Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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After Zhuang Li finished his speech, there was prolonged applause from the audience.
The business representatives sitting on the right side of the audience all stood up and cheered for him, and even some officials on the rostrum smiled with appreciation.
As Zhuang Li said before, the country actually attached great importance to the development of AI technology and was unwilling to block its research and development process. However, in recent times, there had been accidents of smart cars killing people all over the world, which had touched the sensitive nerves of the general public.
If humans made mistakes, they were easily forgiven as long as there were extenuating circumstances. However, if a robot caused the death of a human, no matter what the situation, someone would definitely stand up and promote the “AI threat theory.”
Technology was a double-edged sword. If it was not properly controlled, it may cause unexpected harm to society.
Based on the standpoint of protecting the people, Zong Zhengming had to find a way to tie a rein called “law” to this technology.
Before this, no one knew where to start with this new law, but after listening to Zhuang Li’s speech, everyone suddenly realized – giving robots the status of natural persons was a breakthrough.
“Have you made a decision?” Zong Zhengming looked at the officials on his left and right.
“The decision has been made.” Many people nodded firmly.
But some people frowned and said nothing.
After the hearing, the corresponding policy was often released two or three months later, and the time wasted was precisely for officials to discuss and deliberate. If no 100% consensus could be reached, the hearing topic might be shelved indefinitely.
This meant that even if Zhuang Li’s wonderful speech convinced most of the audience, as long as any official present was unwilling to nod, the driverless technology would still be stopped.
The applause at the scene gradually died down, and the representatives of the emerging car companies all showed nervous expressions.
The representatives of the car companies sitting on the left however looked relieved and were very happy.
They knew the nature of these officials too well. Today’s hearing was in vain. This issue would probably not be resolved in three or four months.
The revision of the law had always lagged behind the development of society. After several rounds of voting, two or three years might have passed, and a large number of the opposing car companies would definitely be affected by then.
Young Master Zhuang was still too young. He rushed forward recklessly based on his passion, without even opening his eyes to see the reality around him.
The mall was not an amusement park. There were no flowers and balloons, only swords and holes everywhere. The biggest hole was something called “policy”.
It was said that Master Zhuang also acquired Zhuang Han’s “Cambrian”, but this deal was likely to be wasted.
Thinking of this, a representative of the conservative faction accidentally sneered, and the look he gave Zhuang Li was full of pity.
Zhuang Li just stared at his lover sitting on the stage with a very calm expression.
Zong Zhengming took a deep look at the curly-haired boy, and finally said coldly: “What are you still hesitating about? When our companies are willing to take all the risks for the development of science and technology, doesn’t our government have the courage to do so?”
He emphasized his tone and asked, “What do you use the power in your hands for? To keep people silent? To shirk responsibility? To delay? Do you still have the most basic sense of social responsibility? I ask you again, have you made up your mind?”
The officials who habitually procrastinated on issues tensed up their heads and said anxiously, “There’s a decision.”
The new administrator was indeed very different from the previous one. He was decisive and efficient in his work and never dragged his feet.
“Then let’s raise our hands for a vote.” Zong Zhengming was the first to raise his hand and said slowly, “I agree that the government will continue to support the research and development and promotion of driverless technology. Our judicial departments must issue corresponding laws and regulations as soon as possible to pave the way for the development of technology. What do you think?”
Since the administrator has said so, the subordinates naturally dared not object.
So, for the first time ever, the hearing reached its conclusion at the same time after it ended.
The emerging car companies had won a great victory, while the conservative car companies didn’t know where the future lied.
Just as Kodak collapsed when digital cameras replaced film, Motorola suddenly disappeared when smartphones came out.
The stronger the company, the more difficult it was to cope with the critical moment of technological change. Because they had invested too much money in the old field, it was difficult to get rid of the burden and change course immediately. If they acted a little slower, even for a few months, they may be left behind by the whole era.
The development of technology was not linear. It would be generated, developed and evolved rapidly like the Cambrian explosion of life.
When it came, it was very slow, but when it really came, it would change the whole world overnight.
As a result, the conservative representatives all sat stiffly in their chairs, feeling the overwhelming pressure.
Zhuang Han almost groaned in pain. By giving up Cambrian and turning to the production of traditional cars, he actually took another wrong step!
Why? Why why why?!
Why is it that Zhuang Li can always hit my weak spot so accurately, causing me to go from hope to despair time and time again? Zhuang Han lowered his head, questioning himself like a possessed man.
The scene in the conference hall was half lamenting, half cheering, half applauding and half silent. It was a very subtle one.
Zong Zhengming didn’t care about the joys and sorrows of these people. He left first after doing what he should do. But before leaving, he took a close look at Xiao Curly.
He had to admit that he had many selfish motives when he pressured officials to express their opinions immediately at the meeting.
In order to get a good result, Xiao Curly had made so much effort, and Zong Zhengming really didn’t want to see his frustrated and disappointed expression at all.
At this moment, the little curly-haired boy was indeed smiling, with his eyebrows raised slightly higher than usual. His bright black pupils looked over from across the crowd, then he raised the corners of his lips and silently said “thank you”.
Just for such a joyful smile, just for such a word of gratitude, Zong Zhengming’s empty heart was completely filled.
He withdrew his gaze expressionlessly and continued walking forward, as if unmoved, but his steps were extremely brisk.
….
Zhuang Li was surrounded by representatives of new car companies and could only accept the business cards handed over by these people one by one. At the same time, he took out his mobile phone and sent a text message to Zong Zhengming, whose name was saved as “Hypocritical”: [Don’t leave yet, wait for me in the parking lot.]
Ten minutes later, he hurried into the underground parking lot surrounded by bodyguards, and sure enough, he saw Zong Zhengming’s secretary waving to him in front of him.
The two of them left the crowd behind and walked to a dark corner where there were no surveillance cameras or wall lamps. They looked at each other quietly. Their vision was blurry, but it made their heavy breathing and burning body temperature more prominent.
Zong Zhengming took out a cigarette and lit it. He then stared into the dark pupils of the little curly-haired boy through the flame and said in a hoarse voice, “Why did you ask me to wait for you?”
“Guess what I want to do?” Zhuang Li took a step forward and stretched out his arms to trap his lover between his chest and the wall.
Although he was pinned against the wall, Zong Zhengming’s aura was not weakened at all.
He lowered his head and looked at the little curly-haired boy and said in a deep voice: “I don’t have time to play games with you.”
“Who said I was playing games?” Zhuang Li laughed softly, “I have never told a lie in front of you. I liked you the first time I saw you. I want to get you, I want to hug you, I want–“
He approached very slowly, stood on tiptoe and blew gently into his lover’s ear, whispering almost bewitchingly: “I want to smoke your ‘cigar’.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he stretched out one leg and forcefully inserted it between Zong Zhengming’s slightly parted legs, holding on tightly.
Zong Zhengming was shaking uncontrollably, and his heavy breathing could even be heard by the bodyguards five meters away.
At this moment, he was really driven crazy! He grabbed the little curly-haired boy’s shoulders and pushed him against the opposite wall, pressing him tightly so that he had nowhere to escape. Then he lowered his head and gasped, “I say again, I don’t like this kind of joke!”
“Whether I am joking or not, you will know if you try it.” Zhuang Li stood on tiptoes and put his arms around his lover’s bulging neck.
“I won’t allow you to regret it, do you understand?” Zong Zhengming said this carefully and then kissed the red lips that made him crazy, obsessed, and both love and hate.
Zhuang Li immediately gave an enthusiastic response.
Zong Zhengming was stunned, as if he had never expected that the little curly-haired boy would not only not retreat but instead stick closer to him.
This playboy who loved to play with people was actually not joking.
But Zong Zhengming could no longer think. He picked the man up and kissed him. After he finished, he held his cheek and continued to kiss him. Finally, he pressed him against the wall and kissed him closely, greedily, without stopping…
Zhuang Li finally managed to take a break from the passionate kisses and chuckled, “Let’s go back and smoke a cigar?”
Zong Zhengming hugged him tightly, with such force that he seemed to rub him into his body, and then he responded in a low and hoarse voice.
….
The next day, Zhuang Li woke up early in the morning, and the smell of cigarettes on his body was so strong that it seemed to penetrate his skin. He half sat up and prepared to draw the curtains, but his slender waist was tightly held by a strong arm.
“Where are you going?” Zong Zhengming asked in a deep voice. There was no trace of the confusion of just waking up in his eyes. Instead, his eyes were filled with anxiety and nervousness.
“Open the window for some fresh air, then wash up, have breakfast, and go to work. Get up quickly and take me there, I’m going to be late, I have an important meeting today.” Zhuang Li looked at his watch, then kicked his lover’s butt with his toes, his words full of domineeringness.
But Zong Zhengming’s tense face immediately softened, and he smiled and said “Okay”.
When he turned around and got out of bed, Zhuang Li suddenly jumped on his back, pulled his ear and ordered: “Carry me to the bathroom, my legs are weak.”
Zong Zhengming of course knew why the little curly-haired boy’s legs were weak, so his ears quickly turned red.
This morning was ordinary, no different from any other day. The sun rose from the east, the earth continued to rotate and orbit, and everyone had to go to work and study, but Zong Zhengming’s world had undergone earth-shaking changes.
Just because the little curly-haired boy took off his napkin, picked up his briefcase and said to him lightly: “Ask your bodyguard to move my things to your house. From today on, I want to live with you. Do you have any objection?”
Zong Zhengming was stunned for a long time before quickly shaking his head: “No.”
So Xiao Curly smiled with satisfaction, leaned over and kissed his hot ears, and whispered jokingly: “I still want to smoke a cigar tonight, is that okay?”
“No!” This time, Zong Zhengming’s answer was even faster.
Xiao Curly smiled as he walked towards the parking lot, his index finger lazily hooked. He really liked to make such ambiguous little jokes.
But Zong Zhengming was no longer anxious or fearful about this. He just stood up and ran after the figure in front of him, and he had a sense of passion and expectation for every day in the future.
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