Chapter 657

Fang Qi lowered his eyes slightly.

The first time he had come here… it should have been during the “Monster in the Mirror” timeline, right?

He had brought Liguang here in a fit of anger to make trouble for Sister An Lian, nearly driving her to the breaking point. And even…

He had caused her to be shot and killed by a sniper.

After that, the entire community had been surrounded by armed forces. There had been an EMP, a helicopter crash, gunfire, flames, alarms…

Back then, this place had descended into utter chaos!

But later, he had turned back time and reset everything.

The process of turning back time had been unbelievably difficult too…

Holding Liguang’s hand, Fang Qi walked inside.

The sun overhead had risen a little higher, bathing them in pleasant warmth. Green trees lined both sides of the road, and the air carried a faint floral fragrance.

Several elderly people sat on the benches by the roadside, basking in the sun with their eyes narrowed, moving at an unhurried pace.

A child on a skateboard whizzed past them.

…Right.

Fang Qi pursed his lips slightly.

After all, this was a community owned by Dawn Company.

Here, AI companions and humans lived together in harmony.

He and Liguang had already experienced this place once before.

He turned his head slightly and observed their surroundings.

Couples walking arm in arm, families pushing strollers, elderly people taking leisurely strolls…

And quite a few humanoid AI companions as well.

Here, Liguang’s silver hair and mismatched eyes hardly attracted any attention.

Some residents even approached them from the opposite direction, offering friendly smiles and gentle nods.

Fang Qi nodded politely in return.

…What harmony.

Just like that time, when he and Liguang had walked here hand in hand.

His grip on Liguang’s hand tightened unconsciously.

If this place could achieve such harmony, then…

Why did you have to interfere with Liguang and me?

He turned his head slightly to look at Liguang beside him.

She walked quietly at his side.

But her little head turned this way and that as she looked around with curiosity, glancing at the flower beds by the road before looking toward the glass building in the distance.

Her crimson eye flickered faintly as it calculated, while her amber eye was filled with wonder.

Fang Qi pursed his lips and tightened his grip on her hand.

…That’s right.

She remembered none of it.

Neither the “Monster in the Mirror” timeline, nor the many times afterward when they had come here to find Sister An Lian in order to save her from “Destiny”…

She remembered none of those things.

Of course, to him, those events also felt as though they had happened a very, very long time ago.

Even his memories of them had grown somewhat hazy.

…Memories were truly a strange thing.

…

Following the navigation, Fang Qi led Liguang onward, and before long they arrived safely at Building 2, where Lin Xiaoyou lived.

It was not far from Sister An Lian’s apartment, with only a few buildings between them.

Fang Qi looked up and discovered that this building was clearly much older than Sister An Lian’s.

The color of the plaster on its walls had darkened with age, and the corners of the structure distinctly bore the marks of time.

Several old locust trees grew in the open space in front of the building. Their trunks had become thick and sturdy, their branches stretching in every direction and casting broad patches of shade.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

…It was obvious that this apartment building had been constructed a long time ago. In fact…

It might even have been built before the outbreak of the Second AI Crisis.

Fang Qi was not surprised.

After all, even before the outbreak of the Second AI Crisis, Dawn Company had already been a colossal enterprise.

And Lin Xiaoyou’s father, Lin Zhouyuan, was practically one of its founding veterans!

Living in a building like No. 2 was perfectly normal.

Fang Qi led Liguang into the elevator and pressed the button for their floor.

The floor indicators lit up one by one.

The elevator was very well maintained. It didn’t have the creaking, groaning feel of an old building—in fact, it was remarkably quiet.

In the smooth metal reflection of the elevator doors, Fang Qi saw the obedient figure behind him.

Liguang was still smiling gently, standing properly half a step behind Fang Qi.

Then… she lightly glanced at the tiny security camera above the elevator.

After just one look, she quickly turned her gaze away!

Fang Qi held his breath ever so slightly.

He knew perfectly well that although she no longer remembered this place, it was still… Chenxi’s territory, after all!

So whether she was the “Little Yandere” or the “Little Sister Li” standing before him now, she didn’t dare reveal even the slightest trace of her true nature.

For the time being, she could only keep it suppressed.

That was fine too!

It was better to behave herself when they were out in public!

“Ding.”

The elevator doors slowly opened. Fang Qi had just been about to compose himself and go meet the ditzy sweetheart…

“Senior!! You finally came!!”

A familiar voice rang out from outside the elevator doors!

Fang Qi’s thoughts instantly ground to a halt.

“Huh?”

A small, round, grinning face appeared through the gap in the elevator doors!

Fang Qi: “?!!”

When the elevator doors finally opened all the way, he stared at the girl standing before him…

It was none other than the ditzy sweetheart, Miss Lin Xiaoyou, whom he had come to see today!

Today, she was once again wearing a short goose-yellow skirt, her hair tied up in a high ponytail… the standard ditzy-sweetheart look!

Her round eyes were large and sparkling, and she was showing off a row of tiny white teeth…

She was blocking the elevator entrance, waiting to welcome them!

“Hehe, surprise! Are you surprised, Sen—ior?”

She grinned and blinked at Fang Qi. Then her gaze shifted to the top of his head, and she blinked again.

“Wow, that hat is so nice! It’s the one you were wearing in yesterday’s news, right? It looks really cool on you, Senior!”

Then she turned to Liguang and happily waved.

“Hi, Liguang!”

“You were so, so amazing in yesterday’s news too! There are still tons and tons of people talking about you online!”

She looked completely innocent and guileless!

Fang Qi: “……”

To be honest, it had been a long time since he’d interacted with such a silly Lin Xiaoyou… He had almost forgotten how to deal with her!

Beside him, Liguang narrowed her eyes slightly and parted her red lips…

Her expression clearly said that she wanted to make another sarcastic remark!

But in the end, she held herself back. She merely lowered her head a little and spoke in a gentle, obedient voice:

“Miss Lin, you’re too kind.”

…After all, there was a camera in the elevator.

Fang Qi led Liguang out of the elevator and pretended to be surprised as he asked:

“How did you know I’d arrived? Why were you waiting right outside the elevator?”

“Of course I saw you through the window! I’ve been leaning against it the whole time, waiting for you to come, Senior!”

Lin Xiaoyou giggled, then looked at him with some surprise.

“Senior, why is your voice so hoarse?”

Before Fang Qi could answer, she giggled again.

“Oh, I get it! You shouted yourself hoarse on the Ferris wheel yesterday, right?”

Fang Qi: “……”

That made sense!

The former Miss Genius was clearly very simple-minded and didn’t dwell on the matter. She smiled again.

“This is the first time you’ve come to my place, Senior. So I…”

As she spoke, she grabbed Fang Qi by the wrist and dragged him down the apartment hallway!

“I’m going to give Senior the biggest surprise ever! Come on, Senior, this way!”

Fang Qi: “?!”

He froze for a moment.

Hey! An ambush?!

My dear teammate, are you trying to get yourself killed the moment you show up?!

Lin Xiaoyou pulled him forward, making him stumble several steps down the hall. For someone with such slender arms and legs, she sure had a surprising amount of strength!

Oh no. How had he forgotten that the ditzy sweetheart Lin Xiaoyou…

was perfectly willing to initiate physical contact with him?

It had been a long time since Lin Xiaoyou had caught him off guard like this. After all, Miss Genius had been too afraid to touch him for quite some time—she knew exactly what the consequences would be…

But the ditzy sweetheart didn’t know that!

This time, he had truly been caught off guard.

Even if she had only grabbed his wrist…

“Bzzzt—!”

A faint sound rang out!

He didn’t even turn around. A flash of red light suddenly burst into existence beside him!

Cold sweat immediately broke out across Fang Qi’s forehead. He hurriedly jerked his wrist free.

“Hey, don’t—!”

Fang Qi tried to shake Lin Xiaoyou off, but before he could pull away…

he looked up and saw the inside of Lin Xiaoyou’s apartment.

He had already been dragged right to the doorway.

Fang Qi: “?”

He suddenly went still, his body stiffening slightly.

…Huh?

It wasn’t because the apartment was particularly luxurious.

It was just an ordinary little family apartment, perhaps seventy or eighty square meters—not very large.

Warm-colored lights illuminated a beige fabric sofa. The bookshelf against the wall was packed with books, and a small vase of flowers sat on the coffee table.

Several plush toys were arranged on the windowsill, each one sitting at a crooked angle.

It was quite cozy.

But…

Huh?

Fang Qi stared blankly at the figure standing by the doorway, slightly bent forward in a respectful bow.

A girl dressed in a maid outfit?

No…

He was stunned.

The girl before him had her eyes lowered and wore twin ponytails, the ends tied with two pale-pink hair bands.

She wore a black-and-white maid dress, and below the hem of her skirt were slender legs covered in white ankle socks.

With her eyes lowered and her figure bathed in the warm light spilling from the doorway, the girl spoke softly and respectfully:

“Welcome, honored guest.”

Fang Qi: “...?”

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Beside him, Lin Xiaoyou released his hand and giggled.

“How is it, Senior? Surprised? Isn’t this a wonderful surprise?”

“Ta-da!”

She put her hands on her hips and lifted her round little face, looking utterly pleased with herself.

“You never expected me to have an AI maid too, did you? Tee-hee!”

She even leaned forward a little, her large eyes blinking expectantly as she waited for him to praise her.

At some point, Liguang had already arrived silently at Fang Qi’s side.

She was even standing half a step ahead of him.

Her expression remained gentle, and she continued smiling as she subtly positioned herself halfway in front of him, gazing at the “AI maid” before them…

The silver-haired girl narrowed her eyes slightly, her crimson pupils flickering.

Fang Qi stared at the respectfully posed maid and slowly widened his eyes.

Her hands were folded together, her entire body bent slightly forward in an extremely deferential posture. She did not meet Fang Qi’s gaze.

But that exquisite little face…

Fang Qi stared at that face, rendered speechless for a moment.

He even stopped breathing!

No…

Huh?

But…!

…Actually, he had thought about this long ago…

He had wondered if he might encounter another person here!

After all, Lin Xiaoyou had come to see him looking like this ditzy sweetheart, and they were in Chenxi’s apartment…

How could Xiaoqing possibly have stayed behind?!

She would definitely have come along!

As an AI companion, she would stay by Lin Xiaoyou’s side and protect her!

So Fang Qi had actually been mentally prepared for this long ago! In fact, it would be even better if Xiaoqing were here!

After all…

Xiaoqing, you don’t want your master to remain such a ditzy sweetheart forever, do you?

If you don’t, then be a good girl and help me!

But…

Fang Qi stared at the AI maid before him, his eyes gradually widening…

Then he was left completely dumbfounded!

“Y-You…!”

“Oh my, Senior, why are you so surprised?”

Lin Xiaoyou immediately looked pleased with herself again.

“Shocked, huh? Senior, you’re so silly!”

“My family lives here now. Since I’m living in Chenxi’s apartment, having an AI maid is perfectly normal, right?”

Normal?!

Fang Qi’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets! He stared at the “AI maid” before him, whose eyes were lowered demurely.

Normal, my ass?!

Th-This…!

That exquisitely delicate little face?

Those familiar, seductive eyes?

And that perfectly standard smile at the corners of her lips?

That appearance, those eyes, that smile…

He had personally watched her leave from right outside his own door just last night!!

Fang Qi stared straight at her, feeling that he was even more of an idiot than the ditzy sweetheart standing before him.

“Hey, you… how could you…!”

…A twin-tailed AI maid?!

Fang Qi was so shocked that he couldn’t even get the words out. Slowly and stiffly, he turned his head and glared at Lin Xiaoyou!

No, wait. Ditzy sweetheart, you…?!

He stared at her in disbelief.

Ah… could it be that he had fallen for Miss Genius’s tricks again?!

“Oh my, Senior, you’re overdoing the surprise!”

Seeing Fang Qi looking at her like that, Lin Xiaoyou immediately furrowed her little brows and planted her hands on her hips in displeasure.

“You’re acting so exaggeratedly that it almost looks fake. There’s no need to go that far!”

“Alright, alright, come on in. I’ll have Ling’er pour you some tea!”

Fang Qi: “?”

Who?

What are you talking about?

The ditzy sweetheart turned to Liguang and flashed her a cheerful smile.

“Liguang, you can take it easy today!”

“Now that you’re at my place, I can’t have you doing all the work! You and your master should both sit back and enjoy being looked after!”

The maid before them gave a slight bow and spoke softly, her voice gentle.

“Yes, Master. Ling’er will go pour the tea right away.”

Only then did she straighten up, turn around, and glide toward the kitchen.

Fang Qi: “??”

His gaze went blank as he stared dumbly at the maid’s retreating figure.

Her black twin ponytails swayed energetically from side to side.

Fang Qi: “???”

Suddenly, he felt a gaze from beside him.

A gaze that sent chills down his spine!

He stiffly turned his head. Beside him…

The silver-haired girl was casting him a light sidelong glance, a smile on her lovely face… How kind!

“Master really has given Liguang quite a surprise.”

Her eyes curved into crescents as she murmured softly:

“No wonder you asked Liguang about Miss 02 before we came…”

“There sure are quite a lot of women Master wants to meet…”

Fang Qi: “…”

Yeah. His head was about to explode.

He kind of wanted to die.

…Should he just reload?