"Maybe you’re right," Du Zexin said, "Li Aozi, thank you for talking to . I haven’t opened up to anyone in a long ti... You are my first friend."
"I’m honored," Li Aozi said.
"I want to give you this."
The cockpit of the Mobile Armor opened, and a chip imdiately popped up on the computer:
"I have copied my consciousness onto this lotus chip. If one day, I am no longer myself, you should—"
"Don’t talk like that, it’s bad luck."
"I’m a materialist," Du Zexin said. "Li Aozi, trust , first promise this."
"...Alright, I trust you, Little Ze."
"This holds my soul and personality. If this Mobile Armor can’t withstand the pressure, take this lotus chip and bring it back to Twin Star City, Hive Apartnts, Room 210, Heroine Square West Road. The room code is 1204."
"Is that your birthday? December 4th?"
"You don’t need to worry about that... Li Aozi, take this chip to the server. You will receive a great gift."
Du Zexin said:
"I’ve also given this chip to Miss Yawen. Don’t worry, I have plenty of backups. Don’t worry, I’m scared of death, Li Aozi. Believe , I’m truly scared of dying."
He repeated "don’t worry" three tis, but Li Aozi still felt like he was settling his affairs.
"...Stop talking about that, ibei, you’ll be alright. You still have to change that piece-of-shit Frost Plated."
"Yes, my country, although it’s rotten to the core, I still want to change it. The future of 600 million people should not turn into a farce because of Madeleine, that stupid bitch’s decision."
Du Zexin paused for a mont, then asked:
"Li Aozi."
"Go ahead."
"I just realized, I don’t want to go to space anymore."
"Why is that?"
"Because I feel, I am no longer afraid of the future."
Du Zexin lifted his hand, pressing it against his breastplate:
"I have the courage to face it now...the courage nad responsibility. With it, I suddenly feel powerful."
"Co on, you just said you were a materialist," Li Aozi teased. "Now you believe in subjective initiative?"
"It’s not contradictory, Li Aozi. Frost Plated can’t grow flowers on its circuit boards, but there will always be people who sing of the future under a fake sun. Soone must confront this ugly world, this downright disgusting rotten world, and then..."
"And then?"
"I want to destroy it with cannons and rebuild it brick by brick on its ruins."
Du Zexin’s electronic voice was calm, yet he spoke the most romantic words:
"Finally, to love it passionately. I think, such an Azure Star, I would not be afraid, I wouldn’t do that, I wouldn’t need to flee, and then I wouldn’t want to go to space anymore."
"Frost Plated, Sky Ring, Zhengxu, Red Arrow... everything of Azure Star is overshadowed by Ersha’s shadow, but even without Ersha, there will still be war, epidemics, famine, death... I’ve seen it, I’ve seen it all..."
"You’ve seen it? What are you talking about? What did you see?"
Li Aozi, growing wary, imdiately asked:
"Du Zexin, who showed you those?"
"It’s not important—I think, Li Aozi, what I an is, I think I understand that what Azure Star needs most now isn’t old-era technology, but hope. As long as there is a bit of hope, this world still has salvation."
In the reflection of electronic eyes, Li Aozi’s figure appeared:
"Li Aozi, please bring hope back to us."
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