Ailei preferred misty fog over the blazing sun.
She loved vibrant flowers more than the misty fog.
But above all, Ailei loved serving Xu Xi.
Thus, every morning, as the ecological starship’s climate control system activated, creating a hazy dawn atmosphere in the living quarters, Ailei would begin her work.
With her humanoid chanical body, she stepped into the damp, chilly air, letting the mist seep through the gaps in her components.
Step by step.
Stair by stair.
She would enter Xu Xi’s residence, faithfully preparing breakfast and outlining plans for the future.
After spending so much ti with him, Ailei had gradually figured out Xu Xi’s daily habits.
She knew that the endless silence of the universe constantly weighed on his senses. To escape the prolonged interstellar voyages, Xu Xi would often enter hibernation.
“Master, the hibernation pod has been adjusted and is ready for use at any ti.”
After the collection of the starship wreckage was completed, Ailei had thoughtfully fine-tuned the pod, ensuring Xu Xi could rest whenever he wanted.
But this ti…
Xu Xi remained silent for a mont, then gently stroked Ailei’s silky hair with his broad palm. “Ailei, I won’t go into hibernation anymore.”
[Your remaining lifespan: 600 years.]
[600 years—longer than all your past experiences combined.]
[600 years—too short for any substantial progress in civilization and technology.]
[You cannot bear to leave Ailei alone in this vast and empty cosmos after the simulation ends.]
[Thus, you must carry out the Farewell, Cage 2.0 plan.]
[You decide to devote yourself entirely to making this plan a success and help Ailei escape this celestial prison.]
[You no longer hibernate.]
[You no longer play virtual gas.]
[You dedicate all your ti to the resonance of machine souls and chanical force, endlessly researching technology—focusing particularly on energy, materials, and propulsion.]
[You understand clearly that neither offense nor defense stands a chance against the neutron war star.]
[Developing a curvature engine is your only hope for escape.]
[Year 165 of the simulation. You are 184 years old. Ailei has been with you for 162 years.]
[A decade has passed, but it has left no mark on you; you still look as young as when the simulation began. Ailei, too, remains unchanged.]
[You realize that researching the curvature engine cannot be rushed, so you choose to remain patient and develop technology steadily.]
[The sub-light ion engine becos your top priority.]
[Additionally, the Grand Unified Theory and antimatter applications beco focal research areas.]
“Ailei, increase power output.”
“Denied. You need rest. Prolonged ntal exertion is harming your health.”
“I’m fine, Ailei. Just listen to , okay?”
Inside the laboratory, Xu Xi operated a newly developed particle collider. Though his body remained youthful and strong, fatigue was evident in his eyes.
Ailei wanted him to rest more, but Xu Xi refused.
“Let’s continue,” he said with a warm and bright smile. But to Ailei, that familiar warmth suddenly felt distant and fleeting.
“…Understood,” she finally agreed. Listening to the Master was a must.
…
[Ailei’s computational power and intuition were beyond your imagination.]
[Through subtle observations, she seed to have guessed sothing. Silently, she assisted with the experints, even using her special abilities repeatedly—overdrawing her machine soul to support you.]
[Afterward, she lay weakly in your arms, clutching your sleeve tightly, unwilling to let go.]
[With the completion of the first phase of the experints, Ailei prepared a new type of nourishing soup—a super-replenishing tonic, different from anything before.]
[Looking at the nurous ingredients floating on the surface, you fell into prolonged silence.]
“Ailei, can this really replenish my energy?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Are you sure it won’t cause food poisoning?”
“It won’t, Master.”
Faced with those expectant silver-blue eyes, Xu Xi found himself unable to refuse.
In the end, he hesitated, then picked up the bowl. As he sniffed the aroma, a complex blend of scents filled his nose.
Taking a sip, he found it surprisingly rich and flavorful—far better than he expected.
“Master, do you like it?”
Ailei’s usually calm voice carried an almost imperceptible hint of nervousness and anticipation as she gazed at him, waiting for his response.
“It’s very good, Ailei,” Xu Xi’s eyes lit up as he praised her cooking.
It was amazing.
Maybe Ailei had truly researched nutrition, or perhaps it was just psychological, but after finishing the soup, Xu Xi was surprised to feel a warm comfort spreading through his body. The fatigue that had weighed on him for so long vanished without a trace.
“Thank you for your praise, Master. I am happy to serve you,” Ailei said, noting down the positive changes in his condition.
From that day on, Ailei made it a routine to prepare a bowl of nourishing soup for Xu Xi every day.
Out of curiosity, he once asked if the soup had a na.
“Ailei’s Special Soup,” she replied earnestly.
…
[Ailei constantly monitors your health, worrying about you, watching over you day and night, and preparing special soups for you.]
[Thanks to Ailei’s care, your fatigue improved significantly.]
[Ding—Machine Soul Delight Activated—]
[Your praise increases Ailei’s processing efficiency by 30%.]
[Year 175 of the simulation. You are 194 years old. Ailei has been with you for 172 years.]
[You and your loyal machine servant continue your diligent research. Over ti, the speed of the ion engine improves steadily.]
[You now possess a higher-output magnetically confined plasma engine.]
[anwhile, your fleet encounters a new star system with traces of an extinct civilization.]
[In the recovered AI cores, you find records left behind by this civilization.]
[This civilization had also discovered the existence of the cosmic blockade and had attempted to escape and avoid detection.]
[But they failed. Whether they chose to resist or flee, they all ended up as cosmic dust.]
[Your heart grows heavier with this realization.]
[Year 181 of the simulation. You are 200 years old. Ailei has been with you for 178 years.]
[You continue the resonance with machine souls and interactions with chanical force.]
[The results of machine soul resonance vary—sotis it amplifies your abilities, sotis it provides inspiration. You repeatedly test and record every bit of insight it brings.]
[Long-term resonance has improved your precision in controlling machinery.]
[You are satisfied with the progress.]
[Looking at the nurous recorded insights, you feel gratified—your persistence in daily resonance was not in vain.]
[Ailei, sensing your mood, promptly brings you a golden bowl of her special nourishing soup.]
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