The elderly man's gaze fell on the ID card. He paused for a second before looking up at Xu Wuyi's face. It was a familiar black-and-white mask. The man's pupils slightly constricted.
But he said nothing. He simply set down his thermos and swiped the ID card on the card reader. The reader emitted a soft BEEP.
The elderly man stood and respectfully handed the ID card back. "Captain Meng, please follow me," he said, his voice kept very low.
Opening the small door next to the reception window, he led Xu Wuyi across the foyer to a door that looked like a storage closet. He reached out and pressed a spot on the wall next to it. The door silently slid open to both sides, revealing an elevator inside.
Xu Wuyi stepped into the elevator. The elderly man nodded to him from outside before the doors slid shut again. The elevator began its slow descent.
