After one blow after another, Li Yi finally fell silent.
He turned to his laptop and began debugging the system.
To Yu Wan’s surprise, he was completely focused while he worked. There wasn’t a single stray thought.
At first, Yu Wan thought there was something wrong with her strange “hearing ability,” so she deliberately pricked up her ears several times to make sure.
But the corner really was quiet.
The only sounds were the crisp tapping of keys now and then, along with the faint humming of the robot as it operated.
As Yu Wan served customers, she couldn’t help glancing over from the corner of her eye.
Li Yi sat by the window, the blue glow of the computer screen reflected across his face.
His brows were slightly furrowed as his fingers flew across the keyboard. Every so often, he would stop to stare thoughtfully at the screen for a few seconds before continuing to type.
He looked so focused that it was as though he had become a completely different person.
Li Yi remained seated there, typing away on his laptop, occasionally adjusting the robot. Before either of them realized it, it was already time to get off work.
After Yu Wan finished tidying everything up, she untied her apron and hung it away. Just as she was about to tell Li Yi it was time to leave, she saw the life sized delivery robot suddenly move.
Li Yi stood up, placed the coffee cup beside him onto the robot’s tray, and pressed a few buttons. With a beep, the robot moved forward as steadily as a person, walked around a chair, avoided a backpack, and delivered the coffee safely to an empty table.
Yu Wan was stunned.
Has artificial intelligence already become this advanced?!
“Did… it work?” she asked curiously.
Li Yi frowned slightly and shook his head.
“Not even close,” he replied. “Right now I’ve only finished debugging its basic movement paths. If it’s actually going to be put into service, it’ll still have to deal with all kinds of unexpected situations. Like someone suddenly standing up, a child running toward it, water on the floor, or changes in lighting affecting the sensors.”
He paused before adding, “The obstacle avoidance algorithm also needs optimization. Right now it can detect obstacles, but sometimes it doesn’t know how to get around them and just spins in circles. I need to teach it how to determine the optimal path… Got it!”
As he spoke, Li Yi’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately sat back down in front of the computer.
Yu Wan watched him.
The evening sun slanted through the window, bathing him in its golden light.
His fingers danced over the keyboard while lines of code she couldn’t understand scrolled rapidly across the screen.
His eyes remained fixed on the monitor, reflecting its blue glow.
Yu Wan suddenly felt that Li Yi who talked about artificial intelligence and the fool who chased after girls every day seemed like two completely different people.
Or perhaps this was who he had always been.
Li Yi suddenly looked up, as if only just realizing something.
“You’re getting off work?”
Yu Wan nodded.
“Yeah, there’s nothing else to do today.”
Li Yi froze for a moment before snapping his laptop shut and quickly getting to his feet.
【System!!!】His thoughts exploded. 【She’s leaving!!! What should I do!!!】
【Host, what are you waiting for!】The System sounded even more excited than he was. 【Walk her home! This is the perfect opportunity to increase her affection!】
【Right, right! Walk her home!】
Li Yi’s eyes lit up as he eagerly said, “It’s getting pretty late. Let me walk you home.”
Yu Wan blinked.
Instinctively, she turned to look outside the window.
The last streak of sunset still lingered across the horizon, a pale orange red that looked as though it had been washed clean. The sky remained a soft blue, carrying the gentle warmth of approaching dusk.
The streetlights hadn’t even come on yet.
People leaving work still hurried along the streets.
…Late?
Yu Wan opened her mouth, about to say, “There’s no need.”
But Li Yi had already packed up his things at lightning speed, stuffed his laptop into his backpack, grabbed his jacket, and moved so quickly that it was as though he was afraid she would change her mind.
“Let’s go,” he urged, forcing a casual tone. “I could use some fresh air anyway.”
Yu Wan looked at him.
Standing behind the counter with that expensive looking backpack slung over his shoulders and his jacket in one hand, he gazed at her with bright, sparkling eyes.
She found herself unable to refuse.
So she nodded. “Okay.”
Not long after they left the café, the sky gradually darkened.
Streetlights lit up one after another, spreading warm yellow halos through the evening.
The cool night breeze stirred the leaves of the roadside plane trees, making them rustle softly.
Li Yi walked beside Yu Wan, keeping about half a meter between them.
Neither too close nor too far.
Yu Wan noticed that while they walked, he would unconsciously glance in her direction.
But every time she turned to look at him, he would hurriedly avert his gaze and pretend to be admiring the scenery along the road.
【System, what should I say now?】Yu Wan heard Li Yi ask.
【Host, you can talk about everyday things. For example, ask if she’s tired after today.】
【Tired?】Li Yi repeated inwardly. 【Isn’t that topic a little too boring?】
【Not at all, Host! Everyday conversations feel warm! They’re the best way to get closer!】
Li Yi took a deep breath before speaking.
“Were you… tired today?”
Yu Wan turned to look at him.
He looked back at her with an expression so serious that it was as though he were reading an obscure academic paper.
“…Not really,” she answered.
“Oh.” Li Yi nodded. “That’s good.”
Then silence.
【System! What now?!】
【Now you can praise her for working hard!】
Li Yi took another deep breath.
“You worked very hard today.”
Yu Wan: “…”
After hesitating for a moment, she replied, “…Thank you.”
“You deserve it. You really are hardworking,” Li Yi said.
Then silence fell once more.
Yu Wan lowered her head, trying her best to suppress a laugh.
Was this guy really the male lead?
The same male lead from the original story who built a business with the heroine and eventually became one of the country’s top tycoons?
Why did he seem… so silly?
【System, is she laughing because I’m stupid?】Li Yi’s thoughts suddenly rang out.
【Host… probably not?】
【Then why does it feel like she’s laughing?】
【…Maybe you’re imagining it?】
Li Yi fell silent, and then Yu Wan heard him sigh inwardly.
【Forget it. If I’m stupid, then I’m stupid. It’s already come to this anyway.】
Yu Wan finally couldn’t hold it in any longer, and the corners of her lips curled upward.
For the rest of the walk, Li Yi was visibly deflated.
He walked beside Yu Wan without saying another word, occasionally kicking a small pebble by the roadside.
Eventually, they reached the entrance to the residential complex where Yu Wan rented her apartment.
It was one of those old neighborhoods. The sign at the entrance had long since faded, and the iron gate was rusty.
Looking inside from the entrance, several dull gray apartment buildings could be seen, their exterior paint peeling away in large patches.
Li Yi stopped walking.
Standing at the entrance, he looked at the old residential complex, his brows knitting slightly.
“You live here?”
Yu Wan nodded.
“Yeah.”
Li Yi said nothing, but Yu Wan heard every word of his thoughts.
【System, does the heroine really live here?】
【Yes, Host. According to the scan, this is indeed her address.】
【But this place is way too rundown.】
【There’s no helping it. This residential complex was built in 1978, making it forty eight years old. The exterior walls have no insulation, and the buildings have deteriorated badly with age. Most of the residents are elderly people or migrant workers. Based on current rental data, a single room here costs about two thousand yuan a month.】
【Two thousand?】Li Yi sounded shocked. 【There are still apartments in A City that rent for only two thousand yuan?】
【Yes. According to the character profile, the heroine worked part time throughout her university years and has always lived very frugally. She should be saving money.】
Li Yi fell silent.
Yu Wan also remained silent.
What a coincidence. She had ended up sharing another setting with the heroine.
She silently lit a candle for the male lead.
“I’m home.” She looked up at Li Yi. “Thank you for walking me back, Li Yi.”
Li Yi snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Yu Wan.
The glow of the streetlight fell across her face, making her already exquisite features appear even softer.
Standing at the entrance to the old residential complex, dressed in a simple white T shirt and jeans, she looked completely out of place in such a worn down neighborhood.
Li Yi suddenly felt a pang of heartache.
Then he spoke.
“Wanwan.”
Yu Wan looked up at him.
“Mm?”
“You…” Li Yi paused, carefully choosing his words. “Is it safe for you to live here? I mean, this neighborhood looks pretty old. Is it inconvenient coming back at night?”
Yu Wan was taken aback.
She hadn’t expected him to ask that.
“It’s fine,” she replied. “I’m used to it. Besides, it’s close to the café, so I can just walk there.”
Li Yi said nothing.
But Yu Wan could hear his thoughts clearly.
【System… I feel kind of bad.】
【Host, what’s wrong?】
【I don’t know, it’s just…】Li Yi paused. 【I just feel like she should be living somewhere much better.】