Chapter Two: Smooth Does Not Mean Easy

On the third call, one grumbled that he had a retired ferry and could show the original route. On its deck, wind wrecked every client’s hair. Xu stopped selling abstract urban renewal and let them see fishermen unloading at dawn and faded navigational marks on warehouse walls. The proposal passed. At the celebration, Zhou announced that he would lead the account and Xu would “support execution.” Applause arrived as if through water. [You believed the project would be completed smoothly. Result achieved.] Xu stared at the message. It had not lied. The project had passed. But the part about his name being seen had somehow never entered reality. “What exactly did you believe?” Lin asked that night on the hospital roof, offering him warm soy milk.