Chapter Five: The Love He Repaired

Then he saw the date in the corner. Su had received an investigative-journalism award that day, and they had eaten noodles in the rain. It was the last evening before they began disappointing each other. He made the narrowest possible mask: DO NOT ALTER SU WANQING’S FACE. DO NOT CREATE NEW EMOTION. RESTORE ONLY THE PIXELS THAT EXISTED AT THE MOMENT OF CAPTURE AND WERE LATER CROPPED. ESTIMATED COST: ONE EQUIVALENT RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST. Lin added exclusions: NOT FROM SU WANQING. NOT FROM FAMILY. NO PHYSICAL HARM. CONDITIONS ACCEPTED. With three seconds left, he clicked SUBMIT. The next morning, eggs sizzled in the kitchen. Su wore one of his old shirts. “Coffee’s on the table. Why did you sleep on the sofa?”