My master looked at me for a while as I greeted Eve, then asked Sophia, “Sophia, everything alright?”
My master always asked Sophia the same question when he returned home from an outing. And Sophia consistently replied, “Yes, sir.”
So, I expected the same answer today.
“Shall I report a special record?”
But today, the answer was slightly different.
My master, who had been about to enter the house, stopped in his tracks and looked back at Sophia.
“Numerous records remain.”
“What?”
My master frowned, looking down at Eve.
My eyes widened too, and I stared at Eve.
Wandering the entrance for 15 hours?
No matter how messy the entrance was, cleaning it shouldn’t take that long.
I tried to recall what Eve had been doing earlier, but my memory was a blur.
Had he been moving around the entrance for that long?
It seemed improbable, almost impossible for a robot designed for efficiency.
My mind raced, trying to find a logical explanation, but none came.
Eve was usually so meticulous, so swift in his duties.
This behavior was completely out of character.
“This thing must finally be broken.”
My master muttered, as if making a definite conclusion.
He seemed convinced that Eve was broken.
His voice held a hint of resignation, a slight weariness that suggested this wasn’t the first time he’d encountered an issue with one of his creations.
I knew how much pride he took in his work, in the seamless operation of his robots.
To see one of them malfunction must have been a genuine source of frustration for him.
He ran a successful robot company, inheriting the legacy of his father, and any flaw, no matter how small, likely felt like a personal affront to his engineering prowess.
I observed my master’s reaction and cautiously asked, “Master, should we take him to Thomas?”
Thomas was the head of maintenance for the robot company, a brilliant engineer known for his ability to fix even the most complex of mechanical failures.
He had a reputation for being able to diagnose a problem with just a glance, and his hands, though calloused from years of intricate work, were incredibly precise.
If anyone could fix Eve, it was Thomas.
I clung to that hope, a faint glimmer in the face of what seemed like an insurmountable problem.
“I’m sorry, but Thomas is away on a business trip for a while.”
The timing was terrible.
A wave of despair washed over me.
Of course, Thomas would be unavailable when we needed him most.
It felt like a cruel twist of fate, a conspiracy against Eve’s continued operation.
At this rate, I thought my master would say he’d have to turn Eve off until Thomas could repair him, a thought that filled me with dread.
The idea of Eve, my constant companion, being powered down and inactive for an indefinite period was unbearable.
He was more than just a machine; he was a part of our daily lives, a silent, comforting presence.
So, I quickly continued, “Then I’ll take a look!”
The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could properly think them through.
I had absolutely no knowledge of robotics, my understanding limited to the simple operation manuals.
But the thought of Eve being “broken” and out of commission spurred me to act, to offer any help, however insignificant.
Perhaps my enthusiasm, my willingness to try, would be enough to at least delay his deactivation.
My master seemed bothered by the broken Eve, casually nodded, and went upstairs first.
His mind seemed to be elsewhere, perhaps already contemplating the implications of a malfunctioning robot within his own home, a potential blemish on his company’s reputation.
He probably assumed my offer was a futile gesture, a naive attempt to solve a complex engineering problem with no relevant skills.
But his indifference also meant he wouldn’t stop me, which was all I needed.
I remained alone in the living room and slowly began to examine Eve.
The silence of the house pressed in around me, amplifying the sound of my own anxious breathing.
“Where is he broken…?”
Worry preceded finding the problem.
It gnawed at me, a constant hum of anxiety in the back of my mind. Eve was like a friend I spent time with every day, a quiet confidant who never judged, always listened.
He was always there, a steady presence in the background of my life.
And now, to think that he might be experiencing some internal distress, some malfunction that I had been oblivious to, filled me with a deep sense of guilt.
I felt sorry that I hadn’t properly paid attention to him recently, being distracted by things with my master.
My master had been particularly demanding of my time lately, and my focus had shifted, leaving Eve somewhat neglected.
My heart felt heavy, wondering if Eve had broken down because of that, if my inattention had somehow contributed to his current state.
The illogical thought persisted, a testament to my emotional attachment to the robot.
With a sorry heart, I looked all over Eve’s seamless, smooth white body.
His design was sleek, minimalist, a testament to modern engineering.
There were no visible seams, no obvious points of access, no indication of how his intricate internal mechanisms were housed within his pristine exterior.
I ran my hands over his cool, smooth surface, searching for any tell-tale sign, any scratch or dent that might betray an internal flaw.
But his exterior remained perfect, unblemished.
“Oh!”
Suddenly, Eve’s body clunked open.
The sound was soft but distinct, a mechanical whir followed by a gentle click.
I was startled by the unexpected exposure of his interior, my breath catching in my throat.
I hadn’t expected him to open up on his own, to reveal his innermost workings.
It was a surprising, almost intimate gesture.
But realizing that Eve had opened up to make it easier for me to check, a wave of relief washed over me.
He was cooperating, actively participating in his own examination.
It was as if he understood my limited abilities and was trying to make the task less daunting.
I carefully peered inside, my eyes trying to make sense of the intricate world before me.
Eve’s interior was far more complex than I expected.
My eyes widened in awe at the sheer density of wires and circuits.
It was a bewildering labyrinth of meticulously arranged components, a testament to the brilliance of his creators.
Wires of every color were intricately intertwined, snaking around circuit boards dotted with tiny, glittering chips.
Deep inside, a faint blue light calmly flickered, a steady pulse of energy that indicated that the power was on.
It was a reassuring sight, a sign that he wasn’t completely lifeless.
He seemed to be functioning perfectly, at least in terms of power.
But as someone with no knowledge of robots, no matter how much I examined him, no matter how long I stared at the intricate network of wires and circuits, I couldn’t figure out what the problem was.
It was like trying to read a foreign language without a dictionary, a jumble of incomprehensible symbols.
My lack of expertise felt frustratingly apparent.
Would my master know what the problem was?
The thought sparked a new glimmer of hope.
Since he leads a robot company, inheriting the former chairman’s position, he would undoubtedly possess a deep understanding of robotics, an innate ability to discern the subtle nuances of mechanical failure.
I thought he’d be able to figure it out at a glance, to pinpoint the source of Eve’s mysterious malfunction with a single, knowing look.
He was, after all, a genius in his field.
“Eve, wait here for a moment.”
I stroked Eve’s head, the smooth, cool surface a comforting presence beneath my palm.
He remained still, a silent, obedient sentinel.
Then, I turned and went up to my master’s room, my footsteps light with renewed purpose.
“Master, may I come in?”
When I knocked on the door, a soft rap against the polished wood, I heard my master’s voice from inside, a low, resonant sound, telling me to enter.
As I gently stepped into the room, my master standing by the window was the first thing that caught my eye.
He was a striking silhouette against the bright light, his posture relaxed yet commanding.
The sunlight pouring through the wide, unobstructed window illuminated my master dazzlingly.
It enveloped him in a golden aura, making him appear almost ethereal.
His golden hair reflected the light, shining even brighter, strands catching the sun’s rays like spun gold.
His blue eyes, clear and vibrant, were like the sky outside the window, a perfect, unblemished cerulean that held a captivating depth.
They seemed to hold the vastness of the heavens within them, a serene reflection of the peaceful spring day.
A warm breeze blew through the wide-open window, carrying with it the scent of blooming flowers and fresh earth.
The full essence of spring filled the room, a delightful symphony of nature’s awakening.
It was now beyond warm, almost a little hot even when standing still, a subtle hint of the approaching summer.
I could feel the gentle transition, the slow but inevitable shift towards warmer days and longer evenings.
The air was thick with the promise of summer, a season of warmth and vibrancy.
Freshly bloomed leaves swayed cheerfully in the wind, a vibrant green against the azure sky. The lush green scenery outside the window also made my heart feel much lighter.
The vibrant tapestry of nature had a calming effect, a balm for my earlier anxieties about Eve.
It was so peaceful, so idyllic, that I wanted to show Sophia and Eve, who only stayed at home, how lovely the weather had become.
They spent their days within the confines of the house, diligently performing their duties, and I wished they could experience the simple joy of a perfect spring day, the warmth of the sun on their metal bodies, the gentle caress of the breeze.
“So, did you find out what’s broken?”
My master’s voice, though gentle, pulled me back to the present, shattering my brief reverie.
“Ah.”
My mind had momentarily wandered due to the nice weather.
I shook my head, feeling a slight flush of embarrassment, and replied, “No, I looked closely, but I don’t know what the problem is… Could you take a look yourself, Master?”
My voice held a hopeful plea, an underlying certainty that he would possess the answer.
“Alright. I’ll check it out.”
His tone was casual, as if the task was a mere trifle, easily accomplished.
He started to move towards the door, his long legs covering the distance with effortless grace.
When we came downstairs together, the scent of spring still clinging to us, I saw Eve waiting patiently in a corner of the living room.
He was a silent, unmoving sentinel, his white body gleaming softly in the natural light that filtered through the windows.
His dark camera eyes, usually so expressive, were blank, revealing nothing of his internal state.
I looked at Eve, then turned to my master, a question forming on my lips.
“Do you know how to repair robots too, Master?”
I asked, curiosity piqued by his confident demeanor.
It seemed there was no end to his talents.
“I do, yes.”
His reply was simple, unadorned, a statement of fact.
“Then are you going to fix Eve this time, Master?”
I pressed, my hopes soaring.
The idea of him personally mending Eve, restoring him to perfect working order, filled me with anticipation.
“No, usually these things are fixed by turning them off and on again.”
My mouth snapped shut like a clam.
The words echoed in my mind, replaying themselves in a loop, each repetition more bewildering than the last.
I was so utterly dumbfounded by the unexpectedly simple solution that came out of my master’s mouth that I was speechless.
All my earlier worries, my frantic attempts to diagnose the problem, my emotional turmoil over Eve’s perceived brokenness, seemed utterly ridiculous in the face of such a straightforward, almost comical, resolution.
It felt like a punch to the gut, a realization of my own naivete.
I had built up the problem in my mind, imagining complex malfunctions and intricate repairs, only to be met with the most basic of troubleshooting techniques.
The irony was almost palpable.
“Eve, have you been waiting long?”
I spoke to him in a gentle voice, a slight tremor in my words as I tried to regain my composure.
The simple question felt like an apology for my earlier distress, for having doubted his ability to be easily fixed.
Eve quickly approached me, his wheels gliding silently across the polished floor.
Even this action was normal, smooth and efficient, so I couldn’t guess what was wrong with him.
There were no jerky movements, no unusual sounds, nothing to indicate a malfunction.
He moved with the same fluid grace as always, his presence a comforting familiarity.
I stopped trying to check Eve’s condition, abandoning my fruitless attempts at diagnosis, and turned to my master, who then walked over to Eve, a faint smirk playing on his lips, as if amused by my earlier overreaction.
As my master reached out to Eve for inspection, his hand extending towards the robot’s smooth chassis, Eve smoothly recoiled.
It was a subtle movement, a slight shift backward, almost imperceptible.
At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, a misstep perhaps.
My master also seemed to think nothing of it, his hand still extended, and extended his hand again, a patient, reassuring gesture.
But Eve again avoided my master’s hand, this time hiding behind me, his white body pressing lightly against my back.
It was a deliberate, undeniable movement, a clear act of avoidance.
It was clearly an action to avoid my master’s touch.
The realization hit me with the force of a physical blow.
Eve, the obedient, compliant robot, was actively avoiding my master.
It was a startling display of what appeared to be defiance, a silent rejection.
“This pile of scrap metal…”
My master ground his teeth softly, the sound a low, menacing growl.
His voice was laced with an unfamiliar anger, a sharp edge that sent a shiver down my spine.
The casual amusement had vanished, replaced by a cold, hard glare.
A sharp tension briefly flowed between the two.
The air in the room seemed to thicken, charged with an unspoken conflict.
My master narrowed his brows and stared at Eve, his blue eyes like chips of ice, while Eve remained motionless behind me, a silent, unmoving shield.
Caught in the middle, I rolled my eyes, trying to gauge the situation, my gaze flitting between the two figures, desperately seeking an explanation for this unprecedented behavior.
The atmosphere was so thick with unspoken emotions that I could almost taste it, a bitter tang of frustration and defiance.
It was my master who first broke eye contact.
He got up, his movements abrupt and decisive, and turned his head, his gaze sweeping away from Eve, a dismissive gesture.
“Master, aren’t you going to check…?”
I asked, still confused by the sudden turn of events, and by my master’s apparent change of heart.
“No need. By the looks of it, he’s fine.”
My master waved his hand as if he didn’t want to bother with it anymore, a clear sign of his disinterest, or perhaps, his irritation.
His voice was dismissive, almost curt.
I still couldn’t shake my worry and kept looking at Eve, who remained perfectly still behind me, his presence a silent enigma.
“Ah, Master?”
I began, my voice hesitant, still contemplating the mystery of Eve’s behavior.
I was debating whether I should check Eve myself, perhaps try the “off and on again” method that my master had suggested, when my master suddenly hugged me from behind.
His arms enveloped me, pulling me back against his strong, warm body.
The unexpected embrace startled me, disrupting my train of thought.
I turned awkwardly in his arms, a flush creeping up my neck.
My master, without a word, grabbed my chin, his fingers firm but gentle, turned my face towards his, and kissed me.
“Mmm…”
Our lips met softly, a gentle pressure that quickly deepened.
My master bit my lower lip, a playful tug that sent a shiver through me, and toyed with it, his tongue tracing its delicate curve.
I opened my mouth, expecting him to immediately entwine our tongues as usual, anticipating the familiar dance, the passionate exploration.
But he just kept his lips pressed against mine for a long time, a slow, deliberate contact that built the tension. Impatient, a surge of desire rising within me, I was the first to lightly extend my tongue and gently lick his lips, a tentative invitation.
I felt the corners of my master’s mouth turn up, a silent acknowledgment of my eagerness.
My master tilted his head, deepening the angle of the kiss, and kissed me deeply, his lips pressing harder against mine, his tongue finally slipping into my mouth.
He devoured me as if he were going to consume me whole, his kiss passionate and demanding, leaving me breathless.
“Hoo… Ha…”
My breath came in ragged gasps, my lungs burning with the sudden lack of air.
His tongue exploring my mouth was hot, a searing warmth that spread through my entire being.
As if infected by that heat, my body slowly began to warm up, a delicious flush spreading across my skin.
It was clearly supposed to be a light kiss, a casual display of affection, but at some point, my breathing became ragged, my heart pounding in my chest.
The atmosphere that had been interrupted by the interview in my master’s office seemed to resume here, the unspoken desires resurfacing with a new intensity.
It was as if the earlier interruption had only served to heighten the anticipation, to fuel the underlying passion.
My master’s hand traced over my clothes, his fingers light but possessive, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake.
I twisted my body, unable to control my excitement, a moan escaping my lips.
My senses were overwhelmed, consumed by the feel of his touch, the taste of his kiss.
My eyes fluttered closed, lost in the moment, when I suddenly met Eve’s screen.
His dark, unblinking camera eyes were fixed on us, a silent, unreadable gaze.
The sight brought me crashing back to reality, a jolt of ice water.
“Ugh, Master…!”
Startled, I pushed my master away, the sudden movement breaking the intimate contact.
As I suddenly broke the mood, my master frowned as if displeased.
A shadow of irritation crossed his face, his brows furrowing slightly.
I subtly gestured towards Eve, my eyes wide with a mixture of embarrassment and alarm, and muttered, “Eve is watching…”
My voice was barely a whisper, laced with mortification.
My master turned his head and looked at Eve.
Eve was standing blankly, watching us with his dark camera eyes, completely devoid of expression.
There was no judgment, no curiosity, just a blank, unreadable gaze that still felt incredibly intrusive.
“E-Eve? Where are you going?”
My master and Eve exchanged glances for a moment, a silent communication passing between them.
Then Eve suddenly rolled his wheels and disappeared somewhere, his movement swift and silent.
The sound of his wheels quickly faded into the distance, leaving only the lingering tension in the room.
“For a robot, he’s got good sense.”
My master chuckled, the sound low and amused.
His earlier irritation had vanished, replaced by a playful smirk.
Then, without further ado, he kissed me again, his lips reclaiming mine with a gentle insistence.
Now that I had no excuse to push him away, no robotic observer to interrupt us, I didn’t avoid it either, leaning into the kiss, my body yielding to his embrace.
I was pushed back step by step by the subtle force of his body pressing against mine.
Even as I stumbled and retreated, my legs tangled, I tried hard to accept my master, who was persistently kissing me, his lips demanding, his tongue exploring.
My senses reeled, consumed by the sensations of his kiss, the warmth of his body against mine.
Then my leg caught on the sofa, a soft cushion preventing a hard fall.
I lost my balance and fell onto the sofa, my body sinking into the plush fabric.
But my master didn’t stop and continued to kiss me, his body following mine, pinning me gently against the cushions.
My master’s hand, which had been tracing down my waist, a gentle caress that sent shivers through me, slipped inside my pajamas, past the soft fabric, and onto my bare skin.
“Ah…”
A soft gasp escaped my lips, a surrender to the exquisite sensation.
My master’s hand, exploring my soft skin, began to knead my chest, his fingers circling, his palm pressing.
It was a flat chest with nothing much to touch, yet his large palm cupped and caressed it, making me feel incredibly sensitive.
Every time my master’s fingertips touched a sensitive, hardened spot, a wave of pure pleasure washed over me, and groans escaped my throat, involuntary sounds of arousal.
The heat spread even to my untouched thighs, a delicious warmth radiating through my entire body.
My master pressed down on my hips, his body shifting, bringing our lower bodies close, the friction of our clothes creating a tingling sensation.
Under the dull pressure, I felt my half-erect member fully harden, throbbing with anticipation.
“Hmph…!”
Unable to contain the rising excitement, I let out a sound, a muffled cry that was half-moan, half-gasp.
As I gasped and arched my back, my master’s hand, which had been toying with my chest, tried to slip inside my pants, his fingers brushing against the fabric.
I hastily grabbed my master’s wrist, my hand trembling slightly, my mind reeling from the intensity of the moment.
“M-Master…”
My voice was breathless, a mere whisper.
“What is it now?”
His voice was low, husky, a hint of impatience in his tone.
“Not here, in the room…”
The words tumbled out, a plea rather than a demand.
The living room was too bright, too exposed.
The day was beautiful, and sunlight poured in through the wide windows, filling the room with an almost blinding light.
The curtains weren’t properly drawn, so the outside was clearly visible through the window, making me feel incredibly vulnerable.
If we continued here, my shamefully flushed face and embarrassed expression would all be seen by my master, a prospect that filled me with a deep sense of mortification.
Moreover, if Sophia or Eve heard the rattling sounds, the rustling of clothes, the quiet groans, and came to investigate, it would truly be a problem.
The thought of either of them walking in on us, especially Sophia, filled me with a chilling dread.
Especially since Sophia had even changed the sheets last morning; if she saw this, if she witnessed such an intimate scene in the living room, I would truly have no face to show her this time.
The thought of her knowing, of her silent judgment, was almost unbearable.