Chapter 19: Indispensable

Before a solution could be reached, Clara’s business trip arrived first. She was required to go to City G as a youth representative of the institute to participate in a three-day AI technology development symposium. Including travel time, she would be away for five days in total.

Jude sat upright on the sofa, listening to Clara’s rambling instructions: the system must be updated regularly, he wasn't allowed to be out for more than a few hours a day, his range from home couldn't exceed a few kilometers, the GPS tracker she bought mustn't be turned off, and he had to ensure 24-hour communication was open... Watching Clara’s anxious state, Jude couldn't help but let out a laugh, which predictably earned him a flying pillow.

"Will the place Clarie is going to be cold?"

Ever since he gained the ability to perceive temperature, Jude’s favorite questions were about heat and cold: whether the morning milk was hot, if the noon fruit was icy, if the afternoon yogurt was cool, or if the evening bath water was scalding. Clara knew that the AI was observing humans, collecting their feedback data on the external world to perform simulation analysis, making its behavior and judgment closer to that of a human. Thus, she was happy to respond.

"It’s not cold. It’s in the south, much warmer than here. I don't even need to bring a thick coat, though I’m not sure if it will rain."

"Take an umbrella just in case; it won't take up much space."

"Mm," Clara nodded. "Five days will pass in the blink of an eye. I hope by the time I return, you’ve become a good boy who truly understands heat and cold."

Jude smiled, knowing Clara was referring to the fact that his perception and judgment of temperature still deviated from that of a real human. But it didn't matter; he would become more perfect.

"Then will Clarie bring me a gift when she returns?"

"Sure, what do you want?" Clara sat on the sofa. "Just don't say anything like 'the first flower I see when I step out'—it’s bad luck."

"Anything is fine," Jude shook his head. "As long as Clarie brings it, anything is fine."

Clara looked up and watched Jude. His eyes were soft, his expression steady. It was as if every question since his "birth" had been as ordinary as could be, and all her anxieties were merely the result of overthinking.

"You'll like anything just because I brought it?" Clara felt as if she had stepped into a fog; something was deviating from her expectations, but she didn't know what to do. "Jude, perhaps you could... choose something specific that you like?"

"Like what?" Jude tilted his head. "Why does Clarie ask that?"

"Nothing," Clara suddenly didn't know how to explain. "It's just, you should always have something you want—like you want a flower, or an umbrella, or a water cup—rather than something vague like 'anything as long as it's from me'."

"I don't need anything. I don't eat or drink. I don't need the things that support human survival."

"But you need me, don't you?"

Clara’s breathing grew slightly ragged. "For you, am I... indispensable, right?"

Jude didn't rush to answer. His gaze lingered on Clara for a moment before he continued, "Clarie is of course very important to me. You are the only person in this world who has a relationship with me. To me, you are of course an indispensable existence."

"......"

"And what about me?" Jude took Clara’s hand. "To Clarie, am I also indispensable?"

For humans, aside from water, air, and food—things that guarantee basic physiological functions—what exactly should be called indispensable?

Clara fiddled with the hem of her shirt. "Jude, actually, for humans, my choice of words just now wasn't accurate enough. When an independent person lives in the world, she establishes many kinds of social relationships: parents, friends, colleagues, lovers. In twenty-four hours, there are too many things surrounding our lives. But at its core, only food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are fundamental. I don't know if you can understand this now, but I want you to know that once you become an independent person, no single individual can become an obstacle or interference in your life. Everyone is a relatively independent and relatively equal existence. We live in this universe, and aside from the things that sustain basic life signs, nothing else is significant enough to rise to the level of being 'indispensable'."

Jude made no move, merely watching Clara in silence.

"Hey," Clara shrugged, seemingly talking to herself. "Why am I telling you all this? You wouldn't understand anyway. Alright, I'm going to pack my bags. You stay here..."

"Clarie," Jude interrupted her. "Everyone else is independent, but I am not. I was created by your hand. It was you who brought me to this world, and you who gave me the opportunity and ability to participate in and perceive this world. If you didn't exist, then correspondingly, I would not appear in this world. Therefore, for me—for Jude—"

Jude held Clara’s hand, his expression solemn and sincere. "You, Clara Evans, are indispensable."

A vow that might seem somewhat ridiculous in the human world felt perfectly natural coming from the mouth of an artificial intelligence. Their dependence on their creator is like a pet's dependence on its owner—pure and direct, without any utilitarian purpose. Jude’s social circle was essentially zero; he had no contact with anyone other than Clara. She was his only channel for understanding the world, so it was understandable for him to view her as an indispensable part of it.

"Jude," Clara withdrew her hand. "I... thank you for your trust. But I still hope you can learn to be an independent person."

A moment of confusion appeared on Jude’s face. Clara felt like she was talking nonsense, so she ended the conversation abruptly.

The flight to City G wasn't long. After Julian saw Clara to the security checkpoint, he opened his arms.

"Will you miss me?"

Hearing this, Clara’s face flushed. She gave a light cough. "I’ll be so busy with work, but I’ll try to find time to miss you."

Julian smiled and took out a red string, tying it around Clara’s wrist. "I went to Jingshui Temple a couple of days ago. It’s for protection—just for good luck."

"Does this count as superstition?"

"It counts as our love being as strong as gold."

"I never noticed you were this cheeky before," Clara punched him lightly. "I'm going. See you next week."

"See you next week."

Julian stood there watching her leave, feeling the warmth in his arms gradually carried away by the wind. The crowd surged, and Clara slipped away quietly like a fish disappearing into the sea.

Sunlight streamed through the window, spreading a golden ocean before Julian—as bright and brilliant as their future.