Mabel Quinn looked at this unfamiliar place before her. Although this bus also went to her school, because the last bus ran early, it wasn't the one she usually took. The bus she had just ridden on was already the last one, so she had to switch to another to get back.
When she wanted to open her phone's map to find the nearest bus route back to school, she realized her phone's battery was down to just 2%. She managed to open the map, but before she could start searching for a route, the phone died.
It was indeed a case of misfortune after misfortune!
Mabel was speechless, as if all the bad luck had chosen today to gather.
Now, she could only take it step by step, walking slowly and checking the signs along the way.
This place was quite desolate, mostly construction sites under development, so only sand and cement trucks passed through, and there were hardly any taxis.
When Mabel checked the bus stop signs, they had all exceeded the last bus time, so she could only keep moving forward.
Passing by a roadside stall selling pancakes, Mabel approached the vendor and asked, "Ma'am, do you know if there's any bus around here that hasn't reached its last service yet? I want to get to Wudun Road, but I don't know how to get back."
The vendor, a middle-aged woman in her 40s, replied, "They're fixing the road here, and buildings are still going up. You have to go two more intersections forward to get to Wudun Road. The bus stop has moved as well. Wait a moment; I'll draw you a map."
"Thanks, ma'am." Mabel quickly expressed her gratitude, buying a pancake to eat in the meantime.
The vendor lady took out a small notebook and a pen, starting to draw a map for Mabel while saying, "Young lady, why are you in a place at night? There aren't many buses, just construction vehicles, and it's not safe. If you have to come here, bring your boyfriend next time."
"I don't have one yet..." Mabel was saying when suddenly, noises started coming from afar, seemingly approaching.
"At this time of night, there's probably another traffic accident nearby. There are few streetlights here, and so many construction trucks, it's bound to happen!" the vendor lady said. "Be careful if you're heading to the bus stop."
"Okay, I'll be careful." Mabel nodded and continued eating her pancake, waiting for the map.
Soon after, several cars—one, two, three... more than a few—drove toward them, surrounding the little pancake stall. The headlights were so bright they made her eyes hurt. Mabel raised her right hand to shield her eyes, still holding her half-eaten pancake.
Then, several men in black uniforms stepped out of the cars. One of them scrutinized Mabel and asked, "Are you Mabel Quinn?"
"...Yes," Mabel responded, bewildered, not understanding how they knew her name or why these vehicles had gathered here.
Then, she saw the person take out a phone and say, "Reporting in, the target has been found, at Madam Wang's pancake stall, 235 Fengqing Road."