Chapter Four: The Price of Losing

“Then we don't publish yet.” Xinglan handed one drive to Qiao. “You keep this. The other goes to the players' union lawyer. No club email.” Zhou looked up. “You still trust me?” “I trust the choice you just made.” At eleven that night, a league notice arrived: pending insurance review, Xinglan's registration for Game Three was provisional. Luo had finally overturned the board in plain sight. She forwarded the notice to counsel and replied with two words: Independent examination. Then she looked at Du. “In Game Three, let them think we can win without me.”