Anomaly

Because of this, the relationship between Si Jinyan and Chi Li cooled once more. The warmth Si Jinyan had only recently managed to kindle nearly returned to zero overnight.

Chi Li's attitude toward Si Jinyan turned cold again, as he ignored Si Jinyan's existence.

The following afternoon, Si Jinyan watched Chi Li sit on the sofa with his head lowered, playing on his neural computer long after finishing his meal, and sighed.

As soon as Si Jinyan approached, Chi Li looked up at him with warning and wariness in his eyes.

The night before, Chi Li had asked again, "So when are you going to let me leave?"

Si Jinyan had fallen silent.

The already tense atmosphere became even more stifling. Their conversation came to an abrupt end, and Chi Li turned away, refusing to pay Si Jinyan any further attention.

In the living room, seeing Chi Li's expression, Si Jinyan could only stop and say, "Chi Li, I'm going out for a while."

Chi Li said nothing and lowered his head again.

Si Jinyan went to the base and roughly explained what had happened to Lu Jiu.

Lu Jiu did not seem especially surprised. "He found out?"

"He may have noticed something."

"He was bound to find out. It was only a matter of time. The changes will become more and more obvious, and we won't be able to hide them even if we want to."

Si Jinyan knew that.

"When he finds out, do you think Chi Li will obediently agree to keep it?"

Si Jinyan's silence already revealed what he thought. He did not dare be completely certain, either.

When he had first discovered its existence, before he had interacted with it or sensed its consciousness, Si Jinyan's desire to keep it had not been as strong