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?

I call the customer

points to the side of the

takes out his phone and waves

I still don’t understand

man presses the edge

now. I couldn’t drive through, and the distance to walk here was a little far, so I rented

please wait a minute or

said so and I’m not in

puts away his phone and rode his

drives over and

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

as I’m about to open the car door, I suddenly realize a

car displayed on the app

just about to walk to the back to look at the car plate when the driver waves his phone at me across the passenger

“I have two cars.

I bound my account to the other

phone

he calls

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

daylight in a bustling city. What

and verifications undertaken

driver with a monocle looks ahead as he picks up

“Want a cigarette?”

smoking banned?” I

don’t mind it.” The thin driver smiles through

I

hand, not really paying attention to

smoke. I don’t smoke

do you have cigarettes…” I follow

down the road, the driver uses his empty hand to touch the monocle

you need to meet despite you being unwilling

“That’s true.” I nod.

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 with others

obviously expensive cigarettes, and glance around the luxurious interior of the

a

ridesharing. You look like you come from a

I

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

think you occasionally only

driver looks at the rearview mirror again, and his