Eleven-year-old Nangong Wentian squatted in the corner of the back kitchen, staring at the screen of the "Star Core" with a deep frown.
Outside the window, a fine winter rain fell, and cold wind seeped through the door cracks, making this crude "laboratory" even more chilly. But he paid no mind—what was displayed on the screen weighed heavily on his heart.
The operating speed of the "Star Core" had slowed down.
Not just a little, but noticeably slower. Opening a file took several seconds, running a simulation calculation took over ten minutes, and sometimes it would even freeze completely.
"Wentian," Xiao Guang squatted beside him, wrapped in a thick old cotton coat, his breath forming white puffs in the air. "What's wrong?"
Nangong Wentian didn't answer, continuing to operate. He pulled up the system monitoring interface, and lines of data appeared:
CPU Usage: 98%
Memory Usage: 97%
Storage Space Remaining: 12MB
System Temperature: 61°C
He sighed.
Three years ago, when he built the "Star Core," he had used old parts scavenged from a junkyard. Those chips were already outdated, with poor performance and high power consumption. Over the past three years, he had stored vast amounts of technical data, experimental results, market information, and Dark Web intelligence in the system... The data volume had long exceeded the system's original design capacity.
Even more serious was the security issue.
He pulled up the network connection logs, which showed access records from the past month. Although he used multiple layers of encryption, there were always suspicious IP addresses attempting to connect to his system. Some came from abroad, and some even from within Orb itself.
Someone was watching him.
He didn't know who they were, but it wasn't hard to guess—Blue Cosmos, or other organizations interested in new technology. An eleven-year-old child making so many transactions on the Dark Web and gathering so much intelligence couldn't remain unnoticed forever.
"Xiao Guang," he suddenly said, "the 'Star Core' needs an upgrade."
Xiao Guang was taken aback. "An upgrade? How?"
Nangong Wentian rummaged through a wooden crate nearby and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, spreading it on the floor. On it was a complex structural diagram—ten times more intricate than the "Star Core Concept" from three years ago.
"This is the new design," he said, pointing to the various modules on the blueprint. "A new CPU, with computing speed at least ten times faster than the current one. New memory, with a hundred times the capacity. A new hard drive, capable of storing anything without worry. And this..."
His finger landed on a module marked with a lock icon.
"A Hardware Encryption Module," he explained. "From now on, all data will be automatically encrypted before being stored. Even if someone steals the hard drive, they won't be able to open it without the password."
Xiao Guang stared wide-eyed at the densely packed blueprint, speechless for a long time. Though he couldn't understand the complex symbols, he could sense that this thing was extraordinary.
"How much will it cost?" he asked.
Nangong Wentian fell silent for a moment before replying, "I've calculated it. About two million."
Xiao Guang's mouth opened even wider.
Two million.
In their last transaction, they had earned one hundred ninety-five thousand. Two million was more than ten times that amount.
"Do we... have that much money?" he asked cautiously.
Nangong Wentian shook his head. "No. But we can take it slow."
He pulled up a document listing a detailed procurement list:
CPU: Industrial-grade Embedded Processor, model RISC-V P550, unit price 350k, second-hand price approx. 120k
Memory: DDR4 Module, unit price 80k, second-hand price approx. 30k (requires 4 modules, total 120k)
Hard Drive: Enterprise-grade SSD, unit price 150k, second-hand price approx. 50k (requires 2 units, total 100k)
Encryption Chip: Dedicated Hardware Encryption Module, model TPM 2.0, unit price 50k, second-hand extremely rare, estimated 80k
Motherboard: Custom Multi-layer PCB, no second-hand available, requires self-design and fabrication, material cost approx. 50k
Power Supply: High-stability Industrial Power Supply, second-hand price approx. 30k
Chassis: Custom, material cost approx. 20k
Cooling System: Heat Pipe + Fan, second-hand price approx. 20k
Monitor: High-resolution Industrial Screen, second-hand price approx. 40k
Keyboard & Mouse: Second-hand, negligible cost
Various cables, interfaces, accessories: approx. 30k
Spare parts: approx. 50k
Total: approx. 660k.
Xiao Guang leaned in to look. Though he couldn't read most of the words, he recognized the numbers.
"Six hundred sixty thousand?" He scratched his head. "Didn't you say two million?"
Nangong Wentian pointed to the note below the list. "This is the hardware cost. But upgrading isn't just about replacing hardware. We also need to develop a new operating system, new encryption protocols, and a new network access module. Those are the major expenses."
He pulled up another document listing the time estimates:
System Development: approx. 3 months
Encryption Protocol Design: approx. 2 months
Network Module Reconstruction: approx. 1 month
Data Migration: approx. 2 weeks
Testing & Debugging: approx. 1 month
Total: approx. 7 months.
"Seven months?" Xiao Guang's jaw dropped. "That long?"
Nangong Wentian nodded. "And that's the most optimistic estimate. If we run into problems, it could take even longer."
Xiao Guang fell silent for a moment, then asked, "So how much money do we have now?"
Nangong Wentian pulled up their account balance: 237k.
This was what remained from their last transaction, plus the bits and pieces they'd saved before. It was still far from 660k.
"How much are we short?"
"Over four hundred thousand."
Xiao Guang gasped.
Over four hundred thousand. For two kids from an orphanage, it was an astronomical sum.
"So..." he asked cautiously, "can we still earn it?"
Nangong Wentian looked at him, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Yes," he said. "And I already have a plan."
Xiao Guang's eyes lit up. "What plan?"
Instead of answering directly, Nangong Wentian pulled up another document. It contained information he had recently gathered on the Dark Web—several companies interested in new materials and their publicly listed procurement needs.
"That factory manager Kinoshita from last time contacted me again," he said. "He wants to order another batch of materials and is willing to pay more. Because the parts he made using our alloy performed even better than imported ones, and he's already secured several large orders."
Xiao Guang's eyes brightened even more. "So how much can we earn?"
"If we meet his demand, we can produce about twenty kilograms per month, earning..."
Nangong Wentian quickly calculated:
Cost per kilogram was about 800 yuan, selling price 2600 yuan, gross profit 1800 yuan. Twenty kilograms, gross profit 36,000 yuan. 36,000 yuan a month, over 400,000 yuan a year.
"About a year," he said, "if nothing goes wrong."
Xiao Guang counted on his fingers for a long time, then grinned: "Then we can upgrade the 'Star Core' by this time next year!"
Nangong Wentian nodded, but in his heart, he knew things weren't that simple.
Kinoshita's order required a stable supply of raw materials. Those rare metal powders needed to be scavenged from junkyards, bought from second-hand markets, and collected through various channels. What if one batch of materials was of poor quality, what if something went wrong during the smelting process, what if Kinoshita's demand changed...
And then there were security concerns.
Ever since he saw those suspicious IP addresses on the Dark Web, he had felt uneasy. If someone was targeting him, targeting his technology, targeting his "Star Core"...
He needed stronger protection.
Not physical protection—that was still too far off. But data protection. So that even if those people discovered his existence, they couldn't trace his real identity.
"Xiao Guang," he suddenly said, "it's going to be tough on you from now on."
Xiao Guang was taken aback: "Me? What can I do?"
Nangong Wentian pointed to a line on the list: "Procurement."
He explained the plan: All components couldn't be bought from the same place, couldn't use their real address, couldn't be paid for with the same account. They needed to split it into dozens of small orders, buying from different cities, different websites, different sellers. The delivery addresses couldn't be the orphanage either; they had to use pickup points all over the island.
After listening, Xiao Guang scratched his head: "Sounds complicated..."
"It is complicated," Nangong Wentian looked at him. "That's why I need your help."
Xiao Guang was silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly: "Okay. I'll do it."
Just like that. Without asking why, without asking how, just saying "okay."
Nangong Wentian looked at him, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart.
In the following days, the two began a tense "procurement operation."
Nangong Wentian was responsible for finding sellers online, negotiating prices, and arranging payments. He used an Overseas Anonymous Account, routed through a Multi-layer Proxy, with a different IP address for each payment.
Xiao Guang was responsible for picking up the goods. He wrote down all the pickup point addresses in a small notebook, riding a worn-out bicycle every day, shuttling between convenience stores, courier stations, and small shops all over the island. Sometimes he had to go to seven or eight places in a day, covering dozens of kilometers round trip.
"Xiao Guang, where did you go again today?" Sister Mary once asked.
"Uh... to the beach!" Xiao Guang made up an excuse on the spot. "Helped an old man move some stuff, earned a bit of pocket money!"
Mary didn't suspect anything, just reminded him to be careful.
Back in the kitchen, Xiao Guang handed the packages he picked up that day to Nangong Wentian, then collapsed on the floor, panting heavily.
"Wentian," he said weakly, "I went to five places today, must have been thirty kilometers round trip. My bike is about to fall apart."
Nangong Wentian took the package and carefully examined the delivery slip. They were all sent from different cities, with a variety of shipping addresses, showing no apparent connection.
"Thanks for the hard work," he said.
Xiao Guang waved it off, crawling over to take a look. "What did you buy today?"
Nangong Wentian opened the first package, inside of which was a small anti-static bag containing several chips.
"CPUs," he said. "Bought from a city up north, salvaged from second-hand servers. They should work."
Xiao Guang stared at the fingernail-sized chips and clicked his tongue. "Such tiny things cost over a hundred thousand?"
Nangong Wentian nodded. "That's how technology is. The smaller, the more valuable."
He opened the second package, revealing a sturdy metal box.
"Encryption chips," he said. "These were the hardest to buy—almost no second-hand ones on the market. I salvaged them from decommissioned lab equipment. Cost eighty thousand."
Xiao Guang leaned in to look. The metal box was printed with dense rows of model numbers and parameters, none of which he could understand.
"Is this what you mentioned... hardware encryption?"
"Yes," Nangong Wentian carefully set the box aside. "With this, the data in the 'Star Core' will be much safer. Even if someone steals the hard drive, without this chip, they won't be able to decrypt it."
Xiao Guang nodded, half-understanding, then asked, "So how much have we bought so far?"
Nangong Wentian flipped through the ledger. "We've spent about three hundred thousand so far. Still need over three hundred thousand worth of parts."
Xiao Guang gasped. "That much?"
"Yes. The most expensive part hasn't been bought yet—that industrial-grade processor costs one hundred twenty thousand. And the motherboard needs to be designed and made ourselves. The materials aren't expensive, but the time cost is high."
Xiao Guang scratched his head. "How much money do we have now?"
Nangong Wentian checked the account. "Around two hundred thousand. Kinoshita hasn't sent this month's payment yet. Once it arrives, we should have about two hundred thirty thousand."
Xiao Guang calculated for a while, then said, "So we're still short by a lot?"
Nangong Wentian nodded. "That's why we have to keep going."
For the next few months, the two lived a life of fighting on two fronts.
During the day, Nangong Wentian had to attend classes, deal with teachers and classmates, and act like an ordinary kid. At night, he had to design the new system architecture, write code, and bargain with online sellers. At four in the morning, he had to get up and train with Xiao Guang.
Xiao Guang had it even harder. Every day, he rode his bicycle all over the island, picking up deliveries, sending things out, and helping Nangong Wentian collect various materials. Sometimes, on rainy days, he would return to the orphanage soaked to the bone, pretending nothing was wrong.
But they both persevered.
Because they knew this was paving the way for the future.
One day, on his way back from picking up a delivery, Xiao Guang suddenly noticed someone following him.
It was a man in a gray trench coat and sunglasses, keeping a steady distance behind him. At first, Xiao Guang didn't pay much attention, but after walking several blocks, the man was still there.
He remembered Nangong Wentian's warning: "If someone follows you, don't panic. Head to crowded places."
He immediately turned into a side alley, then twisted and turned through a bustling market. The market was crowded with people coming and going, and he deftly weaved through the crowd, quickly shaking off the pursuer.
Back at the orphanage, he told Nangong Wentian about the incident.
Nangong Wentian remained silent for a long time before saying, "Starting tomorrow, don't go alone anymore."
Xiao Guang was taken aback. "Then what should we do?"
"I'll go with you."
"But you..."
"I can disguise myself," Nangong Wentian said. "A hat, mask, and sunglasses—no one will recognize me."
Xiao Guang thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright."
From that day on, the two began working together. Nangong Wentian wrapped himself up tightly, like a creature hiding from the world. But they cooperated seamlessly—one handling the transactions, the other keeping watch—and no further problems arose.
Day by day, the parts were purchased one by one.
Finally, in the spring of the following year, all the parts were gathered.
That night, the two locked the back kitchen door, spread all the parts on the floor, and stared at the pile of items worth over six hundred thousand, speechless for a long time.
"Wentian," Xiao Guang whispered, "did we really do it?"
Nangong Wentian looked at the parts, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
"We did," he said. "Now comes the hardest part."
Xiao Guang swallowed hard. "Assembly?"
"Yes," Nangong Wentian nodded. "One wrong move, and the hundreds of thousands will be wasted."
Xiao Guang watched him nervously, but there was no fear in Nangong Wentian's eyes—only excitement.
"Let's go," he said. "Let's begin."
Outside the window, moonlight streamed into the back kitchen, falling on the priceless pile of parts.
It was the starting point of the "Star Core" 2.0, and another step toward their future.