Victory

[2025 Short Story Drop] Versatile Couple

Seven years as classmates, eighteen years sharing a bed, and twenty years of friendship all told.

You use your programming AI to crush humanity. I, the light of humanity, take down AI.

The outcome of our tug-of-war is inevitable, predictable.

But who cares about winning or losing when we've already got more than enough?

It seems to be my responsibility to carry the glory of the outside world, but I don't have to. I still want to find an excuse, once, twice, over and over again.

All I want is to watch you look up at me as you did in the past, and hear you say you love me.

AI engineer Qi Zhe x algorithm guru Xie Yuanchu. The recollections and daily life of a married middle-aged couple, alongside a world-class competition. A short story about two equally matched partners who both take the lead. Slightly alternate-universe, with repeated flashbacks. (Both are over 35.)

* Qi Zhe lost the use of his left arm due to an accident and now has a metal prosthetic. This is relevant to the main plot.

* A slice-of-life story recalling their days from college onward, including some campus life. Two competitive young people grow up together and persevere despite the hard knocks life gives them.

* Inspired by: “This Might Be Humanity's Last Victory Over AI in a World-Class Programming Competition.” By Digital Life Kazike.

A short story released unexpectedly in July 2025.

Theme: In the end, there isn't really anything worth fighting over.