The Mechanic [BL]

[68]

Chapter 68 The Antidote to Human Nature (6)

Zhang Xun's mood was better than ever before.

Although he wouldn't be able to sit down comfortably for the whole day, when he recalled last night, he felt his cheeks get hot and his mouth unconsciously wanted to smile.

His relationship with Adam was finally settled with the New Year's bell and those unresolved temptations finally had a happy ending. Zhang Xun felt a sense of happiness that was almost liberating, as if he had escaped the tight bondage of Lost Paradise and his soul had flown to a high place, soaring among the stars in the universe.

He pulled up his collar and smiled at everyone who greeted him, even though he was apparently late because he had stayed up too late last night. Everyone was accustomed to his usual, indifferent response and they all felt like the sun was rising from the west, they were bewildered and secretly discussed what could have happened.

While instructing three young researchers, who had newly joined the Lab, on how to adjust the parameters of a malfunctioning cleaning robot, he was suddenly tapped on the shoulder. When he turned his head he saw Adam standing behind him, with a smile that was doting enough to melt his heart. He shoved a cup of unsweetened coffee with two milks into Zhang Xun's hand, then gave him a quick kiss on the lips before turning to leave. Zhang Xun looked down and saw that drawn on the coffee cup was a small robot making a heart shape with its hands.

With a clatter, a researcher dropped the tablet in his hands to the floor.

At lunch time, as soon as Zhang Xun entered the cafeteria he saw Adam waving warmly at him. He had already prepared meals for him and it was all things he liked to eat. Then, after helping a mechanic solve a technical problem, he returned to his office and saw a cup of hot tea on the table plus a small robot made of parts holding a sign that said "Ah-Xun is the best". In the afternoon, Zhang Xun lay on his desk taking a nap and Adam watched over him from the door, not allowing anyone in, so as not to disturb his mechanic's sleep.

From that day on, Adam completely let go, sowing excessive and sweet affection towards Zhang Xun non stop. The whole of the Lab was dazed by the dog food that was flying all over... All the mechanics said: It's better to make your own artificial intelligence rather than go looking for a boyfriend.

After the new year, the date for the new round of mechanic assessments was getting closer and closer. He didn't know if it was because of Adam being there, but the number of researchers who signed up for the assessment this year had doubled compared to previous years. After discussing with Fernandez, Zhang Xun decided to increase the number of mechanics, but at the same time slightly increase the difficulty of the assessment. While they were discussing, he suddenly saw Fernandez roll his eyes and point to the glass window on his left.

He saw Adam's face sticking to the glass window and waving to him forcefully.

Zhang Xun blocked his vision with his hand and pretended to see nothing.

"Say, can't you make Adam calm down a bit?" Fernandez complained, "For you, a Lab supervisor, to be lovey dovey all day at work, it's not a good example to set."

"I already told him..." Zhang Xun sighed, "This is already a state of compromise."

"Would you say AI's special 'interest' for administrators is a design error? Or is it a strategic behaviour of the AI to preserve itself?" Fernandez touched his chin with his hand and looked at the list of candidate exam questions in front of him, "I think this could make a good essay question."

Zhang Xun was silent for a moment, then asked, "Do you think this 'special interest' would only occur towards administrators?"

"Who else? It's not just Adam, Pan seems that way too. Everyone knows that no one can speak ill of you in the lab."