chapter33：Emotional Turmoil

Kelly let out a sardonic laugh and said, "Big brother, don't you think it's far too late to say these things now? Second brother is already dead, and you are inextricably linked to all of this. However, I know you've been trying to make amends, so I don't plan to exclude you either. I've noticed that your FBI seems to be investigating this matter as well."

Jack was stunned for a moment, then said, "Believe me, I've also been seeking the truth and making up for my mistakes."

Kelly nodded and said, "All right. I've decided to join USM. I hope we can all find the answers we're looking for, and I also hope we won't become enemies." With that, Kelly turned around and left, leaving Jack standing there alone. His eyes were filled with pain and remorse, but also a glimmer of firmness.

...

Let's shift our gaze to 15 - year - old Tom. At this moment, Tom was sound asleep in the classroom. His snoring, though not loud, was particularly conspicuous in the quiet classroom. On the podium, the physics teacher was lecturing volubly. By chance, his eyes swept over Tom, who was sleeping soundly, and his face immediately clouded over. His expression was like that of someone who had eaten a bitter gourd but couldn't swallow it. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his eyes seemed to be spitting fire.

It had been exactly two years since Tom transferred to New York High School, but he was like a drop of oil in water, never fully integrating into the white students' social circle. At this moment, his mind was completely immersed in the dream he had just had. The conversation between his stepsister Kelly and stepbrother Jack in the dream was still echoing in his mind. He was full of worry and couldn't help thinking, "Am I going to be killed by Jack soon? Why on earth is this?" As he thought about it, he also felt a bit aggrieved: "And that beautiful sister, it's been such a long time since she last contacted me. Has she forgotten me completely?"

Just as Tom was in a quandary in his dream, Kelly, sitting in the seat behind him, couldn't bear it any longer. She quietly picked up a piece of chalk and threw it at the back of Tom's head, muttering in a low voice, "Second brother, you idiot. The teacher is about to explode with anger, and you're still sleeping!" The chalk hit Tom right on the head. Tom woke up with a start and dazedly lifted his head, looking bewildered.

By this time, the bald - headed physics teacher had walked up to Tom. With a false smile, he said, "Student Tom, since you slept so soundly, you must have mastered all the knowledge I've been teaching very well. Come on, answer this question about quantum mechanics."

The students' eyes all turned to Tom simultaneously. Some were waiting to see a good show, some were gloating, and some were secretly sweating for him.

Tom was stunned at first, but then his mind started to work quickly, and he began to answer the question in English. His voice was clear and confident: "Teacher, quantum mechanics is a very magical discipline. It explores the mysteries of the microscopic world. But I think in the future, the development of artificial intelligence may be even more astonishing. Artificial intelligence may be able to lead mankind into space and break through the limitations of time and space. By then, we will be able to meet our deceased relatives, see unborn children in advance, and be reunited with the lovers we most want to see. This is not only the development of science, but also an extension of human exploration of emotions and the unknown world."

As soon as Tom finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the classroom, followed by an uproar. The students all looked at Tom with a look of both surprise and admiration. Some students' mouths were wide open, unable to close for a long time; some students' eyes were shining with excitement, nodding continuously; and some students were whispering, "Wow, Tom is so amazing. What a cool idea!"

The bald - headed teacher was also surprised by Tom's answer. Subconsciously, he kept pushing up his glasses on his forehead, as if to confirm whether he had heard wrong. After a while, he finally reacted and said, "Well, Tom's answer is very unique and imaginative. Although it's a bit off - topic from quantum mechanics, it can be regarded as an innovative way of thinking. Everyone should learn from him this attitude of daring to imagine and thinking actively."

When Tom heard the teacher's compliment, he scratched his head a little embarrassedly and偷偷看了一眼Kelly. Kelly made a face at him, and the atmosphere in the classroom became relaxed and pleasant again.

...

After class, the students gathered around Tom's seat one after another. A blond - haired, blue - eyed white boy was the first to speak: "Tom, you're so amazing. You can actually connect quantum mechanics with artificial intelligence and those science - fiction things."

Tom smiled shyly: "I was just talking casually."

A black girl with a ponytail who was standing nearby also chimed in: "It's not just casual talk. I didn't even think of these things. Have you read a lot of science - fiction novels?"

Tom scratched his head: "Well, I've read quite a few. I think there are a lot of interesting ideas in science - fiction novels."

At this time, Ben, a Taiwanese - American boy with glasses who had been sitting silently beside them, pushed his glasses up and said seriously: "Tom, what you said about artificial intelligence taking humans across time and space to meet relatives, although it seems very far - fetched at present, from the perspective of scientific development, it's not completely impossible. However, there are a lot of ethical and physical - rule challenges involved."

Tom's eyes lit up: "Yes, I've also thought about this problem. For example, if we can really travel through time and space, will changing the past cause a time paradox? Also, if we can meet deceased relatives, will they be physical entities or just a kind of consciousness projection?"

The students were all lost in thought as they listened to Tom's words. The ponytail - wearing black girl suddenly clapped her hands: "Oh, Tom, you think so profoundly. I feel like my brain is not enough." Everyone laughed.

...

When he got home, Tom was like a little beast returning to its nest. He plunged headlong into his room. He rummaged eagerly and dug out all the books related to artificial intelligence and space - time theory. Then he plopped down in front of his desk, his eyes fixed on the pages as if he were trying to see through them. Sometimes he frowned, as if he were having a tough fight with those abstruse concepts in the book; sometimes his eyes brightened, and an expression of sudden realization appeared on his face.

"If artificial intelligence wants to achieve the ability to cross time and space, it must first break through the cognitive algorithms of time and space. This is similar to some concepts in quantum mechanics. The uncertainty in the microscopic world might give us a lot of inspiration..." Tom was fully absorbed in reading the book while muttering to himself, as if he were having a conversation with an invisible wise man.

Suddenly, Tom's eyes were attracted by a bag under the desk. He bent down and dragged the bag out from under the desk. There lay a vintage radio quietly in the bag. The radio had an old - fashioned charm, as if it were a mysterious relic salvaged from the long river of time.

Tom's eyes were full of curiosity and surprise. He couldn't help reaching out and gently stroking the surface of the radio, as if he were touching a long - forgotten history.

Just as Tom's finger slid across the radio, the radio seemed to be awakened. It suddenly emitted a "creak - creak" noise. The sound was particularly jarring in the quiet room, like a slumbering elf making indistinct whispers.

At the same time, from the living room came Steve, Tom's stepfather, shouting loudly into the phone. Although there was a distance between Tom and the living room, he could still clearly hear the angry questioning voice of his adoptive father on the other end of the phone.

The adoptive father roared on the phone: "Steve, you must send Tom back. What you're doing is illegal!" His voice was full of indisputable authority.

Steve was not to be outdone. There was a tinge of excitement and anger in his voice: "Send him back? Let him face your coldness and neglect again? You adopted Tom from the orphanage, but you never treated him well. When did you ever give him the care he deserved? I really regret not fighting more resolutely for the adoption right back then."

The adoptive father seemed to be enraged by Steve's words. He raised his voice and threatened loudly: "Steve, this is human trafficking. Do you know how serious this crime is? Do you认为你能逃避法律的惩罚?"

Steve's voice was firm and steady. He said word by word: "Don't try to scare me with such words. I've already applied for the formal adoption procedures for Tom according to the legal process. Now Tom is my legal child in the United States. In this country, I will protect him. No one dares to bully him, and don't even think about taking him away from me."

Tom stood quietly in his room, listening to the intense conversation coming from the living room. His heart was filled with mixed feelings. Memories of the past flooded into his mind like a tide. He remembered the days at his adoptive parents' house. Although he had no shortage of food and clothing, he always lacked true care. The feeling of being ignored was like a shadow that had always loomed over his childhood. Since coming to Steve's house, he had felt unprecedented warmth and care. Steve treated him like a real father, and Kelly and Jack also made him feel the meaning of home.

Tom's eyes gradually became moist, and his heart was full of gratitude. He slowly walked towards the living room, wanting to be by Steve's side.