At seven the next evening, I arrived at the delivery station early.
Sister Zhou was sorting orders. When she saw me, she tore a slip off the printer and handed it over. “Here, your lucky order. Stone-pot bibimbap with an extra soybean paste soup, same as usual. Don’t knock.”
I took the slip. It listed Villa 8, Longhu Mountain Estate.
“Have you ever met that customer?” I asked Sister Zhou.
“Never.” She held a cigarette between her lips. “He never opens the door. He always has us leave it in the Bluetooth lockbox outside. I’ve been working here for two years and haven’t seen his face once.”
“What’s his name?”
“It doesn’t show on the order. Must be hidden in the System. I only know his account name is ‘Deep Sea.’ He’s always generous with tips.”
Deep Sea.
I repeated the name to myself, got on my electric bike, and set off.
