Chapter 1 Chapter 1

A man's footsteps sounded outside the bathroom as he shouted, "Are you alright, Ms. Zeller? I'm going to come into the bathroom to make sure you're alright!" I was sprawled on the bathroom floor and couldn't get up. Yet, after realizing that I wasn't wearing any clothes, I quickly said, "I forbid you from entering, 008!" As soon as I said that, I heard his footsteps coming to a halt outside. A few moments later, 008 said, "Your heart rate suddenly spiked three minutes ago, Ms. Zeller. Did you perhaps sustain a fall or experience any other accident? I would like to conduct a health scan to check on you." I instinctively shook my head and exclaimed, "I don't need it! You'd better not come in!" I couldn't help but blush deeply, fueled not just by my exposed state but also by what led me into this state. I, Samantha Zeller, was 28 years old. I was married, but unfortunately, my husband of a year, Kenneth Carter, was tragically killed in a car accident three months ago, leaving me all alone. In the three months since Kenneth's death, I hadn't bothered getting involved in any romantic relationships, nor had I truly acknowledged my own desires. Yet, as I accidentally fell asleep in the bathtub, I ended up having a dream that was both vivid and intensely sensual. In the dream, I saw Kenneth, who had left this world long ago. His movements were gentle and thoughtful, completely different from the domineering way he used to be. Alas, it was but a dream. I ended up waking up at the most pivotal moment. I had already woken up, but I could still feel the lingering sense of intimacy from the dream. I became momentarily disoriented from it, and before I knew it, I had slipped and fallen on the bathroom floor. I eventually found myself in this embarrassing situation, not being able to dress myself because I had taken a fall. 008, who was standing outside the door and had sensed my distress, was poised to break in at any moment—all for the sake of my well-being. Although 008 was a robot with a mechanical interior and no human emotions, his appearance resembled that of a human. And with his face being identical to Kenneth's, I wasn't keen on him seeing me in such a vulnerable state. "If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to call upon me at any time, Ms. Zeller," 008 said. I could see 008's tall figure standing motionless at the door through the fogged-up glass. As a companion robot, 008 was programmed to override any commands that conflicted with providing immediate medical care, even if it meant disobeying my orders. I was terrified that 008 would rush in at any moment, so I quickly tried to reassure him, saying, "It's fine. I just got emotional because I miss Kenneth so much. Please don't come in! It'll only make me more emotional if I see your face." Upon hearing this, 008's hand, which had been reaching for the door, halted. After Kenneth's passing, I had been grieving, feeling as though I couldn't go on without the love of my life. I had even contemplated ending my own life, yet fate had other plans for me. I discovered two months ago that I was one month pregnant—a bittersweet gift Kenneth had left me on the day he passed. It was my in-law's wish for me to give birth to Kenneth's posthumous child. In an attempt to ease my grief, they even went as fast as having a companion robot made to look exactly like Kenneth. Thus, within his programming, 008 knew everything about my past and understood what role he played in my life. And sure enough, as soon as I said that, 008 turned away. I thought I could finally relax. Yet, I couldn't help but look toward my throbbing ankle. It was swollen and red, and even the slightest touch caused waves of pain. "Ouch!" I involuntarily let out a cry of pain. In the next second, I heard a loud bang as the bathroom door flew open.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

"Ah! Why did you come in here?" I exclaimed in surprise as 008 suddenly barged into the bathroom. I tried my best to cover my exposed parts, but the searing pain shooting from my ankle slowed down my movements. In my haste, I ended up exposing even more. I always had to keep the lights off whenever I got intimate with Kenneth. I had always been shy and had never been looked at like that before. Although I was aware that the figure before me was merely a robot, I couldn't help but feel the crushing shame sweeping over me, leaving my face burning with embarrassment. 008 didn't seem to notice anything unusual. He kneeled beside me and gently pulled me into his arms, saying, "I've detected an injury, Ms. Zeller. I'm going to switch to first-aid mode now. Please remain still as I conduct a full-body scan." 008 was a robot specifically designed for me by my in-laws. He was designed to look exactly like Kenneth but with an even more idealized physique. His skin, crafted from a special synthetic material, was indistinguishable from human skin. As he held me tightly in his arms and with my face pressed against his firm chest, I couldn't help but notice that the pain in my ankle had lessened somehow. A few seconds later, 008 completed the scan and said, "I've detected a sprain in your ankle, Ms. Zeller. I need to move you to the bed to treat it." I remained silent, and 008 took my silence as agreement. He promptly lifted me and carried me out of the bathroom. As technology progressed, humanoid robots were designed to resemble real humans more closely. As 008 applied the medication, I could feel his warm breath against my skin. It was a strange, ticklish feeling that made me instinctively curl my toes. Kenneth had always been fond of my feet. He would often comment on how small and delicate they were. He would kiss them gently and take care in cleaning any marks or stains that appeared. I couldn't stop myself from recalling the blissful days with Kenneth, when he would lovingly hold my feet. At that exact moment, 008 applied some ointment with his fingers, gently spreading it across my skin. It was as if the present moment was melting into the past, and for a moment, it felt like Kenneth was still here—still enamored with me. A strange, indescribable feeling rose from deep within me. And in that fleeting moment, I almost thought that the man before me was Kenneth. He seemed so real and so alive in front of me. It was to the extent that I could almost anticipate him rushing toward me and pinning me down—just like he used to. It seemed that 008 noticed my nervousness, as he suddenly lifted his head to look at me and asked, "I've detected an abnormal increase in your heart rate, Ms. Zeller. Is it because of the pain?" Upon hearing that, I immediately snapped back to my senses. I was well aware that the man before me wasn't Kenneth. I couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness wash over me, replacing the strange, fleeting thought that had just crossed my mind earlier. I bit my lip and nodded faintly, tears streaming down my face. "You're not him... after all..." 008 looked puzzled as he asked, "Are you perhaps talking about your late husband, Ms. Zeller? I was specifically designed to resemble him. You can think of me as your husband. I'm here to serve you in any way I can. "I've noticed that you might have some specific needs, Ms. Zeller. Shall I help resolve them?" I was silent for a moment before asking softly, "Can you... blow on it for me? It hurts a little." It was widely known that blowing on a wound never really helped with the healing, but humans often believed in the power of psychological healing. It was probably the reason why couples would frequently blow on each other's injuries, even though it wasn't really that helpful. Although he might not have comprehended the emotional depth of my request, 008 still complied with it nonetheless and immediately began carrying out my request. I couldn't help but let out a moan as I felt his warm breath brushing against my foot.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

After half an hour, the throbbing pain in my ankle finally subsided. As he kneeled on the carpet beside me, 008 gently covered me with a blanket. I thought he would complete his task and leave, just like before. Yet, this time, he suddenly leaned toward me. He was so close that I could see the peculiar gleam in his eyes. They appeared more vivid than any human's, occasionally tinged with an endearing, childlike innocence. I wasn't sure what program was running in his system, but 008, who had been smiling the whole time, suddenly showed a rather peculiar expression. It was rare to see such an expression on his face—one caught between confusion and hesitation. "I detected some hidden emotions in you 30 minutes ago, Ms. Zeller. In addition to sadness, there's a longing that falls outside the scope of my current programming. Do you want me to activate the hidden mode?" As my in-laws, Frederick Carter and Madeline Lowe, handed me 008, they informed me that he was an advanced prototype, a model that had yet to be introduced to the market. "At present, there's no other robot on the market like 008. He's more than just a companion robot—he's been implanted with human-like thoughts, specifically Kenneth's memories and way of thinking from when he was alive. "And the project leader had mentioned that they haven't fully tested out 008's capabilities," Madeline explained, glancing at me meaningfully. "You see, he's different from the other robots that come with limited functions. He's got a variety of modes, and if you need it, you might even activate his hidden mode. It's mainly to help you cope with your loneliness. If there's ever an issue, you can always give me a call." Frederick and Madeline were both researchers with demanding schedules. They had once offered to hire someone to help me, or even offered to look after me themselves. Yet, I declined their offers without hesitation. I didn't want to interfere with their busy schedules, and to be honest, I preferred to be by myself. And since my in-laws were quite understanding, they didn't force the matter onto me. They instead decided to custom-build 008 for me. It finally dawned on me what Madeline had been referring to when she mentioned the hidden mode. I had never truly studied the robotics industry, but I was aware that there were robots on the market crafted specifically for single people. However, these types of robots were typically programmed to be fully immersed in a specific service function, only activating when the owner issued a command. I didn't expect a robot like 008 to exhibit such human-like emotions, let alone make such a personal request. I felt strange, yet at the same time, an inexplicable sense of anticipation began to rise within me. I couldn't help but fantasize about it as I imagined myself engaging in such an act with him. I knew robots would never get tired the way humans would, so I wondered if I could experience an entirely new form of pleasure if I agreed to 008's request. It felt as though 008 had seen right through me as he spoke in a voice laced with subtle allure, saying, "You've been suppressing your emotions for quite a few months now, Ms. Zeller. It's actually quite detrimental to your mental and physical health. You need to let them out. "If you activate my third form of service, I will do everything in my power to make it enjoyable for you… And according to my data analysis, occasional indulgence is a proven way to maintain a positive mood. And since you're pregnant, I'll be as gentle as possible." It was honestly quite tempting, especially considering my current hormonal state due to my pregnancy. And the most crucial thing was that the man before me looked exactly like Kenneth, making it incredibly hard to resist. I still shook my head in refusal, though, trying to push away the irrational thought. I knew Kenneth was no longer here. I could never betray him by being with 008, a robot made to look like him. Yet, before I could directly refuse him, 008 suddenly reached out and gently caressed my face. His touch was slightly clumsy yet familiar as he tried to replicate Kenneth's way of touching me. I was caught off guard by his sudden movement and froze in place. I then heard his voice, tinged with slight amusement, saying, "It seems like you enjoy what I'm doing right now, Ms. Zeller. Why don't you grant me more access? I think you'll like it even better."