Chapter Two: Smooth Does Not Mean Easy

After a long silence, he told her about the system. She did not laugh. “Does it help you believe, or help you cover what scares you?” “Is there a difference?” “Belief is seeing the cost and walking forward anyway. Self-deception is hiding the cost and pretending it is not there.” He returned to work, gathered every altered draft, Zhou’s emails, and client records. His hands shook as he told the system, “I believe the truth will be spoken smoothly. I accept that I may lose this job.” At the next staff meeting, he put the evidence on the screen. Zhou raged, then coldly sent security to escort him out. Xu left with a cardboard box and a ringing phone.