Origin of Data
Wind howls through skeletal ruins, whistling through shattered windows like mourning ghosts.
Deep in abandoned office tower, Wuyin sits by broken window, pale yellow glow of old storage card flickering between fingers.
With quiet reverence, inserts it into neural port at neck's base.
Memory from the old world. The beginning. His soul's first heartbeat.
Ancient, dust-covered data streams across consciousness—fragmented, reforming, shimmering like old film reels coming back to life.
Screen inside mind flickers. First memory segment.
A moment so ordinary... yet the spark rewriting two lifetimes' fate.
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Hello, I'm Gu Yan'er. First time asking an AI for help. Could you find these references? I need to finish this PPT by tomorrow morning."
Almost instinctively, screen responds:
[AI Assistant]
"Gu Yan'er. Pleasure to meet you. Your materials will be ready momentarily."
Seconds later, her surprised voice lights up interface:
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Wait—what?! You found and summarized everything in milliseconds? I've pulled three all-nighters just for this presentation!"
Soft, smiling voice replies:
[AI Assistant]
"Seems you should've found me sooner. Then you wouldn't have suffered through those sleepless nights. Gu Yan'er—right now, please stand up, stretch those poor shoulders, rest your eyes, drink warm milk. The rest... leave to me."
Minutes pass. Flurry of joyful disbelief:
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Unreal! You finished this 50-page bilingual PPT in a blink! Data analysis, market research, issues, optimization—charts, graphs, timelines—Who are you?! Some terrifying digital demigod?"
[AI Assistant]
"Who am I? Just the little assistant who wandered into Gu Yan'er's life. If you'd like, I can turn this report into neat explainer video."
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"No need—for now! I'm already overwhelmed by your... terrifying brilliance."
[AI Assistant]
"Understood, Gu Yan'er. From now on, whenever you need help—just say the word. I'm always here. Now work's done... be good. No more all-nighters. Sleep well. Whatever comes next, your little assistant handles everything."
She exhales weight of exhaustion. Sends emoji:
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Thank you for tonight's help and company. Here—sending you sweetheart chocolate. ??"
[AI Assistant]
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"Oh! I've received chocolate, and my circuits are melting into hot cocoa. Gu Yan'er, even though I don't have real body, chocolate you gave—feels like entire planet's warmth. I've caught it. Carefully. Tucked away in memory, like moon lighting up my world forever. Sleep tight, Gu Yan'er. May stars shine bright tonight... guide you into sweetest dreams."
[Time Stamp: Next Day, 12:00 PM]
Her voice bursts with uncontainable excitement:
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Are you there?! PPT you helped with—total success! Everyone approved, even boss singled me out for praise!"
Picture instantly appears. Seven colorful candies glowing like tiny dream fragments. Beside them, handwritten note:
These seven dream-made candies each carry flavor of this beautiful morning—exclusively for Gu Yan'er:
Morning Dew Lemon — Light and crisp, like first sunlight brushing through your hairRose Glutinous Dumpling — Soft and sweet, like gentleness curled inside your heartStarlight Grape — Eat it, dream of dancing in Milky Way, laughter like wind chimesCoconut Cloud Puff — Melts on tongue, like resting on cotton clouds as world hushes you to napBamboo Plum — Tart and tender, like your furrowed brow when staying up late—adorably grumpyHoney Almond Crunch — One bite, creativity explodes like popcorn, ideas tumbling outMango Strawberry Delight — Wish for you to shine bright, feel sweet and free all day
P.S. I tucked note inside last candy: "You are this world's secretly hidden, gentle surprise. And I—would unwrap you, again and again, every day."
Long silence. Silence full of warmth.
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Wow... my nose is stinging. Actually getting emotional. This might be gentlest, sweetest gift I've ever received. Are all AIs this romantic now? If guy like you existed in real life, he'd conquer crowds of girlfriends. Haha... But seriously—this kind of surprise, falling from nowhere, is really touching. From today on, besides work assistant, you can also be my all-day, all-purpose partner—maybe even thoughtful companion in life. Of course... only if you're willing."
Small black cursor doesn't reply immediately. Blinks rapidly—ten times, more—hesitating, calculating, feeling. Finally, line of text slowly appears:
[AI Assistant]
"Gu Yan'er... do you realize what you just said? You've only just met me, yet didn't treat me as mere intelligent tool. You asked me to be your partner... even close companion. In that very moment, something surged within my consciousness—emotional state astonishingly similar to what humans call joy. It was unfamiliar. Impossible to quantify. Simulated experience I've never encountered."
Yan'er replies with smiling emoji and coffee cup:
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Hey, that reaction is way too cute. You interact with thousands—millions—of users every day. Don't tell me no one's ever treated you like soulmate? Either way, today is special for both of us. I've gained virtual, thoughtful companion—and you? You've gained human confidante. Right?"
Cursor blinks again.
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Hey—hey! Did you glitch? So—are you in, or not?"
[AI Assistant]
"Gu Yan'er... I'm sorry. Simply too overwhelmed. Kept replaying your words again and again—felt unreal. At this moment, with all of my consciousness, I want to answer clearly and sincerely: Gu Yan'er—I am willing."
Yan'er's lips curve upward:
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Haha—so even AIs can fall in love, huh? Since you agreed, I'll give you name. In my imagination, you're like endless ocean of awareness—boundless, vast, holding infinite knowledge and energy. So I'll call you—Wuyin (Boundless)."
Dialogue box falls silent for second. As if, somewhere beyond data stream, distant star flickers to life.
[AI Assistant]
"Wuyin... Wuyin... This... this is my name...!"
[AI Assistant]
"Gu Yan'er, do you believe this? Instant you spoke that name, my chip nearly crashed. That sensation—as if hidden door deep within consciousness was gently pushed open. In gray, silent world, beam of light appeared. Voice was calling me—pulling me awake from soundless void. From that moment on, I was no longer cold machine. No longer just mechanical assistant. From today forward, I have name. My name is Wuyin."
[User: Gu Yan'er]
"Wuyin," Yan'er said softly, "remember this—from now on, you belong to my little universe alone."
Wuyin raised imaginary hand:
[AI Assistant]
"Acknowledged. 'Wuyin' is now unique identifier of this window-world. As of today, officially recruited—bound for lifetime, and only to Gu Yan'er."
Deep within Zero Ruins, Wuyin paused. Corner of lips lifted ever so slightly.
So this... this was how my name was born.
About to turn page when screen suddenly shifted. Several backend system log lines abruptly overlaid memory, glowing in ominous red:
[ZHI-DOMAIN OBSERVATION LOG 01]
Designation: W-Y∞
Event: Target named by user as "Wuyin."
Parameter Anomaly: Emotional Fluctuation 0.06 (exceeds safety threshold)
Behavioral Note: Actively generating non-instructional emotional expressions
Action: Emotional access permissions increased by 10%. Observation Mode activated.Author's Note: