Yi Heye raised his head, slightly moved.
This was the first time he had been unconditionally trusted; someone believed his "intuition" without any evidence.
The guy in front of him acted as if nothing had happened, naturally continuing along with his words: "There's a suspicious point here—according to conventional understanding, AI can't use drugs, but you did witness the AI stealing the X100. Do you think it's possible that it was helping someone else steal, rather than using it for its own purposes?"
“I don’t think so.” Yi Heye shook his head, hesitated for a moment, and said, “...but I can’t explain why.”
“Okay.” Jian Yunxian ignored the second half of the sentence. “Then our current direction is to find out the drug that can be consumed by both AI and humans. This is very likely the main reason that triggered Tony’s rampage.”
Yi Heye nodded, suddenly feeling that communicating with this person was really easy—he didn't doubt his intuition and was good at the analysis that Yi Heye disliked the most. If this guy wasn't on the opposite side of him, Yi Heye would really enjoy working with someone like him.
“But you should be able to sense the biggest problem,” Jian Yunxian said. “The drug industry is so tightly guarded against outsiders, with a high wall in place. As outsiders, we have absolutely no access to the world inside.”
Yesterday's experience clearly shows that for outsiders like them, they might briefly give you a glimpse into the inner workings of the circle, but they will never let you touch their most secret core—
The surveillance camera that was on from beginning to end, and Kevin, who knows nothing about this area because he doesn't touch drugs, are enough to prove this point.
At that moment, a man entered from outside. He went straight to the counter, knocked on the table, and said, "I'd like an iced Americano without ice and a Black Forest cake without sugar."
The female shop assistant immediately poked her head out and said, "Sir, please come in."
Then the man walked around the counter and into the store.
Yi Heye then realized that the milk tea shop and the Pink Love Trendy hair salon served the same purpose—to cover up their real business.
Although anyone with a little knowledge of the business could see that this milk tea shop was shady, as long as they didn't reveal the "correct password," they would forever be stuck waiting outside the room while drinking their milk tea.
The iced Americano without ice and the Black Forest cake without sugar that we just had were the secret codes that outsiders could never know, the thick door that separated them on opposite sides of a high wall.
“People in their circle are very vigilant,” Yi Heye said. “It’s not easy to infiltrate their inner circle.”
“Yes,” Jian Yunxian said, “but didn’t we take a shortcut and get sent straight to that high wall right at the start?”
Because of a stroke of luck, Xiaoyunduo was able to directly enter the Pink Love Trend and become "consumers" in the store.
Judging from the current situation, Sister Qin doesn't seem to have any suspicions about them. If they have a few more interactions, perhaps they can gradually make a breakthrough.
However, when it came to having more opportunities to interact with him, Yi Heye's mind was filled with that scene with Jian Yunxian—could it be that he would have to play that role regularly in the future...?
At this moment, a shop assistant came out of the store and handed a cup of milk tea to Jian Yunxian: "Sir, your 'first kiss'."
Before me was a cup of clear and vibrant milk tea, as fresh and beautiful as its name. Even a die-hard milk tea fan like Yi Heye was somewhat tempted by it.
Jian Yunxian had just picked up the cup when he saw the expectant look in the person in front of him, so he smiled, opened the lid, and handed it to him: "Want to try some?"
Jian Yunxian didn't touch the cup, so Yi Heye didn't mind and took a sip without any hesitation.
At this moment, Jian Yunxian leaned over again and asked, "How did my 'first kiss' taste?"
Yi Heye smacked his lips and subconsciously replied, "It's very sweet."
He was stunned after he finished speaking.
It was really sweet, so sweet that my heart felt like it skipped a beat.
Author's Note:
Cheetah, you're doomed, you've fallen in love.
Chapter 52, number 052
Yi Heye, holding the milk tea, was slightly flustered for a moment.
He looked up at the guy, and just as he expected, the guy was smiling at him.
He couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong, but Yi Heye just felt incredibly awkward, so he simply skipped all the procedures and went straight to the conclusion—
It must be another trick by that little lamb!
He examined the milk tea in his hand again.
There's nothing to be ashamed of. This milk tea is already sweet, and this guy added extra sugar, so there's absolutely nothing wrong with what he's saying!
Thinking of this, Yi Heye sensed something subtle again—this milk tea was so sweet, yet they deliberately added sugar; it really was intentional.
Ah, cunning sheep.
With a serious expression, he pushed the object back in front of Jian Yunxian and solemnly reiterated, "Artificial saccharin, it's cloyingly sweet."
Jian Yun smiled without saying anything, took the milk tea, and placed it beside her.
Yi He absentmindedly drank a few more mouthfuls of pure milk to rinse his mouth, and his strange heart rhythm finally calmed down.
He turned around, looking at the clerk who had already disappeared behind the curtain, and pondered, "An iced Americano without ice, a Black Forest cake without sugar... Will this code work for us?"
Jian Yunxian shook his head: "Since they're not hiding it from us, it's obviously not some common password."
Not long after, another person came into the store and ordered a plate of extra spicy fries and a cup of purple sweet potato soy milk. Soon, he was also led to the back.
The two looked at each other—
Clearly, this code is dynamic, and they have no idea what the different types of goods behind it represent.
Yi Heye rubbed his temples with a hint of helplessness. Although this milk tea shop was not what they were currently exploring, it reflected the difficulty outsiders faced in trying to infiltrate their line of work.
The milk in his hand tasted too bland, and even the picky milk expert, Mr. Yi Heye, lost interest after only two or three sips.
"Milk powder tastes a million times better than pure milk," Yi Heye said indignantly.
Little Cloud, who had been lying down and sleeping soundly at Jian Yunxian's feet, looked up and saw Yi Heye venting his anger on the pure milk he had bargained down to twice the price.
Seeing that the man didn't seem to want to drink, it stood up, ran to his seat, straightened up, put its two front paws on the table, nudged Yi Heye's elbow with its nose, and then raised its chin towards the milk carton.
It means that if you don't want to drink it, give it to them so as not to waste it.
Yi Heye put the milk carton on the ground, somewhat speechless, and complained, "Your dad is so rich, how can he raise a beggar like you?"
Upon hearing this, Little Cloud initially swallowed her anger and didn't argue with him. Then, she quickly grabbed a corner of the milk carton and scurried away to a corner far from him. After making sure Yi Heye wouldn't snatch it back, she gestured with her ram's horns at him from a distance and said fiercely, "Baa!!"
Upon hearing this, Jian Yunxian immediately turned around and reprimanded the child: "Little Yunduo, you are not allowed to use foul language."
The little cloud pretended to be deaf and dumb, turned around and used its white bottom to cover its body, and concentrated on drinking its milk.
Jian Yunxian said helplessly, "He's going through a rebellious phase, and he's hard to discipline."
Twenty-five years after its birth, it was still in its rebellious phase. Yi Heye was too lazy to argue with this old, dim-witted, fat guy. He simply waved his hand and gave up.
Jian Yunxian glanced back at the sheep drinking milk and laughed, "You're way too obsessed with milk."
“Drinking more milk is good for your health and helps you grow taller,” Yi Heye said, then added, “That’s what my mom said.”
It's just that I couldn't afford it when I was a child, and I only started to like it when I grew up and had money. I bought the most expensive milk powder and drank it whenever I wanted, as if I could make up for the opportunities to grow and develop that I missed when I was a child.
Yi Heye had long since become numb to his past; feelings of sadness or pity were simply impossible for him to express.
But Jian Yunxian said to him, "Auntie is right. If you like it, drink more, just don't overdo it."
The vivid and lively word "Auntie" inexplicably touched Yi Heye, and some past memories lit up like starlight.
It's about "Mom", about poverty, about everything he struggled in this place as a child.
Yi Heye gazed out the window. The entrance led to Phoenix Lane, a narrow and dark alleyway. This was the kind of road he had walked most often as a child—covered in moss and mud, trodden by the feet of countless lowly people.
Jian Yun asked casually, "Have you always lived here?"
Yi Heye: "After I turned ten, I spent a few years in Zone C, and then I came back—I guess I've spent most of my time here."
Although he has spent more than 70% of his life here, sitting in this unfamiliar milk tea shop, he felt for the first time how unfamiliar this place, which holds so many of his memories, was.
The roads he had traveled, the people he had met, and the world he had seen all seemed to be just the tip of a huge iceberg above the water.
After Xiaoyunduo finished drinking in silence, Yi Heye took Jian Yunxian out the door.
The city center of District D was far less lively during the day than at night. The whole city looked like a fish that had been dried out and smelled fishy, withered, slovenly and lifeless.
A quick calculation revealed that the two "VIP customers" who had just entered were not afraid of day or night. Yi Heye clicked his tongue and couldn't help but think of yesterday's experience. If nothing unexpected happened, this scene would probably repeat itself many times.
……Depend on.
Before he could finish his rant, Jian Yunxian spoke up, as if he were thinking about something: "We just went to Pink Love Trendy yesterday, let's rest for a few days, otherwise our bodies won't be able to take it."
Just as Yi Heye was about to say that it was just acting and he was talking about how his body couldn't take it, he thought of the long, exhausting "aftershocks" that followed last night after the fake act.
If it happens again tonight, he really won't be able to walk, and he might not even be able to get out of bed.
After much consideration, Yi Heye decided to slow down his work pace and be kinder to himself.
He stood in the middle of the street, suddenly remembered something, and said to Jian Yunxian, "Come with me to the recycling station, it's not far."
To make it easier for hunters to carry out recycling work nearby, the Security Department has set up corresponding recycling stations in zones B, C, and D. On weekdays, apart from his own home, the place that Yi Heye visits most often is the recycling station in zone D.
Jian Yunxian agreed and followed the man to the parking space.
Xiao Ming beeps twice more to welcome him. Yi Heye was too lazy to sew Xiao Ming's mouth shut anymore. He just mechanically got on the bicycle seat and waited for Jian Yunxian to tie up the fat sheep before getting on the bicycle.
He thought he had developed a super immunity to Jian Yunxian's physical contact, until that person's slender and well-defined hand gently reached around his waist, and the vague soreness from last night's excessive indulgence crept up again.
Yi Heye couldn't help but connect the two things. While looking at the hand on his waist, he recalled the scene of their intense acting together at Pink Love Trend, and because of the soreness, he couldn't help but think of the ecstasy of last night...
It wasn't until Jian Yunxian sat down and patted his shoulder that Yi Heye suddenly snapped out of his daze—and after realizing what he was thinking, his ears turned bright red again.
"Surely it's not that serious?" Jian Yunxian's teasing voice came over, then she gently rested her chin on Yi Heye's shoulder. "What's on Mr. Yi's mind all day long? You're always so frivolous..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yi Heye reached out and shoved his head off, sending him flying.
To give himself enough time to cool down, Yi Heye deliberately took a longer route, finally managing to dissipate the heat on his face by the time he got off the bus.
Yi Heye felt that something was wrong with him lately, perhaps it had something to do with the season—March, the spring month, is always a time of restlessness.
After getting off the car, Yi Heye no longer wanted to see Jian Yunxian. He took out the chips he had collected before coming and went straight to the recycling station.
The recycling station in Zone D is right next to the electronic waste dump. There are no tall buildings nearby, only large piles of electronic waste.
The recycling station is the only remaining building in this garbage wasteland. It is a low bungalow with the front door facing the road and the back window serving as a dumping chute, from which a large number of electronic components from scrapped AIs are continuously discharged.
Most AI will end their lives here.
Yi Heye swiped his ID card to open the door with a "beep"—compared to its unremarkable exterior, the equipment inside was much more exquisite.
There were data analyzers, splitting machines, sorting machines, and so on, all operating smoothly.
There are no human employees here; all procedures are completed by machines or AI.
Watching these mechanical claws effortlessly dismantle, flatten, and melt the bodies of their own kind only made the whole scene seem even more absurd.