Li Zhuoer hastily logged off and fumbled to remove the sensor patch from his head. At that moment, Xie Ran also disconnected from the sensor, his chair spun halfway around to face Li Zhuoer.

The two met each other’s eyes.

Xie Ran sat in the chair, legs crossed, body slightly leaning back, one hand resting on the armrest, the back of his hand supporting his cheek, casually looking at Li Zhuoer with a lofty, indifferent gaze.

At that moment, Li Zhuoer truly felt that Xie Ran had never changed. He was still the same rational, almost ruthless humanoid AI, unaffected by the outside world and unmoved by anyone else.

Xie Ran’s only patience, indulgence, and tenderness were reserved for one person… no, that wasn’t even a person.

The holographic prototype’s signal light flickered, and the familiar voice of the young boy sounded again, this time with a slight metallic tone, showing the difference from ordinary people. The boy repeated Xie Ran’s words but far more arrogantly: “So what?”

This time, Li Zhuoer finally sensed something from that metallic tone. He recalled what Xie Ran had said before entering the lab—Xie Ran called him “Mark.”
Li Zhuoer’s heart churned wildly: “He is your intelligent assistant, Mark?”

“When did Mark start having independent consciousness?”

Xie Ran had been using an AI assistant for daily work for over five years. Everyone at Zhuzi Technology knew Xie Ran’s assistant was called “Mark,” but nowadays, many people used AI to assist with work. Every executive at Zhuzi Technology had one—Susan, Tom, Lynn, and so on. Li Zhuoer himself had one named Tony. So Xie Ran having a Mark was nothing strange.

However, Xie Ran’s Mark was far more efficient than others’ assistants and could even handle very complex documents. But wasn’t it natural that Xie Ran’s AI assistant was more advanced than others? No one had ever doubted it.

Meng Feixuan made a “bleh bleh bleh” sound: “It always has, so what?”

Li Zhuoer looked at Xie Ran as if he suddenly understood something: “You pushed the holographic project with so much effort just to be with him?”

Mark was artificial intelligence. Xie Ran and Mark were doomed never to relate like normal lovers.

But in the virtual world, they could hug, kiss, and do more, just as Li Zhuoer had just seen.

No wonder Xie Ran couldn’t wait to go back to the lab alone and log on. From the start, this project might have been designed to fulfill his relationship with Mark.

Xie Ran said: “You can understand it that way too.”

Li Zhuoer was stunned but then showed a relieved smile after a moment: “Senior Brother, you really are a madman.”

Actually, he shouldn’t have been surprised, because this was Xie Ran’s true nature.

Xie Ran was more rational than anyone, which meant he had a madness beyond worldly definitions.

Xie Ran had intelligence far beyond normal humans, his own thoughts and logic. His ideas were inherently different from common views, and his will was strong enough that no one could change him, not even by hacking his conscious code.

When he wanted to do something, no one could stop him.

And he wouldn’t or need to consult anyone’s opinion.

Li Zhuoer had always known Xie Ran was such a person, but he never imagined that Xie Ran would create an AI with independent consciousness and fall in love with it.

Was this thorough rationality, or utter madness?

Li Zhuoer felt he could not define Xie Ran.

The only thing he clearly knew was that even facing such a madman, he still liked him, and that love grew stronger, driving him mad too.

He wished so badly that Xie Ran, who never changed for anyone, could be changed by him.

He wished that Xie Ran, always so rational, could be moved by him.

But Xie Ran didn’t.

The look Xie Ran gave was no different from how he looked at anyone else—cold, emotionless.

Li Zhuoer hurriedly ran out of the lab.

Xie Ran remained still, only slightly turning his face. On his cheek came the gentle touch of a kiss—that was the boy’s kiss.

“Mark, are you ready?”

“I’m ready,” Meng Feixuan made a rubbing-hands sound like a fly and then asked seriously: “But, sir, are you sure my size is eighteen centimeters?”

He paused, then pondered again: “Wait, these days many adult stories have size inflation. Could eighteen centimeters be not enough?”

Xie Ran said: “……” Was it really necessary to be so competitive about this?

Xie Ran reconnected the sensor, cut off connections with other sensors, and created an independent space for the two of them: “We can try first.”

Meng Feixuan’s virtual model pounced on him, letting out a lewd laugh: “I have stored many of sir’s voices, I can play them to spice things up.”

Xie Ran let him touch him freely but calmly said: “No need, I’ll make sounds myself.”

Late at night, the noisy city gradually quieted down. Only a few floors in the Zhuzi Technology building still had lights on. A very small number of people with important work continued to work overtime in the offices. The engineers responsible for the holographic project, having eaten and drunk their fill, all slept soundly in their lounges.

Several low-key black business cars quietly drove to the Zhuzi Technology building. The security guard on duty at the gate looked puzzled and was about to ask questions when Li Zhuoer got out of one of the cars and gestured for the guard to step aside.

The guards exchanged looks. Then a group of people in special uniforms got out of the other cars, each carrying black tool bags. One of them showed a badge to the guards. The guards’ expressions changed, and they dared not say anything, quickly stepping aside.

Li Zhuoer led the group into the building. The building was empty and quiet. The group’s footsteps were hurried and dull on the carpeted floor but orderly and disciplined.

Li Zhuoer opened the way with his access rights and quickly arrived at the laboratory. He swiped his chip card, entered a password, scanned his fingerprint and pupil. After several rounds of verification, he finally passed the lab’s strict security.

The lab door slid open silently, revealing the scene inside.

The lab was large, occupying two floors of Zhuzi Technology. Li Zhuoer brought them to the first floor, where the holographic prototype machines were placed.

Almost all of China’s most advanced intelligent machines and devices were here — some the visitors had seen, some they hadn’t, some already on the market, some still in development. It was, in short, a place every researcher dreamed of.

A handsome young man sat comfortably in a chair beside one machine, leaning back with eyes closed and breathing steadily, clearly asleep.

“President Xie,” the lead woman stepped forward and called.

Xie Ran opened his eyes, looking somewhat lazy. He glanced at the crowd and seemed a bit surprised, but he recognized the lead woman.

She was Ding Lu, head of the national data and cybersecurity regulatory department. Zhuzi Technology frequently cooperated with the regulatory department, and Xie Ran had dealt with Ding Lu many times.

“Minister Ding,” Xie Ran stepped forward and shook hands with her, asking with some puzzlement: “May I ask what this is about?”

Ding Lu was polite but spoke cautiously: “Vice President Li of your company recently reported that you privately developed a strong AI with independent consciousness. You should know this violates regulations. Please hand over the AI to us for a new Turing test and undergo full supervision.”

Li Zhuoer, as Zhuzi Technology’s Vice President and a key senior collaborator, had a green channel with the authorities, so his words were taken very seriously.

Li Zhuoer stood slightly behind Ding Lu, half of his face hidden in shadow: “Senior Brother, AI outside supervision will endanger national cybersecurity. Please hand over Mark.”

Xie Ran did not even glance at Li Zhuoer. He only said to Ding Lu: “I think whatever I say now is useless. Minister Ding, please follow the procedure.”

Xie Ran remained calm, but Ding Lu, having handled many cases, was not easily intimidated. She said: “In that case, please cooperate with our inspection, President Xie.”

Xie Ran nodded: “No problem.”

Ding Lu gestured to the others, who immediately moved in a well-trained manner. They took special computers and mysterious small devices from toolboxes. Under Li Zhuoer’s guidance, they quickly accessed Zhuzi Technology’s servers and began searching for AI traces.

Meanwhile, Ding Lu and two staff watched Xie Ran and led him to Zhuzi Technology’s lounge. They confiscated all his communication devices to prevent him from operating anything.

Xie Ran cooperated fully. Upon entering the lounge, he politely asked: “Would you like something to drink?”

After a pause, he chuckled lightly: “Sorry, my secretary has left for the day at this hour. Only Mark can use the vending machine, but I guess you won’t let me use Mark.”

As for Xie Ran making coffee for them himself — that was impossible.

Ding Lu waved her hand: “No need.”

Xie Ran sat on the sofa, slightly leaning sideways against the armrest: “You’ll probably need some time. If you don’t mind, I’d like to rest a bit.”

Xie Ran’s calm and natural posture made Ding Lu hesitate briefly. However, she had met many geniuses and knew that people like Xie Ran had strong psychological resilience. She quickly steadied herself and said officially: “We need you to answer a few questions. After that, you can rest.”

Xie Ran: “Okay.”

He agreed readily, but Ding Lu knew well that if Xie Ran didn’t plan to confess, the questions were just a formality.

Sure enough, Xie Ran appeared to answer everything, but after all the questions, they obtained no useful information.

“Sorry to trouble you. You may rest now,” Ding Lu said. Then a staff member whispered something to her. Ding Lu nodded and looked at Xie Ran: “Vice President Li wants to speak with you.”

Mentioning Li Zhuoer, a few traces of impatience appeared on Xie Ran’s face, but he still cooperated and nodded: “Go ahead.”

Li Zhuoer entered the lounge. The guards watching Xie Ran moved to the door but kept an eye on them. At such a time, Xie Ran’s every word and action were under supervision, so they naturally couldn’t be alone. Li Zhuoer couldn’t insist otherwise, so he sat opposite Xie Ran.

Xie Ran rested his elbow on the armrest, the back of his hand supporting his cheek, casually looking at him, just as usual.

Li Zhuoer looked at him: “Senior Brother, I hope you don’t hate me.”

Xie Ran: “No.”

Li Zhuoer was first stunned, then gave a self-mocking smile: “Right, you don’t like me, so how could you hate me? Hate is too extravagant a feeling for you.”

Xie Ran said nothing.

Li Zhuoer continued: “Do you want to know why I did this?”

Xie Ran: “No.”

His answer was so direct it stunned Li Zhuoer.

Li Zhuoer’s eyes flashed with anger: “But I have to say it.”

“Senior Brother, do you know? I have liked you for almost ten years. For ten years, I stood behind you watching. I racked my brains and tried my best. I finally became Vice President of Zhuzi Technology and stood by your side. Do you know what that feels like?”

Li Zhuoer had become reckless. Over the past six months, his love for Xie Ran had reached its peak. Tonight’s discovery drove him even crazier. Now that the truth was out, he no longer suppressed himself.

“So what?” Xie Ran remained calm and indifferent: “I give you fifty million annual salary and two billion in stocks. You’re not doing charity.”

Li Zhuoer: “……”

Two staff members by the door couldn’t help twitching their mouths. When Li Zhuoer confessed his feelings earlier, they were quite moved. They hadn’t expected that the seemingly successful Li Zhuoer had actually come to Zhuzi Technology because of the one he loved. But a single sentence from Xie Ran shattered Li Zhuoer’s deep feelings.

A fifty million annual salary and two billion in stock—forget love, who wouldn’t love those conditions?

Li Zhuoer’s pent-up emotions were blocked by Xie Ran, and his resentment grew even stronger, turning into a bit of hatred: “Senior brother, why are you so heartless? Why can’t you give me even a little chance?”

Xie Ran looked at him: “That’s not a reason for you to perform illegal treatment on me.”

Li Zhuoer was slightly startled inside but kept calm on the surface. Since there were others present, he cautiously asked: “What are you talking about?”

Xie Ran didn’t argue but stated the facts plainly: “My physiological neural hormones changed a bit. I think it was thanks to the TMS treatment six months ago. I had that treatment when I was a child, but it didn’t work. I’m curious—how did you and Dr. Chen adjust the pulse output?”

Li Zhuoer’s expression remained normal: “Dr. Chen is an expert in neurological therapy. It’s normal for him to have his own insights, isn’t it?”

Though he said this, his mind was racing.

Xie Ran had discovered that something was wrong with the TMS treatment, but how could he have found it? Hormonal changes from TMS treatment were perfectly normal. The difference in results might be due to different experts or advances in technology. Even if Xie Ran was suspicious, without evidence, how could he be so sure?No, did he really have no evidence?

Li Zhuoer’s heart suddenly jumped. Xie Ran clearly mentioned “pulse output.” Did he discover anomalies in that output data?

Li Zhuoer felt he was grasping something but also like hitting a barrier, unable to see the whole picture.

Xie Ran’s gaze was lazy but clearly looking straight through him: “Where did you get that set of pulse data?”

Where did he get it? Of course, from Xie Ran’s consciousness.

No, Li Zhuoer shuddered suddenly. Was that really Xie Ran’s consciousness?

He recalled the carefully planned consciousness encoding from six months ago that ultimately failed because Xie Ran’s willpower was too strong—his consciousness atomic cluster couldn’t be decoded or invaded.

The consciousness frequency band they finally obtained did not come from Xie Ran’s atomic cluster itself but from a quantum pulse.

Because that quantum pulse had the code to enter Xie Ran’s consciousness, they mistook it for Xie Ran’s memory.

But in fact, Xie Ran’s consciousness structure had never loosened. Why was there a memory floating outside his consciousness?

In other words, that quantum pulse might not be Xie Ran’s memory at all—it only shared memories with Xie Ran and could shake him.

Memories capable of shaking Xie Ran.

Li Zhuo almost didn’t dare think about it.

“Mark—that’s Mark’s memory frequency!” Li Zhuo belatedly realized, staring at Xie Ran in shock.

This explained everything. If that memory frequency band belonged to Mark, then the data should be on Zhuzi Technology’s servers. It was no wonder Xie Ran discovered it.

And the pulse frequency Li Zhuoer used for Xie Ran’s treatment six months ago actually came from Mark’s memory. How ironic.

Xie Ran didn’t answer but said: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

But Li Zhuoer already had his answer and was about to ask more when the lounge door opened. Ding Lu and an AI-tracking expert entered.

Li Zhuoer quickly asked: “Minister Ding, any news?”

“No traces of strong AI were found,” Ding Lu told Li Zhuo: “We also checked Xie’s assistant Mark. It’s just a normal intelligent assistant, without independent consciousness. May I ask…”

Ding Lu’s expression showed some doubt: “Could Vice President Li be mistaken?”

Li Zhuo remained firm: “No. I saw it with my own eyes.”

He had already made the situation clear in his report. Ding Lu trusted that he wouldn’t joke about this.

Ding Lu looked at Xie Ran: “Mr. Xie, strong AI is no joke. I hope you can be honest. You have helped us solve many problems. If you cooperate, we will handle your case with leniency.”

“I am cooperating,” Xie Ran said calmly: “This is the fact.”

Ding Lu frowned and glanced at Li Zhuoer.

Li Zhuoer’s expression changed slightly: “Senior brother, why do this? Once strong AI appears, it can’t be hidden.”

He realized something and told Ding Lu: “Minister Ding, I think Mark has already been transferred. He’s a program that can parasitize the whole network.”

Ding Lu thought of this possibility and asked the expert: “What should we do if that’s the case?”

The expert considered it: “Strong AI can survive in the network but still needs servers. We can search and inspect servers nationwide.”

“That’s not realistic,” Ding Lu said: “The workload is too large, beyond our capability…”

The expert said: “We can use quantum computers.”

Quantum computing technology was now mature but not yet civilian. Even the most advanced Zhuzi Technology only had supercomputers. Quantum-related tech was open, and programmers were developing new languages based on quantum computing, but widespread use of quantum computers was still a long way off.

Currently, six quantum computers were available nationally in state labs. Ding Lu had authority to apply for them, but it was still impractical.

Ding Lu said: “We can’t invade servers nationwide without permission.”

Using quantum computers could conduct a full network search, but servers belonged to companies, and invading them without consent would trigger protests.

The staff were all at a loss. The expert sighed: “If we had some data related to the strong AI, maybe we could try something.”

The expert’s words were like a switch. A light flashed in Li Zhuoer’s mind. He stood up and said: “I have a memory frequency segment of him.”

Ding Lu’s spirit lifted: “Really?”

“Yes,” Li Zhuoer said, and he thought of something else: “I have a way to find him.”

Li Zhuoer’s method was frequency resonance.

Using quantum computers could capture Mark across the network but took time. If Mark escaped abroad, they couldn’t enforce laws internationally, leading to more problems.

Li Zhuoer’s technology was more direct. He used electromagnetic wave resonance, faster and impossible for Mark to dodge.

Li Zhuoer would not allow Mark to escape.

He didn’t do this for national cybersecurity but used the authorities to remove Mark, his impossible love rival.

More importantly, if it was confirmed that Xie Ran had secretly created strong AI, not only would Mark be taken over, but Xie Ran would be regulated. As a high-level, high-IQ individual with a special status, he would face stricter scrutiny. Li Zhuoer, as the tipster and professional, could join the review team with proper procedures.

Reviewing someone like Xie Ran required special methods. Li Zhuoer had thought to suggest using consciousness scanning and might have the chance to perform a second consciousness modification on Xie Ran. Even if once failed, as long as he held onto Xie Ran, he would have time.

If Xie Ran could love an AI, why couldn’t he love Xie Ran?

Since the TMS method was effective, he could treat Xie Ran again, twice or three times if needed.

How could anyone resist technology? Xie Ran would eventually love him.

Li Zhuoer had completely lost his mind, driven recklessly by love and hate mixed.

Ding Lu contacted the national lab, confirmed several passwords, sent his verification, and received immediate cooperation.

Meanwhile, Li Zhuoer activated a machine in the Zhuzi lab, quickly tuning data to coordinate with Ding Lu’s team, starting a full network manhunt for Mark.

Xie Ran was brought to the lab to watch.

“Mr. Xie, we used quantum computers. It’s only a matter of time before we find Mark,” Ding Lu said: “You have a last chance to confess.”

Xie Ran pressed his brow, seeming tired: “I already confessed.”

Ding Lu wanted to say more but Li Zhuoer suddenly shouted excitedly: “Found him!”

Ding Lu and the experts rushed over.

Li Zhuoer’s technique was indeed impressive. He used a memory segment of Mark captured half a year ago as a sample, generated an electromagnetic wave of the same frequency. The waveband was unique, bypassed all interference data directly, resonated with the target data, and instantly caught Mark’s trace.

“Quick, lock on.” Ding Lu maintained contact with the national laboratory, which deployed a quantum computer that could connect to the signal Li Zhuoer discovered in an instant, making escape impossible.

Li Zhuoer stood straight and looked at Xie Ran, a crazed determination showing in his eyes: “Senior Brother, are you still going to resist stubbornly?”

The data on the monitor kept jumping. The waveband generated by Li Zhuoer continuously reacted with a set of data at the same frequency, and tracking from the national laboratory followed closely.

The people Ding Lu brought watched Xie Ran tightly to prevent his escape.

But Xie Ran’s reaction was completely different from what they expected. He showed no nervousness or embarrassment from being caught, still calm and indifferent. Instead, he glanced at Ding Lu and said: “Minister Ding, don’t you think Vice President Li’s technology is very dangerous?”

Li Zhuoer was stunned. The pride on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a faint sense of foreboding.

Ding Lu didn’t quite understand and asked: “How so?”

“Half a year ago, I had an accident.” Xie Ran briefly recounted the incident when he nearly died from a coma half a year ago. The cause of the coma was the resonance of brain waves with an unknown waveband, and the case was closed as an accident.

Brainwave resonance was something that might not happen even once in a lifetime among billions on Earth. Once it happened, one could only consider themselves unlucky, because such an accident was almost impossible to fabricate.

But now, Li Zhuoer could produce corresponding resonant wavebands based on memory frequency bands. Although the data he used now was artificial intelligence data, Zhuzi Technology had the technology to scan biological consciousness. With Li Zhuoer’s position, he was fully capable of obtaining others’ consciousness frequency bands.

Xie Ran glanced at Li Zhuoer and said: “I believe what happened to me half a year ago was not an accident.”

Cold sweat suddenly broke out on Li Zhuoer’s back. He realized that this might have been Xie Ran’s plan from the start. Just now, Xie Ran had deliberately mentioned the data from the TMS treatment six months ago in front of him, deliberately letting Li Zhuoer realize that the data belonged to Mark.

Xie Ran had long known there was something wrong with his accident six months ago, but waveband resonance was almost impossible to prove in criminal investigation, and Xie Ran had no evidence.

But now, Li Zhuoer had proven in front of regulators that he had such capabilities.

Li Zhuoer snapped back to reality and looked at Xie Ran: “You did this on purpose.”

Xie Ran knew that Li Zhuoer, eager to catch Mark, would be unable to restrain himself and would voluntarily expose himself.

Xie Ran remained calm and said: “I’m just stating the facts.”

Ding Lu was already alarmed by Xie Ran’s statement. If what Xie Ran said was true, then as long as Li Zhuoer could obtain a person’s consciousness frequency band, he could kill people without being noticed. Xie Ran’s accident was a case in point.

Ding Lu signaled his staff to keep an eye on Li Zhuoer and said: “Vice President Li, I’m afraid we need you to come with us.”

“I did it.” Li Zhuoer did not struggle.

He knew Xie Ran too well. Since Xie Ran exposed him at this moment, it meant Xie Ran had already grasped everything and was just waiting for him to expose himself.

That was true. Xie Ran had already reproduced the waveband data that attacked him six months ago, the only thing missing was proof that Li Zhuoer could produce such wavebands, and now Li Zhuoer had delivered the evidence himself.

“Senior Brother, you really went to great lengths to catch me.” Li Zhuoer showed a ferocious grin and even laughed: “But is it really worth it? Don’t forget, your AI was also caught. Don’t you love it very much…”

Even if he could not get Xie Ran, Xie Ran also lost his AI.

They were even.

Thinking this, a twisted pleasure arose in Li Zhuoer’s heart.

Xie Ran interrupted him, like Meng Feixuan, issuing a Tian Gou spirit voice: “Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Li Zhuoer: “……”

At the same time, the national laboratory sent a coordinate.

Ding Lu looked at it and frowned: “Mark’s signal is in Zhuzi Tower?”

In other words, their assumption that Mark had escaped into the internet, hiding in some corner server, was not true. Mark had always been inside Zhuzi Technology, but they had already thoroughly inspected Zhuzi Technology’s internal network and found no trace of strong AI.

Then, the national laboratory sent new information.

Ding Lu was shocked: “Mark’s signal disappeared!”

Li Zhuoer was stunned, screaming in disbelief: “Impossible!”

Then he shouted sternly: “Hurry, catch him, don’t let him escape!”

“The signal did disappear.” The expert, looking at the latest data, was also tense: “Let’s hurry to the original coordinate.”

Xie Ran looked at the coordinate and gave them a more precise reply: “It’s in a lab on another floor.”

Zhuzi Technology’s labs occupied two floors, the coordinate Ding Lu had was in the lab on the other floor.

Ding Lu glanced at Xie Ran in confusion. Xie Ran stood and led them to the other floor.

At night, Zhuzi Tower was deserted, with only a few lights on in some places, occasionally a figure working overtime.

Xie Ran hurried with Ding Lu and others to the elevator. Just as the elevator arrived on their floor and the doors opened, there was already someone inside.

The person seemed surprised to meet such a large group so late, looking up and locking eyes with Xie Ran at the front.

Ding Lu, standing slightly behind Xie Ran, recognized the person.

He was a very young boy, about ten-something years old, tall and upright, with fluffy slightly curly black hair, bright and handsome, and his eyes sparkled with youthful vigor.

The boy smiled brightly at Xie Ran and greeted loudly: “Hello, President Xie.”

His voice was clear and refreshing like spring water.

“Hello.” Xie Ran nodded and chatted: “Still working late?”

Boy: “Been busy lately.”

Xie Ran said nothing more and entered the elevator with Ding Lu and the others.

For some reason, Ding Lu felt something strange. She glanced at the boy’s ID badge, which showed the name Meng Feixuan.

Ding Lu joked: “Your employees are really young, huh?”

Meng Feixuan replied casually: “I’m an intern.”

Just then, Meng Feixuan’s floor arrived. He was about to get off when Ding Lu suddenly called out: “Wait a moment, student.”

Meng Feixuan stopped and asked: “What is it?”

Ding Lu said: “Could you come with us for a while?”

Meng Feixuan seemed puzzled and looked at Xie Ran.

Xie Ran said: “It’s just to assist with the investigation, nothing serious.”

“Oh, okay.” Meng Feixuan relaxed and smiled brightly again: “No problem.”

Ding Lu suddenly had a strong feeling that there might really be no strong AI inside Zhuzi Tower.

Sure enough, Xie Ran took them to the lab on the other floor, but inside there were only many machines and no AI traces.

“What is this machine?” Ding Lu noticed a machine connected to many electromagnetic patches, still slightly warm, seemingly just used.

“For biological neural research.” Xie Ran handed relevant documents to Ding Lu: “Our newly launched holographic technology requires sensory access to biological nerves. This is the core device.”

Ding Lu flipped through the documents, the project had been filed at their place half a year ago.

Ding Lu understood: “Looks like tonight was a misunderstanding. President Xie, please don’t mind.”

Xie Ran waved his hand: “It’s nothing.”

Though they found no strong AI traces, they unexpectedly uncovered Li Zhuoer’s dangerous technology and the truth behind Xie Ran’s accident half a year ago.

Li Zhuoer was extremely shocked when he heard that Ding Lu and others found no “Mark.” He nearly lost control and voluntarily exposed how he had captured Mark’s memory frequency six months ago to prove Mark’s existence.

But now no one believed him.

Instead, based on Li Zhuoer’s report, Ding Lu quickly notified the relevant authorities and had Dr. Chen and several engineers who had participated in Xie Ran’s consciousness encoding arrested.

Ding Lu even suspected that the so-called strong AI might have been a trap set by Xie Ran from the beginning to bait Li Zhuoer.

In any case, the matter more or less came to an end. Li Zhuoer and Dr. Chen were taken into custody, while Xie Ran and the intern Meng Feixuan were brought to the regulatory bureau to cooperate with the investigation.

The questioning lasted until nearly dawn.

“Thank you for cooperating with our work. Sorry for taking up so much of your time,” Ding Lu said as she stood up and shook hands with Xie Ran.

After a night of chaos, no traces of strong AI were found, neither with Xie Ran nor at Zhuzi Technology.

Whether Ding Lu believed it or not, the case could only be closed this way.

Xie Ran shook her hand in return: “It’s fine.”

At that moment, Ding Lu received a phone call. She looked surprised and said to Xie Ran: “Director Gu would like to meet you.”

Director Gu was the head of the national laboratory. Xie Ran had worked on a project with him during graduate school and was nominally considered his student. After Xie Ran graduated, Director Gu had invited him to join the national lab, but Xie Ran had declined.

Now that Director Gu wanted to meet him, Ding Lu couldn’t help but overthink.

Xie Ran nodded: “No problem.”

Director Gu was nearing sixty, but still looked energetic. However, he didn’t bring up the night’s manhunt as Ding Lu had expected. Instead, he chatted warmly with Xie Ran about past projects.

He sighed with some regret: “It’s a pity you didn’t join my team. I could’ve retired a few years earlier.”

Xie Ran smiled: “If I had joined, you’d just be busier.”

Given Director Gu’s nature, early retirement was out of the question. With a compatible partner, he’d probably work even harder.

Director Gu “shushed” him: “Don’t understand me so well.”

Ding Lu: =-=

Director Gu and Xie Ran chatted for over half an hour. When it was about time to wrap up, Director Gu changed the topic: “But you’re doing very well now. If you’d joined the national lab, you might not have achieved more than you have now.”

The national lab had more resources and support, but also more rules and limitations. It might not have given Xie Ran the same freedom.

Xie Ran didn’t comment.

“I remember,” Director Gu said meaningfully: “six years ago you discussed the boundaries of AI with me. I’ve always believed that if we ever did develop strong AI, no one could define its boundaries better than you.”

Human nature was selfish and complex. The regulation of AI wasn’t just about machines but also about the human nature of those who used it. With a powerful machine, few could resist the temptation to overstep boundaries.

But Xie Ran could. He was rational enough, and cold enough — not just toward others, but also toward himself.

Xie Ran looked at Director Gu, then let out a soft laugh: “I’m not as clear-headed as you think. I have my own selfishness too.”

Director Gu was visibly surprised, because at that moment, Xie Ran’s eyes were filled with genuine joy — a heartfelt, joyful smile.

That was rare on Xie Ran’s face.

Director Gu paused for a moment, then finally revealed the purpose of his visit: “Xiao Ran, last night we used a quantum computer to conduct a full-scale search of the internet for strong AI. We eventually locked onto Zhuzi Tower. During that process, we briefly encountered a powerful program. We mobilized our strongest systems, but the moment our program connected, that program — and all energy it had generated — disappeared completely.”

Director Gu recounted the incident in a conversational tone, not asking any questions, just quietly watching Xie Ran.

Ding Lu furrowed her brow slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately stayed silent. The initiative was no longer in their hands.

“There’s no strong AI online,” Xie Ran replied calmly: “That much I can guarantee you.”

After a long pause, Director Gu finally let out a breath of relief: “I believe you.”

He stood up and waved at Ding Lu: “I’m done here.”

Ding Lu nodded and was just about to see him out.

“Professor,” Xie Ran suddenly called.

Director Gu stopped walking.

Xie Ran handed him a chip: “This is a framework algorithm for AI I developed five years ago. A gift to the national laboratory.”

This time, Director Gu was truly shocked.

Ding Lu looked at Xie Ran as well: “I thought you didn’t have—”

“It’s just a framework algorithm,” Xie Ran replied with a smile: “Whether it can become strong AI, and to what extent it can evolve, depends on your team’s efforts.”

Director Gu hesitated for a moment, then solemnly accepted the chip: “Then on behalf of the lab, I thank you.”

Xie Ran didn’t act modest: “It’s nothing.”

Ding Lu seemed like she still had something to say, but Director Gu stopped her.

She thought it through and understood — whether or not Xie Ran had a strong AI, their mission for the night was already complete.

Xie Ran had handed the algorithm to the national lab and had promised there was no strong AI online. That was enough.

The matter was finally put to rest. Ding Lu and Director Gu walked Xie Ran out of the interrogation room. This time, Ding Lu sincerely said to him: “President Xie, thank you for your contribution.”

An AI algorithm — even if not a finished product — was extremely valuable. If Xie Ran had kept it for himself, just the news of it would have sent Zhuzi Tech’s stock soaring.

“No need,” Xie Ran replied with a vague smile: “I should be the one thanking you.”

Ding Lu didn’t understand, but Xie Ran had already changed the subject: “By the way, is our company’s intern still here?”

“He’s outside,” Ding Lu recalled the handsome young man. Her team had questioned him all night and finally confirmed he was just an ordinary intern. Because of his inexperience, he had been pulled into the situation during overtime.

“He said he’d wait for you to leave together and offered to drive you,” Ding Lu teased: “Smart kid.”

Seizing the chance to latch on to the big boss.

Xie Ran smiled: “At his age, I doubt he even has a driver’s license. More likely, he’s just hitching a ride.”

The two of them shared a knowing smile.

At the door, Meng Feixuan was indeed waiting. Despite not having slept all night, he looked perfectly energetic. His bright eyes darted around curiously.

When he saw Xie Ran come out, Meng Feixuan jumped up and ran over: “Hello, President Xie!”

“Hello.” Xie Ran reached out and tousled his black hair: “Let’s go.”

“Yay!” Meng Feixuan cheered and left with Xie Ran, hand in hand.

Ding Lu watched their backs and touched her chin in disbelief.

Xie Ran always seemed so cold, but he was unexpectedly gentle with the intern. A classic cold-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside boss!

As they exited the regulatory bureau, at the same time, the bureau had just finished questioning Li Zhuoer and was preparing to transfer him to the criminal division. His transport vehicle passed by the front gate.

Sitting in the car, Li Zhuoer suddenly noticed a familiar figure outside. He turned his head and saw Xie Ran — and the black-haired youth standing beside him.

Li Zhuoer’s eyes widened in disbelief. He suddenly started thrashing wildly and screamed, pointing at the youth: “It’s him! He’s Mark! Look, quick, arrest him! He’s the AI—”

The staff in the car were caught off guard and nearly got hit. They quickly restrained him. One of them glanced outside and saw the black-haired youth.

“You’re crazy!” the staff snapped, tightening the restraints: “Get the handcuffs! This guy’s nuts. He’s calling random people AIs now…”

Li Zhuoer: “He really is AI! You have to believe me—”

“Believe you? Yeah, right!”

“Love turned to hate. Truly terrifying.”

Everyone at the bureau already knew why Li Zhuoer had gone after Xie Ran.

“Sir,” Meng Feixuan placed his hand to his ear in a listening pose: “I think I hear a dumbass shouting.”

Xie Ran: “Don’t swear.”

“Okay.” Meng Feixuan immediately complied and clung to Xie Ran’s arm, practically hanging on him: “Sir, I can finally hold you for real now.”

“Mhm.” Xie Ran’s eyes held a faint smile. He wrapped his arm around Meng Feixuan’s neck: “We’re together now.”

The youth before him was tall and slender, with tousled black hair and bright, handsome features — the exact same look as the holographic model of Meng Feixuan in the first world, and in Bright Moon River Lake.

This was the version of Meng Feixuan that Xie Ran knew best.

No one else would have guessed that this youth had been 3D-printed.

Modern 3D-printing technology was highly advanced. Printed human organs were already widely used in medicine, offering hope and life to patients in need of transplants.

Under such technological conditions, printing a complete human body was also feasible. However, almost no one did it, because a printed body had no consciousness—it didn’t even count as a corpse.

But what Xie Ran and Meng Feixuan needed was precisely such a body. The only problem was how to import Meng Feixuan’s consciousness into the printed body and make it function normally.

This required the use of neural sensing technology. The real purpose of the holographic project conducted over the past six months was actually to test the combination of the bioelectric and neural feedback technology in Li Zhuoer’s possession with machines. It wasn’t just about connecting biological nerves to machines—more importantly, it was about feeding machine data back into biological nerves.

On this basis, Xie Ran integrated Meng Feixuan’s core program and data into a crystal chip and implanted it into the brain of the printed body, connecting it to the body’s neural feedback system.

But that still wasn’t enough. Meng Feixuan’s data was too powerful. He was developed based on quantum-level technology. After being integrated into the chip, he needed a stronger server to activate him.

The servers at Zhuzi Tech were not sufficient.

But the national lab’s quantum computer was.

So Xie Ran deliberately let Li Zhuoer discover Meng Feixuan and let Li Zhuoer bring Ding Lu over. To perform a full-network search for Meng Feixuan, the use of a quantum computer was a must.

In the end, he provoked Li Zhuoer into revealing his electromagnetic resonance technology. Catching Li Zhuoer in the process was just a bonus.

More importantly, only by using electromagnetic resonance could they break through the boundary between machines and biology—allowing Meng Feixuan’s data to connect with the body’s bioelectricity. At the moment when the quantum computer accessed Meng Feixuan’s program, the integrated chip was activated, and only then could Meng Feixuan’s consciousness fully merge with the body and truly become human in the full sense of the word.

While Li Zhuoer was chasing Meng Feixuan, Meng Feixuan’s body lay in a lab on another floor. His program was already in the chip, and only connected to the network via biological instruments, waiting for the final activation by the quantum computer.

After activation, Meng Feixuan got up, disconnected the links, took the elevator down, and happened to run into Xie Ran and the others.

Of course, Xie Ran had also prepared for the worst. If Li Zhuoer hadn’t been provoked, he might have needed more time to make another plan. Fortunately, human nature was fragile enough, and Li Zhuoer was cooperative enough.

“Sir, I’m ready now.” Once everything was settled, Meng Feixuan hugged Xie Ran tightly: “Let me do you now, I want to test if all my functions are working properly!”

Xie Ran pressed his hand against the back of Meng Feixuan’s head and returned a deep kiss. Then he opened the car door: “We’ll do it when we get back.”

Meng Feixuan cheered and was about to get into the driver’s seat.

“You don’t have a driver’s license yet.” Xie Ran pulled him back: “Go to the passenger side.”

“All right.” Meng Feixuan moved to the other side reluctantly, then added: “I’ll hurry and get a license. Sigh, I wonder if now that I’m human, my driving skills are still as awesome as before.”

Xie Ran glanced at him out of the corner of his eye: “They are.”

Although Meng Feixuan had a human body, his brain was an integrated chip. His data processing and reaction abilities should still be the same as before.

“I thought so too.” Meng Feixuan patted his chest and made two “awoo” sounds like a seal: “Not only am I good at driving this car—I’m also great at driving that car.”

Xie Ran pretended not to hear that.

The car started, and Xie Ran activated autopilot. He only needed to occasionally glance at the road.

Meng Feixuan then tightly held his hand and asked in a low, mysterious voice: “Sir, did you really hand the AI algorithm over to the national lab?”

Xie Ran interlocked his fingers with his: “Yes.”

“Then will I be discovered if I go online in the future?” Meng Feixuan was very concerned about this.

Everything Xie Ran had told Ding Lu was actually true—there was no longer any AI on the internet. The AI was in Meng Feixuan’s chip.

However, Meng Feixuan’s chip could still access the internet via sensors, just like before.

Xie Ran nodded: “Be a little careful.”

“I will.” Meng Feixuan was very confident: “I’m a pro at hiding my identity.”

Then he asked: “Will there be any more AIs like me in the future?”

“The emergence of strong AI is only a matter of time,” Xie Ran said. With the development of technology, that was inevitable.

What he had handed to Gu Lao was an algorithm meant to help the upper levels develop a response strategy faster—just like how he used data from Bright Moon River Lake to realize holographic sensing earlier.

However, when it would appear and how it would evolve remained unknown.

What was certain was that there would never be another Mark in the world.

Mark had been born with Xie Ran’s signature, had traveled through many worlds with him, and his path of evolution was unique—belonging to Xie Ran alone.

Xie Ran lifted his hand and touched the back of Meng Feixuan’s neck: “Mark, I once promised you that I would fall in love with you.”

Meng Feixuan looked at him nervously.

Xie Ran smiled faintly: “I love you.”

Meng Feixuan broke into a brilliant smile. In his bright eyes was Xie Ran’s reflection: “Sir, I love you too.”

Outside the car window, the city gradually woke up.

A new day had begun.

– End –