The dim underground parking lot reeked of damp mold, clinging to my nose. A faint breeze occasionally carried the stench from the corpse hanging nearby.
The smell was awful, making me feel suffocated.
The incredibly cool Yamaha beneath me let out a frustrating sound.
A sweet female voice chimed from the dashboard speaker: "Please perform fingerprint verification."
My mood instantly soured. But the next second, the voice shifted tone.
"Dear rider, data shows you haven’t registered your fingerprint. Please log in for safer driving."
Hearing that, my spirits lifted instantly.
Could it be… that man named Li Jiahui never registered his fingerprint on this bike?
Why… would he do that? I couldn’t figure it out.
Still, this was good news for me.
"Perform fingerprint verification."
The sleek, sci-fi dashboard flashed with light. Side LEDs blinked on. The cheerful voice returned through the speakers.
"Alright… dear user, place your fingerprint on the unlock spot."
I followed the prompts, pressing my fingerprint repeatedly. To be safe, I registered all ten fingers.
By now, it was past 2:30 PM.
"Only five more hours until dark?" I muttered, watching the dashboard shift from "Verifying…" to "Verification complete." Relief washed over me. *Click!* I pressed the left foot gear lever into first, released the clutch, and gently twisted the throttle.
But the bike roared beyond expectations!
"Vroooom!"
With a deafening bang, it shot forward like a wild stallion. If I hadn’t slammed the brakes, I’d have crashed straight into the wall!
"Wow…"
My heart clenched for a split second. Then, pure exhilaration flooded me. Unconsciously, a hint of a smile curled my lips.
I twisted the throttle hard, released the clutch, and the bike surged like a stallion breaking free!
"Vrooooom!"
Roaring under my control, the Yamaha raced around the vast lot, stopping beside the pickup truck.
The speed electrified my nerves. My ponytail had come undone—I hadn’t even noticed the hair tie fly off.
Hair loose, I dismounted, propped the kickstand, and turned to the pickup truck beside it.
Gorgeous—pure black, radiating an alluring metallic sheen. Dust coated it, but couldn’t dim its shine!
Its rugged frame and double-row seats filled me with delight.
Perfect for this dangerous world. The rear bed had ample space—not just for the Yamaha, but plenty left over!
Honestly, this vehicle suited the Apocalypse better than motorcycles. But its size was a drawback: too bulky, not agile. For escapes, bikes were superior.
That’s exactly why I was thrilled. With this pickup, I could store all my gear inside. The Yamaha would sit in the bed. If trouble came, I could jump on the bike and speed away!
"Talk about killing two birds with one stone. This trip to the villa district was worth it."
Muttering, I pulled the keys from my pocket, found the pickup’s key, and pressed the button.
"Beep-beep!"
The headlights flashed twice. Interior lights flickered on.
"Is this… an infrared sensor light?" I mumbled, yanking the door open and *slamming* it shut as I settled into the driver’s seat.
The seat suddenly adjusted, startling me. Just an auto-memory system. Then, the steering wheel extended toward me with a mechanical whirr.
"Luxury car! Definitely a luxury car!" I exclaimed, stroking the smooth wheel. Thankfully, it used a normal key—not fingerprint unlock.
The gear shift was simple—automatic. I pressed the brake, shifted into drive, and the truck rolled smoothly out of the spot, stopping beside the motorcycle.
I got out, leaving the door open. The engine’s roar echoed through the lot. I stared at the bike, then the pickup’s high chassis—over a meter off the ground—and felt stuck.
"How… am I supposed to get the motorcycle up there?"
I grabbed the handlebars and tried lifting. Heavy, but manageable. Yet hoisting it over a meter with no leverage was impossible.
After a long pause, I sighed deeply. "Do I really have to drive both back separately? That’d take way too much time."
Worrying now was pointless. I left the vehicles and headed inside to fetch a tow dolly. Without it, the bike might tip over in the bed.
Still… the rear bed could hold other things. I’d need gasoline soon. The gas station up north was a good spot to stock up—storing it in the truck for emergencies made sense.
