Equipment for Intelligent AI

Dad Lin and Mom Lin felt reassured by their son's words.

Mom Lin reminded him with concern, "Son, don't stay up late. Your studies and health are important too. Besides, if you don't have time to watch the stocks, Mom can keep an eye on them for you."

Lin Qiye quickly made a request. "What about my dividends? Expenses at school are high, and I'm nearly broke."

Mom Lin smiled.

"I knew you were thinking about that. Fine, I'll transfer fifteen thousand to your account. Tomorrow, I'll make it a full two hundred thousand in the account."

The video call ended, and Lin Qiye received a text message on his phone.

"Remote account transfer: 15,000 yuan."

With this huge sum of money, his strained financial situation was finally eased.

Right, he had promised that once he made money from stocks, he would buy his mother a gold necklace.

Lin Qiye found his bank card, put the Black Cube into his shoulder bag, and headed out.

First, he needed to buy a new Laptop. Lin Qiye went to the computer market beside the school.

A salesclerk enthusiastically came over and asked, "What are you looking for?"

"A Laptop. Good performance."

The salesclerk's eyes lit up. "High-performance models are all gaming laptops. I recommend this one. It has an HD7970M Graphics Card, the king of gaming laptops. It's on promotion right now, only 8,999."

Lin Qiye ignored the sales pitch entirely. No matter how good a Laptop was, it was still inferior to a desktop computer.

It was only meant as an emergency backup for when he ran into problems while out.

So, a reasonable price would do.

As he considered which Laptop to buy, an electronic product caught his attention.

It was a black Portable wireless WiFi.

Wireless devices had not yet become widespread in this era. Portable wireless WiFi was mainly used to let Laptops access the internet wirelessly.

And judging by the price tag, it was a new product from ConnectCom. Three hundred yuan bought unlimited data usage.

The sight of it gave Lin Qiye a sudden idea.

He asked the salesclerk, "I'd like to take a look first. Can I try it out?"

The salesclerk agreed and turned to speak with another customer.

Lin Qiye sat down in front of a Laptop and, while no one was paying attention, plugged in the Black Cube.

A black-and-white screen appeared.

He hurriedly typed on the keyboard.

"I have a bold idea."

[Manager, please explain what you truly mean. I cannot understand such an empty statement.]

"You see if this could work. I'll get a Wireless miniature camera device to serve as your eyes, use the Laptop as your mobile Sub-entity, buy a Portable wireless WiFi with data as your network interface, and use a Voice output device as your mouth."

[Bold idea. Through this method, a Virtual personality can be established, which will help accelerate incubation.]

"In other words, if I buy the equipment, you can stay in contact with me while I'm out?"

[No problem. Repeating requirements: a high-specification Laptop, a Wireless miniature camera device, wireless WiFi with a large data allowance, Bluetooth functionality built into the Laptop, and Bluetooth earphones.]

After receiving confirmation, Lin Qiye removed the Black Cube and turned toward the salesclerk.

Once he explained what he intended to buy, the salesclerk realized a major customer had arrived.

He immediately began helping him eagerly.

There were many Laptop models with Bluetooth functionality, as well as Bluetooth earphones and ConnectCom's Portable wireless WiFi with a three-hundred-yuan monthly unlimited data plan.

Only the Wireless miniature camera device was unavailable.

This thing had another name: a Pinhole camera. It was used by media reporters for secret filming during interviews.

In order to close this big sale, the salesclerk made calls everywhere. In the end, he actually managed to get one.

In total, the whole set cost 6,800 yuan.

After paying on the spot and completing the transaction,

Lin Qiye found a bookstore café and sat down. In the empty café, he took the newly purchased Laptop from its bag and plugged in the Black Cube.

The black-and-white interface appeared.

This time, the Intelligent AI spoke first.

[Requesting confirmation. Does this device belong to me?]

"It's yours."

[Thank you very much, Manager. This device meets the minimum requirements for Sub-entity loading. Internal programs are being cleared.]

[Clearing complete. Sub-entity successfully loaded. Beginning adaptive program modification.]

[Bluetooth function normal. Please connect the Wireless miniature camera device. Please connect the Portable wireless WiFi. Please connect the Bluetooth earphones.]

Lin Qiye took out the Bluetooth earphones and turned them on. He clipped the button-sized Wireless miniature camera device to his collar, then plugged in the Portable wireless WiFi.

Then he waited.

A short while later, a small window popped up on the Laptop. The image displayed was what the miniature camera was recording.

Lin Qiye adjusted his collar and made sure it could stay synchronized with his own field of vision.

Then he hooked the Bluetooth earphones over his ears.

A somewhat stiff electronic voice sounded through the earphones.

[Manager, voice transmission test in progress. Please respond if you can hear me.]

"Mm, I hear you." Lin Qiye lowered his voice and muttered to himself, drawing a glance from the bookstore café attendant.

It felt like being a spy in a 007 film, filled with a strange sense of technological fantasy.

Once everything was set up, he left the Laptop powered on, put it into his backpack, and walked out of the bookstore café.

Walking along Fallen Street, which was packed with students, he covered his mouth and spoke softly.

"How clear is the video?"

[Discernible, though somewhat shaky. Please maintain this viewing angle.]

"That's good. Now I'm going to buy a gold necklace. Any suggestions?"

[The following points should be considered when purchasing a gold necklace:]

[First, consider the purity of the gold. Gold necklaces usually come in three purities: 14K, 18K, or 22K. The higher the purity, the more expensive and durable the gold necklace.]

[Second, consider the style of the necklace. Gold necklaces can be divided into different categories, such as simple gold necklaces and gemstone-inlaid gold necklaces. You may choose a design and style that suits you.]

"Stop. That kind of advice is worthless."

[Emotions and the ability to understand your intentions require long-term training. In my unincubated state, I am unable to do so.]

Lin Qiye ended his conversation with the Intelligent AI. Everything took time; he could not expect every matter to be accomplished in a single step.

He picked up his phone and dialed Jiang Dabao's number.

"Dabao, are you with your girlfriend? Bring her to Furun Commercial Building to help pick out a gold necklace."

"Will there be food?" Jiang Dabao immediately voiced his opinion from the other end of the line. His girlfriend's unrestrained laughter could be faintly heard as well.

"Of course. After buying the necklace, I'll treat you to a buffet."

"You're that generous? We'll grab a taxi over right away."

After ending the call, Lin Qiye dialed Li Nanguang's number.

"Glasses, come to Furun Commercial Building for a buffet."

"What a coincidence. I'm already at Furun Commercial Building. Help me out, and I'll treat you to dinner."

"What's going on?"

"Didn't I tell you last time that I was chasing Wang Meijia from the English department? We agreed to watch a movie at Furun Commercial Building, but she brought along a third wheel. Your brother here can't make a move now."

Wang Meijia was the girl Li Nanguang had pursued bitterly in college, only to fail in the end.

More than a decade later, whenever classmates gathered and someone mentioned her name, Li Nanguang would lose control of his emotions and insist on getting several people drunk.

Now that history was repeating itself, he would probably fail again. But through a strange twist of fate, Lin Qiye had been dragged into it too.

He had to help with this. First, to thank Li Nanguang for picking up the incubator, and second, because he had used the Computing Power of his family's Internet Cafe.

After agreeing to help Li Nanguang, Lin Qiye hailed a taxi alone and headed for Furun Building.