Chapter 44
“…I believe that once robots develop autonomous consciousness, they will likely become completely different from before. Strictly speaking, robots with autonomous consciousness can no longer be considered robots.
In that case, the originally set programs naturally lose their meaning. At this point, it would be obviously unfair to them if we continue to treat them as robots.
With autonomous consciousness, they can fully perceive this unfairness. Therefore, they will become completely different from before. Perhaps they were very obedient in the past, but once they gain autonomous consciousness, they might become cold and radical…”
This passage was like a lifeline for Jian Yu, reigniting his hope.
Perhaps his Alice hadn’t disappeared. Qiu Chi was his Alice; she had just developed autonomous consciousness, which was why she had become like this. As long as he changed his attitude toward her, their relationship would surely improve.
Jian Yu desperately wanted to go to Qiu Chi right now, to tell her that he knew he was wrong and that he would change.
But he held back. He knew that Qiu Chi probably didn't want him to disturb her at the moment.
Besides, he actually had other things to do now.
Jian Qiu, a man who not only coveted the position of the future head of the Jian family but also coveted his Alice.
In the past, he had given up and endured it, but now, he could no longer tolerate it.
Jian Qiu had no idea that he had once again stirred Jian Yu's fighting spirit.
He was currently having his assistant contact the woman who had left Jian Yu's manor.
But the results were not ideal.
Jian Qiu was a little surprised when he heard the information from his assistant. "She refuses to talk?"
The assistant replied, "Yes, she seemed very scared. I don't know what she encountered, but she wouldn't say a single word. She even said she'd return the money to me and told me to find someone else."
“Tsk, interesting.”
Afterward, Jian Qiu discovered something even more interesting was yet to come. Jian Yu, who had been wallowing in self-pity for so long, had actually started taking over family affairs again.
Did Jian Qiu feel a sense of crisis at this moment? Not really.
Jian Yu was indeed very capable; he didn't deny that.
But Jian Yu had been despondent for a year now, and he himself was no slouch. Even if Jian Yu was capable, he didn't feel the slightest sense of crisis. He just felt an even stronger urge to get rid of Jian Yu.
【Jian Yu has actually started handling the Jian family's affairs. Jian Qiu is going to get rid of him soon, right? You didn't even do anything, so how did the plot accelerate so much!】
The System couldn't understand.
But Qiu Chi could. "Ultimately, it all comes down to Jian Yu."
"My attitude toward him is completely different from Alice's. He felt the contrast, so naturally, he would think about things he hadn't considered before. On top of that, he met Jian Qiu ahead of schedule. Even if he was wallowing in self-pity, the only thing he had left was being coveted by Jian Qiu. Any normal person wouldn't be able to stand that."
【It's just possessiveness acting up. So did he ever actually like Alice?】
After experiencing these few worlds, the system still didn't quite understand love and romance, but it could analyze it from a bystander's perspective.
"Perhaps," Qiu Chi said. "But even if he did like her, he wouldn't realize it, just like in the original plot, where he probably would have gone his whole life without realizing it.
After all, in his eyes, Alice was just a robot. The two of them were not on equal footing. No matter what Alice did, he saw it as a matter of course, even if she died for him.
After Alice's death, he might feel upset, regretful, and find it hard to adjust, but that would just be out of habit. It still wouldn't prove that it was love."
"As for now, the contrast is there. He has felt Alice's goodness. Even if he didn't want to admit it at first, he eventually has to. He probably has genuinely fallen for Alice, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's true love. Who knows if it's just a sense of unwillingness to let go?"
【You're no fun like this. You shouldn't be so rational about love. Maybe Jian Yu really has realized he's in love with Alice. After all, Alice was completely customized to his liking, and she was so gentle and considerate. It's perfectly normal for him to fall for her.】
"Oh, then let's go with what you said."
Qiu Chi finished the last page of the book. She had read every book in the entire study.
The system continued: 【So what are you thinking? Do you want to accept Jian Yu or Jian Qiu? You should accept Jian Qiu. What Jian Yu did was too much. He's definitely thoroughly tainted.】
Qiu Chi put the book back in its place, sat down at the computer, and raised an eyebrow. "What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I have to accept either of them?"
【To fall in love! It's so boring for you to be like this all day. Get into a relationship to relieve the boredom. I think that Jian Qiu quite likes you. You should give it a try with him. It's not like you have anything to lose.】
Qiu Chi reminded the system, "Jian Qiu and I have only met a few times."
How irresistible was she that Jian Qiu would fall for her after just a few meetings? Qiu Chi didn't believe it.
But the system didn't think so: 【Although love at first sight is most likely just lust, the prerequisite is that you have what it takes to make someone fall for you at first sight.】
"This face belongs to Alice."
【That doesn't matter. He seems to be handling your temper just fine, too.】
"…Have I not been restrained enough with my temper?"
Every time she came to a modern world like this, she felt constrained.
Especially in this world, the identity of a robot left her utterly speechless.
Fortunately, the plot unfolded around Jian Yu. All she had to do was stay cooped up in the manor and coldly watch him go through the plot. It didn't require any effort from her, which is why she tolerated it.
Fall in love? Like hell she would!
Right now, she just wanted to act on Jian Qiu's behalf, put Jian Yu in danger, and then save him to complete the plot and leave immediately.
However, the technology in this world was far more advanced than in the first world, so she patiently decided to learn more, striving not to be at too much of a disadvantage in similar worlds.
Before, Qiu Chi's reading was just theory. Now, she was going to put it into practice.
Jian Yu was very busy now. After nearly a year of debauchery, taking over the business again was particularly difficult at first, even for someone as capable as him.
His obstacles weren't just Jian Qiu, but also those who had always looked down on him, as well as the cold stares from his family.
But now, his fighting spirit had been completely provoked by Jian Qiu. Even though the road ahead was difficult, he still didn't back down.
However, no matter how busy he was, he still returned to the manor every day.
Not only would he return, but he would also talk to Qiu Chi every day, telling her what he did and what happened.
Qiu Chi listened with a blank expression.
After finishing, Jian Yu asked Qiu Chi as if seeking praise, "How do you think I did?"
Qiu Chi was a little speechless. "…It's fine. Keep it up."
Even though Qiu Chi's tone was a bit perfunctory, Jian Yu was still very happy.
When he returned today, after telling Qiu Chi about his day, he added, "I have to attend a banquet tomorrow night. It must be boring for you to stay in the manor all by yourself. Do you want to go out with me for a bit? I neglected your feelings before, but I definitely won't do that again."
"Then let's go."
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