Chapter Four: The Ship That Never Sank

“We don't promise resurrection.” Zhou offered a risk waiver. “The rooms read regrets, not wishes. The decisive choice must be yours.” Gu signed without reading. “Every rule has a price.” “Some don't.” Room 002 lit. Salt wind and a foghorn rolled through the door. Beyond it waited Chengjun One, Gu's first freighter—the ship that had sunk twenty-five years earlier with his wife aboard. They crossed onto its storm-lashed bridge. Gu Yang sat at the helm, twenty-seven years old, exactly as he had looked before his fatal test flight. “Dad, the east compartment is flooding. If we don't abandon ship, everyone dies.” Gu lunged toward his son, then stopped, afraid the miracle might break.