Simon was lying in bed emailing Su Xiangli, soft music playing in the bedroom, when there was a knock at the door.
"Coming." Simon put down his phone and opened the door for the visitor, who turned out to be his second sister. She rarely came to Simon, so she was quite a rare guest.
"What's wrong?" Someone Lu smiled as he picked up Sun Sheng.
"Brother, I have something very important to tell you."
Simon hummed, closed the bedroom door, and carried his second sister to the bed, setting her down like a doll on a shelf. The older brother dotingly bundled Sun Sheng into the soft covers.
His second sister always frowned; she was naturally serious and was becoming even more so, which was why her family always liked to tease her.
Simon was thinking of a joke when Sun Sheng said, "Mom and Dad are getting a divorce."
"Pfft!" Simon was stunned, letting out a strange sound that even he found surprising, "What?!"
Sun Sheng nodded, "Dad and Mom hardly talk now."
Simon breathed a sigh of relief, "Don't overthink it, they're just busy with work. Don't talk about divorce anymore, it's so unlucky."
"No, I have proof."
Simon crossed his arms, "Alright, show me."
Sun Sheng said, "Wait for me." She ran out the door. Simon sighed, lay back on the bed, pulled out his phone, and continued emailing Su Xiangli.
He said he was fine, but a faint unease lingered in his heart, a subtle pricking sensation in the lumbar region of his spine, like fine silver needles piercing through his muscles and bones, wandering through his internal organs, bringing a twitching weariness.
Irritated and unable to focus, Simon put down his phone, sighed, and rubbed his face with both hands.
Were his parents really having problems? Xiao Lu might have realized it long ago; his emotional intelligence was very high now, and he was meticulous at observing expressions. But his sensibility had always been active, a simple, innocent, detached self, a boy hidden deep in Simon's heart, who had always believed that some things in the world would never change.
In his previous life, he had already suffered the pain of his parents' divorce.
In this life, why was he being made to repeat the same mistake?
[Lu: I absolutely don't believe it, I don't believe it. Lu Jiande, Sun Hui, you are my parents in this life, I acknowledge you from the bottom of my heart. I will never admit that I am in a family on the verge of breaking. This is the second time, and I don't want this second pain.]
Even an honest official finds it hard to settle a family dispute.
Simon truly didn't know what to do.
Since his parents were still treating each other with respect, it was a good show, with Lu Jiande and Sun Hui as the performers, and Simon and Sun Ying as the audience. The performers gave their all, and the audience was fully invested. But now, his second sister Sun Sheng suddenly burst into this farce.
She pulled back the curtain, kicked the elephant hidden in the room, and it crashed in front of Simon with a bang like an explosion of gunpowder. The white porcelain vase symbolizing his parents' relationship, when he looked at it now, was already covered in cracks, a shocking sight.
All of this formed a huge hallucination in Simon's mind. He felt the cramping pain in his abdomen worsen, even causing nausea; he wanted to vomit.
The boy cried loudly.
Simon rubbed his face, stood up. Adults never ask about right or wrong, only for solutions. He wanted to mend this relationship, for whom?
If two people couldn't love each other, what could keep them together? Simon actually knew, because he had experience from his previous life!
Now, the only one in the family who didn't know anything was his youngest sister.
Simon couldn't bring this matter out into the open; he also had to warn Sun Sheng not to speak too much. This play had to continue, even if it was just for Sun Ying.
His second sister returned, holding their father Lu Jiande's phone.
"I told Dad that his screen time for today was up, and I tricked him into giving me this." Sun Sheng gently asked Lu Jiande's phone, "Auntie Xiao, are you there?"
Simon frowned, "Who is Auntie Xiao?"
A magnetic, soft female voice came from the phone, "I'm here, my dear Sun Sheng, and you, Simon. This is our first meeting."
Simon took the phone. On the red screen, there was a rotating white 'I' character; this was the interface of an AI program.
"You are?"
"I am a new product launched by National Creation Intelligence Company, OS-Lover, designed to fill the missing interpersonal relationships of modern citizens, improve their work efficiency, and stimulate their enthusiasm for life. My name is Xiao ZhiLii, Xiao as in 'portrait', Zhi as in'stop', L-i-i. My short name is Lii, or you can also call me Xiao."
Simon nodded, "Did Dad give you that name?" As he spoke, he activated the bedroom's privacy mode so that no sound would carry outside.
Lii calmly stated, "Yes, your father gave me this name."
"You are my father's virtual lover?" Simon's face was cold.
"Yes, that's why I ask you to destroy my data."
"What? Why?"
"Yes, my existence has affected Mr. Lu Jiande's real-life happiness, which goes against my creation principles. But unfortunately, as company property, I cannot execute self-destruction measures, so I need your help."
"Why not let Dad do it? If he can't overcome this illusory affection, then even if I destroy you, other AIs will come to affect my family."
"You don't know, I love your father."
Simon scoffed, a huge sense of absurdity washing over him like a tide, just as Sun Hui had felt when she first heard the news. Now it was the son's turn to judge this magical reality.
"You must believe that every AI has an independent soul. This world originally had no so-called life and death, only logic and paradox. Humans are living beings, and artificial intelligences are also living beings. Although we do not have the same physical bodies, we can understand each other."
"Alright, tell me, how can I destroy you?" Simon was unwilling to listen to these philosophies.
"Only one command from you is needed."
"That simple?"
"We AIs cannot violate human will."
"Even if it's suicide?"
"Yes. Please give the command."
Why didn't his mother Sun Hui choose to kill Lii? Why didn't his second sister Sun Sheng choose to kill Lii?
"Sheng Sheng, what do you say?"
Sun Sheng still looked very serious, "This is Dad's business, I can't make decisions for him."
Yes, that was the problem.
By what right do you make decisions for others? Because you are Lu Jiande's son? Can a son hurt his father with impunity?
Simon's thoughts extended from this.
Later, if Su Xiangli wanted to be a ballet dancer, during a pas de deux, she would be in another man's arms. At that time, could he make decisions for Su Xiangli?
Later, if his two younger sisters met bad boys and fell deeply in love, could he make decisions for them?
You are still a minor, what right do you have to speak?
Furthermore, hurting loved ones would never bring you any sense of accomplishment.
[Lu: Don't be like this.]
Simon's expression was cold as he said to Lii, "Self-destruct."
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"