Chapter One: The Last Shot Before the Window Closed

Shen turned to the bench. “Gu Chenzhou. Warm-up's over.” The veteran removed his bib and walked toward the halfway line. Among the 3,100 supporters, someone called a name that had not been heard in a long time. “Gu Chenzhou!” One voice became a wave. Gu stood beside the fourth official and looked back. “Twenty minutes?” Shen watched a golden outline gather around him. “No,” he said. “Give me eight.”