'SEE YOU MORNING' 030 Prison

'SEE YOU MORNING' 030 Prison

The yellowed afternoon sunlight fell into the living room, and as the sun's angle sank lower and lower, even the midday light carried no warmth anymore. Qin Wenjing wore a pale pink high-neck long-pile mohair sweater and was browsing the news after lunch.

"Haojun, do you still remember those people who marched and smashed things before? The ones sent to work at the farm on the border between the residential zone and the free zone?"

"Hmm, what about them?" Li Haojun turned his head to answer, catching Qin Wenjing in the backlight. The golden sunlight illuminated the outline of her sweater and her hair. Because of the backlight, her features were not very clear, and at that moment Malaya's face in the fine rain flickered through his mind.

Facing Qin Wenjing, yet with Malaya's image still lingering in his mind, Li Haojun felt disturbed, so much so that he was vexed by his inability to focus on the person before him. So he left his seat and walked up to Qin Wenjing, knelt on one knee, wrapped one arm around her lower back and the other around her thigh, grounding himself in her presence and her warmth. Lifting his face, he asked,

"What's up, why are you thinking about this?"

"Hehe, I saw a news report about them. They escaped from the farm again. This time they stirred up a lot of people from the free zone to come back and protest. They're protesting dictatorship, saying they were sent to the farm with their freedom restricted and were forced to work."

"Oh, not serious enough for prison, but still socially destructive. Those are the hardest to deal with." After speaking, Li Haojun turned his head and glanced at the news too.

"How should I put it, their freedom was restricted because they didn't follow social rules, and they were forced to work because they destroyed the fruits of other people's labor. Of course, whether it's social rules or personal freedom, leaning toward either extreme is not good, but I think the current rules are fairly just, for him as well. But that is my opinion. Clearly he doesn't think so, or even if he does, he doesn't want to accept the punishment, which is why all this happened afterward. There's no way around it, he just belongs to one of the two tail ends on either edge of the normal distribution."

"Haha, the edge of the bell gets struck, hahaha." Qin Wenjing covered her mouth and laughed uncontrollably.

"You're absolutely right." Li Haojun quickly clapped in agreement.

"Hehe, I wonder what they'll do to them next." Qin Wenjing had laughed enough and now looked at the screen, speaking to herself.

"What else can they do? I figure it'll just stay the same. The outcome is pretty pessimistic. Those people are missing something from their upbringing, and now trying to change them, or for them to spontaneously make some kind of change, is very difficult."

"Hey, what about deep immersive virtual reality, an immersive gaming experience in collaboration with Realm of Mindscape, to give him a wholesome childhood replay?"

"Now that's a good idea. In essence it would have a positive impact on his life, but he himself would definitely not agree, so doing that would be illegal."

"Hmm, maybe one day there will be a turning point that allows them to make a positive change."

"Hopefully." As he spoke, Li Haojun gently stroked her thigh. In his heart he knew she was kind and deserved to be cherished by him.

"What about those people from the free zone then?" Qin Wenjing continued asking. She was like this, she liked talking with Li Haojun, and in front of him her IQ would go offline, no longer using her own mind to analyze problems at all.

"They're nothing, they didn't commit any violent acts, they were simply exercising their rights and expressing their opinions. Anyway, whether his views are right or wrong, that is his right. And they didn't break any laws, they have no restraining orders and can travel freely anywhere. It's just that they rarely leave their settlement in the free zone. Actually, they don't really have any covenant with the government either, but the constitution grants every person on this land the right to resist tyranny, so there's nothing wrong with them coming out to shout this slogan. It is their right."

"Hmm, a lot of people got stirred up and came out," said Qin Wenjing as she played another video.

"Oh, I remember now. That time a few days ago when I came back late from Ellensburg."

"Hmm, I still remember," Qin Wenjing responded while looking down at Li Haojun.

"There was a protest march back then too, they blocked the traffic. Police drones arrived very quickly, and then officer deployment followed. They don't stand a chance of rioting anymore. We basically have no privacy left. Walking on the street, or mingling in virtual electronic visits, everything is tracked."

"Oh, kind of like a prison, being watched all the time."

"Then would you be willing to give up this part of your privacy for social management, in order to bring you a safer environment?"

"How should I put it, it feels a bit strange."

"Then your attachment to privacy is the very prison that holds you back from enjoying more security."

"Oh? Is it?" Qin Wenjing blinked and looked at Li Haojun.

They gazed at each other for a moment, and Li Haojun was suddenly struck by inspiration. He got up, squeezed next to Qin Wenjing and sat in her chair, then flopped onto her and said,

"Just like my heart that cares for you, no matter how far I wander, to the ends of the earth, I am always sitting in the prison of you." Satisfied, he rested his cheek on Qin Wenjing's shoulder and looked at her.

Qin Wenjing burst out laughing and said nothing. After a while she asked,

"How do you feel about them?"

Li Haojun knew she was asking about Kesiya and Malaya, but he felt awkward speaking plainly in front of Qin Wenjing, so he stayed silent for a moment.

"Tell me how you feel about them, I don't mind," Qin Wenjing added.

"Oh, very sharp, they do things methodically, quickly and steadily."

Qin Wenjing chuckled softly.

"Do you have feelings for them?"

"Hmm, a little bit, but it can't compare to you at all. After all, it's been a while since I've known them, and they're orphans, quite pitiful."

"If you feel happy when you're with them, I don't mind." Qin Wenjing looked at Li Haojun after speaking, and after a moment she burst out laughing again and said, "I know you, hmph, you're always too soft-hearted."

"Sorry, I often leave you at home alone. Actually, I miss you a lot every time I go out. How about you come with me from now on?" As the words left his mouth, Li Haojun couldn't help but recall scenes from not long ago.

Qin Wenjing smiled faintly.

"No need, I'd still rather wait for you at home. That way you can be more at ease about me, and so am I. Because if you run into problems outside and don't have me to worry about, you'll find it easier to protect yourself."

"Hmm, true. Last time I went to Sacramento I was followed." As he spoke, Li Haojun noticed she seemed a little down, and wondered if after all she did mind somewhat that he traveled with other women for work, so he asked,

"Why did you want to talk about them with me just now?"

"You taught me to." Qin Wenjing answered decisively.

"How can that be," Li Haojun began, then stopped. Why couldn't it be? He truly couldn't remember the past anymore.

"A long time ago, you told me early on that we should tell each other our innermost feelings, to avoid misunderstandings, disappointments, and being unable to understand each other."

Watching Qin Wenjing speak these earnest words slowly, Li Haojun silently pulled her into his arms.

Cheek to cheek, heart to heart, the pale golden sunlight of the late autumn afternoon fell upon them without any warmth, and only the body heat of these two companions warmed each other.