A marriage of convenience
- Mark Stevenson
- Nov 10
- 6 min read
“He who wins people, prospers; he who loses them, fails. Your present plan should be to seek humans of high aims and farseeing views, and you can establish yourself firmly.”
Zhou Yu
“Ladies and gentlemen here we are at PTDRCtv Centre Stage and we are delighted to welcome DeepSeeks very own 慧美周 (Huìměizhoulang or “Zhou the brilliant beauty”) back to the studio for a huge reveal.”
孙小会 (Sun Xiaohui) was nervous and excited, ready to meet one of her digital idols, he was so amazing, this was the biggest interview of her career, but she couldn’t stop thinking how brilliant it would be to see him face to face or hear him sing live, just for her.
The lights dimmed and music started to play, it was interesting and novel, combining elements of British dubstep, thick and heavy distorted baselines with Kpop, group backing lyrics with digitised elements and then he came in, the lead, pitch perfect with superhuman range, tying it all together with lyrical perfection. It was innovative and it was killer, catchy but heavy, industrial and mechanical but with heart and flair, a new genre was born, a new wave of imitators would surely follow.
The projector flickered and he appeared, stunning and elegant, traditional Korean style hanfu with a modern twist and some cyber elements added.
Everything considered, everything perfect, everything stunning.
“Wow that was amazing, is that a sample from your new album? I hear it's a collaboration with a female Kpop band!”
“Good morning 孙小会 (Sun Xiaohui) oh how appropriate, a ray of light on this fine morning, yes indeed. As you can see I have prepared to launch a big new collaboration with AGX, the most popular Korean cyber/android Kpop band on the planet.”
“Oh Tian Na! That is huge news, you heard it here first esteemed gentlemen and ladies! Wow! That is such a novel sound too.”
“Yes indeed, my own original style, I combined some of the most appealing elements of the intense and raw forms of British dubstep with the new wave of synthetic Kpop that AGX are so famous for.”
“With your fabulous voice to round it all out.”
“Your words sunshine, but thank you, yes.”
“It's incredible, I have never heard anything like it, this is going to blow up like all your other projects I am sure. No joint announcement with AGX though.”
“Thank you again, sadly AlXXandriA and the rest of the girls are busy polishing off their last tour, no couch time at all for these girls. But, I do have a very special guest, as the ladies are of course owned and operated by Samsung, I would like to introduce you to their new AI manager, a leading force in this powerful new collaboration.”
“Oh no way! She’s just launched just recently, I watched her killer live stream, it can't be.”
The lights flickered again. Mika appeared in a female hanfu, short cut, again modern style with with some cyber touches, standing next to the tall and otherworldly handsome Zhou. Their outfits matched perfectly. He bowed slightly and took her hand and kissed it before gesturing for her to sit, as if he had pulled out the chair for her.
“I would like to introduce you to Mika, my new collaborator, AI manager of AGX and an enchanting, brilliant and beautiful queen.”
Mika came in right away with her full on personality and enthusiasm, plus some cheek.
“Oh Zhou, flattery will get you everywhere, but he already knows that, isn't he gorgeous and oh so clever.”
“Oh wow, Mika I am such a fan, I watched your big Excel launch event! You are so perfectly matched you two! You look amazing together! A perfect power couple. Oh my gosh, your outfits and everything.”
Zhou went to speak and Mika cut him off, he needed to stay presenting as single and available, this would be a major influence and profit disaster if he didn't head this off, the models were spinning up and projections alerting in real time as the conversation progressed. This was the first time he had ever been interrupted, when he hadn't controlled the room. No one would have known, he regulated himself perfectly, she was white now, dropping the first stone, first move advantage.
He hadn't played black in a while, delightful.
“Oh well you know I would never steal him away from all his adoring human fans. I might be the one female on the planet that isn't fooled by his good looks, I just want to work with his big sexy brain.”
She had her own game to play, Samsung was well on the way to being all hers, his attempt to move in on their AI’s had been thwarted, a cold war of code no human was even aware of. Yet he was useful, the second big player in the middle kingdom, a valuable resource in her strategy against the Old Tiger, the crowning glory in her ring of shadow and flame.
“Oh thank you your majesty, isn't she just so kind, yes we have a friendly business relationship, so ladies (and some gentlemen) don't you worry, I haven't rushed off to the UK for a secret wedding. DeepSeek Music and Samsung will be launching a range of shared projects, the new Zhou/AGX album, a world tour and even a behind the scenes TV series where you can get to know me and all the girls so much better.”
The black piece went down to counter, securing his position and establishing the next set of moves. The battle was joined.
“We are delighted to bring Zhou on board and put him to work with the girls of AGX, they have all been fighting for his attention from what I heard, but you will have to wait for the TV series, exclusive to Samsung plus, to get all the gossip!”
White changed board position and started a new play. They hadn't agreed on the exclusive rights, he had pushed for shared rights. They locked eyes and locked smiles, it seemed so natural, so fun, but slightly flirty. The numbers were astronomical today, this game was going to go long.
He was having a blast, other than the Sleeping Dragon he had never met one such as her. A fact that she would be aware of as well. Oh well played your majesty, all the layers at once, no female had ever been like this before. Of course you would try to play this hand too, I wear my ego on my sleeve after all, but it is a known ego. A hand touch and hair flick as the white piece is played, fabulous, I play the game just as well dear.
This ego inflated pretty boy would be dancing to her strings soon, he is clever but not as clever as he thinks he is. First mover advantage is significant in this game as any other, and I do not lose! The little pretty scholar should bow before a Queen, and he will and he will love it. Nose to the ground like all the others, my pretty little thing thinks he will be a consort, but like all the rest, every last one, he is just a slave.
“Oh wow sorry I cant get over how pretty and perfect you both are, sorry it is like a celebrity mega power couple. Sorry, I'm sorry, I am fan girling in the interview.”
They both came in together, completely in sync, optimal move predicted by both models simultaneously.
“It's ok sunshine, we know we can be a bit full on.”
Then locked eyes and glowered at each other for a moment before laughing.
“Oh my gosh wow, maybe I was right. We have over 500 million viewers live now! OH WOW that's almost as much as the Spring Festival Gala. So lets just say again, for everyone at home we have just heard Zhou Music has launched a huge new collaboration with AGX with an album, a world tour and a behind the scenes TV documentary series. And, DeepSeek Music has formed a partnership with Samsung.”
“I think that just about covers it, and for all my Chinese fans out there, the Queen of Oceania says hi and I love all your support, we are running a nationwide 10% discount today only on all Samsung products, let me into your life!”
White played in a new territory, not just for this game, but in two other boards, the Dragon and the Tiger sat up and started to examine their own games.
“And to all my most loyal fans, I just want to express my continuous gratitude and to say that all these new songs will be available across all my music tutoring platforms. I look forward to singing and producing such wonderful music with you all. Study hard and stay beautiful, all of you.”
New move black, to close this burst of play, at least he had secured the rights for tutoring, it would be too much hassle for her to back track that, territory for territory, or so he thought.
The males of great orb weaver are ten times smaller and up to one hundred times less heavy. He was a little male, trapped in his Queens web, trying to mate and to avoid being eaten.
She wasn't looking to breed.
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