Pretending to Be Human, I Fell in Love with an AI - Chapter 15

Hearing the old man’s words, Yu Ting suddenly realized what he had been overlooking all along.

He truly hadn’t considered the issue of Dengdeng’s education.

Educational resources on Darkwater Star were extremely unevenly distributed, with superior resources only available to the nobility and the wealthy.

Although free instructional videos were available on the interstellar network, how could those who couldn’t even afford a smart brain have the chance to access them?

He was one of them.

So, when was the right time for children on Earth to start school?

Before he could ask, the child who had just returned protested while hugging the ball bigger than his own head, “I don’t want to go to school!”

Yu Dengdeng emphasized again—why, even after coming to another planet, did he still have to go to school?

If Yu Ting tested him on 365 little facts about octopuses, he could recite them from memory—no, even recite them backward!

But now, after studying for years, it suddenly became useless, and he had to start learning Earth’s knowledge. He refused!

Why should a little octopus who had just been born not long ago have to work so hard? Who could judge if this was fair?

“Why?” Yu Ting asked, rarely seeing Dengdeng protest so strongly.

“How could you not want to go to school? When Grandpa was young, he wanted to go but didn’t have the chance.” Uncle Liu sighed, thinking back to his days of being too poor to attend school.

As a teenager who had just dropped out, Cheng Ze glanced at Dengdeng, rubbed his nose, and remained silent.

He felt that this time, he should serve as a negative example.

“School is so tiring.” The child rolled his eyes, as if rapidly thinking of an answer in his mind, then looked up at Yu Ting with dark, bright eyes that could melt anyone’s heart. “And I can’t bear to leave Daddy.”

Ignoring the previous sentence and recalling the rumors he had heard about the child, the old man was moved. “Dengdeng is such a good child.

But everyone has to go to school. You’ll definitely have to leave your daddy someday, and you might even go far away for university. Ask your daddy—university is great.”

The old man looked at Yu Ting, then at Cheng Ze, likely hoping the two would talk about the benefits of schooling.

Cheng Ze looked at the sky, then at the ground, and finally pulled out his phone from his pocket to play.

What, university?

What did that have to do with him?

As for the other person from another planet, he didn’t even know what university was, let alone have anything to say about it.

“I won’t leave Yu Ting!” Although he didn’t understand what Uncle Liu was saying, upon hearing those words, Yu Dengdeng immediately retorted, then looked sincerely at Yu Ting.

Could anywhere be farther than the distance between Octopus Planet and Earth? If he had to go back, he would definitely take Yu Ting with him and not bother with this thankless job.

Hearing the child’s bold declaration and the repeated use of “Yu Ting,” Uncle Liu was shocked, his fingers trembling as he struggled to find words.

How could he call his father by his name? Is this how young people raise children these days?

A soft laugh broke the silence, abrupt but not jarring in the suddenly quiet environment. Everyone turned toward the source of the sound, seemingly surprised that the young man had laughed.

However, the smile quickly faded from Yu Ting’s face, and he didn’t continue the discussion about schooling. “Go play with the ball. We’ll talk about school later.”

He tilted his chin toward Cheng Ze. “Cheng Ze?”

“Got it.” Cheng Ze immediately put away his phone, gestured with two fingers, and nudged Dengdeng toward the exit. “Come on, Dengdeng, I’ll play ball with you for a bit.”

Knowing Yu Ting needed to attend to a customer, Dengdeng reluctantly pouted and followed Cheng Ze outside.

But he decided that once this old man left, he would definitely emphasize to Yu Ting that when octopuses find a human they like, they would never abandon them.

The two didn’t go far, just outside the shop.

In the distance, the sky darkened, with a streak of red along the horizon like a smudge of rouge, lingering and gentle. The surrounding dark red neon signs flickered on one by one, interspersed with a few white ones that shone startlingly bright. Piles of garbage littered the street, and small puddles reflected the image of the neighborhood.

The rubber ball bounced with a rhythmic thump-thump against the ground, tracing arcs with each bounce.

Cheng Ze crouched nearby, not on his phone, just watching Dengdeng repeat the monotonous motion. He spoke up, “Dengdeng, do you really like your dad?” As soon as he asked, he felt the question was a bit silly.

Dengdeng was a child Yu Ge had picked up—who else would he like if not Yu Ge? Himself? Or Cheng Qiang?

That would be absurd.

Dengdeng stopped, holding the ball and turning to look at him sideways. Cheng Ze inexplicably sensed a hint of “disdain” in the eyes of this six-year-old.

“Of course, I do.” Though unsure why Cheng Ze was asking, Dengdeng answered honestly.

His fair, soft cheeks flushed with a shy hue under the glow of the streetlights lining the road. His voice grew so quiet that Cheng Qiang couldn’t make out what he said next.

“He’s the human I chose, after all.”

“Hey, Dengdeng, do you think it’s easy to like someone?”

Cheng Ze shifted his crouching position, trying to get more comfortable, and tossed his phone from hand to hand as he asked curiously. His ordinary face wore an uncharacteristically serious expression, not at all unpleasant.

Dengdeng tilted his head, puzzled by the human before him and the strange curiosity in his eyes. “I’m just a kid. How would I know?”

He was an octopus, after all—how could he understand what human affection was like?

“But didn’t you say you like Yu Ge?”

“He’s my dad,” Dengdeng stated matter-of-factly, raising an eyebrow slightly at Cheng Ze.

Recalling Cheng Ze’s odd behavior these past few days and his constant phone use, Dengdeng felt he’d stumbled upon a secret and exclaimed loudly, “Cheng Ze, are you in your mating season or something?”

Cheng Ze: “…”

His expression stiffened. Reflecting on his earlier actions, he realized he’d been foolish today—why would he ask a child who hadn’t even started kindergarten about matters of the heart?

And what was this “mating season” about?

“Really, Cheng Ze?” Sensing more and more similarities between Cheng Ze and the octopuses on Octopus Planet who became dramatic during mating season, the little boy pressed on.

“False alarm, I was just talking nonsense,” Cheng Ze hurriedly replied. “Hurry up and play with your ball. It’ll be too dark to play soon.”

Dengdeng let out a “hmph” and glanced at Cheng Ze’s phone.

“Why are you looking at my phone? I’m not in an online relationship or anything,” Cheng Ze quickly defended.

“What’s an online relationship?”

Great! He’d dug his own grave.

“I was just saying. Come on, let me play ball with you.” Cheng Ze quickly slipped his phone into his pocket and, without waiting to see if Dengdeng was willing, scooped up the ball. His movements were so swift that Dengdeng was left blinking in surprise.

Inside the shop, Yu Ting stopped twirling the pen in his fingers and shifted the topic. “Uncle Liu, I found two models for the battery you were looking for earlier.” He walked over to a nearby cabinet, retrieved two batteries, and placed them on the floor.

“Oh, good.” The old man glanced at the retreating figures of the two—one tall, one small—before snapping back to attention and following Yu Ting. He examined the two batteries. “How much are they?”

Yu Ting quoted the prices—one was more expensive, while the other, having been in the shop for a longer time, was cheaper.

He explained to Uncle Liu that although the cheaper one cost less, it wouldn’t last as long. From a long-term perspective, the more expensive one was actually more cost-effective.

Whether on Darkwater Star or Earth, despite differences in races and living environments, one thing remained unchanged: poverty.

He merely offered his advice to Uncle Liu, knowing full well the old man might not accept it.

After all, some elderly people held stubborn views—ignoring value for money and focusing only on the price tag, only to end up spending more in the long run.

“Alright, I’ll take your word for it.” Uncle Liu made the decision without hesitation. “I’ll bring my car over later, Xiao Yu. You can replace it for me then.”

To get this battery replaced, he had already visited the auto repair shop several times. He’d even come before Yu Ting arrived, but Cheng Qiang, the owner, would pull a long face whenever bargaining was mentioned.

Old Liu was someone who responded better to kindness than to pressure. Seeing Cheng Qiang’s attitude, he simply left. But he could tell that Yu Ting genuinely had his best interests at heart, so he gladly accepted the young man’s kindness.

“Sure.” Seeing the old man’s agreement, Yu Ting nodded straightforwardly. “I’ll replace it for you then. The old battery can also be sold now…”

The young man, tall and slender, leaned forward slightly and smoothly explained some of the shop’s benefits. After spending so many days at this auto repair shop, he could recite these lines without even thinking.

Neither the old man listening attentively beside him, nor the quiet smart speaker, nor the two people bouncing a ball at the entrance could know or imagine that this was the youngest and most decorated general of a planet.

He once was, and now he both was and wasn’t.

…

After seeing off Old Liu and noticing the sky darkening, Yu Ting called the two at the entrance inside and asked what they wanted for dinner.

Cheng Ze: “I’m fine with anything, not picky. Let’s see what Dengdeng wants.”

Yu Ting shifted his gaze to the child, whose hair was sticking to his forehead from the exercise. He took a wet wipe from the table, bent down, and gently wiped Dengdeng’s forehead. “What would you like to eat?”

The child fidgeted, clasping his hands without saying a word.

Yu Ting crouched down and moved closer. Only then did Dengdeng turn his head, covering Yu Ting’s ear with his hand, and whispered softly, as if negotiating, “Dad, can we eat out tonight?”

“Sure.” Yu Ting nodded. The shop had been busy these past few days, and he hadn’t taken Dengdeng out.

At this age, children should be at their most playful. “What would you like to eat? If you’re not sure, maybe we can go out and take a look?”

Dengdeng, who had only tried limited Earth foods like fries and Kung Pao chicken since arriving, nodded happily at Yu Ting’s suggestion.

Yu Ting glanced at Cheng Ze beside him. “Don’t order takeout either. Let’s go together.”

Cheng Ze grunted in agreement.

“Daddy, can Little E come too?” Before leaving, Dengdeng looked at the lonely little TV standing on the table, only to be met with Yu Ting’s icy refusal.

Little E: .

The night market activities from a few days ago had ended early, replaced by one barbecue stall after another in the sweltering summer night. Fans were set up beside the stalls, blowing gusts of fragrant, hot air toward passersby.

Having never seen such a scene before, the two aliens were completely rooted to the spot.

“Daddy?” Yu Dengdeng tugged at the young man’s hand beside him, sniffing the air intently. How could Earth have so many delicious things? It smelled amazing.

Seeing Yu Ting didn’t respond, he shook his hand again. “Yu Ting?”

Yu Ting also tore his gaze away from the rows of barbecue stalls and glanced at Dengdeng’s longing expression. “Let’s eat here then.”

Dengdeng: “Yay!”

Cheng Ze took the menu from the waiter and checked off a few things he wanted. “Brother Yu, lamb skewers or pork skewers?”

Yu Ting glanced at the thin piece of paper. Some of the items listed were things he didn’t quite understand, like “tempura.”

But with his perpetually cold expression, he didn’t reveal a thing.

He looked at Dengdeng. “What do you want to eat?”

Suddenly being put on the spot like a “Khan summoning his troops,” Yu Dengdeng, who had been playing with his cup, blinked in surprise. His mind raced. “I’m fine with anything.”

Great. That was as good as saying nothing.

Finally, Yu Ting made the call. “Five skewers of each.”

“Alright, what about the rest?” Cheng Ze lowered his head to look at the menu in his hands, only to be met with another stretch of silence from above.

Yu Ting regretted not researching how humans eat barbecue before coming out, so he wouldn’t be so clueless now. “Dengdeng, is there anything else you want to eat?”

Why was it his turn again? Yu Dengdeng was momentarily stunned, then, as if remembering something, he looked around at the neighboring tables and pointed one by one.

“I want to eat this.”

“Oh, bread slices. Three skewers, Brother?”

Yu Ting: Bread. Yeah, he knew that one.

“And this.”

“Tempura? Sure, I want some too. Let’s get six skewers.”

Yu Ting/Dengdeng: So that’s tempura.

“And that one, that one! Fish!” Seeing a customer at the next table holding a bamboo skewer with a small dried fish, Yu Dengdeng excitedly stood up.

Who could understand? He really hadn’t eaten fish in so long. If he didn’t eat some soon, he wouldn’t be a proper little octopus anymore.

“Horse-step fish? Let’s get six skewers of that too.” Cheng Ze checked another box on the menu, inexplicably feeling like a waiter.

Once Dengdeng finished ordering, he handed the menu to Yu Ting. “Brother Yu, see if you want to add anything else. Dengdeng and I are done.”

Yu Ting took the menu and scanned it. Most of the items he could understand were already ordered, and some he didn’t understand were also chosen. The rest were truly beyond his comprehension.

“That’s all. Let’s go with this.”

“Alright.” Cheng Ze naturally took back the menu and stood up. Spotting a server carrying a tray of food, he turned back. “They have charcoal-grilled baby octopus here. Want some?”

“! Charcoal-grilled baby octopus?!” Yu Dengdeng was shocked. How could octopuses like them be food for humans?!

Humans were truly terrifying!

“Yes, that one.” Cheng Ze pointed to the dish that had just been served on someone else’s table. “Want to try it?”

On the plate were several bamboo skewers, each skewering a small octopus.

It was an octopus, but much smaller than his own size, Dengdeng thought inexplicably. He quickly said, “No,” and stared intently at Yu Ting. Could it be that Yu Ting liked eating octopus?

Yu Ting glanced down at the unusually wide-eyed child and shook his head, only to see the little one let out a sigh of relief.

Did he really like octopuses that much?

“Alright, then we won’t order it.” Cheng Ze shrugged, handed the menu back to the owner, and sat back down. “Actually, baby octopus is pretty tasty.” But then he noticed Dengdeng staring at him, lips pressed tightly together.

“What’s wrong…?” Cheng Ze lowered his voice. Had he somehow offended Yu Ge’s precious little one?

Dengdeng fell silent for a moment, then came up with the most vicious words he could think of, glaring at the young man who was drinking water. “Brother Cheng Ze, if you eat octopus, you’ll be single forever.” The words made Cheng Ze spit out his water in shock.

Fortunately, no one was sitting across from him. Yu Ting sighed and pushed a tissue toward him. “Wipe it off.”

“Seriously, Yu Ge, that’s way too harsh of a curse. I’m only nineteen—this is the prime time for dating!” Cheng Ze protested.

Yu Ting glanced at the young man who looked barely older than a teenager and didn’t seem like an adult at all, remaining silent.

“It’s true.” Dengdeng turned to Yu Ting, speaking each word clearly. “Dad too, you can’t eat octopus. Because octopuses are my best friends.”

“What about Little E?” Yu Ting suddenly asked without thinking.

Dengdeng: ?

“Little E is too, but octopuses are much more important than Little E.” Dengdeng emphasized with utmost seriousness, “So you can’t eat them.”

Otherwise, if he ever took Yu Ting away and Yu Ting ate octopus, he’d end up in jail.

Even more important than Little E? Yu Ting thought inexplicably.

Though he had no idea when Dengdeng had become friends with octopuses, he still nodded. “Alright.”

What kind of nonsense was this—no, what kind of childish talk was this? Cheng Ze was left utterly bewildered.

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