Liwen and L030
"Sir, would you be interested in buying me a drink?" Her voice was seductive, and Yang Guang felt as if he had been licked on the back of his ear.
“Miss L030, it’s a great honor to offer you this drink.” Yang Guang composed himself and smiled politely as he raised his index finger to the bartender.
L030's eyes were dull—but that's not her fault—her voice was full of surprise:
"My goodness, you can still call me by my name."
“Of course,” Yang Guang said, as the bartender brought two glasses of Chardonnay and raised one to her. “You have the most unique voice in the whole place.”
L030 spoke with excitement; clearly, she was very pleased that someone had pointed out her difference.
"It's a long story. This was a gift from a distinguished guest who said it would make me stand out from the crowd."
L030 gently touched her neck. If the Krista type had been introduced later, her expressions would certainly have been more varied.
Yang Guang listened casually, a slight smile playing on his lips, occasionally taking a few sips.
"Since you've treated me to drinks, sir, I can naturally make some requests. I wonder what kind of games you'd like to play?"
"What kind of trick?"
“Yes, those are the kinds of services that all our guests ask for when they come in. We provide services of equal value.” L030 paused, then moved a little closer to him, but Yang Guang subtly dodged away.
"What kind of hypocrite do you take me for? I'm offering you this drink because you deserve it. Shouldn't you just clink glasses with me and drink it?"
Yang Guang deliberately lowered his voice, giving it a maturity beyond his usual comprehension. Actually, Krista-types don't really understand things beyond appearance. He just got interested in trying it out, and ended up having to hold back his laughter for a long time.
"Of course, I would be more than happy to."
“No,” Yang Guang corrected her, “you should say: ‘Respect is not as good as obedience.’”
He downed his Chardonnay in one gulp, and L030 followed suit, tilting his head back.
A burly man with two thick shoulders glanced at them impatiently, tightened his grip on his Christa, and said disdainfully, "What a waste."
Another companion chimed in, "That's a year's salary."
L030 heard this and turned his head towards them, but the next second Yang Guang grabbed his chin and turned him back: "Look at me, you shouldn't be distracted."
"It was my fault."
"Alright, why don't you tell me about your situation?"
"My business?" L030 repeated.
Yang Guang remained in the same position, placing his hand on the back of L030's chair. L030 sat there with a captivating air, seemingly enjoying the way Yang Guang surrounded her.
——————
The atmosphere on the top floor, between Gu Yan and Ella Ling, was not so relaxed and pleasant.
Especially when Gu Yan noticed that the woman who had fallen to the ground was starting to cry.
If we want the argument that all designs for androids are intended to serve natural humans to hold true, the fact that androids don't shed tears is the best proof.
Tears are an emotion that nobles most want to avoid; they come to spend money, not to be spiritual mentors.
The woman wept, tears streaming down her face, as a nobleman grabbed her by the back of her head. The nobleman held the cigar between his fingers, the cigarette butt tracing the woman's somewhat thin but still alluring silhouette.
The heat from the cigarette butt hinted at something to the woman, and she began to tremble violently.
"You're shaking so badly, what if you accidentally burn yourself?"
Gu Yan watched this scene with a furrowed brow. Just as he was about to step forward, the noblewoman who had been arm in arm with the human female companion leaned close to his ear and whispered:
"I suggest you stay out of this mess; that person is not someone you can afford to mess with."
Gu Yan paused, standing a little awkwardly away. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew beside him; it was Ella Zero.
"Let her go."
These three words were ones that Duke Yule had never heard before in his life. He raised his chin high and looked down arrogantly at the woman who was half a head shorter than him.
Strange, she looks like someone from their central district, but I couldn't tell which family's daughter she was.
But his face does look somewhat familiar, as if I've seen him somewhere before.
“Only in the neon cocoon do I prefer to communicate with androids. They are obedient. But human women—” His gaze swept over Ella Zero, and he pointed to the woman on the ground, “are disobedient and cry.”
Ella Zero tilted her head as if confused: "In that case, you can choose another one."
She went over and helped the woman on the ground up.
“I understand,” Duke Yule said softly. “Everyone has different hobbies, and your hobby is being a knight.”
He gracefully performed a noble gesture: "Of course, this is permitted. Perhaps after we leave the neon cocoon, we can get together outside. I can extend a warm invitation to everyone."
He glanced at Gu Yan, who was staring intently at him from behind Ella Zero, and smiled dignifiedly: "Letting women lead the charge is not gentlemanly conduct."
Gu Yan shrugged: "You underestimate her. We might actually meet her outside. But she'll never be without her weapon."
He stepped forward and gently patted the back of Ella Zero's hand, which was resting on the hilt of the dagger. She lingered there for a long time before slowly letting go.
Duke Yule maintained his arrogant expression: "Thank you for the reminder, I will arrange for someone to entertain you properly." He almost gritted his teeth as he finished speaking.
Ella Zero helped the woman up and walked ahead to a corner of the venue.
The woman stopped in fear, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say no. She looked back at Duke Yule with a look of dread, and the duke gave her a look of disgust: "Get out of here, don't continue to ruin my mood."
This was just a minor incident; they were used to much bigger commotions. No one paid any more attention to the corner; everyone continued dancing.
"Thank you," the woman murmured.
Ella was intently examining her wounds, showing no intention of speaking, so Gu Yan spoke up:
"May I have your name?"
The woman looked up sadly, thought for a long time, and then said softly, "Liwen, I've almost forgotten. They all call me N078."
Ella Zero seemed not to hear, raised her head and decisively said, "If there are no medicines here, we have to go back."
This was the first time Ella Zero had mentioned "going back," and Gu Yan was unsure where she meant.
Then he knew the answer. Ella Zero turned to him and said, "Go down and find Yang Guang."
This was also the first time that Ella Zero had mentioned Yang Guang's name.
Gu Yan hesitated for a long time before finally speaking: "You stay here and watch over her. I'll go take a look around and see if there's any other news."
Ella Zero did not respond and continued to examine Livin's new and old wounds.
"No! No! Don't go! If you leave, they will..." Liwen tried to grab Gu Yan's trouser leg in a fit of emotion, but he dodged and she missed.
Gu Yan waved his hand: "Don't worry, with her here, no one dares to come."
Liwen looked hesitantly at Ella Zero beside her.
Almost instantly after Gu Yan left a certain area, she was already on high alert, her eyes devoid of any emotion as she surveyed her surroundings.
Liwen sensed a murderous aura and cowered even more in the corner, trembling.
After what felt like centuries, as her emotions calmed down considerably, Liwen finally clutched her chest and cautiously approached Ella.
"I'm sorry, I was really scared just now, and I was a bit hysterical."
Ella Zero ignored it.
"My name is Liwen," she mustered her courage and introduced herself again, "I haven't asked your name yet?"
Ella Zero finally moved. She looked at Livin and said, "You're human, why are you here entertaining guests?"
Liwen blushed, startled by her blunt question: "I...I..."
"Actually, I'm very curious too."
Liwen was startled by the sudden sound, but when she turned around and saw that it was Gu Yan who had returned, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“I was kidnapped. I was kidnapped for forty years.” She shivered, as if recalling some terrifying memory.
“I am the youngest daughter in the family. Due to the reduced grain production, our family gradually ran out of food. My father took my older brothers and sisters to work in the city center, leaving only my mother and me at home. My mother went to harvest wheat, and two men passed by and asked to ask for some water.” Liwen murmured, “Forty years have passed, and I have never forgotten it! I gave them water, and suddenly a horse-drawn carriage rushed out. They kidnapped me and put me on it. My mother chased after them, and they shot her.”
Liwen choked back tears and covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm so sorry, Mom, I'm so sorry..."
The woman had been trapped in this nightmare for forty years, and Gu Yan couldn't bear it, so he interrupted her crying.
"Did those two men bring you here?"
Liwen nodded: "But what's the point of asking these questions? They died more than a decade ago."
Ella Zero glanced at the time: "I'm sorry to interrupt your memoir, madam, but we don't have much time. Come with us, or stay here."
Liwen was terrified by her words: "I can't leave, I can't, they'll break my legs."
“Excuse my bluntness,” Ella Zero said, looking at her wrist, which was no longer very flexible, “I don’t think you’ll be able to save your leg if you stay here.”
"No, no! They'll treat me the same way they treat androids!"
What's the meaning?
Gu Yan narrowed his eyes.
——————
Yang Guang and L030 had a very pleasant conversation; he was already quite captivated by this witty android woman.
"So you can start working on the top floor next week?"
“That’s right, I’ve been doing well lately and receiving a lot of praise. The guests all like me. Oh, except for that little mishap just now, but David told me it wasn’t my fault and the score remains unchanged. Although I wasted some time and didn’t get any points, I’m really grateful for your promise to give me full marks.”
“This is what I should do. I can hardly believe how lucky I am to step into the neon cocoon today. I mean, a day earlier or a day later, we might not have met each other.”
“Darling, this is exactly what I wanted to tell you.” L030 looked at him with her dull eyes, perhaps thinking there was deep affection in them?
Yang Guang chuckled to himself, thinking that androids wouldn't "think" anything.
"To celebrate our chance encounter, I must give you something nice."
Yang Guang winked mysteriously, reached into his clothes, and pulled out something small and exquisite, which he held in his palm.
"Is this what noble young ladies like?" L030 clasped her hands together and placed them against her cheek, trying her best to appear shy. Coupled with her voice, it was indeed a perfect match.
"Uh—of course."
L030's gesture showed her growing anticipation: "Jewelry? I heard that rose-shaped earrings are popular recently. By the way, what do roses look like? No Krista has received an image of one yet."
Yang Guang opened her palm, and L030 leaned closer, wanting to see it clearly as soon as possible, or rather, to see the image in her system—
"This is... a gun?"
Her voice regained its calmness, "This is the first time the gentleman has come, so he probably doesn't know that we are not allowed to handle these lethal weapons."
Yang Guang carefully discerned her reaction, his tone light and cheerful: "Of course not. If it were something that any of you could have, how could I possibly offer it to someone as unique as you?"
“Darling,” L030 covered her mouth with one hand, “I never imagined that you would treat me like this after we’ve only known each other for less than ten minutes…”
"Hide it well. You're just carrying it around, you're not using it. I heard that some annoying guests will take you into their rooms alone. If those idiots do something you don't like, you can take it out and scare them. There are always more annoying guests on the lower floors."
"You're so thoughtful of me. I love this unique gift... but where should I hide it?"
Hiding? Yang Guang glanced at her subtly. Never heard of Krista having such a brain?
"Got it!" L030 said in a surprised tone, then, under the cover of the bar, he used his fingernails to scratch open the skin of his thigh in the shadows.
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