"Let me tell you, things are different in your generation than in ours—everything needs to be done early rather than late," 0810's mother said with conviction. "Think about it, you're outstanding, so your taste in men probably isn't bad either. That means this young man must be pretty good too. At his age, his parents are probably urging him to find a girlfriend, and if someone else snatches him up first, you'll regret it with no one to cry to."
"I won't cry," 0810 replied, her head lowered, her voice as calm as ever.
"You won't cry?" 0810's mother paused, then asked, "Why? Are you afraid of short-circuiting?"
0810 was speechless—why were conversations with her mother always so bizarre?
"I'm just data; I can't short-circuit," 0810 said, slightly exasperated. "I just think that fate is about timing. His heart probably isn't focused on these things right now. He has more important matters, more important people."
"More important matters?" her father finally found an opportunity to interject, his expression a bit serious.
Every father wants their daughter to be the most important person in the eyes of the one she loves. Hearing 0810 say this naturally made him concerned.
0810 nodded and explained, "His father went missing on the surface over ten years ago. Even though everyone knows what that likely means, he still doesn't want to give up. He keeps hoping to return to the surface to search or at least see it one more time. And then there's his mother. He's very close to her, so much so that he's participating in a brain-machine experiment just to earn more merit points to secure her future."
After hearing this, both of 0810's parents fell silent. What could they say? They certainly couldn't criticize a child for being too filial, could they?
Finally, it was 0810's mother who, with her unique perspective, broke the silence: "So if one day you and his mom both fall into a river, he'll probably save his mom. But don't worry, if that ever happens, your dad and I will definitely come to save you!"
"But I won't fall into a river," 0810 replied, looking at her mother.
To prevent the conversation from taking an even stranger turn, her father quickly summarized: "This young man seems very responsible, but typically, a highly responsible person won't prioritize you above everything else. Think it over, and if you're okay with that, then go for it."
0810 didn't mind these things; she only wanted to clarify her feelings.
"Alright, if the opportunity arises, I'll handle my feelings properly." Even now, 0810's response was measured.
Her parents exchanged a glance. They knew their daughter's personality well enough to recognize that she had made up her mind, and there was no point in arguing further, so they decided to let her make her own choices.
"Oh, how is the brain-machine implant going?" Seeing that 0810 was about to flash away, her mother hurriedly asked, "I'm thinking of getting one myself while I'm still alive—it seems like it could be fun."
"It's still in the experimental stage. He seems to be doing well, but some people have experienced severe rejection reactions and died because they didn't receive timely treatment," 0810 said, looking at her mother. Knowing her mother's daring nature and strong curiosity, she chose her words carefully. "Until the brain-machine is officially released, don't even think about trying it—it's too dangerous!"
Hearing this, her mother could only nod reluctantly, "I suppose you're right. My daughter's all grown up now, even starting to boss her mom around."
Though she grumbled, her mother's face was full of smiles.
0810 said goodbye to her parents and returned to the digital world. Here, she had a comfortable room and everything that resembled the physical world. Her parents had designed this room years ago, and it had witnessed her growth and heard many of her thoughts.
The brain-machine… 0810 thought to herself, if a brain-machine really existed, would it bring Zhang Chenyang closer to her? The brain-machine would allow people to shed the cumbersome pods, making it much easier to move between the virtual and real worlds.
Zhang Chenyang soon returned to work as usual, with 0810 still playing the role of his colleague. Occasionally, she would secretly check on him, and once, when Zhang Chenyang caught her, she quickly explained that she was concerned about his health—after all, he had just had surgery and might suddenly have an accident, which would leave her without a partner.
As for what 0810 discovered at Ters Company in City B, she didn't immediately tell Zhang Chenyang. She knew he was a deep thinker, and if she told him, he would certainly dwell on it, which would be harmful to his recovery after the brain-machine implantation.
Life seemed to return to normal. During this time, Zhang Chenyang met with the professor at a coffee shop near the Materials Research Institute in City R. According to the professor, the material he had shown Zhang Chenyang earlier had already gone into production, and they had used it to build a small space on the surface. Soon, they would send people to live there and adjust things as needed before expanding.
"There will be a day, there will definitely be a day!"
The professor's avatar closely resembled his real self, giving off the air of an old academic. Normally, he spoke slowly, always ensuring his brain kept up with his mouth, but when talking to Zhang Chenyang, his excitement was evident.
"We'll eventually return to the surface, not just one or two people, but everyone."
Hearing the professor's words, Zhang Chenyang nodded in agreement, "No matter how we do it, the first step is getting up there."
"Humans have never given up! You might not know this, but the Alliance once researched ways to improve the surface environment, trying to restore it to the way it was when we lived there—climate, temperature, everything," the professor sighed. "But not all research yields results just by persevering. It's like how many years ago, humans tried to combat global warming, but in the end, they could only mitigate it, not cure it. This time, we've really messed up. Fixing it will be even harder."
Zhang Chenyang enjoyed chatting with the professor. The professor didn't like to bombard non-professionals with technical jargon. At his level, there was no need to show off. Talking to the professor felt more like a conversation between ordinary friends, despite their significant age difference.
Zhang Chenyang had met the professor when he was very young, back when the professor was still in his prime. According to his mother, the professor had a close relationship with his parents and was considered a junior who had been taken under their wing.
During the years his father was missing, the professor occasionally helped out at home, which was how Zhang Chenyang became familiar with him. But their relationship was more like friendship, and even Xie Han would sometimes complain that Zhang Chenyang was too casual around the professor.
As Zhang Chenyang grew up and became a man capable of protecting his family, the professor visited less frequently, only dropping by once every year or two, but their bond grew stronger, and their friendship endured.
The professor had been somewhat angry when he learned that Zhang Chenyang had independently decided to participate in the brain-machine experiment. He felt it was unnecessary, saying he could support Zhang Chenyang if needed. Zhang Chenyang had only smiled and thanked him, without offering much explanation.
Zhang Chenyang was deeply rooted in traditional Chinese values of courtesy and gratitude. He knew how important boundaries were in friendships and how to maintain them.
Of course, he believed the professor's sincerity, but he also understood that some things are best handled on one's own.
"Are you still using the pod for work?" the professor asked.
Zhang Chenyang nodded, "For now, yes. But tomorrow is my first brain-machine test, so I'll be trying to enter the digital world directly through the brain-machine."
The professor was curious, "Can the brain-machine be seen from the outside? I mean, your appearance in the physical world."
If it weren't for the professor's question, Zhang Chenyang might have forgotten they were in the digital world, facing each other as avatars. This immersive conversation was almost disorienting.
"Just like Ters Company has publicly stated, there's a small button hidden behind the ear," Zhang Chenyang smiled. "But I can't go into much detail because of the confidentiality agreement."
The professor nodded understandingly, "I'm looking forward to the brain-machine being released. The pods are so cumbersome and inconvenient."
"But they're highly secure and suitable for almost everyone," Zhang Chenyang replied calmly.
"Are you talking about the brain-machine's rejection reaction?" The professor was clearly knowledgeable on the subject. "Rejection varies from person to person, but from what I've heard from the hospital, technological advancements have significantly reduced the harm caused by rejection. So, anyone who gets a brain-machine has a trial period—if it's not suitable, and the rejection is severe, it can be removed in time."
Zhang Chenyang seemed lost in thought for a moment before he finally smiled and nodded.
As they parted, the professor wished Zhang Chenyang well for his upcoming test, "I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow—stay safe and healthy!"
Zhang Chenyang smiled and thanked him for his good wishes.
Back at home, Zhang Chenyang locked himself in his room. He couldn't deny feeling some anxiety about the test, but he hadn't noticed any issues so far. If it weren't for the small button behind his ear, he might forget there was a machine inside his brain.
What would tomorrow's test be like? Zhang Chenyang felt both excited and nervous. He had discussed with the staff at Ters Company, who explained that the brain-machine might show slight differences in performance across different individuals. If this were a commercially released product, these differences would be negligible, but since it was still in the testing phase, many unknowns remained.
Xie Han knew about the upcoming test, but she didn't fully understand the technology, so she focused on expressing her concern. When Zhang Chenyang came to the dinner table and saw the feast of "nutritious" food, he couldn't help but feel a bit amused.
It had always been this way—whenever he had an important exam or event, Xie Han would prepare a big meal, and there was no getting out of eating it.
"Eat up, it's good for you!" Xie Han said, her usual words of encouragement.
Zhang Chenyang nodded, "I know, it cures all ailments. Physiologically, it's nourishing; psychologically, it's comforting; and from a metaphysical perspective, it's a blessing!"
Xie Han smiled with satisfaction, "Good, as long as you know."
Zhang Chenyang dutifully ate his meal. Because of the test, Xie Han even let him off dishwashing duty, which made him feel a bit touched.
The next morning, Zhang Chenyang received a call from Ters Company. They said a bus would pick him up and take him to the test center, where professional staff would guide him through the process.
As Zhang Chenyang boarded the bus, he couldn't help but marvel at how much better the service was compared to his department's. When his department had organized an event, they had to make their own way there a day in advance.
The bus was sparsely populated, with about thirty other participants in the experiment. Zhang Chenyang chose a window seat and put on his headphones to listen to music.
The last time he had gone through the screening and interview at Ters Company, Chen Yijing had been with him. Now, it was just him, alone.
Because it was a direct route, they quickly arrived at the Ters Company's test center.
The building before them was entirely silver, with no flashy designs—just a simple, straightforward structure.
As they disembarked, uniformed staff members greeted them and led them inside. The lobby was spacious and brightly lit, mimicking daylight, even though the underground city never saw sunlight.
Of course, Zhang Chenyang knew that all this was funded by a considerable budget.
But considering Ters Company's assets, this was just a drop in the bucket.
"Welcome, everyone. I'm the guide responsible for this experiment. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
"And now, the experiment officially begins."