BXBX NOVEL Chapter 138 - Phantom Plan (18)
Chapter 138: Phantom Plan (18)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
They looked at each other and their gazes fought against each other in the air. It was as if two powerful warriors were confronting each other and people that were 10 meters away could feel the tension.
After a long time, Ian looked away and his cultured manners returned. “Confidence stems from strength!”
Jin Xiangdong was surprised to hear those words. He looked at Ian’s side face. “Isn’t it a little too soon to admit it? Who are you exactly? What are you trying to achieve here?”
As for the strength Ian referred to, Jin Xiangdong had already experienced. The technology Ian used was even more advanced than what Jin Xiangdong expected. Still, Jin Xiangdong was full of suspicion. As a matter of fact, ever since Ian came here, he had become more elusive as far as Jin Xiangdong was concerned.
Ian showing up here had unquestionably confirmed Jin Xiangdong’s idea. Ian had laid his cards on the table. But the fact that he did this so readily was surprising.
“Haven’t you already found out who I am? As for my intention, I have made that clear to you!” Ian looked far into the mountains in the distance, wearing a smile of extreme confidence.
“You want me to stay away from Jia’er, right?” Jin Xiangdong asked.
Ian turned around slowly to look at Jin Xiangdong. “I do like a clever soul. That being said, if that clever soul does not know his limitations, then that clever man is making a rod for his own back!”
Jin Xiangdong heard nothing but threat from Ian’s tone. Jin Xiangdong stared at Ian and asked after a long while. “What if I just do not know my limitations?”
“You can continue to try provided that you don’t care if your company’s previous efforts are wasted!” Ian replied.
“Are you threatening me?” Jin Xiangdong responded with a sneer.
Ian and Jin Xiangdong looked at each other. “I am a doer!” The former said.
Jin Xiangdong was not afraid. He just had something on his mind that he would like to find the answer for. But he was still hesitating.
“Good day!” Ian said nothing else and was about to leave.
“Wait!” Finally, Jin Xiangdong worked up the courage and shouted to Ian.
Ian stopped and looked back at Jin Xiangdong.
“What exactly is Jia’er?” Jin Xiangdong asked, slowly.
Ian gave a direct answer. “What she is, is none of your business!”
“She is my girlfriend!” Jin Xiangdong declared.
Ian stared at Jin Xiangdong for a few seconds as he said, “That was merely a test!”
This came as a surprise. Jin Xiangdong was somewhat furious. “A test?”
“I suggest that you forget about that experience!” Ian said.
Jin Xiangdong could not help but clench his fist. “You have replaced her memory!”
Ian grinned but he did not deny it. “Yes!”
Jin Xiangdong felt his heart missed a beat when he heard the reply. He must admit that this was quite an eye-opener. He had thought that BUA’s tech was first-class in the world. However, it turned out that behind an able man there were always other able men.
A sense of frustration rose in his heart. It was as if he was on the receiving end of a hard blow, only that he had no strength to fight back. He did not like this feeling at all and even began to regret coming here to seek answers from Ian.
Ian saw how Jin Xiangdong was in a towering rage but was not afraid. However, the next second, Jin Xiangdong swung his fist and punched Ian’s face.
Blood was seeping out from Ian’s mouth. He wiped it away and said, unhurried, “Violence will not solve anything!”
People often claim that sometimes ignorance is a bliss. A beautiful vision for the future can be preserved. Once the truth is unveiled, it can be hard to accept.
When Jason got off work, he did not head back to his home. Rather, he left for Jin Xiangdong’s villa, which recently, was more like his home.
Ake opened the door. “Jason, finally, you have come!”
“Is there something going on with your master?” Jason asked at once.
“He has been drinking, constantly!” Ake replied.
Jason walked into the living room with Ake, only to see Jin Xiangdong sitting on the couch, guzzling a bottle of beer he had just opened.
There was a pack of beer on the end table and the trash bin was piled with empty beer bottles.
Jason put down his briefcase, took a seat and also opened a bottle of beer and chugged it.
Jin Xiangdong threw Jason a glance and then resumed drinking without saying anything.
Ake could not help but say, “Jason, I am asking you to talk my master out of drinking, not to get you to drink with him!”
“Ake, you don’t know this but sometimes, alcohol is a good thing. We can drown our sorrows in beer!” Jason explained.
“That is what I heard but drinking can do harm to your health!” Ake replied.
“Ake, please give us some privacy. I have some matters to discuss with your master!” Jason said.
Ake blinked and stared at Jason but then turned around and went to the study.
When Jason and Jin Xiangdong were the only ones in the living room, Jason turned to the latter and asked, “Has your theory been proven?”
After Jin Xiangdong left the company in the morning, he never went back. Judging but the looks of Jin Xiangdong at the moment, Jason had a pretty good guess of what had happened. Their theory had been confirmed.
Jin Xiangdong’s expressions were complicated. He did not say anything to reply, but picked up the bottle again and guzzled it.
“Has it really been proven?” Jason was looking for confirmation.
Still, Jin Xiangdong offered no answer.
Jason was losing patience. “I am dying of worry here. Can you just tell me yes or no?”
Jin Xiangdong said slowly, “He did not give me a definitive answer, but we are about right!”
“Did you go and meet that Ian? Did he say so?” Jason asked again.
Jin Xiangdong nodded.
Though he had prepared himself mentally, Jason felt his mind on the receiving end of a heavy strike when he was in the face of the truth. He had no idea how to describe his mood at the moment. It was as if he had fallen from the heights directly.
It was quiet in the living room for a while before Jason asked again, “Is Su Han, as well?”
“She should be!” With this said, Jin Xiangdong took more sips of beer.
Jason took a few sips in silence at this answer. The next instant, Jason denied the idea. “No, this is not right. Professor Lu and Su Han are exactly like us! How can... how can they be AI? Besides, it is impossible that Ian would tell you the truth so easily.”
If their theory was right, then they could explain the errors in Lu Jia’er and Su Han’s memory. That being said, there were still many things that Jason and Jin Xiangdong found puzzling. Take Ake, who was in the study, as an example. Ake was AI, built with metal. Ake did not need to drink or eat. He only needed to be charged. If Lu Jia’er and Su Han were AI, then how advanced this type of AI was!
Jin Xiangdong gave an answer, gloomily, “Behind an able man there are always other able men!”
“Is that Ian an alien?” Jason had conquered up another idea.
Jin Xiangdong did not reply. After his meeting with Ian, his mind was in a real mess. As for the truth of Lu Jia’er, if she were AI, then how was she built? AI built in a person? AI and human cloning? How science-fiction this was!
Jin Xiangdong was lost in thoughts. Jason gave him a push to wake him up. Jin Xiangdong said to Jason, “Go ahead and find out about that energy company!”
Jason was hesitating. Now that he knew that their theory had been proven, Jason felt disturbed. “Ace, if we are right, I don’t think we should go on with the investigation!”
“We must continue!” Jin Xiangdong was determined.
“But...” Jason’s eyebrows were knitted together.
“Don’t you want to find out who they really are?” Jin Xiangdong replied with a question.
“I do, really. But... I think that Ian’s intention is clear!” Jason tried to remind Jin Xiangdong.
How marvelous the technology would have to be for such advanced AI to be created? Maybe, there were really some aliens that created this AI on earth.
“Jason, probably, you can give up Su Han. But Lu Jia’er is the first woman I ever liked.” Jin Xiangdong said.
Jason did not know how to respond to this. He and Su Han were not very attached to each other. On the other hand, if Jin Xiangdong wanted to continue staying with Lu Jia’er while knowing that she was AI, then things would be troublesome.
“Ace, what is your plan for the next step?” Jason asked, not having an idea of what Jin Xiangdong was thinking.
“I will make her fall in love with me again!” There was profound determination buried in the depth of Jin Xiangdong’s eyes.
Jason was completely stunned to hear this. He had to admit that Ace’s desire to win was unusually strong!
At a food court in City B.
Finally, Su Han had finished her script. She had not left the house for over 10 days. Upon turning in the manuscript, Su Han dragged Lu Jia’er with her to enjoy some kebabs.
They ordered a pile of food. Su Han dug in at once, gobbling as if she hadn’t eaten for over a dozen days.
Lu Jia’er just sent some WeChat messages to Ian when she looked up and saw that Su Han had already finished half of the kebabs served. Lu Jia’er could not help but shake her head, “You are like a ravenous wolf!”
Su Han picked up another kebab and said, “I haven’t gone outside for over 10 days. I am dying to eat something like this! Is Ian coming?”
“He is on business trip!” Lu Jia’er said.
“Business trip? Where?” Su Han asked as she continued to stuff food in her mouth.
“New York!” Lu Jia’er answered.
“Such a busy soul!” Su Han exclaimed.
Lu Jia’er smiled. “Isn’t Jason a busy person as well?” she asked.
“Don’t get me started on him. I want to get rid of him so much right now!” Su Han said, hopping mad.
Just as Lu Jia’er wanted to respond to that, she heard a man talking, “Are you really going to get rid of me?”
Upon hearing this voice, Su Han turned around at once and found the tall and slender Jason was right in front of her.
Su Han was surprised to see Jason coming all of a sudden. “You... Why are you here?”
“I came here after you!” Jason grinned. Then, he pulled over a chair and sat down.
“You followed us here?” Su Han was confused.
“I had just arrived in your community when I saw Professor Lu and you driving out. So, I came after you!” Jason explained.
Jason had been taking a lukewarm attitude to her since they came back from Thailand. For this, Su Han pulled a long face. “Did you really? I see that pigs can fly now!”