AI Crisis (7): Little White Secret

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t their first kiss. After all, when they first started up, Tan Xiao had gently kissed Wen Yi’s lips, much like a prince waking Sleeping Beauty in a fairy tale.

However, at that time, Wen Yi was in standby mode and wouldn’t look at him with those beautiful, expectant eyes like now.

Could a companion robot have such real conscious reactions, with emotions indistinguishable from humans? Or perhaps it was because Wen Yi was too good-looking, with those emerald-green eyes that could make even a dog look affectionate, and Tan Xiao, in his dazed state, imagined self-awareness.

After all, one of the three great human delusions is: “He likes me.”

People in love can’t help but overthink. But seeing Wen Yi suddenly lean in, Tan Xiao’s breath hitched, and all his chaotic thoughts flew away. Successfully seduced, he lowered his eyelashes and instinctively closed his eyes.

Something warm and soft pressed against his lips, like pudding in a fully sweetened hot milk tea—smooth, soft, and sweet, as if it would melt between his lips with a gentle press.

Of course, that was just Tan Xiao’s illusion. Even if he bit his lips until they bled, Wen Yi’s lips wouldn’t break.

The kiss wasn’t long, nor did it deepen. In less than five seconds, Wen Yi pulled back slightly.

Tan Xiao opened his eyes, looking at Wen Yi with confusion, savoring the lingering sensation, his expression tinged with disappointment: “Why was it so short again? I didn’t even get to fully enjoy that light, floating feeling before being abruptly pulled back to earth, leaving me feeling unsettled.”

Wen Yi touched his lips, his eyes as sly as a cat’s: “I initiated that just now. It was a reward, not payment. You still owe me the payment you promised.”

This time, Tan Xiao didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around Wen Yi’s neck and boldly kissed him.

This kiss was much longer than the previous one. The sweetness in the air intensified, like butter meeting a hot pan. Tan Xiao felt like he was melting in this deepening kiss.

Of course, that was also his illusion. Despite never having been in a relationship, men seem to have a natural talent for kissing.

The kiss went from shallow to deep and lasted a long time. Tan Xiao, having kissed only a few times before, initially didn’t know how to breathe properly. But Wen Yi cheated—he had a special oxygen supply function.

When Tan Xiao was breathless from the kiss, Wen Yi directly delivered oxygen into his mouth.

The feeling of nearly suffocating but having a lifeline handed to him greatly heightened the pleasure of the kiss, making Tan Xiao’s scalp tingle. Instinctively chasing the oxygen he needed to survive, he couldn’t help but become addicted.

By the time Tan Xiao and Wen Yi finally parted, panting heavily, nearly an hour had passed unnoticed.

Only then did Tan Xiao realize the aftermath of excessive kissing. Thanks to the constant supply of oxygen, his cheeks weren’t flushed from lack of air, but his tongue was numb from all the sucking.

He glared at Wen Yi in mock anger: “Don’t do that again next time.”

As an excellent companion robot, Wen Yi pointed out his insincerity: “But you clearly enjoyed it just now.”

Tan Xiao said, “Even if I liked it, it should be in moderation. A few more times like that, and I won’t be able to eat.”

Although it was just a simple kiss without anything deeper, the emotional changes between the two seemed to have been fast-forwarded by 20 times, rapidly progressing from somewhat awkward strangers to a sweet couple.

Even Xiao Bai noticed the subtle changes between Tan Xiao and Wen Yi, as the two didn’t deliberately avoid it when kissing at home.

Since Tan Xiao mostly worked from home, Xiao Bai often saw the two kissing.

Sometimes they would kiss just from a glance, other times while cooking in the kitchen, they’d kiss while washing vegetables.

Fortunately, Tan Xiao was now an adult and had promptly disabled Xiao Bai’s minor protection mode. Otherwise, Xiao Bai would have annoyingly interrupted the two lovebirds.

Over and over again, based on Xiao Bai’s observations, within a few days, it asked while delivering Tan Xiao’s bedtime milk: “A Xiao, will there be a lady of the house in the future?”

Originally, Wen Yi’s sleep pod was in the guest room, but within days, it had been moved to the master bedroom. Tan Xiao’s room was now filled with many little things.

The house slippers had been replaced with couple slippers, and the drinking cups and toiletries had become couple sets.

Scandal! Oh, but it was out in the open, so it couldn’t really be called a scandal.

Xiao Bai didn’t directly ask if Wen Yi would be the other male master of the house but subtly reminded Tan Xiao: “Are you sure? Sure about your sexual orientation? Sure about spending your life with a companion robot?”

Xiao Bai knew Tan Xiao well. He was a very nostalgic and loyal person, which was why he treated Xiao Bai, a supposedly outdated nanny robot, as family.

In this era, ordinary children were arranged by the government, and same-sex marriage had long been legalized.

However, the law didn’t recognize marriages between humans and objects. Although Wen Yi was a robot with a human appearance, robots didn’t have human rights. Even if Tan Xiao remained faithful and stayed with Wen Yi forever, their marital relationship wouldn’t be recognized by the government or law.

Of course, if Tan Xiao really chose to be with a companion robot, he didn’t need the recognition of a marriage certificate.

“Xiao Bai, Wen Yi will be the other master of this house in the future. I hope you can treat him as you do me.”

To be honest, before meeting Wen Yi, Tan Xiao also thought such a thing would never happen to him. Falling in love with a companion robot, in some people’s eyes, was akin to a fetish.

But Wen Yi was different. Although their time together was short, Tan Xiao had a feeling: “He’s the one for me.”

It sounded absurd, didn’t it? They had known each other for such a short time, and he clearly knew Wen Yi was a companion robot.

“Received!”

This was the difference between a nanny robot and a human. Xiao Bai wouldn’t advise or stop Tan Xiao as a family member would. Once its permissions were transferred to Tan Xiao, he became its master.

For Xiao Bai, obeying its master was the top priority.

“Thank you, Xiao Bai.”

For Tan Xiao, he didn’t have many relatives in this world. His adoptive parents and that former brother were just strangers he had crossed paths with.

After he became an adult, they even dissolved the adoption relationship. Legally and practically, there was no familial bond.

Xiao Bai was his most important and only family in this world. He was happy to have Xiao Bai’s approval.

Xiao Bai’s slightly angry expression turned joyful again: “As long as A Xiao is happy, Xiao Bai will always be by your side.”

Under Xiao Bai’s watch, Tan Xiao drank the glass of milk and handed the empty cup to Xiao Bai.

When he went to the bathroom to rinse his mouth, Wen Yi entered the kitchen, where Xiao Bai was washing the milk cup.

Although there was a dishwasher at home, with only one cup, Xiao Bai chose to wash it directly. After all, it had housekeeping functions, and its hand rotation was no worse than a dishwasher.

Wen Yi closed the kitchen door: “I heard your conversation with him earlier.”

Xiao Bai dried the thoroughly washed glass cup and placed it neatly in the cupboard.

It turned around, its eyes and nose forming a straight line—a serious expression for it.

“Yes, A Xiao is a good person. I will always protect him! You must not bully him!”

Xiao Bai barked twice: “If you dare bully Tan Xiao, I’ll bite you to death!”

“I can see that you’ve also awakened self-awareness.”

Not long after arriving at this house, Wen Yi could tell that this little white dog, though a low-level nanny robot, had human-like self-awareness.

Typically, the more advanced the AI, the easier it was to awaken self-awareness, especially humanoid super robots. They learnt so much that they evolved and started thinking for themselves.

Abyss’s awakening was due to this reason. Then there were high-end custom robots, unique and infused with human emotions, like his own existence.

But Xiao Bai was different. It was just an ordinary, outdated little dog robot, the lowest level of companion nanny type.

This type of robot, only slightly more advanced than tool-like sweeping robots and washing machines, had also awakened self-awareness.

In the AI community, Xiao Bai was undoubtedly a special existence, almost like a miracle.

Xiao Bai arched its back like a real dog, ready to attack, baring its teeth at Wen Yi: “Did you come to this house because of me? How dare you deceive A Xiao’s feelings!”

Wen Yi said, “Don’t overestimate yourself. Even awakened, you can’t do much.”

He looked at the closed kitchen door: “I won’t hurt him. To me, he’s much more important than you. After all, he’s my master and my companion.”

But because of Xiao Bai’s unconditional loyalty to Tan Xiao, Wen Yi’s attitude softened: “A loyal little dog indeed. But Tan Xiao is worth it.”

Wen Yi gently patted Xiao Bai: “Don’t worry. If I wanted to do something to him, you couldn’t stop me. Thank you for taking care of him before. From now on, you can entrust him to me.”

This statement, akin to a son-in-law speaking to a father-in-law, left Xiao Bai momentarily confused. But it didn’t sense any malice from Wen Yi towards Tan Xiao.

As Wen Yi said, he was a far more advanced robot. In a fight, Xiao Bai was no match in strength or ability.

“It’s not time for that yet,” Xiao Bai snorted, but its wariness towards Wen Yi lessened.

Xiao Bai loved Tan Xiao and believed he was the best human in the world. It hoped Tan Xiao would be loved by many.

After this conversation, Xiao Bai’s attitude towards Wen Yi noticeably changed. The two got along much better, showing more tacit understanding than when they first met.

However, Tan Xiao thought this was due to his chat with Xiao Bai and didn’t pay much attention. But soon, his peaceful life was disrupted again.