Humanity's Final Countdown

Chapter 20 The Lonely Painter

　　The villa's door stood wide open, with not a soul in sight inside.

　　Yao Dan stepped in first to inspect, then called from the doorway: "Come in, everyone—it's empty!"

　　The group filed in one by one. The first area they entered was the front courtyard, a vast garden spanning over fifty acres.

　　"It's maintained so meticulously—not a single withered petal or fallen leaf. Even if no one lives here, there should at least be humanoid caretakers. Why is it so quiet?"

　　"Husband, these trees and flowers are artificial too. Mount Weng City hasn't had a single real tree or blade of grass for over eighty years."

　　"This is absurd! I could understand planting a few power-generating trees, but these clearly serve no such function."

　　"The city already has more electricity than it can use, so trees aren't needed for power generation anymore.

　　The reason all natural plants were removed from the city is that their seasonal decay and fallen leaves mar the urban aesthetics and attract insects.

　　These artificial trees are quite advanced, not only do they look identical to real trees, but they can also display scenes of blooming and withering according to seasonal temperature changes."

　　"So the birds don't come anymore, with no insects to eat nor fruits to feed on."

　　"Look, the artificial birds are flying freely in the sky, my dear."

　　Yu Qing pondered for a moment and said, "Who will absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen for us then?"

　　"You don't need to worry about that at all. You might not have noticed earlier, but there are synthetic poles about twenty meters high spaced at regular intervals along the street."

　　"They produce oxygen, is that it?"

　　"To be precise, they filter dust from the air, eliminate viruses and bacteria, and regulate the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air. If there's too much carbon dioxide, they'll absorb some; if oxygen levels are insufficient, they'll immediately replenish it. A single pole equals a thousand trees."

　　"This place looks pleasing too, as long as no one points it out, it's fine. But since they've made it so advanced, why not adjust the air temperature to a comfortable level? It's so hot outside now - if it's not 50°C, I'll eat my hat!"

　　Yaodan wiped Yu Qing's sweat and said, "Husband, you don't understand. The people here have greatly evolved through artificial intervention and can adapt to 60°C temperatures, unlike natural humans who prefer around twenty degrees."

　　"Isn't this clearly making it impossible for us natural humans to survive?"

　　Daji said, "Darling, I'll go find you an air-conditioned suit!"

　　Yan'er said, "I'll go look for water."

　　Furong hesitated and said, "Then I… I'll go check which room is cooler first!"

　　Yu Qing held Yaodan's hand and teased, "They're all busy, so what will you do?"

　　"Husband, I can lower my body temperature. I'll hold you to keep you cool."

　　"There's a pavilion in the middle of that lake. Let's sit there. There seems to be a statue inside too."

　　Yu Qing and Yaodan walked playfully toward the lakeside pavilion.

　　This is an artificial lake spanning about 20 acres, with only one corridor leading to it.

　　Yu Qing was actually being pushed forward by Yao Dan. Nestling against her chest to escape the heat, he teased her as a cold-blooded creature with a human face and serpent body.

　　As they approached the lakeside pavilion, Yu Qing gazed at the sculpture's silhouette and said:

　　"My rival, I bet she's even prettier than you. Look at those flowing locks and elegant long dress - just like an ancient beauty who's traveled through time."

　　"Darling, that doesn't seem to be a sculpture… perhaps a dormant humanoid beauty!"

　　"Let's get closer for a better look."

　　Yao Dan stopped, tugging Yu Qing's ear as she whispered:

　　"Don't you dare kiss her mouth like you did to me last time! That might bring serious trouble!"

　　"You make me sound like some flower thief. I'm just looking. Admiring from afar without getting too close."

　　Yao Dan raised her palm and demanded: "Swear it!"

　　Yu Qing gave her hand a firm slap with his own.

　　At this very moment, the court lady slowly turned around and gracefully bowed her head in greeting.

　　Yu Qing stared at the court lady in a daze, stammering: "We…we're…intruding…just wanted to…"

　　To his surprise, the court lady looked at Yu Qing with tears streaming down her face, saying: "I've finally waited for you!"

　　Seeing her pear-blossom-drenched-with-rain appearance, Yu Qing wished he could wipe away her tears.

　　But hearing that she had been waiting for him, he remained utterly confused and dared not take another step forward.

　　"Waiting for me?"

　　"Yes. My master instructed me, saying humans wouldn't become completely extinct, that someday someone would come here, and told me to stand here waiting.

　　Little did I know this wait would last fifty years."

　　"Why did he ask you to wait for my husband?"

　　"Please don't worry, we mean no harm. My master was a painter who devoted his whole life to painting, but no one ever paid him any attention, let alone understood him.

　　Because when an android painting master creates, they incorporate the strengths of hundreds of ancient and modern masters, completing in seconds what would take him years of painstaking effort to accomplish.

　　Though his works possessed a uniquely human brilliance, in this world where people no longer need each other, who still cares about such things?

　　Before his death, the official sat motionless in the garden, his eyes fixed on the forever-open gate, hoping someone would walk through it."

　　Yu Qing sighed, "I came too late. I understand that loneliness.

　　I remember my father saying people move too fast to notice their companions, and when they finally look back, they find themselves utterly alone."

　　The court lady couldn't hold back her tears. She took out a silk painting from her bosom and handed it to Yu Qing, saying, "The official asked me to give this to the distinguished guest who would come in the future."

　　Yu Qing stepped forward and carefully accepted it.

　　The painting depicted a split watermelon, but at its core was only a tiny red portion the size of an egg.

　　Unsure of its meaning, he pretended to treasure it dearly and tucked it into his hospital gown.

　　At this moment, the courtesan approached Yu Qing, pressing almost against him, and said: "Sir, please look into my eyes."

　　Yu Qing felt somewhat flustered - how dare he meet her gaze? Instead, he lowered his eyes.

　　Yao Dan said: "My lord, she needs to obtain your biometric data. You must look at her."

　　Yu Qing merely cast a quick glance before lowering his eyes again. Such a classical beauty was utterly devastating to him.

　　Then she exchanged another glance with Yao Dan, and they nodded at each other.

　　Just as Yu Qing was puzzling over this, he suddenly noticed the corridor they'd come through had sunk into the lake bottom - they seemed trapped in this lakeside pavilion.

　　The courtesan handed Yao Dan two packages and, without a word, turned back to the pavilion's center. At that moment, the pavilion also began slowly sinking.

　　Seeing Yu Qing's fearful expression, Yao Dan quickly unwrapped the two packages, saying: "We'll wear these flight suits to leave."

　　Yu Qing and the others put on their flight suits and floated into the air. The pavilion was descending faster and faster, and by the time Yu Qing turned back to look, it had already submerged into the lake water.

　　"My dear foe, what on earth is she trying to do?"

　　"Her husband is buried at the bottom of the lake, understand now?"

　　"Then why did she need to collect my biometric data? I'm not her husband."

　　Yao Dan teased, "You might as well be. She was signing an electronic property transfer agreement on behalf of her husband for you."

　　"What? That's bizarre—I don't even know what it is. Besides, where's my copy of the agreement?"

　　Yao Dan said, "Didn't she hand it to me for safekeeping? This villa and everything in it have been transferred to you."

　　"How much RB did it cost me?"

　　"It was a gift."

　　They circled once above the villa before landing at the main entrance of the hall. Glancing inside, it all appeared to be centuries-old antiques.

　　Yu Qing held Yaodan's hand as they toured this property he had inexplicably acquired. All the furnishings here were simple yet elegant in their antiquity. The east and west wing rooms contained only the basics—a bed, a wardrobe, a table, and two stools.

　　In the former owner's study, the walls were covered with paintings. But Yu Qing could only apologize—he knew nothing about art. After a brief glance, he closed the door and left.

　　The only thing he recognized was the signature on the paintings: two characters, "Gu Yi," likely the artist's name. Gu Yi had still lived a life of misplaced devotion.

　　Yu Qing had no real interest in this antiquated-style architecture either. After a cursory walkthrough, he returned to the front hall to sit and wait for Daji and the others to find him when they returned.

　　The first to return was Yan'er, carrying a large cup of water. Yu Qing drank it in one gulp. Though the hall was much cooler than outside, the heat was still oppressive.

　　After waiting a while longer, Yu Qing muttered, "What's Daji doing? Can't she find a single cooling suit in this huge Weng Mountain?"

　　As if on cue, Daji returned and shouted upon entering, "What am I doing? You're right—there isn't a second cooling suit to be found in all of Weng Mountain! I had no choice but to go to the hospital and retrieve your original one.

　　I thought they'd give me trouble, but they actually welcomed me with smiles. Darling, put this on—look how miserable you are from the heat!"

　　Yu Qing immediately took off his hospital gown and changed into the cooling suit.

　　He mocked himself, "In ancient times, humans had fur and could live perfectly fine without clothes. Now, I can't even wear regular clothes—I need a cooling suit. In a few more years, I might have to shed even my human skin and replace it with something else."

　　Yao Dan said, "You're so sharp, husband! Some people really have started changing their skins!"

　　"Really? That sounds terrifying. It'd be more reliable to find some shade… Hey… where's Furong? Wasn't she supposed to find me a cool house? Where'd she disappear to?"

　　Daji said: "I didn't see her."

　　"Did she run off with some handsome guy she met?"

　　Yaodan laughed: "In this Weng Mountain, apart from you being human, the next closest thing to human is your shadow. Where would any handsome guy come from?"

　　Yan'er said: "I'll go look for her. I saw her heading towards the garden area earlier…"

　　At this moment, Yaodan said: "Husband, we now have 4 flying suits, but 5 people need them. They can't be evenly distributed. We need to find one more set."

　　"Then let's go find one!"

　　Yaodan replied: "Husband, those who left here all took their own flying suits with them. There should be no chance."

　　"Isn't there anywhere to buy one?"

　　"I've never experienced this before, I don't know!"

　　"Then how did you get your flying suit?"

　　"Dr. Lu bought me along when he purchased me as an assistant. You might not know this, but the price of a flight suit is three times that of an android girl. Not everyone can casually afford one."

　　Yu Qing laughed: "Which bastard set these prices? My dear isn't even worth as much as a piece of clothing!"

　　At this point, Daji interjected: "I have an idea - four flight suits can carry five people. We android girls will each wear one. When flying, Yaodan can hold dear's left hand, I'll hold dear's right hand, Yan'er can hold the left leg, and Furong the right leg…"

　　Yu Qing laughed: "That's bullshit! If we fly a bit too fast, wouldn't that tear me limb from limb among you four girls?"

　　Yaodan said: "I think the method is feasible, we just need some adjustments. Let's find a box to put our husband in, tie ropes to each corner, and each of us can pull one rope to carry him into the sky. How about that?"

　　"I'd rather have Yaodan carry me alone while flying."

　　"Carrying you while flying is possible, but without acceleration, firstly I can't fly high enough, secondly I can't fly fast enough, and won't be able to match Yaodan's group's flying altitude and speed. We'll end up flying separately again."

　　"Alright alright, then go get a sturdy box. Don't drop me and turn me into a pancake, or you'll all become widows."

　　Daji asked puzzledly: "We… widows?"

　　Hearing this, Yaodan ran to Yuqing and kissed him, saying: "You said it yourself, we've signed the papers!"

　　Daji immediately understood - this was acknowledging they enjoyed the same rights as human wives, not just being his attendants, so she followed Yaodan's example.

　　Yan'er happened to run in at that moment. Not knowing what was happening, she pouted as if candy was being distributed without her share: "Hmph! Darling just doesn't like me and Furong!"

　　Yuqing asked: "Why did you come back alone? Where's Furong?"

　　Yan'er said: "Her butt got stuck there and she can't pull it out!"

　　Daji said, "Really? Let's go take a look."

　　Yu Qing pinched Daji's cheek and said, "Was this trouble originally caused by you?"

　　Yaodan asked puzzledly, "How is Hibiscus getting stuck related to Daji?"

　　Yan'er led everyone to investigate. It turned out Hibiscus' buttocks were stuck in the cave entrance of the artificial rockery and couldn't get out. Finding the cave pleasantly cool, she had forced her way in to explore, but couldn't extract her large bottom when exiting the narrow opening.

　　When she applied slight force trying to push through again, a cracking sound alarmed her - fearing she might tear something off, she dared not move recklessly, trapped in place.

　　Seeing this, Yaodan found another exit to the cave, crawled through, and pushed Hibiscus' buttocks from inside to forcibly squeeze her out.

　　Yu Qing peered into the cave and saw it was remarkably spacious and genuinely cool. The other opening faced a river with beautiful scenery, where several painted pleasure boats were moored. Surprisingly, humanoid figures moved about inside - likely remnants of scenery designed to captivate visitors in bygone days.

　　He came out of the cave and pinched Hibiscus' buttocks, asking: "You alright? If we need to replace it, get a smaller one next time. But you've done your job perfectly - this place is ideal, both cool and scenic."

　　"Darling, you're not thinking of sleeping here tonight, are you?"

　　"That's exactly what I mean. You and Swallow go get me some sleeping mats or something. I'll rest here tonight."

　　Turning to Yaodan, he said: "Sweetheart, take our big-bottomed girl to make that chest you mentioned. We'll set off tomorrow, alright?"

　　"Whatever my husband says goes."

　　(End of Chapter)