In the Independent Information Library owned by Shen Shi, there isn't much detailed information about the six hundred years of history; the reason is due to the missing historical data, as humans during that era lacked the capability to record more detailed things.
However, he still felt deeply shocked.
Because all of this is real.
This history is countless times more brutal than any cruel war in human history!
Just through those remaining images, Shen Shi could feel the shock to his soul.
Just as a fellow human, his empathy ignited an extraordinary anger within him!
This kind of anger far exceeds anything provoked by the likes of Han Guangchao.
Especially when Shen Shi saw those massive "breeding farms" and the humans confined in "cages" the size of coffins, he felt an uncontrollable terror.
Three years later, he was only twenty-five years old.
But if it weren't for Time Crystal's appearance and the future black market trading platform, he would also be just one of these humans.
No, maybe one of the eight hundred million who died in war, or perhaps made into a battery and sold just like those black cans in his warship.
Compared to them, perhaps the ones who sacrificed are the happiest.
Even after roughly understanding this six hundred years of history, Shen Shi remained in a daze.
Anger and hostility will always fade.
But some things will remain.
Until Ai Xin'Er's call came through, Shen Shi hadn't completely come back to his senses.
He answered the call in that dazed state.
"What's wrong with you?" Ai Xin'Er perceptively asked.
"Nothing..." Shen Shi instinctively said, then slowly exhaled and rubbed his nose, "I studied all night and haven't recovered yet."
"So dramatic?" Ai Xin'Er seemed startled but didn't doubt Shen Shi's words. Instead, she expressed some concern, "I don't know how much pressure you're under, but there's a long road ahead, don't overdo it."
"Mmm, don't worry, I couldn't sleep last night anyway." Shen Shi shook his head, finally regaining his composure. He glanced at the time, "Are you calling me for lunch? But I might not have time now; I'll be quite busy for a while."
"Oh, okay, I just wanted to let you know that I'm heading back to school to practice piano." Ai Xin'Er made a couple of grumbling sounds and then fell silent.
Clearly, she didn't call just to say this.
Shen Shi realized this too.
"If there's something, just say it," he said, "Pussyfooting around isn't like you."
"You're the one pussyfooting." Ai Xin'Er retorted, but her voice gradually softened, eventually becoming a mumble, "I just wanted to ask... what exactly is our relationship now?"
"What's up, feeling guilty after spending a night in the presidential suite?" Shen Shi easily caught the meaning behind her words, a smile forming on his lips.
"How could you say that!" Ai Xin'Er's voice suddenly rose with some anger, "I thought it would be a few thousand at most, but it was forty thousand! I'll let you know, we're at most a bit ambiguous now, it's not like I can just spend your money like that!"
Forty thousand a night, even for a presidential suite in China, is almost the cap.
The conditions in Ai Xin'Er's family are quite decent, otherwise, she wouldn't have the means to study piano. But even so, she gets at most ten thousand a month for living expenses, so spending forty thousand on a hotel would indeed be excessive extravagance for her.
The most important thing is.
She does have a good impression of Shen Shi now, but the more it is, the less she wants to squander Shen Shi's money frivolously.
At least, not carelessly, and as a matter of course!
After barely interacting for the past four years, if Shen Shi suddenly became wealthy and she started spending like this, what would Shen Shi think?
"So we originally had a bit of ambiguity." Shen Shi quipped without addressing the money issue, "I thought we were just friends."
"Get lost! I'm serious!" Ai Xin'Er retorted earnestly, "I, Ai Xin'Er, if I want luxury, there are plenty of rich guys offering, but I've never done that before and won't do it in the future, so I'll pay you back the forty thousand, and don't think I'm pretentious. If it were a few thousand, I wouldn't be formal with you."
"..." Shen Shi said nothing.
Listening to the silence on the other end of the phone, Ai Xin'Er bit her lip, stubbornly refusing to say another word.
No matter how rational a woman is, when facing someone she truly cares about, she is equally sensitive.
After a long while, Shen Shi's gentle voice finally came through the phone:
"This time, it was my fault. Just think of it as me being nouveau riche and wanting to show off, but there's really no need to repay the money. No matter what, we can't escape being close friends, and there's no need to be so estranged. If you really feel bad, just give me a thoughtful gift later."
"Okay!" Ai Xin'Er finally broke into a smile, "I'll make sure you're satisfied!"
After all, it's not about the money for her.
"Then it's a deal. I'll ask you out for dinner and a movie later, you can't refuse; you did promise last night."
"...Okay." Ai Xin'Er blushed, clearly recalling what she said the night before, then hurriedly hung up the phone.
She stood in place for a long time, her expressions shifting from time to time, occasionally gritting her teeth, sometimes with a silly smile, and sometimes with worry and anxiety.
She was completely absorbed in it.
But she didn't know, at this moment, Shen Shi saw everything.
With a thought, the nanoscopic observer formed by the simulated shape-changing material reverted to a part of Ai Xin'Er's clothing.
"Just this once, I'll not use it again," Shen Shi murmured, though his face still bore a smile.
After shaking his head, he turned his focus back to the information in front of him.
Honestly, if it were him yesterday, he might have already rushed to find Ai Xin'Er, but now, that impulse has diminished greatly.
It's not that he doesn't want to, but he understands what is most important at the moment.
Before him unfolds a tragic future involving tens of billions of people around the world, and in the face of such a grand and heroic mission, his vision, understanding, and perspective are unknowingly growing rapidly.
What's more, Shen Shi thoroughly enjoys this process of going from knowing nothing, to gradually understanding, and gradually mastering.
He's even somewhat addicted to it.
His gaze returned to the data in front of him.
The more he understands the tragedy of this fate, the more he realizes that he must grow!
And in the following ten days, he really hasn't left the "Wogte" much, except to occasionally talk with Ai Xin'Er on the phone, mostly initiated by her. He hasn't gone to see a movie once, and they've only eaten together twice.
It even made Ai Xin'Er doubt her charm for a while.
Even fearing being neglected and cast aside.
Yet, Ai Xin'Er is currently the only person on this planet who can feel the most direct sense of Shen Shi's changes during these ten days.