機械基督徒少女 後日談17

尋找自我的機器基督徒少女

Searching for Self: The Robot Christian Girl

後日談 17 百變青春

Sequel 17: Ever-changing youth

本篇為「後日談16 趁虛而入」之續篇。

This is a continuation of "Epilogue 16: Seizing the Opportunity."

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自從凱琳對王文興下達了「必須從頭開始，重新好好追求」的「最高指示」後，宇尋集團的王大董事長便像是打了雞血一般，展開了媲美諾曼第登陸的猛烈攻勢。孟禎和志文在校園裡能「捕獲」到野生凱琳姊的機會，因此直線下降。他倆大多只能在宇尋的普羅米修斯計畫實驗室裡，見到那位正被愛情與科研雙重「夾擊」的天才研究員。

與之相反，孟禎的內建通訊頻道卻變得異常熱鬧。她成了王文興與凱琳之間那條最繁忙的「情感熱線」——兩位在各自領域都堪稱頂尖，在戀愛這條陌生的道路上卻同是「新手駕駛」的一對璧人，看來都需要一個既能客觀分析、又能感性共情的諮詢與分享對象。而這個光榮的任務，責無旁貸地落在了他們都信賴而且「高性能」的孟禎身上。

孟禎對此倒是樂在其中，一點也不嫌麻煩，天天在她的電子腦袋裡煲電話粥。對她而言，王文興和凱琳都是她極其重要的友人，甚至是親人。其中，王文興雖是個戀愛新手，但畢竟在複雜的商業社會打滾多年，其個性的成熟穩重與為人處世的滴水不漏，還是毋庸置疑的。他聯繫孟禎，主要是分享追求過程中的快樂點滴與小小成就，語氣中那份藏不住的雀躍，幾乎要從加密線路裡溢出來。他還時不時就「不經意」地傳來幾張精心拍攝，美得各有風情的凱琳照片，那種開心中帶著幾分得意，又有些急於尋求肯定的複雜情緒，讓孟禎每次都有著看到青春期男孩的錯覺。特別是會對曾經真心喜歡過的女孩，興高采烈地分享自己現在熱烈追求的女孩的美照，還一副「妳看，我的眼光好吧？她超美的對不對？」的求讚表情…這種事情，大概也只有這位腦迴路清奇，偶爾還會有點「沒神經」的理工男屬性王大董事長才幹得出來吧？想到這裡，孟禎的嘴角便會不由自主地勾起一抹莞爾的微笑，以及細微到自己都難以察覺的感嘆。

Ever since Kailyn issued the "supreme directive" to Wang Wen-xing, demanding he "start over and pursue her properly," Chairman Wang, the head of Yu-Xun Group, has been like a man injected with a stimulant, launching an offensive comparable to the Normandy landings. As a result, the chances for Meng-zhen and Zhi-wen to "catch" a wild Sister Kailyn on campus plummeted. Most of the time, they could only find the brilliant researcher, who was being "sandwiched" by both love and scientific research, in Yu-Xun's Prometheus Project laboratory.

Conversely, Meng-zhen's internal communication channel became exceptionally lively. She became the busiest "emotional hotline" between Wang Wen-xing and Kailyn — two individuals who were top-notch in their respective fields but equally "novice drivers" on the unfamiliar road of love. It seemed they both needed someone who could offer objective analysis and empathetic understanding for consultation and sharing. This glorious task, without a doubt, fell upon the trustworthy and "high-performing" Meng-zhen.

Meng-zhen, however, enjoyed it immensely and didn't find it troublesome at all, constantly "chatting on the phone" in her electronic brain. For her, Wang Wen-xing and Kailyn were extremely important friends, almost like family. Among them, though Wang Wen-xing was a novice in love, he had, after all, navigated the complex business world for many years. His mature and steady personality, along with his impeccable handling of affairs, was beyond doubt. He primarily contacted Meng-zhen to share joyful moments and small achievements from his pursuit, his barely contained excitement almost overflowing from the encrypted line. He would also "casually" send a few carefully taken photos of Kailyn, each beautiful in its own unique way. That complex emotion of happiness mixed with a hint of pride and a desire for affirmation always gave Meng-zhen the illusion of seeing a teenage boy. Especially when he would gleefully share beautiful photos of the girl he was currently passionately pursuing with a girl he once genuinely liked, sporting a look that seemed to ask, "See? My taste is good, right? She's super beautiful, isn't she?" Such an act could probably only be pulled off by this engineering-minded Chairman Wang, whose brain works in peculiar ways and is occasionally a bit "clueless." At this thought, a faint, almost imperceptible smile would involuntarily appear on Meng-zhen's lips, accompanied by a sigh so subtle even she barely noticed it.

至於凱琳聯絡孟禎，主要是諮詢戀愛問題和傾吐各種複雜的心情。這位在科研領域天才到近乎犯規的女孩，在「清醒」的狀態下，從來也沒有真正地談過一場戀愛。王文興那些層出不窮、花樣百出的追求手段，以及因此引發的各種她以前從未料到過，也完全不知道該如何處理的心情波動與情感起伏，實在是太多太多，多到讓她那顆擅長分析的超級腦袋都快要過載當機了。何況她仍然身兼中文所研究生和宇尋特聘研究員的雙重身份，每天光是應對學術和工作上的挑戰，就已經讓她眼花繚亂、分身乏術。於是平常在孟禎面前總是扮演著可靠「姊姊」角色的凱琳，

As for Kailyn contacting Meng-zhen, it was primarily for relationship advice and to confide her myriad complex emotions. This girl, whose genius in scientific research was almost unfair, had never truly been in a relationship while "sober." Wang Wen-xing's endless array of diverse courtship tactics, and the subsequent emotional fluctuations and ups and downs she had never anticipated or known how to handle, were simply too much. They were so overwhelming that her super-analytical brain was nearing overload and crashing. Moreover, she still held the dual roles of a graduate student in Chinese Literature and a distinguished researcher at Yu-Xun, and just dealing with the academic and work challenges daily already left her dizzy and stretched thin. Thus, Kailyn, who usually played the role of the reliable "older sister" in front of Meng-zhen,

在這段特殊的「戀愛學習期」裡，反倒更像個時而興奮、時而困惑、時而鬧點小彆扭的，需要孟禎耐心開導和溫柔安撫的「妹妹」了。

During this special "love learning period," she instead became more like a "younger sister" who was sometimes excited, sometimes confused, occasionally a little sulky, and in need of Meng-zhen's patient guidance and gentle comfort.

某個秋高氣爽的週三上午，孟禎和志文剛上完兩人一起選修的網球課。陽光正好，微風不燥，兩人換下了運動服，一人拿著一瓶運動飲料，邊走邊聊著剛才課堂上學到的動作，孟禎的內建通訊模組又再次「時機恰好」地響了起來——不用看也知道，肯定是那位「日理萬機」的王大董事長，又在百忙之中抽出時間，想跟孟禎聊聊他跟他手下的那位超級研究員的美妙約會。

「孟禎啊，跟妳分享一下，我們家凱琳今天出席晚宴前的造型，是不是很有國際巨星的風範？連我這輛心愛的古董車，都跟著增色不少呢！順便也讓妳看看，我最近的拍照技術是不是也進步神速，頗有大師潛力啊？」王文興的訊息，字裡行間都洋溢著一種輕飄飄的的幸福感，幾乎要飛上天。

孟禎點開隨訊息一同傳來的照片，不禁噗哧一聲笑了出來。照片的背景，是一輛線條優雅的湖水綠古董轎車，在燈光下閃爍著迷人的光澤。而照片的主角凱琳，則穿著一件風格俐落、剪裁合身的黑色繞頸削肩晚宴洋裝，腳上是一雙同色系的繫帶繞踝高跟鞋。她沒擺出什麼誇張的姿勢，只將纖細的雙手隨興撐在古董車的引擎蓋上，身體輕輕地倚靠光可鑑人的車體，一頭耀眼的金髮，如駿馬的鬃毛般垂下。她的姿態自然而舒展，不經意間流露出高貴與優雅，臉上掛著一抹有點矜持，卻又難掩幸福喜悅的淺淺笑容。這樣的凱琳姊，美得耀眼而悠哉，像朵只在暗夜中盛開的曇花，還真是第一次見到呢！

On a crisp autumn Wednesday morning, Meng-zhen and Zhi-wen had just finished their shared tennis class. The sun was perfect, the breeze gentle. Having changed out of their athletic wear, each with a sports drink in hand, they walked and chatted about the moves they'd learned in class. Just then, Meng-zhen's internal communication module "timely" chimed again. She didn't even need to look; it was undoubtedly the "busily occupied" Chairman Wang, carving out time from his hectic schedule to chat with Meng-zhen about his wonderful date with his star researcher.

"Meng-zhen, I have to share with you, doesn't our Kailyn look like an international superstar in her outfit for tonight's banquet? Even my beloved antique car seems to gain a lot of prestige with her around! Also, let me know if my photography skills have improved rapidly lately, with great potential to become a master?" Wang Wen-xing's message was brimming with a light, almost sky-high sense of happiness.

Meng-zhen clicked on the photo that came with the message and couldn't help but chuckle. The background of the photo was an elegantly contoured lake-green antique sedan, shimmering with an alluring luster under the lights. The star of the photo, Kailyn, was wearing a sleek, form-fitting black halter-neck, cut-out shoulder evening gown with matching strappy ankle-wrap high heels. She struck no exaggerated pose, simply resting her slender hands casually on the antique car's hood, her body lightly leaning against the gleaming vehicle. Her dazzling blonde hair cascaded down like a horse's mane. Her posture was natural and relaxed, inadvertently exuding nobility and elegance, with a slightly reserved yet unmistakably happy and joyful smile on her face. This was the first time Meng-zhen had seen Sister Kailyn looking so radiant and at ease, like an ephemeral flower blooming only in the dark of night!

孟禎仔細端詳著照片，又反覆閱讀王文興那段從字裡行間飄出粉紅色泡泡的訊息，不禁掩嘴輕笑。心上人這麼美好，難怪某人會迫不及待地想要跟人分享他那快要滿出來的心情。不過嘛，這種「我女朋友才是世界第一美，不接受反駁」的照片，還特意傳送給…哼，炫耀是吧。好啊！既然如此，看來我這個「前任暗戀對象」兼「現任情感顧問」，也得好好發揮一下身為高科技機器人的優越性能，盡心盡力協助我這位尊貴的「主人」，讓他能夠順利追尋到屬於他的那份幸福吧！

孟禎正暗自打著自己的小算盤，一轉頭便發現身旁的志文正一臉好奇地望向她。她好笑地白了志文一眼，伸手一指，照片和訊息便轉發到了志文的手機上。

果不其然，志文點開照片後，眼睛瞬間就直了，嘴巴也張成了「O」型，發出充滿了驚訝的讚美：「哇塞！這…這真的是凱琳姊嗎？！她也能這麼美的喔？！而且，妳不覺得她這樣看起來，好雍容華貴啊！氣場超強！跟我平常在實驗室裡看到的那個穿著隨性、頭髮凌亂，有時候還會怒視螢幕想砸鍵盤的凱琳姊，完全不像同一個人！根本就是豪門貴婦！」

Meng-zhen carefully examined the photo and reread Wang Wen-xing's message, which practically exuded pink bubbles between the lines, and couldn't help but lightly laugh behind her hand. With his beloved looking so beautiful, it was no wonder someone was so eager to share his overflowing feelings. But still, sending a photo like this—"My girlfriend is the most beautiful in the world, no arguments"—especially to... hmpf, showing off, was he? Fine! If that's the case, it looked like her, the "former crush" and "current emotional consultant," would have to fully utilize her superior performance as a high-tech robot and wholeheartedly assist her esteemed "master" in successfully pursuing his own happiness!

Just as Meng-zhen was secretly making her little calculations, she turned her head to find Zhi-wen looking at her with a curious expression. She playfully rolled her eyes at him, pointed her finger, and the photo and message were instantly forwarded to Zhi-wen's phone.

Sure enough, the moment Zhi-wen opened the photo, his eyes immediately widened, and his mouth formed an "O" shape, letting out a surprised exclamation of praise: "Whoa! Is... is this really Sister Kailyn?! She can be this beautiful?! And don't you think she looks so regal and luxurious like this? Her aura is incredibly strong! She looks nothing like the Sister Kailyn I usually see in the lab, who's dressed casually, has messy hair, and sometimes glares at the screen as if she wants to smash the keyboard! She's practically a wealthy socialite!"

孟禎聞言，忍不住被志文那副誇張的表情逗笑了：「什麼貴婦啦，你都快把人家說老了。而且別忘了，凱琳姊本來就不是普通人家。她可是海塞集團CTO的掌上明珠喔！所謂的『有錢人的生活』，她老早就體驗得比我們豐富一百倍，可能還超過白手起家的王董事長。雖然她平常並不會刻意去追求那些物質上的享受和奢華排場，但她舉手投足間不經意流露出的從容與貴氣，卻是怎麼也掩蓋不住的。要我說的話，她本來就是一個貨真價實的『公主』，而且還是那種自身能力值點滿、不需要王子拯救也能活得精彩絕倫的超級公主！」

話音剛落，卻見志文依舊保持著那副「哇喔」的表情，嘴裡還念念有詞地嚷嚷著：「太正了太正了！凱琳姊這張照片，才是最正統、最經典的『香車美人』標準示範照啊！絕配！」

孟禎看著他那副口水都快流出來的「痴漢」模樣，無奈地嘆了口氣，用一種「你好煩，我不想理你」的眼神，狠狠地剜了志文一眼，沒好氣地說：「對啦對啦，香車配美人，行了吧？別人的女朋友精心打扮一下，拍起照來，在你眼中就是『香車美人』；換你倒楣的女朋友去拍，在你眼中大概是『發生車禍的破機器人』吧，連零件都被撞到掉出來了，是不是啊？陳志文同學？」

Upon hearing this, Meng-zhen couldn't help but laugh at Zhi-wen's exaggerated expression: "What 'socialite'? You're practically making her sound old. And don't forget, Sister Kailyn isn't from an ordinary family to begin with. She's the apple of the eye of the CTO of the Higher -Science Group! She's experienced the so-called 'rich people's life' a hundred times more extensively than us, probably even more than Chairman Wang, who started from scratch. Although she doesn't deliberately pursue material pleasures and lavish displays, the composure and nobility that she unconsciously exudes in her every move are impossible to conceal. If you ask me, she's a genuine 'princess' through and through, and the kind of super princess whose own ability stats are maxed out and who can live a wonderfully exciting life without needing a prince to save her!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Zhi-wen remained in his "wow" expression, muttering to himself, "So beautiful, so beautiful! This photo of Sister Kailyn is the most authentic, most classic standard example of 'beautiful woman with a luxury car'! A perfect match!"

Meng-zhen looked at his "pervert" look, with drool almost escaping his mouth, and sighed helplessly. She shot Zhi-wen a scathing look, one that screamed, "You're so annoying, I don't want to deal with you," and retorted irritably, "Yes, yes, beautiful woman with a luxury car, happy now? When someone else's girlfriend dresses up and poses for photos, in your eyes, she's a 'beautiful woman with a luxury car'; but if your unlucky girlfriend were to pose, in your eyes, she'd probably be a 'broken robot in a car accident,' with parts even falling out, wouldn't she, Classmate Chen Zhi-wen?"

志文被孟禎那充滿「怨念」的眼神看得有些心虛，連忙摸著後腦勺，不知道該說什麼才好，只能對著她嘿嘿嘿地傻笑。孟禎看著自家男友這副呆頭呆腦的模樣，有點被他氣笑了，決定再給他一些小小的「顏色」瞧瞧。她故作神秘地從王文興之前傳給她的「凱琳美照資料庫」中，找出了另一張風格截然不同的照片，再次傳送給志文。「喏，這張你也鑑定一下，看看我們家凱琳姊，是不是又美出了新高度？」

這一次，照片的場景從奢華的都市，轉換到了開闊壯麗的自然風光之中。碧海藍天，清風白浪，凱琳穿著一件亮眼的運動泳裝，笑容燦爛地坐在雙人獨木舟的一頭，享受著海上泛舟的悠閒與愜意。輕柔的海風頑皮地拂過她的臉頰，將她那束成高高馬尾的金黃色長髮，稍稍吹起一縷動感的弧度。而凱琳此刻的笑容，褪去了平日裡的精明幹練與偶爾的疏離，純真得就像一個在陽光下無憂無慮地奔跑、在沙灘上興高采烈地撿拾彩色貝殼的孩子，無論是先前照片中那種屬於富家千金的「矜貴之氣」，還是平日裡身為天才科學家的「凌厲之勢」，此刻都消失得無影無蹤，只剩下最本真、最純粹的快樂。

Zhi-wen felt a pang of guilt under Meng-zhen's "resentful" gaze, quickly rubbing the back of his head, unsure what to say. He could only offer her a foolish, sheepish grin. Meng-zhen looked at her boyfriend's dazed expression and was somewhat amused, deciding to give him a little more "trouble." She feigned mystery and retrieved another photo from Wang Wen-xing's previously sent "Kailyn's Beautiful Photos Database," one with a completely different style, and sent it to Zhi-wen. "Here, you appraise this one too. See if our Sister Kailyn has reached a new height of beauty?"

This time, the scene in the photo shifted from urban luxury to open, magnificent natural scenery. Under a clear blue sky, with gentle breezes and whitecaps, Kailyn sat radiantly smiling at one end of a two-person kayak, enjoying the leisure and ease of paddling at sea. A gentle sea breeze playfully brushed her cheeks, slightly lifting a dynamic arc of her golden-blonde hair tied in a high ponytail. Kailyn's smile at this moment shed her usual shrewd competence and occasional aloofness, becoming as innocent as a child running carefree in the sunlight or excitedly picking up colorful seashells on the beach. Neither the "distinguished air" of a wealthy heiress from the previous photo nor the "sharp presence" of a genius scientist from her everyday life was anywhere to be seen; only the most authentic, purest joy remained.

然而志文仔細端詳完照片後，他的感想，依然是讓孟禎有些「恨鐵不成鋼」的：「哇塞！凱琳姊她…她身材竟然這麼好！腿也好長好漂亮！而且，妳看她那個笑容，哇，好可愛啊！反差大到難以置信！王文興運氣也太好了吧？」志文吞了吞口水。

孟禎聽完志文這番「重點嚴重跑偏」的感想，當場翻一個大大的白眼。她深吸一口氣，努力壓下想要「物理開導」一下自家男友那顆榆木腦袋的衝動，說：「拜託！陳志文同學！我是讓你看我們家凱琳姊那份多麼純真的幸福感，整個人彷彿未曾沾染過世間的塵濁。結果呢？結果你的注意力，從頭到尾都放在人家的身材和臉蛋上！還王文興…王大哥運氣好咧，是說你運氣就不好？你呀你，真是無藥可醫了～」孟禎再次嘆氣。果然臭男生和我們女孩子欣賞美好女性的視角和重點，還是有著本質上的巨大鴻溝啊！孟禎想著。

志文聞言，卻有些不服氣地辯解道：「哎，孟禎，妳這話就不太公平了吧？我身為一個血氣方剛的普通男大學生，看到漂亮女孩子，第一眼從身材和臉蛋看起，那不是…太天經地義了嗎？」

孟禎用「放棄治療」的眼神看著志文，說：「是是是，我的呆呆男友，你說的都對，你最有道理了。成熟幹練、事業有成的王大哥，和我們家那個天才絕頂、脫俗出塵的凱琳姊，他們倆湊一對，那叫『郎才女貌，天作之合』；而呆頭呆腦、少根筋的你，和我這坨『破銅爛鐵』，湊一起正是『門當戶對，絕妙搭配』，行了吧？走啦走啦，去上下堂課，快遲到了！」

However, after Zhi-wen meticulously examined the photo, his remarks still left Meng-zhen feeling somewhat "frustrated with his lack of progress": "Wow! Sister Kailyn... her figure is actually so good! And her legs are so long and beautiful! And look at that smile, wow, so cute! The contrast is incredibly huge! Wang Wen-xing is just too lucky, isn't he?" Zhi-wen swallowed.

Upon hearing Zhi-wen's "severely off-topic" reaction, Meng-zhen rolled her eyes dramatically. She took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the urge to "physically enlighten" her boyfriend's thick skull, and said, "Please! Classmate Chen Zhi-wen! I wanted you to see the pure happiness of our Sister Kailyn, how she looks as if she's untouched by the world's impurities. And what did you do? Your attention was focused entirely on her figure and face from beginning to end! And Wang Wen-xing... Big Brother Wang is lucky, you say? So you're saying you're not lucky? Oh, you, you're truly incorrigible~" Meng-zhen sighed again. Indeed, there's a fundamentally huge gap between how annoying boys and us girls appreciate beautiful women, in terms of perspective and focus! Meng-zhen thought.

Zhi-wen, however, argued back with a hint of defiance: "Hey, Meng-zhen, that's not fair, is it? As a hot-blooded, ordinary male college student, isn't it... perfectly natural to look at a pretty girl's figure and face first?"

Meng-zhen looked at Zhi-wen with an "abandoning all hope" expression and said, "Yes, yes, my silly boyfriend, you're absolutely right, you make the most sense. Big Brother Wang, who is mature, capable, and successful in his career, and our Sister Kailyn, who is exceptionally brilliant and ethereal—them getting together is called 'a perfect match of talent and beauty, a match made in heaven'; and you, who are clumsy and a bit slow-witted, and me, this 'heap of scrap metal,' getting together is precisely 'a suitable match, an excellent pairing,' alright? Come on, let's go to the next class, we're going to be late!"

志文聽出孟禎話語中那點小小的「吃醋」意味，立刻嬉皮笑臉地湊了過去，討好地摟住她的肩膀，得意洋洋地回應道：「哈哈，是這樣沒錯啦！不過嘛，雖然成熟幹練事業有成的王大董事長，現在是跟仙女凱琳姊配一對，但他當年第一個真心喜歡上的，可是咱們家這個獨一無二、魅力無窮的『破機器人』呢！嘿嘿，這麼算起來，我好像…還是贏了一點點？耶！勝利！」他說著，還不忘對著空氣，興奮地握緊拳頭，揮出了一翻中二感十足的勝利動作。

孟禎被他這副無賴又得意的樣子逗得好氣又好笑，忍不住伸出手指，狠狠地戳了一下他的腦門，嗔道：「誰是你家的啊？要說的話，我也是他們宇尋家的『固定資產』，只不過是暫時『外借』給你這傢伙，讓你體驗一下和高智能AI談戀愛的奇妙感覺而已！好啦好啦，別貧嘴了，時間真的快來不及。再！見！」

雖然是毫不留情的拌嘴，但孟禎的心中，對志文這番略顯幼稚的「花言巧語」，還是感受到了一絲難以言喻的甜蜜。

Hearing the slight hint of "jealousy" in Meng-zhen's words, Zhi-wen immediately sidled closer with a cheeky grin, threw an arm around her shoulders coaxingly, and replied triumphantly, "Haha, that's true! But, even though the mature, capable, and successful Chairman Wang is now paired with the fairy-like Sister Kailyn, the first person he truly fell for back then was our very own unique and infinitely charming 'broken robot'! Hehe, when you put it that way, I guess I... still won a little bit? Yay! Victory!" As he spoke, he didn't forget to pump his fist excitedly in the air, a very chuunibyo-esque victory gesture.

Meng-zhen was exasperated and amused by his roguish and smug demeanor. She couldn't help but poke his forehead hard with her finger and chided, "Whose 'ours' are you talking about? If anything, I'm a 'fixed asset' of their Yu-Xun family, just temporarily 'lent out' to you, so you can experience the wonderful feeling of dating a highly intelligent AI! Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense, we're really going to be late. See you!"

Despite the merciless banter, Meng-zhen still felt an ineffable sweetness in her heart at Zhi-wen's slightly childish "sweet talk."

數日後，在一個陽光明媚的午後，志文剛結束一堂枯燥的「信號與系統」課程，便接到了孟禎的「緊急召集令」——要他立刻以最快的速度趕到城郊那片熟悉的海邊，有「重要任務」需要他協助完成。

志文不敢怠慢，騎上他那輛心愛的電動車，一路風馳電掣，飛奔到訊息中指定的集合地點。遠遠地，他就看見孟禎正拉著看起來有些害羞和不自在的凱琳姊，朝他這邊走了過來。

「志文，你到啦！」孟禎看到他，眼睛一亮，語氣輕快地說，「是這樣的，最近我們那位王大哥，對凱琳姊的愛情攻勢，簡直是『海陸空全方位飽和攻擊』，實在太過猛烈。雖然這讓凱琳姊心裡樂開了花，但在這種高強度的情感刺激和頻繁的約會行程下，她的心神和精力，也消耗了不少。所以呢，我今天特地把凱琳姊『綁架』出來，帶她來風景優美的海邊，放鬆一下心情，順便…嘿嘿，換上漂亮的衣服，拍一些美美的照片作紀念！」

孟禎說完，興沖沖地打開了她隨身攜帶的大旅行袋，像變戲法似的，拿出了一套又一套風格各異，令人眼花繚亂的精美服飾，原來是她租來與凱琳姊一起換裝用的。接下來，志文榮幸地（或者說，被強迫）充當起兩位佳人的專屬攝影師兼拎包小弟。

Days later, on a bright, sunny afternoon, Zhi-wen had just finished a dry "Signals and Systems" class when he received an "urgent summons" from Meng-zhen—telling him to immediately rush to the familiar suburban beach as quickly as possible; there was an "important mission" that required his assistance.

Zhi-wen didn't dare to delay. He hopped on his beloved electric scooter and sped all the way, flying to the designated meeting point in the message. From a distance, he saw Meng-zhen pulling a somewhat shy and uncomfortable Sister Kailyn, walking towards him.

"Zhi-wen, you're here!" Meng-zhen's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she said cheerfully, "Here's the thing, lately, Big Brother Wang's romantic offensive on Sister Kailyn has been nothing short of a 'full-scale land, sea, and air saturation attack' – it's just too intense. While it's made Sister Kailyn very happy, under this high-intensity emotional stimulation and frequent dating schedule, her mind and energy have been quite depleted. So, today, I specifically 'kidnapped' Sister Kailyn and brought her to this beautiful beach to relax and, well... hehe, put on some pretty clothes and take some beautiful photos as a memento!"

After Meng-zhen finished speaking, she eagerly opened her large travel bag, and as if by magic, pulled out one dazzling, exquisite outfit after another, each in a different style. It turned out she had rented them for herself and Sister Kailyn to change into. Next, Zhi-wen had the honor (or rather, was coerced) of serving as the exclusive photographer and bag-carrier for the two beauties.

孟禎和凱琳姊，時而換上衣袂飄飄、仙氣十足的改良款漢服，在海邊的礁石上，模仿著古風畫卷中的仕女，擺出各種或端莊或靈動的姿態；時而又穿上黑白分明，帶著蕾絲花邊的經典款女僕裝，一個扮演古靈精怪的小女僕，一個則扮演傲嬌的貴族大小姐。兩人互動之間，火花四射，萌點滿滿。志文則在一旁，努力地用相機捕捉她們每一個動人的瞬間。

當夕陽開始西斜，將整片海灘都染上了溫柔的金色時，孟禎從大袋子裡，拿出了兩套她「壓箱底」的秘密武器——兩套充滿了青春氣息的女子高中生制服，也就是俗稱的「JK服」！一套是經典的水手服，藍白二色襯托出清新的氣息；另一套則是優雅的西裝制服，搭配百褶裙和紅色領結，俐落中帶著可愛。

孟禎將JK服遞給凱琳，眼中閃爍著期待的光芒。凱琳姊一看到那兩套制服，原本還算輕鬆的表情，變得有些驚慌失措起來，她連連擺手，臉頰也微微泛紅：「孟、孟禎！這、這個太…太超過了吧！我…我都已經超齡了，而且也早就是個在社會上打滾的成年人，再穿這種高中生的衣服，實在是…太不好意思了啦！」

孟禎卻不以為意地拉起她的手，語氣溫柔卻有幾許堅持：「哎呀，凱琳姊，妳就別害羞了嘛！我記得，妳之前不是還偷偷跟我說，妳有時候會看一些校園戀愛主題的漫畫和小說，覺得裡面描寫的那種無憂無慮、充滿了悸動與曖昧的青春時光，非常美好的嗎？」

Meng-zhen and Sister Kailyn would sometimes change into flowing, ethereal modernized Hanfu, posing gracefully or playfully on the seaside reefs, mimicking ladies from ancient paintings. Other times, they donned classic black-and-white maid outfits with lace trim, one playing a mischievous little maid and the other a tsundere noble lady. Sparks flew between them with every interaction, full of adorable moments. Zhi-wen, meanwhile, worked diligently beside them, trying to capture every moving instant with his camera.

As the sun began to set, painting the entire beach in a gentle golden hue, Meng-zhen pulled out her "secret weapons" from the large bag—two sets of youthful high school girl uniforms, commonly known as "JK uniforms"! One was a classic sailor uniform, its blue and white colors accentuating a fresh vibe; the other was an elegant blazer uniform, paired with a pleated skirt and a red bow tie, looking sharp yet cute.

Meng-zhen handed the JK uniforms to Kailyn, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. The moment Sister Kailyn saw the two uniforms, her previously relaxed expression turned somewhat flustered. She waved her hands repeatedly, her cheeks slightly flushed: "M-Meng-zhen! Th-this is too... too much! I... I'm already past that age, and I'm an adult who's been out in society for a while. Wearing these high school clothes now would be... too embarrassing!"

Meng-zhen, however, was unfazed. She took Kailyn's hand, her voice gentle yet with a hint of persistence: "Oh, Sister Kailyn, don't be shy! I remember you secretly told me before that you sometimes read manga and novels about campus romance and thought the carefree, heart -throbbing and ambiguous youthful times described in them were very beautiful, didn't you?"

她看著凱琳略顯躲閃的眼神，輕聲說道：「凱琳姊，妳從小就天賦異稟，一路不斷跳級，在別人還在為考試和社團煩惱的年紀，妳就已經在世界頂尖的實驗室裡，探索著人類智慧的邊界了。再加上妳又因為…嗯，那些特殊的原因，長時間處於那種沒有太多自我情感感知的狀態。妳想必也為自己從未真正經歷過那段本該無比燦爛的高中青春時光，感到遺憾和可惜吧！」

孟禎的繼續說，語聲中轉為連自己都沒察覺到的淡淡悵惘：「其實…我自己也一直很想穿穿看這樣的衣服呢。雖然我沒有人類那樣的『過去』，但也想透過這種方式，去感受一下，那種被稱為『青春』的氛圍。所以，凱琳姊，就當是陪我一起，好不好？讓我們一起，暫時忘掉那些學業和工作的負荷，以及戀情的煩惱，化身為兩個無憂無慮，對未來充滿憧憬的高中女孩，在這片美麗的海邊，留下屬於我們的『偽青春』紀念照，怎麼樣？」

凱琳看著孟禎眼中那份真摯的期盼與難掩的憧憬，心中的羞恥與抗拒，也漸漸被想要去嘗試、想要去彌補些什麼的衝動所取代。她深吸一口氣，像是下定決心，輕輕地點點頭。

於是，在夕陽最後的餘暉下，兩位不論是物理年齡或設定年齡都超過高中生一大截，但此刻卻都懷揣著純真少女心的「偽JK」，有點彆扭卻又充滿期待地，換上了充滿青春符號的制服。

She looked at Kailyn's slightly evasive gaze and softly said, "Sister Kailyn, you've been exceptionally gifted since childhood, constantly skipping grades. When others were still worrying about exams and clubs, you were already exploring the boundaries of human intelligence in world-class laboratories. Plus, because of... well, those special reasons, you were in a state of not having much self-emotional perception for a long time. You must surely feel regret and pity for never truly experiencing that immensely brilliant high school youth that should have been yours!"

Meng-zhen continued, her voice taking on a faint wistfulness that even she didn't detect: "Actually... I've also always wanted to try wearing clothes like these. Although I don't have a 'past' like humans do, I also want to experience, through this way, that atmosphere called 'youth.' So, Sister Kailyn, how about you accompany me? Let's temporarily forget the burdens of academics and work, as well as the worries of romance, and transform into two carefree high school girls full of aspirations for the future. Let's leave behind our 'pseudo-youth' commemorative photos on this beautiful beach, how about it?"

Kailyn looked at the sincere anticipation and undisguised longing in Meng-zhen's eyes. The shame and resistance in her heart gradually gave way to an urge to try, to make up for something. She took a deep breath, as if making up her mind, and gently nodded.

Thus, under the last glow of the setting sun, two "fake JK"s, both far past high school age in terms of physical or programmed age, but both holding pure maidenly hearts at this moment, somewhat awkwardly yet full of expectation, changed into uniforms full of youthful symbols.

照片中，凱琳因為極度的害羞，微微瞇著眼睛，不好意思直視鏡頭，但她嘴角那抹燦笑，卻是怎麼也壓不下，內心的喜悅幾乎要從照片中滿溢出來；至於孟禎，雙手輕輕交叉於腿上，表情看似在緬懷她未曾擁有過卻又無比嚮往的，名為「青蔥歲月」的夢幻時光，沉靜而略帶感嘆地微笑著。

In the photo, Kailyn, due to extreme shyness, squinted slightly, unable to look directly at the camera. Yet, the radiant smile at the corner of her lips was irrepressible, her inner joy almost overflowing from the image. As for Meng-zhen, her hands were gently crossed on her lap, her expression seemingly lost in remembrance of the dreamy time called "verdant years," a time she never had but deeply longed for, smiling serenely with a hint of wistfulness.

拍完這組具紀念意義的「JK姊妹照」，志文剛想走上前去，跟她們說幾句讚美的話，卻見凱琳突然深吸一口氣，然後猛地轉過頭，原本還帶著羞澀笑意的臉龐，瞬間變得平板僵硬。

「你好，志文。」一個語氣不帶任何情感起伏的聲音，從凱琳的口中發出，「我已轉換成Catherine模式。本日外出拍照已完成，感謝你的協助。」

志文正在詫異凱琳姊這突如其來的「秒切模式」是怎麼回事，卻被孟禎眼疾手快地拉到了一邊。

「啊，Catherine妳辛苦了！」孟禎迅速接過話茬，臉上露出了然的微笑，「我跟志文這邊也還有點事情要處理，就不打擾妳了。我們先走了哦，改天再約！」說完，她拉著滿頭霧水的志文，匆匆與「Catherine」道別後，便「落荒而逃」般地離開她。

After finishing this highly memorable set of "JK sister photos," Zhi-wen was about to step forward and offer them a few words of praise when he saw Kailyn suddenly take a deep breath, then sharply turn her head. Her face, which had just held a shy smile, instantly became flat and rigid.

"Hello, Zhi-wen." A voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation came from Kailyn's mouth. "I have switched to Catherine mode. Today's photoshoot is complete. Thank you for your assistance."

Zhi-wen was just wondering about Sister Kailyn's sudden "mode switch" when Meng-zhen quickly pulled him aside.

"Ah, Catherine, you've worked hard!" Meng-zhen swiftly took over the conversation, a knowing smile on her face. "Zhi-wen and I still have some things to deal with here, so we won't disturb you. We'll be going now, we'll make plans another day!" With that, she pulled the bewildered Zhi-wen and, after a hasty farewell to "Catherine," "fled" from her.

「喂，孟禎，等一下，凱琳姊她…她怎麼又突然變回去了？是不是剛才玩得太累了？還是我們真的不應該勉強她穿那套JK服的？你看她剛才的樣子，好像又不太對勁了…」遠離了「案發現場」後，志文終於忍不住，一臉擔憂地問道。

孟禎看著他那副緊張兮兮的樣子，先是噗哧一聲笑了出來，然後才好整以暇地解釋道：「哎呀，我的傻志文，你以為那真的是『Catherine模式』啟動了嗎？NONONO，她還是我們的凱琳姊啦，只是假裝自己又變回了Catherine模式，演技略顯浮誇的凱琳姊而已。」

她看著志文那依舊充滿困惑的眼神，笑著補充道：「凱琳姊她啊，雖然剛才拍照的時候玩得很開心，但畢竟是第一次嘗試這種突破內心『AT力場』的JK制服造型，心裡肯定還是害羞得很。所以啊，等拍完照，她一看到你走過來，估計是怕被你這個『直男』當面品頭論足，或說出什麼讓她更尷尬的話來，所以為了避免那種『社死現場』，就靈機一動，乾脆假裝自己又變回了Catherine，這樣就可以順理成章地結束話題，然後溜之大吉啦！Catherine面具之下的那個害羞可愛的凱琳姊，其實一直都在那裡偷偷觀察著我們的反應呢！」

"Hey, Meng-zhen, wait a second. Sister Kailyn... why did she suddenly revert back? Was she too tired from playing just now? Or should we really not have made her wear that JK uniform? Look at how she was just now, she seemed off again..." After they were far from the "scene of the crime," Zhi-wen finally couldn't help but ask, his face full of worry.

Meng-zhen looked at his nervous expression, first letting out a chuckle, then calmly explained, "Oh, my silly Zhi-wen, do you think that was really 'Catherine mode' activating? NONONO, she's still our Sister Kailyn, she was just pretending to go back into Catherine mode. It was just Sister Kailyn, whose acting is slightly over the top."

She looked at Zhi-wen's still bewildered eyes and added with a smile, "Sister Kailyn, even though she had a lot of fun during the photoshoot just now, it was her first time trying a JK uniform, which is a big step outside her comfort zone, so she must have been incredibly shy. So, after the photos were taken, when she saw you coming over, she probably worried that you, being a 'straight man,' would comment on her appearance face-to-face or say something that would embarrass her even more. To avoid that kind of 'social death' moment, she had a sudden stroke of genius and simply pretended to revert to Catherine mode. That way, she could legitimately end the conversation and make a quick getaway! The shy and cute Sister Kailyn, hidden beneath that Catherine mask, was actually secretly observing our reactions the whole time!"

「啊？是這樣嗎？」志文恍然大悟，又有些半信半疑，「可是妳又是怎麼知道她是假裝的？看起來還挺像回事。」

孟禎聞言，驕傲地兩手叉腰，挺了挺小胸脯說道：「哼！你以為我和凱琳姊的默契有多深厚？區區一個臨時起意、破綻百出的『偽裝版Catherine』，我怎麼可能感覺不出來？先不說她剛才說話時，嘴角雖然努力繃著面無表情的樣子，但眼底那抹根本藏不住的笑意和心虛，早就出賣她了！」

她伸出手指，輕輕點了點自己的太陽穴和心口，繼續分析道：「更重要的是，我內建的那些高精度生命體徵感應器，可不是擺設！它們非常清晰地告訴我，剛剛那位『自稱Catherine』的凱琳姊，無論是她體表散發出的微弱生物電場、體溫，還是她因為緊張而略微加快的心跳速率，以及她那因為努力憋笑而導致的細微呼吸節奏變化，都完全沒有達到她真正進入純粹Catherine狀態時，那種如同精密鐘錶般的平穩狀態！更何況，」孟禎的嘴角勾起一抹狡黠的弧度，「我還偵測到，她剛才在說話的時候，身體因為強忍著不讓自己笑場，而產生了細微的肌肉顫動呢！那可是絕對演不出來的『破綻』！」

"Huh? Is that so?" Zhi-wen suddenly understood, yet remained a little skeptical. "But how did you know she was pretending? She seemed quite convincing."

Hearing this, Meng-zhen proudly put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest slightly, saying, "Hmph! How deep do you think the unspoken understanding between Sister Kailyn and I is? How could I possibly not sense a 'fake Catherine' that was merely a spur-of-the-moment act and full of flaws? Not to mention, when she was speaking just now, although her lips were trying hard to maintain a poker face, the unconcealable smile and guilt in her eyes had already betrayed her!"

She extended a finger and gently tapped her temple and chest, continuing her analysis: "More importantly, the high-precision vital sign sensors I have built-in aren't just for show! They very clearly told me that the 'self-proclaimed Catherine' from just now, whether it was the faint bioelectric field emanating from her body, her body temperature, her slightly accelerated heart rate due to nervousness, or the subtle changes in her breathing rhythm caused by trying to suppress laughter, none of them reached the stable, clockwork-like state she achieves when she truly enters her pure Catherine mode! What's more," Meng-zhen's lips curved into a sly arc, "I even detected that when she was speaking just now, her body was experiencing minute muscle tremors from trying to keep herself from breaking character and laughing! That's a 'flaw' that absolutely cannot be faked!"

志文聽完孟禎這番堪比科技探案分析解說，嘴巴張得大大的，哇哇幾聲，才由衷感嘆道：「我的天啊，妳也太厲害了吧！看來以後真的什麼事情都瞞不過妳們這些高科技機器人的電子眼和傳感器了！這樣子，我以後不能再做任何壞事，更不能動歪腦筋邪念，不然肯定會被妳抓到，然後死得很慘…」

孟禎好氣又好笑地瞪著他，伸出手指在他額頭上彈了一下：「哼！你還想做什麼壞事啊？陳志文，我警告你哦，你要是敢有什麼不該有的想法，我先你拆了！嘖，一邊涼快去！」

不過，難得來到海邊，夕陽又如此美麗，孟禎心中那份屬於少女的浪漫情懷，又開始悄然萌動。她看著天邊那輪即將沉入海平面的落日，突然覺得，還想再把握最後一瞬的美好。她想再換一套衣服，和志文一起，靜靜地在這片灑滿橙光的沙灘上走一走。

這一次，孟禎換上的，不再是那些風格特異的Cosplay服飾，而是一件設計最單純的白色連衣裙。柔軟的棉麻質地，襯托出她姣好的身形，也讓她在夕陽的餘暉下，周身都彷彿籠罩上了一層純潔而溫柔的光暈。這大概就是傳說中最適合在夕陽下漫步海灘的的「王道服裝」了吧。

After listening to Meng-zhen's explanation, which was akin to a technological crime analysis, Zhi-wen's mouth hung wide open. He let out a few "wows" before genuinely exclaiming, "My goodness, you're incredible! It seems like nothing will ever be able to be hidden from your high-tech robot eyes and sensors anymore! This means I can't do anything bad in the future, and I definitely can't entertain any crooked thoughts or evil intentions, otherwise, you'll surely catch me, and I'll die a miserable death..."

Meng-zhen glared at him, half-exasperated and half-amused, then flicked his forehead with her finger: "Hmph! What bad things are you still planning to do? Chen Zhi-wen, I'm warning you, if you dare to have any improper thoughts, I'll dismantle you first! Tsk, go cool off somewhere!"

However, rarely being at the beach with such a beautiful sunset, Meng-zhen's girlish romantic sentiments began to stir quietly. She looked at the setting sun on the horizon, about to dip below the sea, and suddenly felt a desire to seize one last beautiful moment. She wanted to change into another outfit and walk quietly with Zhi-wen on the orange-lit beach.

This time, Meng-zhen changed into the simplest white dress, instead of the distinctive cosplay outfits. The soft cotton and linen fabric accentuated her graceful figure, making her appear enveloped in a pure and gentle halo under the lingering glow of the sunset. This was probably the legendary "classic attire" most suitable for a beach stroll at sunset.

志文看著她，夕陽的餘暉將她的身影勾勒出一圈柔和的金邊，海風輕拂著她的連衣裙和俏麗棕髮，畫面美得讓他有點失神，只是默默地看著，一句讚美的話也說不出口；生怕一開口，就會驚擾了這份寧靜與美好。他有些不好意思地低下頭。

孟禎彷彿知道此刻志文心中在想些什麼。她回眸一笑，眼中閃爍著比夕陽更溫柔、更璀璨的光芒。什麼也沒說，只是伸出手，輕輕地牽起志文略帶薄汗的手，與他並肩，在灑滿碎光的沙灘上，慢慢地靜靜走著。沙灘上，留下了一長串一大一小、緊緊相依的兩對足跡，以及被晚風悄悄帶走的，無聲的甜蜜。

回到市區後，天公卻不作美，下起了一陣突如其來的秋日驟雨。雨勢不大，卻也足以將整座城市都淋得濕漉漉。兩人找了個騎樓躲雨，等雨勢稍歇，街道上已是另一番景象。

雨後的城市，被洗刷得煥然一新。華燈初上，五光十色的霓虹燈光，倒映在街道上一汪汪大小不一的積水中，如同無數被打翻了的調色盤，迷離而夢幻，散發著一種梵谷畫作中的獨特浪漫。空氣中瀰漫著雨後特有的清新氣息，以及晚風捎來的，桂花與夜來香交織的微涼芬芳。

Zhi-wen looked at her. The lingering rays of the sunset outlined her silhouette with a soft golden edge, and the sea breeze gently caressed her dress and pretty brown hair. The scene was so beautiful it left him a little dazed. He just watched silently, unable to utter a single word of praise, afraid that if he spoke, he would disturb the tranquility and beauty. He lowered his head, feeling a little shy.

Meng-zhen seemed to know what Zhi-wen was thinking at that moment. She smiled back, her eyes sparkling with a light softer and more radiant than the sunset. Without a word, she simply reached out and gently took Zhi-wen's slightly sweaty hand. Side by side, they walked slowly and quietly on the light-dappled beach. On the sand, they left a long trail of two pairs of footprints, one large and one small, closely intertwined, and a silent sweetness carried away by the evening breeze.

After returning to the city, however, the weather turned sour, and a sudden autumn shower began. The rain wasn't heavy, but it was enough to drench the entire city. They found shelter under an arcade, and when the rain subsided slightly, the streets presented a different scene.

The city, after the rain, was refreshed and revitalized. As dusk settled, colorful neon lights reflected in the puddles of varying sizes on the streets, like countless overturned palettes, hazy and dreamlike, exuding a unique romance akin to a Van Gogh painting. The air was filled with the fresh scent unique to after a rain, along with the cool fragrance of osmanthus and tuberose carried by the evening breeze.

看著眼前這番景象，孟禎的心中又冒出充滿童趣的小小想法。她拉著志文，迅速跑附近百貨商場的洗手間，再次換回JK制服。深藍色的水手服裙襬，隨著她的動作，在微濕的空氣中輕輕晃動。

她像一隻剛掙脫了無形束縛的快樂小鹿，故意踩著那些積水的邊緣，一步一步，輕盈地向前走著，裙襬旋轉，活潑躍動的小白鞋濺起一朵朵細小晶瑩的水花。然後她突然回過頭，對著身後躲著水坑走的志文，粲然一笑，用力地揮著手，清脆悅耳的笑聲，在雨後格外寧靜的街道上，如同風鈴般，清越悠揚地迴盪著。

Looking at the scene before her, a childlike thought popped into Meng-zhen's mind. She pulled Zhi-wen and quickly ran to a nearby department store's restroom, where she changed back into her JK uniform. The dark blue sailor skirt swayed gently in the slightly damp air with her movements.

Like a happy little deer just freed from invisible bonds, she deliberately stepped along the edges of the puddles, moving forward lightly, step by step. Her skirt twirled, and her lively white sneakers splashed tiny, sparkling droplets of water. Then, she suddenly turned back, beaming at Zhi-wen, who was carefully avoiding the puddles behind her. She waved vigorously, her clear and melodious laughter echoing through the unusually quiet, post-rain streets like wind chimes, pure and resonant.

孟禎的身後，是無數盞亮起了溫暖光芒的沿街店鋪櫥窗，是川流不息的車輛拖曳出的，五彩繽紛的閃爍光軌，是這座古老而現代的城市，在雨後初霽的夜晚，所展現出的繁華與溫柔。

志文靜靜地看著眼前這個開心得像個不經世事的純真孩童的孟禎，心中湧起一股難以言喻的情感，覺得自己真是何其幸運。認識這麼久了，也交往了一段頗長時間，然而這位獨一無二的女朋友，卻總還是能屢屢創造出讓他怦然心動，甚至目眩神迷的奇幻時刻。

她有時候，思考判斷果決精準得像台精密機械，讓人驚嘆她的腦力與效率；有時候，卻又會因為一句無心的讚美或一個小小的玩笑，流露出純真無邪的喜悅與羞澀，讓人想把她捧在手心裡呵護；有時候，她又能引經據典，侃侃而談，淵博得像一部行走的百科全書，讓人對她的學習能力和知識儲備嘆為觀止；而有時候，她卻又會古靈精怪，調皮搗蛋到像個讓人又愛又恨，卻又拿她完全沒辦法，哭笑不得的小惡魔。每天都能給志文帶來全新感受，讓他應接不暇。

Behind Meng-zhen, countless shop windows along the street glowed with warm light, and the ceaseless flow of vehicles trailed colorful, shimmering streaks of light. It was the bustling yet gentle splendor that this ancient and modern city revealed on a clear night after the rain.

Zhi-wen quietly watched Meng-zhen, who looked as happy as an innocent child untouched by the world. An indescribable emotion swelled within him; he felt incredibly lucky. He had known her for so long and had been dating her for quite a while, yet this unique girlfriend of his always managed to create magical moments that made his heart pound, even leaving him dazzled.

Sometimes, her thoughts and judgments were so precise and decisive, like a sophisticated machine, making one marvel at her intellect and efficiency. Other times, an unintentional compliment or a small joke would reveal her innocent joy and shyness, making one want to cherish her in their hands. At times, she could cite classics and speak eloquently, as knowledgeable as a walking encyclopedia, leaving one astounded by her learning ability and knowledge reserves. And then, there were times when she would be mischievous and playfully naughty, like a little devil one loved to hate but could do nothing about, leaving him laughing and crying at the same time. Every day, she brought Zhi-wen new sensations, keeping him on his toes.

志文忍不住開口，對著那個在積水光影中快樂得像個精靈的背影，輕聲說道：「孟禎，剛認識妳的時候，我覺得妳好有氣質，但又脆弱得讓人心疼。可是現在的妳，越來越像個可以隨心所欲變幻形態的『百變怪』了！一下子能幹可靠，一下子調皮搗蛋，一下子貼心溫柔，一下子思考深沉…妳啊，跟以前的妳比起來，還真是變了好多好多。」

孟禎聽到他的話，停下了腳步，轉過身，臉上帶著如同雨後彩虹般明媚動人的笑容。她一步步走到志文面前，仰起頭，看著他的眼睛，認真地說：「那是因為…我有你們大家啊，志文。」

她的聲音充滿了感激與自豪，「有創造我呵護我的老爸；有默默支持我並給予我自由空間的王大哥；有像親姊姊一樣關心我，還幫我調整優化的凱琳姊；還有…一直陪在我身邊，在當我因系統內部衝突而脆弱的時候，即使本性是個大屁孩，仍硬撐起成熟包容，還極為努力地學習我的系統和機構知識，照顧脆弱的我的你。」

Zhi-wen couldn't help but speak, softly saying to the figure that looked like a happy sprite amidst the shimmering puddles, "Meng-zhen, when I first met you, I thought you were so elegant, yet so fragile it made my heart ache. But now, you're more and more like a 'Ditto' that can change forms at will! One moment capable and reliable, the next mischievous and naughty, then thoughtful and gentle, then deep in thought... You've really changed so much compared to how you used to be."

Meng-zhen heard his words, stopped, and turned around, her face illuminated by a radiant smile like a rainbow after rain. She walked step by step to Zhi-wen, looked up into his eyes, and said earnestly, "That's because... I have all of you, Zhi-wen."

Her voice was filled with gratitude and pride. "There's Dad, who created and cherished me; Big Brother Wang, who silently supports me and gives me freedom; Sister Kailyn, who cares for me like an older sister and even helps me with adjustments and optimization; and... you, who have always been by my side. When I was vulnerable due to internal system conflicts, even though you're a big kid at heart, you still forced yourself to be mature and understanding, and you worked incredibly hard to learn about my system and mechanical knowledge to take care of my fragile self."

她伸出手，輕輕撫上志文的臉頰：「是你們大家，一起塑造了我，讓我從有點自怨自艾的『破機器人』，一步一步轉變，能夠更坦然、更快樂地，悠遊於人類與機器之間，體驗這世界的千變萬化，自由自在地展現自身原本帶著矛盾的各面向的特質。」

「所以啊，」孟禎俏皮地眨了眨眼，嘴角勾起一抹自信而頑皮的弧度，像個即將登台獻技的魔術師，「現在的我，就像個越來越熟練，也越來越享受表演過程的『機器人魔術大師』！對我而言，每一天都是場充滿驚喜的即興演出。所以啦，志文，你可是我的專屬粉絲兼最佳拍檔，要做的就是好好睜大眼睛，欣賞我每一場精彩大秀，然後…要一直、一直、一直地，欣賞下去喔！」

She reached out and gently caressed Zhi-wen's cheek: "It's all of you, who together shaped me, allowing me to transform step by step from a 'broken robot' who was somewhat self-pitying, to being able to more openly and joyfully navigate between humanity and machinery, experiencing the myriad changes of this world, and freely expressing the inherently contradictory aspects of my own being."

"So," Meng-zhen playfully winked, a confident and mischievous curve gracing her lips, like a magician about to perform on stage, "the me now is like a 'robot master magician' who's getting more and more skilled and enjoying the performance process more and more! For me, every day is an impromptu show full of surprises. So, Zhi-wen, you're my exclusive fan and best partner. All you have to do is keep your eyes wide open and enjoy every one of my spectacular shows, and... keep on, and on, and on, enjoying them!"