Dead Bicycle And Revenge

Lu Siyan settled into his workday, the usual monotony punctuated by the AI's occasional bursts of digital enthusiasm.

"Psst! Siyan! Check out this headline! 'Man Finds Rare Coin in Couch Cushions!' Maybe you should check your couch! You could be sitting on a fortune!"

"I'm sitting on a slightly uncomfortable office chair," Lu Siyan muttered, "and I highly doubt it's hiding any rare coins."

"But what if it is?" the AI insisted. "What if it's a… Ming Dynasty gold coin? Or a… Roman denarius? Or a… limited edition Pokémon card?"

Lu Siyan sighed. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

He focused on his work, trying to ignore the AI's increasingly outlandish suggestions. He finished his tasks, the promise of lottery tickets and a potentially Ming Dynasty-coin-filled couch keeping him motivated. As the end of the workday approached, he joined Wei and Zhang for their usual post-work ritual: dissecting the day's events.

"Did you see Mr. Gao today?" Wei asked, her eyes sparkling. "He was practically radiating charisma. I swear, I almost swooned."

"He had that… 'I'm the CEO of your dreams' aura," Zhang added, sighing dreamily.

"He was just doing his job," Lu Siyan said, trying to sound nonchalant. But even he had to admit that Mr. Gao had been particularly… magnetic… that day.

"Just doing his job? Siyan, you're missing the bigger picture!" the AI interjected. "This is clearly a sign! He's trying to impress you! He's probably planning a grand romantic gesture! A rooftop confession! A serenade under the moonlight! A… "

"Okay, okay, I get it," Lu Siyan interrupted. "He's charming. Can we move on now?"

They left the office, the promise of post-work drinks and lottery ticket purchases fueling their steps. As they exited the building, Lu Siyan noticed a crowd gathered near the bike racks.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Looks like an accident," Wei replied, peering over the heads of the onlookers.

Lu Siyan pushed his way through the crowd, his heart sinking as he saw his beloved bicycle… crushed. The front wheel was bent at an unnatural angle, the frame twisted, the once-shiny paint scratched and dented.

"No…" he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Whoa," the AI said, its usual cheerfulness replaced by a tone of genuine concern. "That's… not good."

Lu Siyan looked around, trying to find the culprit. And then he saw her.

The woman from the canteen.

She was standing near a sleek, black car, her expression unreadable. She met Lu Siyan's gaze, a flicker of… something… crossing her face. Amusement? Satisfaction? He couldn't be sure.

"Well, well, well," the AI whispered. "Looks like someone has a score to settle."

Lu Siyan stared at the woman, his mind reeling. What was going on? Why had she destroyed his bike? Was this… connected to the "Future News" app? To the missing executive manager? To… something bigger?

He took a step towards the woman, his fists clenching. He needed answers. And he had a feeling she had them.

"Be careful, Siyan," the AI warned. "She's got that… 'I could crush your soul with a single glance' vibe."

Lu Siyan ignored the AI, his eyes locked on the woman. He was about to confront her when… she vanished. One moment she was there, the next she was gone. As if she had never been there at all.

Lu Siyan blinked, his mind reeling. He looked around, trying to find her, but she was nowhere to be seen.

"Whoa," the AI said, its voice filled with awe. "That was… impressive."

Lu Siyan just stared at the spot where the woman had been standing, a cold dread settling in his stomach. He had a feeling that this was just the beginning.

"Did you see that?" Lu Siyan asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Wei and Zhang looked at him with confusion.

"See what?" Wei asked.

"The woman," Lu Siyan said, pointing to the spot where the woman had been standing. "The one who… crushed my bike."

Wei and Zhang exchanged glances.

"There was no one there, Siyan," Zhang said gently.

"What are you talking about?" Lu Siyan said, his voice rising. "She was right there! She… she just vanished!"

Wei and Zhang looked at each other again, their expressions a mixture of concern and… pity?

"Siyan," Wei said softly, "are you feeling okay? You look… stressed."

"I'm fine," Lu Siyan insisted, though even he could hear the tremor in his voice. "I just… I saw her. I know I did."

"Maybe you were just… imagining things?" Zhang suggested. "It's been a long day."

Lu Siyan shook his head. "No, I… I saw her. She… she looked familiar."

"Familiar?" Wei repeated.

"Yeah," Lu Siyan said, trying to recall the woman's face. "I… I think I've seen her before. But I can't remember where."

"Maybe you saw her on the news?" Zhang suggested. "Or in a magazine?"

Lu Siyan shook his head. "No, it was… something else. I… I don't know."

He gave up trying to explain. He knew they wouldn't believe him. He looked at his crushed bike, a wave of despair washing over him. "Great," he muttered. "Just great. Now how am I going to get home?"

"You can take the bus," Wei suggested.

"Or call a taxi," Zhang added.

Lu Siyan sighed. "I guess I have no choice."

He said goodbye to his colleagues and headed towards the bus stop, his mind still reeling from the events of the day. He couldn't shake the feeling that something strange was happening. Something… connected to the "Future News" app, to the missing executive manager, to the mysterious woman. He just didn't know what.

"Don't worry, Siyan," the AI whispered. "I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation for all of this."

"A logical explanation that involves a talking computer, a crushed bike, and a vanishing woman?" Lu Siyan asked dryly.

"Hey, stranger things have happened," the AI countered. "Besides, think of it as an adventure! A thrilling mystery! A… slightly inconvenient quest!"

Lu Siyan just shook his head and sat down at the bus stop, bracing himself for the long commute home. He closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind. But the image of the woman, her face a mask of… something… kept flashing before his eyes.

Suddenly, a car pulled up beside him. It was a sleek, black sports car, the kind that usually belonged to… well, not the kind of people who frequented bus stops. The window rolled down, revealing the woman from the canteen.

"Need a lift?" she asked, her voice surprisingly soft.

Lu Siyan stared at her, his mind reeling. What was she doing here? Why was she offering him a ride?

"Uh… no, thank you," he stammered. "I'm… waiting for the bus."

"Don't be silly," the woman said, her voice taking on a playful lilt. "Hop in. I'll give you a ride home."

Lu Siyan hesitated. He didn't trust her. Not one bit. But… he also didn't want to spend the next hour on a crowded bus.

"I… I don't know…" he said.

"Come on," the woman insisted. "It's no trouble. Besides, I'm a big fan of your work."

Lu Siyan blinked. "My work?"

"Yeah," the woman said, her eyes twinkling. "I'm a software developer. I've been following your career with great interest."

Lu Siyan's eyebrows shot up. "You're a software developer?"

"Yep," the woman said, popping the 'p'. "And a bit of a geek, if I'm honest."

Lu Siyan looked at her, his skepticism warring with his curiosity. She didn't seem like the type to be interested in his work. But… then again, he didn't really know what type she was.

"I… I guess I could use a ride," he said finally.

"Great!" the woman said, her smile widening. "Hop in!"

Lu Siyan hesitated for a moment, then opened the car door and climbed in. As he did, the AI's voice whispered in his ear.

"Well, well, well," the AI said, its voice laced with amusement. "Looks like someone's got a secret admirer."

Lu Siyan rolled his eyes. "She's just being friendly," he muttered.

"Or maybe," the AI countered, "she's secretly a master spy who's trying to seduce you to gain access to… your… uh… impressive collection of… instant noodles?"

Lu Siyan sighed. "You're hopeless."

The woman started the car and pulled away from the curb, leaving Lu Siyan to ponder the increasingly bizarre turn his life had taken.