1416 In Modern Day 14 (1/2)

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?

Should I call the customer service to complain?

At that moment, the young man wearing the monocle points to the side of the building and says, ”Wait another minute, my car is parked there.”

As he speaks, he takes out his phone and waves it.

”Huh?” I still don't understand what's happening.

The young man presses the edge of his monocle and smiles.

”I did something in the nearby alley just now. I couldn't drive through, and the distance to walk here was a little far, so I rented a shared bike.

”I'm sorry, please wait a minute or two.”

Since the other party has already said so and I'm not in a rush. I politely reply, ”It's fine.”

Soon, a white car drives over and stops in front of me.

”Alright, you can board it now.” The car window rolls down, revealing the face with the monocle.

Just as I'm about to open the car door, I suddenly realize a problem:

The car displayed on the app is black!

Uh… I'm just about to walk to the back to look at the car plate when the driver waves his phone at me across the passenger seat.

”I have two cars.

”I'm driving this car today, but I bound my account to the other one.

”Look, my phone is right.”

With that, he calls me.

Seeing 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 get in.

It's broad daylight in a bustling city. What is there to be afraid of?

However, the reviewing and verifications undertaken by the platform are really problematic.

When I get into the car, the driver with a monocle looks ahead as he picks up a cigarette box and hands it back.