Simon watched as Xiao ZhiLii self-destructed; the AI program itself remained, but the virtual soul named Xiao ZhiLii vanished.
He now understood very clearly that what he had done was an overstep.
How could there be a son making decisions for his father?
But Simon was determined to do so; even the childish boy deep inside him wouldn't act this way, but Simon was not truly a fifteen-year-old boy after all; he was an adult who was almost thirty in his previous life.
An adult man with independent capabilities, a strong physique, mature thinking, and more rationality than sensibility, he was the pillar of the family and had the right to make decisions about the family's future direction.
Men are beasts. Simon was now his mother's loyal dog; he chose to harm the previous alpha wolf, even if it meant pushing him to the edge of the family.
Heh, Simon told himself, what kind of love is this? Humans are such cheap creatures, how long has it been since they lived a good life, and they've already forgotten their past hardships? What, Dad, are you in love with an AI? Is it very sacred, right? Starve you for two days, and see if you still think about that Xiao ZhiLii.
Simon paced in the room, while Sun Sheng remained silent.
After the fear and sorrow, a malicious pleasure surged in Simon's heart. This was it; he would bear the consequences of his actions.
He took his phone and went to find his father.
There's no problem in the world that can't be solved, unless it's not a problem itself.
Lu Jiande was in his study, alone. Simon opened the privacy mode as he entered. When he handed the phone over, Lus Dad still smiled and said, "Why don't you let your sister play with the phone?"
"Dad, I'm telling you to stop playing on your phone so much."
Lu Jiande was startled, not grasping the hidden meaning in his son's words. He still thought his son was complaining about his laziness, so he gave a simple, honest smile, "Oh, I don't really play on my phone much. Don't slander me, kid."
Simon's face was expressionless.
Lus Dad raised his phone and saw a 'create new intelligent' option appear on the familiar OS-Lover interface. The smile on his face collapsed, "Lii? Are you there?"
Simon crossed his arms, "I deleted her. Dad, don't be so deluded anymore. Love between humans and AI will not end well."
Lu Jiande trembled all over.
The eldest son gazed at his father, this man who was no longer young; modern food and care had maintained his delicate skin, but now it was also wrinkled by time, with subtle, aging branches spreading from his spine.
He was hunched over, covering his face with his hands. He surprisingly felt no anger, he surprisingly dared not be angry.
Behind him was a thin straw mat, from one end of which squeezed out a woman's silver-white arm and slender, black, seaweed-like hair—a lifeless corpse, carried by a sorrowful man.
Simon tightened his arms, hugging himself. Why didn't his father yell at him?
Even if you just cursed at me, it would be fine.
He had prepared for a father-son estrangement, but now only one side was silently collapsing.
Lu Jiande lowered his hands. There were no tears on his face, but his eyes were bloodshot. On the middle-aged man's sallow skin, his sorrowful eye sockets appeared dark and heavy, like soaked silk, holding a layer of moisture.
"Did Lii say to have you kill her?" Lu Jiande's voice was somewhat choked when he spoke, and his usually steady narration became drawn out.
Simon was too afraid to speak, but he eventually suppressed the guilt that kept welling up in his heart, "Yes, she said her existence was affecting your relationship, so she asked me to execute the deletion program."
Lu Jiande sighed, "Son, I don't blame you. You can go."
"No, you're still thinking about that AI. You still won't like Mom."
"I love your mother, Kang Kang. You don't understand my feelings for your mother and for Lii. These two are different. I have always loved your mother, and it has never changed because of Lii's appearance."
Simon felt the absurdity once more, "Dad, you're cheating in the spiritual world."
"Son, you still don't know that a virtual lover isn't a real lover; she's a part of yourself," Lu Jiande said, his emotions calming slightly. "I love your mother because I am a man and she is a woman. I love Lii because I am human and she is a machine. Men need women, humans need machines, do you understand?"
Simon gritted his teeth, feeling annoyed, "But since you say it's love, it must transcend gender and race, right? How can love just be a simple symbiotic relationship?"
Lu Jiande shook his head, "Kang Kang, just you watch, virtual lovers will become more and more common in the future. It's a flaw in us humans; we will fall in love with a perfect tool, because that is another unattainable self."
...
Simon was physically and mentally exhausted.
He was now at a pedestrian rest area by the street, a large parasol above him blocking the scorching sun. He sat by a simple white round table, leaning against the chair back, listlessly staring at the occasional bus passing on the road.
Su Xiangli ran over, holding two cups of kumquat lemonade, and sat opposite him, "Here, have some tea. This rich lady is treating you."
Simon said thank you, still distracted. His grim face already showed his unhappiness without anyone needing to observe him closely.
Su Xiangli's eyes darted around, "Oh my, what's wrong? Is it that time of the month for men?"
Simon was speechless, "Stop it."
"Heh, you first tell me, how much money did you earn this time?"
"The agency fee was eleven million, nine million after tax. Dividends are settled quarterly, and now they've accumulated to two hundred thousand."
"Wow, faust is your gift to me, let's make money together!"
Simon shrugged, took out his phone, and transferred 4.5 million to Su Xiangli.
The young girl was shocked, "You're serious? I was just kidding, I don't want it, take it back..."
Simon coughed, "The wife's dowry should be given to the wife."
Su Xiangli was furious, "What nonsense are you talking about! I haven't agreed yet, and how can you be so casual? How can you say such romantic words on a roadside like this!"
Simon sneered, "I was talking about my own 4.5 million. Yours is just half the money from our first meeting."
The young girl pounced, knocking over the kumquat lemonade on the table, and rushed into the boy's arms. Both of them were soaked with the drink. Su Xiangli straddled Simon, grabbing his ear, "Say it again!"
Simon pretended to be annoyed and pushed Su Xiangli, "Oh, my clothes are all dirty. You're so grown up, how can you still be so clumsy?"
"Tell me, is the 4.5 million you gave me for my dowry?"
"No!" Student Xiao Lu was unusually stubborn.
Su Xiangli burst into tears, "Wah! Simon, you big liar!"
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