Chapter 1: The Appearance of the Double Image

Early in the morning, the sunlight filtered through the curtain slits like golden threads, casting a glow on the carpet. The air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee. Li Yuan stood by the window, gazing at the somewhat shabby small town across the way.

It was the first working day after the New Year, and as usual, he had arrived at the office early, ready to kick - start a new year of work. Suddenly, his phone rang, shattering the silence. Li Yuan picked up his phone and saw a message from his subordinate, Zhao Ming: "Good morning, Mr. Li. Sorry the bell on my electric bike is broken, and I'm getting it fixed. I might be late for work. Is that okay?" Li Yuan frowned and a sneer curled his lips. He thought to himself, 'Just admit you're going to be late. Why make up an excuse?'

The small town outside the window seemed to be veiled in mystery. The distant farmland was shrouded in a hazy fog, and occasionally, a few cars sped by like black arrows. Li Yuan took a deep breath, put down his phone, and tried his best to push the distracting thoughts aside, focusing on organizing his work plan. His fingers danced across the keyboard as if they were drumming.

"Li Yuan, you seem a bit different today," a colleague whispered, his voice laced with curiosity. "Oh?" Li Yuan turned his head and gave a faint smile. "There's an important task today. I need to prepare the final version of the quotation for a major client of the company. This order is crucial for our annual performance, and there can't be any mistakes." After saying that, he carefully placed his water cup on the corner of the desk and resumed his work.

Just then, his phone rang again. It was still Zhao Ming: "Hello Mr. Li, I just noticed this morning that the bell wasn't working. I'm at the bike shop now. I'll probably be half an hour late for work." Li Yuan got a bit annoyed and quickly replied, "You should have fixed the bike during your free time, not during work hours."

The office fell silent again, and Li Yuan threw himself whole - heartedly into his work, meticulously crafting every detail. At 8:30, the 30 - minute daily meeting ended smoothly. Li Yuan packed up his note-book PC and phone, picked up a cup of coffee, and took a gentle sip. The aroma of the coffee was fresh, different from the usual, and he felt a twinge of curiosity.

Meanwhile, at the corner outside the company building's wall, Zhao Ming was pedaling his electric bike towards the office at full speed. Suddenly, he encountered an issue. He hit the brakes hard, the rear wheel of the bike lifted up, the body tilted, and he crashed to the ground with a thud.

"Alas, it's my year of birth. Being a wage - earner is so tough!" Zhao Ming sighed and crawled up, wincing in pain. As he walked towards his electric bike, the long - abandoned viaduct across the road caught his attention. Something seemed off.

"Am I seeing things?" he muttered to himself, a sense of unease creeping over him. Zhao Ming got back on his bike, slowed down, and stared intently. Suddenly, he noticed a terrifying sight: when the bike stopped in the middle of the road, a distinct double image of the viaduct appeared. The double image radiated from the square - shaped space under the bridge, as if invisible hands were at play, and an unknown and terrifying force was at work.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on his palms, and his back turned cold. A strong feeling welled up in him - this was no illusion. Zhao Ming's heart raced. He looked around, and everything around him began to blur. A low humming sound filled his ears, as if it were coming from the depths of the universe. He stared at the viaduct in horror. The double image became more and more distinct, twisting and distorting, as if a powerful energy was gathering under the bridge.

Zhao Ming almost fainted from fear. His legs trembled, and he wanted to flee, but his hands were too weak to turn the bike handle. He stared blankly at this scene that resembled a science - fiction movie, filled with despair and fear. He had no idea what the double image was or what consequences it would bring.

After a while, Zhao Ming managed to calm down a bit. He forced himself to regain his composure, got on his electric bike, and slowly approached the viaduct. This once - peaceful morning had turned into a thrilling one, and an unknown crisis was quietly descending...