The Diary of a Renter
22. A letter seeking help from afar
On a peaceful afternoon, Jiang Yu was helping the Steel Godfather debug his prized "Cross-Dimensional Emotional Resonance Garden"—a complex device that attempted to allow mechanical life forms to experience the "fragrance of flowers." Zero watched the spectacle from the sidelines, occasionally muttering, "It's good enough if this thing can even smell engine oil."
Suddenly, the spatial beacon at the entrance of the endless corridor flashed rapidly but regularly. It was not an alarm, but a standard, respectful access request signal.
"Huh? A guest has arrived? And they're following the proper procedures?" Zero raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. Usually, visitors either stumble in by mistake or, like businessmen, barge in knowing the way.
Jiang Yu put down her tools and walked to the main control crystal. The beacon projected a letter composed of pure light code, with two small holographic projections next to it:
One was an old-model industrial AI cube, about the size of a palm, its exterior covered in battle scratches and repair marks. Its optical lenses flickered with an uneasy blue light, and below the projection was the label: [Messenger from the "Realm of Iron and Fire," codename: Little Iron.]
The other was a small, glowing vine, its leaves slightly withered and yellow, carefully preserved in a portable eco-capsule, yet radiating a tenacious vitality. The projection caption read: [A survivor from the "Withered Oasis," name: Qingmang.]
The letter was concise and sincere:
To the respected "Anchor of Order" administrators and all residents:
We come from a world ravaged by conflict and scarcity. We have long admired your remarkable achievement of harmonious coexistence among diverse communities, and therefore humbly request permission to come as "international students" to learn from your valuable experience. We yearn to find a different path for our homeland.
— Respectfully submitted by Xiao Tie & Qing Mang, confused seekers of knowledge
This unexpected letter changed the otherwise leisurely afternoon atmosphere. Annie curiously tiptoed to look at the projection: "Wow, talking cubes and glowing grass!"
Rock stroked his chin: "The Realm of Iron and Fire? I've heard that the war there has never stopped."
The doctor looked at him with sympathy: "A withered oasis...that's a world where resources are almost exhausted."
The fox adjusted his glasses: "International students? Interesting. This could be a significant test of our management model."
Jiang Yu looked at the two small projections, especially the scars on the small iron shell and the slightly yellowed leaves of the green awn, and a thought struck him. He no longer felt a threat, but a heavy expectation and responsibility.
“Reply to them,” Jiang Yu said to Zero. “The building welcomes all knowledge seekers with good intentions. Invite them in.”
23. An Awkward First Encounter
A few days later, two special "international students" arrived at the Endless Corridor via teleportation. Their arrival triggered a series of hilarious yet thought-provoking clashes.
Xiao Tie (Industrial AI): As soon as it stepped off the teleportation array, it entered a highly alert scanning mode. Its optical lens flashed rapidly, and it reported in a cold electronic voice: "Environmental analysis: Spatial structure stability 95.7%, multiple high-energy life signals present, threat level assessment in progress... Unknown energy fluctuations detected, it is recommended to activate the defense protocol!"
Zero couldn't help but laugh: "Hey, little cube, relax! Nobody here wants to take you apart for parts."
The little iron turned to zero, and the camera focused: "High-energy individual detected, language pattern analysis... suspected provocation. Initiating standard response procedure: display of force deterrence." Two miniature laser gun tubes (looking like toys) suddenly popped out from the side of its small cube, emitting a faint "buzzing" sound.
The entire room fell silent. Then erupted in uproarious laughter. Uncle Blood Axe laughed so hard he was pounding the ground: "This little gadget is interesting! It's got guts!"
Xiao Tie's program seemed to be stuck for a moment because of the "failed deterrence," and he stood there motionless. Jiang Yu suppressed a laugh and stepped forward gently, saying, "Xiao Tie, here, 'showing friendliness' is more effective than 'showing force.' Welcome to the building."
Xiao Tie's gun barrel retracted silently, making a soft "click" sound, while the optical lens flickered with a puzzled look.
Green Sprout (glowing vine): It was carefully removed from the terrarium by the doctor. The green sprout was very weak, its leaves drooping and its glow dim. It was terrified of everything around it, and it curled up whenever the doctor approached.
"It needs water and sunlight... and peace," the doctor diagnosed.
Shirin (the Star Weaver) approached gently, holding a ball of soft morning light in her hands: "Let me try." She slowly infused the starlight into the leaves of the green awn. Miraculously, the leaves of the green awn unfurled slightly, and the light brightened a little. It seemed to sense Shirin's kindness, and cautiously extended a vine, gently touching Shirin's fingers.
Annie held a small water cup, looking at it longingly: "Little grass, little grass, drink water..."
Different residents, in their own ways, expressed their welcome to this frail "classmate".
24. The Chaotic Classroom of "Harmonious Curriculum"
In an effort to help the two international students understand "harmonious coexistence," the residents spontaneously became "teachers," but the teaching results... were hard to describe.
Lesson 1: Emotional Cognition (Teachers: Doctor & Xilin)
Goal: To help Xiao Tie, who prioritizes logic, understand "emotions".
The process: The doctor attempted to explain the hormonal changes in the brain during "happiness" using physiology. Xiao Tie diligently took notes: "I understand, happiness = dopamine secretion increases to threshold X." Xi Lin then wove a beautiful dream about "sharing," wanting Xiao Tie to experience it. As a result, Xiao Tie activated his analysis mode in the dream, breaking down the cake in the dream into a mathematical model of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and concluded: "This 'happiness' is inefficient; it's better to directly replenish energy blocks."
As a result, the doctor broke down, and Xilin was left speechless, both amused and exasperated. Qingmang watched from the side, its leaves swaying slightly, as if it were secretly laughing.
Lesson 2: Conflict Resolution (Teachers: Blood Axe & Zero)
Objective: To teach Xiao Tie, who is used to fighting, how to "negotiate".
The process: Blood Axe and Zero simulate a conflict over "the last piece of roast meat." Blood Axe's intention was to demonstrate how to resolve the conflict through "rock-paper-scissors" or "sharing." However, Little Iron quickly analyzed the situation and proposed the "optimal solution": "Based on size, energy level, and historical win rate, individual 'Zero' has a 73.5% probability of winning. It is recommended that individual 'Blood Axe' voluntarily back down to avoid unnecessary energy loss. If arbitration is needed, I can fire a weak current to randomly select (simulating a coin toss)."
As a result, Blood Axe and Zero exchanged bewildered glances. Zero sighed, "It's hopeless, this kid's doomed." Green Mang's vines stealthily reached for the "controversial roast meat," but Annie spotted them in time: "Green Mang! Don't steal any!"
Lesson 3: Creative Expression (Teachers: Gulu & Manager)
Goal: To allow the perennial mango, under immense pressure to survive, to attempt "purposeless" creation.
The process: Gulu encouraged Qingmang to use its vines and light to create whatever it wanted. Qingmang instinctively wove an extremely efficient "water collection and storage network" and optimized its light absorption structure. It transmitted the message with subtle mental fluctuations: "This way... I can survive three more days during the dry season."
As a result, Gulu looked at the structure that was a masterpiece of survival and sighed, "Sigh, I told you to play, not to do engineering..." But the manager gently stroked the leaves of the green mango and said to Gulu, "For it, survival is the most profound creation. Take your time."
25. True learning
The teaching reached a stalemate until two small incidents occurred.
Xiao Tie's "Faults" and Repairs:
Once, when Xiao Tie was helping the godfather organize parts, the core program overloaded because it was trying to understand "why to classify screws of different sizes (even though they could be melted down directly)", and tiny electric sparks appeared, rendering it unable to move.
The Godfather didn't use tools, but rather his enormous mechanical hand, which gently stabilized Little Iron. Then, with an almost paternal patience, he guided it step by step to understand the logic: "Look, this tiny screw fits this delicate interface. If you force a larger one, it will damage the entire structure. Order, sometimes, is reflected in respect for 'difference.'" Little Iron listened quietly, and the light from the optical lens softened.
After the repair, it no longer fixates on the "optimal solution" and begins to try to understand "appropriate".
The first bloom of the green mango:
With Shirin's continuous starlight nourishment, Annie's daily watering and chatting, and the reassuring environment created by everyone, the green mango is getting better day by day.
One morning, before everyone's eyes, a tiny flower bud, radiating a soft pinkish-white light, sprouted at the tip of the green vine! For it, coming from a withered world, this was an almost impossible miracle. The green vine used all its life force to slowly open the bud. There was no purpose in its existence, simply because… it had come to terms with it.
At that moment, all the residents (including Xiao Tie) felt an indescribable, pure joy. The light of the green awn warmed everyone.
26. Seeds of Hope for Graduation Projects
As their study abroad journey was drawing to a close, Jiang Yu assigned the two international students a "graduation project": to use what they had learned to design a "small change" for their homeland.
Xiao Tie's design: Instead of designing weapons or defense systems, it designed a "prototype of a resource fairness allocation and conflict negotiation algorithm" based on the experience of building construction. The core of the algorithm is no longer cold calculation, but introduces "priority negotiation", "compensation mechanism" and "emotional value assessment" (although it is still very crude).
It explained to Jiang Yu, "I can't stop the war immediately, but perhaps... we can start by distributing a bottle of clean water to reduce a fight."
The gift from Qingmang: It gave Jiang Yu several seeds brimming with vitality that it produced after flowering, along with a "feeling" (transmitted through spiritual imprint) on how to cultivate them in the harmonious energy field of the building. This was the most precious gift it could give—seeds of hope.
At the moment of farewell, the atmosphere was no longer one of initial unfamiliarity and awkwardness, but rather filled with reluctance and blessings.
Xiao Tie's optical lens shone with a determined light: "Thank you to all the teachers for the 'non-standard' lessons. I understand now that harmony is not a math problem. I will take the 'seed' back and try my best to make it sprout."
The green mangoes gently wrapped their vines around everyone's fingers, expressing their silent gratitude.
Jiang Yu solemnly handed over Xiao Tie's design algorithm backup and the seeds of Qing Mang to them: "Remember, experience can be learned, but you have to walk your own path. The building will always be your support."
27. New buds in the breeze
That night, Jiang Yu wrote in her diary:
Sunny with a light breeze on [Date]
Xiao Tie and Qing Mang left.
Teaching Xiao Tie to understand "sharing" is harder than teaching it to crack a code, but seeing it learn "handle with care" when helping Annie fix her toys makes it all worthwhile.
The green reeds have blossomed, their light warmer than Shirin's stars. It turns out, hope really can bloom.
Being a teacher is not easy; we ourselves are still learning.
But seeing them return with even a little change makes me realize that this "imperfect" teaching method might really illuminate a very, very far place.
The building is not just a home; now it seems to have become a... strange school as well.
Who will be the next "international student"?
Goodnight, Xiao Tie. Goodnight, Qing Mang. May your homeland soon see peace and vitality.
His pen paused as he gazed out the window at the boundless starry sky, as if he could see those two tiny points of light carrying small, yet incredibly steadfast, hopes as they sailed toward their respective homelands.
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