Jiedian Star was still in the midst of summer. Jiang Ye, wearing a t-shirt and shorts, left the station and immediately started to sprint, pulling his suitcase. Passersby stared at him in surprise.
The station was only three blocks from the center of Basong City. Taking a taxi would mean waiting, and Jiang Ye was anxious. He ran on foot, the small wheels of his suitcase rumbling.
Passing the familiar military headquarters, he continued forward. Sweating profusely, Jiang Ye spotted the Erfang Hotel.
Almost there! Finally, almost there!
Jiang Ye took a couple of breaths and continued his sprint.
Finally, he arrived in front of the Dumpling House.
The smile on Jiang Ye's face vanished.
The Dumpling House in his memory was bustling with business, people coming and going, and the aroma filling the street.
But the Dumpling House before him had its doors tightly shut. Unswept leaves and trash littered the entrance, giving it a desolate appearance.
A piece of paper was stuck to the door, already damp from the rain and wrinkled. Jiang Ye leaned closer and saw the faded small print:
[Notice of Temporary Suspension of Business]
[We apologize, but due to public safety reasons, our establishment is temporarily suspending operations. The reopening date is to be determined.]
Jiang Ye then sprinted to the bookstore, but the bookstore's doors were also shut, with the exact same notice posted on the door.
His face turned pale, and he began to panic.
There was only one last place left: Cen Yemeng's home.
Jiang Ye continued to sprint. Fortunately, he remembered the way and didn't stop to rest for a second, arriving at the familiar residential complex.
He took the elevator upstairs and arrived at the familiar apartment door.
Jiang Ye tried to use facial recognition, but the door didn't open. Instead, a gruff voice prompted:
"Unfamiliar face, access denied."
Jiang Ye was stunned. Why was it an unfamiliar face? Hadn't she registered his face?
He even checked the floor and apartment number; it was correct, this was the one.
Jiang Ye tried facial recognition again, but received the same cold denial.
His mind was a mess, his heart pounding, his palms sweating.
Something was wrong. Something had gone awry.
Suddenly, the door clicked open.
A handgun was extended first, then the door opened a crack, and a small, pale girl peered at him vigilantly.
"Who are you looking for?" she asked.
"I'm looking for my girlfriend. This apartment is hers," Jiang Ye said quickly.
"This apartment is mine," she said, gripping the handgun tighter, her gaze more suspicious. "You've got the wrong place, you should leave."
Jiang Ye realized it instantly. "Did you buy this apartment recently? This apartment belonged to my girlfriend six months ago."
"Then contact her. She's not here anymore." The girl lowered the muzzle of the gun and moved to close the door.
Jiang Ye reacted quickly, grabbing the door. "Wait a moment!"
"Let go!" The handgun was thrust forward, pointing at Jiang Ye's forehead.
Jiang Ye let go and raised his hands. "Can you give me her contact information?"
"You want me to give you your girlfriend's contact information?" The white girl frowned. "Get lost, or I'll call the police!"
"I don't live on this planet. I just arrived today!" Jiang Ye spoke rapidly. "Can you give me the contact information of the previous owner? Or call her, she'll know me as soon as she hears my name!"
"Don't even think about it. Personal information is strictly confidential. I've never met or known the previous owner. It was an online intermediary transaction; I paid, the transfer was completed, and it was done in a second. The intermediary company is unmanned, all robots, and they certainly won't give you her contact information."
Jiang Ye's face turned white, a sense of dizziness washing over him. The last way he could contact Cen Yemeng was cut off?
The girl eyed him suspiciously for a few seconds, then abruptly slammed the door shut and locked it with a click.
Jiang Ye hesitated for a moment, then reached out as if to knock, but ultimately didn't. He turned and took the elevator downstairs.
He walked aimlessly on the street, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, swaying unsteadily.
Had he lost contact just like that?
How could this happen? The shops were closed, and the apartment was sold. Had something happened to her?
The more Jiang Ye thought about it, the more frightened he became. He asked passersby for directions and headed straight for the police station.
He tried to get Cen Yemeng's contact information from the police station, but when he entered, he was dumbfounded. There wasn't a single human police officer, only robots.
He asked a robot for help finding Cen Yemeng's contact information, but the robot repeatedly said, "Sorry, you do not have permission," like a malfunctioning AI.
Jiang Ye was furious and turned back to the military headquarters.
The military headquarters was in a state of chaos. The corridors were strewn with paper documents, piled up like falling snow. Everyone was rushing around anxiously, shouts and phone calls echoing in the corridors. Everyone's expression was one of extreme panic. Jiang Ye tried to stop a few people, but they all yelled at him.
The front lines were engaged in battle, and the army was busy. They had no time to help a junior general find his girlfriend.
The only person who could help, Li Nannan, was engaged in fierce combat at the edge of the nebula and wouldn't be back anytime soon.
By the time he left the military headquarters, it was already dark.
Jiang Ye was tired and hungry, wandering aimlessly on the street.
He lingered in front of the Dumpling House for a while, hoping it would open at night, but that was pure fantasy.
Dizzy with hunger, he went to the bookstore again. It was still closed. He sat on his suitcase to rest, sighing.
He thought he had integrated into this era, but it turned out he hadn't. In such a prosperous metropolis, he couldn't even find a living person.
Jiang Ye even considered smashing the Dumpling House. That would surely alert the police, and if they arrested him, they would surely notify Cen Yemeng.
But this crazy thought was quickly dismissed. He didn't know how the police on this planet enforced the law. What if they used "Russian tactics" and shot him dead on sight? Then he would truly be finished.
Jiang Ye couldn't help but shed a couple of tears. He believed there had to be a way to contact Cen Yemeng, but he also had a faint premonition that something might have happened. Basong City had twenty million people; finding one person was like searching for a needle in a haystack, leaving him with a deep sense of powerlessness.
Across the street, a barbecue bar was open, brightly lit, and crowded with customers. A folk singer was performing. Jiang Ye got up and walked over, deciding to fill his stomach first.
Upon entering, the bar was even more crowded than he expected. However, it wasn't too noisy. Most people were drinking at the long bar, whispering amongst themselves. The resident singer was playing guitar in the corner under the lights.
Jiang Ye pulled his suitcase and found a seat in a corner. He ordered a pound of beef brisket, a bottle of dark beer, and a plate of potatoes.
The bartender quickly brought the food and drinks. Jiang Ye ate silently, burying his head in his meal.
The two people at the next table were smoking. One was a thin, young man with yellow hair, and the other was a fat, young man with white skin. Both had their hair styled in flamboyant curls, their sleeves rolled up on their flowery shirts, and skulls tattooed on their forearms. Typical delinquents, but judging by the exquisite craftsmanship of their watches, they might be quite wealthy.
As Jiang Ye ate, he listened to their conversation. They were too close for him not to hear.
Thin guy: "How's it going? Found any targets?"
Fat guy: "There are four decent ones. One is a Latin beauty, over in the southeast corner. Look, look, the one in the white dress. I'm planning to approach her."
Thin guy: "Whoa, damn, that girl's name is Saidu. I hit on her last year. Didn't expect her to be back. Come sit here, block my view."
Jiang Ye understood; these two were here to pick up women, professional scoundrels.
Fat guy: "Damn it, I don't want anyone you've had. After we finish eating, I'll go for the one in the blue tank top with the huge chest in the northwest corner. See her? The one with the big chest."
Thin guy: "She looks tough to approach. Her expression seems fierce."
"How tough can she be? Do you doubt my pickup skills? Watch me go now! I'll have her in ten minutes. Bet three thousand, you in or out?"
"Hold on! Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
"What's wrong with you? Stuck on repeat?"
"Look at the one who just came in through the back door, the one in the red dress!"
"Hiss—so stunning! Damn, I'm smitten!"
"Holy hell, I've rarely seen such a beautiful woman. Is this face for real?"
"Her face is perfect, and her figure is amazing too. Look at those legs in black stockings. I can't handle it, I'm going to ask for her contact information!"
"Screw you, I saw her first. Whoever sees her first gets her!"
"You asked first last time, right? Do you have any sense of fairness? Isn't it my turn this time?"
Jiang Ye had been eating quietly, completely uninterested in the vulgar flirtatious exchanges of the two ruffians. But suddenly, as the two men next to him were about to fight, his curiosity was piqued.
He looked up and glanced towards the back door in the distance, his gaze settling on a woman with long red hair.