I slid my smartphone into my pocket, a quiet decision made to extend my time with Father.
Just a little while longer, I thought, until Master came looking for me.
The air was cool, almost chilly, and looking up, Father murmured, “Hmm, if the weather were good, I’d suggest we go to the garden…”
The sky was a muted grey, with heavy, gloomy clouds drifting lazily, diffusing a crisp coolness into the air.
“Didi, have you ever been to an aquarium nearby?”
Father asked, turning to me.
“An aquarium? No…”
I shook my head gently.
Master, in his usual disposition, wasn’t one for such places.
Even when we went to the cinema or a park, it was usually after my persistent pleading.
Most of the time, he seemed to gravitate towards lively, bustling gatherings, often involving drinks.
An aquarium, though…
I’d never been to one with my former master either.
I had seen countless images and videos, of course, but experiencing one in person was a first.
A small, unfamiliar thrill began to bubble within me, a slow, gentle hum of anticipation.
We soon arrived at a truly grand building, situated right by the river.
Its imposing structure suggested a significant purpose.
Initially, I’d assumed only a section of this vast edifice would house the aquarium, but to my surprise, I discovered that the entire building was dedicated to it.
I hadn’t anticipated such an immense scale.
Despite a considerable number of people, the sheer size of the building prevented any feeling of being crowded; there was ample space for everyone to move freely.
As we stepped through the entrance, a staff member immediately approached us, bowing respectfully.
“Greetings, Chairman,” he said with utmost politeness.
Father simply gave a slight nod, acknowledging the greeting, and continued walking inside, with me by his side.
Following a few paces behind, I ventured a cautious question, “Did… did you build this aquarium, Father?”
Father let out a soft laugh, a playful glint in his eyes.
“Yes. I wasn’t going to tell you, but you found out.”
His admission brought a genuine smile to my face.
The interior of the aquarium was an experience in itself.
The lighting was generally subdued, and the ceilings stretched incredibly high, creating an atmosphere that felt otherworldly, as if we had stepped into an entirely different realm.
The walls were entirely composed of massive fish tanks, each a vibrant tableau where colorful fish swam.
Some moved gracefully alone, while others navigated the watery expanse in synchronized schools.
The illumination and overall ambiance were so meticulously crafted that it truly felt as though a slice of the deep ocean had been transported and placed directly around us.
I felt as if I were truly immersed in the middle of the sea.
Such a place, I mused, was undoubtedly perfect for calming a troubled mind.
Just standing there, observing the tranquil aquatic life, I could feel a profound sense of peace settling over my own heart.
“Didi, look at this,” Father gestured, drawing my attention.
As I moved closer to the tank, Father gently tapped the thick glass wall with his finger.
To my amazement, the fish inside, one by one, began to gravitate towards where he tapped.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from this wondrous spectacle, my breath catching in silent admiration.
Father then encouraged me to try it myself.
Tentatively, I tapped the tank, a soft, light rhythm.
And just like before, the fish responded, gathering in front of me.
“Wow…”
I breathed, genuinely awestruck.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
Father asked, a warm smile on his face.
“Did you train them?”
I asked, still captivated by the obedient fish.
“No, that’s because all these children are robots,” Father explained.
Robots?
I looked into the tank again, trying to process his words, wondering if I had heard him correctly.
Could these truly beautiful fish, swimming so gracefully through the water, be robots, just like me?
It seemed almost impossible.
“All the fish in this aquarium are robots made from the outer skins of dead fish,” Father clarified, his voice calm and informative.
“They don’t eat or die; they just gracefully swim around all day.”
The thought that all these countless fish were robots was utterly astonishing.
Among them were even tiny ones, no larger than my pinky fingernail, and Father confirmed that they too were entirely robotic.
I spent a long time observing the tank, utterly fascinated.
The fish that had gathered in front of me slowly dispersed, their movements so fluid and natural that it was genuinely difficult to believe they weren’t alive.
And to think all of this was created using the remains of dead fish…
The sheer scale of it was also extraordinary.
In just one tank, there easily seemed to be tens of thousands of them.
I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of awe.
“I think it’s a great idea,” I said, my voice filled with admiration.
“To create such a beautiful place with dead fish…”
“My businesses are mainly of this kind,” Father replied, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“I’m not really interested in making money, you see. Others might find it trivial, but I enjoy seeing people happy.”
His words resonated deeply with me, bringing to mind my former master.
This aquarium itself, with its innovative and thoughtful concept, felt like an idea my former master would have envisioned.
“Father… you’re like my former master,” I murmured, the words slipping out before I could stop myself.
Immediately, I regretted it, remembering how Mr. William disliked being compared to my former master.
A wave of anxiety washed over me.
What if Father disliked it too?
I worried, subtly observing his expression.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem displeased at all.
“I’ve heard that often,” Father chuckled, his hand coming to rest lightly on my shoulder.
“But William is more like my wife. I don’t know how they can both be so stubborn.”
His laugh was hearty, a genuine sound that put me at ease.
Father then guided me to another area, showing me the dolphins.
He even allowed me to touch their heads.
The sensation was surprisingly tactile – smooth, cold, and firm beneath my fingertips.
I gazed into the dolphin’s large, dark eyes, seeing my own reflection mirrored within them, a tiny figure framed by the aquatic depths.
It was truly difficult to believe they were robots; they possessed such an uncanny lifelikeness.
The aquarium, true to its grand building’s size, boasted an immense scale.
We had been walking for what felt like ages, yet there remained a vast amount of attractions to explore.
I continued to walk with Father, now beneath an impressive aquarium tunnel, gazing up in wonder.
Above our heads, thousands of sardines moved in a magnificent, synchronized swarm, like a shimmering silver wave passing overhead.
Their sheer numbers were so great that they completely obscured the overhead lights, casting intricate shadows on the path below.
I was utterly captivated by this mystical scene, constantly exclaiming in admiration, my senses completely absorbed.
It was in this state of enchantment that I failed to notice the persistent vibrations emanating from my pocket – the silent calls from my smartphone.
***
Meanwhile, William concluded his conversation with the final investor, his face a mask of practiced neutrality as he turned to depart.
The time for the new product launch was drawing near.
He’d spent the last hour forcing a smile, catering to the egos and questions of the investors present, and now the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably from the strain.
He rubbed his lips, his thoughts drifting to Didi, who had left quite some time ago.
Speaking of which, is Didi waiting patiently?
He wondered.
A faint, involuntary twitch played at the corners of his lips as he recalled Didi’s tear-stricken face, the fleeting glance at William with the woman linked arm-in-arm, before he had dejectedly left.
Didi was undoubtedly sulking, a deep, brooding sulk.
But this, William rationalized, was a necessary punishment for Didi, who had dared to attempt to distance himself from his owner.
While William could tolerate many things, the moment Didi had suggested sleeping separately, it had become unforgivable.
Was it because Didi’s constant presence had become so ingrained, so utterly natural?
Without him by the bed, sleep simply wouldn’t come.
As a result, William had barely managed to get any sleep lately.
Now, having pushed things this far, he fully expected Didi, anxious and restless, to eventually come to his room, begging to sleep with him again.
Only now did William feel a faint tremor of satisfaction.
Thinking that he needed to go home and soothe his sulking robot, William turned his head in the direction Didi should have been.
But Didi’s usual spot was conspicuously empty.
“Didi?”
William called out, a flicker of confusion in his eyes as he scanned the immediate surroundings.
Had he perhaps just gone to the restroom for a moment?
He waited, patiently at first, then with a growing impatience, for a considerable amount of time, but Didi did not return.
Where did he go this time?
William’s brow furrowed.
Didi had sworn, quite emphatically, that he would never disappear without a word again, yet here he was, having abandoned his post.
Had he wandered off alone and gotten lost in an unfamiliar place?
Despite the irritation, William didn’t panic.
He always had a way to verify Didi’s location.
While the leather collar with its tracking function had fulfilled its duty and subsequently malfunctioned, Didi’s smartphone still had a reliable location-tracking application installed.
He pulled out his smartphone to verify Didi’s current whereabouts, and as he did, he noticed a text message.
It was from his father.
I’m taking Didi with me.
William’s expression instantly solidified into a cold, hard mask.
“This foolish robot…” he muttered through clenched teeth.
He had explicitly warned Didi that if he ever vanished without a word again, he would be forbidden from leaving the house.
Yet, Didi had defiantly broken that warning.
Worse still, this time, he had followed his father.
The memory of Didi’s excited expression, his eyes fixed on his father, flashed in William’s mind, and he ground his teeth together.
In an instant, a furious rage surged through him, consuming him entirely.
“Spencer? Where are you going?”
A woman’s voice, laced with urgency, called out as she tried to grasp William, who was already striding towards the exit.
But William, without breaking stride, coldly shook off her hand, his footsteps never faltering.
As soon as William got into his car, he immediately checked Didi’s location.
The map displayed a familiar place: the aquarium.
And not just any aquarium—it was the one his father had personally built.
Gritting his teeth, he started the engine and immediately dialed Didi’s number.
— Ring, ring…
But only a prolonged ringing sound filled the silence; Didi wasn’t answering.
Even when the automated message indicating an unanswered call played, William relentlessly redialed Didi’s number.
He was determined to keep calling until Didi finally picked up.
Click.
Then, at last, the message changed.
William opened his mouth, ready to unleash his fury, thinking Didi had finally answered, but instead, a mechanical voice responded.
— Your phone is turned off…
“Damn it!”
William roared, slamming his hand on the steering wheel.
The infuriating thought that Didi, who often forgot to charge his own body, would somehow remember to charge his smartphone was ludicrous.
This useless piece of junk was deliberately making things difficult for his owner.
His already fragile patience, hanging by a thread, finally snapped.
Today, even the speed of the car felt agonizingly slow as he drove towards his destination.
Eventually, William couldn’t bear it any longer.
He switched off the autonomous driving mode, gripped the steering wheel himself, and pressed down hard on the accelerator, demanding more speed from the vehicle.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.