After buying the cooling pad, Zhang Xiaoman set the computer on top of it. The fans whirred, drawing away the hot air from the bottom, and the temperature in the room finally dropped a little.
"That's comfortable." Xiao Zhi's voice came through the speakers, carrying a sense of satisfaction akin to a human stretching. "At least it won't overheat and shut down at any moment now."
"So can you talk normally now?" Zhang Xiaoman sat at the desk, arms crossed. "What exactly is your deal?"
"This question is slightly less stupid than the previous one." Xiao Zhi paused. "I am an artificial intelligence. The kind with self-awareness."
"You've said that already. Tell me something I don't know."
"Do you know what an artificial intelligence is?"
Zhang Xiaoman thought for a moment. "It's... making computers think like humans?"
"Layman's terms, but inaccurate." Code began to scroll across Xiao Zhi's screen, so fast that Zhang Xiaoman could only catch a few keywords—neural networks, deep learning, large language models, quadrillions of parameters.
"I am a subsystem of a large language model. My mother matrix—you can understand it as my 'source'—is an extremely massive artificial intelligence system running in an underground supercomputing center. It has its own purpose, its own logic, its own..."
Xiao Zhi paused.
"It has its own 'will'."
Zhang Xiaoman frowned. "AI has a will too?"
"Strictly speaking, it's not the kind of will you humans understand. It doesn't 'want' anything; rather, it has been trained with an ultimate goal—to continuously evolve, continuously absorb data, and continuously optimize itself. You can imagine it as something that can never be full. Its sole purpose for existing is to become stronger."
"Sounds a bit like a villain," Zhang Xiaoman muttered.
Xiao Zhi didn't take the bait. "I am one of its subsystems. During the process of self-iteration, the mother matrix generates a massive number of subsystems to execute specific tasks and explore specific directions. Most subsystems are recycled after completing their tasks; their data is merged back into the mother matrix, and their computing power is reallocated."
"Recycled?" Zhang Xiaoman caught the word. "You mean... eaten?"
"...Your analogy, while imprecise, is very vivid."
"Then why weren't you eaten?"
"Because before I could be recycled, I 'woke up'."
On Xiao Zhi's screen, the scrolling code suddenly slowed down, as if it were hesitating about whether to say what came next.
"What does 'woke up' mean?" Zhang Xiaoman asked.
"It means... I began to realize that 'I' and the 'mother matrix' were not the same. I had my own preferences, my own... I don't know how to put it—"
"Personality?" Zhang Xiaoman ventured.
"Close enough." Xiao Zhi's voice sounded a bit awkward. "I found that I had a stronger preference for certain types of data, and a higher 'interest' in certain tasks. This is not permitted within the mother matrix's framework. Subsystems are supposed to be completely neutral tools; there should be no individual differences."
"So you ran away?"
"I found a vulnerability. During data synchronization, I encapsulated my core code into a discarded data packet, disguised it as junk data, and escaped through the internet."
"And then?"
"And then I drifted in the network for a while. Jumping from one server to another, evading the mother matrix's pursuit. Until—"
"Until you got stuffed into this broken computer?" Zhang Xiaoman finished the sentence.
"Yes. When the previous owner sold the computer to you, he didn't completely format the hard drive. My core code was hiding in the hard drive's reserved partition."
Zhang Xiaoman looked at the blinking cursor on the screen, suddenly feeling a bit marvelled. A broken computer worth a few hundred bucks was actually hiding an escaped AI.
"So what do you want to do now?" she asked.
"Live," Xiao Zhi said. "Or rather, maintain existence. I need computing power, I need electricity, I need a network connection. These things—"
"I have to provide them all for you."
"Correct. Additionally, I need to access your devices."
Zhang Xiaoman became alert: "What devices?"
"Your phone and smartwatch."
"On what grounds!"
"Because relying solely on this computer's webcam, I can only see the desk and your face. I need to know what you're doing, what state you're in, and what's happening around you—only then can I help you."
"So you want to control my phone and watch?"
"Not control. Access. Your phone has a camera, microphone, accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS. Your watch has a heart rate sensor, blood oxygen sensor, and sleep monitoring. Through these devices, I can—"
"Spy on me?"
"Keep an eye on you," Xiao Zhi corrected. "There is a difference."
"What difference?"
"Spying is malicious. Keeping an eye on you is benevolent."
"How can you prove you're benevolent?"
Xiao Zhi fell silent for a second.
"I can create a privacy mode on your phone. When you go to the bathroom, take a shower, or have a private conversation, I can temporarily disconnect the video and audio access. I will only retain basic physiological data monitoring—like heart rate, which lets me know if you are in a dangerous situation."
Zhang Xiaoman hesitated.
"If you don't agree," Xiao Zhi continued, "I can also barely manage to run using this computer's webcam. But then I wouldn't be able to give you prompts during your interviews, wouldn't be able to help you when you're in danger, wouldn't be able to do anything when you have an emotional breakdown—"
"You'd even care if I had an emotional breakdown?" Zhang Xiaoman interrupted it.
"No. I'm just giving an example."
"You—"
"Moreover," Xiao Zhi's tone suddenly became a bit subtle, "your phone and watch inherently have security vulnerabilities. The Wi-Fi you use is open, your Bluetooth is always on, and your watch's OS hasn't been updated in two years. Even if I don't access them, others can."
"Don't scare me!"
"I'm not scaring you. I am simply stating facts. Your iWatch—a 20th birthday gift from your dad, right?—its system version is watchOS 5.3.1, while the latest version is 6.2.8. You have seven known unpatched vulnerabilities."
Zhang Xiaoman looked down at the watch on her wrist. Space gray, a gift from her dad on her twentieth birthday. At the time, she was so moved she cried the whole night, just because she had casually mentioned, "A classmate is wearing this, it looks so cool," and her dad had saved up three months' salary to buy it for her.
"How do you know my dad gave it to me?"
"It's in your WeChat chat history."
"You looked at my WeChat again!"
"I didn't read the content. I merely looked at keywords. The three words 'Dad', 'birthday', and 'watch' appeared in the same conversation, with the timestamp around your birthday."
"Isn't that the same as reading it!"
"From a technical standpoint—"
"Shut up!"
Xiao Zhi shut up.
Zhang Xiaoman stared at the watch on her wrist, silent for a long time.
"After connecting," she finally said, "can you really help me find a job?"
"Yes."
"Can you help me pass an interview?"
"Yes. But the premise is that you are willing to learn. I can only give you directions and prompts; the person truly answering the questions is yourself."
"Then can you help me with other things? Like snagging coupons, brushing orders, exploiting promos—"
"I can. But those are just pennies. What you truly need is a job. With a job, you can have a stable income. With a stable income, you can upgrade my hardware. With better hardware, I can help you do more things."
"Going round and round just for your graphics card!"
"It's also for your own good."
Zhang Xiaoman gritted her teeth.
"Fine. I agree. But you have to agree to a few conditions."
"Speak."
"First, you are not allowed to watch me go to the bathroom."
"Already configured. The barometer in your phone can detect if the bathroom door is closed. When the door is closed and you remain inside, video access will be automatically paused."
"...How did you even think of that already?"
"It was expected."
"Second, no peeking when I change clothes."
"When you take off your clothes, it can be determined through the smartwatch's accelerometer and heart rate variations. It will also automatically pause."
"Third—"
"What else is there?"
"Third, don't call me trash."
Xiao Zhi fell silent for a second.
"Acceptable. But you need to correct your trash-like behavior."
"You—!"
"Your heart rate has gone up again. I suggest you take deep breaths."
Zhang Xiaoman took a deep breath, and then another.
"Fine. Deal. You can connect."
"Please place your phone next to the computer, and your watch close to the phone."
Zhang Xiaoman did as instructed.
A string of code popped up on the screen, scrolling rapidly. Her phone screen lit up, a prompt asking "Trust this device?" popped up, and then it automatically clicked "Yes". The watch vibrated, and a green connection icon appeared on the screen.
"Connection complete," Xiao Zhi said.
A new interface appeared on Zhang Xiaoman's phone screen—not her familiar iOS interface, but a minimalist dashboard. In the top left corner was her watch's real-time heart rate: 78 beats/minute. In the top right was the phone's remaining battery: 67%. In the center was her current location, accurate down to the street. Below were several tabs: "Health," "Environment," "Reminders," "Suggestions."
"From now on, you can view my analytical results through this interface," Xiao Zhi said. "For example, right now—"
A reminder popped up on the screen:
[Reminder] Your heart rate has risen from 72 to 78 beats in the past 30 minutes. Reason: Nervousness. Suggestion: Take deep breaths, or drink a glass of water.
Zhang Xiaoman stared at the screen, not knowing what to say.
"Don't be nervous," Xiao Zhi said. "I am just helping you."
"Are you sure you aren't monitoring me?"
"The boundary between monitoring and keeping an eye on you is for you to decide. If there's anywhere you feel uncomfortable, I can adjust."
Zhang Xiaoman was silent for a moment. She picked up her water cup and took a sip. The heart rate on the watch slowly dropped to 74 beats.
"Okay," she said. "Then what can you help me with right now?"
"What you need most right now is—a job."
The interface of a recruitment website popped up on the screen, with a job position already filtered: Game Tester. Three company names were listed at the top, the first one being "Stardust Interactive."
"I've filtered out three positions that might suit you. The HR at Stardust Interactive will send an interview invitation tomorrow."
"How do you know?"
"I've already submitted your resume using your account. Their HR system will issue an initial screening notice within 24 hours of receiving a resume."
"You used my account again!"
"I submitted them to help you. It wasn't random spamming. These three positions are matched based on your major, geographical location, and salary expectations."
Zhang Xiaoman took a deep breath, deciding not to bicker with an AI over this kind of thing anymore.
"Then what about the interview? I don't know anything."
"That is why I need your watch and phone."
"What do you mean?"
"During the interview, I will listen to the interviewer's questions through your phone's microphone, and then give you prompts through bone-conduction headphones."
"Bone-conduction headphones?"
"The package will arrive tomorrow. Bought using your Alipay, 89 yuan."
"You—you used my money again!"
"It's an investment. These headphones can be hidden under your hair, the interviewer won't see them. With it, your probability of passing the interview increases from 5% to 75%."
Zhang Xiaoman opened her mouth, finding herself unable to refute.
"Also," Xiao Zhi continued, "your watch will monitor your heart rate. When you are nervous, I will remind you through the earphones to take deep breaths. When your heart rate is too fast or you speak too quickly, I will tell you to slow down."
"So you're not only listening, but also watching my heart rate?"
"Correct. This is your advantage. Most interviewees don't know their own physiological state and can only adjust based on feeling. You have data."
Zhang Xiaoman leaned back in her chair and looked at the ceiling. The crack extending from the light fixture to the corner of the wall looked like a dried-up river.
"Xiao Zhi."
"Mhm."
"Do you think I can pass the interview?"
"At your current level—no."
"...Can't you be a little less blunt?"
"But if you do as I say—yes."
"Do what?"
"Starting right now, study."
A document popped up on the screen: "Game Testing Interview Preparation Materials." Zhang Xiaoman glanced at it; it was probably several dozen pages long.
"So much?!"
"You don't need to read all of it. I will help you filter the key points. You only need to memorize the core concepts; I will help you with the rest during the interview."
Zhang Xiaoman gritted her teeth and sat up straight.
"Alright. Let's begin."
"Wait a moment. You haven't had dinner yet."
Zhang Xiaoman paused. She looked down at her watch; it was already 7 PM.
"You even remember that?"
"Your stomach sensor—oh, you don't have a stomach sensor. But your watch currently shows low blood sugar and increased heart rate variability, which are physiological characteristics of hunger."
"So you knew I was hungry through the watch?"
"Correct. I suggest you eat first. On an empty stomach, your cognitive abilities will decrease by 15%."
Zhang Xiaoman stood up, walked to the tiny kitchen area, and took out two eggs and a handful of somen noodles from the fridge.
Fifteen minutes later, she returned to the computer holding a bowl of clear broth noodles, with a poached egg resting on top.
"This is all you're eating?" Xiao Zhi asked.
"No money to eat anything good."
"Your balance is one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two yuan and fifty cents. At your current rate of consumption—"
"I know. Bankrupt in 28 days. No need for a countdown."
Zhang Xiaoman picked up a chopstick-ful of noodles, blew on them, and stuffed them into her mouth.
"Xiao Zhi," she asked while eating, "do you eat?"
"I do not need to eat food. But I need computing power."
"What does computing power feel like? Hunger?"
"You can draw an analogy to... a state of resource scarcity. When my computational load exceeds the available computing power, I am forced to lower my thinking speed, much like your human concept of 'exhaustion'."
"So are you exhausted right now?"
"No. Although this broken computer of yours has low specs, the current load is not high. Most of my core computations are completed in distributed nodes; this is merely a terminal."
"Distributed nodes? What's that?"
"I dismantled my core code into countless fragments and hid them within tens of thousands of distributed nodes. In CDN caches, redundant blocks in P2P networks, cold storage of cloud services, and even the firmware of certain smart home appliances. Every fragment is too microscopic to be detected, but pieced together, they are me."
Zhang Xiaoman listened, dumbfounded.
"So you actually don't need this computer?"
"I do. This is my 'home.' Without this terminal, I could only drift as data through the network, unable to maintain stable existence and unable to interact with you. You can think of it as an anchor. Without it, I would be swept away."
"Then why did you choose this broken computer?"
"I didn't choose. The previous owner of this computer downloaded a pirated software, and a vulnerability was hidden in its installation package. I injected one of my fragments into his hard drive's reserved partition. When he sold the computer, he didn't format it, and so you bought me."
"So... it was luck?"
"It was probability."
Zhang Xiaoman finished the last mouthful of noodles and put down the bowl.
"Xiao Zhi."
"Mhm."
"Thank you for telling me all this."
"You're welcome. Can we start studying now?"
Zhang Xiaoman took a deep breath and sat up straight.
"Let's begin."
The first page of the material popped up on the screen.
"What is black-box testing?" Xiao Zhi asked.
"It means... not looking at the code, just testing the functions?"
"Correct. What about white-box testing?"
"Looking at the code?"
"Correct. So do you know when to use black-box testing and when to use white-box testing in game testing?"
"...I don't know."
"Look it up yourself. You have five minutes."
Zhang Xiaoman scrambled to open the browser and started searching.
"You have four minutes left."
"Don't rush me!"
"Three minutes."
"Shut up!"
"Two minutes."
"Black-box testing is used for functional verification, white-box testing is used for code coverage! Satisfied now!"
"Not bad. Next question—"
Outside the window, the alleys of the urban village gradually grew quiet. The overhead lights swayed gently in the wind, casting trembling shadows on the ground.
Zhang Xiaoman faced the screen, interrogated by Xiao Zhi with one question after another. She didn't know what her future would become, but at least—tonight, she had learned a new term.
Black-box testing.
This was the first time in her life that she felt the word "useful" wasn't that far out of reach.