Chapter 007: Company Dog

As expected. Upon hearing Hayden's words, Karen was taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained her composure and said with a look of disdain: "Oh? You actually created a talking robot flying cup for yourself? How bizarre?"

How infuriating! I still remember when we were about to graduate, everyone else was busy running around desperately looking for jobs, while you, on the other hand, went off to tinker with those people at the Plasma Research Institute, messing around with some plasma magic cannon and even blew up a statue at the school. In the end, the professor still protected you. And now? You don't even look for a job, relying on what, freelancing to make money... Why does fate always favor someone as perverse and foolish as you?

The subtly sweet and soft flavor has spread throughout her mouth. The creamy soup prepared by Angela contains thick mushrooms, carrots, and translucent sautéed onions. Natural vegetables float in the rich soup, each one so tender that it almost dissolves with a gentle bite, and they are filled with the absorbed broth. The fragrant aroma wafts around, causing Karen's face to relax like pudding, and her stomach feels less uncomfortable than before. Natural vegetables float in the rich soup, each one so tender that it almost dissolves with a gentle bite, and they are filled with the absorbed broth. The fragrant aroma wafts around, causing Karen's face to relax like pudding, and her stomach feels less uncomfortable than before

However, once one steps into Karen's own apartment room, it is in utter disarray. Various items are carelessly strewn about, clothes thrown off are scattered all over the floor, and empty dishes are piled up in the kitchen sink. If it were the room of a single urban mercenary like Hayden, it wouldn't be too surprising. But to think this is the room of a young woman—especially an elf—would surely be hard for anyone to believe

She, curled up in the blanket, cast a glance at Angela, who was helping to clean the entire room, while remaining vigilant

However, Karen remained calm: "Of course. If this guy had made a doll, he would have dared to go out; he wouldn't have waited until the age of 29 to still be unable to find a girlfriend"

Although she answered the question instinctively, Karen quickly regained her composure

Thus, Hayden spoke calmly and composedly

Seizing the opportunity, Hayden pushed Angela into the apartment and closed the door behind them

However, she was only half right. Hayden did indeed use her invention from university, but the nature of the magic that Angela employed is clearly something even Hayden himself cannot comprehend

Those who work 16 hours a day consume stimulants as if they were meals, while they treat tranquilizers and sleeping pills as snacks. The drugs sold in the market, even on the black market, will inevitably lead to poisoning if consumed excessively

As expected. I knew you wouldn't just come to deliver soup.

Kallen certainly was unwilling to submit, but she was currently in a state of nausea from staying up all night and being under too much pressure. With Hayden and Angela closing in on her, how could she find the opportunity to resist? She was quickly subdued.

Hayden calmly accepted her resistance

Moreover, Hayden did not feel it necessary to be anxious or fearful at all

Because they see this as a matter of course

Why is a stunning beauty barging into the house now

Guian, Miss Starflower, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Angela, a servant of Master Hayden.

Karen, with a frozen expression, shifted her gaze back and forth between Hayden and Angela, her mouth opening and closing silently, resembling the mouth of a goldfish

What a rat race, what a prisoner's dilemma

Fortunately, she is the daughter of a wealthy family and will not be easily enchanted by such a level of cuisine. After relaxing, Karen did not forget the question that puzzled her the most at the moment

You merely stand there speaking without understanding the pain, completely unaware of how fierce the competition among mid-level employees in the company can be

However, this is Hayden! Karen is very familiar with this eccentric individual and knows that he is not merely someone who follows old traditions, but rather a person who excels at refining and improving ancient techniques according to modern ideas.

Even though Haiden is quite knowledgeable and experienced, he couldn't help but show a look of disgust upon hearing this: "You corporate people have all gone mad"

Ten minutes later, the security service of her apartment notified Karen that a figure draped in a gray cloak reminiscent of an ancient sorcerer had arrived at the entrance of the apartment, claiming to be her guest and wishing her health and safety.

... ...

Is this really the time to be dealing with such trivial matters? Do you have any sense of order?

Angela was neither angry nor ashamed when referred to as a "talking robot cup"; instead, she smiled and said, "It is truly a pity that my master has not utilized me in that regard, preventing me from demonstrating that functionality."

Although you are a despicable person who is both perverse and cowardly, loud-mouthed, and prone to barging into others' apartments, I know that there is still a gentle side within you. So if you have something to say, just say it; I will help if I can

Hayden shook his head, speechless

Modern individuals have long ceased to engage with such unstable devices. If it were someone else performing such tricks, Karen would not be the least bit afraid—her upscale apartment is certainly equipped with arcane defensive barriers, and ancient magical curses would merely be reflected back.

How to?

He casually picked up an unlabeled empty bottle that had been left on the table, sniffed the residual medicinal scent inside, and then frowned at the *illustration* book: This is a brain-stimulating potion concocted from a large array of synthetic hormones and other neuroregulatory chemicals, and it is likely not a legally marketed product, at least containing some illegal materials.

Ancient magic that has already been eliminated cannot possibly surpass modern arcane arts; this is the common sense of the world

Therefore, Karen had no choice but to quickly ask the security personnel and receptionist of the apartment building to let Hayden in

Karen, the Star Flower, was quite arrogant during the call

It is no wonder, after all, that Hayden suddenly brought a remarkably beautiful woman to her apartment

Is this shell custom-made from Pygmalion Company? And this fragrance of the lily... sigh, is the fluid used for this doll the Androidia No. 3 that I designed in my junior year? Are you using it to channel that ancient household magic just now?

Karen was about to start cursing when she caught sight of Angela following behind Hayden, and she was instantly taken aback, swallowing the words she had been about to say.

Hayden turned around and asked seriously

As for Karen, she is also the daughter of a high-ranking executive in a large company, and she is an elf. In terms of beauty, she is undoubtedly exceptional. Although she has a slender and petite figure, her skin is as fair as jade, without any excess flesh. Coupled with her flat chest, she exudes a kind of beauty that is reminiscent of a statue, distinct from Angela's.

What happened? Didn't you say yesterday that you didn't have a girlfriend?

Why does Hayden dress like some gray-robed wizard, while Angela appears like a Victorian maid, yet the two of them stroll through the streets without attracting anyone's attention? In reality, there is attention, but it is due to Angela's appearance rather than their attire. These days, there are all kinds of people on the streets. Even if someone wears a bathrobe paired with a samurai sword and wooden clogs, others wouldn't pay much mind.

Speaking of which, you actually built a robot that can fly and resembles a cup, and it is so faithfully designed to cater to desires. A versatile household assistant, yet dressed in a maid outfit? You are truly disgusting

Karen immediately pouted and gave him the middle finger: "Go screw yourself."

In fact, although Angela's appearance was sculpted by Hayden over several months, this does not imply that her beauty is unparalleled in the world. After all, with the technology of this era, as long as you have money, it is quite easy to alter your appearance. If your parents are wealthy enough, they can even customize your physical traits at the genetic level before you are born. Adam's wife at yesterday's wedding banquet is a typical example of genetically customized beauty. Her beauty is certainly not inferior to that of Angela.

Go to hell, Hayden. If you have the ability, then come here!

Letting him cause trouble without intervention, who knows what will happen? A modern curse Trojan that can break through the barrier?

I have created an amazing doll wife, yet I still have to hide her, unable to even tell my friends—hey, what is the point of living in fear like this every day? If I am afraid of everything, I might as well obediently work as a corporate slave, living a life of conformity.

Hayden listened to her rambling without getting angry, simply responding: "Every profession has its difficulties. To some extent, we are all being led by the nose by large companies. Who is an exception? It's just that I have my own way of life. The reason I came to see you today is that I actually have something to ask."

Karen responded with a cold smile

These words nearly caused Hayden to spray out the cream soup he had just taken a sip of

Since Karen knew that Angela was a mechanical doll, she no longer held back and began to curiously examine her from top to bottom

She pointed at the smiling Angela, so shocked that her finger trembled

Yes, I customized it according to my genes. I drink two bottles every day, and on average, I only need six hours of sleep every four days... Give me a moment!

By the way, Hayden likes them big, so Angela's chest... This is getting off track

After thinking for a moment, Angela searched online and surprisingly transformed the wedding dress into a traditional black and white maid outfit. The hem of the skirt only revealed half of her calves, and her long silver hair was adorned with gears, loosely braided. At first glance, it actually looked quite impressive. Coupled with the words she spoke when she first opened her mouth, it was no wonder that Karen was completely taken aback.

Indeed, there are quite a number of rooms belonging to single young women in the world that truly resemble this.

Are you out of your mind? Are you arguing with me about this? By the way, how did you find my address... What!?

As a young female elf who graduated from university and has been living a single life for a few years, Karen's apartment is not very aesthetically pleasing. It is located in a high-end single apartment building in the city center, which not only has a manager and private security, but the lobby on the first floor even connects to a waiting area, making the entire apartment resemble a first-class hotel.

So Hayden shrugged and replied in a half-joking tone: "I know that the only one in the winding automaton's cyclic fluid that can buffer backlash from constructs of level seven and above, while also not emitting any foul odor, is this one. I just happened to remember your formula from back in the day, so I made it myself. What, are you going to charge me a patent fee?"

Because this is the reaction of a normal person.

I apologize for the trouble I have caused you

That said, Karen lowered her head and took another sip of the hot soup, appearing to feel much better. Angela's cooking always possesses a special kind of magic

Angela's AI has an unclear origin and is suspected of being out of control. If it were to be publicly announced and known to the entire world, it would inevitably lead to problems

In her view, it is only natural that AI would not feel ashamed of such topics, as the facts indeed support this.

Then he shook the empty bottle that had just contained the mind-awakening potion

What you can do, your colleagues can basically do as well. No matter how excellent you are, you will not be significantly better than your colleagues. To climb higher, you must always stay ahead; even if you simply do not want to be pushed down, you cannot afford to relax at all. However, since everyone at the same level has similar capabilities, the only way to increase working hours is to rely on drugs, neglecting food and sleep. I have connections, so I will basically not be pushed down, which is already considered quite fortunate.

Karen retorted with annoyance

But why is her chest as flat as a board? It cannot be helped; that is simply the culture of the elves. They consider large breasts to be vulgar, and they believe that the beauty of androgyny, which does not emphasize secondary sexual characteristics, is the best.

Meanwhile, it is uncertain whether it is due to physical discomfort combined with excessive work pressure, but Karen unexpectedly began to murmur and complain about old matters from her university days

Others cannot understand what this is all about, but Karen, who has been dealing with Hayden since university, should know that he is engaging in some strange ancient ritual magic

But do you really need to drink this? What on earth is your company doing?

So, who exactly is this Miss Angela

Apart from individuals like Hayden, who have had their credit cards maxed out by Angela, and those who have spent an entire day in close proximity to her, no one would notice the subtle sense of strangeness emanating from Angela; they would merely regard her as a relatively advanced humanoid AI.

Is this person trying to compliment someone or insult them

Thus, Hayden scoffed at it

Her gaze was distinctly different from that of an ordinary woman admiring something beautiful. Sitting on the bed, Karen was observing Angela with a craftsman's curious and inquisitive eyes

Forced to lie down on the bed and drink the creamy soup that Angela had prepared in advance, Karen finally settled down.

Did you do this yourself? Do you rely on this to keep yourself awake for extended periods?

Karen, this is the perfect wind-up doll wife that I have crafted with my own hands

It is evident that although you have been working in the Human Resources Department for the past few years, your alchemical skills have not diminished.

Consider this: https://m.hetushu.com, working 996 every week, with twelve-hour workdays, is already exhausting. Where is the energy left to nitpick about one's home life? Who has the leisure to care whether the refrigerator is messy or if the clothes taken off are piled up in a heap? Naturally, one tends to ignore these things as much as possible. After work, the priority is simply to lie down and scroll through the phone.

He is not interested in making this matter known to the whole world, but Karen is his friend, and Hayden is not someone who takes friendships lightly

In the words of Karen from her university days, only those who are idle at home with nothing to do would keep their homes in perfect order. Hayden did not completely agree with this, but he also did not dare to refute it.

As Hayden stepped through the door of her studio apartment, she immediately uttered these words

Drink something hot, lie down in bed, and rest! You have no right to refuse

I can be considered someone who consumes stimulants sparingly. Moreover, the medication I use is tailored specifically for myself, with side effects that are less than twenty percent of those found in commercial products

Therefore, it is impossible for Hayden to completely hide Angela's matters from Karen

However, it is a different matter when such a person comes to your home

When a normal person first sees Angela, they may find her somewhat strange. However, once they learn that she is a clockwork automaton, they are less likely to immediately realize that her AI is off. In fact, the clockwork automatons available on the market today can already exhibit an illusion of consciousness similar to that of excellent chatbots, and they can even pass the old-fashioned Turing test.

She and Hayden were friends during their time at university. She had seen Hayden perform such tricks before and was well aware that this was an ancient blessing magic from thousands of years ago. Now, Hayden was at her doorstep, specifically naming her as his guest and wishing her peace. If she were to drive him away at this moment, it would be equivalent to driving away the blessing as well, and thus the blessing would naturally reverse into a curse

Moreover, Angela opened her mouth and immediately uttered something quite explosive

After all, Angela's way of cleaning and organizing the room is truly peculiar. Just like when she helped Hayden tidy up the studio right after being activated last night, Angela merely waved her hand at the clutter in Karen's room, and all those items immediately sprang to life as if they had been given a soul, singing and dancing their way to where they belonged. Everything was simply as absurd as a fairy tale animation.

I have the ability, so I have come!

Hayden has not yet gone so far as to have Angela run directly to a classmate's house in a wedding dress. The outfit she is wearing, which resembles a wedding dress, is transformable, so Hayden allowed Angela to decide for herself what style to change into.