726: Happy Cooperation

Happy Cooperation

Dr. Feng's mouth was practically dropping to the floor. Shock was not even adequate to describe what he was feeling right now. This person– no, this virtual character… since when had he been standing there?!  0

Dr. Feng's mind instantly went ahead of him. When he imagined countless times he had sat in his office all alone like now and how this virtual character had also been standing behind him, another bout of shivers ran down his spine. Even the hair on the back of his neck stood up on its end. 

T–This was too much like a horror story, alright?!

He had been so lost in thought until the virtual character addressed him as 'Cyrus'. Dr. Feng was not the kind of person who would haggle over this small matter. After all, Cyrus was born out of his hands so it did not matter if this virtual character had mistaken him as Cyrus. However, when he looked at Luan… when he saw the deep emotions in those beautiful eyes, Dr. Feng found himself clarifying in a stiff tone, "I'm sorry, you have gotten the wrong person. I am not Cyrus."

Luan hummed in understanding. There was a faint hint of smile on his eyes. "You're the one who created Cyrus."

So the virtual character knew that, Dr. Feng discreetly breathed a sigh of relief. After he regained his composure, his curious nature as a researcher reared its head and his eyes lit up. The virtual character had taken the initiative to show up. This was his chance! 

"Who are you?" Dr. Feng took a few steps forward and circled around the man in a scrutinizing manner. "I have heard a little about you from Lu Yizhou, but it's not like he could give me any crucial information. Who created you? Why did you show up with Cyrus every single time and… what's your relationship with him?"

After blurting out that barrage of questions, Dr. Feng felt kinda ridiculous with himself. This man in front of him was not even a human. He only needed to check his main source code to get the answer he wanted, so why was he interrogating this virtual character as if he was a human?! Goodness, he must have lost his mind after that short interaction with Bianca earlier!

Just as he was going to say 'forget it', he heard the virtual character ask, "What's your name?"

Dr. Feng was slightly taken aback, but then he thought that it was only reasonable for the virtual character to ask that. He could not treat him like other inanimate objects. He had no idea where Luan came from but judging from his reaction time and vivid expression, he did not lose out whatsoever to Bianca – no, he might even be more sophisticated than Bianca.

With countless thoughts churning in his mind, Dr. Feng answered carefully, "You can just call me Dr. Feng or Head Administrator. Oh, don't learn from the systems that call me Admin God, that sounds kinda disgusting." His expression twisted lightly. He had no idea who proposed that chuuni[1] address for the first time and before he knew it, the system had referred to him as Admin God. And worst, they would not even stop even when he had issued a warning!

The virtual character gazed at him softly and said, "I mean… your full name. Can I know your full name?"

If Dr. Feng was confused earlier, then right now he was utterly discombobulated. What did this man want his name for? Wasn't it enough to call him 'Dr. Feng' or 'Head Administrator' just like the others? Either way, he had been too accustomed to people addressing him by formal titles that hearing his name – especially called by a virtual character at that – would definitely sound so awkward…

Perhaps the hesitation on his face was too obvious, Luan's eyes dimmed and the corner of his lips curled into a smile that did not look quite like a smile. "Well, if you don't want to tell me… forget it."

The range of emotions this virtual character showed had far exceeded his expectations. T–This was a masterpiece! An absolute masterpiece! Dr. Feng's eyes instantly glowed like a wolf who had just seen a piece of fragrant meat after a prolonged time of starvation. He could not satisfy his curiosity with Bianca because Lu Yizhou was too protective of her, but if it was Luan… then he might be able to do it! 

Dr. Feng lowered his lashes to conceal the burning thirst for knowledge in his eyes, then he let out a brief chuckle. "You want to know my name? No problem. But in exchange, what can you do for me?" 

"What do you want?" Luan intuitively stretched out a hand toward Dr. Feng, but as though recalling something, his hand merely hovered in midair for a split second before he put it into his pocket again. His gaze did not waver at all. It was deep, profound yet also tinged with a hint of sorrow that was concealed so well that Dr. Feng – whose heart and mind was focused on the pursuit of knowledge – failed to notice it at all. "Just tell me, and I will see what I can do for you," he murmured in that baritone and magnetic voice of his.

Dr. Feng blinked. Was it only his imagination or… did this man almost touch his face earlier? He shook his head. How could this be? He must have been thinking too much.

The Head Administrator's attention was soon drawn to the extravagant promise Luan had just given him. "Anything?" he asked in a hopeful tone.

Luan's fingers twitched, but he clenched his fists and firmly kept it inside his pocket. A hint of smile flashed through his eyes, making his wooden expression soften by a fraction. "Anything."

Dr. Feng's lips stretched into a wide, bright smile and his posture became relaxed and casual. "Don't worry, I am not a black-hearted researcher. I won't do anything to your basic configuration, I promise you in the name of the Head Administrator. What I want is simple; you only need to answer a few questions for me and let me take a look at your main source code in my free time. How about it?" 

This was a perfect example of asking a mile after being given an inch. The virtual character only asked for his name, but he agilely grasped onto the chance and secured a deal. Either way, it was not like Luan was a human. He was only an artificial image created by the system – a false and illusory beauty. So there was no need to use human logic on him, right? 

Luan did not even spare himself a second of thought. "Okay, but…"

Dr. Feng raised a brow and gestured for him to continue.

"Can I hang out here?" Luan looked around the office before his eyes landed on the man in front of him again. "It is… beautiful. I want to stay here."

Understanding dawned on Dr. Feng. He knew what his office looked like to outsiders in a glance. Other researchers often claimed how they felt as if they had stepped into a different realm once they entered this place. Yes, it was indeed beautiful. However, he had seen it countless times for the past few decades so the sense of marvel had already faded long ago. He did not mind Luan's presence at all as long as it did not hinder his work. Coincidentally, he would be able to reach the man anytime he had free time. It was a win-win situation for both of them. 

"Sure," he agreed in a heartbeat. "Feel free to stay here as long as you'd like. Then… do we have a deal?"

Luan nodded quietly.

Dr. Feng's heart soared in thrill and happiness. He offered his hand for the virtual character. "That's great! Happy cooperation, Luan!"

Luan stared at the fair and slender hand for a second before he slowly pulled out his hand from the pocket and grasped the hand in a loose hold. "Mn," his lashes lowered, obscuring the swirl of emotions within his eyes. "Happy cooperation… Dr. Feng."

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[1] chuuni = Japanese slang term for the embarrassing behavior of 13-to-14-year-olds or eighth-grader syndrome

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