In the coffee shop, Nana Caymmi's soft, melodious singing flowed from the jukebox.
Accompanied by the clinking of pans on the stove, the sizzling sound of smoked ham in the oven, and the continuous rumbling of the kettle, the familiar simulated sounds drew Lean's thoughts back to the cafe.
The table's projection timely displayed the day's latest recommendations:
[Explore the rich flavors of the ages at Fodo Medoo! ]
[We have meticulously blended 138 extraordinary ingredients to recreate classic tastes of the past. For first-timers, we recommend starting with a delicate cup of Mozart, paired with our homemade melon puffs. If you prefer a less bitter taste, a cup of fragrant Sanqing tea with our sweet cheese roll is also an excellent choice. Here, you can leave your worries behind, relax, and embark on a journey back in time with your taste buds.]
["Relish in ancient culinary arts and savor the nostalgia of yesteryears—]
As Lean was intrigued by the new cheese roll and hesitated whether to order it, a series of beeps "Di-da, Di-da, Dii-dii-dii-dii" interrupted the moment.
The projection instantly switched from a plate of cheese rolls to a broadcast announcement:
"Traffic Management Announcement"
"To facilitate the work of the Golden Port's External Affairs Office, temporary traffic control measures will be implemented in the Tenth District, leading to the East Coast Bay and Black Sand Beach area, starting in one hour. Restricted streets include Queen's Avenue, Juno Street, Arsinoe Road, Palatinus Road, and Valeria Road, where three-way traffic controls will be imposed. Please follow the traffic signs' guidance, adjust your travel route accordingly to minimize delays. Due to the control, public transportation routes in the affected area will be temporarily adjusted, and some routes may be delayed. Citizens and tourists entering or leaving the area are advised to avoid shuttle buses and consider using capsule ships instead..."
Lean involuntarily gasped. Even on a regular workday, the traffic around Black Sand Beach is notoriously congested. Today, with people flocking to watch the tide recede and search for pink sand crabs, the traffic control would only exacerbate the situation. He felt puzzled as to why the External Affairs Office chose to implement traffic control in the Tenth District; usually, their visiting guests would directly fly to the Ninth District - Corsica.
"Explore the rich flavors of the ages at Fodo Medoo!" When the coffee shop's daily recommendations reappeared, Lean's mood slightly relaxed.
Fortunately, for the time being, he need not worry about these disruptions.
·
Outside the window, an elegantly designed Riviera vintage car glided through the air. Its sleek back curve and boat-shaped tail merged ingeniously, and its silvery body, polished like a gemstone, caught the eyes of pedestrians. The car's lights flickered as it passed the café, illuminating Lean's face.
He gazed at his reflection in the glass—a young and healthy face with short, slightly disheveled dark brown hair, contrasting with his clear, soft eyes. The flaw beneath his left eye, a small birthmark, was endearingly referred to as a "tear mole" by Xiangti. She would teasingly say, "It's a mark left by a lover from a past life, Lean. Looks like you have some old love debts to settle."
Ridiculous, Lean thought.
At that moment, he noticed a stubborn tuft of hair sticking up on his forehead. No matter how hard he tried to smooth it down, it rebelliously sprang back up.
"Ah, Xiangti is going to tease me again," he muttered softly to himself, repeatedly trying to tame the stubborn lock of hair.
So engrossed was he in this task that he didn't notice the bursts of laughter outside the window.
Two ladies, arm in arm, strolled by wearing soft felt hats. Their chestnut-colored knee-length skirts and ankle boots matched well under their beige trench coats. They chatted and laughed, carrying shopping bags from various brands as they approached the café.
As the lady with a jewelry bag paused by the window, she playfully adjusted her earrings in the reflection. Unwittingly, her gaze fell on Lean below. Her eyelashes fluttered curiously as she observed him, like a cat that had just discovered a new toy in its territory.
At that moment, Lean was still trying to smooth down his hair. Suddenly, he felt a gaze upon him and looked up, meeting the eyes of the lady outside the window.
She smiled subtly, elegantly pulling out a softly glowing mother-of-pearl cigarette case from her pocket. Selecting a cigarette for herself, she then, through the glass, extended it toward Lean.
It was an invitation.
In that moment, he found no reason to refuse. For someone who had always revolved around work and never really experienced the realm of intimate relationships, what he needed to do was:
Stand up, walk out, and accept it.
He stared at her cigarette case for a long time, then slowly raised his left hand, gently rubbing his temple—
In that instant, the atmosphere seemed to freeze.
But soon, the laughter from outside disrupted the brief silence, and they walked away.
In Lean's lowered eyes, two 🜛-shaped brands flickered with a metallic luster. As his fingertips moved, the brands gradually faded, returning to pitch-black pupils.
However, as a special-type replicant belonging to a public institution,
He couldn't do it.
·
"Can I have a pear juice, please?" A timid and youthful voice chimed in.
Lean turned around, his gaze settling on the counter near the entrance.
There stood a little girl, about six or seven years old. Her orange curls cascaded down like a waterfall onto her burgundy cloak, with white layered cotton boots adorned with butterfly bows. She appeared shy and awkward, clutching the skirt of the woman beside her.
The woman gently bent down, asking patiently, "Lena, would you like to try some pastries here?"
"Mhm." Lena nodded slightly, looking sweet and obedient.
"We'll also have two fig puff pastries," the woman said, running her fingers through her stylish orange waves, while drawing Lena closer with her other hand.
Lena snuggled up to her, almost burrowing into the folds of her coat, seeking warmth and comfort like a spoiled child.
"I'm sorry, we're out of fig puff pastries," the staff apologized with regret.
The woman gently squeezed Lena's shoulder and suggested, "Then... how about we switch to snowflake milk pastries?"
Lena blinked her clear green eyes and whispered, "Okay, whatever mommy says."
Lean noticed an elderly man sitting alone near a coffee table by the counter. His hands were tightly clasping a black umbrella, resembling dry branches. His grey-white beard and hair added to his aged appearance, and his loose, dark grey coat looked slightly worn. The front ends of his black leather shoes were scuffed, revealing their base color. Just by looking at him for a moment, Leen felt as if he could smell the faint scent of old parchment.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," the woman spoke.
The old man's face showed no change, maintaining a neutral expression.
A flash of discontent swept across her face but quickly vanished.
"Lena, did you have fun today?" she asked softly.
"Yes!" Lena nodded enthusiastically, her voice fluctuating with joy: "I saw so many animals I didn't know, met lots of kids like me who hadn't seen the circus either. We ate chocolate together and made wishes!"
"That's nice," the woman said, caressing Lena's smiling face.
"When can I go again?" Lena looked up, her eyes brimming with hope.
The woman hesitated for a moment, "It'll be another eight months, I need to work hard to save money," she said softly, tucking a few stray curls behind Lena's ear.
"Thank you, Mommy!" Lena cooed affectionately.
The woman was about to respond with a smile when—
"It's really not a day to be out in the rain," the old man suddenly interjected.
The warm atmosphere instantly frosted over.
"Today... is a special day for Lena," the woman said, trying to keep her voice low while shooting a sharp look at him.
The old man's face tensed up, realizing his comment was out of place. He gripped the umbrella handle tightly, remaining silent.
The woman continued, "Please watch your words. I don't want Lena to be affected," she finished, regaining her smile.
At that moment, the staff member lifted a bag, calling out, "Here you go, your pear juice and snowflake milk pastries are packed."
The old man quickly stood up, striding to the counter to take the bag.
Before leaving, Lena gave a sweet smile and waved a small goodbye to the staff: "Bye-bye."
Lean watched them leave until they disappeared outside the door.
In Dotta, if you live long enough, you can easily identify replicants among the crowds,
whether they are children
or elderly.