Chapter Four: A Ledger Without Numbers

When the front doors of Tidelistening House gave way, Shen Yanci shoved the black ledger into Zhou Jibai's arms. “Third window in the west corridor.” “There's an ocean outside it.” “There's an old freight track below.” Jibai did not ask why Yanci made escape sound like a meeting agenda. He folded the employee trust document into the insulated box, put the cassette inside his jacket, and kicked over the long table. Bowls rolled and cold congee washed across the tiles. When Shen Boqian's men entered, they saw only two shadows vanish down the corridor. Behind the third window was not a cliff but a rusted lift cage. Yanci used the key to force its brake. The cage plunged, throwing Jibai against him.