The corridor outside the door was lit with a faint glow, and a chubby, round robot stood at the doorway. It was white, about waist-high to her, with a soft halo of blue light glowing on top of its head.
Seeing her open the door, that round head bowed slightly, emitting a mechanical yet gentle baby-like voice: "Good evening, guest. I am the home service robot Xiao Bai. Would you like me to clean your room?"
Jiang Lijin froze. She looked down at the robot, and the robot looked up at her. Those electronic eyes blinked. Even though it was just a robot, Jiang Lijin felt as if she could see anticipation in its gaze.
Relieved, she couldn't help but let out a laugh.
[Hahahaha!] Xiao Yi's laughter also echoed in her mind. [Host, have you stayed at your ex-husbands' places for so long that you've developed a stress response? You hear a knock and immediately assume someone is looking for trouble!]
Jiang Lijin paused for a moment.
Thinking about it, it seemed to be true. In the homes of her three ex-husbands, every knock on the door meant trouble: either Arden coming to scold her, Rex coming to issue orders, or Kieran bringing some documents she needed to sign. A knock had never meant anything good.
She had grown accustomed to treating every knock as a threat.
"Good evening, guest. Would you like me to clean your room?" Xiao Bai repeated, its tone still gentle.
Jiang Lijin looked down at it, feeling a mix of amusement and a slight pang of sorrow.
"No need, the room is quite clean."
Xiao Bai nodded up and down somewhat stiffly, its round head turning slightly. "Understood. Then, would the guest like me to prepare a midnight snack? There are ingredients in the fridge, and I can do simple heating and cooking."
This was an unexpected delight.
"What can you make?" Jiang Lijin asked. She suddenly felt a bit hungry, realizing she hadn't eaten dinner tonight.
The robot blinked its eyes. "I can make hot milk, hot cocoa, or heat up a sandwich or pizza. I can also cook simple noodles for you."
Jiang Lijin thought for a moment. "Then hot milk and a sandwich, please."
"Understood, please wait a moment, guest. It will be delivered to your room in ten minutes."
The robot turned around, its chubby body rolling away. Its back figure looked rather cute under the dim yellow lights of the corridor.
Ten minutes later, the robot appeared right on time, balancing a steaming cup of hot milk and an equally warm sandwich on its head.
Jiang Lijin took the tray and said thank you.
The robot Xiao Bai tilted its head, its electronic eyes shifting into two crescent moons. "You are welcome, guest. After you finish eating, simply leave the tableware at the door. I wish you a good night."
It turned around, its round back disappearing at the end of the corridor.
By the time Jiang Lijin lay back in bed, it was almost midnight. She said "turn off the lights" to the empty air, and the room went dark again.
[Host, go to sleep. I will keep watch for you, and I will call you if anything happens.] Xiao Yi's voice sounded softly.
"Alright," she said. "Good night, Xiao Yi."
[Good night, Host.]
In the darkness, she closed her eyes, truly relaxing this time.
...
[Host, Host, Host, Host, Host, Host!]
Xiao Yi's voice echoed in her mind, as urgent as if it were crying for help.
Jiang Lijin groggily opened her eyes, only to find that it was already bright outside the window.
"What's wrong?" she asked with a hoarse voice, her brain not yet fully awake.
[Host, wake up quickly! I have something important to tell you!]
Jiang Lijin rolled over and buried her face in the pillow. "Speak."
[Your mental power level has broken through again.]
Jiang Lijin froze for a second, then sat up abruptly, all traces of sleepiness gone.
"What?"
[I just detected that your mental power fluctuations have stabilized above the 2S level.] Xiao Yi's voice carried a hint of urgency and pleasant surprise. [Following this trend, once it completely stabilizes, you are very likely to become the first 3S-level female in this world.]
Jiang Lijin opened her mouth, her voice a bit dry. "Then... what will happen?"
[According to the matching rules of this world, all eligible 3S-level males could potentially be matched with you.] Xiao Yi paused, then added, [Including Chiron.]
Hearing this, Jiang Lijin's feelings were complicated, but the most prominent emotion was worry.
If it were Chiron... that would be okay. Even if he carried someone else in his heart, given his upbringing and temperament, even if they were truly matched together, he would treat her with mutual respect. At the very least, he was much more emotionally stable than her three ex-husbands.
But what about the other 3S-level beastmen?
[Host, are you worried?]
Jiang Lijin's mind was a mess. She said slowly, "I'm thinking, if I really get matched with other 3S-level beastmen and encounter arrogant people like my three ex-husbands, wouldn't I be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire?"
[Host, you forgot one thing.]
"What?"
[Before, you were a C-class. In the eyes of an S-class, C-class is inferior and can be treated casually. But it's different now. You are the only 3S-level female in the world. The entire universe's thirteen galaxies will protect you as their most precious resource.]
Jiang Lijin's eyes widened, as if she had just realized this.
[Moreover—] Xiao Yi paused, but its tone was extremely serious, [I will stay by your side until the very last moment of your life.]
Jiang Lijin didn't speak, staring at the wall in front of her. After a good while, she finally tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"I know," she said, her voice steadier than before. "Thank you, Xiao Yi."
Xiao Yi chuckled twice in her mind and said no more.
The room fell quiet.
The optical terminal on the nightstand suddenly lit up, emitting a short notification sound.
Right at that moment, the optical terminal on the nightstand vibrated, emitting a series of short notification sounds.
Jiang Lijin paused for a moment and reached out to grab the optical terminal. The screen was lit, displaying a new email. She clicked it open, and her pupils slightly contracted.
Sender: Main Brain.
Jiang Lijin's pupils slightly contracted.
[Host?] Xiao Yi sensed her emotional fluctuations. [What's wrong?]
"The Main Brain sent me a message," her voice was a bit dry.
Xiao Yi fell silent for a moment. When it spoke again, its tone carried a rare heaviness: [The Main Brain? The central Main Brain that controls all beastmen data across the thirteen galaxies?]
"Yes."
[It never sends emails to single individuals.] Xiao Yi's speaking speed quickened. [Never. It is only responsible for data processing and matching calculations. All communications are handed down layer by layer through various institutions... How could it contact you directly?]
Jiang Lijin did not answer. Her finger had already slid across the screen, opening the message.
The content was very brief, containing only a few lines of text:
Esteemed Citizen Jiang Lijin:
Your mental energy fluctuation data has been placed on the high-priority watchlist. Please report to the Academy of Sciences on the Capital Star within 72 hours. A dedicated specialist will be assigned to handle your subsequent testing and evaluation. All previously scheduled appointments at the Central Hospital's psychiatric department have been canceled; you no longer need to attend them.
— The Main Brain System
Jiang Lijin stared at those lines of text, completely speechless for a moment.
Xiao Yi was reading it too, falling into a long silence afterward.
[The Academy of Sciences...] Xiao Yi's voice dropped low. [That is where the Main Brain's true form resides. It is the most heavily guarded location in the entire universe.]
"Didn't you say before that the Main Brain wouldn't be able to detect your presence?"
[It won't detect me.] Xiao Yi paused. [But I will be blocked. The energy field in the core zone of the Academy is too strong. Once I go inside, my connection with you might be cut off for a while.]
Jiang Lijin frowned.
Losing their connection meant she would have to face the legendary superbrain that controlled thirteen galaxies all on her own. She would have to face testing procedures she didn't understand in the slightest, and deal with whatever unexpected situations might arise.
[Host,] Xiao Yi seemed to sense her hesitation. [Do you not want to go?]
"It's not that I don't want to go," Jiang Lijin said slowly. "I'm just a little afraid to."
She paused before adding, "But avoiding it isn't realistic either. This email was sent directly by the Main Brain. How could I possibly pretend I didn't see it?"
Right at that moment, the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from outside.
Jiang Lijin raised her head and looked toward the tightly shut door.
The footsteps came to a halt right outside her room.
