‘SEE YOU MORNING’ 003 Area 51

Li Haojun was driving along the road, the sun climbing higher. Unknowingly, the surroundings on both sides had grown more and more bustling, with more residences, but the style was unlike the artificially built row houses or standalone structures of the earlier rural dwellings. Instead, these were modern industrial 3D-printed homes, ranging from modest single-story houses with small yards to two- or three-story villas.
Some residents had actually shaped their houses into cartoon figures. One entire community was all Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Goofy...
And the Motel 6 really was built to look like a Number 6 billiard ball, each one parked on the green grass.
Li Haojun felt the car interior was getting a bit hot. Opening the window made the wind too strong, so he closed it and switched the AC to recirculation. It suddenly dawned on him that this was an electric car, so he glanced at the fuel gauge.
"Does the AC affect the mileage?" Li Haojun asked.
"It's fine, you can treat it like a gasoline or diesel car. It's fuel cell powered," Qin Wenjing answered from the back seat.
"Ah... my memory seems to have a blank in the middle. I remember some common sense, but it's from a long time ago. I wonder if I can still keep up with this era," Li Haojun murmured to himself.
"Don't worry about it. Maybe you'll recall it, or you'll learn it all over again. You used to know so much. Don't be concerned, even if your memory can't be restored, I will help you get your life back on track."
"Thank you," Li Haojun glanced at Qin Wenjing in the rearview mirror.
"What are you thanking me for..." Qin Wenjing hesitated for a moment, then said, "Just like you once helped me adapt to my life."
While driving, Li Haojun seemed to catch a glimpse of something in the sky on the left through the windshield. He leaned forward and looked up to get a better view.
"Is that a flying car?"
"Yep, a flying taxi," Qin Wenjing replied in a playful voice, easing the previously somewhat heavy atmosphere.
"Then why didn't we take one?"
"Be. Cause. I. Want. This!" Qin Wenjing was at it again.
"Oh, okay. Can we take one?"
"Of course, we can call one. It's unmanned. But this time I liked you driving me," Qin Wenjing tilted her head and looked at Li Haojun with a big smile.
"Oh, okay. You've arranged everything."
"Yep, you can get a head start getting used to the retired life."
"Hahaha," they both laughed.
But after the laughter subsided, Li Haojun looked at her in the rearview mirror, both familiar and yet strange. Is this really my partner? Is she? Yet I have no past with her, or rather, I don't remember any earlier memories with her. No? Yet she is so attentively keeping me company. And it seems to me that I offer her no utilitarian benefit at all. She is young, beautiful, financially independent, and what am I?
On the road, there were more and more flying cars in the sky, coming from all directions, following the same flight path parallel to the road ahead. A sign flashed by ahead: Spokane, comma, Area 51, 10 Miles Ahead.
"Area 51? Isn't Area 51 in the Nevada desert?" Li Haojun asked, confused.
"Nowadays, lots of counties across the country have an Area 51. It's just the name, not that military restricted zone. These places called Area 51 are mainly communities where genetically modified, bionically enhanced, or AI robot individuals choose to live together. But a few nationwide are officially certified for interstellar cultural exchange, and the one we're going to is one of them."
"Haha, now that's exciting. Are there any aliens?"
"Not necessarily."
"Why do we have to go there to exchange data?"
"Because there's no CIA, no FBI, or anything like that. It's Interstellar Alliance law enforcement here."
"Wow."
"I'm just guessing. More likely it's just company protocol," Qin Wenjing added.
As they spoke, right ahead along the highway was a landing area for flying cars. They touched down and then merged onto the road on their wheels, so Li Haojun had to slow down and merge into the traffic flow.
He was curious, wondering what kind of passengers were in those flying cars. Some had privacy curtains drawn or UV-blocking windows. Others were tourists looking out, families, young people, some who looked like business people, and so on. There were children, too, pressed against the windows waving hello, but he didn't see anyone with pets.
"I thought I might see octopuses, lizard people, or something," Li Haojun chuckled.
"It's not that exaggerated. Look ahead, there'll be a Starbucks Coffeehouse on the right side of the road. After we pass it, there'll be a tavern called 'Chanson Pavilion.' Just park in front of it."
Ahead was the familiar green Starbucks Siren. The building was a clean-cut glass square, with a few customers inside.
Further ahead, a two-story French-style building with a stone exterior, gray-tiled roof, dark brown timber door and window frames. The sign in front read: Chanson. This should be the place.
Li Haojun parked the car in a spot, watched Qin Wenjing get out, locked the car, then walked over and took her left hand. Qin Wenjing looked up, her face brightening with a happy smile, and followed him toward the tavern entrance.
Pushing open the door, they were directly facing the bar. On a barstool sat a guest dressed like a white cowboy. As soon as he turned around, he recognized the arrivals.
"Emily, long time no see."
"Hi, John," Qin Wenjing replied.
"Ethan, how are you doing?"
"Good, thanks," Li Haojun had just been reminded of his English name and hastily gave a perfunctory answer.
"This is Mr. John Weyant," Qin Wenjing quickly introduced him to Li Haojun.
"Nice to meet you," Li Haojun finished speaking, then thought to himself, should I say "again" or not? Oh well, whatever.
After the greeting, Qin Wenjing had already taken a seat on the barstool next to John. Li Haojun sat down beside her.
"Brandy, my treat. Sorry to have kept you waiting today," Qin Wenjing said, reaching into John's jacket and pulling out a stainless steel flask.
"You're still... Is everything going smoothly over there?"
"Huh, same as always. Those hillbillies, even lazier than me, and they're always losing stuff."
As he spoke, the drinks they ordered had arrived. Qin Wenjing poured a few shots, filling John's flask right back up and returning it. A little was left in one glass, which she handed to Li Haojun, saying, "You're driving back, so this is all you can have."
She then poured a little from another glass into an empty one, handed the rest to John, and said, "Cheers!"
Li Haojun, not being familiar with the other man, gave a polite toast and didn't interject. The two chatted for a while and decided to go somewhere else for lunch. As Li Haojun opened the door for Qin Wenjing, he glanced in another direction. Two men were walking toward the tavern, about to enter. One was tall and thin, with a gaunt face, sharp chin, and high cheekbones, looking like the legendary Thunder God. His large round eyes had huge irises and tiny pupils. The other man had a long face, pale lips, and a robust physique. A round belt, made of the same material as his trousers, was wrapped around his waist and tied in a knot.
Li Haojun realized he had been staring at them for too long and hurriedly offered a polite smile and a nod. The men had obviously also seen Qin Wenjing on her way out.
The long-faced man rushed forward a couple of steps, bowed slightly, and said, "A pleasure, beautiful." Bent over, he looked up at Qin Wenjing with a smirk. Before he could straighten up, his belt sprang loose and dropped down, dangling loosely.
John, who had already stepped out, burst out laughing. He hadn't simply walked away; he was standing at the street corner with his hands on his hips, watching.
Li Haojun gave an apologetic smile, put his arm around Qin Wenjing's waist, and quickly left. Qin Wenjing merely glanced back with a polite smile and said nothing.
At noon, the street was bathed in warm sunshine. The shadows of the tree branches and leaves were sharply outlined on the ground. John and Qin Wenjing walked ahead, talking about something.
Li Haojun followed not far behind, but he couldn't hear what they were saying. Why should he need to listen? He didn't want to feel like a third wheel, knowing clearly that he was the stranger here.
Just then, the two in front wanted to enter a roadside diner. Qin Wenjing turned her head and saw Li Haojun trailing far behind, so she waved him over to wait.
It was a barbecue restaurant, but the steaks and lamb legs were all bioengineered, with various breeds available to order on the spot. John sat down opposite the two of them, glanced at Li Haojun, and said to Qin Wenjing, "Is your little friend doing okay?" His eyes were fixed on Li Haojun as he spoke.
"Don't worry, I'm very well, thanks," Li Haojun answered, merely being polite.
"He's still the same," John said to Qin Wenjing.
"Yes, I'll take good care of him," Qin Wenjing said, turning to glance at Li Haojun. But Li Haojun did not turn his head to meet her eyes, even though he knew she was looking at him.
As they talked, the food arrived. John secretly took out his flask and contentedly enjoyed bite after bite of meat followed by a swig of liquor. He didn't say much more.
After lunch, they said their goodbyes. Before getting on, John turned back and waved to them, then rode off into the distance on his Harley, the engine letting out a series of pops and bangs.
"What do we do next?" With John gone, Li Haojun finally spoke.
"Are you jealous?" Qin Wenjing asked, taking both of Li Haojun's hands.
"No," was the flat reply.
John and I just have a professional relationship. He saved me once. He's a field agent for Montana.
"He's a secret agent?"
"Something like that."
"He loves you?"
"Maybe, but... he's like an uncle to me."
"Okay. I'm fine now."
Qin Wenjing gave a wry smile, turned around, and slowly walked down the street. Li Haojun knew he hadn't behaved very appropriately and didn't say much more. Silently, he took Qin Wenjing's hand and accompanied her.
Perhaps it was in his nature, Li Haojun was always very alert. Maybe that was why he had overreacted. He kept an eye on the passing vehicles and people. Most were well-dressed, normal-looking people. No aliens.
Suddenly, Qin Wenjing pulled his hand and said, "Let's go see an opera."
"Sure," Li Haojun followed her into a theater by the roadside.
A performance was already underway. They could hear the singing from the lobby. Qin Wenjing didn't go straight in. Instead, she went into a changing room on the side first, emerging in an evening gown.
The aubergine off-shoulder mermaid dress had light green trim, the color of a coleus leaf. Her hair was braided to one side, accentuating her slender neck and single bare shoulder.
Li Haojun walked up to meet her, wrapping one arm around her waist and the other around her head and upper back, gently pulling her into his embrace.
Qin Wenjing said nothing. She silently rested her hands on his chest and laid her face against his shoulder for a long hug. Then, the two of them walked into the performance hall, found an empty seat in a corner, and sat down. Li Haojun held her hand, and Qin Wenjing leaned against his shoulder.
The stage had no complex cast of extras, just vocal performance. The dim stage lighting and the ethereal melodic lines seemed, in the sparsely seated theater, to be peering into every corner, peering into every corner of lonely souls.
And time itself seemed to slow its pace, caught up in the graceful singing, allowing those with feeling to fully savor this wonderful moment...
As evening lights began to glow, the street was just the two of them. Li Haojun draped his jacket over Qin Wenjing's shoulders, took a deep breath of the cool night air to refresh himself, and held her close. The melody of the singing still seemed to linger and circle behind them.
"Where do we go next?"
"Motel 6 outside of town..."