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

wearing the monocle points to the side of the building and says, “Wait

speaks, he takes out his phone

don’t

young man presses the edge of his

the distance to walk here was a little far, so I rented a shared

sorry, please wait a minute

party has already said so and I’m not in a rush. I politely reply,

puts away his phone and rode his bicycle to the

over

now.” The car window

I’m about to open the car

car displayed on the app

to walk to the back to look at the car plate when

“I have two cars.

but I bound my account to

phone is

he calls

a problem, and considering how I’ve encountered similar situations before, I’m relieved. I open the car

broad daylight in a bustling city. What is there to be afraid

verifications undertaken by the platform

driver with a monocle looks

“Want a cigarette?”

banned?”

it.” The thin driver

smoke.” I instinctively

holds the steering wheel with one hand, not really paying attention to the situation on

don’t smoke either.

you have cigarettes…” I

car drives down the road, the driver uses his empty hand to touch

will always be some friends you need to meet despite

“That’s true.” I nod.

moment, I recall Vice President Wu from the company next door. Although he smokes, his appearance is definitely not ghastly. However, there’s no need to say it out loud. I’m not someone who gets into debates

at the obviously expensive cigarettes, and glance around the luxurious

a smile.

living from ridesharing. You look like

way, I can’t

being born 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 being able to see all kinds of unique people is a form of entertainment. Don’t you find it interesting?” the

“That may be the case, but I think you occasionally only take a few ride orders and

your building to investigate.” The driver looks at the rearview mirror again,