Creating a World Beyond

The internet café was thick with smoke and stench, the air saturated with the odor of unwashed feet propped on desks and the acrid tang of cigarettes. In the furthest corner, Jia Zhengjin was glued to his computer screen, his fingers dancing nimbly over the keyboard and mouse.

“Jia Zhengjin!” Someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

“Wait a minute! Can’t you see my castle is about to be finished?” Without turning his head, Jia Zhengjin waved the person off. “If you’ve got something to say, wait till I’m done!”

“Jia Zhengjin!” The person tapped him again.

“I said wait!” Jia Zhengjin brushed the hand aside, still focused intently on controlling his in-game character.

Half an hour later, he finally exhaled in relief. “Over a month of hard work, and I’ve finally finished building my castle! Ha!”

“Jia Zhengjin!” The person behind him tapped him yet again.

“Who is it?” Annoyed, Jia Zhengjin spun around, only to see a man dressed in black, wearing sunglasses, regarding him calmly. He didn’t recognize this man, and wondered how he knew his name. Besides, who wears sunglasses at night? Wasn’t that a bit too flashy? Could he even see through those?

“Jia Zhengjin, are you done now?” The man in black smiled.

“I’m done! What do you want?” Jia Zhengjin sized him up, curiosity edging out his annoyance.

The man in black pulled out the adjacent chair and sat down facing him. “Do you know who I am?”

“If I knew who you were, why would I ask? Are you out of your mind?” Jia Zhengjin thought to himself that this guy was