Rosalie and J1 left the shopping center together and returned to the house where the secret testing facility was located. As Rosalie drove, J1 sat quietly in the passenger seat. He took out a packet of jelly candies from a bag, peeled one open, and fed it to Rosalie.
He turned back to the window, watching the blur of apartment blocks, shops, and trees passing by. While looking outside, he suddenly turned toward Rosalie and asked a question.
"Rosie… between Julian and me, who's more affectionate? I know I'm just his copy, but... there's a difference, isn't there? You can feel it too."
Rosalie suddenly fell silent at J1's question. Rosalie's hands tightened on the steering wheel. She glanced over, but he was already staring blankly back out the glass. Before answering, Rosalie took a moment to consider what she should say. Then she forced a smile and answered J1's question.
"Ah… so you've been thinking about something like that? I programmed your responses, your movements, your thoughts to match his. But it's just a reflection in a mirror, J1. The image looks real, but it isn't the original. Small distortions happen."
J1 tilted his head and turned to look at her, staring directly into Rosalie's eyes. Then he calmly nodded and turned back toward the front.
For the first time, Rosalie felt a strange sensation creep up along her spine regarding J1. It felt as though a process of evolving thought and the creation of independent thoughts was beginning to take place.
However, there were no warnings within the control system indicating any kind of disorder or instability.
Was this a positive development?
Or was it a development she would need to be cautious about in the future?
She could not know.
Therefore, she decided that tonight, she would check J1's systems once again.
…
When they arrived at the secret house, J1 got out of the car and opened the gate to the compound. After the car entered, he closed the gate again and quickly walked back toward the car.
He then opened the car door for Rosalie.
As he opened the door, he wore a pleasant smile on his face and extended his hand toward her.
Rosalie stared into J1's eyes. Her own gaze was filled with a mixture of confusion and alertness as she looked back at him before getting out of the car.
When they entered the house, J1 took off Rosalie's coat and hung it on the hanger before bringing her a glass of water.
After that, he sat down on the sofa opposite her. Looking directly at Rosalie, he calmly asked,
"Rosie… is there anything else you want? Is there anything else you need me to do? This is a request from Doctor Julian. He gave me some instructions when he came here last time."
Rosalie looked up from the tablet in her hands and frowned as she looked at J1.
"Huh… what did Juu ask you to do? Tell me."
J1 stood up from his seat and walked toward the glass cabinet against the wall. He took out an ivory-colored bag and placed it in Rosalie's hands.
"He asked me to give this to you as a gift. And… could you follow me for a moment?"
Rosalie lowered her gaze toward the bag in her hands before looking back up at J1 with a confused expression.
Then she slowly nodded and followed behind him.
J1 led her toward a room located in one corner of the house. He opened the door for her and let her enter before calmly saying,
"Open the package I gave you and change into whatever is inside. I'll wait outside. When you're ready, just call me."
"Okay…"
Rosalie nodded and entered the room. She sat down on the chair in front of the dressing table and opened the package.
Inside, she found a light blue dress covered with a delicate layer of shimmering lace.
It was the dress she had once said she liked when she and Julian had gone to the shopping mall together.
She then changed into the dress.
Inside the bag, there was also a beautiful pair of white lady's shoes. A light blue-ribbon flower was neatly attached to the top of each white shoe, and the edges were trimmed with delicate golden threads.
…
When Rosalie came out of the room, J1 was waiting outside, holding a bouquet of pink roses.
When she appeared, he placed the bouquet into her hands and led her toward the orchid garden behind the house.