Chapter Five: The Shortest Route, the Loudest Slap

Lin connected the Night Screen to the main display. As Qi Xia recited the fragments' remembered sequence, Lin faced away and redrew every stroke in precisely the order he had used seven years ago. Instruments compared pressure, pauses, and habits in real time. The match was as exact as time replaying itself. Before the end, Lin deliberately stopped. “There is an erasure mark in the lower-left corner,” Gu blurted. Silence. That mark had never been published or mentioned in the accusation. Lin turned. “How did you know, Teacher Gu?” Comments engulfed the screen. Gu's assistant tried to leave and met police at the doors. Using her daytime identity, Su Tang released bank footage and the compactor's complete route.