Chapter Three: Whose Script?

Xinglan touched Qiao's arm. Overturning the table now would only give management an excuse to discipline the locker room. “I'll accept a temporary restriction,” she said. “But the game report must state that management limited my minutes based on off-site, non-clinical advice.” Luo's eyes hardened. “Is that a threat?” “Documentation. A decision made to protect a player should be easy to record.” Du slammed the board onto the table. “Enough. Xinglan sits four minutes, then I decide based on the game. I am responsible for the contest.” It was a compromise—and the first boundary he had drawn. Yunzhou expanded its pressure as soon as the third quarter began. Zhou was trapped twice near the sideline.