Turing's Code Chapter 5 54 Feb 16, 2020

F I R S T M O V E M E N T

Chapter 05

“You almost left me in his office.”

“Shouldn't you think that your body only exists in a Bluetooth earphone. You install your broken server unit, and still eat my money.”

TianHe walked to the corridor outside Qingsong company and pressed the elevator impatiently.

Pro, “The TU3 server unit is not broken, it has 100,000 processing chips. Otherwise, I would not be able to complete the auto-upgrade within two years. TianHe, you messed things up. He's sitting in the office crying 76% probability of the time, smashing something 23% of the time, and 1% chance of—”

TianHe seriously said in a low voice, “Pro, from now on, stop giving me any bad ideas. I haven't seen him shed a tear in my life...”

Just as he was talking, the treasurer quickly ran after him, stopped the elevator door, handed an envelope and said, “Mr. Wen, the boss gave it to you.”

“Thank you.” TianHe took the envelope, poured out the ring Guan Yue once gave to him, put it on casually and drove home.

The Bluetooth in the car makes the sound of the street out of place.

“TianHe, you still love him.”

TianHe was blocked in the road and said, “You know, Pro, when I was in his office, you were too noisy plus your voice are very similar. I didn't know who was talking for a while.”

Pro, “But I don't think that's the reason you took off the earphone. We had a 90% probability of success.”

“Success?” TianHe patted Bentley's steering wheel and said, “Successfully cheated his money? That's an outright mistake.”

Pro, “Guan Yue fell in love with you when you were 16 years old. His heartbeat frequency was recorded in the database every minute and second during that period. When he was with you, his heartbeat accelerated, dopamine secretion increased, and when he got separated from you...”

TianHe, “Xiao Liu, please turn on a flamboyant romantic novel reader for me... oh, Xiao Liu has resigned.”

TianHe drove through the red light, turned off the Bluetooth, casually pressed the car's reading machine twice, and a cheerful reader sounded.

“Domineering President Deeply Favored, Volume 1, Chapter 1, Section 1. Early in the morning, she woke up from a wide bed, opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself in a rare vacuum silk nightgown... Ah! Who am I? Why did I appear in...”

TianHe decisively turned off the book reading machine and reconnected the Bluetooth on the car to play, “I changed my mind, please continue,”

Pro, “...He's willing to do this for you, as long as you speak.”

TianHe, “What misunderstanding do you have about him? Pro, a partner level CEO, will take the trust of capital to do such a thing? You're both in financial software, but I think you're more like an upgraded book reading machine. Was it broken by the reader?”

Pro, “First of all, your temperament, taste, appearance and connotation are all fatal attraction to him. He will never find a lover like you in this life...”

“That's right.” TianHe replied without modesty, “Apart from ‘amazing', you could also say ‘fatal'. As an AI, it's good to draw one analogy from another.”

Pro, “Secondly, the memories of you grew up together makes him have family attachment to you...”

After driving out of the International Financial Center, TianHe turned into the underground garage of the building, parked the car, and put on his Bluetooth earphone. “I only like Bach, the housework master, not Beethoven.”

Pro, “You can run in whatever you like or dislike.”

“But the most essential reason is that our souls cannot reconciled.” TianHe replied.

Pro, “Want to drink? I can search restaurants near you. But I suggest you carefully calculate your savings and use them rationally. After all, you will have to pay the rent of the Canadian computer room next month.”

TianHe walked out of the building and watched the crowds flowed endlessly. He sat down on a chair by the side of the road. The sky was gloomy and heavy with dark clouds. A storm was coming.

“I'll think of some way,” TianHe murmured, “It's been a long time... I didn't expect to speak to him again at such a time.”

“Is it necessary to break up? If you don't mind telling me why.”

TianHe, “Are you interested in me and his past?”

Pro, “Of course, I'm learning.”

TianHe, “It seems to be at Lhasa airport. Yes, I'm sure it's in Lhasa airport. Originally, he wanted to take me climbing to Mount Everest...”

Before today, when was their last conversation? He remembered that a year ago, it was the day of real separation. After the two sides agreed to break up, Guan Yue proposed to go to Mount Everest. After all points have been scored, what's still there climbing in Everest? Even if they are still together, TianHe didn't believe he can climb up. In case of sudden madness, it's unnecessary to die together. After all, the saying ‘nothing can separate us except death' was said by TianHe himself.

However, he still went. At that time, after working in New York for three years, Guan Yue finally finished his project, flew across the Atlantic Ocean, returned to London, and knocked on the door of no.12 St. Nicholas. The housekeeper was an old gentleman whom TianHe's mother invited for him. After TianHe repeatedly refused to open the door, he still let Guan Yue in and brought him refreshments.

“You look like a stalker,” TianHe said, “I already said I don't want to go out. There's still a project unfinished.”

Guan Yue has matured year after year but his words are getting younger and younger. His former student spirit has completely changed and now a complete adult. The middle-level people who are engaged in financial industry are all very versatile and can still tell jokes, however, the high-level officials all showed a polite attitude, but in fact, they kept people away from them. Guan Yue has gradually become like this—TianHe is the only one who can communicate with him about things other than work, but they haven't talked for a long time.

Guan Yue looked at his watch and replied, “I'll wait for you and leave when I'm finished.”

TianHe had been busy with the task for two days, but he knew that with Guan Yue's character, if he doesn't go out with him, they would never be able to end it. So he whispered a few words to the housekeeper. The servants start packing and went himself to take a bath.

“Lhasa.” Guan Yue took a sip of tea, dressed in a tracksuit, and waited patiently in the living room, “No need to bring anything, I've prepared it for you.”

After wiping his hair and change to outdoor clothes, he followed Guan Yue to the plane and slept for more than ten hours. He felt good when he saw the cloudless sky in Lhasa.

“It's not a good place to bid farewell in bed.” TianHe said, “If you can't breathe, your company's 10 billion plus projects will be neglected.”

“There's no such meaning,” Guan Yue replied coldly, “I'm not here to have sex with you.”

TianHe looked around and said, “Just us?”

There was no driver, no assistant, only the two of them in the sunny streets of Lhasa. Guan Yue didn't answer. He put on sunglasses, carried his bag with TianHe behind, and walked slowly. At the top of the world, which is nearly four thousand meters above sea level, TianHe suddenly felt the isolation and emptiness.

As if from the moment of stepping on this land, London, New York, Beijing, Shanghai.... The whole flashy world and myriad noisy smoke and dust disappeared quietly. Under the accessible blue sky, only he and Guan Yue left. The life invaded by many troubles and disturbances in the world finally restored its original appearance.

Guan Yue said nothing. He walked in front of the rent car, then found a small restaurant in front of Potala Palace, put down their equipment, ordered a warm teapot, and sat in the restaurant with TianHe. What TianHe remembered most was that Lhasa's milk tea was actually delicious, there are also a pair of Tibetan couple setting beside him, with plateau red on their faces, boy looking rough and girl looking shy.

TianHe has read books about Tibet and knows the legend of reincarnation. He can't help thinking, if he and Guan Yue were born and raised in this country and didn't have everything they have now, wouldn't there be so much trouble?

Guan Yue also looked at the couple without saying a word.

“Drive to Wudang tomorrow,” Guan Yue finally said.

“It's impossible to climb up,” TianHe said, “Are you crazy?”

Guan Yue, “If you don't reach the top, you have to take one step at a time.”

That was okay, TianHe no longer insisted and said, “I want to go to Bajiao Lane and leave the day after tomorrow.”

At four o'clock in the afternoon, after supper, the two stayed in a hotel. Guan Yue booked a standard room and each lay on the bed. Before long, Guan Yue starts answering the phone. Most of the time I was listening, occasionally saying ‘OK' or giving short comments. Until the sun went down, TianHe has a terrible headache on the plateau and his ears were buzzing. Finally, he couldn't help but said, “Can you stop calling in the room?”

“Sorry.”

Guan Yue went to the bathroom, closed the door and continued to handle his business. TianHe sighed in the darkness, clearly separated, why torture each other?

In the middle of the night, Guan Yue came out after making a phone call. TianHe lays in bed, panting painfully. The altitude reaction is getting worse and worse, it was like suffering. Guan Yue stepped forward to touched TianHe's forehead and had to rush to buy oxygen and rhodiola rosea to make coca left tea. After a whole night's ordeal, the next morning he was almost overwhelmed.

“Once in Bolivia, you could still hold it on,” Guan Yue frowned who stayed by the bedside all night, and said, “Why is this reaction so serious?”

TianHe thought that his move was very effective. Maybe he will die on the way without going to Everest Base camp.

“I stayed up all night lately. I didn't sleep well with the professor's topic,” TianHe said wearily, “It doesn't matter. Let me set out slowly, today is much better.”

Guan Yue bought breakfast but TianHe threw up after two bites.

“Forget it, go down.” Guan Yue said.

“No,” TianHe temperament came up instead and said, “This is the first time in three years that we have come out and played like this.”

Guan Yue looked at TianHe silently. TianHe stood up and said stubbornly, “I haven't been to Lhasa yet. I want to go to Bajiao Lane.”

Guan Yue put on his coat and leave the hotel with TianHe.

Guan Yue said stubbornly, “Eat more.”

TianHe, “Can't eat. Don't worry about me, it's okay.”

Guan Yue, “Then let's come again next time. Listen to me and go back.”

TianHe laughed, “Where is the next time? No next time. This is the last time.”

The sun shone through the gaps between the warp rollers. TianHe wore a Tibetan hat and a Tibetan robe. He walked along the rows of warp rollers, his slender fingers turned the half-meter high warp rollers clockwise. Guan Yue stood at the gate of Jokhang Temple, silently watching the sky slowly coming towards him.

“First, it's best not to meet each other, so we cannot fall in love.”

“Second, it's best not to know each other, so we don't miss each other.”

“Third, it's better not to accompany each other, so we don't owe each other.”

TianHe smiled and raised his eyebrows gently. Looking at the figure of Guan Yue at the end of the road, his handsome face was blurry under the setting sun, as if waiting for him at the end of time. All the way, it solidified the long years of meeting, knowing and accompanying from childhood to adulthood.

“Fourth, it's best not to cherish each other, so we can easily forget each other.”

“Fifth, it's best not to fall in love, so we cannot abandon each other.”

TianHe murmured, “Sixth, it's best not to be relative, so we cannot meet.”

“Seventh, it's best not to make mistakes, so we cannot be negative.”

“Eighth, it's best not to agree, so we cannot continue.”

“Ninth, it's better not to depend on each other, so we cannot lean against each other... Tenth, it's best not to meet, so we don't get together...”

It's a long road, but at last it came to an end. When TianHe stopped, waiting at the end, Guan Yue held his phone and showed him the ticket booking. The ticket for 7 o'clock in the evening has been bought.

TianHe avoided looking at Guan Yue, turned his head to the side and nodded.

Guan Yue pointed to the ground and motioned for TianHe to wait there. TianHe sat cross-legged on the ground outside Jokhang Temple, looking out at the blue sky, free and unfettered.

Guan Yue went to a group of Tibetans, raised his hands, raised his head, separated, threw himself on the ground, knelt down and waited for a long head, step back, dive, kneel again, knock again. TianHe quietly looked at Guan Yue and forgot to count his kowtows. When Guan Yue finished all this, he got up and walked towards him with a red mark on his forehead, which made him felt a little funny, he couldn't help laughing.

Guan Yue took up his bag and silently sent TianHe to the airport.

“What are you reading when you turn sutras?” Guan Yue said.

TianHe replied, “Read my code and hope the project goes well. What about you? What do you wish to kowtow to?”

Guan Yue replied, “I hope the gods will take care of me and let my company go public smoothly.”

TianHe smiled, looked at Guan Yue carefully and said, “You're a serious and responsible investor. Your wish will surely come true. Then...I'm going now.”

Guan Yue stared at TianHe silently. TianHe said nothing more. After passing the security check, Guan Yue always looked at him quietly outside. When TianHe raised his hand and let the security inspector sweep his body, Guan Yue finally said, “Do you still love me?”

“A little,” TianHe turned to Guan Yue and smiled, “But thinking after death, I can't bury myself in your old Guan family's ancestral grave, I think long pain is worse than short pain. Let's stick to it.”

Guan Yue said, “You can find better than me.”

TianHe nodded and made a farewell gesture.

A week after leaving Lhasa, TianHe finally couldn't help but looked at Guan Yue's facebook. Guan Yue took more pictures of the overlooking Mount Everest. In the end, he went to Nepal and came to the base camp of Mount Everest alone, but he didn't climb the top. He followed Sherpa's guide to the camp at an altitude of 6,400 meters and took pictures of the vast mountains and snow.

The caption is:

I used to think that the snowy mountain has been there for hundreds of thousands of years. The mountain will always be a mountain and the snow will always be snow. However, even if many things never seem to change, the souls has already been turned differently. But once we met, we knew each other. How can we not see each other? An De and the king were separated from each other, so that life and death wouldn't be missed.” (TN: An ancient poem translated by Zeng Xuan which means ‘how can I be separated from you and cut off the love, lest you have to taste the pain of yearning dead or alive.')

“Pro,” TianHe finished this memory and suddenly asked, “Have you ever been in love? Have you ever experience the feeling of heartache when you fall in love with someone?”

Pro didn't speak.

TianHe looked at a couple running out in front of him. The boy stood by the side of the road and turned back to wait for his girlfriend to catch up.

“You chase me,” TianHe laughed, “We're on this long road of life and keep moving forward, but sometimes, inevitably, we ran on different turnouts. Pro, it's nice to talk about love with you, but it's a pity you don't understand.”

Pro remained silent.

All of a sudden, he heard a burst of cheerful music from his earphone, the phone was connected and an enthusiastic voice rang out, “Hey, baby, come out and play?”

TianHe, “···”

JiangZi Jian, “Still outside? Let's go have dinner? I'm looking for an idea from you, life events!”

TianHe, “Go to Fink. Today, I suddenly think of his family, I miss him a little.”

TianHe made an appointment, hung up the phone, stood in the crowd, and looked around the high-rise buildings.

“I don't quite understand how you feel, but I think a friend with the highest frequency of calls may be able to ease your anxiety,” Pro said.

TianHe's mouth slightly tilted and replied, “Thanks, Pro.”