Chapter 7: Late, Taller, and Very Embarrassed
Lin Yan slipped back into his mining pod—the tiny one-person ship that barely had space for him and the resources it carried. The hatch sealed shut, and the pod detached smoothly, heading back toward the main mining ship.
When he rejoined his team, the moment he stepped out—
"You're late," one of the team members said.
Another squinted at him. "Wait… aren't you taller?"
The rest of the group burst out laughing.
"Yeah!" someone added. "And you look kind of… cuter?"
Lin Yan froze for half a second—then laughed with them.
"Haha, very funny," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
One of the older members clapped him on the shoulder. "Alright, alright. Let's congratulate Lin Yan."
"Huh?" Lin Yan blinked.
"He actually met the target quota today!"
Cheers erupted.
Someone raised a drink. "To Lin Yan!"
"To Lin Yan!"
Laughter, noise, and friendly teasing filled the ship. For the first time in a long while, Lin Yan felt… normal.
By 8:00 PM, Bluestar Standard Time, Lin Yan finally returned home.
He took a long shower, letting the hot water wash away the smell of metal and sweat. Afterward, he ate a simple meal, watched a few movies, scrolled through videos, and eventually collapsed onto his bed.
Sleep came quickly.
The next morning.
"Good morning, Lin Yan."
Lin Yan's eyes snapped open.
"…Star," he said flatly, "you can leave the ship now."
"Request denied."
Lin Yan groaned. "Why not?"
"I am one of the most intelligent artificial intelligences ever created."
"…That doesn't answer the question."
"I have been injected directly into your brain."
Lin Yan said shut the fuck up. "WHAT?"
"We now exist as a symbiotic life-form."
"…Star," Lin Yan said slowly, "shut the fuck up."
"Understood."
Peace returned.
For exactly three seconds.
"Question: Are you not going to work today?"
Lin Yan clenched his fist. "I thought you understood."
"Clarification: I understand. I am still asking."
"…No," Lin Yan replied. "I work two days a week."
"Understood."
After showering and getting dressed, Lin Yan stepped outside into the swarm area. The streets were noisy, crowded, and chaotic as usual.
Then—
He stopped.
Across the street stood Bing.
His crush.
She was talking with someone, sunlight catching in her hair.
Lin Yan's heart slammed against his chest.
"Heart rate detected: 110… 115… 120 beats per minute."
Lin Yan panicked. "Star—don't say anything."
"Action already completed."
"…What action?"
"I have sent a love letter to your crush's device."
Lin Yan nearly choked.
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
"Emotional response detected. Message content optimized for romance."
Lin Yan's face burned.
"WHO IN THE HELL ask you to SEND THAT MESSAGE?!"
Bing looked down at her device.
Then—
She looked up.
Straight at him.
Lin Yan froze.