Bingo!

White gloves covered Shen Zeming’s hands as he finally approached the grocery store. His dark eyes narrowed as he noticed the store’s crooked sign hanging askew above the entrance, its faded red characters barely legible.

What struck him as peculiar, however, was the placement of the security camera. Tilting his head upward, Shen Zeming noted the camera affixed to the top corner of the store, its lens angled toward a nearby power pole. Smiling faintly, he waved a hand at it before stepping inside.

CLINK!

The doorbell jingled softly, its sound curiously subdued, as though it didn’t want to draw attention to itself.

Inside, the grocery store was a picture of neglect. Shelves stood half-empty, their contents arranged chaotically. Instant noodles, bottles of soy sauce, and dusty-looking cans—some doubtfully past their expiration dates—were spread out awkwardly, almost as if the emptiness was deliberate.