64 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

Chen Wan had a blister on her lip, which left her feeling lethargic as she ate breakfast. Qin Ke, on the other hand, sensed something was off with Chen Wan today but couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. After they finished their noodles, Chen Wan washed the dishes and decided to pull out the learning device for the kid. There wasn't much to do in the RV, so her main leisure activities involved playing with the child and reading novels. While waiting for the RV to finish upgrading, she planned to watch some cartoons. Qin Ke, equally bored, joined Chen Wan to watch the cartoons, and the two adults became engrossed in the show. At exactly seven o'clock, Chen Wan received a mechanical notification in her mind, "Congratulations, Host. The RV upgrade is complete, taking a total of 15 hours." Chen Wan's face lit up with excitement upon hearing this, and she quickly probed in her mind, "What new benefits come with this upgrade?" The system's mechanical voice remained neutral, "With the RV reaching level 3, the defense capabilities of the outer shell, tires, and glass have been significantly enhanced; the fuel and water tank capacities have been increased to 5600L; the trunk's compression space has been upgraded to 90 square meters; and a second layer space has been opened in the RV, resembling the layout of the first. The RV is now hybrid, able to run on electricity. Additionally, you have received a robotic arm that can be placed anywhere at your discretion; you gain one personal attribute boost, which you can choose yourself; and the system can activate full intelligent mode, taking on a physical form to assist you." Chen Wan's joy grew with each feature. The importance of larger fuel and water tanks was clear, as was the expanded trunk space gaining an additional 30 square meters. The RV now had a second floor, which could be used for storage even if they didn't live there. These tangible benefits were great, but what surprised Chen Wan the most were the later enhancements. The hybrid functionality meant the RV wouldn't get stuck without fuel, as the exterior could harness solar power during the day. This was incredibly useful. The addition of a robotic arm could prevent another incident like the one where a mutant cow nearly wrecked the RV. Chen Wan thought to install it at the back of the RV, where it could remain as a decorative piece like the front one but become operative when needed. With that in mind, Chen Wan wished for a robotic arm at the back. Placed diagonally opposite the front one, this ensured protection from front to back, with the arm capable of extending to cover both sides of the RV. As for her personal attribute boost, Chen Wan opted to enhance her vitality. Among the four attributes—strength, speed, and vitality—she had already fortified the other three, leaving only agility unboosted. Chen Wan hoped never to need the vitality boost, as its effects would only be noticeable if she were injured. After figuring everything out, she recalled the system's last mention of full intelligent mode and its physical form, both of which were unclear to her. She openly asked the system, "What does full intelligent mode mean? And what is the physical form you mentioned?" "In simple terms, I will materialize as an android to assist you, serving as your RV butler," the system's mechanical voice replied. "An android? Are systems this advanced now?" Chen Wan asked, surprised. "Yes, Host. My skills will upgrade with the RV's level, and we can still communicate through the neural interface. I'll act according to your instructions. If you wish for me to materialize, please click 'Yes.'" The system's mechanical voice was still cold but now slightly eager. Chen Wan found the system reliable, deeming the RV a crucial survival tool in the apocalypse. The system was helpful, answering questions and following instructions. With the physical form, she'd gain another dependable assistant, so she clicked "Yes." A moment later, after refocusing on the cartoon, a subtle disturbance in the air five or six steps away caught both Chen Wan's and Qin Ke's attention. Strange ripples formed, and a swirling vortex emerged, steadily enlarging to human height before stabilizing. Chen Wan glanced at Qin Ke, who shared her dazed expression as they both stared at the swirling space. Then, standing in that spot was a woman in her twenties with a striking appearance, akin to a rose with a touch of defiance, her almond-shaped eyes slightly upturned in a playful gaze. She wore a fire-red waist-cinched dress that clashed with the apocalyptic setting. Noting their astonishment, the woman laughed and settled in front of Chen Wan, waving her hand before Chen Wan's eyes, "What's with you? Didn't we discuss this earlier? Why so shocked?" Qin Ke looked at Chen Wan, sensing something was amiss but said nothing, quietly closing the cartoon and observing from the sidelines. Chen Wan tentatively asked, "Are you the system?" Her tone was full of disbelief, her expression clearly stating, "I don't believe it." The woman chuckled, her almond eyes sparkling with amusement, "Of course. How else would I pop onto the RV out of nowhere? Hilarious." Chen Wan cleared her throat, straightening up. This wasn't the android system she imagined. If the system hadn't mentioned it, she'd think she was talking to a regular beta. Chen Wan continued, "So you're an android? You seem indistinguishable from real people. This is advanced technology." The woman reclined lazily, "Indeed. Our androids resemble humans structurally and possess emotions and independent thought, nearly indistinguishable from your kind." While Chen Wan curiously bombarded the system with questions, Jiang Yan Xin vaguely heard a woman's voice mingling with Chen Wan's from outside, their conversation lively. Rousing from slumber, Jiang Yan Xin quickly washed up, changed clothes, and exited the room to find Chen Wan and Qin Ke conversing spiritedly with an unnamed woman, or rather, it was mainly Chen Wan chatting with her. Perplexed at finding a new face in the RV, and seeing Chen Wan so engaged with her, Jiang Yan Xin strolled over with a cold gaze fixed on Chen Wan. Unaware of Jiang Yan Xin’s scrutiny, Chen Wan maintained her barrage of questions, but the woman across from her noticed the newcomer, smiling at Jiang Yan Xin, "Awake? Where's Yang Yang?" Caught off guard, Jiang Yan Xin asked, "Do you know me?" The woman’s smile widened, her eyes twinkling, "Of course. We've all been in the RV together for some time. I'm Chen Wan's system, Yi Yi." "The system?" Jiang Yan Xin echoed, disbelief coloring her tone. "Yes, after the RV reached level three, I could materialize. It's a relief to physically be here after almost suffocating in the system interface. Unless Chen Wan asked questions or gave commands, I was silent. It was tough." Yi Yi complained from her relaxed position on the couch, clearly having held it in for some time. Jiang Yan Xin remained skeptical. She saw a living person, not a system. Noticing the disbelief on Jiang Yan Xin’s face, Yi Yi continued smiling, "Really, I'm an android. You wouldn't know unless I told you. There are some differences; you think with your brains, while I use an artificial brain." Yi Yi shifted over on the couch, making space for Jiang Yan Xin to sit. Jiang Yan Xin glanced at Chen Wan, initially suspecting that Chen Wan had casually let another woman onto the RV, and she was prepared to give Chen Wan a good talking to. However, the situation turned out to be completely different from what she imagined, even exceeding her understanding. Chen Wan nodded towards Jiang Yan Xin, "It's really my system. We couldn't believe it at first either. That's why we've been asking questions in disbelief." Only then did Jiang Yan Xin slightly nod and sit next to Yi Yi. Yi Yi continued to chatter enthusiastically, "I've been wanting to come out for ages. Luckily, Chen Wan's pretty reliable, upgrading the RV quickly; otherwise, I would have died of boredom." "That's great. That means I have another helper. Since you're the system, you should be able to control all the functions in the RV, right?" Chen Wan laughed, joining the conversation. "Of course I can! I have plenty of functionalities. With me around, your lives will be more comfortable. You should count yourselves lucky to have me," Yi Yi boasted endlessly, which was somewhat at odds with her dazzling appearance. Who would have thought that this elegant woman was such a chatterbox? The system’s appearance and personality were completely unexpected for Chen Wan. She had imagined the system to be aloof, perhaps resembling the cold, metallic robots she'd seen in her previous life. Who would have thought the system would be like this?!