The Girl Who Restarted Time

Those words disturbed Jin Xiangdong because Ian had struck a nerve. While Jin Xiangdong was unclear about Ian’s background, Ian had already seen him through and through.

That being said, Jin Xiangdong was not completely blinded to the situation. “You must all know when Jia’er was with me before. If you wanted to take action, you wouldn’t have waited till now. The only reason that you did not intervene in time was to find out how far Jia’er’s independent consciousness could go! But the sudden insolvent from you must have disrupted the plan. Now, you declare that while wishing to, you could not help Jia’er in recovering her memory. This has proved my assumption. Jia’er’s consciousness has started to awaken!”

Talking with a clever soul costs no sweat. Ian did not withhold information anymore. “You are right. It is just nobody can predict the consequences!”

“What is goal of creating Jia’er in the first place?” Jin Xiangdong changed the subject.

“I have no comments to make in that regard!” Ian refused to answer.

“It is okay that you do not wish to share this with me. But I can tell that the awakening of consciousness of Jia’er is something the research team behind all this is looking forward to given your current plan.” Jin Xiangdong shared his observation.

While the leadership was looking forward to this, Ian had opposite feelings. To him, Jia’er as she was now was just perfect. He did not want to see her grow stronger. Just as people say, never take a sleeping pill and a laxative at the same time.

“Have you thought this through? Once you get involved, there is no turning back!” Ian said.

Jin Xiangdong might not know much about Ian, but he could tell those words from Ian did carry good will. That being said, Jin Xiangdong’s stressed, “I have always been involved.”

Ian paused for a few seconds upon hearing this. He did not like Jin Xiangdong but he had to admit that he had shown himself to be a real man during this matter.

“Since you have made up your mind, do not blame me for not giving you a fair warning afterwards!” Ian said.

“Thank you for your warning.” Jin Xiangdong extended his gratefulness.

After hanging up, Jin Xiangdong placed his phone on the end table. He had picked up some information from their conversation. Ian was someone that performed the ultimate Turing test on Lu Jia’er, and the key that could open up the door of awakening of Lu Jia’er’s memory. But what would the Pandora’s Box present after it was opened?

At the current stage, AI were operated by a mainframe computer, not run on independent consciousness. But that would be the ultimate goal for anyone working on the development of Artificial Intelligence. The so-called ultimate goals would always present both opportunity and risk.

He could tell that Ian did not want to see Lu Jia’er’s awakened consciousness based on his attitude. On the other hand, Jin Xiangdong had more complicated feelings.

It was the weekend. Jin Xiangdong was at home. Seeing that Jin Xiangdong’s expressions were cloudy after the call, Ake reminded him, “Master, you are not thinking about drinking again, are you? Drinking is harmful to your health!”

Hearing Ake’s words, Jin Xiangdong grinned. “Professor Lu will be here shortly. Go and prepare lunch!”

Ake eyes and eyebrows curved in a smile at once. “Really? Is Professor Lu coming soon?”

“Yes!” Jin Xiangdong was sure.

It turned out that he was right indeed. After leaving Ian’s place, Lu Jia’er came straight to Jin Xiangdong’s place.

Ake was on his way to the kitchen in a happy mood when he heard the doorbell ringing. Before Jin Xiangdong stood up, Ake had dashed to the door like a gust of wind.

When Ake found Professor Lu standing by the door, he was more than happy. “Professor Lu, you are here!”

Lu Jia’er was startled for a moment. Looking at Ake who was greeting her, she asked, “Do you know me?”

“Of course I do. Professor Lu, it has been a long time since you came here. My master and I think of you often!” Ake expressed how he was missing her directly.

The master Ake referred to must be Jin Xiangdong. There was another proof that she and Jin Xiangdong were a couple but where was he?

Before she came, she did not contact Jin Xiangdong beforehand. She got the address from Jason. Based on her understanding, Jason should have told Jin Xiangdong.

“Is your master in?” Lu Jia’er wanted to meet him.

“He is!” Ake said.

But Ake found it strange not to see him because the master did get up from the couch just now. Why wasn’t he here greeting Professor Lu?

Hardly had Ake finished this thought when Jin Xiangdong came. He had changed his leisure wear into a white shirt and suit pants. As a matter of fact, even when he was in leisure wear, he was still handsome, thought Ake.

Jin Xiangdong looked at Lu Jia’er and called her gently. “Er Er!”

Having no memory of him previously, for a moment, Lu Jia’er found it hard to accept that he was addressing her so intimately. She blinked to cover up her panic.

Yes, him calling her Er Er was tacky somehow, she felt flustered.

“Can I come in?” Lu Jia’er was feigning composure.

“Of course!” Jin Xiangdong invited her in at once.

When she stepped inside, a sense of familiarity assaulted her again. Just now, on her way over, she felt the route familiar as well. It seemed that she had come here many times.

In the living room, Jin Xiangdong said, “Please have a seat!”

Lu Jia’er took her seat and looked around. Jin Xiangdong did not say anything. The fact that she had come to his place indicated that things were slowly returning to normal.

Ake poured her a drink, not orange juice or coke, but some sort of mixed juice.

“This is?” Lu Jia’er wondered.

“This is green mandarin jam with honey. Professor Lu, you gave this to master.” Ake explained.

Lu Jia’er was surprised. Then, she picked up the cup and took a sip. The jam was mixed with icy water, delicious with slight sweetness and sour. The loss of memory did not mean the loss of the sense of taste. Apart from the green mandarin and honey, there was something else.

“There is sweet-scented osmanthus!” Lu Jia’er noticed.

“Yes, this jam tastes special!” Ake said.

Lu Jia’er nodded. “It is special!”

Su Han was the one that proposed making some jam of green mandarin and honey. But her involvement was in proposing. The ones that turned it into action were Lu Jia’er and Amy. When Su Han saw some sweet-scented osmanthus in the fridge, she suggested they add some. Two jars of jam were made and Lu Jia’er brought one over.

Jin Xiangdong could not help but interrupt since Lu Jia’er had been talking with Ake all this time. “Ake, go and prepare lunch!”

Ake understood that the master did want him to be the third wheel. So, Ake headed toward the kitchen at once.

Lu Jia’er and Jin Xiangdong stayed in the living room. They kept silent for a moment before Jin Xiangdong broke the ice. “I am happy that you have come to visit me.”

Lu Jia’er looked at him. “I do not what has happened but I am sure that you and I are a couple!”

Jin Xiangdong was relieved to hear this. He moved closer to Lu Jia’er and grabbed her hand. “I am glad that you have confirmed this!” He gazed into her eyes.

Lu Jia’er looked at her hand in his. That touch of warmth passed on to her heart from the back of her hand through her arm. She did not feel repelled by this level of intimacy. But she was not used to it. Because she was nervous, she could not help but gulp.

Jin Xiangdong patted the back of her hand gently. “I believe you have many things you find confusing, right?”

“Yes!” Lu Jia’er did not deny it. “Ian did not give me definite answers! Now, I am baffled.”

“I will try to get your memory back. Take your time!” Jin Xiangdong’s voice was sweet and tender.

Lu Jia’er looked at his face. “Where did Ian come from?”

“Didn’t you meet him when you were on an international exchange program?” Jin Xiangdong asked.

“Yes, that is how I remembered it. However, it is dubious!” Lu Jia’er replied.

“None of this matters. What matters now is that you are back with me!” Jin Xiangdong pulled Lu Jia’er toward his chest using his right hand.

Lu Jia’er found her heart pounding in his warm embrace. Even if she found out the real relationship between her and Jin Xiangdong, there were still some puzzling points.

“No, they matter. They matter to me! Why can’t I remember you? How did Ian become my boyfriend?” Lu Jia’er looked up and showed her disagreement.

Ian was not willing to tell her that she was AI. Why would Jin Xiangdong want to do this? Once the truth was out, could she accept it?

Jin Xiangdong was hesitating. Lu Jia’er stared at him and asked, “You know something, don’t you?”

Jin Xiangdong looked back at her. “Now that you have lost your memory of with me, I will go through whatever we went through together again!”

Lu Jia’er did not appreciate the kindness. “Is everyone trying to fool me?”

“No!” Jin Xiangdong denied it.

“Then why didn’t you tell me what you know?” Involuntarily, Lu Jia’er raised her voice.

Jin Xiangdong hurried to comfort her to find her agitated. “Jia’er, you cannot rush at things such as memory recovery!”

Lu Jia’er noticed the change of her emotion. She adjusted her emotion before going on, “Is there some shady secret about me, just like you?”

This question stunned him a bit. Lu Jia’er continued, “Given such strong healing ability, you are no normal person.”

Given this point, Jin Xiangdong decided not to continue to withhold the information. “Your memory has been replaced!”

“My memory has been replaced?” Lu Jia’er was surprised by this answer.

Jin Xiangdong looked at how shocked Lu Jia’er was. He understood Ian’s worry. Nevertheless, at the same time, another force inside him was urging him to tell her everything.