In 2347, the neon lights of Xinhai City penetrated the year-round smog, casting colorful light and shadow on the wet streets. The hovercar whizzed past, and the air flow it brought up carried the advertising slogan on the electronic screen on the street corner - "The perfect companion robot, cure your loneliness." The cold mechanical sound circulated over the city, but it could not dispel the sense of alienation in the reinforced concrete jungle.
Su Wan sat in front of the workbench of the "Stardust Maintenance Station", holding a miniature welding gun between her fingertips, and a blue electric arc danced in front of her eyes. In the center of the workbench, lies a half-disassembled companion robot, model "Qiming-7" that was discontinued three years ago. The metal shell is covered with scratches, and the energy core in the chest is flashing with a faint red light, like a heart that is about to extinguish.
"The energy circuit is severely oxidized and the nerve conduction chip is burned out," Su Wan's voice was soft but with a hint of exhaustion. She raised her hand to push up the old optical glasses on the bridge of her nose. The lenses reflected the blue light of the welding gun. "Old Chen, this machine can't be repaired. The core components are all aging. It's better to just scrap it."
