Lin Wei didn't sleep much that night.
Even with the new mattress, soft as clouds, and blackout curtains that turned day into dusk, his mind kept racing. He kept turning over the events of the day like pages in a half-burned book. The card had power. That much was clear. But what was the cost?
He glanced at his phone again. The last message remained:
"Spending freely is easy. Spending wisely is rare.Chapter Two has begun."
No timestamp. No reply option. He tried calling the number, but it didn't even ring. Just silence. Like whoever had sent it was beyond reach—or not human at all.
Was he part of a psychological experiment? An elaborate scam? A test run for some billionaire's idea of entertainment?
He didn't know. But one thing was clear: he was being watched.
The next morning, Lin Wei decided to experiment further.
He walked to a bank—a major national branch in central Beijing—and asked to speak with a manager. The clerk was polite, if slightly confused, but eventually led him to a glass-walled office where a man in a dark suit with slicked hair greeted him with a courteous nod.
"Mr... Lin Wei, is it? How can we assist you today?"
"I'd like to check the balance on this card," Lin Wei said, placing the black card on the desk.
The manager leaned forward, then stopped. He blinked. "What kind of card is this?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out."
The man tapped it, turned it over, tried inserting it into a portable chip reader. The screen immediately went dark.
"That's... unusual," the manager said carefully. "Our system doesn't recognize the card at all. May I ask where you received this?"
Lin Wei shrugged. "It came in the mail. No return address."
The manager's smile flickered for just a moment. "Mr. Lin, this might be some kind of novelty item. Or a custom-made membership card—some luxury companies do that. But as far as I can tell, this isn't connected to any banking institution. I'm afraid I can't offer further details."
He returned the card carefully, as if it might bite.
Lin Wei nodded, thanked him, and left. As soon as he stepped outside, his phone vibrated again.
"Traditional systems will not serve you.Use the card. Observe the world. Learn its levers."
He stared at the message, then slowly looked up. The street was full of people. A woman on a scooter passed by, a child clinging to her waist. A courier shouted over his shoulder while dodging pedestrians. Life was moving, loud and chaotic as ever.
But now, Lin Wei felt as if he stood outside it. Watching. Not participating.
That afternoon, he took a ride to Wangfujing, one of Beijing's busiest shopping districts, and visited the top floor of a luxury department store.
It wasn't the clothes or the tech he was interested in this time—it was the real estate office tucked behind the indoor garden café.
The receptionist, a thin woman in a pale pink blouse, barely looked up. "Appointments only."
"I'm not here to browse," Lin Wei said. "I want to buy a unit."
Now she looked up. Her eyes drifted from his plain clothes to the watch on his wrist—an Omega Constellation that sparkled even under fluorescent lights.
"One moment, sir. I'll get our top agent."
Ten minutes later, Lin Wei was seated across from a man named Zhou Feng—balding, confident, with a voice like velvet. He showed Lin Wei listings on a tablet, all high-rise units overlooking the Forbidden City or located in premium residential districts like Sanlitun and Chaoyang Park.
"This one," Lin Wei said, pointing. "Top floor. Two balconies. The one with the koi pond in the living room."
Zhou raised his eyebrows. "A fine choice. Thirty-eight million yuan."
"I'll pay in full."
"...Right now?"
"Yes."
Zhou hesitated for only a moment. "Very well. Do you have a preferred method of payment?"
Lin Wei placed the black card on the desk.
Zhou frowned. "I've never seen this brand before. No logo?"
"Just try it."
He did.
Approved.
No PIN. No signature. No fuss.
Zhou Feng looked like he'd seen a ghost. "Sir... if you don't mind me asking... are you with a government agency?"
Lin Wei laughed. "No."
"A foreign investor?"
"Nope."
Zhou swallowed. "Then... who are you?"
Lin Wei leaned back. He didn't have an answer.
But that night, in his new apartment—a penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows and silk-draped walls—he opened his notebook again.
New list:
There's no limit.
No explanation.
No trace.
People accept the card, even when it makes no sense.
The card works only when used. Not inspected.
But under the list, he wrote:
Someone is pulling the strings.
Then, as if on cue, the apartment's lights flickered. The big screen TV turned on by itself. A blue screen lit up with one word:
RULES
A synthesized voice—calm, neither male nor female—began to speak:
"You are now a bearer of the Infinite Card.There are five rules. You must obey them at all times:
The card cannot be used to directly harm others.
You may not give the card to anyone else.
You cannot attempt to replicate, analyze, or destroy the card.
You must spend at least once every 7 days, or the card will be deactivated.
Breaking any rule will result in severe consequence."
The screen went black.
The room was silent again.
Lin Wei stood there, frozen. His mind reeled.
Use it every week... or lose it.Can't give it away.Can't use it for revenge.And most of all—can't walk away from it.
The card was a blessing.And a leash.
His phone buzzed once more:
"Chapter Three has begun.Choose wisely."
Lin Wei sat down slowly, holding the card in both hands.
He had just become the richest man in Beijing.
But he was no longer free.