Chapter 34: Never be self-righteous

Crack.

The wine bottle in Ai Lian’s hand was accidentally crushed.

The sound of shattering glass rang out with startling clarity in the silence.

Small, sharp shards of glass sliced into her fair, delicate hand.

Blood quickly seeped out.

It flowed down her fingertips and slid along her wrist before dripping onto the floor.

Drip.

Drip.

Yet, Ai Lian didn’t seem to notice that her hand was injured at all.

From start to finish, her gaze was fixed intently on the surveillance screen.

Gu Yebai looked happy.

At this moment, he was being held tightly in Gao Hongyi’s arms.

Look at that.

What a wonderful scene.

It was just like the ending of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Ai Lian liked Hollywood blockbusters.

She could even imagine that if this were truly a movie, then in the next second after Gu Yebai was pulled into Gao Hongyi’s embrace, the screen would gradually fade to black.

Then, the long list of production staff, the cast list, and special thanks would scroll by.

A happy ending.

Wasn’t it?

The poor little thing had finally been found by a wealthy family.

From then on, he would become a dull, wealthy young master of Shanghai, living a simple, unadorned, and low-profile life.

Originally, Ai Lian had indeed intended to reward Gu Yebai’s kindness.

She had also truly hoped for his reunion with his family.

But why?

Why did her heart feel as if a piece had been ruthlessly carved out after she confirmed this scene with her own eyes?

It felt empty.

[Beep. A sharp object scratch has been detected on the back of your hand. Please complete disinfection as soon as possible.]

The voice of the AI auxiliary system sounded somewhat noisy in her ear.

Ai Lian’s gaze still didn’t shift.

She stared straight at Gao Hongyi.

‘I kind of want to take her place.’

If it were her.

At a time like this.

Semi-forcibly pulling that boy, who was like a big, silly dog, into her arms.

Locking his head firmly with her arms and pressing him against her chest.

Making him show that inescapable, slightly bashful expression.

How wonderful would that be?

She was the unsung hero.

She had silently killed the two scoundrels who would have ruined today’s reunion.

Yet, no one praised her for doing a good job.

She could only be alone.

Quietly watching the surveillance.

Watching an irrelevant woman hold Gu Yebai in her arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

‘What a freeloader.’

‘You shameless woman.’

However.

What could she do?

She was merely an observer.

“Give me some wine.”

“By the way, can’t you drink with me?”

[I am sorry. I am an Artificial Intelligence and cannot consume alcohol.]

[You should undergo disinfection now. Your health value is decreasing.]

“Fine.”

“Disinfect me first.”

[Beep. The disinfection module has been activated.]

A cold mechanical arm slowly approached.

Disinfectant was evenly sprayed onto Ai Lian’s hand.

“Hiss…”

Ai Lian instinctively let out a cold breath.

When she had accidentally crushed the wine bottle and the glass cut her palm earlier, she had felt almost no pain.

But now, it hurt like hell.

The germicidal liquid seeped into the wound, like a fire being lit along her nerves.

It clearly wasn’t a serious injury.

In the beginning, she hadn’t even noticed it.

But now, it hurt so much she almost began to doubt her life.

She bared her teeth in pain, yet her eyes never left the screen.

“This is exactly like love.”

[Beep. There is a logical error in your analogy.]

[Because you have never possessed love.]

“Screw you.”

“Try being a smart-ass with me one more time.”

Ai Lian kicked off one of her high heels and threw it at the AI control screen without hesitation.

Ten rings.

A direct hit on the bullseye.

[I can retrieve relevant materials for you.]

“What materials?”

[Searching…]

In the next moment, the screen was completely filled.

They were all romance-themed novels.

Pride and Prejudice, Romeo and Juliet, Anna Karenina, The Thorn Birds, Jane Eyre…

The book titles popped up line by line, densely packed.

[Based on analysis, you currently lack the comprehension and empathy for love.]

[I wish you a pleasant reading experience.]

“I don’t need this!”

“In this world, no one understands love better than I do!”

Despite her words, Ai Lian still obediently dragged all the data for those books into her personal folder.

She was just being stubborn.

In fact, she really didn’t understand love.

Up until now, humans on Earth had always taken the initiative to approach her, chase her, please her, obsess over her, and flatter her after seeing her true appearance.

That was a one-way dump of emotions.

Ai Lian had never understood it.

But now, as she looked at Gu Yebai on the screen and saw him being held in that embrace, she suddenly wanted to know.

What exactly was love?

“Student Gu,” she whispered.

“Can you give me the answer?”

“This is very important for our understanding of Earth’s civilization…”

She paused for a moment.

“It’s really important.”

Of course, it wasn’t because she truly wanted to understand some so-called Earth civilization.

At some point, the phrase “Earth civilization”—which was originally grand and abstract—had quietly become synonymous with Gu Yebai in Ai Lian’s mind.

Those violet eyes continued to watch the surveillance footage without blinking, noting Gu Yebai’s every move.

Even if Gao Hongyi’s presence made her feel unpleasant, and even if that intimacy was an eyesore, if she could not see Gu Yebai—if she were deprived of even the right to observe him—it would be enough to make her unable to eat or sleep.

….

“I want to hold you a little longer…”

Gao Hongyi’s arms remained firmly fixed around Gu Yebai’s body.

“Winter is very cold, but Uncle Bai’s body is very warm.”

“So I’ve turned into a heat pack.”

Gu Yebai scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

In the beginning, he had been riddled with self-doubt.

He had worried that Gao Hongyi would show a disappointed expression when she actually met him.

But now, it seemed that not only was she not disappointed, but her emotions were also completely beyond his expectations.

If such an embrace happened between lovers who had been separated for many years, it might be perfectly natural.

But occurring between him and Gao Hongyi, it felt a bit subtle.

He clearly wasn’t her lover…

Could it be that she liked him?

But had he done anything to make her like him?

He couldn’t be too self-important, or the small flame of hope that had been lit would go out again.

‘She likes me, she has feelings for me, she is different from others.’

That was the most ridiculous and pathetic form of self-delusion in the world.

‘She’s just being excessively passionate. That must be it.’

Just as Gu Yebai was thinking this, Gao Hongzhi’s voice drifted over.

“Alright, Hongyi.”

“The days of you being with Little Gu are still long.”

“But…”

Gao Hongyi pouted.

Her expression was like that of a little girl who had been forced to let go of her favorite toy.

“Alright, I get it.”

Gao Hongyi finally released her folded arms.

Only then did Gu Yebai briefly regain the freedom to stretch his limbs.

Thank heavens.

He finally had a moment of reprieve to properly look at Gao Hongzhi and Ya Xinyao standing before him.

They were his biological parents.

Gu Yebai cleared his throat softly.

“Uncle Gao, Auntie Ya, hello.”

“Let me introduce myself.”

He paused for a second, as if confirming his wording.

“I am Gu Yebai.”

“An ordinary middle school student who makes a living by writing novels.”

“Welcome to my home.”