Chapter 69: I Will Always Watch You

The massive lecture hall was packed to the brim, with warm white lights illuminating the spacious podium with striking clarity, where the man on stage held a presentation pointer, his voice calm and commanding.

Every look in his eyes conveyed to the audience just how confident he was in his material, while the sound of tapping keyboards recording notes echoed from below from time to time.

“That concludes my research report; thank you all for your kind attention.”

As Mu An’s final words fell, thunderous applause erupted throughout the entire academic lecture hall.

The researchers below were too excited to contain their words, buzzing with discussion.

“Professor Mu is simply incredible! A subject that has plagued our team for so many years, yet he actually completed it all by himself! Is he even human?”

“It truly is absurd… No wonder he was a genius admitted through exceptional circumstances at the age of fifteen!”

“Ah, if only Professor Lin were still here; back then, in which project was this genius duo of theirs not crushing the competition by a landslide?”

With the lecture concluded, Dean Liu patted Mu An’s shoulder with a hearty laugh, “You did wonderfully! Our institute needs a rising star just like you.”

“Originally, Director Chen and I were worried that you would never recover from what happened to Lin Yan, but now, seeing you achieve new breakthroughs once more, our minds are finally at ease.”

Dean Liu and Director Chen exchanged a glance, both seeing the relief and gratification in each other’s eyes.

Thinking back to the beginning, Mu An and Lin Yan had been specially recruited into the institute by them when the two youths were only fifteen and fourteen years old; now that nine years had passed, they had long since come to view Mu An as their own child.

A faint smile surfaced on Mu An’s face, “I apologize for worrying you before, but I know that Lin Yan’s dream was to become an exceptional researcher; as his former teammate, I naturally cannot let him down.”

Dean Liu nodded in satisfaction, “By the way, regarding the neural network project for robotic facial expressions mentioned in your report, you stated that you had tested it on a domestic robot at home—when can we come visit your place to take a look and learn from it?”

Mu An’s eyes flickered slightly, and after merely a moment’s thought, he offered a warm invitation, “Our home is always open to you. If you have time, how about coming over next Sunday?”

“Good, then Director Chen and I will come visit your home as guests next Sunday.”

Bidding farewell to Dean Liu and the others, Mu An carried his briefcase and walked to the parking lot.

However, the moment he pulled the car door open, he was startled by the person inside.

001, dressed in a black suit, was sitting in the driver’s seat, meticulously groomed from head to toe, with even the strands along his temples radiating an almost rigid perfection.

The corners of 001’s eyes curved slightly, his voice gentle and courteous, “Master, thank you for your hard work.”

“Why are you here?” An ominous premonition flared up in Mu An’s heart as he hurriedly straightened up and looked around, “Where is the driver?”

“Master, Driver Hong did not come,” a clear light shone from 001’s eyes.

“System data indicates that ninety percent of exceptional butlers possess a comprehensive mastery over all household matters. Only by becoming proficient in every domestic procedure can I provide you with higher-quality service; therefore, today I replaced Driver Hong to execute the task of driving you home.”

“Do you have a driver’s license?” Mu An could not resist delivering a soul-searching question.

The curve at the corners of 001’s mouth paused slightly, resembling a brief system lag, “I am sorry, Master. It was my lack of foresight. Although as an android I possess the requisite knowledge for operating a motor vehicle, without official registration, I indeed cannot legally drive on the road…”

Before 001 could finish his sentence, he was cut off by another voice.

“Hey! Professor Mu!”

A researcher in the distance saw Mu An and hurriedly waved in greeting.

With a swift slam of the door, Mu An shut 001 inside the car.

Due to the tint of the car windows, people on the outside could not see in, whereas 001 on the inside could clearly see out.

A girl sporting crisp short hair ran briskly toward Mu An, the smile at the corners of her mouth forming shallow dimples.

Seeing the girl, a smile broke out on Mu An’s face as well, and the two chatted in front of the car door for quite a while.

Before leaving, the girl handed him a rectangular object, which Mu An did not decline.

Only when the silhouette of the departing girl completely vanished from his field of vision did Mu An open the car door.

Looking at the person inside the car, he let out a helpless sigh, “Come out first.”

001 remained quiet for a moment before obediently vacating the driver’s seat; it wasn’t until Mu An sat down behind the wheel that he noticed 001 was still standing by the car door, lost in who knows what thoughts.

“Get in,” Mu An patted the passenger seat, and only then did 001 seem to receive the command, stepping around to sit in the passenger seat.

“Next time, do not drive over to find me by yourself. Even with autonomous driving in today’s smart cars, a human still needs to be present to supervise,” Mu An said as he started the vehicle.

“Understood, Master,” 001’s gaze involuntarily fell upon the rectangular box in the console compartment; his system automatically scanned and identified it as a bestselling brand of chocolates that had ranked number one in nationwide sales this past Valentine’s Day.

“Master, should I add that lady just now into my profile database?” 001 asked.

“No need, you won’t have any contact with her.” The girl from earlier was a researcher on his team.

Every time their group achieved results, they would buy some sweets to celebrate; that girl had happened to run into him, and upon learning that he hadn’t received any, she had politely given him her own chocolate first.

Hearing this, 001 blinked slightly and averted his gaze from the chocolate.

Mu An drove his artificially impaired creation all the way back to the Mu family parking lot, and the moment he unbuckled his seatbelt, an idea flashed across his mind.

He looked at the empty, quiet parking lot before him, then turned toward 001, who was obediently unbuckling his seatbelt beside him.

‘If I don’t work on the mission now, when will I?’

001 took hold of the door handle, only to discover that the car door would not open; at the exact same moment, his sensors detected an object drawing near.

He slowly turned his head, only to see that Master had drawn exceptionally close at some point.

Those peach-blossom eyes looked all the more profound against the light, while the faint residual glow of the setting sun outside fell softly upon the man’s hair, adding a touch of exquisite beauty.

Mu An’s hand gently tilted 001’s chin up, his gaze slowly brushing across his brow, the bridge of his nose, and finally settling upon his pale lips, as though appraising his proudest masterpiece.

“Lin Yan… so beautiful.”

The outer corners of 001’s eyes curved ever so faintly, resembling a human smile upon receiving praise, his tone steady and respectful, “Thank you for Master’s praise. Everything 001 is was created by Master.”

“Do you have any dissatisfaction with your body?” Mu An’s gaze rested on his eyes, as though speaking with another person through him.

001’s eyes, reflecting the setting sun, flickered slightly, his voice earnest, “Everything of 001 belongs to Master. As long as Master is satisfied, 001 has no other desires.”

The smile at the corners of Mu An’s mouth deepened by a fraction, “Merely being like this won’t satisfy me. You ought to be more like him.”

His hand gently ruffled 001’s fluffy crown until he mussed his styled hair, “Do not refer to yourself as 001 in front of me; you do not need to smile all the time, but your eyes must remain on me at all moments.”

001 sluggishly interpreted the meaning behind Mu An’s words, finally arriving at a conclusion in his core processor: Master wished for him to smile less.

The smile at the corners of his mouth slowly faded, his gaze devout, “Master, I shall watch over you forever.”

In those pupils mirroring the setting sun, for a fleeting instant, he seemed just like a real person.

“Does Master wish to examine my body?” 001 parted his lips slightly, the trusting look in his eyes evoking a twinge of guilt in Mu An’s heart.

As he spoke, 001’s hand had already reached toward his wrinkle-free collar; with a faint snap, the first button came undone, his Adam’s apple bobbing softly in response.

Mu An’s gaze inexplicably darted away for a second, and he lightly released his hold on 001’s chin, “What is there to examine in a car?”

The algorithms in 001’s processor quickly analyzed this question, “It is indeed inconvenient in a vehicle. Master may examine me after we enter the house; I am at your disposal at all times.

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