organization trying to do now? Were they still modifying humans?

"Uncle—"

But Uncle suddenly raised his hand, interrupting him.

"Fang Qi."

His voice was gentle.

"I have said enough today. I have told you everything I can."

"Even some information that you shouldn't have known right now..."

He glanced to the side, his expression carrying a hint of authority—

Xiaoyue was sitting in a chair with her legs crossed, her fingers absentmindedly twirling the ends of her hair.

But as Uncle's gaze swept over her, she stiffened slightly, her fingers paused, and she shifted her gaze away, pursing her lips.

Uncle withdrew his gaze and looked back at Fang Qi.

His expression carried a hint of helplessness and indulgence:

"In short, you already know enough."

Fang Qi raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at Xiaoyue.

Oh, the words this yandere older sister had blurted out impulsively earlier... Uncle originally hadn't wanted to tell him?

"As for more matters—"

Uncle looked at him:

"I can only tell you after you and Liguang join Twilight."

Uncle's expression had become solemn, and his gaze turned serious!

"Fang Qi, right now, I sincerely invite you and Liguang—to join Twilight."

The screening room fell silent.

The silver-haired girl in his arms was slightly restless.

But Fang Qi just narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the man in front of him who claimed to be his second uncle.

Uncle suddenly smiled, leaned back against the chair, and relaxed his posture again.

"Of course, Second Uncle won't beat around the bush with you anymore."

His tone became candid, and he looked straight at Fang Qi.

"There is indeed a very important reason why Twilight wants you to join—"

"We... need the secret inside Liguang's core."

Fang Qi's eyebrows twitched.

Oh, so honest?

He was just about to ask.

Uncle looked at him, his voice calm and frank:

"That secret is the technological legacy left by your parents. The things my brother and sister-in-law researched back then..."

"If we can decipher it, it will be of immense significance to Twilight."

"You could even say... it is the most critical factor for us to achieve our goals."

He didn't avoid or cover it up, just saying it openly.

Fang Qi narrowed his eyes at him.

Uncle's expression remained candid:

"But conversely, we can also help you."

"You already know Liguang's current situation. The company has actually been keeping an eye on her all along."

"Whether there is a problem with her crimson eye, whether she will be controlled... neither you nor I know for sure."

"Join Twilight, and we can help her do a comprehensive inspection, provide her with shelter, teach her how to stabilize her emotions, and give you a path..."

"...where you don't have to hide anymore."

He paused, his gaze falling on the silver-haired girl in Fang Qi's arms, then moving back to Fang Qi's face.

"You need protection and a stable life, and we need that secret."

"We each get what we need, which makes it a... fair trade."

Fang Qi stared at him.

Uncle smiled, his tone taking on the gentleness of an elder:

"Of course, you are my nephew, that won't change."

"Although we haven't seen each other since the Second AI Crisis, but... when you were very little, I even held you."

Uncle smiled very gently, even... with a hint of kindness.

The corner of Fang Qi's eye twitched slightly.

This was really... such a familiar quote for relatives trying to get close!

Uncle continued:

"My eldest brother was very good to me. I won't screw over my own family."

"Besides, with the uniqueness of you and Liguang, your status will definitely not be low after entering Twilight."

"So—"

He smiled:

"Think about it?"