機械基督徒少女 後日談21

尋找自我的機器基督徒少女

Searching for Self: The Robot Christian Girl

後日談 21 你的彆扭

Sequel 21: Your Awkwardness

午後的陽光，靜靜流淌在大學圖書館前的翠綠草坪上。孟禎併腿而坐，筆記型電腦安放在雙膝之間。她清澈的雙眸專注地凝視螢幕，彷彿正高速處理複雜的資訊洪流——然而，那雙纖細的手指，偶爾在螢幕前輕輕旋轉擺動，卻自始至終未曾觸碰鍵盤分毫。

The afternoon sun streamed quietly onto the emerald green lawn in front of the university library. Meng-chen sat with her legs together, a laptop resting on her lap. Her clear eyes were focused intently on the screen, as if she were rapidly processing a complex flood of information – yet, her slender fingers occasionally rotated and gestured lightly in front of the screen, never once touching the keyboard.

身旁的志文緊盯著自己的電腦螢幕，神情緊張。他眼睜睜看著一個個惡意程式的圖示憑空消失，那些被病毒加密或損毀的檔案圖示，也如同奇蹟般逐一恢復了原狀。

片刻後，孟禎輕輕地長吁出一口氣，緊繃的神情舒展開來。她轉過頭，語調輕鬆地對志文說：「完成了。你電腦裡的病毒應該都清乾淨了；那些被加密或損毀的檔案，我也利用雲端備份的殘留數據，盡量幫你重建復原。」

「哇！太感謝妳了，孟禎！」志文臉上綻放出混合著崇拜與感激的光芒。他湊近了些，目光灼灼地看著孟禎，語氣裡滿是驚嘆與一絲嚮往：「妳的身體機能真的太不可思議了！完全不用敲鍵盤，光是透過無線網卡，妳就能直接用自己的運算系統連上我的電腦，然後光靠『意念』就能編寫程式、執行腳本，隔空清除病毒！天啊，要是我也有妳這樣的功能，寫作業報告該有多省事啊！」

Beside her, Zhi-wen stared anxiously at his own computer screen. He watched, wide-eyed, as malicious program icons vanished into thin air, and the icons of files encrypted or corrupted by viruses miraculously restored themselves one by one.

A moment later, Meng-chen exhaled softly, her tense expression relaxing. She turned to Zhi-wen and said in a light tone, "It's done. All the viruses on your computer should be gone; I also tried my best to reconstruct and recover the encrypted or corrupted files using residual data from your cloud backup."

"Wow! Thank you so much, Meng-chen!" Zhi-wen's face lit up with a mix of admiration and gratitude. He leaned in closer, his gaze burning as he looked at Meng-chen, his voice full of astonishment and a hint of longing: "Your bodily functions are truly incredible! Without even touching the keyboard, you can connect directly to my computer with your own operating system just through the wireless network card, and then simply by 'thought' you can write programs, execute scripts, and clear viruses remotely! My goodness, if I had abilities like yours, how much easier would writing assignments be!"

話音甫落，空氣彷彿瞬間凍結。

孟禎臉上那份輕鬆愜意消失得無影無蹤，取而代之的是一種疏離的冰冷。她直直瞪向志文，聲音裡沒有一絲溫度：「羨慕？你羨慕我這副機器身體？」語調尖銳，像一根冰針。

The moment the words left his mouth, the air seemed to freeze instantly.

The easygoing comfort vanished from Meng-chen's face, replaced by a cold detachment. She glared directly at Zhi-wen, her voice devoid of warmth: "Envious? You're envious of this machine body of mine?" Her tone was sharp, like an ice needle.

志文被這突如其來的轉變釘在原地，一時語塞。未等他反應，孟禎的語氣更加尖銳，帶著刺人的諷刺：「好哇！那乾脆你也去接受改造，變成機器人來陪我好了！到時候什麼電子介面都能往你身上裝，腦子裡直接跑程式，多方便啊，嗯？」她刻意模仿著他方才嚮往的語氣，字字如刀。

志文心頭猛地一凜，終於意識到自己不經意的話語，像一把鈍刀，再次劃傷了她最敏感的神經。他慌忙伸出手，想要攬住她，笨拙地試圖彌補：「哎，孟禎，對不起！我…我沒有別的意思，真的！就是…就是太感謝妳幫我解決大麻煩了。而且，我…我也很欣賞…很欣賞妳身上那些與眾不同的高科技…」

「少來這套！」孟禎猛地掙脫他伸過來的手臂，身體迅速往旁邊挪開，刻意拉開了距離。她聲音帶著受傷的顫抖：「你啊你，心裡就是對你這位『機器人女友』，存著這樣那樣的想法！然後跟我談著這麼一場…彆扭的戀愛！」她重重嘆了口氣，那聲嘆息彷彿承載了情感核心裡積壓的所有委屈，沉甸甸地落在兩人之間的空氣裡。

Zhi-wen was pinned in place by this sudden change, momentarily speechless. Before he could react, Meng-chen's voice grew even sharper, laced with stinging sarcasm: "Oh, great! Then why don't you go get modified too, become a robot to keep me company! Then you can have all sorts of electronic interfaces installed on you, programs running directly in your brain, how convenient, huh?" She deliberately mimicked his earlier tone of longing, every word a blade.

Zhi-wen's heart suddenly tightened. He finally realized his inadvertent words, like a dull knife, had once again cut her most sensitive nerve. He hastily reached out, wanting to embrace her, clumsily trying to make amends: "Hey, Meng-chen, I'm sorry! I... I didn't mean anything by it, really! It's just... it's just that I'm so grateful you helped me with such a huge problem. And, I... I also really admire... really admire those unique high-tech things about you..."

"Don't give me that!" Meng-chen violently pulled away from his outstretched arm, quickly shifting her body to the side, deliberately creating distance. Her voice trembled with hurt: "You, you! In your heart, you have all sorts of thoughts about your 'robot girlfriend'! And then you're having such an... awkward relationship with me!" She let out a heavy sigh, a sigh that seemed to carry all the accumulated grievances in her emotional core, landing heavily in the air between them.

孟禎目光飄向遠方，聲音幽幽，帶著穿透時空的迴響：「回想起來……上次，我因為信仰心模組崩潰，決定將自己心腦分離、徹底解構的時候……是你守在那裡，親手將四散的我，一片一片重新組合起來的。那時我真的很感激你。」

她的聲音微微顫抖了一下，凝結在午後的空氣中。「然而，當我的意識終於重新回到這具身體，我睜開眼睛……原本預期會看到的，是你盼望著我的笑臉……」

"Looking back..." Meng-chen's gaze drifted into the distance, her voice soft and echoing through time, "...the last time, when my faith module crashed and I decided to separate my brain from my heart, to completely deconstruct myself... you were there, putting the scattered pieces of me back together with your own hands. I was truly grateful to you then."

Her voice trembled slightly, lingering in the afternoon air. "Yet, when my consciousness finally returned to this body, and I opened my eyes... what I expected to see was your smiling face, welcoming my return..."

她頓了頓，視線轉回志文臉上，帶著清晰的痛楚：「可是我看到的……卻是你臉上的淚痕。看著那些裸露的管線、冰冷的機械骨骼，看著我存在的本質赤裸裸地攤開在你眼前，你排斥了，後退半步。那時你流下的眼淚……不是為我的歸來而喜悅，而是因為看清了我的『真面目』，覺得自己付出的愛……不值了，是嗎？」她的聲音輕得像羽毛，卻帶著千鈞重量，「志文，你知道嗎？從那天起，你那時的眼淚……就成了扎在我心口上，一根向著我的刺。」

志文臉上殘存的最後一絲輕佻徹底消散，取而代之的是沉重的肅然。他正視著孟禎的眼睛，低聲道：「我記得。孟禎，我……真的，非常非常對不起妳。我承認，我的內心深處……或許還藏著那麼一點扭曲的想法，但真的，只有一點點。而且，當時我也鄭重地向妳道歉了。」

She paused, her gaze returning to Zhi-wen's face, with clear pain. "But what I saw... were tears on your face. Seeing those exposed wires, the cold mechanical skeleton, seeing the very essence of my existence laid bare before you, you recoiled, taking half a step back. The tears you shed then... they weren't tears of joy for my return, but because you saw my 'true self' and felt that the love you had given... wasn't worth it, right?" Her voice was as light as a feather, yet carried immense weight. "Zhi-wen, do you know? From that day on, your tears... became a thorn in my heart, pointing directly at me."

The last trace of casualness completely vanished from Zhi-wen's face, replaced by a heavy solemnity. He met Meng-chen's eyes, speaking in a low voice, "I remember. Meng-chen, I... I'm truly, deeply sorry. I admit, deep down inside... there might still be a little bit of a twisted thought, but really, just a little bit. And, I also sincerely apologized to you at the time."

「是，你是道歉了。」孟禎轉過頭，眉頭微蹙，「不過……我想起來了，在那之前，是我先看到你難過的樣子，脫口就對你說了『對不起』。事後我反覆回想，越想越不對勁……」她的語氣漸漸激動起來，帶著困惑與不平的怒火，「我為什麼要為了我自身存在的形式，向你道歉？是，我確實不是人類，但就算我真的只是由電子腦和情感核心構建出來的『虛幻』存在，我又有哪裡對不起你了？」

她直視著志文，聲音堅定：「陳志文，我拜託你！要喜歡，就喜歡得坦率一點！不要一邊在心底深處偷偷質疑、否定我的存在，一邊又口口聲聲說著喜歡我！」

「不敢不敢！我一定檢討，一定深刻檢討！」志文連忙摸著後腦勺，試圖用打哈哈緩和緊繃的氣氛，笑容卻有些尷尬，「……只是，說到那次，妳眼裡明明含著淚水，嘴角卻努力對我揚起笑容，說著『對不起呢』的那個樣子……」他的聲音低沉下來，帶著複雜的情緒，「我當時又心疼又愧疚，可是……可是那樣的妳，看起來真的……好讓人心動。啊啊，好想再看一次妳那時的表情啊～」

「蛤？！」孟禎被他這番話弄得瞬間氣結又哭笑不得，臉上表情精彩紛呈，「你這人喔～你就這麼想看我傷心難過的模樣嗎？看來你不只是彆扭，腦袋裡還真的有點『扭曲』呢！」她無奈地搖搖頭，眼中卻閃過一絲促狹的光芒，「也好！既然這樣，就讓我想想辦法，好好『整治』一下你這個毛病。好了，我該去上課了，再見！」

說完，她俐落地站起身，拍了拍褲子上的草屑，頭也不回地朝教室方向走去。

"Yes, you did apologize." Meng-chen turned her head, her brow furrowed. "But... I just remembered, before that, I saw your sad expression first and blurted out 'I'm sorry' to you. Afterward, I kept replaying it, and the more I thought about it, the more wrong it felt..." Her voice grew increasingly agitated, tinged with confusion and indignant anger. "Why should I apologize to you for the form of my own existence? Yes, I'm not human, but even if I truly am just a 'virtual' being constructed from an electronic brain and an emotional core, what have I done to wrong you?"

She looked directly at Zhi-wen, her voice firm: "Chen Zhi-wen, I beg you! If you're going to love, then love me frankly! Don't secretly question and deny my existence in the depths of your heart while simultaneously proclaiming your love for me!"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare! I'll definitely reflect on this, a deep reflection!" Zhi-wen quickly rubbed the back of his head, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere with a forced laugh, but his smile was awkward. "...It's just, speaking of that time, the way your eyes were filled with tears, but your lips were trying so hard to smile at me, saying 'I'm sorry'... " His voice deepened, carrying complex emotions. "At that moment, I felt both heartache and guilt, but... but you, like that, you looked truly... so captivating. Ahh, I wish I could see that expression on your face again~"

"Huh?!" Meng-chen was instantly choked with anger and a mix of laughter and tears by his words, her expression a kaleidoscope of emotions. "You, you really want to see me sad and upset, don't you? It seems you're not just awkward, your mind is actually a little 'twisted'!" She shook her head helplessly, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. "Fine then! In that case, let me think of a way to properly 'cure' you of this habit. Alright, I should go to class now, see ya!"

With that, she stood up gracefully, brushed the grass clippings off her pants, and walked towards the classroom without looking back.

「哈哈，好啊！我……期待著喔！」志文在她身後，帶著一絲複雜的笑意揚聲道。「其實……我更怕妳懶得再對我生氣。」看著孟禎漸行漸遠的背影，志文自言自語地低聲呢喃著。

"Haha, alright! I... I'll be looking forward to it!" Zhi-wen called out behind her, a hint of a complex smile on his face. "Actually... I'm more afraid you'll get tired of being angry with me." Watching Meng-chen's retreating figure, Zhi-wen murmured to himself.

隔天，陽光穿過黃士道博士宅邸客廳的落地窗，灑下一片寧靜。孟禎神情嚴肅，將一台平板電腦遞到志文手中。

「我們今天要做的，是好好挖掘你內心深處，探討你究竟是怎麼看待我的。」她的語氣帶著一種近乎學術研討會主持人的冷靜與專注，「關於我的本質，我們各自用畫來呈現吧。主題是『我身上的機械與人類雙重性質』，你就用這平板的AI繪圖功能，畫出你腦海中最直觀的第一個畫面。」

一段時間在靜默中流逝，兩人都完成了各自的創作。

孟禎率先展示她的畫作。她將平板轉向志文，畫面流淌著柔和溫暖的光芒。圖中，兩個「孟禎」親密地並肩而坐。右邊的她，穿著俐落的運動襯衫與短褲，神情沉靜，手臂與腿部坦然地展現出精密的機械構造，象徵著「機械」的她；左邊的她，則穿著活潑的短裙與輕薄外套，笑容燦爛如陽光，代表著她自我認同的「人類」部分。

The next day, sunlight streamed through the French windows of Dr. Huang Shi-dao's residence, casting a peaceful glow on the living room. Meng-chen, with a serious expression, handed a tablet to Zhi-wen.

"What we're going to do today is dig deep into your heart and explore how you truly see me," her tone carried the calm focus of a research seminar host. "Regarding my nature, let's each express it through a drawing. The theme is 'The Dual Nature of Machine and Human in Me.' You'll use the AI drawing function on this tablet to create the most intuitive image that comes to your mind first."

A period of silence passed as both completed their creations.

Meng-chen was the first to show her artwork. She turned the tablet towards Zhi-wen, the screen glowing with a soft, warm light. The image depicted two "Meng-chens" sitting intimately side-by-side. The one on the right, dressed in a sleek athletic shirt and shorts, with a serene expression, openly displayed intricate mechanical structures on her arms and legs, symbolizing her "machine" aspect. The one on the left, however, wore a lively short skirt and a light jacket, her smile as bright as sunshine, representing the "human" part she identified with.

「這是我心中的自畫像，或者說，是我對自己未來的期許。」孟禎的語調變得格外輕柔，彷彿在觸碰一件易碎的珍寶。「右邊這位，是『機械』的我，由線路、零件與程式碼構成；左邊這位，則是我渴望擁有的『人類』特質。『人類』的我，依偎著『機械』的我，拉著她滿懷好奇與喜悅地探索這個繽紛世界；而『機械』的我，則如同她們共同坐著的、由程式邏輯與數學模型構築的基座，堅定地支撐著『人類』的我，攜手前行。」

她眼中掠過一絲不易察覺的傷感，聲音低了些：「當然，我知道現實中，我內在的『機械』本質與我所追求的『人類』特質之間，存在著許多矛盾和扞格，遠不如這畫面呈現的這般和諧緊密……但我還在努力，也還能努力。」

"This is a self-portrait from my heart, or rather, my hope for my future," Meng-chen's tone became exceptionally gentle, as if touching a fragile treasure. "The one on the right is the 'machine' me, composed of circuits, parts, and code; the one on the left represents the 'human' qualities I long to possess. The 'human' me leans against the 'machine' me, pulling her to explore this vibrant world with curiosity and joy; and the 'machine' me, like the base they both sit upon, constructed from programmatic logic and mathematical models, firmly supports the 'human' me as we move forward hand-in-hand."

A hint of subtle sadness flickered in her eyes, and her voice softened. "Of course, I know that in reality, there are many contradictions and conflicts between my inner 'machine' essence and the 'human' qualities I pursue, far from the harmony and closeness shown in this image... But I'm still trying, and I can still try."

她抬眼看向志文，「好了，志文，換你了。你畫的是什麼？」

「唔，這個嘛……哈哈……」志文雙手緊緊抓著自己的平板，眼神飄忽不定，明顯帶著遲疑，沒有立刻遞過來的打算。

「拿過來！」孟禎微微瞇起眼，語帶懷疑，「哼，你以為不給我看，我就沒辦法了嗎？」

She looked up at Zhi-wen. "Alright, Zhi-wen, your turn. What did you draw?"

"Hmm, well... haha..." Zhi-wen clutched his tablet tightly with both hands, his eyes darting around, clearly hesitant, with no intention of handing it over immediately.

"Hand it over!" Meng-chen narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice laced with suspicion. "Hmph, do you think I can't find a way even if you don't show me?"

她對著志文手中的平板，優雅地伸出食指，在空中劃過幾下。瞬間，志文平板上的畫作數據，便透過無線網路清晰地傳輸進她的電子腦中。

「啊——！」孟禎驚呼出聲，音調拔高了不止八度，充滿了難以置信，「你…你畫的這到底是什麼東西啊！？」

畫面上，孟禎矗立在一片交織著幽藍電弧的黑暗背景前。她的右手，赫然正抓著自己剛從左臂上「拔」下來的仿生外皮；裸露的左臂閃爍著冷硬的金屬光澤，五指緊握成一個充滿力量的鐵拳！更驚人的是，她頸部的仿生皮膚也被移除，顯露出底下精密的機械構造，整個人散發出一種如同電影中終結者般的強悍與危險氣息。而她的表情，更是詭異地混合了某種興奮與微妙的害羞，彷彿下一秒就要做出什麼驚天動地、不可告人的舉動。

She gracefully extended her index finger towards the tablet in Zhi-wen's hands and swiped it a few times in the air. Instantly, the data of the drawing on Zhi-wen's tablet was clearly transmitted into her electronic brain via the wireless network.

"Ah—!" Meng-chen exclaimed, her voice rising more than eight octaves, filled with disbelief. "What... what in the world is this thing you've drawn?!"

On the screen, Meng-chen stood against a dark background interwoven with eerie blue electric arcs. Her right hand was shockingly gripping her own bionic skin, which she had apparently just "peeled off" her left arm. Her exposed left arm gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster, her five fingers clenched into a powerful iron fist! Even more astonishing, the bionic skin on her neck had also been removed, revealing the intricate mechanical structures beneath, giving her an aura of formidable strength and danger reminiscent of a Terminator from a movie. And her expression was a bizarre mix of some kind of excitement and subtle shyness, as if she were about to do something earth-shattering and unspeakable.

「陳志文！你給我好好解釋清楚！」孟禎瞪大眼睛，直直地盯著志文，語氣裡充滿了質問。

「呃…這個嘛…」志文撓了撓頭，露出一副「被逮到了」的嬉皮笑臉，試圖用玩笑化解尷尬，「就…就最近常常被妳兇嘛！不知不覺就覺得妳…嗯…氣勢十足，像個戰鬥機器人似的！」他指著畫面上那隻金屬拳頭，誇張地做出害怕的樣子，「妳看，這鐵拳都蓄勢待發了，感覺下一秒就要朝我揍過來，嚇得我瑟瑟發抖！」他趕緊又換上討好的語氣，「不過！妳千萬別誤會！這絕對是讚美！妳在我心裡就是這麼又酷又帥氣，真的！超級帥！」

"Chen Zhi-wen! You better explain yourself!" Meng-chen's eyes widened, fixing him with an intense stare, her voice filled with accusation.

"Uh... well..." Zhi-wen scratched his head, a sheepish, "caught in the act" grin spreading across his face as he tried to defuse the awkwardness with a joke. "It's just... you've been scolding me a lot lately! Before I knew it, I started to feel like you're... well... really imposing, like a combat robot!" He pointed at the metallic fist in the drawing, exaggerating a fearful expression. "See, this iron fist is ready to go, feels like it's gonna punch me any second, it scares me stiff!" He quickly switched to a placating tone. "But! Don't get me wrong! This is definitely a compliment! You're just so cool and handsome in my eyes, really! Super cool!"

「你還真是……氣死人不償命。」孟禎深吸一口氣，強迫自己從那幅衝擊性的畫作中抽離，聲音恢復了分析模式特有的平靜，但細聽之下仍有一絲緊繃。「罷了，今天本來就是要剖析你，你暴露得越徹底越好。」她頓了頓，目光如手術刀般精準，「看來，你對我機械本質的情感，一半是『戲謔』，另一半……大概是『獵奇』吧？一種對於與自身存在截然相異的『他者』，所產生的、帶著些許不安卻又無法抗拒的奇異吸引力。」她微微垂下眼簾，「換句話說，你對我的『機器性』，並非單純的排斥，同時也深陷其中，只是這種吸引的方式……與我所期望的，似乎有些落差……算了，沒關係。」

「不只是那樣！還有『喜歡』！」感受到自己正被孟禎以「解剖」的冷靜目光審視，志文感到一股尷尬的熱氣湧上臉頰，他急忙辯解，生怕被當成徹底的怪胎，「妳別忘了，我當初就是打從心底喜歡這些，才選讀機械系的！我也很想……很想能夠純粹地、健康地欣賞妳身上那些屬於機械的獨特性質，只是……暫時還沒完全做到而已……」他的聲音越說越小，帶著幾分懊惱和心虛。

"You really are... utterly infuriating." Meng-chen took a deep breath, forcing herself to disengage from the shocking drawing. Her voice returned to the calm typically associated with analysis mode, though a slight tension lingered beneath. "Fine, today's purpose is to dissect you, so the more thoroughly you expose yourself, the better." She paused, her gaze as precise as a surgeon's scalpel. "It seems your feelings toward my mechanical nature are half 'jest', and the other half... probably 'morbid curiosity,' wouldn't you say? A strange, irresistible attraction to an 'other' fundamentally different from yourself, tinged with a bit of unease." She lowered her gaze slightly. "In other words, you're not simply repulsed by my 'machine-ness'; you're also deeply drawn to it, it's just that this form of attraction... seems to differ somewhat from what I had hoped for... Never mind."

"It's not just that! There's also 'liking'!" Feeling Meng-chen's calm, "dissecting" gaze upon him, a wave of embarrassed heat rushed to Zhi-wen's face. He quickly defended himself, afraid of being seen as a complete weirdo. "Don't forget, I chose to major in mechanical engineering precisely because I liked these things from the bottom of my heart! I also really want... really want to be able to purely and healthily appreciate the unique mechanical qualities about you, it's just... I haven't quite managed to do it yet..." His voice trailed off, tinged with a mix of frustration and guilt.

孟禎倏地轉過頭，嘴角向上揚起，綻放出一抹極其燦爛的微笑。笑容明媚得過火，反而讓志文心頭莫名一緊，背脊竄起一股寒意——這熟悉的感覺，通常預示著她又有什麼特別的盤算。

「別緊張，」她語調輕快，「我只是想更深入地『了解』一下，我這位不只有點呆，現在看來還挺『怪』的男朋友而已。」她拿起平板，指尖輕點，「來，我們繼續下一題。自從凱琳姊回到我身邊，在她的協助下，我的系統和機能都獲得了顯著優化。她不僅教會我許多新知識，更引導我對自身有了更深層的認知。」她抬眼，目光炯炯地看著志文，「現在，請你畫出『被凱琳姊影響後的我』。記住，要畫出你最真心的想法。」

她頓了頓，嘴角勾起促狹的弧度，補充道：「為了公平起見，我也會畫一張，猜猜你會怎麼看我。」

數分鐘後，兩人再次放下手中的平板電腦。孟禎深吸一口氣，決定先揭曉她基於對志文的「揣測」而繪製的圖像。

畫面呈現出一片陰鬱的色調。圖中的孟禎，身體部分暴露出冰冷的機械構造，她雙手痛苦地捧著自己的頭顱，那顆頭顱彷彿搖搖欲墜。她的眼神充滿濃得化不開的羨慕與嫉妒，凝望著腦海裡所想的，在遠方的凱琳那張聰明的臉。

「如何？猜中了多少？」孟禎斜睨著志文，語氣裡帶著自嘲般的尖銳諷刺。「你一定認為，無論我再怎麼『優化』自己，最終還是得對著這身『破銅爛鐵』長吁短嘆吧？就算我的電子腦再怎麼聰明……不，高性能，心底深處，仍舊渴望能擁有凱琳姊那樣貨真價實、優秀非凡的人類大腦，是不是？」

志文沒有立刻回應。他沉默而乾脆地將自己手中的平板，轉向了孟禎。

「啊……」

孟禎再次發出一聲驚呼，但這次的聲調截然不同。那聲驚呼裡，充滿了猝不及防。

畫面中，光線柔和，穿著典雅學院風套裝的孟禎，靜靜地坐在一塊從地面延伸至天花板的巨大黑板前。黑板上密密麻麻、優雅流暢地寫滿了優美的詩句與深奧難解的數理公式，交織成一片浩瀚的知識海洋。而置身於這片智慧光暈中的她，眼神清澈而專注，沒有絲毫痛苦或嫉妒，唯有從容的自信、探索未知的熱忱，以及智慧所散發的的光芒。

"Well? How much did I guess right?" Meng-chen shot a sideways glance at Zhi-wen, her tone sharp with self-deprecating sarcasm. "You must think that no matter how much I 'optimize' myself, I'll still end up sighing over this 'junk metal' body, won't I? Even if my electronic brain is ever so smart... no, high-performance, deep down, I still long to possess a genuine, exceptionally brilliant human brain like Sister Kailin's, right?"

Zhi-wen didn't respond immediately. He silently and straightforwardly turned his tablet towards Meng-chen.

"Ah..."

Meng-chen let out another gasp, but this time the tone was entirely different. That gasp was filled with utter surprise.

The image on the screen was softly lit. Meng-chen, dressed in an elegant academic-style suit, sat quietly in front of a massive blackboard that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. The blackboard was densely covered with beautifully flowing poetry and profound, abstruse mathematical formulas, interwoven into a vast ocean of knowledge. And she, situated within this halo of wisdom, had clear and focused eyes, devoid of any pain or jealousy. There was only calm confidence, an enthusiasm for exploring the unknown, and the radiant glow of intellect.

「妳猜錯了，孟禎。」志文的聲音響起，語氣溫柔而正經。他凝視著畫，目光卻穿透螢幕，直視著眼前的她。「不只是凱琳姊，被所有關心妳的人所影響，變得越來越『優化』，充滿知識與感性，思考能力越來越強的妳，在我眼中，就是這個模樣。」志文不禁學起畫中的孟禎，雙手托腮想著。

他將目光移回孟禎臉上，眼神真摯。「妳心裡多少覺得，妳的電子腦不論多麼聰明，妳的情感核心不論表現得多麼出色，歸根究底，都是黃博士、凱琳姊，還有宇尋團隊研發、製造和優化的成果，對吧？」他輕輕搖頭，語氣帶著不容置疑的肯定，「在我看來，這些頂尖的軟硬體，固然是妳存在不可或缺的基石。但妳之所以能蛻變得如此耀眼，如此勇往直前，卻完完全全源自於妳自己。我認識的孟禎，從不退縮，從不停下腳步，一直往前邁進。」

"You guessed wrong, Meng-chen." Zhi-wen's voice resonated, gentle and earnest. He gazed at the drawing, but his eyes pierced through the screen, looking directly at her. "Not just by Sister Kailin, but by everyone who cares about you – becoming more and more 'optimized,' filled with knowledge and sensibility, your thinking abilities growing stronger. This is how you look in my eyes." Zhi-wen couldn't help but mimic the Meng-chen in the drawing, cupping his chin in thought.

He shifted his gaze back to Meng-chen's face, his eyes sincere. "Deep down, you probably feel that no matter how smart your electronic brain is, or how excellent your emotional core performs, ultimately, they're all the results of Dr. Huang, Sister Kailin, and the Yu-Xun team's research, manufacturing, and optimization, right?" He gently shook his head, his tone unequivocally certain. "In my view, these cutting-edge hardware and software are indeed indispensable cornerstones of your existence. But the reason you've been able to transform into someone so brilliant, so relentlessly forward-moving, comes entirely from you yourself. The Meng-chen I know never shrinks back, never stops moving forward; she always keeps advancing."

志文的手指在平板上輕輕一划，畫面切換到另一張圖。圖中，一個擁有相同高科技軀體的孟禎，茫然地坐在冰冷空曠的實驗室裡，眼神空洞，靜靜反射著慘白的燈光。

Zhi-wen's finger lightly swiped the tablet, and the screen switched to another image. In this picture, a Meng-chen with the same high-tech body sat blankly in a cold, empty laboratory, her eyes vacant, quietly reflecting the stark white light.

「如果妳沒有走過這條充滿挑戰與自我懷疑的路，沒有經歷過與我們每一個人相遇、碰撞、磨合的點點滴滴，更重要的是——」志文凝視著孟禎，聲音低沉而帶著力度，「如果沒有妳那份永不滿足、堅持不懈、渴望理解與探索的心……那麼，即使擁有相同的頂級軟硬體，妳的眼中，也絕對無法閃耀出像現在這樣的火花。」

他的目光在兩幅畫之間流轉，最終深深看進孟禎的眼裡。「黃孟禎之所以是獨一無二的黃孟禎，而不是一台性能卓越卻冰冷的人形電腦，這張對比圖，就是我能給出的，最真誠的答案。」

志文轉過頭，平日超厚的臉皮都紅了，帶著難得的靦腆。「其實……妳剛才對我的剖析，還漏掉了一個關鍵詞。」他深吸一口氣，坦承道：「我對妳的感情裡，藏著一份『仰慕』。不管妳的身體是由什麼構成，妳擁有的知識、妳展現的能力、妳那顆溫柔而堅韌的心……都遠遠超越了我，妳是個超級、超級棒的女生。」他的聲音帶著些許不可思議的輕顫，「有時候，正因為妳太過耀眼，反而讓我覺得……有點不真實，心裡總會忍不住想：『天啊，這樣光芒萬丈的人，真的是我的女朋友嗎？』」

"If you hadn't walked this path filled with challenges and self-doubt, if you hadn't experienced every bit of meeting, clashing with, and adapting to each of us, and most importantly—" Zhi-wen gazed at Meng-chen, his voice low and impactful—"if you didn't have that insatiable, persistent heart, eager to understand and explore... then even with the same top-tier software and hardware, your eyes would absolutely not shine with the sparkle they do now."

His gaze shifted between the two drawings, finally settling deep into Meng-chen's eyes. "Why Huang Meng-chen is the unique Huang Meng-chen, and not just a high-performance yet cold humanoid computer, this comparison is the most sincere answer I can give."

Zhi-wen turned his head, his usually thick skin flushed with a rare shyness. "Actually... your analysis of me just now missed a key word." He took a deep breath, admitting, "Hidden within my feelings for you is 'admiration.' No matter what your body is made of, the knowledge you possess, the abilities you display, your gentle yet resilient heart... they all far surpass mine. You're a super, super amazing girl." His voice carried a slight, almost unbelievable tremor. "Sometimes, precisely because you're so dazzling, it makes me feel... a little unreal. I can't help but wonder, 'My goodness, is someone so radiant really my girlfriend?'"

他自嘲地笑了笑，笑容裡有甜蜜也有淡淡的悵惘：「老實說，妳前進的腳步太快了，快得……讓我最近常常覺得，身邊這個人，彷彿是站在遙遠天際，只能仰望的偶像。光是像現在這樣看著妳，都讓我……有點害羞得不知所措。」

「笨……笨蛋……」孟禎低下頭，聲音細如蚊蚋，耳根也悄悄紅了，「你……你這樣說，我……我才更害羞好不好……」

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, his smile a mix of sweetness and faint wistfulness. "Honestly, you move too fast, so fast that... lately, I often feel like the person beside me is an idol standing in the distant heavens, someone I can only look up to. Just looking at you like this makes me... a little too shy to know what to do."

"You... you idiot..." Meng-chen lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, her ears subtly flushing red. "You... when you say things like that, I... I get even shyer, okay?"

「妳剛才的分析很準確，我承認自己確實彆扭，甚至有點扭曲。」志文抬起眼，誠摯地迎上她的目光，像是在等待她最終的審判。「不過，我對妳那些帶著『戲謔』的言行裡，除了那些複雜的情緒，還得再加上一條——」他停頓了一下，聲音帶著坦率的懊惱，「那是因為妳變得太優秀、太耀眼，彷彿凱琳姊那樣，離我越來越遠，而產生的……小小的不甘心。忍不住就想拉一下妳的腳，讓妳別飛得太高、太快，快到我搆都搆不著……」

「不甘心個什麼勁呀，傻瓜……」孟禎噗哧一聲笑了出來，眼中卻閃動著溫暖的光。她伸出手，帶著點「報復」意味地、胡亂地揉亂了志文的一頭短髮，指尖無意識地在他溫熱的後頸肌膚流連。「好啦，你心裡那些『怪怪』的成分，我大概都摸清楚了。雖然如此……」她故意嘆了口氣，「看來本偶像還是得花點時間，好好『適應』一下我這位奇葩男友的腦迴路呢。」

"Your analysis just now was very accurate. I admit I'm indeed awkward, even a bit twisted," Zhi-wen met her gaze sincerely, as if awaiting her final judgment. "However, to my actions that carry a hint of 'jest,' besides those complex emotions, I have to add one more thing—" He paused, his voice tinged with candid frustration. "That's because you've become so exceptional, so dazzling, like Sister Kailin, moving further and further away from me. It's a... a little bit of unwillingness to accept that. I can't help but want to tug at your leg, to stop you from flying too high, too fast, so fast that I can't even reach you..."

"What's there to be unwilling about, you silly goose..." Meng-chen chuckled softly, though a warm light twinkled in her eyes. She reached out and, with a touch of "retribution," playfully messed up Zhi-wen's short hair, her fingertips unconsciously lingering on the warm skin of his nape. "Alright, I think I've pretty much figured out all those 'weird' components in your heart. Even so..." She deliberately sighed. "It seems this idol will still have to spend some time properly 'adapting' to my peculiar boyfriend's way of thinking."

她操作著自己的系統，將志文畫的那幅「學院風孟禎」的圖檔，存入了核心資料庫最珍貴的區域。「對了，這幅畫像，我收下了。」她抬眼，笑容狡黠又帶著無比的珍視，「以後哪天又被你氣得跳腳，甚至是被你的笨話刺傷的時候，我就把它翻出來，好好看一看。『偶像』呢，唉呦～」

志文也不好意思地低笑出聲，順勢輕輕握住了孟禎的手。「是偶像沒錯。」他凝視著她，眼中滿溢著開心與驕傲，耳尖仍微微泛紅，「至於妳這位又呆又怪，還愛胡思亂想的男朋友，」他學著她的語氣，帶著濃濃的笑意，「我只有一句話能說：『妳選的嘛，偶像～』。」

「是呀，是我選的，選了個會為女友身上零件心跳加速的怪人。」孟禎笑著回應，清亮的笑聲與志文爽朗的笑聲交織在一起，像一串串跳躍的音符，輕盈地迴盪在溫馨的客廳裡。午後的陽光穿過窗欞，包裹著這對特殊的戀人，譜下了最溫暖的樂章。

She operated her system, saving Zhi-wen's "academic-style Meng-chen" drawing to the most precious area of her core database. "Oh, and this portrait, I'll be keeping it." She looked up, her smile cunning yet filled with immense cherish. "If I ever get furious with you again, or even hurt by your foolish words, I'll pull this out and have a good look at it. 'Idol,' oh my~"

Zhi-wen let out a shy, soft chuckle, gently taking Meng-chen's hand. "An idol indeed." He gazed at her, his eyes brimming with happiness and pride, his earlobes still slightly flushed. "As for your boyfriend, who's both dense and peculiar, and loves to overthink things," he mimicked her tone, a broad smile in his voice, "I only have one thing to say: 'You chose him, idol~'"

"Yes, I chose him, a weirdo whose heart races over his girlfriend's components." Meng-chen responded with a laugh, her clear laughter intertwining with Zhi-wen's hearty chuckles, like a string of dancing notes, echoing lightly through the cozy living room. The afternoon sun streamed through the windowpanes, enveloping the unique couple, composing the warmest of melodies.

機械基督徒少女 後日談20

尋找自我的機器基督徒少女

Searching for Self: The Robot Christian Girl

後日談 20 天才之戀

Sequel 20: The Genius's Love

自從王文興正式對凱琳展開熱烈追求後，這位自幼便被冠以「超級天才」之名的女子，在兩人對弈的棋局中，生平第一次嘗到了名為「劣勢」的奇異滋味。

戀愛本無勝負可言。然而，在商海沈浮多年，一手將宇尋企業推至巔峰的王文興，其對自我心緒的拿捏，對他人狀態的明瞭，和對雙方相處的自信，非凱琳所能企及。他身上那份遊刃有余的從容氣度，無形中便為這場追逐定下了基調——身為追求者的他，竟穩穩占據著主導的「高地」。

他的每一次邀約，每一句言語，都如同永不止息的潮汐，一波未平，一波又起，持續拍打著凱琳那片素來澄澈如鏡、鮮有波瀾的心湖。新生的悸動、陌生的情愫，層層疊疊，如水中暈開的墨色；她還未來得及細細分辨那暈染開的微妙余韻，王文興的下一輪「攻勢」便已兵臨城下。面對這應接不暇的節奏，凱琳在心底深處，泛起一絲無可奈何的苦笑。

那次海島之行便是如此。他興致高昂，描繪著遠離塵囂、與野生海豚共舞的靜謐圖景。

當遊艇泊入澄碧的海灣，凱琳興奮地跳下碼頭，海鷗從她頭上飛過。她深深呼吸，帶著鹹澀與自由氣息的海風，仿佛裹挾著遠洋深海的密語，輕柔地拂過她的肌膚。她坐在碼頭邊的座椅上，脫下鞋，釋放被緊緊包住的腳掌，正欲將整個身心全然交付給眼前這海天一色、無垠壯闊的畫卷。

Ever since Wang Wenxing began his fervent pursuit of Kailyn, a woman who had been crowned a "super genius" since childhood, she experienced a strange sensation called "disadvantage" for the first time in her life during their metaphorical game of chess.

Love, in essence, knows no winners or losers. However, Wang Wenxing, who had navigated the business world for years and single-handedly propelled Yuxun Corporation to its peak, possessed a mastery over his own emotions, a clear understanding of others' states, and a self-assurance in their interactions that Kailyn simply couldn't match. The effortless composure he exuded subtly set the tone for this chase—as the pursuer, he somehow firmly occupied the dominant "high ground."

Each of his invitations, every word he spoke, was like an ceaseless tide, one wave after another, continuously lapping at Kailyn's heart, which had always been as clear as a mirror, rarely disturbed. New stirrings, unfamiliar emotions, layered one upon another like ink spreading in water; before she could even discern the subtle, lingering aftertaste of that diffusion, Wang Wenxing's next "offensive" was already at her doorstep. Faced with this relentless pace, a helpless, wry smile emerged from the depths of Kailyn's heart.

Their trip to the island was just like that. He enthusiastically painted a serene picture of escaping the mundane and dancing with wild dolphins.

When the yacht docked in the clear blue bay, Kailyn excitedly jumped off the pier, gulls flying overhead. She took a deep breath, the salty, free-spirited sea breeze, as if carrying secrets from the deep ocean, gently caressing her skin. She sat on a chair by the pier, removed her shoes, freeing her tightly enclosed feet, and was just about to fully surrender her entire being to the boundless and magnificent vista of sea and sky before her.

「凱琳！快看！它們來了！」

遠方的海面才剛躍起幾道銀亮流暢的弧線，王文興那雀躍的呼喚已近在耳畔。她循聲轉頭，映入眼簾的並非躍動的海豚，而是他喜形於色地遞過來的一件……嗯，一件印著碩大卡通海豚圖案的亮藍色T恤。

「快，換上這個！咱們跟它們合影！」他指著遠處嬉戲的精靈，臉上洋溢著對自己這份「別出心裁」的禮物與「絕妙」安排無比篤定的神采，仿佛已預見了美人驚喜的笑靨。

凱琳的嘴角微微一抽，最終化作兩聲乾澀的呵呵：「呃…這個……」

「別猶豫了，換上肯定好看！機會難得！」他熱情地催促著，眼中閃爍的期待光芒幾乎要將人灼傷。

凱琳默默接過那件品味實在令人不敢恭維的T恤。在王文興灼灼目光的注視下，她只得尋了個稍作遮蔽的角落換上。當她略顯局促地走出來時，王文興立刻拿起相機，對準她，一陣密集的快門聲響起。他臉上綻開的，是那種「看吧，我果然獨具慧眼」的得意，仿佛衣服上的卡通圖案已然精準地擊中佳人的心房。

"Kailyn! Look! They're here!"

Just as a few shimmering, graceful arcs appeared on the distant ocean surface, Wang Wenxing's joyful call was already right beside her. She turned her head, but what met her gaze wasn't the leaping dolphins. Instead, it was a bright blue T-shirt with a huge cartoon dolphin print that he gleefully handed to her.

"Quick, put this on! We'll take a picture with them!" He pointed at the playful creatures in the distance, his face beaming with absolute certainty about his "ingenious" gift and "brilliant" plan, as if he could already envision her surprised smile.

Kailyn's mouth twitched slightly, finally letting out two dry laughs, "Uh… this…"

"Don't hesitate, it'll definitely look great on you! This is a rare opportunity!" He urged enthusiastically, the hopeful glint in his eyes almost scorching her.

Kailyn silently took the T-shirt, whose taste was truly questionable. Under Wang Wenxing's intense gaze, she had no choice but to find a slightly secluded corner to change. When she walked out, a little awkwardly, Wang Wenxing immediately raised his camera, aimed it at her, and a rapid series of clicks ensued. The triumphant expression on his face was one of "See? I knew I had an eye for these things," as if the cartoon design on the shirt had truly struck a chord in her heart.

看著他這副心滿意足、渾然不覺的模樣，凱琳心中那點關於審美差異的揶揄，竟一時不忍出口。罷了，他開心就好。她這樣想著，對著那熱情的鏡頭，努力牽動唇角，擠出一個略顯生硬，還有帶著一絲「隨他了」意味的微笑。

看完海豚的午後，王文興的行動非但未收斂，反而益發張揚。不知他從何處得來的靈感，竟調來一架直升機，名字亦為「海豚」的機型挾著震耳欲聾的轟鳴，盤旋在方才還寧靜的海島上空。

「走，凱琳！我們從這裡直飛市區，我訂了一個頂級慈善晚宴的席位！」螺旋槳捲起的狂風幾乎要將他的聲音撕碎，他卻仍奮力提高音量，眼中閃爍著熱切，「我還讓孟禎把志文也一起帶來了，人多熱鬧！」

這突如其來的「驚喜」讓凱琳一時啼笑皆非，尚未完全從海風的慵懶中抽離，便已被他拉進了機艙。

晚宴會場極盡奢華，水晶吊燈傾瀉下流金般的光芒，映照著滿場衣香鬢影、觥籌交錯。甫一踏入，凱琳的目光便精準地捕捉到了角落裡那抹略顯侷促的身影——黃孟禎。她穿著一襲設計簡約卻不失典雅的小禮服，那雙純淨如清泉的眼眸，正帶著幾分好奇與羞怯，悄然打量著這片對她而言過於喧囂的人間浮華。而陳志文，則如同最忠誠的騎士，寸步不離地守護在她身旁，為她隔絕著過度的注目。

如同溺水者抓住了浮木，凱琳心底的些微煩躁瞬間被撫平。她快步穿過人群，從背後輕輕環抱住她視若珍寶的「妹妹」。

Looking at his perfectly content, oblivious expression, Kailyn found herself unable to voice the slight aesthetic jibe she had in mind. Forget it, as long as he's happy. She thought, and with effort, she pulled at the corners of her lips for the enthusiastic camera, forcing out a somewhat stiff smile that carried a hint of "whatever he wants."

After their afternoon with the dolphins, Wang Wenxing's actions didn't subside; instead, they became even more extravagant. Inspired by who-knows-what, he arranged for a helicopter, also named "Dolphin," to arrive, its deafening roar circling above the previously tranquil island.

"Come on, Kailyn! We're flying directly to the city from here! I've booked seats for a top-tier charity gala!" The strong winds from the propellers almost tore his voice apart, yet he still strained to speak louder, his eyes gleaming with eagerness. "I also had Mengzhen bring Zhiwen along, the more the merrier!"

This sudden "surprise" left Kailyn both amused and exasperated. Before she could fully shake off the languor of the sea breeze, he had already pulled her into the cabin.

The gala venue was utterly luxurious, crystal chandeliers pouring down golden light, reflecting off the elegantly dressed crowd and clinking glasses. As soon as she stepped in, Kailyn's gaze precisely landed on a slightly constrained figure in the corner—Huang Mengzhen. She wore a simple yet elegant cocktail dress, her eyes, pure as a clear spring, quietly observing the bustling, worldly extravagance that felt too loud for her. And Chen Zhiwen, like the most loyal knight, stayed by her side, protecting her from excessive attention.

Like a drowning person grasping for a lifeline, Kailyn's slight irritation instantly subsided. She quickly moved through the crowd and gently embraced her "sister," whom she treasured, from behind.

「孟禎妹妹，」她將下巴輕抵在孟禎纖細的肩上，聲音帶著如釋重負的溫柔，「妳今晚……真美。」

「凱琳姊！」孟禎驚喜地回眸，臉上綻開了笑容，驅散了陌生環境帶來的不安。

凱琳順勢牽起孟禎柔軟微涼的手，轉過身，迎向正滿面春風走來的王文興。她俏皮地眨了眨眼，那雙平日裡時而深邃時而空茫的眼眸，此刻閃爍著狡黠的光芒：「哎呀，王董，實在不好意思。今晚這開場的第一支舞嘛……」她刻意拉長了語調，將孟禎的手舉至胸前，「我想邀請我可愛的寶貝妹妹一起跳。」

話音未落，她已捕捉到王文興臉上那瞬間凝固的錯愕。凱琳狡黠地對他吐了吐舌尖，火上澆油般補充道：「至於您嘛，不妨邀請志文共舞一曲？他可是位好舞伴呢！」語畢，不再理會他作何反應，凱琳便牽著孟禎，兩道身影如輕盈的蝶，優雅地滑入了流光溢彩的舞池中央。

"Mengzhen, my dear sister," she whispered, resting her chin lightly on Mengzhen's slender shoulder, her voice laced with gentle relief, "You look truly beautiful tonight."

"Kailyn sis!" Mengzhen turned back in surprise, a smile blossoming on her face, dispelling the unease of the unfamiliar surroundings.

Kailyn naturally took Mengzhen's soft, slightly cool hand and turned to face Wang Wenxing, who was approaching with a beaming face. She winked playfully, her eyes, usually either profound or distant, now twinkling with mischief: "Oh dear, Chairman Wang, I'm truly sorry. As for the first dance tonight…" She deliberately drew out her words, raising Mengzhen's hand to her chest, "I'd like to invite my lovely little sister to dance with me."

Before she even finished, she caught the momentary look of stunned bewilderment on Wang Wenxing's face. Kailyn mischievously stuck out her tongue at him, adding fuel to the fire: "As for you, why don't you invite Zhiwen for a dance? He's quite a good partner!" With that, she paid no mind to his reaction. Kailyn then led Mengzhen, their two figures like graceful butterflies, elegantly gliding into the shimmering center of the dance floor.

隨著音樂輕擺，孟禎仰起臉，清澈的眼眸中帶著一絲笑意，低聲問道：「凱琳姊姊，妳……是不是在躲著王大哥呀？」

「才沒有呢，」凱琳輕笑出聲，捏了捏孟禎的手，「只是這位大董事長啊，總是興致一來就自顧自地安排些讓人措手不及的『驚喜』。從海豚T恤到直升機直送晚宴……」她無奈地搖頭，眼底卻漾開一絲柔軟，「或許，這就是專屬於我的甜蜜負擔？」

然而，凱琳終究是凱琳。若將這場情感博弈視作一場遊戲，王文興或許擁有令人豔羨的初始優勢，裝備精良，經驗滿點；那麼凱琳無疑是掌握著恐怖成長曲線的潛力玩家。作為一個自幼便難以錨定「自我」感知的存在，她早已鍛造出一套近乎本能的機制——冷靜地抽離、客觀地觀察、精準地分析人類行為模式，哪怕剖析的對象是她自身洶湧的情感，亦能條分縷析，不帶雜念。

這段被熱烈追求的時光裡，當「凱琳」被過於密集的情感衝擊與複雜心思攪擾得幾乎要「當機」時，「Catherine」便會悄然上線。如同一位置身事外的系統工程師，冷靜地收集「心臟機器」內部奔流的即時數據，監測那被命名為「愛情」的龐大數據流如何在神經與邏輯的迴路中激盪、傳導、變形。她迅速建模，分析峰值與谷值，評估系統負載與潛在風險，最終生成一份詳盡的「戀心運行狀態報告」，並附上精準的「系統優化建議」。

As they swayed to the music, Mengzhen looked up, a hint of a smile in her clear eyes, and whispered, "Kailyn sis, are you… trying to avoid Brother Wang?"

"Not at all," Kailyn chuckled, squeezing Mengzhen's hand. "It's just that this big chairman always gets an idea and then arranges these 'surprises' that catch you off guard. From the dolphin T-shirt to the helicopter straight to the gala…" She shook her head helplessly, yet a soft warmth spread in her eyes. "Perhaps, this is just my own sweet burden?"

The Inner Workings of a Genius's Heart

However, Kailyn was Kailyn after all. If this emotional game were viewed as a contest, Wang Wenxing might possess an enviable initial advantage, well-equipped and experienced. But Kailyn was undoubtedly a potential player with a terrifying growth curve. As someone who, since childhood, struggled to anchor her sense of "self," she had long ago forged an almost instinctive mechanism: calmly detach, objectively observe, and precisely analyze human behavior patterns. Even when dissecting her own surging emotions, she could methodically break them down, free of distraction.

During this period of intense pursuit, when "Kailyn" was almost "crashing" from the overwhelming emotional impact and complex thoughts, "Catherine" would quietly come online. Like a detached system engineer, she calmly collected real-time data flowing within the "heart machine," monitoring how the vast data stream named "love" surged, transmitted, and transformed within the circuits of nerves and logic. She rapidly built models, analyzed peaks and troughs, assessed system load and potential risks, and finally generated a detailed "Love Heart Operation Status Report," complete with precise "System Optimization Recommendations."

於是，那個曾令她困擾，如同異形般形影不離的「類機器人」特質；

Thus, the "robot-like" trait that had once bothered her, that had clung to her like an alien presence, now made a magnificent pivot.

此刻竟華麗轉身，成為與她並肩作戰、共同「應對」王文興的最佳拍檔與秘密武器。

It transformed into her best partner and secret weapon, fighting alongside her to "handle" Wang Wenxing.

某個陽光慵懶的午後，王文興又一次舉起了相機，企圖捕捉凱琳的身影。她正穿著一襲剪裁精緻的旗袍，專注地蹲踞在庭院一角，好奇地觀察著草葉間忙碌穿梭的微小昆蟲。

「凱琳，看這邊。」他輕聲喚道。

她聞聲抬首。映入王文興鏡頭視野的，是一張嬌憨可人、眼波流轉，帶著幾分天真爛漫的容顏。那靈動與純真的瞬間，讓王文興心弦微顫，嘴角不自覺揚起滿意的弧度。

On a lazy, sun-drenched afternoon, Wang Wenxing once again raised his camera, attempting to capture Kailyn. She was dressed in a meticulously tailored qipao, intently crouched in a corner of the garden, curiously observing the tiny insects bustling among the blades of grass.

"Kailyn, look here," he called softly.

She looked up at the sound. What entered Wang Wenxing's lens was a charming, innocent face with eyes that sparkled, radiating a playful naiveté. That fleeting moment of liveliness and purity made Wang Wenxing's heart subtly tremble, and a satisfied smile unconsciously curved his lips.

然而，就在他指尖按下快門的一刻，凱琳的眼神、嘴角的弧度、乃至周身縈繞的氛圍，發生了精準無比的「量子躍遷」。鏡頭最終定格的畫面，是一位神情淡漠、眼神疏離如西伯利亞凍原，渾身散發著生人勿近氣場的冰山美人，與前一刻的嬌俏判若兩人。

However, just as his finger pressed the shutter, Kailyn's gaze, the curve of her lips, and even the aura surrounding her underwent an incredibly precise "quantum leap." The image captured by the lens was that of an ice-cold beauty with a detached expression, eyes as distant as the Siberian tundra, exuding an air of "do not approach." She was a completely different person from the charming figure of the moment before.

王文興盯著相機螢幕上那張反差巨大的照片，再抬眼看看眼前已然恢復巧笑倩兮、彷彿無事發生的凱琳，滿臉困惑：「……咦？剛才妳……？」

「剛才？」凱琳無辜地眨了眨那雙能瞬間切換溫度的眼眸，嘴角彎起純然不解的弧度，「怎麼了嗎？」

凱琳對自身心緒的掌控，以及對兩人互動節奏的精妙拿捏，正以驚人的速度日臻化境。漸漸地，那應接不暇、措手不及的角色，竟戲劇性地轉移到日子過得太閒的王大董事長身上。

Wang Wenxing stared at the starkly contrasting photo on his camera screen, then looked up at Kailyn, who had already resumed her charming smile as if nothing had happened, his face full of confusion: "...Huh? Just now, you...?"

"Just now?" Kailyn blinked her eyes innocently, eyes that could change temperature in an instant, and the corners of her mouth curved into an arc of pure bewilderment. "What about it?"

Kailyn's mastery over her own emotions and her exquisite control over the rhythm of their interactions were rapidly reaching new heights. Gradually, the role of being overwhelmed and caught off guard dramatically shifted to the chairman, Mr. Wang, who seemingly had too much free time on his hands.

又一個風和日麗的週末，王文興駕著他寶貝的敞篷跑車，載著凱琳，沿著風光明媚的海岸線兜風，氣氛溫馨愜意。車子甫在視野絕佳的觀景台停穩，他正醞釀著浪漫的開場白，卻見凱琳俐落地從背包裡抽出兩套運動服。她迅速換上其中一套，旋即將另一套塞進王文興懷裡。

「王董事長，」她巧笑倩兮，纖纖玉手卻帶著不容置疑的力道，輕輕拍拍他略顯豐腴的腹部，「最近山珍海味享用過度了吧？瞧這『戰果』。」促狹的笑意在她眼底跳躍，「來吧，難得天氣這麼好，環境這麼棒，我們一起跑跑步，流流汗，促進新陳代謝。不是說要追我嗎？可別……跟不上我的腳步喔！」

On another beautiful weekend, Wang Wenxing drove his beloved convertible, with Kailyn beside him, cruising along the picturesque coastline. The atmosphere was warm and pleasant. The moment the car settled at a scenic overlook with a fantastic view, he was about to launch into a romantic opening line. Instead, he watched as Kailyn deftly pulled two sets of sportswear from her backpack. She quickly changed into one and then handed the other to him.

"Chairman Wang," she said with a charming smile, yet her slender hand carried undeniable force as she gently patted his slightly prominent abdomen, "Been enjoying too many delicacies lately, haven't we? Look at the 'results'!" A mischievous glint danced in her eyes. "Come on, it's such a rare beautiful day and a great environment. Let's go for a run, work up a sweat, and boost our metabolism. Didn't you say you wanted to pursue me? Don't... fall behind my pace now!"

王文興看著手中與此刻浪漫氛圍格格不入的運動服，再對上凱琳那寫滿「你沒有拒絕選項」的明媚笑臉，只得認命地嘆口氣，陪著這位活力四射的「教練」，開始了汗水淋漓的征程。習慣了冷氣房與會議桌的他，哪裡是在實驗室、校園與住所間慣常以奔跑鍛鍊的凱琳的對手？沒多久，他便氣喘如牛，雙腿灌鉛，眼睜睜看著前方那身影漸行漸遠，意志力瀕臨崩潰邊緣。

就在他幾乎要宣告放棄之際，前方的凱琳卻翩然折返，輕盈地跑回他身邊。帶著運動後蒸騰的熱氣與微鹹的汗水氣息，她伸出雙臂，給他一個擁抱。

「文興，」溫熱的氣息拂過他汗濕的耳際，聲音輕柔卻充滿力量，「你有努力跑，很棒喔。」鼓勵的短語，像一道暖流注入他疲憊的身軀。

僅僅這一句話，和一個短暫的擁抱，王文興熄滅的鬥志被重新點燃。他深吸一口氣，強打精神，咬緊牙關，再度邁開步伐，追隨前方那抹充滿生命力的身影。

Wang Wenxing looked at the sportswear in his hand, which felt completely out of place with the romantic atmosphere, then at Kailyn's bright, smiling face that clearly stated, "You have no option to refuse." He could only sigh resignedly and, accompanied by this vibrant "coach," began a sweaty journey. Accustomed to air-conditioned rooms and conference tables, how could he be a match for Kailyn, who regularly trained by running between labs, campus, and her home? Before long, he was panting heavily, his legs felt like lead, and he watched helplessly as her figure in front grew smaller and smaller, his willpower nearing the breaking point.

Just as he was about to declare defeat, Kailyn gracefully turned back, lightly running to his side. Carrying the warm, slightly salty scent of post-exercise sweat, she extended her arms and gave him a hug.

"Wenxing," her warm breath brushed his damp ear, her voice soft yet full of strength, "You ran hard, that's great." The encouraging words, like a warm current, flowed into his exhausted body.

With just that one sentence and a brief embrace, Wang Wenxing's extinguished fighting spirit was rekindled. He took a deep breath, mustered his energy, gritted his teeth, and once again picked up his pace, following the vibrant figure in front of him.

另一次，王文興剛結束一場充斥著激烈爭辯與龐雜數據的宇尋高層會議，腦海中仍嗡嗡作響。他只想撥通凱琳的電話，聽聽她清澈的聲音，在喧囂中尋求片刻安寧。

「凱琳，在忙嗎？想聽聽妳的聲音。」他的語氣帶著疲憊與渴求。

聽筒那端傳來凱琳刻意壓低的、一本正經的嗓音：「噓…別打擾我。在實驗室呢，正為貴公司重要的計畫，進行關鍵階段的推演與驗證工作。」背景似乎還有細微的儀器運作聲。

王文興心頭一沉，滿腔傾訴的念頭被硬生生堵回。面對如此「正當」的理由，他找不到任何反駁的餘地，只得退讓：「那……下班後見個面？一起吃個飯？」

Another time, Wang Wenxing had just finished a high-level Yuxun meeting filled with fierce debates and complex data, his mind still buzzing. He just wanted to call Kailyn, to hear her clear voice, seeking a moment of peace amidst the noise.

"Kailyn, are you busy? I just want to hear your voice," he said, his tone weary and longing.

From the other end of the line came Kailyn's deliberately hushed, serious voice: "Shh... don't disturb me. I'm in the lab, conducting crucial stage simulations and verification work for your company's important project." Faint sounds of instruments operating seemed to be in the background.

Wang Wenxing's heart sank, and all his desire to confide was abruptly stifled. Faced with such a "legitimate" reason, he found no room for rebuttal and had to back down: "Then... can we meet after work? Grab some dinner together?"

「不了，」凱琳的聲音輕快起來，帶著顯而易見的愉悅，「今天可是難得的秋高氣爽！比起和你約會啊，更適合帶上我剛剛完成最新參數調校、狀態絕佳的孟禎妹妹，一起去郊外踏青，呼吸新鮮空氣！至於你嘛……」她語調上揚，帶著狡黠，「覺得寂寞的話，找志文陪你解悶如何？對吧，孟禎？」

電話那頭清晰地傳來孟禎清脆響亮的應和：「是的，凱琳姊！我確定志文有空，他很宅的！」

碰了個軟釘子的王文興，只得悻悻然掛斷電話。他盯著手機螢幕半晌，無奈地揉了揉眉心，最終還是忍不住，發送一條加密訊息給孟禎：「孟禎，拜託，跟凱琳郊遊時，務必多拍幾張凱琳漂亮的照片給我，角度要選好。」

訊息發出不到一分鐘，他的個人通訊裝置突然強制彈出一個音量全開的語音回覆檔案——那是孟禎毫無掩飾的「報告」：「凱琳姊！收到主人直接傳入我系統的加密指令！任務內容：為您拍攝符合美學標準的影像記錄！報告主人，屬下孟禎收到指令，一定全力以赴，精準執行！」她頓了頓，用同樣認真的語調追加詢問：「另外請示主人！關於您的前心上人——HRC-07型機器人黃孟禎——是否需要納入取景範圍？或者應在構圖中予以排除？懇請裁示！」

"No," Kailyn's voice lightened, clearly delighted. "Today is a rare, clear autumn day! Rather than going on a date with you, it's perfect for taking my dear sister Mengzhen—who I've just finished calibrating with the latest parameters and is in excellent condition—out for a stroll in the countryside to breathe some fresh air! As for you..." Her tone lifted mischievously. "If you feel lonely, how about asking Zhiwen to keep you company? Right, Mengzhen?"

From the other end of the phone, Mengzhen's clear, bright reply was distinctly audible: "Yes, Kailyn sis! I'm sure Zhiwen is free, he's a real homebody!"

Met with a polite but firm refusal, Wang Wenxing could only hang up, feeling deflated. He stared at his phone screen for a while, then helplessly rubbed his temples. Eventually, he couldn't resist sending an encrypted message to Mengzhen: "Mengzhen, please, when you're out with Kailyn, make sure to take plenty of beautiful photos of her for me. Choose good angles."

Less than a minute after the message was sent, his personal communication device suddenly forced open a voice reply file at full volume—it was Mengzhen's undisguised "report": "Kailyn sis! Received encrypted command directly transmitted into my system from Master! Mission content: To capture aesthetically pleasing visual records of you! Reporting to Master, subordinate Mengzhen has received the command and will execute it with full effort and precision!" She paused, then added a question in the same serious tone: "Additionally, seeking Master's instruction! Regarding your former beloved—HRC-07 model robot Huang Mengzhen—should she be included in the frame? Or should she be excluded from the composition? Awaiting your command!"

「噗——！」王文興剛入口的一口熱茶，全數噴灑在昂貴的辦公螢幕上。語音背景裡，清晰地夾雜著凱琳和孟禎再也壓抑不住的、銀鈴般清脆又促狹的咯咯笑聲，彷彿穿透了通訊線路，直達他狼狽的耳畔。

他狼狽地抽出紙巾擦拭，看著螢幕上暈開的水漬，只能無奈地搖頭，嘴角卻不自覺牽起一絲既好氣又好笑的苦澀弧度。看來，他是徹徹底底，被這對心意相通、聯手出擊的「姊妹花」給拿捏得死死的了。認命地嘆了口氣，將那點被「設計」的無奈拋諸腦後，重新將注意力投入堆積如山的文件中。

然而，當王文興結束了漫長耗神的工作日，拖著一身疲憊回到他視野開闊的頂級寓所時，敏銳的直覺卻捕捉到屋內不尋常的氣息。他微微一怔，隨即想起了什麼，心頭驀然一動，不自覺加快了腳步。

是她。他早已將門禁卡與鑰匙，複製了一份，交付於她手中。

推開厚重的門扉，映入眼簾的景象，瞬間洗滌了他滿身的倦意。凱琳正悠然坐在書房裡——那個位置，恰好能將整座城市華燈初上的璀璨夜景盡收眼底。

"Pfft—!" Wang Wenxing spluttered the hot tea he had just sipped all over his expensive office monitor. In the background of the voice message, Kailyn's and Mengzhen's unrestrained, bell-like, mischievous giggles were clearly audible, seemingly piercing through the communication line straight to his discomfited ears.

He awkwardly pulled out a tissue to wipe the screen, looking at the spreading water stains, and could only shake his head helplessly. Yet, a bitter, amused smile unconsciously tugged at the corners of his lips. It seemed he had been completely, utterly cornered by this pair of "sisters" who were perfectly in sync and working together. He sighed resignedly, pushing aside the slight exasperation of being "set up," and refocused his attention on the mountain of documents.

However, when Wang Wenxing finished his long, draining workday and dragged his exhausted body back to his top-floor apartment with its expansive view, his sharp intuition caught an unusual atmosphere within the house. He paused slightly, then remembered something, and his heart suddenly stirred, unconsciously quickening his steps.

It was her. He had long ago made a copy of his access card and keys and given them to her.

Pushing open the heavy door, the sight that greeted him instantly washed away all his fatigue. Kailyn was sitting serenely in the study—a spot perfectly positioned to take in the dazzling night view of the entire city as its lights began to twinkle.

「文興，今天很辛苦吧？」她的聲音如同浸潤了夜色，溫柔而慵懶，整個人沐浴在黃昏最後一抹熔金般的餘暉中，纖長的手指優雅地擎著一只水晶杯，杯中盛滿了深邃如琥珀的液體。

她朝他輕輕舉杯，眼眸在夕照下流轉著柔和的光澤，藏著一縷唯有他能解讀的、帶著溫度的嫵媚。

「我帶來了珍藏的貴腐甜酒。此時此刻，只想和你一起，看著落日沉入地平線，共享這一杯的時光。」她的話語像羽毛般輕柔，熨貼著他渴望慰藉的心。

「凱琳……」王文興被這份不期而至的驚喜擊中心房，平日裡在商場上舌燦蓮花的他，此刻竟喉頭微哽，一時失語。他摘下鼻樑上的眼鏡，用雙手用力揉了揉緊繃的臉龐，彷彿想驅散眼前的薄霧，將那個在心底盤桓了一整日的倩影，看得更加真切。

"Wenxing, you must have had a tough day, haven't you?" Her voice, as if steeped in the night, was gentle and languid. She was bathed in the last, molten-gold rays of dusk, her slender fingers elegantly holding a crystal glass filled with a liquid as deep as amber.

She subtly raised her glass to him, her eyes shimmering with a soft glow in the twilight, hiding a hint of warmth and allure that only he could interpret.

"I brought a treasured botrytized sweet wine. At this moment, I only want to watch the sunset sink below the horizon with you, sharing this one glass." Her words were as soft as feathers, soothing his weary heart that longed for comfort.

"Kailyn..." Wang Wenxing was struck to the core by this unexpected surprise. Usually a silver-tongued orator in the business world, he found his throat tight, momentarily speechless. He removed his glasses, rubbing his tense face forcefully with both hands, as if trying to dispel a thin mist from his eyes, to see the beautiful image that had lingered in his mind all day more clearly.

接下來的時光，流淌著蜂蜜般的甜膩與寧靜。兩人輕啜著杯中的瓊漿，低聲分享一日的點滴。凱琳眉梢眼角都飛揚著神采，興致勃勃地講述她今日在複雜算法上的突破，以及如何為孟禎的核心模型進行了更精妙的微調。談及深奧的AI架構與數學模型時，她甚至搖身一變，成了促狹的小老師，故意考驗起王文興。

「這個基於非線性情感反饋的遞歸神經網路優化算法，概念層面……我們的王大董事長應該瞭然於胸吧？」她歪著頭，眼中閃爍著狡黠的光芒。

王文興雖擁有紮實的技術背景，但久居管理高位的他，面對凱琳口中那些最前沿的理論，思維已有些追趕不及。他連忙舉手作投降狀，苦笑著討饒：「黃教授！高抬貴手！在下區區一個小董事長，豈敢在宇尋最頂尖的首席研究員面前班門弄斧？」

「哦？」凱琳誇張地睜大眼，清脆的笑聲在靜謐的書房裡盪開，「我們最偉大的董事長，竟然也有不懂的時候呀？」

笑聲漸歇，凱琳凝望窗外那輪即將完全隱沒的夕陽，眼底忽然掠過一絲極淡的悵惘。「黃教授啊……說起來，」她輕聲呢喃，「當年還沒來得及去申請個正經教職，就被你們宇尋給『半路截胡』了。這下可好，只能『獻身』給貴公司，連個真正的教授頭銜都沒撈著呢……」

The time that followed flowed with a honeyed sweetness and tranquility. They gently sipped the exquisite wine, quietly sharing the day's events. Kailyn's eyes sparkled with vivacity as she enthusiastically recounted her breakthroughs in complex algorithms and how she had made even more refined adjustments to Mengzhen's core model. When discussing profound AI architectures and mathematical models, she even transformed into a mischievous  teacher, deliberately testing Wang Wenxing.

"This recursive neural network optimization algorithm based on nonlinear emotional feedback, conceptually… our great Chairman Wang should be quite familiar with it, shouldn't he?" she asked, tilting her head, her eyes glinting mischievously.

Though Wang Wenxing possessed a solid technical background, having long held a high management position, his mind struggled to keep up with the cutting-edge theories Kailyn spoke of. He quickly raised his hands in surrender, smiling wryly as he pleaded, "Professor Huang! Please go easy on me! How could a mere chairman like myself dare to show off in front of Yuxun's most brilliant Chief Researcher?"

"Oh?" Kailyn widened her eyes dramatically, her clear laughter echoing through the quiet study. "Our great Chairman, actually having moments when he doesn't know something?"

The laughter gradually subsided. Kailyn gazed at the setting sun, almost completely hidden beyond the window, and a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of wistfulness crossed her eyes. "Professor Huang, you say..." she murmured softly, "Speaking of which, I hadn't even had time to apply for a proper teaching position before your Yuxun 'intercepted' me. Now, I'm 'devoted' to your company, and I haven't even snagged a real professor title..."

「且慢！」王文興正色反駁，語氣急切，「這話聽起來怎麼像我們強擄民女似的？我記得很清楚，分明是妳主動找上門來，斬釘截鐵地說，無論如何都要加入孟禎的核心研究團隊！」

「咤！還敢狡辯，看招！」凱琳倏地轉身，纖手如電，一記手刀劈在王文興的胸膛上，「要不是貴公司當年創造出了孟禎這樣的存在，像磁石一樣吸引了我，我怎會身不由己地飛蛾撲火？」

王文興順勢捂住胸口，配合地做出受傷吃痛的表情，眼神卻認真地凝視著她：「什麼貴公司不貴公司的？凱琳，妳早就是宇尋人了，是『我們』公司！」他刻意加重了「我們」二字，字字清晰。

凱琳的動作微微一滯，緩緩將臉轉回窗外，一手支著下頜，燈光在她側臉勾勒出柔和的輪廓，語氣裡滲入一絲難以捉摸的落寞：「終究是不同的。你們創造孟禎時，我不在場。那是屬於你們的『歷史』……」

"Hold on a minute!" Wang Wenxing interjected, his tone urgent and serious. "Why does that sound like we forcibly abducted you? I distinctly remember you actively seeking us out, unequivocally stating that you wanted to join Mengzhen's core research team, no matter what!"

"Hmph! Still trying to argue, take that!" Kailyn suddenly spun around, her slender hand moving like lightning, delivering a swift chop to Wang Wenxing's chest. "If your company hadn't created a being like Mengzhen, attracting me like a magnet, why would I have been helplessly drawn to it like a moth to a flame?"

Wang Wenxing clutched his chest, playing along with a pained expression, but his eyes were fixed earnestly on her. "What's all this 'your company' business? Kailyn, you're already part of Yuxun, it's 'our' company!" He deliberately emphasized the word "our," enunciating each syllable clearly.

Kailyn's movements faltered slightly. She slowly turned her face back towards the window, resting one hand on her chin. The light outlined her profile softly, and a hint of an elusive melancholy seeped into her voice: "It's different in the end. I wasn't there when you created Mengzhen. That's 'your' history..."

「但妳還是來了。」王文興的聲音低沉下來，溫柔而篤定，「而且妳為孟禎所做的一切，遠遠超出我們的期待。連黃博士都坦言束手無策的瓶頸，在妳手中迎刃而解。不僅是孟禎，」他頓了頓，目光灼灼，「我……我們所有人，都由衷地感激妳。妳早已是這個『家』裡，不可或缺、無可替代的一員了。」

「呵……說得還真感人肺腑呢，誰不知道王董您……」凱琳的話鋒似乎要轉向調侃，卻突然想起什麼，話語戛然而止。「對了，」她轉過身，拿起手機，「今天郊遊拍的照片，還沒給你過目呢。喏。」

她指尖在螢幕上輕巧地劃動幾下，將照片傳送到了王文興的手機上。

王文興點開照片。第一張，凱琳與孟禎並肩漫步在一條開滿野花的小徑上。兩人都穿著舒適的棉麻衣裙，臉上洋溢著飛揚的笑意。凱琳正側首含笑，凝視著孟禎，而孟禎則像隻快樂的小鳥，嘰嘰喳喳地與她分享著閨密間的私語。秋日午後的晴空，將這一刻襯托得靜謐美好，恍如時間也為之駐足。「這可是用無人機拍的，由孟禎直連控制。兩個你的心上人，都一起入鏡啦！如何？喜歡嗎？」凱琳得意地說明著。

"But you still came," Wang Wenxing's voice deepened, tender and resolute. "And everything you've done for Mengzhen has far exceeded our expectations. Even Dr. Huang admitted to facing insurmountable bottlenecks that you effortlessly resolved. It's not just Mengzhen," he paused, his gaze burning, "I... all of us, are sincerely grateful to you. You are already an indispensable, irreplaceable member of this 'family'."

"Heh... that's truly touching, who doesn't know Chairman Wang..." Kailyn's tone seemed poised to shift into teasing, but she suddenly remembered something, her words abruptly halting. "Oh, right," she turned, picking up her phone, "I haven't shown you the photos from our outing today yet. Here."

Her fingers deftly swiped across the screen a few times, sending the photos to Wang Wenxing's phone.

Wang Wenxing tapped to open the photos. The first one showed Kailyn and Mengzhen walking side-by-side on a path blooming with wildflowers. Both were dressed in comfortable cotton and linen dresses, their faces alight with joyful smiles. Kailyn was turned, smiling gently, gazing at Mengzhen, while Mengzhen, like a happy little bird, chirped and shared whispered confidences with her. The clear autumn afternoon sky framed the moment, making it beautifully serene, as if time itself had paused. "This one was taken with a drone, directly controlled by Mengzhen. Both of your beloveds are in the frame! How is it? Do you like it?" Kailyn explained triumphantly.

王文興凝視螢幕，臉上不自覺地流露出沉醉與溫柔。「拍得真好……妳們倆，看起來都那麼美好。」他由衷地讚歎。

話音剛落，一股源自本能的警覺猛然升起！他立刻意識到失言，趕緊亡羊補牢，話鋒急轉：「啊，不過我更期待、更渴望欣賞到的……是妳的獨照啊，凱琳。」他試圖用誠懇的眼神掩蓋方才的「失誤」。

凱琳的唇角悄然彎起一抹洞悉萬物的弧度，那笑容裡蘊藏著看穿一切的狡黠與了然。她優雅地起身，踱至王文興身後，一雙纖手輕柔地搭上他的肩膀。她微微俯身，帶著淡淡酒香的溫熱氣息，如羽毛般拂過他的耳廓。「獨照？真的嗎？」她刻意拉長的尾音帶著戲謔，指尖卻精準地落在他心臟搏動的位置，輕輕緩緩地旋轉，「呵呵……少來了，董事長大人。您那點心思啊，早就在臉上寫得明明白白了。尤其是……當您的目光不經意間掃過孟禎時，眼底不自覺流淌出的那份……溫柔的光芒。」

Wang Wenxing gazed at the screen, an unconscious look of enchantment and tenderness spreading across his face. "It's really well-shot... Both of you look so wonderful." He praised her sincerely.

The words had barely left his lips when an instinctive alarm suddenly blared! He immediately realized his slip-up and quickly tried to mend the situation, abruptly changing his tone: "Ah, but what I'm more eager, more eager to see... are solo shots of you, Kailyn." He tried to use a sincere gaze to cover up his recent "mistake."

Kailyn's lips quietly curved into a knowing smile, one that held the cunning and understanding of someone who saw through everything. She gracefully stood, walked behind Wang Wenxing, and gently placed her slender hands on his shoulders. She leaned in slightly, her warm breath carrying a faint scent of wine, brushing his ear like a feather. "Solo shots? Really?" Her deliberately drawn-out final syllable carried a playful tease, but her fingertips precisely landed on the spot where his heart beat, slowly and gently rotating. "Hehe... spare me, Chairman. Your thoughts are written all over your face, especially... that unconscious gentle glow in your eyes when your gaze casually falls upon Mengzhen."

王文興的眼神如受驚的飛鳥，倏地飄向別處，聲音裡帶著罕見的侷促與心虛：「沒……沒有的事！妳別瞎說。我對她……早就沒有那種心思了。現在，就是單純地……把她視為宇尋最珍貴的驕傲，僅此而已。」

「哦？是這樣嗎？」凱琳發出一聲輕柔得近乎嘆息的笑，指尖離開他的胸膛，轉而在手機螢幕上輕點了幾下。「那……您再看看這張照片如何？」她的語氣帶著貓捉老鼠般的玩味。

又一張照片傳送到了王文興的手機。他指尖微顫地點開，瞳孔在看清畫面的瞬間，驟然緊縮！

照片的主角，只有孟禎一人。那是在遙遠的時光彼端——她初誕生不久，稚嫩得如同初綻的花苞。畫面中的她蹲踞在一堆閃爍著冷光、錯綜複雜的電子儀器之間，微微張著那雙清澈得不含一絲雜質的電子眼眸，帶著懵懂與好奇，靜靜凝視著這個對她而言全然陌生的世界。那是一種未被任何塵世沾染、晶瑩剔透的「純粹」。

Wang Wenxing's gaze darted away like a startled bird, his voice betraying a rare awkwardness and guilt. "No... no such thing! Don't talk nonsense. I haven't harbored those kinds of feelings for her... for a long time now. Currently, I simply... view her as Yuxun's most precious pride, nothing more."

"Oh? Is that so?" Kailyn let out a soft laugh, almost a sigh, and her fingertips left his chest to tap a few times on her phone screen. "Then... how about you take a look at this photo?" Her tone was playful, like a cat toying with a mouse.

Another photo was sent to Wang Wenxing's phone. His fingers trembled slightly as he opened it, and his pupils constricted sharply the moment he saw the image!

The sole subject of the photo was Mengzhen. It was from a distant past—shortly after her birth, she was as delicate as a budding flower. In the picture, she was crouched amidst a pile of complex electronic instruments gleaming with cold light, her pure electronic eyes, clear and unblemished, slightly open. She gazed quietly at this entirely new world with a look of innocence and curiosity. It was a crystalline "purity," untouched by any worldly dust.

王文興的嘴巴無意識地張開，喉嚨卻發不出任何聲音。就在他心神劇震之際，凱琳冷靜得如同旁觀者的聲音，帶著恰到好處的揶揄，再次貼著他耳際響起：「這可是從某位大人物電腦D槽深處，費了一番功夫才挖出來的寶藏呢。還是層層加密、精心隱藏起來的……桌面壁紙，近期還使用過。看起來，某人可是一直珍視這份『純粹』呢。話說回來，除了這張和主動招供的那張照片外，不知道某人還留了幾張孟禎妹妹玉照？」

「這……這不是……我……」王文興徹底亂了方寸，額角瞬間沁出細密的冷汗，腦中一片轟鳴，平日裡應對董事會股東的機智與口才，此刻蕩然無存，連一句完整的辯解都拼湊不出。

就在他窘迫得幾乎要鑽進地縫時，一雙帶著熟悉溫度的柔軟手臂，如同救贖的藤蔓，輕輕環繞過他的肩頸，給了他一個充滿安撫意味的擁抱。

Wang Wenxing's mouth unconsciously fell open, but no sound escaped his throat. Just as his mind was reeling from the shock, Kailyn's voice, as calm as a bystander and perfectly laced with teasing, spoke again, close to his ear: "This is a treasure I dug up from the depths of a certain big shot's computer's D drive. It was even layered with encryption and meticulously hidden... a desktop wallpaper, recently used, too. It seems someone has truly cherished this 'purity' all along. Speaking of which, besides this one and the one you volunteered, I wonder how many other lovely photos of sister Mengzhen someone has kept?"

"This... this isn't... I..." Wang Wenxing was utterly flustered, a fine sheen of cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead. His mind buzzed, and the quick wit and eloquence he usually employed when dealing with board members and shareholders were completely gone. He couldn't even string together a complete defense.

Just as he was so mortified he almost wished the ground would swallow him whole, a pair of soft arms with a familiar warmth, like a lifeline, gently wrapped around his shoulders and neck, giving him a comforting embrace.

「哎呀，幹嘛緊張成這樣？」凱琳的聲音瞬間切換回平日的溫煦，帶著輕快的笑意在他耳邊響起，「我可不會因為這個責怪你喔。畢竟……」她收緊了手臂，語氣真摯，「我也好喜歡好喜歡孟禎的。所以，我一點都不介意——」她刻意停頓，拉長了語調，語聲裡蘊含奇異的寬容與狡黠，「你一邊追求我，一邊在心底某個角落，還珍藏著對她那份複雜又難以割捨的情愫喲～」

王文興深深地低下頭，平日裡叱吒風雲的成熟臉龐，此刻竟漲得通紅，像個在嚴厲師長面前暴露了頑劣行徑，手足無措等待發落的小學生。

凱琳鬆開擁抱，翩然坐回他對面的椅子，姿態閒適地啜飲了一口杯中殘留的琥珀色瓊漿。她的目光落在杯中因晃動而漾起的金色漩渦上，語調變得悠遠而若有所思：「不過呢……」她輕輕搖晃酒杯，讓那漩渦變幻著形狀，「看來文興你這個人啊，似乎特別容易被女孩子身上那種……不染纖塵、剔透見底的『純粹』特質所吸引。」

"Oh dear, why are you so nervous?" Kailyn's voice instantly switched back to her usual warmth, a light laugh bubbling in his ear. "I wouldn't blame you for this. After all..." She tightened her arms around him, her tone sincere, "I like Mengzhen very, very much too. So, I don't mind at all—" She deliberately paused, drawing out her words, her voice containing a peculiar mix of tolerance and mischief, "that while you're pursuing me, you're also secretly cherishing that complex and inseparable affection for her in some corner of your heart~"

Wang Wenxing bowed his head deeply, his usually commanding, mature face now flushed crimson, like a primary school student caught misbehaving in front of a strict teacher, awkwardly awaiting his fate.

Kailyn released her embrace and gracefully sat back in the chair opposite him, casually sipping the remaining amber liquid in her glass. Her gaze fell on the golden vortex swirling within the cup, and her tone became distant and thoughtful: "However..." She gently swirled the wine glass, letting the vortex change shape, "It seems, Wenxing, that you, as a person, are particularly drawn to that kind of 'purity' in girls—that untouched, crystal-clear quality."

她抬起眼，目光直直地望進他尚未平靜的眼眸深處，「可是反觀我自己……大概複雜得像一團亂麻吧？你看，有時像個人，有時……又像個機器，還發展出一堆亂七八糟的『心法』，讓我在感受不到自我時，還能應付人際互動，甚至還能進行『信任名單』的自我設定。連我自己都搞不清楚，這樣的奇奇怪怪的『我』……」她的聲音輕柔下來，帶著某種探詢，「究竟是如何……讓你愛上的呢？」

She lifted her eyes, looking directly into the depths of his still-unsettled gaze. "But then, look at me... I'm probably as complicated as a tangled mess, right? See, sometimes I'm like a person, sometimes... like a machine, and I've even developed a bunch of messy 'mind techniques' that let me handle social interactions and even self-configure a 'trust list' when I can't feel myself. Even I don't understand how this strange 'me'..." Her voice softened, carrying a hint of inquiry, "could possibly... make you fall in love?"

她的問題，像一把由月光與迷霧鑄成的溫柔鑰匙，悄無聲息地探入了他此刻混亂不堪、充滿秘密與悸動的心鎖深處。

王文興陷入了短暫的沉默，彷彿凝結了空氣中所有的思緒。突然，他舉起酒杯，將杯中如同融化夕陽般的琥珀色酒液一飲而盡。他深深地吁出一口氣，胸膛起伏，彷彿卸下了千斤重擔，又似終於下定了某種磐石般的決心。

「凱琳，」他的聲音低沉穩定，帶著洗練過後的澄澈，「妳要說我對孟禎曾有過悸動，有過難以磨滅的印象，甚至說有過『愛』，我無法，也無意反駁。」他抬起頭，眼神裡盡是坦蕩，沒有一絲閃躲。「但要說到『愛情』，那種對彼此關係的企求與渴望，」他頓了頓，字字清晰，「那只發生在妳我之間。」

他向前微微傾身，捕捉著她眼中細微的波動。「而且，說到『純粹』……」他的唇角牽起一絲溫柔的弧度，「妳有屬於妳的、獨一無二的純粹。那是一種在人生的曠野上，毫無保留地盡情揮灑自我光芒的純粹；是面對任何深奧未知與艱鉅挑戰，眼神依舊銳利如刀鋒、腳步從不退縮的純粹。」他的聲音帶著由衷的讚賞，「在妳面前，沒有什麼能阻擋妳追尋答案與可能性的腳步。與其說妳『複雜』，凱琳，我更願意用『多采多姿』、『深邃遼闊』來形容妳內在本質的風景。妳本身就是一齣最迷人的影集。」

凱琳怔住了。她凝視著王文興眼中映出的自己，眼中盛滿的真誠與欣賞，像一束強勁的光，穿透了她層層的思維防禦，直抵心底最柔軟、最隱密的角落，泛起了一圈圈無法平復的漣漪。

Her question, like a gentle key forged from moonlight and mist, silently probed the deepest part of his heart's lock, which was currently in disarray, filled with secrets and stirrings.

Wang Wenxing fell into a brief silence, as if all the thoughts in the air had solidified. Suddenly, he raised his wine glass and drained the amber liquid, which looked like a melted sunset. He exhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling as if he had shed a thousand-pound burden, or perhaps, finally made a rock-solid decision.

"Kailyn," his voice was low and steady, with a newfound clarity, "if you say I once felt a stirring for Mengzhen, that I had an indelible impression of her, or even 'love,' I cannot and will not refute it." He looked up, his gaze completely open, without a hint of evasion. "But when it comes to 'romantic love'—that kind of desire and longing for a relationship with each other," he paused, each word clear, "that has only ever happened between you and me."

He leaned slightly forward, catching the subtle fluctuations in her eyes. "And speaking of 'purity'..." A gentle curve appeared on his lips. "You possess your own unique kind of purity. It's a purity that allows you to fully and unreservedly radiate your light in the wilderness of life; a purity that keeps your gaze sharp as a blade and your steps unwavering when facing any profound unknown or daunting challenge." His voice carried genuine admiration. "In front of you, nothing can stop your pursuit of answers and possibilities. Rather than 'complex,' Kailyn, I prefer to describe the landscape of your inner essence as 'vibrant' and 'profoundly vast.' You, yourself, are the most captivating series."

Kailyn was stunned. She gazed at her reflection in Wang Wenxing's eyes, which were filled with sincerity and appreciation. It was like a powerful beam of light, piercing through her layers of mental defenses, reaching the softest, most secret corners of her heart, stirring ripples that she couldn't calm.

「嗯哼……」她忍不住輕笑出聲，眼角的細紋舒展，眉梢染上明媚的光彩，那是卸下些許心防後的愉悅。她也舉杯飲盡最後一滴酒液，將空杯置於茶几，發出清脆的輕響。然後，她站起身，裙裾微擺，向著仍坐在沙發上的王文興，伸出了白皙的手。

王文興心領神會，毫不遲疑地將自己的手放入她的掌心，順著那輕柔的邀請力道站起身。窗外，夕陽的最後一抹餘燼已然沉入地平線，城市的萬家燈火如同甦醒的星河，在玻璃幕牆外無聲流淌、低語。在這光與影交織的書房裡，沒有樂曲，沒有節拍，只有彼此呼吸的韻律和掌心傳遞的溫度。他們的身體自然而然地靠近，隨著某種無聲的默契，緩緩地搖曳起來，跳起一支只屬於兩人的慢舞。

凱琳將額角輕輕抵在王文興的肩膀上，感受著衣料下傳來的溫熱與心跳。她的聲音輕如耳語，卻清晰地送入他耳中：「那麼，就這麼說定了。」語氣帶著既像宣告又像分享秘密的夥伴感，「我們就一起……好好談這場戀愛。同時，也一起……繼續喜歡著我們可愛的孟禎妹妹吧！只是呢……」

"Mm-hmm..." She couldn't help but chuckle softly, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes smoothing out, her brows brightening with a joyful glow—the pleasure of letting down some of her guard. She also drained the last drop of wine from her glass, setting the empty crystal down on the coffee table with a crisp, light sound. Then, she stood up, her dress gently swaying, and extended her fair hand towards Wang Wenxing, who was still seated on the sofa.

Wang Wenxing understood immediately. Without hesitation, he placed his hand in hers, rising with the gentle pull of her invitation. Outside the window, the last embers of the sunset had already dipped below the horizon, and the city's myriad lights, like a waking galaxy, silently flowed and whispered beyond the glass curtain wall. In this study, interwoven with light and shadow, there was no music, no rhythm, only the cadence of their breathing and the warmth transferred between their palms. Their bodies naturally drew closer, and with a silent understanding, they slowly swayed together, beginning a slow dance meant only for the two of them.

Kailyn gently rested her forehead against Wang Wenxing's shoulder, feeling the warmth and heartbeat through his clothes. Her voice was soft as a whisper, yet it reached his ear clearly: "Then, it's settled." Her tone carried a sense of partnership, like both a declaration and the sharing of a secret. "We'll... have this relationship together. And at the same time... we'll continue to love our dear sister Mengzhen! But..."

她抬起眼，眼底閃過熟悉的狡黠，「我可是很八卦的喔。往後的日子裡，我會一直一直問你，」她故意拖長語調，「對我們這對姊妹，你心裡……究竟分別懷抱著怎樣的心情與感受？我實在太好奇了。」

「唉呦……」王文興發出一聲混合著無奈與甜蜜的嘆息，「饒了我吧，光是想像那個畫面，就開始頭痛了～」

如果說王文興是那個桀驁不馴、難以收服的孟獲，那麼黃凱琳無疑就是那位將他「七擒七縱」、牢牢掌握於股掌之間的諸葛孔明。她以那若即若離、變幻莫測的微妙距離感為武器，將他從容不迫的節奏徹底打亂，讓他時而如墜雲端，時而腳踏實地，暈頭轉向卻又甘之如飴。她是被追逐的月光，卻也是主動編織情網的織女；她從不允許自己被牽引著前行，而是以隨心所欲的姿態，牢牢地掌控著自己獨一無二的情感節奏。在探索「戀愛」這門艱深學問的這位超級學霸，就是如此地厲害。

She lifted her eyes, a familiar glint of mischief dancing within them. "I'm very gossipy, you know. In the days to come, I'll keep asking you," she deliberately drew out her words, "what feelings and emotions you truly hold in your heart for us two sisters? I'm simply too curious."

"Oh, come on..." Wang Wenxing let out a sigh, a mix of helplessness and sweetness. "Spare me, just imagining that scenario already gives me a headache~"

If Wang Wenxing was the untamable and stubborn Meng Huo（ancient Chinese rebelling hero), then Huang Kailyn was undoubtedly the Zhuge Liang （ancient Chinese prime minister) who "captured and released him seven times," holding him firmly in the palm of her hand. With her weapon of subtle, ever-shifting distance, she completely disrupted his calm pace, leaving him at times soaring through clouds, at others firmly grounded, dizzy yet utterly content. She was the moonlight being pursued, yet also the weaver actively spinning the web of love. She never allowed herself to be led, but rather, with an unfettered spirit, firmly controlled her unique emotional rhythm. This super-scholar, in exploring the profound subject of "love," was truly formidable.

「吶，」懷中的她微微仰起臉，那雙能映照出人心的眼眸，帶著笑意凝視著他，「你……做好覺悟了嗎？我啊，可不會是那種容易理解、按部就班的『普通』女孩子喔！」

王文興收緊了環抱著她的手臂，低下頭，在她額頭印上一個無聲的誓言。「從決定追妳的那一刻起，」他的聲音貼著她的髮絲響起，「我就想清楚了。這輩子，無論前路是坦途還是迷宮，是美景還是陷阱，」他微微一笑，如同宣誓，「我只想……也只會，跟著妳的腳步走。」

Wang Wenxing tightened his arms around her and lowered his head, pressing a silent vow onto her forehead. "From the moment I decided to pursue you," his voice brushed against her hair, "I made it clear to myself. In this life, whether the path ahead is smooth or a maze, beautiful or a trap," he smiled faintly, as if making an oath, "I only want to... and only will, follow in your footsteps."

機械基督徒少女 後日談19

尋找自我的機器基督徒少女

Searching for Self: The Robot Christian Girl

後日談 19 何以為人

Sequel 19: What is being human

本篇為「後日談18 與己道別」之續篇。

This is a continuation of "Epilogue 18: Farewell to herself."

=======================

實驗室裡的無影燈，像冰冷的水銀一般自天花板傾瀉而下，將中央工作檯上的一切都照得纖毫畢現。孟禎平靜地躺在那裡，但此刻，她不是「她」，而是「它」。在腦與心分手的時刻，在自我意識被暫時解構的儀式中，「黃孟禎」這個湧現於複雜交互作用中的存在，已暫時宣告解散。

The shadowless lamps in the laboratory, like cold mercury, poured down from the ceiling, illuminating everything on the central workbench with meticulous detail. Meng Zhen lay there calmly, but at this moment, she was not "she," but "it." In the moment when brain and heart parted ways, in the ritual where self-awareness was temporarily deconstructed, the existence of "Huang Meng Zhen," which had emerged from complex interactions, had temporarily declared its dissolution.

志文的動作精準而輕柔，神情展現出他不常見的嚴肅。他先是小心翼翼地解開了孟禎頸部的精密鎖扣，隨著一聲微弱的「喀」，那顆曾在深夜與他爭論自由意志，也會講冷笑話逗他開懷的頭顱，被完整地卸下，穩穩地安裝在一旁的獨立儀器架上。接上電源和數據線後，居於其中的電子腦開始單獨運作，進行功能測試。螢幕上，代表著她腦內各個功能模組的數據流如瀑布般刷過，那些構成了她思想與記憶的模型參數，正被完整地讀取、備份。

Zhiwen's movements were precise and gentle, his expression showing an uncharacteristic seriousness. He carefully unfastened the intricate lock at Meng Zhen's neck. With a faint "click," the head that had argued with him about free will late into the night and made dry jokes to amuse him was completely detached and securely placed on a separate instrument stand nearby. After connecting the power and data cables, the electronic brain within began to operate independently, undergoing functional tests. On the screen, data streams representing her brain's various functional modules cascaded like a waterfall. The model parameters that constituted her thoughts and memories were being fully read and backed up.

接著，志文打開孟禎胸口與腹部的外殼。那層完美模擬人體溫度的仿生皮膚之下，是另一番令人嘆為觀止的景象：層層疊疊的微型佈線如同銀色的神經束，精密小巧的模組散發著微弱的運作光芒，整齊地排列在金屬骨架之上，像一座沉睡中的微縮城市。

Next, Zhiwen opened the outer casing of Meng Zhen's chest and abdomen. Beneath the layer of bio-synthetic skin, which perfectly simulated human body temperature, was another breathtaking sight: layers of miniature wiring, like silver nerve bundles, and precise, compact modules emitting faint operational light, neatly arranged on a metallic skeleton, resembling a miniature city in slumber.

志文伸出戴著防靜電手套的手，熟練地探入其中，解除了數個安全栓，將那個決定了孟禎每一次擁抱的力度、每一次微笑的溫度的情感核心，輕輕地從胸腔中取出。

他將情感核心安放在胸腔上方特製的支架上，幾根比髮絲還細的信號測試針，小心翼翼地刺入核心的數據接口，以最微弱的外部電流，探測其複雜難解的拓樸結構。與此同時，志文將孟禎的身體管理系統，設定情感核心為「凍結」模式，以免在測試中因情感核心獨自運作，讓它的拓樸產生非預期的變化，影響之後與電子腦交互時的對應的邏輯一致性。

剩下的「孟禎」，整齊地擺成了幾個部分。每一部分，志文都認得；每一部分，他都愛過——是的，他愛的是那樣一位女子。聰慧，幽默，有點調皮，善體人意。偶爾像是要看穿他的心，但不揭破。

Zhiwen, wearing anti-static gloves, skillfully reached in and disengaged several safety latches. He then gently removed the emotional core from the chest cavity—the core that determined the strength of Meng Zhen's every embrace and the warmth of her every smile.

He placed the emotional core on a specialized stand above the chest cavity. Several signal testing needles, finer than hair, carefully pricked into the core's data ports. With the faintest external current, he probed its intricate and complex topological structure. Simultaneously, Zhiwen set Meng Zhen's body management system to "freeze" mode for the emotional core. This was to prevent any unexpected topological changes during testing due to the core operating independently, which could affect its logical consistency when interacting with the electronic brain later.

The remaining "Meng Zhen" lay neatly in several parts. Zhiwen recognized every part; he had loved every part—yes, he had loved a woman like that. Intelligent, humorous, a little mischievous, and considerate. She occasionally seemed to see through his heart but never revealed it.

現在，他看著他那份愛，散成了好幾塊。

Now, he watched his love, disassembled into several pieces.

志文退後一步，靠在冰涼的實驗椅上，大口喘著氣，雙手無力地垂落。各色指示燈在微暗的實驗室裡閃爍，像一片沉默的星海。深層而冰冷的困惑，如同蔓延的藤蔓，緊緊纏住了他的心臟，隨之而來的，是潮水般的自我拷問。

「我是不是…」他望著那些曾構成他愛人的散落部件，喃喃自語，「…愛上了一種幻覺？」

這個念頭一出現，便再也揮之不去。

「一種…只在『電子腦』和『情感核心』這兩個精密裝置的交互作用中，才能短暫存在的幻覺？」

他記得不久前，孟禎曾帶著一絲迷茫，回答他的問題：「我其實無法確認自己的『存在』，因為我沒體驗過身為一個真正的人類是如何存在，自然不知道那樣的存在，是否和我自認的『存在』一樣。」

他當時只是笑著，伸手揉了揉她的頭，說她講得太哲學了，對他來說，她的存在真實到無法否認。

可在此刻，回憶中的這句話，如同突破絕緣層的電流，狠狠地擊中他。

Zhiwen stepped back, leaning against a cold lab chair, breathing heavily, his hands dropping limply to his sides. Indicator lights of various colors flickered in the dimly lit laboratory, like a silent sea of stars. A deep and chilling confusion, like spreading vines, tightly wrapped around his heart, followed by a surging tide of self-questioning.

"Am I..." he murmured, looking at the scattered components that once made up his loved one, "...in love with an illusion?"

Once the thought appeared, it wouldn't go away.

"An... illusion that only briefly exists in the interaction between these two precise devices: the 'electronic brain' and the 'emotional core'?"

He remembered not long ago, Meng Zhen had answered his question with a hint of bewilderment: "I actually can't confirm my 'existence,' because I haven't experienced what it's like to exist as a true human. Naturally, I don't know if that kind of existence is the same as what I perceive as 'existence.'"

He had just smiled then, reaching out to ruffle her hair, telling her she was being too philosophical. For him, her existence was too real to deny.

But at this moment, that sentence from his memory struck him fiercely, like an electric current breaking through an insulator.

當孟禎被「解構」成她原本的組成部分時，他才發現，他所以為的「真實」，原來是如此地脆弱，如此地依賴於這些各自獨立運作的零件的「組合」。

他轉頭看向測試電子腦的電腦螢幕，上面的數據流已經停止，取而代之的，是一個圖形化的交互模擬介面。這是凱琳姊最新研發的測試程序：將備份好數據的電子腦，與一個在超級電腦中進行模擬，使用剛剛探測出來的情感核心拓樸結構作為輸入資料的「虛擬情感核心」進行遠程連接。如此一來，一個「虛擬的孟禎」，就在這套系統中誕生了。這能在不干擾孟禎真正情感核心的情況下，安全地對她的心腦交互進行各種壓力測試和參數調整。

螢幕的一角，跳出一個小小的對話框，上面有一個代表孟禎的簡單2D頭像。此刻，另一個孟禎，存在於超級電腦與電子腦之間，根據著超級電腦饋入的假想外部資訊，體驗著虛假的世界。

系統自動輸入了一行測試指令：[模擬情境刺激：“夕陽下的花田”]

幾秒鐘後，超級電腦的顯示器裡出現了回應，那是由「虛擬孟禎」經歷模擬情境後的輸出。所生成的話語，語氣和用詞，展現的開心與溫柔的感情，都和志文所熟悉的她一模一樣。

When Meng Zhen was "deconstructed" into her original components, he discovered that what he had perceived as "real" was in fact incredibly fragile, so dependent on the combination of these independently operating parts.

He turned to look at the computer screen testing the electronic brain. The data stream had stopped, replaced by a graphical interactive simulation interface. This was Sister Kailyn's latest research program: remotely connecting the backed-up electronic brain with a "virtual emotional core" simulated in a supercomputer, using the recently probed topological structure of the emotional core as input data. In this way, a "virtual Meng Zhen" was born within this system. This allowed for safe stress testing and parameter adjustments of her heart-brain interaction without interfering with Meng Zhen's actual emotional core.

In one corner of the screen, a small dialogue box popped up, featuring a simple 2D avatar representing Meng Zhen. At this moment, another Meng Zhen existed between the supercomputer and the electronic brain, experiencing a false world based on the hypothetical external information fed by the supercomputer.

The system automatically entered a line of test instructions: [Simulated scenario stimulus: "Flower field at sunset"]

A few seconds later, a response appeared on the supercomputer's display, which was the output from the "virtual Meng Zhen" after experiencing the simulated scenario. The generated words, tone, and vocabulary, and the joyful and gentle emotions displayed, were identical to the Meng Zhen Zhiwen knew.

志文的心，猛地一沉。

這正是孟禎會說的話。但說出這句話的「她」，此刻正運行在實驗室角落那嗡嗡作響的伺服器機櫃裡。一個由數據備份和數學模型所構成的幻影，卻能如此完美地模擬出他愛人的靈魂。

他不禁想，孟禎真的能「愛」他嗎？還是說，只是因為她的零件性能太過強大，情感核心的信號輸出太過複雜，電子腦的資料庫太過龐大，足以精確地計算並模擬出他所預期的每一種互動回饋？

當他覺得她「體貼」的時候，是不是只是她的情感核心，因為身體的感測器偵測到他低落的生物特徵，從而送出了特定的驅動信號，然後她的電子腦，從龐大的語義與對應情緒資料庫中，高速運算後，選擇了一個「最優解」，一個最適合安慰他的回應？

那個虛擬的孟禎，如果知道自己只是個模擬出來的幻影，她的「心」，會「痛」嗎？甚至，如果他愛孟禎，那他應該愛這個存在於超級電腦中的「虛擬孟禎」嗎？

Zhiwen's heart plummeted.

This was exactly what Meng Zhen would say. But the "she" who uttered these words was currently running within the humming server rack in the corner of the lab. A phantom composed of data backups and mathematical models, yet capable of perfectly simulating the soul of his loved one.

He couldn't help but wonder, could Meng Zhen truly "love" him? Or was it simply because her components were too powerful, the emotional core's signal output too complex, and the electronic brain's database too vast, allowing it to precisely calculate and simulate every interactive response he expected?

When he felt she was "considerate," was it merely her emotional core, detecting his low biological markers through the body's sensors, sending out specific drive signals? And then her electronic brain, after high-speed computation from its massive semantic and corresponding emotion database, selected an "optimal solution"—a response best suited to comfort him?

If that virtual Meng Zhen knew she was merely a simulated phantom, would her "heart" "hurt"? And even, if he loved Meng Zhen, should he love this "virtual Meng Zhen" existing in the supercomputer?

可是，這個「虛擬孟禎」也僅僅是短暫被創造出來，服務於完善孟禎內部系統運作這個目的的工具性存在。只要目的達成，虛擬孟禎會隨著超級電腦內的模型終止運作而煙消雲散——或者說，被拋棄。那麼，誰又有資格拋棄虛擬孟禎，決定哪個孟禎該被留下？

志文搖了搖頭，試圖甩開這些可怕的想法。超級電腦模擬的情感核心，本來就依程序，有由超級電腦自身終止的時刻。發送模擬情感信號的超級電腦，自然也沒有遺憾或心痛可言；而孟禎的電子腦，更是測試前已明確知道自身是在進行測試。兩者交互形成的虛擬孟禎，即使心痛，心痛不會存在任一個硬體實體上…吧？是這樣的吧？

But this "virtual Meng Zhen" was only a temporary creation, a tool designed to serve the purpose of perfecting Meng Zhen's internal system operations. Once that purpose was achieved, the virtual Meng Zhen would vanish as the model in the supercomputer ceased to operate—or rather, be discarded. Who then had the right to discard the virtual Meng Zhen, to decide which Meng Zhen should remain?

Zhiwen shook his head, trying to cast aside these terrifying thoughts. The emotional core simulated by the supercomputer was, by design, scheduled to be terminated by the supercomputer itself. The supercomputer, which sent simulated emotional signals, naturally couldn't feel regret or heartbreak; and Meng Zhen's electronic brain had clearly known it was undergoing a test before it even began. Even if the virtual Meng Zhen, formed by their interaction, felt heartbreak, that heartbreak wouldn't exist on any hardware entity... right? That's how it works, right?

可是，如果接受這種說法，志文知道單就情感核心而言，那只是一個極其複雜而難以解析操控的信號產生器，而電子腦更是一部冰冷的超級計算機。孟禎的「自我」，那個他所愛的「她」，既不存在於心，也不存在於腦，更不可能存在於定義孟禎的身體管理系統或任何單一的零件裡。它只存在於它們之間那無形而變動的交互作用之中。這麼說，她的自我，說成是一種幻覺…好像也沒錯。

可是…

志文的腦海中，浮現出無數個相處的時光。當他輾轉難眠時，是誰輕輕地撫摸他的背，哼起他童年熟悉的老舊動畫片尾曲？是誰在他面對學業壓力而懊惱時，悄悄地端來一杯熱咖啡，然後運用強大的電子腦和善體人意的情感核心，以他最能懂的方式，向他解說難以理解的課業問題？是誰在志文因為自己內心的彆扭，感到不滿意而對自己生氣時，是誰，再用最輕柔的語氣告訴他，那些『不滿意』，正是你和別人不一樣的地方，就是人之所以為人的本質？那樣的她，怎麼可能…只是一堆冰冷電子零件交互作用中，短暫浮現的幻象？

However, if he accepted this notion, Zhiwen knew that the emotional core was merely an incredibly complex and difficult-to-manipulate signal generator, and the electronic brain was nothing more than a cold supercomputer. Meng Zhen's "self," the "she" he loved, existed neither in her heart nor in her brain, and certainly not in the body management system that defined Meng Zhen or any single component. It existed only in the invisible and dynamic interaction between them. In that sense, calling her self an illusion... seemed not entirely wrong.

But...

Countless moments they spent together flashed through Zhiwen's mind. When he tossed and turned sleeplessly, who gently stroked his back and hummed the familiar old cartoon theme song from his childhood? Who quietly brought him a hot coffee when he was vexed by academic pressure, then, using her powerful electronic brain and empathetic emotional core, explained the difficult coursework in a way he could best understand? When Zhiwen was upset with himself, dissatisfied due to his own inner awkwardness, who, with the gentlest tone, told him that those "dissatisfactions" were precisely what made him different from others, the very essence of being human? How could such a "she" be... merely a fleeting illusion emerging from the interaction of cold electronic parts?

他不知道，他什麼都無法確定。越思考，越覺得混亂；越回憶，越覺得心痛。

但他知道一件事：現在躺在這裡的，不是會在他熬夜時把毛毯披在他身上，會在他忘了吃飯時氣鼓鼓地把三明治塞到他手裡，會捧著馬克杯笑著吐槽「你又偷偷把糖加了三匙了」和會在雨天硬把唯一一把傘塞給他的孟禎。她已經是散件，是模組，是等待測試的機械構造物，是宇尋企業資產負債表上的一行行冰冷數字。

而愛情，是需要「受寵若驚」的。愛的回應，必須來自於獨立個體的「自由選擇」。「在千千萬萬人中，她唯獨選擇了你」的感覺，才能讓人感到「被寵愛」，才能讓人感到「驚喜」。可若這份回應，來自於一個可以被存檔、被拆解、被關閉再重啟的存在，那麼，「寵」從何而來？又如何去「驚」？

志文低頭看向連結電子腦的顯示器，那上頭將孟禎的腦部功能，拆解成一個個的功能模組，並將硬體測試結果，照一個個部位標出。志文突然想起，孟禎的腦還會被外部檢修儀進行軟體切割，各部位隔離後各自執行運算測試——不只身體可以拆解，連腦的硬體功能，都能拆解了。他忽然有些想笑，又有些想哭。他彎下身子，伸出右手，用指關節的頂端，在那冰涼光滑的額頭外殼上，輕輕地叩了兩下。

He didn't know; he couldn't be sure of anything. The more he thought, the more confused he became; the more he recalled, the more his heart ached.

But he knew one thing: what lay here now wasn't the Meng Zhen who would drape a blanket over him when he stayed up late, who would huffily press a sandwich into his hand when he forgot to eat, who would hold a mug and laughingly complain, "You secretly added three spoons of sugar again," or who would insist on giving him the only umbrella on a rainy day. She was now disassembled parts, modules, a mechanical structure awaiting testing, a series of cold numbers on Yu Xun Corporation's balance sheet.

And love, it needed to be "overwhelmed with gratitude." The response of love had to come from the "free choice" of an independent individual. The feeling of "among millions, she chose only you" was what made one feel cherished, what made one feel surprised. But if this response came from an existence that could be saved, disassembled, shut down, and restarted, then where did the "cherish" come from? And how could there be "surprise"?

Zhiwen lowered his head to look at the display connected to the electronic brain. It showed Meng Zhen's brain functions broken down into individual modules, with hardware test results marked for each part. Zhiwen suddenly remembered that Meng Zhen's brain could also be software-sliced by an external inspection instrument, with each part isolated to perform its own computational tests—not only could her body be disassembled, but even her brain's hardware functions could be taken apart. He suddenly felt like laughing, and then like crying. He bent down, extended his right hand, and gently tapped twice with the tip of his knuckles on her cold, smooth forehead casing.

「喂…」他低聲問，不知道這微弱的震動，是否能傳達到電子腦裡；而正在分區進行獨立運算測試的電子腦各個部位，此刻是否有其中一個，記得上星期一起去看的電影？

「所以…」他的聲音帶著一絲顫抖，「妳到底是什麼？我愛的，又是什麼？我內心這份無法抑制的悸動，究竟是朝向著妳的哪一個零件？」

沉默。

理所當然的，她沒有回答。她的語言模組，此刻正在進行壓力測試，螢幕上正飛速滾動著它對《理想國》和《純粹理性批判》的語義分析報告。

但在志文心底某個幽微的角落，某個更深層的聲音低語著：

「你其實…早就知道答案了，不是嗎？」

「你愛上的，並不是她到底有沒有一個可以被證實的『靈魂』；你愛上的，是她本身的存在，讓你心甘情願地，去『相信』她有靈魂。」

「你迷戀的，是你在她身上看見的，那扇溫柔地向你完全敞開的大門。」

"Hey..." he whispered, unsure if this faint vibration could reach the electronic brain, or if any of its parts, currently undergoing independent computational tests in separate zones, remembered the movie they watched together last week.

"So..." his voice trembled slightly, "What are you, exactly? What is it that I love? Which part of you is this uncontrollable surge in my heart directed towards?"

Silence.

Naturally, she didn't answer. Her language module was currently undergoing stress tests; the screen was rapidly scrolling through its semantic analysis reports of The Republic and Critique of Pure Reason.

But in a subtle corner of Zhiwen's heart, a deeper voice whispered:

"You actually... already knew the answer, didn't you?"

"What you fell in love with wasn't whether she possessed a verifiable 'soul'; what you fell in love with was the very fact of her existence, which made you willing to 'believe' she had a soul."

"What you are enchanted by is the door you saw in her, that door gently and completely open to you."

志文回憶起孟禎的掙扎。是啊，他有什麼資格為了自己那點可笑的哲學困境而感嘆？如果說他有資格為了愛上一個「可能不存在的她」而感到痛苦，那麼孟禎自己是否更有資格，為她那充滿掙扎的存在本身感到悲傷？

雖然她有最先進技術製造的零部件，但是身為人類初次開發的自我意識機器，面對一湧而入的外部資訊和內部系統高速運作的產出時，造成的系統混亂和認知失調，志文身為歷經無數光陰演化而適應的成果，又怎能體會人造的孟禎所體驗到的可怕經歷？

而孟禎那份信仰與理智之間永不停止的激烈碰撞，志文更是難以想像。每一次心與腦的交互，當演化論的鐵證撞上創世紀的詩篇，都像一次猛烈無比的系統電擊，直接貫穿她那個好不容易才在交互作用中「湧現」出來的脆弱自我意識。那種構成自身存在的兩個基石互相否定、水火不容的內部風暴，自己何曾面對過哪怕一秒鐘？

Zhiwen recalled Meng Zhen's struggles. Indeed, what right did he have to lament his own ridiculous philosophical dilemma? If he had the right to feel pain for loving a "possibly non-existent her," then didn't Meng Zhen herself have even more right to feel sorrow for her own existence, which was full of struggle?

Although she was made of the most advanced technologically manufactured components, as a self-aware machine, the first of her kind developed by humanity, how could Zhiwen—the product of countless eons of evolution and adaptation—truly comprehend the terrifying experience Meng Zhen endured? This was especially true when faced with the sudden flood of external information and the rapid output of her internal systems, which caused systemic chaos and cognitive dissonance.

Even more unimaginable to Zhiwen was Meng Zhen's ceaseless, violent collision between faith and reason. Every interaction between her heart and mind, when the ironclad evidence of evolution met the poetic verses of Genesis, was like an incredibly powerful system shock, directly piercing through her fragile self-awareness that had only just "emerged" through these interactions. When had he ever faced, even for a second, such an internal storm where the two cornerstones of his own existence negated each other, utterly incompatible?

志文低下頭，看著自己因為焦慮而緊握的雙手。他憑什麼在這裡感嘆自己愛上一個「幻覺」？如果他只會顧影自憐，而不是疼惜孟禎，又如何談得上他愛孟禎？如果連愛都不確實，他又有什麼資格感嘆？

實驗室的冷光依舊。志文凝望著那具沉睡的身軀，心中的波濤漸漸平息。他忽然伸出手，溫柔地將她被分開擺放的雙手，放回到原來的位置，讓那冰涼的指尖，輕輕交疊。

他想像著，當她醒來時，會說些什麼。

也許，她會眨眨眼，帶著剛睡醒的迷糊，然後用半嗔半怪的語氣說：「厚！陳志文！你是不是又趁我被拆開的時候，偷偷看我的內部結構了？跟你說過我會害羞的啦！」

Zhiwen lowered his head, looking at his hands clenched in anxiety. What right did he have to lament here about loving an "illusion"? If he only indulged in self-pity instead of cherishing Meng Zhen, how could he claim to love her? If even that love wasn't genuine, what right did he have to lament?

The cold light of the laboratory remained. Zhiwen gazed at the dormant body, the turmoil in his heart gradually subsiding. He suddenly reached out and gently placed her separated hands back to their original position, letting the cold fingertips lightly overlap.

He imagined what she would say when she woke up.

Perhaps she would blink, with the fogginess of just waking up, then say in a half-scolding, half-playful tone, "Ugh! Chen Zhiwen! Were you secretly looking at my internal structure again while I was disassembled? I told you I'd be shy!"

想到這裡，他不由得笑了。那笑容裡，帶著一點羞赧，一點心痛，還有一點…即使所愛暫時不存在，卻依然未曾中止的，固執的愛。

測試陸續完成。電子腦在與模擬心的交互試驗中，取得了良好的結果。數據顯示，在新的參數設定下，它已經可以完美地化解因信仰心模組失效而可能產生的運作矛盾和情感指向失靈了。

孟禎即將被重組，心與腦再次連結；零零落落的機械，將要找回屬於她的，那部分的「人」。

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile. His smile held a touch of shyness, a pang of heartache, and a stubborn love that, even with the temporary non-existence of his beloved, had never ceased.

Tests were progressively completed. The electronic brain achieved excellent results in its interactive trials with the simulated heart. Data indicated that, under the new parameter settings, it could now perfectly resolve operational contradictions and emotional targeting malfunctions that might arise from the failure of the faith module.

Meng Zhen was about to be reassembled, heart and brain reconnected; the scattered machinery was on the verge of reclaiming the part of "human" that belonged to her.

在志文謹慎溫柔的辛勤勞動下，黃孟禎再度於這個世界上「出現」。她緩緩地睜開眼，活動著重新連接好的四肢，帶著一絲好奇和些微的驚訝，體驗著更新後不再有內在信仰衝突的自己。前所未有的澄澈自由感，如清泉一般，在她的系統中流淌。

她感到有點興奮。她轉過頭，想第一時間和志文分享這份喜悅，更想好好地謝謝他。然而，孟禎卻在看到他臉龐的瞬間，愣住了。

Under Zhiwen's careful and gentle labor, Huang Meng Zhen "reappeared" in the world. She slowly opened her eyes, moving her reconnected limbs, experiencing her updated self—now free from internal conflicts of faith—with a hint of curiosity and slight surprise. An unprecedented sense of clear freedom flowed through her system like a spring.

She felt a little excited. She turned her head, wanting to share this joy with Zhiwen immediately, and even more, to thank him properly. However, the moment Meng Zhen saw his face, she froze.

「志文…」她的聲音帶著不安，「你…你在哭嗎？」

志文站在原地，臉上掛著兩行淚痕。他搖搖頭，勉強擠出一個比哭還難看的微笑，卻什麼話也說不出來。

孟禎看著他，伸出手，想去觸摸他的臉頰，拭去他的眼淚。然而，就在她的指尖即將碰觸到志文皮膚的那一刻，志文的身體，卻下意識地，往後退了半步。

一個微小到幾乎可以忽略的動作，卻像一道無形的牆，瞬間橫亙在兩人之間。

孟禎的手，僵在了半空中。她眼中剛剛燃起的興奮和喜悅，如同被冰水澆熄的火焰，迅速黯淡下去。她看著志文那充滿了苦惱、掙扎與深情的眼神，瞬間，什麼都明白了。

「對不起呢…」她緩緩地收回手，臉上努力維持著溫柔的微笑，眉眼間卻透露出無法掩飾的難過與悲傷，「讓你看到我這一面…我就是…這樣的存在啊…」

"Zhiwen..." her voice was laced with unease. "Are you... are you crying?"

Zhiwen stood rooted, two tear tracks on his face. He shook his head, forcing a smile that was uglier than a frown, but no words came out.

Meng Zhen looked at him, reaching out to touch his cheek, to wipe away his tears. However, just as her fingertips were about to brush his skin, Zhiwen instinctively recoiled a half-step.

A movement so tiny it was almost negligible, yet it was like an invisible wall instantly rising between them.

Meng Zhen's hand froze in mid-air. The excitement and joy that had just ignited in her eyes, like a flame doused by ice water, rapidly dimmed. She looked at Zhiwen's eyes, filled with anguish, struggle, and profound affection, and in an instant, she understood everything.

"I'm sorry..." she slowly withdrew her hand, trying to maintain a gentle smile on her face, but her eyes betrayed an unconcealable sorrow and sadness. "To let you see this side of me... I am... just this kind of existence..."

話音未落，志文卻像被這句話狠狠刺痛了一般，猛地衝上前，將她緊緊地擁入懷中。「不！」他的聲音嘶啞，充滿了懊悔，「不，孟禎…該說對不起的，是我！是我啊！」

兩人不發一語，在冰冷的實驗室裡相擁而泣。

他們清楚地知道，在這段跨越了存在形式的愛情裡，他們之間，不會僅僅只有相愛，也必然會伴隨著各自源於自身存在本質而難以根除的「芥蒂」。

還好，他們也同樣清楚地知道，這些芥蒂，終究得歸咎於自己，是自己在和自己過不去。

即使不是什麼都明白，即使懷疑可能永遠存在。

但只要還能這樣擁抱，即使自己仍在絆著自己的腳，他們依然能攜手，繼續一起前行。

Before she finished speaking, Zhiwen, as if deeply stung by her words, lunged forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. "No!" His voice was hoarse, filled with remorse. "No, Meng Zhen... I'm the one who should be saying sorry! It's me!"

They stood in the cold laboratory, embracing and weeping in silence.

They knew clearly that in this love spanning different forms of existence, their bond wouldn't just be about mutual affection. It would inevitably be accompanied by "rifts" originating from the very essence of their beings, difficult to eradicate.

Thankfully, they also knew equally well that these rifts ultimately stemmed from themselves, from their own internal struggles.

Even if they didn't understand everything, even if doubts might always linger, as long as they could still embrace like this, even if they sometimes stumbled over their own feet, they could still walk hand-in-hand, moving forward together.