Inner Demons

Chapter1

The young man in leather shook his phone and grinned: “Okay.”

Then walked away.

Yuan Xiaolu said “Ah” and wanted to reach out. But like countless times before, I just thought about it-finally sighed then said in my heart.

I pressed two “+” on the milk tea machine again.

A “+” means adding lemon juice, and a “+” means adding brandy. The milk tea machine of this chain milk tea shop cannot be reprogrammed and added with other ingredients-theoretically. But Yuan Xiaolu has been learning programming recently. After the three-month crash course, I tried it on this machine and it was done.

She was happy for this for a long time. But it’s not because “what you have learned is useful” or “maybe you don’t need to sell milk tea in the future.” In fact, she is willing to keep doing the latter.

As long as Dr. Li is still in this building.

Dr. Li walked out of the building at 7:30 every evening and would buy a cup of milk tea in her shop on the first floor of a foreign store.

When overwhelming majority, I would order a cup of lemon honey milk tea, but it is not sealed. When Yuan Xiaolu put the cup on the small counter, he would take a flat, silver jug ​​from his pocket and pour a little bit into it.

Then he would look at her with a smile, and politely said: “It’s okay now. I’ll trouble you.”

One day Yuan Xiaolu finally got up the courage to ask him what wine he poured. Dr. Li said a name. She remembered the name in her heart and checked it online after he left-and found that the price was terribly expensive, worth half of her income.

So she saved up for three months and ordered a bottle online. Fortunately, that is a big bottle. Like Dr. Li, add a little bit to the cup every day for about three months. At that time, she can order a second bottle again.

Yuan Xiaolu still remembers that night-it was Christmas, it snowed, and it was dark early.

Before six o’clock, multi-colored drones flew in the sky and shuttled between towering buildings. Their taillights draw out long colored lights and shadows, like silk ribbons. But the colored ribbons will eventually scatter into dots of light, falling down like colored raindrops.

That night, Dr. Li came to buy milk tea as usual, and Yuan Xiaolu did the same thing for him as usual. But after he said “unsealed” and put the cup on the table, he did not put it on the side of Dr. Li, but on his side.

When he was stunned for a while, he took out the bottle of wine she ordered from the audience-afraid to look at him-and quickly added it. At that time, I don’t know if it was because of the heating in the store, she felt that her face became very hot and her heartbeat was so fast. But pretending to be nothing, turned around, sealed the mouth, and handed it to him.

Slowly plug the bottle stopper, while staring at the third button on Dr. Li’s chest and said, “This is a new product from our store.”

Dr. Li looked at her For a while—Yuan Xiaolu felt that he was looking at himself at that time—and laughed: “Merry Christmas.”

This is the year, except for “unseal first” and “now it’s okay. Trouble you “Beyond these two sentences, he said something else to himself for the first time.

A trance joy burst out in Yuan Xiaolu’s chest, like the gorgeous fireworks bursting above the city sky at this time. She finally plucked up the courage to look up at Doctor Li’s face, but only saw his profile-he took the milk tea, carried the bag and walked away.

She could only see her back, but she quickly disappeared on the street corner.

However, the joy that happened on Christmas Eve also caused her trouble. On about 2nd day, there were a few young people in front of the store that are common on the streets–

Wearing leather jackets with the government social security code, chewing cigarette jelly in their mouths. The left or right eye is blue-that’s because of the implanted sensor lens in the vitreous. This can make them immerse themselves in the virtual game world anytime, anywhere, and even forget that they are walking in the driveway.

Yuan Xiaolu’s impression of this kind of people is limited to TV or movies-it should be the kind of role that fights on the streets and takes drugs, then spends his life in prison until middle age, and then relies on social security benefits to live a life of failure .

She hurriedly lowered her head, not wanting to bother them. But soon I heard the sound of the knuckles knocking on the cabinet. Several young people leaned in front of the small shop, blocking out the afternoon sun. One of them grinned and said: “little girl, some cups of milk tea.”

Yuan Xiaolu put down his phone and stood up, making his expression more natural: “…which one do you want.”

“I heard that you have a drink here. You want that.” He said, “A cup of milk tea-no milk tea!”

Several people laughed, as if I heard a very funny joke. Yuan Xiaolu heard that this kind of people are somewhat neurotic because of the long-term abuse of nicotine and the long-term abuse of electrical stimulation. In severe cases, they may even go crazy. By this time, seeing them like this is scared.

She realized that maybe it was because they saw me last night when they made that cup of milk tea for Dr. Li.

She skimmed down the counter anxiously. Seeing her gaze, the young man suddenly grabbed the counter and looked in and saw the bottle of wine. In a low, muffled voice, I made a “wow” and reached for it. Yuan Xiaolu didn’t know where the courage came from, so he grabbed her mobile phone and shouted: “You rob!”

On the contrary, a street police drone with a round head and round brain passed by and stopped. Black’s electronic eyes circled quickly, flashing red and blue crazily. A few young people suddenly dispersed, and soon disappeared.

But things not at all end here.

Dr. Li did not go to work on the 3rd day and did not go to work on the fourth day. By the evening of the fifth day, the young man who appeared in front of the store two days ago appeared again.

He sullenly walked to the counter, staring at Yuan Xiaolu gloomily, and said, “I want a cup of milk tea. Add wine.”

Yuan Xiaolu stood up and grabbed his phone. Look subconsciously on the street. But the young man sneered: “What are you looking at? You shouted the day before yesterday and sent in my three brothers on parole. From now on, I–“

He raised his chin contemptuously: “Use I bought it.”

Yuan Xiaolu stared at him: “I, no, sell, give, you!”

The young man sneered again: “Okay. Then I will guard every day. ——”

When he said this, Dr. Li came out.

Three steps away, look at the two of them. After a while, strode closer. Yuan Xiaolu’s eyes lit up-seeing Dr. Li walk up to the young man, not looking at him, but only nodded to her.

She felt the power back into the body. I ignored him, turned around silently, and went to make milk tea. She used her peripheral vision to see the young man frowning and looking up and down Dr. Li, and then stepped back to look at the nearby building. It seemed to want to say something, but didn’t say it.

It only takes four seconds to make a cup of milk tea. She put the glass on the counter, hesitated for a moment, took out the wine bottle, and added wine. Then he sealed the mouth skillfully-Dr. Li took the initiative to reach out and take it this time.

His fingertips touched Yuan Xiaolu’s. Although she was putting on the soft leather gloves, her heart jumped, and she said lightly “Aiya” in her body.

But Dr. Li turned around again, and handed the milk tea to the young man: “I’ll ask you. Let’s go.”

The young man frowned and gave Dr. Li again After looking over it, he sneered. He grabbed the cup of milk tea and walked away proudly.

“Opening for business, who can meet him.” Doctor Li looked at him as he walked away, then turned his face and said, “Don’t be afraid.”

Look at the wine on the stage again. , Smiled, and said quizzically: “Is it a new product from your chain store or yours?”

Yuan Xiaolu met his eyes and heard what he said. I felt like I was on fire, “suddenly” it started to burn. I want to remove my eyes, but it seems to be possessed by his gaze, so I can’t remove it anymore.

He laughed kindly again: “Why, is it a limited edition?”

Yuan Xiaolu gave a “Ah” and quickly turned around.

It took her one minute to make the second cup and slowly handed it to him. Doctor Li smiled at her again, turned and walked away.

Three seconds later-three seconds as long as a whole century-Yuan Xiaolu suddenly leaned out half of his body and shouted: “Merry Christmas!!”

He turned around on the side of the street and raised the cup of milk tea to her-Yuan Xiaolu felt that his whole body was glowing.

But…

The trouble is not over yet.

After the day of the fight, the young man will still come-at around seven o’clock every night.

Yuan Xiaolu “sell” him a cup every day all—it is indeed “sell”. But he only paid one cent each time, and then looked at her provocatively.

But she doesn’t want to cause any more trouble. She was very afraid that Dr. Li would rescue her like that day, and finally anger these people. How could a gentle and kind person like him be their opponent. People like him… shouldn’t be involved in these things either.

Chapter2

The green light is on, and a cup of milk tea has been made and sealed.

Yuan Xiaolu took it off and held it in his hand, as if it could keep it warm. But in fact, the effect of keeping it in the machine is better. However, thinking that the cup would be held in the palm of Dr. Li in ten minutes, she hoped it would stay in her palm for a while.

The flow of people on the street has gradually become denser and vehicles have also increased.

When the time on the phone changed to 7:29, Yuan Xiaolu stood up and leaned slightly to look at the exit of the building on the left.

Soon I saw Dr. Li come out. He still carried the black leather bag and wore a gray coat. He walked calmly, with a faint smile on his face. He smiled like this to everyone, but when he stopped in front of Yuan Xiaolu’s shop-I don’t know if it was his own illusion-she thought Li He smiled more gently.

“Thank you.” After taking the cup, he took a step away. But it stopped and imitated suddenly remembering something.

“I’m going on a business trip next week.” He only said this sentence, nodded to her.

Yuan Xiaolu laughed in his heart. She felt that Dr. Li said this to tell herself—”Little Deer, I’m going on a business trip next week. You don’t need to wait for me everyday all.”

After he said this, he nodded and turned and walked away. Maybe because of those little joys in my heart, or because of other reasons, Yuan Xiaolu took a deep breath: “Doctor Li.”

“en?” He turned around and blinked.

“I…a few months ago, I…went to a programming class.”

Dr. Li was taken aback for a while and smiled again: “Artificial intelligence? Okay. Things.”

Yuan Xiaolu waited for a while. When he blinked again, he said: “…went to interview a company. Um…sell me to wait for the notice. I think they like me a lot–but I don’t necessarily want to…”

Doctor Li thought about it seriously: “It’s a good thing. While young, see what I like to do.”

Some kind of subtle emotion-she doesn’t know if it is lost-in Quietly filled my heart. She was silent for a while, then plucked up the courage to say: “Then I… won’t be here anymore.”

Doctor Li laughed, looked at her, didn’t speak.

Yuan Xiaolu bit his lip, and his eyes fell on his third opening again: “Um…then I…I’m going to class.”

“That’s good. “Doctor Li laughed, raised his cup, “See you next week.”

He took three steps. But I heard Yuan Xiaolu’s voice again: “Doctor Li.”

“en?”

“Why do you like to add alcohol?”

He thought about it, slightly smiled: “Excitement.”

……

……

2nd day Yuan Xiaolu did not go to the milk tea shop.

But she didn’t go far either-she wore a white woolen cap and turned aimlessly in the street. But after turning around for a morning, I found that I had been walking a few streets near the building where Dr. Li was.

It seems to be close to that building, knowing that he is not in it, my heart will be empty. But far away, even more empty.

Does he… know what his words mean?

He is a psychiatrist, shouldn’t he be clear after hearing a few words?

But he didn’t say anything. Is he…

A lot of thoughts swirled in her heart, and she didn’t know which one to catch. She just walked through street corner after street corner, finally feeling tired and planning to go home.

But I just took a step and saw a car parked across the street.

There are two familiar people beside the car. One is the young man who “buy” milk tea in her shop every day, and the other…

Dr. Li.

Yuan Xiaolu was stunned. I don’t know why I feel that my ears have become sensitive, and I can even vaguely hear what they are saying.

She saw the young man open the car door for Dr. Li with a rare manner, and heard him say “…Brother Li, my big brother is not happy lately. I have to trouble you to enlighten.” “…I met a nobleman by the road…I’m not afraid to tell brothers that Brother Li and I were dating because of a cup of milk tea…hahaha…”

I saw the familiar face of Dr. Li again , A gentle smile-he walked up to the young man, patted him on the shoulder, and sat in the car.

The car quickly started and drove to the other side of the street.

He…

Yuan Xiaolu stood on the street for a long time. It wasn’t until the street lights on the street lighted up slowly that he opened his mouth–

“Ah…”

The pocket vibrated. She ignored it.

The vibration stopped after tens of seconds. But after only a short while, it shook with perseverance.

Yuan Xiaolu slowly took out the phone. The caller number was previously stored by her in the address book-“Case Technology Interview Liu Young Lady 1”.

Chapter3

Yuan Xiaolu narrowed his eyes in Liu Tao’s arms and listened to the news on TV and Liu Tao’s detailed “plan for the coming year” half asleep.

She is almost able to memorize it-quit her job and start a business to catch up with the trend of artificial intelligence. Even if it’s just a small shop-like her old milk tea shop. Pull a few people from the company, she writes the algorithm, and he does the operation. The main thing that sells is not milk tea, but China’s first fully intelligent unmanned service experience store, allowing people to experience the future world in advance……

She is too lazy to speak, and plans to wait for Liu Tao’s entrepreneurial passion to fade After that, take another shower-the next year is her third year of employment, and she doesn’t want to bet the future on this “trend”.

But Liu Tao’s voice stopped abruptly. After being quiet for a while, I sat up from the bed and exclaimed: “I thought it was a TV series–“

After saying this, I came to shoot Yuan Xiaolu’s leg again: “Hey, hey, look at this… Wow, handsome, who looks like the one who played “Alliance of Supernatural Powers”… who is coming… Liu Kun, isn’t it! Isn’t it!”

Yuan Xiaolu slightly eyes opened, to I watched it on TV.

It is broadcasting online news-a murder case. Self-media interviewers mixed with official reporters to shoot heavy-tasting clips to exchange traffic on the Internet. This has long been commonplace.

She glanced around and saw a vague face.

She was stunned and sat up slowly.

It was a murder that occurred in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of this city. The deceased seemed to be tortured before death, and eventually died of suffocation. According to analysis, the death was due to waterboarding-covering his mouth and nose with a towel, and then watering the towel.

Liu Tao had told her this kind of thing before, saying it was a common method used by terrorists.

But that face…

Yuan Xiaolu slowly opened his mouth, subconsciously clenching the sheets.

She never noticed that Dr. Li… really looks like that star Liu Kun’s.

“…Kill? Didn’t you say it? No…Love to kill…Is a psychologist—is it a psychologist? Or a psychiatrist? Ah, I see… this name… Li Si…er…someone really called that name…”

The world in Yuan Xiaolu’s vision faded like a tide, leaving only the screen in the center of the vision. Liu Tao’s voice was ethereal, as if it came from the horizon.

She stared at that screen. It seems to be staring at a distant unknown world. It wasn’t until I didn’t know how long it had passed before I realized that Liu Tao was looking at her in front of her: “…what’s the matter? Don’t be afraid, we have good law and order here, and no such things can happen—”

“Ah… …” Yuan Xiaolu stared at him blankly, “Um… Uh.”

She slowly lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling for a while.

Liu Tao leaned over and frowned: “What’s the matter?”

She raised her hand and touched Liu Tao’s face, and laughed: “I want to drink milk tea.”

Liu Tao was sighed in relief, looked at her again, jumped out of bed and said, “You scared me to death.”

He walked into the kitchen, Yuan Xiaolu heard hot water poured into the cup The voice of Liu Tao, the voice of Liu Tao–

“Do you still add wine?”

After a while.

“en.”

I heard him pull the cork.

“I have always wanted to ask you–you a little girl, how do you like this drink?”

Yuan Xiaolu smiled. Think of many nights, many sunshine, many people and busy streets.

“Because of stimulation.” She said softly.