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

monocle points to the side of the building and says, “Wait another minute, my car is parked

speaks, he takes out his phone

don’t

man presses the edge of his monocle

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

wait a

so and I’m not in a rush. I politely

and rode his bicycle to the side of

white car drives over and

it now.” The car window rolls

about to open the car

on the app is

to the back to look at the car plate when the driver waves his phone at me

“I have two cars.

car today, but I bound my

phone is

he

I’ve encountered similar situations before, I’m relieved. I open the car door and get

daylight in a bustling city. What is there

and verifications undertaken by the platform are

driver with a monocle looks ahead as he picks up a cigarette

“Want a cigarette?”

smoking banned?”

it.” The

don’t smoke.” I instinctively

hand, not really paying attention to the situation

smoke. I don’t smoke

you have cigarettes…” I follow up

the driver uses his empty hand to

will always be some friends you need to meet despite you being unwilling

“That’s true.” I nod.

not ghastly. However, there’s no need to say it out loud. I’m not someone who gets into debates with

rideshare driver.” I glance at the obviously expensive

driver replies with a smile.

like you make a living from ridesharing. You look like you come from a rich family.” I give a

I

making a living from ridesharing. It allows me to experience a completely different life from my past, and

philosophical… I nod and casually say, “That may be the case, but I think

The driver looks at the rearview mirror again,