Chapter 2121: If I Were an AI, Would You Love Me? 32

The next day.

Villa district, Jin Chen's underground laboratory.

Xu Xuxing still learned the truth: all about the active genes and the "human culture dish," as well as the falsified data from the experiment center.

But Song Shoujie noticed that the emotions he displayed were not as fragile as yesterday's.

This was because Jin Chen had done psychological preparation for him all night.

Last night, Xu Xuxing vaguely guessed that things had become very bad, or perhaps his current improvement was also an illusion.

Such a guess made him feel cold all over even while lying in a warm blanket.

When Jin Chen lay down on the bed, he eagerly snuggled into his embrace, drawing warmth he couldn't get from himself, yet he said nothing, merely trembling his eyelashes as he closed his eyes and stayed quiet for a while.

"I still hurt a little." Xu Xuxing said with his eyes closed, then after speaking he turned his head and buried it in Jin Chen's shoulder.

Actually, it no longer hurts.

It's just that I feel uneasy inside, oppressed, with a bit of lost‑like panic, and… helplessness about the impending collapse of my cognition.

Xu Xuxing isn't good at expressing such emotions.

"Kiss me." Xu Xuxing tilted his head, rubbing randomly against Jin Chen's chin, seeking his lips.

They exchanged a long, deeply soothing kiss.

It was like soaking in a hot spring, very warm, letting his emotions be soothed well at this moment, the gentlest comfort.

"Guabao," Jin Chen pecked his reddened lips, palm lightly covering his eyes, leaving only a suddenly heightened sense of hearing.

"Don't be afraid; no matter what happens, trust me—you won't die."

His thoughts returned to this moment.

Song Shoujie was explaining to him yesterday's kidnapping and the secret of the active genes.

Xu Xuxing leaned in Jin Chen's embrace, at a table's distance from his two friends; after listening he fell silent for a while, slipping into a somewhat muddled, empty state.

"So that's how it is."

Xu Xuxing looked at their obviously worried expressions, the regret in his heart fading a bit; he sat up straight and said seriously, "Don't be sad, I won't die."

Jin Chen said that, and he naturally believed it.

"I will go on living." Xu Xuxing said firmly.

But turning his head, he sought Jin Chen's gaze, as if seeking affirmation.

Jin Chen stroked his waist, nodded with his lips, "Yes, little star won't die."

Xu Xuxing was still waiting for the second half of the sentence, and couldn't help pressing his lips together.

So Jin Chen added, "I won't leave either, won't be deprived of free consciousness, and will always accompany little star."

Xu Xuxing was satisfied, nodded and said yes.

Xu He gulped ice water, feeling disgusted.

He and Shoujie would never be like this!

Xu He couldn't help gritting his teeth, showing a jealous expression.

Song Shoujie had a premonition, glanced at him, and Xu He immediately copied him, saying, "I'll always be with you too!"

Song Shoujie pushed aside his big head, "You don't have that chance to leave either."

The atmosphere finally relaxed a bit thanks to the unexpected dog food.

Xu He finally had a chance to ask the thing that had puzzled him since yesterday.

He looked at Jin Chen, "How did you know yesterday where they were taken?"

He didn't think elsewhere, after all this No. 520 was already mysterious beyond anyone's comprehension.

For example, even a combat-type mechanical body wouldn't spray fire from its fingertips!

Jin Chen: "Positioning."

All three were startled.

Jin Chen: "I placed a locator on little star."

Xu Xuxing lowered his head to look at himself, "Where?"

His warm fingertip touched Xu Xuxing's clothing, "You must wear protective gear when going out."

"Every set of protective gear has one."

It proved to be very necessary.

Jin Chen gave himself a thumbs-up.

Xu He and Song Shoujie exchanged a glance, feeling a faint numbness inside, then looked at Xu Xuxing.

Such a thing inevitably causes panic in one's partner.

After serious thought, Xu Xuxing turned solemnly to face Jin Chen, "How could you do this?"

Xu He had readied himself to mediate, perhaps because androids are relatively less sensitive about privacy.

Who would have expected Xu Xuxing's next sentence: "I need to know where you are at all times; I should also put a locator on you."

Xu He: "……"

He was just worrying unnecessarily, really.

Jin Chen pressed his lips together, forehead to Xu Xuxing's, and said with a hint of a smile, "How about preparing a positioning crystal for little star? As long as I'm still breathing, the crystal won't stop running."

Xu Xuxing's eyes brightened slightly; he restrained himself from nodding, but his joy couldn't be hidden.

"This method is excellent."

Song Shoujie closed his eyes, pretending not to hear.

Then he decisively changed the subject: "Was that person captured by you?"

Jin Chen grunted in agreement, still as cold-hearted and ruthless as ever.

He has great research value.

Maybe we can even uncover some unexpected connections.

When they were preparing to leave.

Xu Suxing suddenly stood up, turned to look at Jin Chen, their eyes met with an encouraging gaze, and he nodded.

Brother Shoujie, Brother He.

The two turned around, and Xu He asked, "What's wrong?"

Xu Suxing touched the protective mask on his face and walked toward them.

Song Shoujie guessed something, his expression shifted abruptly, and he even seemed a bit at a loss.

"Give me a hug." Xu Suxing said, the corners of his mouth slightly curving up.

Song Shoujie: "……Xiao Xu."

"It's fine, Jin Chen said this is within the safe range."

A brief embrace where they could feel each other's warmth.

Song Shoujie turned his head away, his eyes reddening even before Xu Suxing's did.

It felt completely different from embracing Jin Chen, Xu Suxing thought—there was no fluttery tingling, but his inner self seemed fuller, and his ability to perceive emotions grew stronger.

——

Three days later, Professor Song led his team back to the experimental center.

As the leader of the most senior batch of machinists, Professor Song held an extremely high position at the experimental center; even the apparent person-in-charge, Xu He, was somewhat inferior.

The first thing upon returning was to prepare to forcibly recall Number 520.

Professor Song was even furious, believing that Number One was his finest work in every respect, whereas the so-called Number 520 had not even caught his attention in the early stages of the experiment, yet it ultimately became the sole advanced android.

What angered him further was that Number 520 unilaterally severed his initial control.

He simply didn't notice that, while he was berating the team in the machinery workshop for not recalling Number 520 promptly, the other staff wore complex, hesitant expressions.

In the end, of course, they were unable to recall it.

Team members twitched the corners of their eyes, turned the screen toward Professor Song, and said, "Professor, feedback from Number 520."

——Get lost.

And a very human-like middle-finger emoji.

Professor Song: "……"

Xu He beside him nearly burst out laughing, quickly turning his head to cough, "Professor Song, recalling Number 520 really goes against the rules; he is now Xiao Xu's exclusive android."

"So what? He's still something I made, and robots don't have their own thoughts!" Professor Song slammed the table, "Connect his holographic comms!"

If we don't uncover the secret behind Number 520...

How could the Dean possibly continue to take him for deeper experiments?

Professor Song's gaze grew darker, yet it was well concealed.

But this time Xu He did not miss it.

Xu He felt a sinking feeling inside, but kept his composure on the surface, "Alright, then you talk to him yourself."