Chapter 137: The Day the Code Fell in Love (7)

The clothing on its body was torn, and the letters "SPR" were engraved around its waist—a mark of the "Paradise Island" project.

This was the plan to have synthetics bear children in place of humans. Although it remained highly controversial internationally, profit-driven capitalists had been quietly pushing it forward.

This heavily pregnant and now-defunct synthetic had obviously been abandoned midway, and naturally, the child "gestating" inside it no longer mattered.

No one cared whether the synthetics were willing to "bear" children, nor did anyone care what would become of the children they "bore."

After all, the technology of artificial womb factories was already quite advanced. As long as one could pay, the factory could cultivate hundreds or even thousands of fertilized eggs each day.

However, the children produced on these assembly lines were far inferior in physical quality compared to those conceived naturally.

Shi Jiu quickly withdrew his gaze, a cautious smile appearing on his face. His carefulness carried a tone of ingratiation. "Miss Bai, please sit down and rest. I’ll look for some usable resources. It might get very cold here tonight; if I can find a heater, that would be great."

Bai Yao was thinly dressed, and as she had already started to shiver upon entering the cave, she did not stop him when he said he would search for something useful.

Shi Jiu found a relatively clean spot, set down the flowerpot and her bag, then stepped deeper into the dim cave.

Bai Yao sat on the ground, emptying the food from her bag. Before long, Shi Jiu hurried back carrying a pile of items.

With a joyful tone, he said, "I found some parts that should still work. I can assemble a light and also this heater..."

He took out a rusty cylindrical object. "The parts inside are still intact; I can fix it."

This meant Bai Yao wouldn’t suffer so much from the cold environment.

The cave was dark, so for him to find so many things was impressive.

Fearing he might annoy her with too much talk, Shi Jiu said only a few words before retreating to a corner to repair the items.

Though young, he was very familiar with the structure of mechanical parts and even scavenged components from the bodies of other synthetics around.

When a small lamp flickered on, the cave brightened considerably.

Shi Jiu placed the lamp in front of Bai Yao and turned to return to his shadowy corner.

Bai Yao said, "You left the light here. Isn’t it inconvenient for you to fix things?"

Shi Jiu stopped in his tracks, turned back, and looked at her with a helpless expression. "I... I’m sorry..."

Though he had done nothing wrong, he instinctively apologized.

Bai Yao said, "Come sit here."

He quietly observed her expression and, seeing no annoyance, smiled and said softly, "Okay," then brought the pile of small items back to her side and sat down.

Bai Yao emptied her bag. Aside from compressed clothes, her only food was a packet of nutritional tablets—ten small creamy white pills that could sustain an adult for ten days.

She spread out the tablets, her brow furrowed as she glanced at the young boy beside her.

Under the white light, he lowered his head, his hands dirtied by rusty parts but paying no mind. He carefully removed a small iron piece from the heater and replaced it with a metal plate found elsewhere.

This delicate work required full concentration. His lowered gaze made him look obedient, his eyelashes fluttering lightly like wings fanning a barely perceptible breeze.

Bai Yao reached out her hand.

He looked up and saw five nutritional tablets resting in her palm. His eyes trembled slightly as he stared at her, bewildered.

Bai Yao said, "This is all I have left to eat. There’s no more."

After a long pause, he blinked. "I... I only need two."

He extended his hand, saw it was dirty, quickly wiped it on his clothes, then took two plastic-wrapped tablets and stuffed them into his pocket.

Seeing he only wanted two, Bai Yao did not insist and casually put her things away.

As time passed, the temperature dropped further. Bai Yao could almost see the warm breath she exhaled.

Fortunately, Shi Jiu’s skills were good. The small heater glowed a faint red, radiating warmth that chased away the surrounding chill.

Bai Yao curled up against the wall, hugging herself tightly. She stared at the heater before her and said admiringly, "You managed to fix something that’s been broken for so many years. You’re really amazing."

Shi Jiu replied, "I only know how to do small things like this."

Bai Yao looked up at him.

He was curled up against the wall, hugging himself—a clumsy posture exactly mirroring hers. She half-wondered if he had copied her movements.

Bathed in the warm light, the lines of his profile softened. The glow seemed to veil him in a delicate haze, blurring the line between reality and illusion.

Shi Jiu’s dark, clear eyes fixed on her, looking both obedient and gentle. He whispered, "Sister, can you please not leave me behind?"

Bai Yao propped her chin on one hand, casually replying, "You’re not a tool. There’s no such thing as me leaving you behind."

His eyelashes fluttered. His gaze flickered as he also rested his chin on one hand, tilting his head quietly to study her face.

It seemed both an observation and an imitation.

Bai Yao said, "Also, don’t call everyone 'sister.' Not everyone likes that."

Shi Jiu lowered his head, his back hunched. He tugged at his clothes like a child who had done something wrong. "I’m sorry, Miss Bai."

She replied half-heartedly. She tore open the plastic wrap and swallowed a nutritional tablet. This kind of food could keep her full for twenty-four hours, preventing hunger.

Still feeling cold, she reached out to move the heater closer—and at that moment, her hand unexpectedly met his.

He did not let go.

Bai Yao looked at him.

Shi Jiu cautiously held her fingertips, his body leaning in just a little. His clear, pure eyes reflected her image. Young and delicate, he bore the youthful innocence of a high school student.

He was naïve and confused. "Judging by the natural world here, the nights on this planet are very, very long. I’m useless..."

He seemed nervous; his trembling fingers gripped hers. His lips pressed together as he softly said, "But if it’s to pass the time, I can do that."

Shi Jiu raised his other hand and slowly lifted the edge of his clothes.

Bai Yao pressed his hand down. "What are you doing?"

He looked at her with innocent, uneasy eyes. "I... I’m sorry. I don’t know what else I can do."

She didn’t want to hear him call her sister.

The so-called method of strengthening bonds through familial affection held no power here. Unable to satisfy her need for a sense of emotional superiority, all that remained was this last resort.

Bai Yao frowned.

Seeing her displeasure, Shi Jiu quickly released her hand and awkwardly moved back, curling up and lowering his head as he repeated, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry..."

His existence had only two values: either to satisfy their psychological needs or, failing that, their physical desires.

So he tried hard to please her.

It was a rule etched into his very bones: to please them was to survive.

If neither method worked, he would become confused and terrified, knowing nothing but to apologize incessantly.

Finally, Bai Yao spoke, "Why are you apologizing?"

He lifted his foggy eyes.

Bai Yao said, "It was my choice to bring you here. It’s nothing to do with you. So you don’t owe me anything, nor do you need to exchange anything with me."

Her act of saving him was unrelated to him.

Shi Jiu curled up in the corner, his expression slackening.

Bai Yao added, "You’re sitting so far from the heater. Aren’t you cold? Want to come a little closer?"

A spark returned to his hollow eyes. He shifted cautiously to her side but dared not touch her.

Bai Yao lowered her head to organize her bag, not looking at him.

Shi Jiu bent his legs, hugging them close with his chin resting on his knees. The way the white hem of her skirt folded on the ground was strangely elegant and beautiful in the light and shadow.

The boy slowly reached out a hand and quietly grasped the small corner of her skirt, holding it gently in his palm.