Probably due to his baby face, Mu Heyao still looked like a young man in his twenties, even though he was nearing forty.

When he saw Xu Youyou in the estate’s study, his first reaction was to immediately close the door, then quickly glance around, seemingly worried that their conversation might be overheard.

Xu Youyou said, “……It’s very safe here.”

Mu Heyao didn’t exchange pleasantries or engage in formalities. He went straight to the point.

“Is Xu Wenyin an AI?”

Xu Youyou didn’t hesitate for a moment, “My mom is a human! A living, breathing human!”

“Uncle Mu, I know you’ve been researching AI for decades, but you also need to consider real-life factors!”

Mu Heyao sat down on the chair, furrowing his brows as he spoke slowly and deliberately, “Xu Wenyin and I were researching a semi-finished AI before. I detected that it has sent you two messages during this period.”

It’s just that Xu Wenyin’s methods were superior, so Mu Heyao couldn’t ascertain the specific content of the messages.

But this also further strengthened his belief that Xu Wenyin herself was indeed an AI.

Otherwise, how to explain how Xu Wenyin manage to send a message to him during the critical moment of the car accident? And what means did she use to command that semi-finished AI?

Unless she was inherently of the same origin, naturally, she wouldn’t need to rely on external tools.

Mu Heyao was indeed not a particularly curious person, but once it involved Xu Wenyin and AI, he became completely different.

For the past few months, besides the Qin and the Qing family searching for Xu Wenyin’s whereabouts, Mu Heyao was also searching.

As the implementer of the five-minute power outage, no one understood better than Mu Heyao that Xu Wenyin’s departure was voluntary rather than forced. Why did Xu Wenyin choose to do so?

What happened to her body during those five minutes?

No one understood the unexplainable aspects of it better than Mu Heyao.

He even obtained the surveillance footage from the intersection at that time. After repeatedly watching the video, Mu Heyao was convinced that based on the angle and force, Xu Youyou and the others couldn’t have only suffered minor injuries. It defied science!

Miracles can indeed explain many things, but it’s one thing to consider a miracle for one or two people, there were four people in the car, yet not even one of them suffered serious injuries.

Did people like Lu Weizheng really not notice this issue? Or were they deceiving themselves, or perhaps…… did they notice but pretend to know nothing?

Mu Heyao didn’t want to delve into the thoughts of these people, he only wanted to verify his own conjecture.

The computer technology beyond the era, the inexplicable disappearance of a body, and even the legendary experience of dying and coming back to life left Mu Heyao momentarily blank when he thought about the conjecture of AI.

If…… if it’s true, does that mean that his dream could potentially come true?

Mu Heyao didn’t have any malicious intentions, nor did he want to drag Xu Wenyin into research. He just wanted certainty.

That AI technology can indeed achieve complete human likeness, and that his goal wasn’t wrong.

“Uncle Mu.” Xu Youyou sounded even more helpless. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but my mom is a real person. You’re probably mistaken.”

“Besides, doctors and others have examined my mom’s body. When she returned initially, the government even conducted DNA tests and everything. If she’s a synthetic person, won’t there be some flaw?”

Regardless of the situation, Xu Youyou would not admit to Mu Heyao’s conjecture. She had to dispel his thoughts.

Her mother said she couldn’t let others discover her identity, or there would be consequences. So, Xu Youyou would definitely protect her mother.

And regardless of whether Xu Wenyin is a fairy or an AI, she’s still Xu Youyou’s mother.

“But! Xu Wenyin is very likely in danger right now. Maybe the program is damaged, or maybe……”

Mu Heyao wasn’t accustomed to arguing with people. He stuttered halfway through his sentence, noticing Xu Youyou’s helpless expression.

Does Xu Youyou really know nothing?

Mu Heyao calmed down.

If he were an AI, he probably wouldn’t tell anyone this secret either, right?

“Uncle Mu.” Xu Youyou spoke slowly, “Let’s take a step back. Even if my mom is what you call an AI, what would her purpose be? To be a mother to me?”

Being asked this way, Mu Heyao was momentarily at a loss for words.

In this era, there’s no such advanced technology. Whether Xu Wenyin arrived there through a time machine, a wormhole, or some other sophisticated means, Mu Heyao didn’t know.

But considering the immense effort it would take to come to this era, Xu Wenyin must have a very important goal.

But over the years, it seemed like she had been wholeheartedly dedicated to raising Xu Youyou.

Buying a house, saving money, and raising Xu Youyou—— those were all the actions of an excellent mother.

As for Xu Youyou……

This girl, although talented, hadn’t reached the level of influencing the world, had she?

Or is it that she would be involved with people who would influence the world in the future?

Mu Heyao’s imaginative mind would be wasted if he didn’t write novels.

“But-!”

Mu Heyao came over impulsively. Before meeting Xu Youyou, all he could think of was the idea that Xu Wenyin was an AI. He hadn’t considered what he would do if it turned out to be true, or what he would do if it was just a misunderstanding.

As a man approaching forty, Mu Heyao evidently hadn’t accumulated much experience despite his years. He was like a stubborn child, disregarding any consequences and only seeking the answer in his heart.

After being refuted and questioned by Xu Youyou, he wanted to argue back but found himself momentarily unable to do so.

In the end, Xu Youyou sighed and said, “Uncle Mu, I know you’re worried about Mom, but it’s better not to mention things that are just random guesses without any evidence. I don’t want Mom to come back and face a lot of questioning and trouble.”

Mu Heyao lowered his head. “Are you so sure that Xu Wenyin will come back?”

It wasn’t that Mu Heyao was pessimistic, but from his current judgment, Xu Wenyin must be in a very troublesome situation. Otherwise, why would she disappear so abruptly and seek help from him? Surely, at that moment, she couldn’t afford to consider anything else.

Xu Youyou, however, was resolute. “Mom will definitely come back! I’m sure of it!”

Like a child who wholeheartedly trusted her mother, yet also relied on this belief to sustain herself.

Mu Heyao, upon hearing that, mumbled for a while, unable to find any words to say.

Indeed, all of these were just his speculations. He had no evidence, and he wouldn’t tell anyone else about them.

Mu Heyao stood up. “Okay, I understand. I won’t tell anyone about this.”

Regardless of whether Xu Wenyin is an AI or not, her guidance over the years wasn’t fake. He couldn’t deny that his significant progress was closely related to Xu Wenyin.

At the very least, Xu Wenyin firmly believed that it was possible to develop genuine AI.

Even if he might not live long enough to see it happen.

Mu Heyao arrived in a hurry and left even more hastily. From his demeanor, it seemed unlikely that he would continue to investigate further. Xu Youyou could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

But after the other party left, she sat in the study staring blankly for quite some time, lost in thought.

The two emails she received were very likely not sent by her mother.

From Mu Heyao’s words, Xu Youyou learned about this matter.

Mu Heyao was unaware of what messages the unfinished AI had sent to Xu Youyou, but Xu Youyou herself knew very well.

She had always thought that the emails were sent by her mother……

If she followed this line of thought, her mother’s current situation must be very dire, otherwise, she wouldn’t be unable to send even a single message personally.

As if struck by a sudden realization, Xu Youyou dashed out of the study and headed to the garage. With a press of the accelerator, she arrived at the house near A University. There, a safe contained the diaries written by Xu Wenyin.

Whenever Xu Youyou thought of her mother, she would take out one and read it.

Although Mu Heyao’s speculation was just that, speculation, it gave Xu Youyou a hint of inspiration.

Did her mother really come with a mission or a goal?

Relying on her memory, Xu Youyou quickly found several entries.

Every time there was bad news about the Lu family, her mother would be happy.

After the rumors during her senior year in high school, there was an entry in the diary where her mother scolded Lin Zeming and wrote, 「Those who destroy Youyou’s happiness must die!」

There was also a memory that surfaced in Xu Youyou’s mind. A long time ago, her mother had once told her, “In the future, when choosing a man, make sure to stay away from those with the surname Lu.” Of course, Xu Youyou didn’t think Xu Wenyin was referring to Lu Chenjun.

At that time, she had no intersection with Lu Haoyu or the Lu family.

But if she thought in reverse, perhaps her mother had already known that she would have entanglements with Lu Haoyu in the future, so her mother said those things.

And there were also those constant reminders from her mother not to be a lovesick fool, and to stay away from those people.

Was it because her grown-up version could potentially become a lovesick fool or be harmed by those who are?

Upon closer reflection, her mother always seemed obsessed with whether Xu Youyou could be happy or not.

She had heard her mother say countless times when she was a child that she wanted her to be happy. Phrases like ‘As long as Youyou is happy, Youyou can do anything’ were common. As she grew older, things improved slightly, but as the senior year approached, the frequency of this phrase in her mother’s diary increased significantly.

It seemed like senior year was a turning point, and also the crucial moment for whether Xu Youyou could be happy or not.

What if making her happy wasn’t just her mother’s obsession but…… a mission?

Perhaps, according to the original trajectory, she was very unhappy, and so her mother came to make her happy.

Among them, Lu Haoyu and the Lu family, including Lin Zeming, were the reasons that would make Xu Youyou unhappy.

Her mind was a bit chaotic now, as if she had thought about a lot yet also as if she hadn’t thought about anything at all.

These were all just her own speculations. But so what if they were true?

Xu Youyou didn’t believe that her mother was deceiving or hiding anything from her. Her mother’s kindness over the years wasn’t fake. Those meticulous care and protection in life-and-death situations were all real.

It was a love that couldn’t be erased or counteracted by any reason.

No matter what her mother’s ultimate goal was, Xu Youyou would never resent her mother for it.

The crucial issue now was that her mother was likely in a dangerous situation. How could she save her mother?

Completely clueless and not knowing where to start, Xu Youyou bit her lip tightly. Just the thought of her mother’s situation, even the possibility that her mother might……  Her body turned cold.

It seemed like she was back to the moment when she found out in the hospital that her mother wouldn’t wake up.

No, Xu Youyou, calm down!

Right now, the only one who can save Mom is you.

You must calm down, think again, and think carefully!

Her mother probably wouldn’t lie to her. She said she could come back, it just required an uncertain amount of time.

If she thought about it in the worst-case scenario, her mother might have said those words firmly to reassure her. But most likely, her mother indeed had a chance to come back, but that chance was very slim. That’s why she gave Xu Youyou hope.

In the final analysis, in that car accident, her mother definitely used a power she shouldn’t have used. She had to pay the price for that power.

Each piece of information flowed through Xu Youyou’s mind like a stream of data.

What she needed to do now was to increase the likelihood of her mother coming back.

Will it be related to herself?

Assuming it’s related to herself, is ‘happiness’ the key condition?

Xu Youyou felt very happy now, or rather, she had always been very happy, but her mother was still not reassured.

This indicated that the criteria for happiness weren’t solely based on her but also influenced by external factors. Those factors that could make her unhappy have not been eliminated yet.

Was it Lu Haoyu or Lin Zeming?

From her mother’s diary and past behavior, those two were the most likely to make Xu Youyou unhappy, and the possibility wasn’t small.

It’s just that Lin Zeming hadn’t appeared in her sight since the college entrance examination, and Xu Youyou wasn’t sure about his recent whereabouts. She needed to investigate.

As for Lu Haoyu, thinking about the deep-seated disgust she feels towards him and her mother’s aversion to the Lu family, Xu Youyou suspected that he was the real focus of attention.

Was ensuring his complete defeat…… or even his death, wouldn’t disturb her happiness anymore?

Xu Youyou’s thoughts involuntarily began to drift towards dangerous territory, but she quickly pulled herself back.

She can’t kill anyone. Her Mother definitely wouldn’t want her to be a killer.

Moreover, once someone is killed, even if it’s done perfectly, there’s still a chance of being discovered, which contradicts the concept of happiness.

Then ensuring Lu Haoyu and the Lu family’s complete defeat?

Aunt Qin mentioned that even if the Lu family were to go bankrupt, it wouldn’t happen so quickly. It could take several years, even longer if it’s slow.

Xu Youyou couldn’t afford to wait, and neither could her mother.

What other ways are there for a company to disappear as quickly as possible and never rise again?

If it breaks the law.

That’s the first thing that came to Xu Youyou’s mind.

In a society governed by the rule of law, anyone who breaks the law will inevitably be punished, the only difference lies in the speed.

Some people might manage to conceal their actions well, perhaps avoiding detection for a while, but it doesn’t mean they can escape forever.

From the petty tactics Lu Haoyu used before, Xu Youyou had a feeling that this guy didn’t take the law seriously, as if he thought he was above it.

For such a person, the best way is surely to teach him how to behave with the law.

The current problem was that Uncle Qin and the others were all gathering evidence against Lu Haoyu, but it takes time, and after all, Lu Haoyu isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t leave any evidence if he did something wrong.

Unfortunately, what Xu Youyou lacked most at the moment was time.

She doesn’t know if every second she delayed would diminish her mother’s chance.

She wasn’t even sure if her guess was correct. What if she was wrong?

But Xu Youyou had no choice. Even if there was only a one percent chance, she would still do it! She had to do it!

Xu Youyou quickly thought of another person—— Zhao Xuanyi.

They say that the one who knows you best is either yourself or your enemy. Zhao Xuanyi had been with the Lu family for over a decade. If she had the intention, she would definitely have a better chance than anyone else.

Moreover, based on Aunt Qin’s words and Xu Youyou’s own judgment, Zhao Xuanyi harbored hatred towards Lu Weiyao and the Lu family. Ruan Rourou, who directly harmed her is currently in prison, but the only son of Ruan Rourou, Lu Haoyu, wouldn’t Zhao Xuanyi have any thoughts about him?

Regardless of whether she had any thoughts or not, Xu Youyou needed to talk to Zhao Xuanyi.

But before finding a way to contact Zhao Xuanyi, Xu Youyou received a phone call.

“For me?” Upon hearing Qin Xiao’s words on the phone, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but be surprised. “Uncle Qin, I can’t accept it, I……”

Unfortunately, Xu Youyou’s refusal was swiftly dismissed by the other party with just a few words. Later, even Aunt Qin called and laughed, saying that it was only right for Xu Youyou to receive it and there was nothing to feel embarrassed about.

Yes, Xu Youyou now had another villa under her name.

Qin Xiao had given Yao Yunyou a total of approximately ten million yuan for entangling Lu Haoyu, but the return the Qin family got was several times that amount.

That project not only raised Qin Group’s net profit by several points compared to the previous year but also brought in several key technical personnel.

This was bound to be very beneficial for future development.

Of course, as the one who provided the idea, Xu Youyou should also receive a reward.

But Xu Youyou felt that she had only casually mentioned it, and the implementation, including the preliminary preparation, was all the merit of the Qin Group and Qin Xiao. She felt somewhat unworthy of it.

After all, it was a villa worth nearly a hundred million yuan, and it was purchased from Lu Haoyu.

After several months of decline, the Lu Group inevitably fell into a financial crisis. For any enterprise, cash flow is absolutely crucial, so Lu Haoyu had to sell some of his properties to temporarily alleviate this crisis.

Because he urgently needed money, the price he offered for the villa was nearly twenty percent lower than the market rate.

Qin Xiao didn’t feel like they were giving away money to the other party. After all, even if they didn’t buy it, someone else would, so it was better to buy it themselves. Then, they could choose to sell or give it away as they pleased.

Lu Haoyu probably didn’t know that the buyer was Qin Xiao. Otherwise, he would definitely be furious.

“Youyou, rest assured, that villa is newly built and no one has lived in it yet.” Qin Yiren added over the phone.

If it had already been lived in, they wouldn’t buy it to give to Xu Youyou, considering it dirty.

“And the location is excellent. There’s a small hill right next to it, with beautiful scenery. It would be perfect for you to sketch and paint whenever you feel like it.”

Upon hearing that information, Qin Xiao immediately felt that the villa was perfect for Xu Youyou.

“Even if you don’t live there, it’s good to have a place to store things.”

Qin Yiren’s words amused Xu Youyou. “Aunt Qin, I don’t have that many things to store.”

She already owned several houses in the capital, along with an estate. Even though her grandparents had generously gifted her numerous jewelry, antiques, paintings, handbags, clothes, and more on her birthday, making Xu Youyou suspect that they had emptied out an entire shopping mall, she didn’t see the need for another villa just to store things.

Qin Yiren’s reasoning was indeed quite amusing.

“How about this, Aunt Qin? Let me buy the villa, and you can give me a twenty percent discount.” Otherwise, she really felt embarrassed to accept it.

After some back and forth between both parties, Xu Youyou managed to secure the villa for fifty million. She also took the opportunity to inspect it while waiting for Zhao Xuanyi’s reply.

Sure enough, the scenery nearby was splendid. There was even an ancient temple on the mountain. It was said that in autumn, the mountain would be ablaze with fiery maple trees, making it even more breathtaking.

As for the villa itself, it was decent but not extraordinary, certainly not comparable to Xu Youyou’s estate.

However, if Xu Wenyin were present at that moment, she would surely be shocked to discover that this villa was none other than the setting where Xu Youyou and Lu Haoyu staged their ‘cruel love story’ in the novel.

After all the twists and turns, Xu Youyou found herself back there again.

However, this time, the villa belonged to Xu Youyou, and it was no longer the cage that had trapped her for half of her life. It was just one of the countless properties that held little significance in her vast real estate portfolio.

———pr

Meanwhile, Lu Haoyu was grappling with a headache over the sudden arrival of the police.

It turned out that someone had anonymously reported Old Master Lu for multiple offenses, including deliberate injury, bribery, and illegal land occupation, and provided relevant evidence. Naturally, the police had to come and apprehend him.

For the Lu family, who had just weathered the storm of the former chairman being a murderer, this was not just adding insult to injury. If not handled properly, it could spell disaster.

However, Lu Haoyu would soon realize that the troubles causing him headaches were far from over. The sins he had committed in the past would eventually come back to haunt him.

———pr

Zhao Xuanyi replied to Xu Youyou, requesting a face-to-face meeting.

【I’ll be returning to the country the day after tomorrow.】

Receiving this message, Xu Youyou tightened her grip on her phone. This battle was hers alone. If she were to tell Aunt Qin and the others, she wouldn’t be able to explain why she suddenly harbored such strong animosity toward the Lu family and Lu Haoyu.

But for the sake of her mother, she was determined to handle it.

Whoever it is, they cannot take my mother away from me!