Chapter 231: The Defeat of the thirty-six stratagems for love

The flower stamens facing the sun swayed in the breeze, wafting a faint, elegant fragrance.

Like light, drifting rosy clouds.

When touched by the young girl's fingertips, they swayed, revealing a blue-purple hue.

A tiny sound emerged; it was an insect hidden deep in the sea of flowers, startled into panicked flight, brushing past the young girl's cheek.

"Blue-purple flowers…"

"Are they violets? Or irises?"

Xu Xi walked forward a few steps.

Walking alongside the Mech-Servant.

Under his gaze, the petals were layered in an orderly fashion, projecting clear textures under the sunlight, forming an interweaving of light and shadow.

The air was damp, exuding the scent of soil and grass; it wasn't particularly pleasant, but it made one feel at ease.

"Ele, do you like this kind of flower?" Xu Xi asked.

"I do."

Ele stated why she liked this kind of flower in a calm tone.

Unlike Xu Xi, who did not know.

As an Intelligent Machine, the moment Ele saw the flower, she found relevant records in her database.

In the Old Federation era, this flower was hailed as the "Tail of a Meteor," resembling a comet flashing through the sky, and its delicate petals were even called the Tears of the Star.

However.

What Ele truly cared about was not these things.

The only thing she focused on and found likeable was the flower language of the meteor flower.

"Loyalty, freedom, and eternal love."

The girl forged from machinery murmured.

Those cold eyes revealed traces of silver-blue light; that was the essence of metal, and also the Mech-Servant's longing for a heart.

Her face was exquisite, with a touch of white light dotted upon it.

Emotions were on the verge of breaking through her calm features.

Turning into a passionate surge.

"I see…" Listening to Ele's answer and looking at that cold face, Xu Xi was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"These flower languages are indeed very suitable for you, Ele."

The changes in human nature are very complex.

It is not a game.

It is not a score.

It cannot be seen through one or two things.

But the Mech-Servant's liking for the flower language genuinely made Xu Xi feel that Ele was more like a human.

"Master, this is for you." Ele crouched down, plucked a blue-purple meteor flower, and handed it to Xu Xi with a calm expression.

Under the brilliant sunlight, her soft, long hair shimmered with a bright golden hue.

It swayed slightly, brushing against Xu Xi's stunned face.

"Okay, thank you." Xu Xi came back to his senses, smiling to express his gratitude, but he didn't accept the flower; instead, he placed it on the girl's head.

"Compared to me, this flower suits you better, Ele."

"Hmm, just as I thought, it looks very good together."

Xu Xi stepped back a few paces.

To admire his handiwork.

The breath of life, adorned on cold metal, combined to create a beautiful aesthetic.

Not bad, not bad, truly not bad.

Xu Xi was satisfied, with an appreciative expression on his face.

Afterwards, considering that the research on the starship was nearing its end, Xu Xi ended this trip to the sea of flowers.

He turned and walked back, his loyal Mech-Servant following closely behind, but in a blind spot where Xu Xi couldn't see, Ele silently took out a small booklet.

thirty-six stratagems for love.

Her slender fingertips flipped through the pages.

On the page about giving flowers, she silently drew an 'X'.

"Failed… but very… happy." Ele's expression was blank and confused. She looked at Xu Xi's back and tilted her head blankly.

It was not quite as expected.

Is this what Master often says, that one cannot blindly trust data and information?

Hmm—

Let's try something else next time.

The Mech-Servant frowned, feeling that the human heart was indeed hard to guess.

…

[Regarding this trip to the sea of flowers, you are very satisfied, and Ele is also very satisfied]

[You are satisfied with Ele's growth, sincerely feeling that the original 9090 Domestic Intelligence Machine has already transformed into a true living entity]

[Except for lacking a body of flesh and blood]

[Today's Ele even seems to have more emotions than some humans]

[While feeling emotional, you place the meteor flower on Ele; the flower itself is not important, what matters is the person wearing it]

[Returning to the base, Ele becomes busy]

[You observe curiously and discover that the Mech-Servant is looking for a way to preserve fresh flowers, not by making specimens, but by keeping them permanently preserved, fixing that still-brilliant posture]

[The loyal Mech-Servant succeeded, but also failed]

[She can fix the flower's posture, but cannot retain its essence; that is the fragrance of life, an invisible thing that fades with time]

[You comfort Ele, saying that she can use planting to complete the Reincarnation of the flower, without having to obsess over the original flower]

[The Mech-Servant gazes at you, for a very, very long time]

…

[Simulation year 15, you are 34 years old, the 13th year Ele has accompanied you]

[Your research on the starship has completely ended]

[The machine spirit is wildly pleased, Machine Power Resonance is supercharged, the engines roar because of your will, and energy surges because of your command]

[You are the master of the starship, and also the creator of the Intelligent Machines]

[From now on, you can finally look out at the starry sky and take your first step toward the brilliant stars]

[You are surging with emotion, but not carried away by joy]

[Using Ele as a medium, you control all engineering Intelligent Machines, mining planetary resources and storing interstellar supplies as efficiently as possible]

[You know well the vastness of the Universe, and that there are bound to be many risks; therefore, you must prepare everything in advance]

"I hope the time ahead won't be too boring."

"Space travel is destined to be lonely, even more so than the previous wasteland."

"In the wasteland era, although one would be worried and afraid, considering the various influences brought by the enraged own-automated machines, at least there was something to do."

"The scale of the Universe is too vast; just traveling could take decades or even centuries."

"Thinking about it this way…"

"It's a little disheartening."

In the south, the Sixth Satellite City.

34-year-old Xu Xi, with the help of genetic potions, still has the appearance of his youth, unchanged.

He is sunbathing, with a look of helplessness on his face.

All along.

Interstellar travel has always been a cliché topic.

The vastness of the Universe and the enormity of celestial bodies dictate that a civilization with too slow a speed can never leave the vicinity of its home planet in a lifetime.

Fortunately, Xu Xi has a cheat.

Relying on Machine Spirit Pleasure and Machine Power Resonance, as well as Ele's help, the speed of technological development is far superior to ordinary civilizations, so there is a possibility of going further.

"Master, please have some water."

The familiar voice interrupted Xu Xi's thoughts.

"Thanks, Ele."

Xu Xi habitually took the cup.

He took a sip and felt it tasted good.

"Ele, did you add anything to the water?"

"Yes, I added some medicinal herbs, which are beneficial to your health."

"I see, thank you for your hard work."

Sunlight shone down, forming rippling spots of light in the sea of leaves. Drinking the beverage carefully prepared by the girl, Xu Xi couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

His own Mech-Servant is truly too capable.

"Ele, how is the construction of the starship going?" Xu Xi asked.

"Everything is going smoothly, Master. Whether it's the main battle fleet or the Ecological Starship you will live in, both are undergoing modification and production, and the work will be completed soon."

The Mech-Servant, dressed in a maid outfit, replied elegantly.