A cat, a dog, and a person.
Hello, everyone. I'm Zhou Yi. Can you see these words? After going through so much, I've gone from a shy boy to someone who's more outgoing. Now I'd like to tell you about what I saw and experienced in 2055.
Some people say that in an aging society, elder care is sure to make a fortune.
That's completely wrong. By the time you see that elder care is profitable, the big money will already have moved in.
But funerary services are different. It's a little complicated. When it comes to this sort of thing, it's better to believe it than not. Few people would want to do this kind of work.
In this world, we have no names, only numbers.
Who will I meet?
For example, Fang Ye and Ye Fang. At first, I actually mistook the two of them for a couple. I hereby get down on my knees and apologize to them both.
To uncover the truth my parents told me about, I started working in the funerary business in a world where robots are everywhere.
When I first interviewed with Xiao Hei, it told me that a corpse had to be kept for seven days, and I believed it. Turns out the number seven was just chosen to cater to feudal superstition. Damn, I actually got fooled. Xiao Hei was looking at me so closely that I thought it was reading my face. Who knew it was just because I'm handsome? (Just let me be a little vain.)
Each corpse requires seven items. Damn, seven again. I even wondered if it was Dragon Ball.
Xiao Hei told me, "Names and what you love are the most important things. I have to discover the rest for myself."
I try to glimpse these people's lives through their corpses, piecing together our stories in this age of robots.
Every ordinary person has a story of their own worth telling. I hope you, too, can make the most of each unique day of your life.
What secrets is the government hiding?
I'll reveal the answers to you in the story.
The kitten: Xiao Hei
The puppy: Xiao Bai
You can think of them as characters like the Black and White Impermanence.
Protagonist: Zhou Yi
Supporting cast: Every ordinary person fighting to get by. "Whether you believe in Christianity or Buddhism, may you travel safely, with someone watching over your journey."
Next, my recorder, Yu Ming, has something to say. Let's give them a round of applause 👏👏
Ahem, my writing style isn't very good, and I hope I can improve little by little. Please don't criticize my worldbuilding. I hope we can improve together as you read. Writing in the first person is an adventure for me. Like a court historian, I record Zhou Yi's story. I've written all the little details of everyday life carefully because I want you to feel like you're there. Later on, you'll grow alongside Zhou Yi.
What do you mean, Zhou Yi? You're asking how I came up with the names Ye Fang and Fang Ye?
I got them from a tea brand I saw while writing. There are actually lots of other characters later on that I can't fit into the blurb. I hope you'll read on patiently. Oh, and Zhou Yi just spoiled a plot point. Damn, I've been planting that hint for ages. Zhou Yi, don't say anything else now 🤫.
All right, I hope you enjoy reading.
Theme: Ordinary people deserve to be seen, too. Everyone has a story.
