Harboring Light

酒小七Dec 2021

3.0

Word count: 198K words
Chapters: 68

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Summary

Who wouldn't want a tall, handsome, devoted, thoughtful, and omniscient custom-made boyfriend who can do anything?

Different species can't fall in love? A human-AI romance—I could ship this a million times over!

In 2066, a world where robots have replaced manual labor. To meet her probationary sales target, He Tiantian reluctantly takes out a loan to buy a high-end custom-made android. But this robot turns out to be an advanced brain-inspired model developed in an underground lab, which escaped after an accident...

Other people's robots are all warm-hearted boys—so why is hers such a twisted, tsundere brat? He acts sweet in front of others but is a lord at home? Yet sometimes, being teased makes her want to fall in love—what's up with that?

Editor's review

This is a work that blends sweet romance with an AI premise. The author, Jiu Xiaoqi, is skilled at using brisk dialogue and contrasting characters to create humor: the heroine, He Tiantian, is forced to take out a loan to buy a high-end custom-made android to meet her sales targets, only to find that he is a brain-inspired robot who escaped from an underground lab, with two faces—tsundere and sharp-tongued. The core appeal of the story lies not in hard science fiction, but in the romantic tension of "different species" and the comedy of everyday interactions. Readers can watch the heroine stomp in frustration while being struck by unexpected little details. It's suitable for fragmented reading time such as commuting or before bed—light-paced and effortless, a relaxing read for stress relief. Note that the work leans toward romantic comedy; discussions of AI ethics and social structure are background rather than the main thread, so readers shouldn't come in expecting serious science fiction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Young readers who enjoy light, sweet romance and are looking for fun
Readers interested in the human-AI romance premise who can accept soft sci-fi
People who need fragmented, light reading for commuting or before bed
Readers who prefer tsundere, contrasting characters and bickering-couple dynamics
Casual readers who want a brief escape from daily stress

Not a good fit for

Hard sci-fi readers expecting rigorous AI themes and ethical discussion
Readers who dislike sweet-romance formulas and tsundere character types
Readers indifferent to romantic-comedy pacing who prefer serious drama

Reading tips

Treat it as light reading for bedtime or commuting—a few chapters at a time, no need to finish in one sitting.
Pay attention to the robot's contrasting behavior in public and in private; these details drive both the humor and the emotional progression.
Read the first few chapters to decide whether you accept the tsundere characterization before continuing.
Slow down at the turning points in their relationship to appreciate the emotional groundwork beneath the light-comedy surface.

版权信息
第一章
第二章
第三章
第四章
第五章
第六章
第七章
第八章
第九章
第十章
第十一章
第十二章
第十三章
第十四章
第十五章
第十六章
第十七章
第十八章
第十九章
第二十章
第二十一章
第二十二章
第二十三章
第二十四章
第二十五章
第二十六章
第二十七章
第二十八章
第二十九章
第三十章
第三十一章
第三十二章
第三十三章
第三十四章
第三十五章
第三十六章
第三十七章
第三十八章
第三十九章
第四十章
第四十一章
第四十二章
第四十三章
第四十四章
第四十五章
第四十六章
第四十七章
第四十八章
第四十九章
第五十章
第五十一章
第五十二章
第五十三章
第五十四章
第五十五章
第五十六章
第五十七章
第五十八章
第五十九章
第六十章
第六十一章
第六十二章
第六十三章
第六十四章
第六十五章
第六十六章
第六十七章

FAQ

Is this book hard science fiction?

No. Although it includes settings such as a 2066 world where robots have replaced manual labor and brain-inspired androids, these mainly serve the romance plot and character conflict—it's a soft sci-fi backdrop. If you expect in-depth exploration of technical details, AI ethics, or social structure, this book may not satisfy you; if you just want to enjoy a light human-AI romantic comedy, it's just right.

I haven't read the author's other works—can I start with this one?

Yes. This is a standalone story; the characters and plot don't depend on other works. New readers can start from the beginning—the first few chapters establish He Tiantian's situation and the robot's origins, and you'll get into it quickly. If you like this brisk style, you can look up the author's other works afterward.

Why is the male lead's personality so awkward?

The book sets him up as an advanced brain-inspired android developed in an underground lab who escaped after an accident; his personality wasn't designed like a standard household model. That's why he acts sweet in public but tsundere in private—his behavior reflects the gap between a research product and a consumer appliance. This contrast is the source of both the humor and the romantic tension; read on and you'll see more details.

Is it suitable for reading in one sitting?

The length and pacing are better suited to reading in segments. The book centers on daily interactions and relationship progression, with modest information density per chapter; reading continuously may make the formula feel repetitive, whereas reading it in several sessions lets you enjoy the humor more. I suggest a few chapters at a time as a relaxing break—no need to force yourself to binge it.

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About the author

酒小七 Author

Jiu Xiaoqi is a Chinese web-fiction author known for lighthearted, sweet romance. Public information about her is limited, and her nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name are not confirmed. Nineteen of her works are included in the collection, spanning time-travel and alternate-world fiction, youth literature, and contemporary romance, and are often grouped among premium and classic titles. Representative works include Duo Qing Ying Xiao Wo, Nan Feng Ru Wo Huai, Song Ruguo, I Like You, Tiao Xiao Ling, How the Empress Was Made, and The Foodie Next Door, along with a ten-volume collection of her sweet, doting romances. Tiao Xiao Ling was adapted into the television drama My Dear Master, showing that her stories have also reached screen audiences. Overall, her works center on everyday interactions and growing affection between protagonists, with brisk pacing, lively language, and an emphasis on a doting atmosphere, appealing to youth and romance readers who prefer an easy, pleasurable reading experience.