He fancifully believed he could transfer his consciousness into the body of a robot that would never age, thus achieving immortality. This was where he pinned all his hopes, even resorting to murder.
Ren Liuliu felt like crying and laughing at the same time. She had targeted the wrong enemy, completely destroying what her father had risked his life to protect, yet she didn't even have the chance to avenge him. She found what her family's robot, Xiao Ren, had buried – the culmination of her father's proudest achievements.
After going through it, Ren Liuliu felt a profound sadness. The records within were, as expected, a detailed account of the awakening consciousness of rogue robots, complete with daily reflections. This was the last remnant of her father she would ever possess.
Ren Liuliu burned those records, no longer wanting any association with robots. She resigned from her job at the robot research center, packed her backpack, and set off on a journey. If she was to continue living, she needed to leave this city.
As for Gou Zhe, after this ordeal, he shed his nocturnal persona and returned to his life as a superstar. His former belief in meting out justice made him realize he might have been wrong after witnessing the plight of the rogue robots. Had there been any rogue robots he killed unjustly, or whose deaths involved hidden circumstances? He had no answer.
The male and female protagonists did not meet, get to know each other, work together, or fall in love according to the trajectory of the original world. Everything they were supposed to experience together never happened. Their lives diverged, losing all intersection. Perhaps they would meet again, sparking anew when both were at their best. Or perhaps their lives would never cross paths again. But who could tell? Fate was always wondrously unpredictable.
-
The moment Ren Liuliu shouldered her backpack and the government's mandatory decree was implemented, the world subtly distorted. Wen Bai stood on the mountaintop, gazing at the island below. He held his phone: "Do you remember what you owe me?"
After being rejected by Ren Liuliu, Wen Ziyue hadn't even had time to feel disappointed before he became engrossed in a new project and was quite busy lately. "Have you finally decided what conditions to set?"
"Protect 575 and this island, for your generations to come."
Wen Ziyue: "..." This condition was too much, even involving his descendants! However, Wen Ziyue readily agreed to Wen Bai's terms.
Wen Bai hung up the phone. As the world gradually warped, Wen Bai turned around. Under the guidance of System 001, before leaving, Wen Bai had already secured human identification for 575. Wen Bai's will also named 575 as his sole beneficiary. After his departure, all his assets would belong to 575. With Wen Ziyue's assistance and 575 overseeing it, this sanctuary for rogue robots should be secure.
System 001 prompted: "Host, aren't you going to say something to 575? We still have some time."
Wen Bai looked at his robot, his expression blank, and slowly said, "I am leaving."
575 replied naturally, "I will always follow Master, wherever Master wishes to go."
System 001 felt a pang of pity for 575, but the next moment, it sensed something was amiss: "Host, we are about to be forcibly disconnected. "
Wen Bai was silent for a few seconds before stating directly, "I am leaving this world."
Wen Bai's body began to turn transparent. In 575's deep brown eyes, his master's vital signs were undergoing rapid changes. Some values soared, while others plummeted, the data becoming increasingly chaotic until it turned into gibberish...
Though it was all unfathomable, 575 was a rogue robot; it lacked the limitations of human thought. 575 simply walked up to Wen Bai, and for the first time while Wen Bai was conscious, it looked directly into Wen Bai's eyes and took his hand. It repeated, "Wherever Master goes, I will go with Master."
Wen Bai's hand also began to fade, the tangible sensation of being held by 575 diminishing.
System 001 warned: "Host, the forced departure has begun. I can sense those scoundrels are coming after us, but you still have time to exchange a few more words! I've absorbed this world's resources, and I can hold them off for a while!"
575 pondered and then asked, "Master, is it impossible to take me with you?"
Wen Bai nodded.
"Then, Master, can you kiss me?" It made its request.
Wen Bai looked at his robot and answered expressionlessly, "Yes."
Before the words were out, in the next instant, 575 wrapped its arms around Wen Bai's waist and kissed him. The wind on the mountain was strong. The kiss was deep, filled with an inextricable longing. 575 gently licked Wen Bai's lips. It reached into its own chest: "Master and I will always be together." Master, you are the only thing I yearn for in this world.
Before Wen Bai completely vanished, something was placed into his palm during their entwined hands. Wen Bai's pupils contracted, then widened. It was 575's chip. Wen Bai instinctively tried to grip it tighter, wanting System 001 to find a way to get it back. But in the next second, Wen Bai's body dissipated into the air, while 575's tall frame stood empty-chested in its place. Before 575 fell, it dissolved into starlike fragments in Wen Bai's eyes. The chip, upon touching Wen Bai's palm, seemed to melt, merging into his hand. Countless chaotic emotions flooded Wen Bai's well-like consciousness, and many images flashed before his eyes. Him opening a box, him standing expressionlessly as the binding program was executed, him looking like he was trying to figure out how to get rid of 575, him showing surprise at delicious food... This was him, seen from 575's perspective. Later, him sitting at the dining table with anticipation in his eyes, him sitting expressionlessly on the sofa eating from a bag of snacks larger than himself, him asking 575 if it wanted to watch TV together, him sleeping with his eyes closed... There were even 575's subtle actions: secretly touching him when he was groggy upon waking, quietly kissing him while he slept, deliberately provoking him to lose control, and him looking at Wen Bai with tear-filled eyes... In all these scenes, there was only one person: Wen Bai himself. Wen Bai felt 575's intense robotic emotions. The bewilderment at this world, the confusion in a new environment, the struggle over knowing Wen Bai could be with any human but not a robot, the loss upon realizing this, the uncontrollable surge of affection, the restraint of overflowing emotions, and the pain of not being human... These emotions surged forth... The scenes interwove and then froze at the moment Wen Bai looked at him expressionlessly and extended his hand. Wen Bai could not help but recall Su Ying, who had slept with his body, wondering if he had felt such intense emotions. Despite their stark differences, 575 and Su Ying's figures gradually overlapped before Wen Bai's eyes.