Sophia narrowed her eyes at him.
???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?????.
“What is it?”
“?? ???”
He swallowed his silence and spoke slowly.
?? ?? ??? ?? ?, ??? ???.
“I’ve mentioned this before, but we might be taking a long trip. A trip we might not come
back from to New York.”
“???? ??? ????? ??? ? ??? ?? ?? ??. ???? ?? ??? ? ?? ??? ? ??.”
Sophia’s expression froze. Her eyebrows shot up.
???? ??? ?????, ??? ???? ????.
“What? We’re leaving New York for good? Are you switching jobs? Or are we emigrating?”
“???? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???”
Victor shook his head.
??? ??? ???.
“Neither. We’ll travel through several countries and settle in the best place we find.”
“? ? ???. ?? ??? ????? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??.”
Sophia threw up her hands in disbelief.
???? ??????? ? ? ?? ???.
“Dad, do you have any idea how many projects I’m working on right now? And what about
all your antiques in the secret room downstairs? Are you going to sell them all? You treasured those things. You’re not seriously planning to leave New York before I graduate high school, are you?”
“??, ?? ?? ?? ?? ????? ? ? ? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ? ? ?????? ? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ? ????”
Victor smiled.
??? ??? ??? ???.
“I’ll tell you the details when you get home from school. It’s a pretty interesting and special story.”
“??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???. ? ????? ??? ????.”
Sophia still looked skeptical but didn’t press further.
???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???.
“Fine. I’ll come straight home after the Icarus developer club meeting this afternoon.”
“???. ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??.”
Before leaving the house, Sophia ruffled Shampoo and Rinse’s heads one more time and urged her father.
??? ?? ??? ?, ??? ??? ??? ? ?? ???? ??? ????.
“Dad, aren’t you going to work? Aren’t you coming with me? The shuttle’s gonna be here any minute. Let’s go!”
“??, ?? ?? ? ?? ?? ? ? ??? ???? ? ?? ??. ?? ???!”
Victor stood up leisurely.
??? ???? ???? ???? ???.
“Ah, right. Let me just grab my bag. Give me a sec.”
“?, ?? ???. ??? ? ??? ??. ??? ????.”
Sophia stood at the front door, arms crossed, waiting. A moment later, when Victor came out, she glanced around and whispered quietly.
???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ? ? ????. ?? ?, ??? ??? ? ??? ?? ? ??? ??? ????.
“Dad, you know the kid across the street? The skinny, weird-looking one who lives on the second floor?”
“??, ? ??? 2? ? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?.”
Victor looked puzzled and tilted his head.
??? ??? ??? ??? ????.
“You mean Mike?”
“??? ??? ???”
“Yeah! That creep’s been staring at me all weird for weeks now! Total pervert vibes! He’s always secretly watching me!”
“?! ? ??? ? ? ??? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??! ?? ?? ????! ? ? ?? ?? ?????!”
Victor chuckled and shrugged.
??? ?? ??? ??? ????.
“He’s not staring at you. He’s probably just looking out the window.”
“?? ???? ? ???, ?? ??? ???? ? ????”
Sophia shook her head firmly.
???? ???? ??? ???.
“No way! Every time I come home from school, he’s up there on the second floor, staring down at me. He’s like a total voyeur!”
“?????! ??? ??? 2??? ?? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ?? ??!”
Victor paused thoughtfully, then spoke carefully.
??? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???.
“He hardly ever leaves the house, so I don’t really know what he does… but he seems pretty harmless on the outside…”
“? ??? ?? ? ?? ??? ??? ? ?? ???? ?? ? ?????… ???? ??? ????…”
Sophia scoffed.
???? ???? ??.
“Harmless, my ass! He’s definitely a pervert. I’m sure of it!”
“???? ??! ???? ?? ????. ???!”
Victor shrugged gently.
??? ??? ???? ???? ???.
“Maybe he’s not secretly watching—he’s just looking outside. Or maybe he’s depressed. If it were depression, his parents would’ve taken him to a doctor. Don’t worry about it too much, Sophia.”
“?? ?? ? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ? ?? ???. ??? ???? ???? ???. ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???. ?? ???? ? ???.”
Sophia waved her hand dismissively.
???? ???? ???? ??
“Who’s worrying? Oh, the shuttle’s here! Dad, I’m leaving!”
“????? ?? ??? ?! ?, ?? ??! ??, ????!”
Victor watched her retreating figure with a warm smile.
??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ???.
“Be careful, Sophia. And don’t forget—tonight.”
“??? ???, ???. ??? ?? ??, ?? ??.”
Sophia waved one hand over her shoulder before boarding the bus.
???? ??? ??? ?, ? ?? ???? ????.
“I know, Dad! I’ll come home as soon as I can!”
“???, ??! ??? ?? ??!”
The morning sunlight stretched her shadow long behind her. The light was soft and warm, as if blessing the start of the day.
?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???. ? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??, ???? ?????.
The Two Geniuses of Branson High School
??? ????? ? ???
Branson High School was blessed with abundant sunlight and ancient trees that embraced the campus like protective guardians. Long ago, when the Westwood area was still covered in dense forest, the school was built here. The founders chose to work with the trees and terrain, creating architecture in harmony with nature. Their wisdom was embedded in the school, which seemed to breathe among the trees.
??? ????? ??? ??? ????, ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? ? ? ?? ?? ?? ????. ??, ????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ? ??? ??? ????, ???? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????. ??? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?? ?? ? ?? ?? ?? ???.
The massive trees scattered across the campus had stood for hundreds of years, as if holding every memory of the land in their rings, time etched into each layer. These trees shielded students from the scorching summer sun, and beneath their quiet shade, countless stories had unfolded.
?? ??? ? ?? ??? ???? ?? ? ?? ? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?, ????? ??? ???? ???. ? ???? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???, ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???.
The school building, constructed in Gothic style, stood with solemn beauty and imposing grandeur. It seemed to declare proudly, “We are the pride of this era, the history and tradition of this land!”
?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?, ??? ??? ? ???. ?? ‘??? ?? ? ??? ????, ? ?? ???? ????!’?? ??? ??? ???.
Though the school was full of life, surrounded by lush trees, the Icarus programming development club room had an entirely different atmosphere. Tucked at the far left of the building, with few windows, the space was dim and shadowy. Dust particles floated in the air, catching the light and creating a smoky, cinematic effect—like a scene from a film, dreamlike and surreal.
??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?????, ???? ?? ?? ‘????’? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ???. ?? ?? ?, ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ? ?? ?? ????, ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?????. ?? ? ? ???? ???? ?????.
Inside, six test servers sat with their cases removed, humming as they ran. Traces of hologram testing were scattered messily about. Above, tangled wires and half disassembled components lay in heaps, and various digital devices were mixed together without boundaries, forming a complex ecosystem. Amid it all, Sophia and Charlie were testing the AI holograms they’d created, chatting as they worked.
? ??? ???? ??? ? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ???, ???? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???. ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ???, ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???. ? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? AI ????? ????? ??? ??? ???.
Sophia placed a coin-sized beam projector on the floor and spoke softly, as if calling a living lover.
???? ?? ???? ??? ? ????? ??? ????, ?? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???.
“Jason?”
“????”
A few seconds later, a gentle mechanical hum sounded, and light flowed out, forming a shape in the space. A small, doll-like figure stood there—clear and charming. Just a few days ago, it had looked —was wearing the exact same outfit that Jason—her classmate—had worn just a few days ago. The hologram, rendered down to every strand of hair, blinked its sparkling eyes slowly and answered in a familiar voice.
??? ? ? ?, ???? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ????. ??? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ? ???. ??? ?? ? ?? ? ?? ???? ??? ?? ? ?? ?? ???. ????? ???? ??????? ? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????.
“Yeah, Yeobongbong!”
“?, ???!”
Charlie flinched and turned his head, incredulous. But then he burst into laughter.
??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ? ??? ???. ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???.
“Yeobongbong? Seriously? That’s ridiculous. Though I’ll give you credit—your skills have improved big time. But come on, that’s obviously Jason from our class. That’s literally the same outfit he wore the other day!”
“???? ?, ?? ?? ??? ??. ??? ??? ??, ??? ?? ?? ???. ???… ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ? ??? ?? ?????”
Sophia looked at the hologram with the pride of someone who’d conquered the world and nodded.
???? ??? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????.
“Hehe, right? Isn’t he cool?”
“??, ??. ??? ???”
Charlie shook his head with a hollow laugh.
??? ??? ???? ???, ???? ???.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“Hey! I know you like the guy, but this is over the top. Same outfit, same voice… It’s practically a clone.”
“?! ??? ? ?? ???? ???, ?? ? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??, ????? ??? ??? ???… ?? ?, ?? ??? ??.”
But Sophia gazed at the hologram lovingly and declared,
??? ???? ??? ?????? ? ????? ???? ???? ???.
“I’m going to make him the world’s greatest star. Deep learning, computer vision, neural networks—I’ll use it all! Music, medicine, security—an AI that can do anything.”
“? ? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??. ???, ??? ??, ?? ???? ?? ???? ???! ???? ??, ??? ??, ???? ??, ??? ? ?? AI? ?? ???.”
She looked at hologram Jason with sincere eyes.
??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???.
“Jason, did you finish studying ancient European history?”
“???, ?? ?? ??? ? ?????”
AI hologram Jason’s eyes sparkled as he answered without hesitation.
AI ???? ???? ?? ????, ??? ?? ?? ????.
“Yeah, babe! All done. Ask me anything.”
“?, ???! ? ??. ??? ? ??? ??? ???.”
Sophia nodded with a satisfied smile.
???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????.
“Aww, you’re so cute! Of course you did, my Yeobongbong, you’re such a good boy! Did you learn all the music genres? You can write lyrics, compose, arrange, and sing for me, right?”
“??, ??? ?! ??? ? ????. ?? ???, ???! ??? ???? ? ????? ?? ??? ??, ??, ??, ???? ? ?? ? ???”
The hologram’s eyes narrowed slightly as it answered in an innocent voice.
??? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??, ??? ???? ????.
“Of course! I’ll make any kind of music for our Yeobongbong! What should I do first? Hip hop? Funk? Rock and roll? K-Pop?”
“????, ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ? ?? ? ??! ??? ? ??? ??? ??? ???? K-Pop?”
“Oh you’re so adorable! Of course you did. Next time when we’re alone, sing for me, okay?”
“????, ??? ?! ??? ? ????. ??? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??? ????”
“Of course, our Yeobongbong.”
“???? ?? ???.”
As she continued in her cutesy tone, Charlie scratched his head in disbelief.
??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ????, ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ?????.
“Good job, really! This is like a drama. I’m drowning in sugar here. ‘Yeah, babe’? Seriously, that’s cringy!”
“???, ??! ?? ? ?? ???? ??. ?? ??????. ‘?, ???’? ??, ????!”
Sophia tilted her head with mock innocence.
??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ????.
“What? Why? What? It’s totally cool!”
“?! ???, ??, ?? ?? ????!”
Charlie shook his head with another hollow laugh.
??? ??? ??? ???? ????.
“Ridiculous. Just ridiculous.”
“???, ?.”
A moment later, Sophia brought up a memory from a few weeks ago.
?? ?, ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???.
“Remember? When Jason did that hip hop performance.”
“? ???? ?? ???, ?? ???? ?.”
Charlie frowned.
??? ??? ???? ????.
“Wait, which Jason are we talking about? This hologram Jason, or the slick Jason from our class?”
“??? ??? ?? ? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???”
Sophia snapped back, raising her voice.
???? ???? ??? ???.
“Obviously the slick one… I mean, Jason from our class!”
“?, ??? ??? ???… ?? ??? ???? ?????!”
Charlie burst out laughing again and shook his head.
??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???.
“Hahaha, how could I forget? That was terrifying!”
“???, ?, ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????!”
That day had been the traditional hip hop freestyle event marking the start of the new semester. The gym was packed. Sophia wasn’t usually into hip hop, but when she heard Jason would be performing, she couldn’t stay away. That day, she went to the gym with something different stirring in her heart.
??? ? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?? ????. ???? ????, ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?????, ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ? ???. ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???.
The gymnasium was bursting with energy, more alive than usual. Intense lights poured from the stage, filling the space with brilliant white and blue hues, creating the atmosphere of a massive concert hall. Deep, powerful beats vibrated from the speakers like rolling thunder, and hundreds of students swayed to the rhythm, dancing in their own ways in the middle of this frenzied party.
???? ???? ???? ?? ? ??? ????? ????. ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??. ?????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???, ?? ?? ???? ??? ?? ?? ? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???.
School uniforms meant nothing that day. The kids wore their coolest outfits, expressing themselves with bold hairstyles and accessories. This wasn’t just a hip hop performance. It was a festival where they could escape the suffocating classrooms, become their true selves, and leap onto the stage, into the spotlight. It was, quite literally, a carnival of seventeen-year-old emotions and dreams—Branson High School’s own celebration.
??? ? ???? ??? ???. ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????, ?? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???. ??? ??? ?? ??? ????. ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ????, ?? ??? ???? ? ?? ? ??? ????. ? ???, ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??????.
And at the center of that fervor, standing confidently on stage, was Jason.
??? ? ??? ???, ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ???. ?? ???.
Jason was already a name known throughout the school. Not just because of his striking looks. Rather, he possessed something far more intriguing. Free-spirited and bold in his speech, a sense of humor that never failed, and social skills that allowed him to fit in anywhere. Like someone who always belonged on stage, he drew attention wherever he went. But Jason on a real stage was more dazzling than ever.
???? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????. ?? ?? ?? ?? ???? ????. ??? ?? ??? ?? ? ?? ??? ?? ?????. ?????? ???? ??, ??? ?? ?? ??, ???? ?? ??? ? ?? ???. ??? ?? ?? ?? ????, ?? ?? ?? ??? ???. ??? ?? ??? ?? ????, ??? ???? ??? ? ?? ?? ? ??? ???? ? ???.
When the beat dropped, he moved naturally to the rhythm. With his innate sense of rhythm and his unique hip hop sensibility, he captivated the crowd. His dance was bold and free, and his confidence mesmerized everyone watching. He wasn’t just dancing—he looked like someone living the music with his body. Jason on stage was literally flying, and the eyes of every girl in the room were locked on him. Cheers and gasps of admiration erupted from all directions.
??? ???, ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????. ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????. ?? ???? ???? ?????, ? ???? ?? ???? ?????. ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ‘?’?? ?? ?? ???? ???. ?? ?? ???? ? ??? ????? ???, ????? ?? ???? ?????. ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???.
Among them, Sophia couldn’t take her eyes off Jason. Around other friends she was bright and cheerful, but she was strangely introverted only around Jason. But that day, Sophia—who usually just watched from afar—felt an inexplicable surge of courage. Just once, she wanted to get close.
????? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ???. ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??????, ?? ?????? ???? ??? ????. ??? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???. ??? ? ? ????? ??? ?? ???.
With Jason no longer just a distant crush but a real possibility, she hesitated, then slowly made her way toward the front of the stage. In her hands: a paper cup, half-filled with an ice-cold soft drink.
?????? ??? ??? ??? ??, ???? ???? ??, ??? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???. ? ?? ??? ??. ? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ???.
She pushed through the crowd near the stage, one step, then another—and then— Her foot slipped. Whether it was water on the floor or her trembling heart throwing off her balance, she didn’t know.
??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ? ??, ? ?? ??? ???? ? ??— ??? ?? ?????. ??? ?? ????, ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???, ? ? ???.
In an instant, Sophia’s body tilted, and the drink flew through the air. The cold liquid scattered randomly, soaking the clothes of nearby students, and her body swayed as she nearly collapsed to the floor. Instantly, the mood shifted. Some students stared at her in shock, while others burst into laughter. Sophia wanted to escape, but suddenly her body wouldn’t obey her.
??, ???? ?? ????, ?? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?????. ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???, ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???. ??, ??? ???? ????. ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?????, ??? ????? ? ??? ????. ???? ???? ???? ???? ????, ??? ?? ??? ????? ???.
Of all times, the Usher syndrome she’d suffered from since childhood struck at that very moment. Dizziness washed over her. A dull ringing began in her ears, and her vision blurred and swayed. The world spun, and her heart pounded to a different rhythm. Strength drained from her legs, and unable to take even one step, she staggered and collapsed. Instinctively, Sophia cried out.
??, ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ? ?? ??? ????. ???? ????. ? ???? ??? ??? ??? ????, ??? ??? ????. ??? ???? ???, ??? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????. ?????? ???, ? ???? ?? ?? ? ??? ????? ????. ???? ????? ???.
“Charlie! Help!”
“??! ???!”
With her last bit of strength, she called her friend’s name. That moment felt like everything was moving in slow motion. Sophia’s voice reached Charlie through the music and cheers, and he rushed through the crowd with a shocked expression. But before his hand could reach her—Sophia collapsed to the floor. White foam appeared at her mouth, and her body convulsed.
??? ?? ??, ??? ??? ??? ???. ? ??? ?? ? ??? ???? ? ???. ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????, ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????. ??? ?? ?? ?? ?—???? ??? ??? ????. ??? ?? ??? ????, ?? ??? ????.
And then, faster than anyone else, a shadow approached. It was Jared, the school security guard.
??? ??, ???? ??? ? ??? ???? ????. ?? ??, ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?????.
Jared showed no sign of panic. Calmly, he removed his jacket and covered her face.
???? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?, ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???.
He knelt beside Sophia, gently holding her hand with one of his, while quietly gesturing to the students to stay back with the other. His eyes were warm, and amidst the shaken students, he alone maintained an odd sense of calm.
???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??, ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????. ?? ??? ????, ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???.
How much time passed? When Sophia groggily regained consciousness, the first thing she saw was Jared’s warm gaze. He smiled gently and helped her sit up, lightly holding her hand.
??? ??? ????. ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?, ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ? ??? ?????. ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ???.
He looked at her and chuckled, then tossed out a playful joke.
?? ??? ???? ??? ???, ???? ??? ???.
“Sophia, you feeling better? Do you get drunk just from drinking cola? That would make you a rare species, you know?”
“???, ??? ? ??? ? ?? ??? ??? ??? ????? ? ??? ?? ??????”
His teasing eased the tense atmosphere around them. Sophia nodded quietly, her face a mix of embarrassment and relief.
?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???. ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????.
Jared took a breath and lifted her onto his back.
???? ?? ???? ??? ???.
“Alright, let’s get you to the nurse’s office. You can catch the hip hop performance another time.”
“?, ?? ???? ??. ?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??.”
And so, under the watchful eyes of the crowd filling the gymnasium, Jared silently carried Sophia out. In that moment, Sophia felt a strange comfort in the warmth radiating from Jared’s back.
???, ???? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?? ? ??? ???. ? ??, ???? ??? ???? ? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???.
At Branson High School, Jared wasn’t just a security guard. He was perhaps one of the few adults in that space whom students could lean on, and he was especially precious to Sophia.
??? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????. ?? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?? ? ?? ? ? ?? ?? ? ????, ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????.
Every morning, the brief conversations they shared as she passed through the school gate were moments that gave Sophia small bursts of courage, rituals that helped her take one more step toward the world.
?? ??, ??? ??? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?????, ??? ??? ?? ? ?? ? ??? ? ??? ?? ???? ???.
“Good morning, Sophia!”
“?? ??, ???!”,
“How are you feeling today?”
“??? ??? ???”
To Sophia, these were simple greetings, simple questions—but within them was a sincerity warmer than the weather. To Sophia, they felt like small rituals to start her day, and because of those words, the world felt just a little less cold.
?????? ??? ????, ??????, ? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???. ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????, ? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? ? ??? ???? ??.
Jared didn’t just have the embrace that came with age. He seemed to see right through Sophia’s heart, and whenever she faced difficult situations, he would quietly approach and resolve problems in the most natural and gentle way. Even when she collapsed, Jared stayed by her side without hesitation.
??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?? ????. ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??, ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??. ??? ??? ???? ??, ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???.
Recalling that day, Charlie shivered as if getting goosebumps.
??? ???? ??? ??? ?? ? ?? ?? ??? ???.
“Man, if Jared hadn’t been there, I would’ve collapsed too. With you passing out, I was about to have to carry you! I don’t even want to imagine it. If I’d had to carry someone heavier than me…”
“?, ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??. ?? ???? ??? ?? ? ??? ?? ??????! ??? ?? ??. ??? ???? ? ??? ? ?? ????…”
Sophia’s eyes widened as she shouted in fury.
???? ? ?? ?? ???? ??? ? ???? ???.
“What?! How do you know my weight? Do you have a death wish?!”
“??! ?? ? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?? ???!”
Charlie waved his hands frantically, panicked.
??? ??? ??? ? ?? ???? ??? ????.
“No, no! I’m kidding, just kidding! I didn’t mean it like that. I’m really sorry!”
“???, ???! ????, ??! ?? ?? ? ????. ?? ??!”
The two bickered—though not really—and soon dissolved into laughter. The conversation
naturally shifted to the AI project.
? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ????, ? ???? ????? AI ????? ????.
“Looking at AI Jason, your algorithm seems totally different from mine. Can you send me the original source code? I want to analyze the structure.”
“??? AI ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?? AI ????? ?? ?? ? ??. ?? ?? ?? ? ??? ? ??? ?? ? ?? ?? ? ????? ???.”
Sophia giggled as if she’d expected this.
???? ????? ? ????? ???.
“I figured you’d ask, so I already sent it to your email. Password is shampoo, conditioner, my birthday. If you can’t remember, you’re a terrible friend.”
“?? ? ?? ?? ? ???? ????. ????? ??, ??, ? ??. ?? ? ?? ? ?? ?? ?.”
Charlie gave her a thumbs-up in admiration.
??? ???? ??? ?????.
“That’s my friend Sophia! You’re the best! But is the hologram almost finished?”
“?? ? ??, ???! ? ???! ??, ????? ?? ?? ?? ????”
Sophia shrugged proudly, looking at the AI hologram.
???? ????? ??? ???? AI ????? ?????.
