“You really don’t know? Fine, let’s just say you don’t, but I’ll remind you anyway: the Galaxy Society is about to make a big move soon. I seriously suggest you suppress your urge to stir up trouble and don’t get involved. I’m afraid I’ll have to go all out to deal with this, so I won’t have time to look after you.”

“Don’t worry, I have no interest in a shady organization like the Galaxy Society.”

“That’s good. When I’m done with this, I’ll treat you to a drink. Take care.”

“Haha, you’re the one who should take care! Working overtime while in a passionate romance with President Wen—tell me, hero, can you still keep it up?”

“凸.”

“Seeing you can still ‘凸’ puts my mind at ease.”

After typing the last period, Mr. Smith slapped the mirror. The ghostly glow on the surface faded completely, erasing all the writing. Meanwhile, the reflection’s smile grew brighter and brighter.

“Old friend, seeing you still so full of energy really puts me at ease…”

As he spoke, the smile gradually faded.

“But I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you about the Galaxy Society. Yesterday, I drove into the game, and my dashing driving skills have already caught Franklin’s eye. Now, it’s probably impossible to stay out of this. The Galaxy Society’s people should already be on their way—I’d better get ready to receive them. Don’t worry, when this is over, I’ll treat you to a drink.”

Just then, Mr. Smith’s watch vibrated with a message notification. He raised his hand to check it, shook his head with a smile, pulled down a curtain to cover the dressing mirror, and stretched lazily.

“Alright, time to get something to eat~”

……

He went downstairs, out onto the street, and without even looking up, raised his hand to hail a passing taxi at just the right moment.

“To Tianjing University.”

The driver was a typical Tianjing local. With a raised eyebrow, he launched into a long opening: “Hey there, brother, are you a student at Tianjing University? Alright, thanks to you, I get to visit the Upper District today… Last year I hitched a ride in the Upper District, and the traffic bureau revoked my pass. Damn, I’ve been a Tianjing local for over forty years, and now I can’t even get into my own turf. Tell me, aren’t these Upper and Lower District rules a load of crap? Places like Tianjing University and Qingzhu University are supposed to be open to all Tianjing residents, but they’re built in the Upper District. How are folks from the Lower District without a pass supposed to get in? Brother, is it true that Tianjing University students get free tuition and living expenses? That’s all government money, right? And government money is our taxpayers’ money, isn’t it? Don’t you think we taxpayers are getting the short end of the stick?”

The young Mr. Smith paused for a moment, then eagerly replied, “That’s right, I’ve always thought China’s current tax and public spending system is quite unreasonable. Last year, my advisor and I even did research and made policy recommendations on this issue. We believe the Upper and Lower District system should have been reformed long ago, but the relevant policies have always been controlled by interest groups…”

Mr. Smith was always very enthusiastic with his peers.

……

Half an hour later, a battered hovercar slowly pulled up in front of the main gate of Tianjing University in the Upper District. The back door opened, and a spirited young man stepped out.

“Take care, brother! If you need a ride in the future, just call me—I’ll give you a discount.”

The driver waved a reluctant goodbye from the driver’s seat, started up the hovercar, and drove away.

As he sipped strong tea to soothe his throat, he was already composing stories in his mind to brag to his wife and kid that night: After all these years driving, what kind of passenger haven’t I met? A top student from Tianjing University—way above your level! We chatted and laughed like old friends…

But since he rarely got to visit the Upper District, he figured he might as well check out the bustling Silver Time District, buy his wife a dress, and get his son a new computer. He’d head back to the Lower District when his pass was about to expire.

The hovercar had barely left the university gate when two sharply dressed young men on the roadside waved for a ride. The driver perked up—Upper District passengers were often generous, especially those who looked like elite professionals from head to toe.

“Gentlemen, where to?”

“Silver Time District.”

“Alright, you got it!”

But as soon as the hovercar started, the driver suddenly noticed all six windows had gone black, and a bunch of red X’s appeared on the dashboard.

“What the hell, did it crash?!”

The next moment, the driver felt a chill at his neck—a bright knife was pressed against his throat.

“We have some questions for you. About the young man who was just in your car…”

……

Meanwhile, Mr. Smith had long since forgotten the earlier banter, walking briskly into the campus.

“Ha, Tianjing University, I’m back again.”

As everyone in Tianjing City knew, Tianjing University was the top institution of higher learning in China, both on the home planet and across the thirteen colony planets. Its campus was completely open—outsiders could enter freely to visit, and many of the facilities were open for business to the public.