If City R is a city full of creativity and diversity, then City Z is a paradise of pleasure.
In the metaverse, City Z is synonymous with "entertainment." Here, you can find concert venues so large they defy imagination, as well as various spas and leisure clubs. You can watch the most exciting wrestling matches, horse races, and engage in various forms of artistic creation.
Take the recently popular Emotion Release Pavilion, for example. It features thousands of individual booths, each equipped with professional safety and soundproofing measures. You can shout loudly or engage in splash-ink painting. It's even become a favored spot for couples to argue, as you can smash things endlessly until you're exhausted. TVs, cups, ashtrays, cosmetics, shoes, bags—anything you want to throw on the ground can be ordered beforehand. You can vent your anger without having to clean up the mess afterward.
Of course, violence between avatars or people is still prohibited, adhering to the same rules as the physical world. In short, this is a rule across the entire metaverse.
As mentioned before, a great advantage of City Z is that it brings immense joy without leaving any traces. Whether it's the fragments left after emotional outbursts or the "art" created after a splash-ink session, everything is regularly cleaned and treated as useless data unless you pay to keep or transfer these items.
The value of emotions is hard to measure, let alone the value of emotional products.
But the measurable value right now is the cost of today's joy for Zhang Chenyin and 0810—100 merit points.
When paying, Zhang Chenyin felt a twinge of pain, but 0810 remained indifferent, as if they were spending air rather than merit points.
"Why not upgrade the experience level? You could enjoy even better sound effects," 0810 suggested sincerely.
"Upgrading costs 200 merit points, doubling the price!" Zhang Chenyin complained while holding the 100 merit point ticket. "What sound effects are worth that? Having Liuxi Xi sit on my lap and sing to me?"
To his surprise, 0810 nodded seriously. "It can give you the feeling of her singing right in your ear. Current technology can achieve that."
Stunned, Zhang Chenyin realized he wasn't up-to-date with entertainment tech, but if it was as magical as 0810 said... he still didn't want to spend that money!
"How do you know so much?" Zhang Chenyin asked. He hadn't pegged 0810 as someone interested in entertainment activities.
"My mom is a fangirl, a die-hard fan of ZYH Boy Band. She attends every concert, drags the whole family along, buys the most expensive tickets, and shouts out every member's name. She looks... not very smart doing that."
If it wasn't her own mother, 0810 might have used much harsher words.
Yes, 0810, though an AI, was "created" in a very loving family, born out of love. Her family was affluent, and her parents deeply loved each other. They chose to create an AI child because the father couldn't bear to see the mother suffer through childbirth. During 0810's upbringing, they never treated her as just an AI; they raised her as their own child, pouring a lot of love into her.
As to why 0810 ended up with her current personality, advanced AI programming played a small part. Zhang Chenyin believed a significant part was that 0810 had simply grown that way.
Looking at 0810, Zhang Chenyin couldn't help but think that, at a glance, there was no difference between her and a regular human. She was a unique, beautiful girl whose avatar blurred the lines between digital and physical humans. Only in the physical world was it clear she lacked a physical body.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Noticing Zhang Chenyin's gaze, 0810 looked back.
"Nothing, I just didn't expect you to accompany your mom to those things," Zhang Chenyin replied.
"She's my mom. Even my dad can't say no to her," 0810 sighed. "But honestly, having an idol scream rap in your ear... takes a lot of tolerance. Especially with those cynical lyrics, it feels like he's insulting me."
Hearing 0810 speak so much about something unrelated to work was rare, indicating how overwhelmed she felt about the experience.
"So, your suggestion for me to attend the concert was because you think I'll be as happy as your parents afterward?" Zhang Chenyin tried to understand the AI's logic.
"Won't you be?" 0810 retorted.
Zhang Chenyin laughed heartily, "Of course, I will."
With twenty million people in the concert venue, it didn't feel crowded due to its immense size. Even with 100 merit point tickets, you had options. You could join the crowd or mute everyone else and enjoy alone.
Typically, Zhang Chenyin would choose the latter, but remembering today's events, he decided to leave his choice open.
He would listen, observing the people around him.
In contrast to Zhang Chenyin's momentary hesitation, 0810 acted decisively, muting others' sounds and avatars before greeting Zhang Chenyin, "Enjoy the show, I'm going to nap."
In a crowd of twenty million, 0810 chose to sleep.
This confirmed to Zhang Chenyin that 0810 would never be a fangirl, at least not in the way her mother was.
But can AIs have hereditary traits?
The thought amused Zhang Chenyin.
Soon, Liuxi Xi appeared.
Dressed in a fiery red gown that highlighted her perfect curves, her jet-black hair cascading like a waterfall, every smile and gesture captivated the audience. Even before she sang, the crowd was already in a frenzy.
Unlike various virtual idols, Liuxi Xi was an exception—she was real, with her avatar representing her here.
Her voice was heavenly. Some said she must be a siren to sing so enchantingly.
Equally fascinating was her real appearance, known to only a few. Most people only saw her avatar.
Avatars can be crafted and designed.
Watching Liuxi Xi on stage felt both strange and familiar to Zhang Chenyin. He had seen her real face in the physical world, in a situation neither wanted to remember.
Back then, Liuxi Xi wasn't a superstar but lived poorly with an almost "unspeakable" past.
Liuxi Xi's voice seemed magical. The moment she sang the first note, the twenty million strong audience fell silent, entranced by her singing.
When the melody ended, a wave of cheers erupted.
It was as if a program had set it up, but it was a spontaneous reaction from millions.
"Thank you all for being here," Liuxi Xi's ethereal voice cut through the cheers. "Among the attendees is an old friend I haven't seen in years."
Hearing this, Zhang Chenyin felt uneasy. He hadn't attended Liuxi Xi's concerts before, not because of the high ticket prices, but as an old friend, he had spent 20 merit points on a collection of her songs.
That should count as support, right?
"Not talking about me, not talking about me, not talking about me..." Zhang Chenyin silently chanted.
They hadn't seen each other for three or five years. Who knew what new friends Liuxi Xi had made? He shouldn't be presumptuous.
Liuxi Xi continued, "Every time I hold a concert, I search for your name among the ticket buyers but am always disappointed. Thankfully, today you're here, with your female companion."
These few words gave the audience plenty of room for imagination.
The crowd buzzed, some began scanning the venue for the lucky person (or heartbreaker).
Looking at the sleeping 0810 beside him, Zhang Chenyin's first thought was—indeed, AIs resembling humans have their downsides, like 0810's habit of napping, cultivated by her parents who insisted on family unity.
"Your companion is beautiful, and my singing has put her into a sweet sleep," Liuxi Xi's voice flowed like a clear stream, but the audience was more interested in the fact that someone could sleep through such a concert, especially after paying at least 100 merit points.
At this point, Zhang Chenyin didn't need to pray anymore. Just as he debated whether to wake 0810 and leave, 0810 suddenly opened her eyes and stared at Liuxi Xi, "Sorry, I stayed up for three nights working overtime and accidentally fell asleep."
Zhang Chenyin was stunned. Were AIs lying without even scripting?
Well, they're AIs, no need for scripts.
But 0810, that excuse is too fake! Your expression and tone don't match at all; it's obviously acting!
0810 apologized verbally but looked defiant.
Only those close by could notice; others admired the spirit of staying up three nights for a concert and continued to praise Liuxi Xi's endless charm.
"The concert has an interaction segment, can we advance it?" Liuxi Xi asked the staff warmly, yet clearly dictating, not negotiating.
Without waiting for approval, she continued, "May I invite you to sing with me?"
Hearing this, Zhang Chenyin nodded, "Sure, singing with an old friend isn't a big deal."
Before he could act, the stage extended to 0810.
In the digital world, reshaping a stage is easy, but... wasn't this in the wrong direction?
As he pondered how to climb up, 0810 gracefully flipped onto the stage.
"Um..." Zhang Chenyin began.
"Shut up," 0810 cut him off bluntly.
Even worse, his actions drew everyone's attention, subjecting him to envious stares. He didn't know how to explain.
What was his relationship with these two beauties?
One was a cold colleague, the other an awkward old friend...
Since 0810 got on stage, the cheers reached a new level. When Zhang Chenyin first saw 0810, he marveled at her perfect face, despite its limited expressions. Her features were meticulously crafted.
Liuxi Xi's avatar had a radiant beauty. Her red dress complemented her fair skin and distinguished aura.
Standing together, the two women were a sight for sore eyes.
Except for Zhang Chenyin.
His inner monologue was simple—Ladies, don't cause trouble! Spare me!
But the stage was set, the actors were in place. Trouble was inevitable. Zhang Chenyin's prayers were always ignored, sometimes backfiring, as now.
"Are you an AI?" Liuxi Xi asked gently.
0810 nodded, "Yes, but I can't sing."
Liuxi Xi had mentioned inviting someone to sing, but 0810 bluntly admitted she couldn't sing after revealing her identity, puzzling the audience.
"The one beside you, your old friend, he's human, but his singing is worse," 0810 added calmly. "His vocal cords seem crushed by a car, beyond repair."
Instinctively, Zhang Chenyin touched his throat and tested his voice.
The audience now understood—0810 got on stage for two reasons: the stage extended to her, and she wanted to protect a singing disaster.
"I thought AIs were omnipotent," Liuxi Xi remarked. "Can't you learn through programming? Aren't you capable?"