Chapter One: A Borrowed Life

The gallery lights went dark. In the glass, his soaked shirt overlapped with a golden sea that belonged to someone else. Back in their tiny rented room, Zhou Jibai was crouched over a water-damaged laptop. The ceiling leaked into a plastic basin with a patient, rhythmic tap. “Collectors again?” Zhou asked. “Yeah.” “I can move eight thousand out of the shop.” “You haven't recovered what you lent me last time.” Lin Yan hung his coat over a chair. “Stop pouring money into this hole.” He did not mention that the hospital needed another twenty thousand by ten in the morning. Pride was worthless when you were poor, but a friend's money could not become free pride.