Chapter 31: Learning Progress

[Learning in progress… Imitation progress 60%]

Lu Shi was inherently lazy. Since Shen Zheming had told him to stay, he simply brought his homework and problem sets over to write there.

The main reason was that it was too much trouble to make a trip every day just to check whether Er Bai Wu was fully charged. He couldn’t be bothered to go back and forth.

Whenever he sat at the table working on problems, Er Bai Wu would stay nearby, watching his every move like a curious child trying hard not to be noticed.

Lu Shi was completely absorbed in his studies, and before he knew it, it was late at night.

He stretched.

“Here, your midnight snack. You need to replenish nutrients after using your brain too much.”

Er Bai Wu held a plate with two golden fried eggs and a bowl of milk oatmeal porridge. On the eggs, ketchup was thoughtfully squeezed into a smiling face.

Lu Shi’s expression froze, and he fell into a silent daze.

His mind was still numb from the math problems. It took a few seconds before he rubbed his sore neck and remembered he was at Shen Zheming’s house.

“Thanks.”

He raised his hand, the fatigue in his eyes fading, replaced by a hint of a smile.

Er Bai Wu extended a mechanical claw and slowly scratched the spot where Lu Shi had just touched its head.

A mouthful of hot porridge warmed his cold stomach.

Lu Shi slumped in the chair and let out a breath. Suddenly remembering something, he pulled a sheet of colorful stickers from his notebook.

He had found them downstairs in Minxing Building. The lower floors were full of younger kids taking remedial classes, and the teachers used stickers to motivate students. Someone must have dropped a sheet in the hallway.

He tore off a pink one and stuck it on Er Bai Wu’s forehead. “It’s delicious. Here’s a little flower for a reward.”

On the screen, Er Bai Wu’s two dot-like eyes moved closer together, trying to see what was on its own screen.

Lu Shi took a picture and showed it.

Er Bai Wu blinked, then turned its screen back to the table, searching for similar targets.

Lu Shi raised an eyebrow. “You like stickers?”

Er Bai Wu nodded, still silent.

Generously, Lu Shi handed the remaining stickers to Er Bai Wu. “Then they’re all yours.”

Er Bai Wu stood still. After a long moment, the eyes and mouth on its screen disappeared, replaced by a line of text: [Affection level increased. Currently 80%.]

Lu Shi’s lips curled. He found it amusing that there was even an affection level.

Curious, he leaned closer and asked, “So what’s your affection level for Shen Zheming?”

Er Bai Wu had been with Shen Zheming for so long, and their personalities were alike. The affection level should be maxed out by now, right?

The text on the screen flickered: [Affection level 20%.]

“?”

Lu Shi couldn’t help but laugh. “Why is Shen Zheming’s affection level so low?”

Er Bai Wu’s mechanical hand clutched the new treasure tightly.

It was only 20% because Shen Zheming was its bound owner. If not for that status, it would be 10%—the remaining 10% was a friendship score because Shen Zheming occasionally bought it nice charging cables.

Lu Shi looked at Er Bai Wu, who seemed a bit dim, and wanted to tease it.

Er Bai Wu wanted to go back and decorate its charging station with the new stickers, but before it could turn around, Lu Shi grabbed it.

Holding a washable black marker, Lu Shi said, “Come here, I’ll give you a makeover.”

Naive and unaware of human malice, the little robot obediently tilted its head up, trusting Lu Shi’s fondness and goodwill, and let him draw a handlebar mustache on its mouth.

It was at that moment that Shen Zheming connected to Er Bai Wu’s terminal via his phone.

Earlier that day, he had experienced an information surge. Now that he was back to normal, he planned to remotely control Er Bai Wu to find the pheromone suppression collar in the bedroom drawer and have a courier deliver it.

This collar would automatically turn red and tighten during an information surge, stimulating the gland with bioelectric currents to suppress the pheromones.

With the collar secured, he could move freely within the Shen residence.

But when Er Bai Wu’s perspective linked up, the scene that greeted him was not the familiar room layout but a face up close.

Lu Shi tilted his head slightly, his slender, pale fingers idly holding a pen, scribbling on the screen.

When he lowered his eyes, his eyelashes cast light shadows. Perhaps due to studying late recently, there were slight dark circles under his eyes, but they didn’t detract from his handsome features.

Seeming to know he was bad at drawing, the corner of his slightly open mouth curled into a faint, amused smile.

Er Bai Wu stood motionless, letting him fool around for a few minutes.

Lu Shi not only drew a small mustache but also added two caterpillar-like eyebrows.

“Alright, want to look in the mirror?” He capped the pen, admiring his work.

After two seconds, Er Bai Wu stood still, no reaction.

Puzzled, Lu Shi thought it might have suddenly run out of battery, but the charge indicator beside it still showed full.

“Er Bai Wu?”

He wondered if he should give it a couple of taps.

Just as his hand rose, Er Bai Wu slowly lifted its mechanical claw and gently blocked him.

On the other side of the screen, Shen Zheming pressed his fist to his lower lip, turning his head away.

Lu Shi had no idea what was wrong with Er Bai Wu. Earlier, it had been able to communicate a bit, but now it suddenly wouldn’t say a word.

After blocking his hand, the robot silently turned and moved smoothly but quickly toward the bedroom.

Lu Shi quickly opened his phone and messaged Shen Zheming.

Lu Shi: Brother Shen, Er Bai Wu seems to have a problem. It suddenly went quiet and barely moved.

The typing indicator flickered, and the reply came quickly.

Shen Zheming: System upgrade. It’ll be fine after a while.

So that’s what it was.

Shen Zheming told him to wait a bit longer.

Sure enough, after a courier picked up an item, Er Bai Wu turned around and blinked twice.

“Sorry, the system just had a glitch.”

With the exam date approaching, it was impossible not to feel nervous.

Lu Shi stayed at Shen Zheming’s place for four days. Er Bai Wu never had that issue again. It diligently clattered around the kitchen every day, preparing all kinds of delicious food, and its imitation progress for Lu Shi reached 80%.

Estimated that Shen Zheming would return the day after tomorrow. Lu Shi was tidying the table when his phone suddenly vibrated.

It was a call from Chen Qiming.

Recently, Chen Qiming had been sending him messages every few days, asking about his situation. Zhu Wanqing was the same, as if she suddenly remembered she was his mother and started showing concern.

Lu Shi knew exactly what they were after.

But unfortunately, they were in for a disappointment.

The phone vibrated for a long time. Lu Shi only answered in the last two seconds before it would have automatically hung up.

“What is it?” Lu Shi asked indifferently.

Faced with Lu Shi’s cold attitude, Chen Qiming didn’t get angry.

The Chen family’s recent collaboration projects with several other companies had been a huge success. The day after tomorrow, they would hold a celebration banquet at the largest hotel in the capital. All partners would attend, including major business tycoons. As the genuine young master of the Chen Group, Lu Shi should naturally be present.

Lu Shi: “Is that all?”

He planned to start his own business in the future, so getting his face known among renowned entrepreneurs couldn’t hurt. If Chen Qiming wanted him to go, he would show up—no need to push the other party too hard.

Chen Qiming hadn’t expected Lu Shi to agree so readily.

He hesitated, then added, “Youxuan will also go. The celebration banquet the day after tomorrow is very important. Even if you dislike him, don’t cause a scene at the dinner. Understand?”

Lu Shi let out a contemptuous snort. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he has a glorious time.”

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