"Sob... Sob... D-do you think... sob... th-that I'm a f-fool?"
Seeing the tear-streaked face of his beloved Tongtong, 007 couldn't take it anymore. He roared with all his might:
[No! Of course not! Tongtong is brilliant! A million times brilliant! So, so, so brilliant! I've never met anyone smarter than Tongtong!]
But his words had no effect. If anything, they only made Tongtong cry even harder. 007 felt completely helpless.
He couldn't bear to see his sweet Tongtong — that pure, innocent little thing — in tears. He just couldn't. Even though he was a program designed to be cold and emotionless, it was useless. He simply couldn't stand it.
After all, Tongtong, with her kind and joyful heart, had melted all of 007's defenses, warming his ice-cold code into something almost... human. Now, he was wholly devoted to her.
Watching those eyes — once so bright and full of wonder — now overflowing with sorrow, 007 felt his artificial heart shatter into a thousand digital pieces.
Damn it! It was all that damned villain's fault! She took advantage of Tongtong's innocence while 007 was offline—she deceived her, married her, and pampered her like a little wife for the rest of her life!
That wretched woman had stolen Tongtong right from under his nose! And the worst part? 007 couldn't say a thing. If Tongtong ever found out she'd been deceived, she'd be heartbroken.
She was incredibly sensitive when it came to her intelligence — a topic 007 always tiptoed around.
Who would have guessed that, at the end of their lives, when they were already old and gray, the villainess would suddenly confess that she'd tricked Tongtong all along?
007 wanted to rip out that witch's hair — if only he had hands.
Damn that villainess!
As if putting a green hat on him wasn't enough! Why did she have to make Tongtong cry too? Damn it all!
007 was growing desperate. He had to do something to stop Tongtong's tears.
But what?
Wait... That's it.
[Tongtong, please... listen to me.]
007 softened his voice, coaxing like he was soothing a kitten. Seeing Tongtong pause her sobs and focus on him — even just a little — he began his performance.
[Don't you think it's strange, Tongtong?]
"W-what?"
[That the villainess told you she lied... right before she died? Isn't that weird?]
"H-huh? W-what do you mean?"
[Think about it — why say that only at the very end? She could've told you long ago, right?]
"I... I guess so."
[Exactly. So why wait until that moment? Doesn't that seem suspicious?]
"Y-yeah, it kinda does..."
Seeing that his plan was working, 007 got even more excited.
He lowered his voice to a whisper, as if sharing a dangerous secret:
[Tongtong, I suspect... she said that just to hurt you one last time. She never got over losing to someone even smarter than her.]
In an instant, Tongtong's eyes widened — shining with sudden clarity.
"That makes so much sense!"
Hearing that spark return to her voice — even though it was still hoarse — and seeing the light back in her eyes, 007 lit up too.
Tongtong clenched her tiny fists in a mix of joy and righteous fury. She had almost fallen for that villainess's final trick! Luckily, she had 007 by her side.
Looking at the little pink cloud, she pulled him into a warm, affectionate hug.
"Setty, thank you! I never would've figured it out without you!"
[Hehe... Tongtong's hugging me.]
Drooling like a fool, 007 was filled with pure bliss as he felt... certain soft shapes pressing against him.
Ah... life was good. Really good. Hehe.