Lord of the Mysteries

After finding the project team and gaining an understanding of the situation, I spend quite a bit of time organizing the information. I also leave the company at three in the afternoon, preparing myself to head towards the city’s police station to visit the staff in charge.

After leaving my company’s building, I take out my phone, open my ride-sharing app, and submit my destination.

Since it’s not the evening rush hour, I get a driver in just a few seconds.

He’s in the vicinity, one minute… I glance at the notification and am very pleased that I don’t need to wait too long.

One minute passes quickly, but as I look left and right, I don’t see the license plate that I remember.

Suspecting that I’ve misremembered, I hurriedly unlock my phone to confirm the situation.

At this moment, I heard the chiming of a bicycle bell.

Uh… I subconsciously look up and see a green-orange bicycle.

Sitting on the bicycle is a young man wearing a dark baseball cap and a thin black coat.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

The bicycle stops in front of me as the man extends his right foot to support the bicycle against the ground.

His forehead is wide and his face is thin. His short black hair is slightly curled, and his eyes are darker than an ordinary person’s—close to pure black.

His biggest characteristic was that, like a cosplayer, he wore a crystal monocle on his right eye.

Holding the bicycle’s handle with one hand, the man adjusts his monocle with the other. He smiles at me and says, “You were the one who requested a ride?”

…

I did, but I requested a car, not a bicycle…

I open my mouth, unsure if I should answer.

At that moment, I even underwent existential questions: Who I am. Where am I? Where am I going?

“You’re going to the police station, right?” The young man with the monocle didn’t care that I didn’t respond as he asked with a smile.

…No way? Is there really an option for getting a bicycle? And I selected it somehow? I slowly nod.

At this moment, there are only two clear thoughts in my mind:

Should I take a photo or video to post on my Moments?

the customer

the side of the building and says, “Wait another

takes out his phone and waves

I still don’t understand

man presses the edge of his

nearby alley just now. I couldn’t drive through, and the distance

please wait a minute or

so and I’m not

puts away his phone and rode

drives over and

board it now.” The car window rolls down, revealing the face

as I’m about to open the

displayed on the

look at the car plate when the driver waves

“I have two cars.

but I

my phone

he

displayed isn’t a problem, and considering how I’ve encountered similar situations before, I’m relieved. I open

bustling city. What is there

the reviewing and verifications undertaken by the platform are really

looks ahead as he picks up a cigarette box and hands it

“Want a cigarette?”

banned?” I

it.” The thin driver smiles through

don’t smoke.” I instinctively shake my

not really paying attention to the situation on

smoke either. Smoking

do you have cigarettes…” I follow up

his empty hand to touch the monocle on his right

need to

“That’s true.” I nod.

the company next door. Although he smokes, his appearance is definitely not ghastly. However, there’s

a rideshare driver.” I glance at the obviously expensive

driver replies with a smile. “Is my performance

look like you come from a rich family.” I give

I

with a silver spoon doesn’t bar me from making a living from ridesharing. It allows me to experience a completely different life from my past, and

nod and casually say, “That may be the case, but I think you occasionally only take a few ride orders and are usually busy with other

The driver looks at the rearview