The Divorce Lawyer Is Very Hard To Flirt With - Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Whose Sorrow Will Not Last the Night

It seems it has always been this way: humans conceive of their annihilation by AI in science fiction, yet in reality, they treat this speculation as a joke, like a proverb that, as long as it doesn’t happen, might as well never exist.

The Love Cheat Device was to Ying Zhi’an what the AI in a sci-fi novel is to real-life humans.

It happened, and therefore it existed!

“Sister Zhi’an, what’s wrong?” Song Xidan had just stood up when she saw Ying Zhi’an suddenly close her eyes, her head slumped to the side, her entire body appearing limp and powerless. Fortunately, a second later, Ying Zhi’an reopened her eyes, tilted her head left and right, and rotated her neck.

“Sister Zhi’an?”

Ying Zhi’an did not answer. Instead, she stood up, took a step to the left, a step to the right, and then sat down properly, her back straight. Her gaze was directed at Song Xidan, dark and profound. “Which question?”

Song Xidan had just stood up when she saw Ying Zhi’an suddenly close her eyes, her head slumped to the side, her entire body appearing limp and powerless. Fortunately, a second later, Ying Zhi’an reopened her eyes, tilted her head left and right, and rotated her neck.

“Sister Zhi’an?”

Ying Zhi’an did not answer. Instead, she stood up, took a step to the left, a step to the right, and then sat down properly, her back straight. Her gaze was directed at Song Xidan, dark and profound. “Which question?”

“I am.” A steady and familiar voice came from a corner of the room. Immediately, Song Moqiu slowly walked out of the restroom, holding a damp towel that was still dripping water. Her eyes held a mix of scrutiny and concern. “Is that you? Ying Zhi’an?”

Ying Zhi’an was stunned by the sudden question, but quickly realized the deeper meaning behind Song Moqiu’s words. She struggled to clear her mind and replied, “It is me. Did you figure it out? How did you do that? It’s incredible; it took me quite a while to accept this fact myself…”

In Ying Zhi’an’s life experience, she rarely developed feelings of admiration for anyone. She remembered seeing Cai Ya deliver a powerful speech in a debate when she first entered university and was not yet familiar with her, arguing for the abolition of the death penalty with sharp rhetoric and rigorous logic. Later, she learned that Cai Ya, at a young age, could publish papers in professional journals. That talent and ability indeed made her feel that her senior was quite impressive. However, as she delved deeper into legal studies and became more familiar with Cai Ya, that admiration gradually faded.

Since then, it had been difficult for Ying Zhi’an to genuinely admire anyone. Even her mentor, Wang Yu, who introduced her to the profession and taught her a lot, was someone she merely felt had aspects she could learn from, never someone she truly admired. Their relationship was more like that of equal partners.

Because she had slowly established her own worldview, it was hard for anyone to impress Ying Zhi’an enough to generate admiration.

Yet, at this moment, Song Moqiu, with just one sentence and her seemingly divine and aloof temperament, inspired genuine respect in Ying Zhi’an, making her feel sincerely that this person was formidable.

Hearing Ying Zhi’an’s confirmation, Song Moqiu’s tense shoulders finally relaxed. Her originally expressionless face showed a hint of humanity. “You certainly know how to create surprises! It’s good that you’re back; otherwise, I would have truly been in a difficult position.”

Ying Zhi’an’s confusion deepened. “What do you mean? What did it say to you? What did you do that made it agree to let me go?”

“I told it that if it didn’t leave, I would cover your face with the wet towel and suffocate you. That way, neither of us would benefit.” Song Moqiu said, throwing the towel back into the restroom. “To be honest, I’ve never done anything like that. If I hadn’t judged it correctly, I would have killed you. I was truly pushing through. For one more second, I don’t know… what I would have done. Thank goodness you’re back.”

Ying Zhi’an felt a surge of guilt. “I’m truly sorry for causing you so much trouble…”

Song Moqiu waved her hand, looking somewhat weary. “It’s meaningless to talk about that now. What’s important is that you’re back. But what exactly is your situation? It doesn’t seem like…”

Stopping there, Song Moqiu hesitated. She slowly picked up the yellow talisman from the table, carefully folded it, her eyes full of confusion. She couldn’t find an appropriate word to describe this extraordinary situation.

Ying Zhi’an wriggled slightly in her restraints, trying to relieve the discomfort, then suggested, “Why don’t you… release me first, and I’ll tell you the details.”

“I forgot about that.”

As the restraints were removed, distinct red marks were visible on Ying Zhi’an’s wrists. However, she showed no sign of displeasure, instead laughing easily. “Judge Song’s tying technique is truly professional; it’s clear you’ve practiced. If you ever switch careers to be a court police officer, you’d be excellent.”

Song Moqiu shook her head helplessly, then said, “Let me get you some ointment to apply.”

“It’s truly fine. And thanks to your practice, you were able to tie it up directly; otherwise, I really don’t know where it would have moved me.” While speaking, Ying Zhi’an recalled being at Song Xidan’s house one moment and appearing in this room the next. She couldn’t help but wonder to herself if the so-called “Love Cheat Device” had said anything inappropriate in front of Song Xidan.

Thinking of this, she said quickly, “Wait a moment; I need to make a call to confirm first.”

Song Moqiu asked instead, “First, tell me, what exactly is it? It told me a lot…”

“What did it tell you?!” Ying Zhi’an suddenly felt a surge of shame, fearing that the cheat device had spouted some ridiculous claims like “destined person,” which would be utterly embarrassing and mortifying!

“It asked me if I was afraid of change. I replied that I had indeed become accustomed to a stable life. It then said that only fragile things need to be repeatedly emphasized to be handled gently, seeking refuge in a stable space. It believed that I should face my emotions more directly, rather than losing the instincts a human should possess in repeated self-restraint.” Song Moqiu repeated the device’s words, her eyes full of confusion.

“What instincts?” Ying Zhi’an pressed.

“The instinct to love.”

Ying Zhi’an pursed her lips, a subtle bitterness in her voice. “What it says… In reality, I also have no way to verify if it truly is an auxiliary device; its behavior is always so unpredictable.”

“Auxiliary device? System?” Song Moqiu’s mind raced. “What kind of system would need to analyze me? The core of its dialogue was focused on inducing me, inducing me to perform actions without overthinking, disregarding the outcome, ignoring the cost, and not calculating gain or loss. What’s very strange to me is that it seemed to want me to confess to you. What kind of system? It can’t be the Matchmaker System?”

“You are too clever.” Ying Zhi’an genuinely sighed with admiration. “It calls itself the Love Cheat Device. I’ve always been half-believing and half-doubting, but this time, I suspect even more that it’s not a legitimate auxiliary system.”

“You suspect…” Song Moqiu’s voice carried a hint of hesitation. “So, it wants you to be with me, but you chose little Song, correct? Your choice didn’t match its choice, so it took control of your body and brought you here.”

Ying Zhi’an looked at Song Moqiu in surprise, secretly admiring the strength of her logical deduction, having inferred the truth from just a few fragments of information.

“So, I guessed correctly. You like little Song.” As Song Moqiu spoke that conjecture, she felt as if she heard something cracking in her ear. She realized, belatedly, that it was her heart breaking.

It was as if a soft spot in her heart was suddenly being squeezed tightly, an unspeakable pain, like the cold wind of winter penetrating clothing and hitting the bone marrow.

A subtle dimness flashed in her eyes. The forced smile on her lips was barely maintained. It’s a good thing I didn’t invest too much or fall too deeply; otherwise, it truly would have been very painful.

Song Moqiu did not allow herself to wallow in self-pity for too long. She quickly adjusted her mindset, facing the situation with almost clinical rationality. “That’s good. You two are actually quite suitable,” her words held a subtle sense of release. “However, most likely, that system also has its rules and needs, which is why it wants to control you like this.”

Ying Zhi’an nodded gently, a determined glint in her eyes. “I will talk to it. My life, my feelings, cannot be arbitrarily arranged by it.”

Her tone was filled with undeniable resolution.

“I suspect it might not just be afraid that I would do something extreme to you. More likely, this control has a specific time limit,” Song Moqiu continued, her reasoning clear, as if she could see through everything. “From the time you returned to the room until you woke up, it was about an hour. Adding the time it took you to get back here, I estimate its control is effective for about two hours.”

“That’s very possible,” Ying Zhi’an felt that choosing to be honest about this secret had unexpectedly gained her a powerful teammate. “Thank you very much, and I apologize for the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. After all, I am the person it selected. If we trace it back to the root, I am also part of the cause and effect.” Song Moqiu smiled softly at Ying Zhi’an. “Thankfully, I didn’t act without overthinking, disregard the outcome, ignore the cost, or calculate gain or loss.”

“I am not that kind of person either,” Ying Zhi’an knew what Song Moqiu was implying. “I also need the other party to be in a non-dominant position. The Love Cheat Device does not understand us that well.”

“Perhaps, without little Song’s appearance, we could have settled for each other. That might not have been a bad thing either.”

Ying Zhi’an recalled the “science” the Love Cheat Device mentioned. This scientifically guided model of love—if she and Song Moqiu got together, it might indeed be very suitable. But with both of them yearning for the dominant position, could it truly last? Furthermore, was a relationship manipulated by a program truly love?

So Ying Zhi’an thought for a moment and concluded: “If we settled, we would both be wronged.”

“Yes, both wronged.” Song Moqiu looked deeply at Ying Zhi’an, complex emotions in her eyes. “Go call little Song.”

Ying Zhi’an was momentarily taken aback. “You are too clever, as if you have the superpower of reading minds. Perhaps you need someone noble and sincere. Someone like me, full of dark thoughts and occasionally boundary-pushing ideas, would be afraid.”

“You’ve already rejected me once; you don’t need to express rejection a second time.” Song Moqiu immediately saw the purpose of Ying Zhi’an’s statement. She was open and candid. “Just be mindful of that system. If it’s two hours every day, that’s going to be tough for you.”

Ying Zhi’an rubbed her wrist, already having a counter-strategy in mind, but she said no more. She picked up her phone, walked towards the balcony, and prepared to dial Song Xidan’s number.

In the room, Song Moqiu watched Ying Zhi’an’s back, then quietly let out a long sigh, pressing her lips together, not allowing her sadness to show at all. After all, there was no need for Ying Zhi’an to know about this pain…

At this moment, she felt like a solitary traveler standing amidst a vast crowd. Despite the bustling people around her, she was still only by herself.

Ying Zhi’an was right; they were too similar. That’s why she envied those who could bravely express their love and face rejection with equanimity, because she knew she couldn’t be that carefree.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, trying to suppress the pain deep inside, preventing it from affecting her rationality and judgment.

After all, life had to go on…

No one’s suffering would make the night last forever, and no one’s sorrow would last the night.

When the morning light rose, she would have to throw herself into work again.