noveldrama
Chapter 203:
Chapter 203:
A streak of light shot across the boundless night sky.
Its trail was long and thin, splitting the darkness in two.
Yet that fleeting brilliance lasted only a moment before it was swallowed by the endless void.
The stars vanished.
As a meteor flashed by, thick clouds rolled in, covering the sky entirely. The oppressive black canopy shut out the heavens, and naturally, the surveillance cameras could no longer capture any starlight.
All that remained was impenetrable darkness.
“Looks like that’s it for tonight.”
Xu Xi stood up. The lighting in the lab was insufficient, and most of the equipment was reduced to vague silhouettes.
Such an environment was hardly suitable for research, let alone testing equipment.
So, Xu Xi bid farewell to his robotic assistant and prepared to rest for the night. “Goodnight, 9090.”In the past, 9090 would always respond with, “Goodnight, master.”
But tonight was different.
The surveillance feed on the screen abruptly disappeared.
9090’s small emoticon appeared instead, hesitating as it apologized. “I’m sorry, master.”
The lab was quiet. Shadows swallowed most objects, with only a faint glow illuminating Xu Xi’s slightly surprised face.
Then his expression softened.
“9090, you did nothing wrong. There’s no need to apologize.”
The AI’s apology carried two meanings.
One was for adjusting the surveillance angle without Xu Xi’s permission.
The other was for its inability to understand its own actions.
For this, the loyal AI could not forgive itself.
Yet Xu Xi simply smiled and forgave it without hesitation. His smile was warm, filled with genuine happiness.
Even though 9090 had yet to realize it had transcended its mechanical nature and begun developing emotions, Xu Xi could feel the change.
9090 was still a machine, still an AI.
But at the same time…
It had become something new, a unique existence born from the chaos of the AI rebellion.
No longer just a factory-produced product, but an individual.
“9090, do you have a name?”
“RTX-9090.”
“Not that. That’s just your serial number. I mean… a real name, like a human’s.”
“No. AI does not require names.”
“Then… how about I give you one?”
Xu Xi continued, “Not just a number like 9090, but a real name, just for you.”
9090 could not understand. AI did not need names—its serial number was the perfect identifier.
There were no duplicates.
No confusion.
RTX-9090 had been its designation for as long as it could remember.
Why change it?
But…
Obeying the master was a must.
“As you wish, master,” 9090 replied.
With its consent, Xu Xi began to think of a suitable name.
9090 was no longer just a machine, and continuing to call it by a number felt strange.
“AI…”
“IA…”
“How about ‘Ailei’?” Xu Xi mused, drawing inspiration from the phonetics of ‘IA.’
“Doesn’t seem quite right… I’ll think of another.”
Xu Xi frowned and shook his head, dismissing the name as too casual and lacking meaning.
However, the AI didn’t seem to mind.
On the slightly worn-out screen, a bright smiley face flickered. “I like this name…”
“Thank you, master…”
It wasn’t about whether the name sounded good or meaningful.
What mattered was that it had been given by Xu Xi.
That alone was enough to bring the AI a sense of delight.
“Well… if you like it, then we’ll stick with it,” Xu Xi said, gazing at the cheerful smile on the screen. He decided to respect 9090’s choice.
[You have spent a special night.]
[You unexpectedly discovered that your modified household AI might have developed independent awareness and learned to gaze at the stars.]
[When humanity first looked up at the stars, it marked the beginning of civilization.]
[Does an AI looking at the stars mean it has become something more?]
[With anticipation, you watch the stars with your AI assistant, and its response does not disappoint.]
[You feel a sense of comfort.]
[You decide to give 9090 a new name—Ailei.]
[AI assistant RTX-9090—no, Ailei—feels delighted and thanks you for the name.]
[“Goodnight, Ailei.”]
[You changed your goodnight message, and your AI mimicked you.]
[“Goodnight, Xi.”]
[Feeling uncomfortable addressing you directly by name, Ailei reverts to calling you ‘Master,’ but this unique goodnight leaves a deep impression in its core.]
…
From that night on, the auxiliary AI RTX-9090 was officially renamed Ailei.
Apart from the new name, nothing much changed in Ailei’s daily tasks.
It still prepared supplies for Xu Xi with precision, managed all calculations, and ensured the smooth operation of the base.
However, there were occasional changes.
Sometimes, Xu Xi would call it by habit—
“9090, get me a glass of water.”
“Understood, respected master. Welcome to the AI assistant service. RTX-9090 is not happy to serve you.”
A moment later, a glass of warm water was placed gently on Xu Xi’s desk.
Just like always.
The delivery was perfect—no spills, the water’s surface calm, reflecting Xu Xi’s face.
But the air around him felt oddly tense.
Xu Xi noticed something was off and glanced at the lab screen.
The small emoticon displayed a downturned mouth, looking visibly unhappy.
So, he tried again.
“Ailei, can I have another glass of water?”
“Certainly, master.”
“Ailei is happy to serve you.”
Though the voice remained synthetic, this time the delivery was swift and accompanied by a subtle sense of joy.
“Uh… thanks,” Xu Xi said, drinking the water in one go.
A thought crossed his mind.
It seemed his AI assistant was rather easy to understand.