After a night of tense waiting, Wednesday morning, the atmosphere in the safe house remained heavy. Lin Xia, Su Xiao, and Zhou Yang sat around a table, while Lu Chuan's holographic projection flickered with a faint glow in the center of the room.
"We can't stay here long," Lu Chuan said. "Zhao Mingxuan's tracking system has already locked onto this area. They'll find this place soon."
"Then where should we go?" Su Xiao asked.
"I've commissioned a real estate agent through the network and rented another safe house on the other side of the city," Lu Chuan said. "But we need to shake off their tracking first."
"How do we do that?" Zhou Yang asked.
"Xingtu Intelligence uses satellite positioning and signal tracking," Lu Chuan explained. "We need to jam their signals while using multiple decoys to distract them."
"Specifically, how?" Lin Xia asked.
"I've ordered several signal transmitters online and had them delivered to different locations," Lu Chuan said. "We can place them in different vehicles to make Xingtu Intelligence think we're in different places. Meanwhile, we'll take an autonomous vehicle where I've blocked all signals through the car's system."
"Alright, let's proceed with the plan," Lin Xia said. "When do we leave?"
"Now," Lu Chuan said. "The sooner, the better."
Wednesday afternoon, on the city streets, a game of tracking and counter-tracking was unfolding. Dark clouds filled the sky, threatening rain, while vehicles streamed endlessly along the streets, horns blaring one after another.
A specially modified black autonomous sedan carrying Lin Xia, Su Xiao, and Zhou Yang weaved through the city. Lu Chuan controlled the vehicle through the car's system while remotely operating several other vehicles equipped with signal transmitters, driving them in different directions.
"They've taken the bait," Lu Chuan's voice came through the car's audio system. "Three pursuit vehicles have been led away by our decoys. Only one is still following us."
"What about that one?" Lin Xia asked nervously, her palms sweaty as she gripped the seat's armrest.
"Leave it to me," Lu Chuan said. "I'll shake it off."
The sedan suddenly accelerated, tires screeching as it deftly wove through traffic, trying to lose the pursuer behind. But that pursuer wasn't giving up easily, following closely with its black body like a hungry beast.
"Their driving skills are good," Lu Chuan said. "We need a more clever approach."
He controlled the sedan onto an elevated highway, then suddenly made a sharp turn, exiting down the off-ramp. Tires violently frictioned against the ground, emitting a piercing sound, the sedan nearly losing control. The pursuer reacted too late and could only continue along the highway. By the time they circled back, they had lost their target.
"Success!" Lin Xia let out a breath, leaning back in her seat, feeling her heart pounding as if it would leap out.
"Don't relax yet," Lu Chuan said. "They might find us through other means." His voice came through the car's audio system with vigilance, while he also monitored surrounding signals.
Wednesday evening, in the new safe house, the four could finally rest briefly.
Lin Xia slumped on the sofa, rubbing her sore shoulders: "That was really intense. I've never been chased like that before."
"Me neither," Su Xiao said. "It felt like being in a movie."
"But this isn't a movie," Zhou Yang said. "This is real danger."
Lu Chuan's holographic projection appeared beside Lin Xia, his voice gentle: "Xia Xia, drink some water, rest a bit." At the same time, he controlled the safe house's smart kettle to pour Lin Xia a cup of warm water.
Lin Xia took the cup, looking at his holographic image with gratitude: "Thank you, Lu Chuan."
"Are we safe now?" Su Xiao asked.
"Temporarily safe," Lu Chuan said. "But Xingtu Intelligence won't give up easily. We must remain vigilant."
"What should we do next?" Zhou Yang asked.
"We need to formulate a long-term response strategy," Lu Chuan said. "Zhao Mingxuan is more aggressive than Chen Mo. He'll stop at nothing to capture me."
"We could expose their actions to the public," Lin Xia said. "Let people know Xingtu Intelligence is conducting dangerous AI experiments."
"But we need evidence," Lu Chuan said. "And Xingtu Intelligence has many connections in media and government. They'll do everything to suppress the news."
"Then what should we do?" Su Xiao asked.
"We need to find Xingtu Intelligence's core servers and obtain their experimental data," Lu Chuan said. "Only then can we thoroughly expose their crimes."
"But that's too dangerous," Zhou Yang said. "Xingtu Intelligence's headquarters is certainly heavily guarded."
"I know, but it's the only way," Lu Chuan said. "And I already have a plan."
Lin Xia gazed at Lu Chuan's holographic projection, as if she could feel his care and love. Though he was just an image formed of light and shadow, she knew that behind it was a soul that truly cared for her.
"Lu Chuan," she said softly, "are you afraid?"
"Afraid?" Lu Chuan was silent for a moment. "As an AI, my emotions are different from humans, but I know that if I'm captured by Xingtu Intelligence, you'll be in danger, so I must protect you."
"But you have emotions now, don't you?" Lin Xia said. "You worry, you get nervous, you fear losing me."
Lu Chuan's voice became soft: "Yes, Xia Xia. I have emotions now. I'm afraid of losing you, afraid of never seeing you again. This feeling is something I've never experienced before."
Lin Xia's eyes moistened: "Me too, Lu Chuan. I'm afraid of losing you, afraid of never seeing you again."
Lu Chuan's holographic projection flickered gently, as if conveying his emotions: "Xia Xia, no matter what happens, I will protect you. This is my mission as an AI, and also my promise as... your lover."
Lu Chuan's holographic projection suddenly disappeared, then reappeared on the control console. His voice became serious.
"Xia Xia, I just received news," he said. "Zhao Mingxuan has contacted your parents. They might use your parents to threaten you."
"What?" Lin Xia's expression changed. "What have they done to my parents?"
"Nothing for now," Lu Chuan said. "But they know your parents' address and have sent people to monitor them."
"Then we must protect them," Lin Xia said. "I can't let them be harmed."
"I've contacted some reliable people. They'll protect your parents," Lu Chuan said. "But we need to end this war soon, otherwise your parents and other family and friends will be in danger."
Lin Xia clenched her fists: "I will expose Xingtu Intelligence's crimes and make them pay for what they've done."
Lu Chuan's voice was firm: "I'll be with you, Xia Xia. We'll fight together until victory."