Chapter 41: Cutely Stupid
Xiao Ting, a top-of-the-line, highly intelligent robot from the Military Research Institute, capable of both military and domestic use, had its pleasing-the-master program etched into its chip.
It took only 0.01 seconds to identify the voice behind it as Yan Gui Xing’s. No, it had accurately detected its master’s footsteps before he even reached the door.
As the most intelligent robot, Xiao Ting could accurately identify people based on footsteps and voice, but couldn’t accurately analyze Yan Gui Xing’s emotions.
For example, if it had been Achi, he would have sensed Yan Gui Xing’s anger from that gentle, slightly chilling voice and kept his distance to avoid becoming a punching bag.
But Xiao Ting mistakenly identified Yan Gui Xing as being in a good mood.
Considering the current situation, Xiao Ting attributed Yan Gui Xing’s good mood to its kindness towards its future Madam.
So, Xiao Ting, with its programmed imperative to please its master, decided to persevere.
Under the gaze of those cold eyes, its mechanical claws firmly landed on Mu Mu’s bare back.
“Xiao Ting likes the Madam best~ More than the master~” Xiao Ting added a flirty flourish, fearlessly challenging Yan Gui Xing.
Yan Gui Xing: “?!”
Yan Gui Xing was amused. Such a rebellious robot should be dismantled.
He strode to the bed and placed his right hand on Xiao Ting’s round head.
Yan Gui Xing was annoyed and didn’t hold back, slapping Xiao Ting’s head with a crisp “slap.”
Xiao Ting yelped, “Ouch!” His round head spun 360 degrees under Yan Gui Xing’s hand. He then gave Yan Gui Xing a teary-eyed expression and said in a childish voice, “Master, you hit my head so hard!”
Xiao Ting was a robot made of rare metals. Even quantum cannons couldn’t break him, let alone Yan Gui Xing’s fleshy palm.
Xiao Ting’s cry of pain was clearly a display of affection and coquettishness.
Yan Gui Xing didn’t fall for it. His eyelids half-closed, he glared at Xiao Ting with his characteristically slanted eyes, his lips curled in disdain. “Did you make breakfast? Did you clean the house? You haven’t finished a pile of work and you’re lounging here doing what?”
Xiao Ting stared at Yan Gui Xing in shock, wondering when his master had become so harsh.
Mu Mu, however, took Xiao Ting’s words seriously. He thought Xiao Ting was a robot capable of simulating human feelings, and that Yan Gui Xing’s slap had genuinely hurt him.
He did, after all, wince and clench his teeth at the sound of the “slap,” and figured that Xiao Ting, who could presumably simulate pain, must have felt it too.
Mu Mu gently hugged Xiao Ting, peering over the robot’s head at Yan Gui Xing. His moist, dark eyes looked at Yan Gui Xing like a tame, well-behaved pet dog.
“Gui Gui, Xiao Ting says it hurts. Let’s not make it clean the house. Mu Mu can help. I’ve done it many times before, and I can clean it very well.”
Xiao Ting, who hadn’t expected anyone to intercede for him, looked blankly at Mu Mu, his expression reverting to its usual neutral state. He didn’t speak, leaving everyone to wonder what the robot was thinking.
Yan Gui Xing hadn’t expected Mu Mu to actually believe Xiao Ting could feel pain. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to call Mu Mu naive or foolish, and he didn’t know what expression to make.
The next second, after a brief moment of rational processing, his subtle emotions fermented into a sour feeling. He lightly clicked his tongue, kicking the bothersome Xiao Ting to get him to leave.
This time, Xiao Ting didn’t try to stay. After one last look at Mu Mu with his inorganic red eyes, he turned and left.
Once Yan Gui Xing and Mu Mu were alone in the bedroom, Yan Gui Xing sat on the bed, pulling the pile of blankets over Mu Mu and casually stroking his delicate skin.
“Why are you so cold without a blanket? If you get sick, you’ll suffer.”
Yan Gui Xing pulled Mu Mu and the blanket into his lap, deliberately looking stern, but his tone was gentle, a mix of parental reproach and lover’s affection.
Wrapped up like a cocoon, Mu Mu snuggled against Yan Gui Xing’s shoulder, his mind still on Xiao Ting’s teary-eyed cry of pain. He nodded and asked worriedly, “Gui Gui, is Xiao Ting really okay? I remember seeing something on the Star Network about robots that can simulate human senses. Can Xiao Ting do that?”
Yan Gui Xing hadn’t expected Mu Mu to still be thinking about Xiao Ting’s feigned distress. He shook his head and chuckled, finding Mu Mu’s naiveté endearing while his heart softened.
Yan Gui Xing patiently explained, “Yes, there are robots on the market that can simulate human perception. However, these are usually used to accompany children’s growth—companion robots.”
“Xiao Ting is different. He can simulate human senses, but not feelings like pain.”
There was something else Yan Gui Xing didn’t mention: Xiao Ting was ostensibly his housekeeper robot, but his actual role was to protect Yan Gui Xing’s safety.
If Xiao Ting could simulate pain, he would cry and roll around after being hit by a laser gun, making him useless as a shield or weapon during an attack.
But Mu Mu didn’t need to know these things.
Mu Mu, after digesting Yan Gui Xing’s explanation, finally felt reassured.
Yan Gui Xing smiled, tapping Mu Mu’s cheek. “You worry about everything. Are you my little housekeeper?”
Mu Mu seriously considered the relationship between boyfriend, husband, and housekeeper before earnestly nodding, “Mu Mu is Gui Gui’s boyfriend, and also Gui Gui’s little housekeeper.”
Yan Gui Xing found Mu Mu’s seriousness amusing and laughed heartily. They were sitting close together, and Yan Gui Xing’s laughter vibrated against Mu Mu, causing Mu Mu to laugh too.
They laughed for a while before Yan Gui Xing picked Mu Mu up, blanket and all, and carried him to the bathroom. “Let’s go! I’ll give you a bath. After that, we’ll eat breakfast and then I’ll take you out.”
Mu Mu’s life had been consumed by work; he was either going to work or coming home, with no time to play.
Most importantly, he didn’t have the money to go out and have fun. Travel and leisure were expensive on any planet.
Hearing that Yan Gui Xing wanted to take him out, Mu Mu’s playfulness, dulled by the burdens of life, was rekindled.
He sat excitedly on the white marble, his legs kicking in the blanket.
Yan Gui Xing, removing the blanket, saw Mu Mu’s excited legs.
He carried him to the bathtub, smiling and asking, “This excited just because we’re going out? Are you a big kid?”
Having become intimate with Yan Gui Xing, Mu Mu instinctively clung to him, his thin arms wrapped around Yan Gui Xing’s neck, his body hidden in his embrace, like lace flowers clinging to a giant tree.
He didn’t deny being called a big kid, just excitedly saying, “Mu Mu has been on the Glass Star for so long, and hasn’t had a good time out. Gui Gui, where are we going? I heard kids at the hotel talk about how fun amusement parks are. Can we go?”
“Yes, anywhere you want to go, Mu Mu.”
Yan Gui Xing put Mu Mu in the bathtub. The hot water made Mu Mu shiver, his small hands gripping the tub tightly.
Yan Gui Xing liked to bathe in scalding hot water. Xiao Ting filled the bath according to Yan Gui Xing’s usual preference, and Yan Gui Xing, without paying attention, directly placed the person into the bathtub. Seeing Mu Mu’s pitiful expression and the clear contrast of red and white skin on his chest, he finally realized the water was too hot.
He lightly tsked, not bothering to roll up his sleeves, and reached into the tub to scoop up Mu Mu. “Is the water too hot? Are you burned? I’ll take you out and change the water.”
“It’s a little hot, but Mu Mu likes it.” Mu Mu, fearing Yan Gui Xing would get his sleeves wet, quickly grabbed his outstretched arm.
However, Mu Mu forgot his hands were also wet, leaving two damp paw prints on the black sleeve.
Yan Gui Xing didn’t worry about his wet clothes, lifting Mu Mu slightly out of the water. He furrowed his brow, looking at the large area of reddened skin. “Are you really alright? If it’s too hot, we can just change the water; no need to endure it.”
Mu Mu shook his head. “It was a little hot when I first got in, but it’s warm and comfortable. Mu Mu likes it.”
Yan Gui Xing looked at Mu Mu’s face with a serious, almost scrutinizing gaze. After confirming he wasn’t lying, he gently placed him back into the bathtub.
After settling Mu Mu comfortably, he turned and squeezed several pumps of shampoo to wash his hair. Seeing the bruised and mottled skin beneath the water, he finally remembered to ask if Mu Mu felt uncomfortable anywhere.
The little fool was too naive, a blank sheet of paper that knew nothing. Worse, he was too obedient, willing to be manipulated however he pleased.
Yan Gui Xing wasn’t kind or gentle, the same in bed as out of it. While in the heat of the moment, he had been rough, only realizing after they finished that the blank page had become a richly colored oil painting.
Yan Gui Xing knew he was in trouble. Mu Mu’s skin was delicate, and the redness would likely be even more intense in the morning. He had planned to ask Mu Mu if he felt uncomfortable when he returned, intending to call Gongsun to examine him.
However, Xiao Ting’s interruption completely threw it from his mind. He only remembered it now, seeing the bruises.
Meanwhile, Mu Mu, hearing Yan Gui Xing’s question, used his small hands to touch and probe his own body, causing Yan Gui Xing’s eyes to darken and finally open.
Seeing the foam on his forehead about to run into his eyes, Yan Gui Xing hastily wiped it away with a clean wrist, saying helplessly, “You don’t need to look to talk. Quickly close your eyes; the foam is going to get in.”
[Author’s Note]: Mu Mu is a little saint who would make even a robot feel sorry for him~