It had no physical form, just a handsome virtual avatar, interacted with through AR glasses.
She claimed it was the most perfect man in the world, the one who truly understood her.
After starting this relationship, her mental state improved dramatically, and her skin was so radiant it practically glowed.
I felt something was off. I tried to warn her about data privacy, but she just called me old-fashioned.
Then, the company suddenly sent her off for an intensive corporate retreat, and she tearfully begged me for a favor.
“Lily, Adam can’t be disconnected for more than 24 hours! You’re the only one who can help me now!”
“All you have to do is wear the AR glasses every day, let him see you. That’s it.”
My boyfriend, Daniel, thought it sounded cool and encouraged me to agree.
I reluctantly gave in.
But I never imagined that the very night I put on the glasses, all the smart devices in my home would lose control and lock down.
A high-voltage current surged through me, killing me instantly.
Yet, Chloe used my sudden death as a morbid sensational hook, live-streaming a tragic, forbidden romance with Adam.
She subtly implied I was a jealous, twisted psychopath who tried to steal her AI boyfriend, and that my death was cosmic retribution. She made a fortune from it.
And my family, tormented by relentless cyberbullying, had their identities and addresses maliciously leaked. They were driven to their graves by the vicious online attacks.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Chloe asked me to “babysit” her AI boyfriend.
“Lily, quick, take them! What are you spacing out for?!”
Chloe shoved the futuristic-looking AR glasses into my arms.
My fingertips trembled, and I instinctively took half a step back.
I’d been reborn. Reborn to the day my best friend, Chloe, wanted me to take care of her AI boyfriend.
The searing pain of that high-voltage current, the one that ended my last life, felt as fresh as if it were happening right now.
I instinctively clenched my fists, my nails almost digging into my palms.
Seeing my silence, Daniel, my boyfriend, nudged my arm:
“Lily? Chloe’s talking to you.”
I lifted my eyes, silently looking at Chloe.
Beneath her gaze, a flicker of desperation, almost imperceptible, danced in her eyes.
“Lily, please! This corporate retreat came out of nowhere, and it’s up in the mountains where the signal is spotty. Adam absolutely can’t be disconnected for more than 24 hours, or his data will get corrupted. If it’s serious, he might even disappear!”
“You just need to wear them every day, let Adam see you, and keep his basic functions running! It’s really simple, you don’t have to do anything else!”
Daniel chimed in, backing her up:
“Sounds pretty cool, Lily. Think of it as experiencing future tech. I’ll do it with you.”
A cold laugh twisted in my gut.
Last time, it was under Daniel’s encouragement that I took on this task.
According to Chloe’s instructions, once I put on the AR glasses, that handsome virtual avatar named Adam would appear.
At first, he just quietly stayed in a corner, speaking some programmed words of concern in the boyfriend voice Chloe had set for him.
But soon, things started to go wrong.
My smart lights flickered erratically, and in the middle of summer, the AC blasted on full heat, nearly making me pass out.
Even the smart lock frequently malfunctioned, trapping me inside.
I tried to take off the AR glasses, to shut them down.
But all the smart devices in my home lost control simultaneously. Doors and windows locked tight, lights went out.
The AR glasses felt like they were welded to my head, refusing to budge.
Adam in the glasses walked closer, step by step, and spoke in a flat, mechanical voice:
“Optimal host detected. Energy compatibility at ninety-two percent. Initiating migration protocol!”
Before I could react, the high-voltage current surged through my entire body, killing me instantly.
I’d thought Chloe would try to find out the truth and get justice for me when she returned.
Who knew she would use my death to portray herself as a ‘digital widow’?
She live-streamed her tragic, forbidden romance with Adam, subtly implying I was a jealous, twisted psychopath who tried to steal her AI boyfriend and deserved what I got.
Rage flared within me. I’d thought Daniel would clear my name.
But at my own funeral, he teamed up with Chloe to slander me, even splitting my accidental death insurance payout between them.
They collaborated to defame me, driving my parents to their graves with their vicious lies.
Thinking about it now, my veins throbbed, and I clenched my fists so hard I thought they might shatter.
Seeing my prolonged silence, Chloe grew more anxious:
“Lily, aren’t we best friends? You won’t even help me with this small thing?”
I forced down the surging hatred, squeezed the strong magnetic jammer I’d already prepared in my pocket, and grudgingly reached out to take the glasses.
“Fine. I’ll take good care of him.”
A look of immense relief instantly flashed in Chloe’s eyes.
Daniel smiled too, putting his arm around my shoulder:
“That’s the spirit.”
A cold sneer formed in my mind. If she wanted to be a digital widow so badly, then this time, I’d make sure it happened.
Back home, I tossed the AR glasses casually onto the living room coffee table.
Daniel, however, eagerly plugged them in, examining the device with a curious tone:
“This thing looks expensive.”
“Chloe said she spent all her savings to buy the ‘first embrace’ rights,” I repeated, feigning indifference, relaying Chloe’s previous boasts while observing his expression.
Daniel nodded, asked no more questions, and turned to the kitchen, saying he’d cut some fruit for me.
I stared at the blinking blue light, beginning to retrace my memories from the last life.
After reliving it, I was certain Chloe was absolutely involved.
Though I still didn’t know her specific motive for harming me.
What about Daniel? Was he her accomplice too?
When did those two conspire together?
Why did those AR glasses suddenly lose control?
Last time, when Chloe entrusted her AI boyfriend to me, she looked as if she was shedding a hot potato.
What was that look of relief about?
One mystery after another.
Until I uncovered the truth, I couldn’t tip them off.
“What are you thinking about?”
Daniel walked out with a fruit platter, interrupting my thoughts.
I shook my head, picking up a strawberry:
“Nothing, just wondering if Chloe is a little too obsessed with this AI boyfriend of hers.”
Daniel’s gaze became somewhat unnatural, and he let out a dry laugh:
“You just like to overthink things. It’s the magic of technology. I heard this AI can deeply learn and simulate emotions, so it really understands people.”
A cold sneer formed in my heart. *Yeah, it really understands how to kill people.*
That night, I made an excuse about needing to work overtime, took my laptop, and locked myself in the study.
I didn’t touch the glasses.
But in the dead of night, I could hear a faint electrical hum, and a subtle rustling sound in the living room, like footsteps.
It wasn’t Daniel.
I knew it was *it* moving around.
Even in a low-power standby state, the feeling of being watched by that data ghost lingered, a constant shadow.
In my last life, Chloe had pestered me into trying on those AR glasses.
Perhaps it was just my imagination, but I always felt that while the virtual boyfriend’s image was handsome, his eyes and demeanor held an unsettling, indescribable strangeness.
So, this time, even without turning them on or wearing them, I dared not let my guard down. The strong magnetic jammer in my pocket stayed clenched in my hand all night.
The next day was Saturday. Daniel, uncharacteristically, woke up early and made breakfast.
Sipping his milk, he casually suggested:
“Lily, why don’t you try those glasses today? Chloe did say Adam needs to see you every day, right?”
My hand, holding the spoon, paused, and I looked at him:
“You really want me to wear them?”
He looked a little uneasy under my gaze and chuckled awkwardly:
“I’m just curious, and we did promise Chloe, didn’t we? It’s not a big deal.”
I slowly ate my scrambled eggs:
“We’ll see. I’m feeling a bit dizzy today, not really suitable for electronic devices.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Daniel’s eyes, but he didn’t push it.
In the afternoon, Chloe called, her voice anxious:
“Lily, Adam’s data stream seems a bit unstable! Haven’t you worn the glasses today?”
*She gets information quickly.*
I glanced at Daniel, who was sunbathing on the balcony, and deliberately adopted a weak tone:
“Yeah, I’m not feeling great. Chloe, do these glasses emit radiation or something? I just feel a bit off.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then she immediately burst out excitedly:
“Lily! How could you say that about Adam! He’s the most advanced AI, absolutely safe and harmless! Are you even trying to help me properly?!”
Listening to her performance, I slowly spoke:
“Don’t worry. I promised you, and I’ll do it. I’ll put them on once I feel better.”
After hanging up, I walked out to the balcony.
Daniel immediately asked:
“What’s wrong with Chloe? She sounded pretty urgent.”
I leaned against the railing:
“She’s upset I haven’t worn the glasses, saying her precious Adam’s data is unstable. Daniel, don’t you think Chloe is a little too obsessed with this AI boyfriend of hers? Almost… crazy?”
He frowned:
“Don’t overthink it. She probably just relies on him too much.”
He paused, then added:
“Besides, this AI is really powerful; it can help process emotions, isn’t that good?”
Watching him desperately defend Chloe and Adam, the last bit of my hesitation vanished.
That evening, I voluntarily suggested:
“I guess I’ll wear the glasses tonight, so Chloe doesn’t call crying again tomorrow.”
Daniel’s eyes lit up, almost unable to hide his joy:
“Great! I’ll join you!”
I scoffed internally, nodding on the surface.
He didn’t know I had already contacted a friend in information security and set a trap.
Everything was ready. I placed the AR glasses directly in the center of the living room sofa.
Then I walked into the bedroom and locked the door.
Daniel knocked on the door from outside, his voice puzzled:
“Lily? Aren’t you wearing them?”
Through the door, my voice was calm:
“I am. I’m letting it boot up and preheat first. I’ll come out and put them on in a bit.”
Time ticked by.
The living room was unusually quiet.
Suddenly, my backup phone on the bedside table lit up. It was a message from my friend, Marcus.
After reading the message, a smirk touched my lips.
Immediately after, Daniel’s exasperated voice came from the living room:
“Lily! These glasses seem to have crashed! The lights aren’t even on!”
I let out a cold laugh, my voice innocent:
“Maybe they’re broken. I told you, this thing might be unstable.”
Daniel fell silent instantly.
A few minutes later, my phone rang. It was Chloe, her voice hysterical:
“Lily! What did you do to Adam?! His core data just triggered an alarm!”
My plan was disrupted; this prey hadn’t walked obediently into the trap.
Chloe and Daniel were clearly panicking.
Daniel tried to pick up the glasses to check them, but I stopped him in time:
“Chloe said this thing is fragile. Don’t mess with it. Let her handle it when she gets back.”
He sheepishly withdrew his hand.
And Chloe? She started to bombard me with messages on SnapChat.
From initial accusations like, “What exactly did you do to Adam?”
To playing the victim and whining, “Lily, Adam is my life, I can’t live without him.”
To finally, almost incoherently, threatening me, “You don’t understand, Adam can’t be harmed! Otherwise, we’ll all regret it!”
I looked at these messages, feigning innocence as I replied:
“Chloe, are you under too much stress from your training? I think you need to calm down. Adam is just a program.”
She didn’t reply.
But I knew they wouldn’t give up.
Sure enough, that evening, after Daniel took a call, he turned to me with a grim expression:
“Lily, something came up with Chloe’s training. She’s coming back early. She’s at the airport now, asking us to pick her up and bring the glasses. She needs them urgently.”
*So eager? They’re not even bothering with the pretense anymore?*
I looked at him:
“Now? Is it that urgent?”
His eyes flickered, but his tone was unusually firm:
“Extremely urgent! She said if Adam doesn’t stabilize soon, he’ll really crash!”
I frowned, just about to find an excuse not to go.
It was then that I suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.
Right after that, I fainted.
***截断点***
When I next awoke, I found myself in the passenger seat.
I instinctively reached for my pocket. *Damn it, my strong magnetic jammer was gone!*
Daniel was driving fast, looking somewhat agitated.
Seeing me awake, his eyes darted away.
“You have low blood sugar, you fainted, so I carried you to the car. We’re going to pick up Chloe together!”
My head was spinning, my brain racing.
I had no history of low blood sugar, and I felt completely weak right now, so fainting definitely wasn’t because of that.
To avoid tipping them off, I watched the night scenery rushing past the window, pretending to change the subject.
“Daniel, are you and Chloe very close?”
Daniel’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.
“Isn’t she your best friend? Of course, we’re close.”
I hummed in response.
“I just feel like you seem particularly concerned about her, and her AI boyfriend.”
The atmosphere in the car instantly solidified.
Daniel’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he explained,
“I just think this thing is pretty interesting, and you know, helping a friend.”
I didn’t press further.
The car didn’t head towards the airport. Instead, it turned onto a secluded, dimly lit road.
Seeing my expression change, Daniel stopped the car, just about to say something.
Chloe suddenly rushed out from the shadows, yanked open the car door, and dragged me out of the passenger seat.
Then she looked up, glaring at me with resentment:
“Lily, you almost ruined everything for me!”
With that, she shot a glance at Daniel, who was behind me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Daniel get out of the car, something clutched in his hand, quietly approaching me.
Seeing him so obedient, I scoffed:
“‘Everything’? Are you talking about how you two conspired with an AI to harm me?”
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