Chapter Two: A False Diamond and Real Debt

Wancheng ordered the exhibition hall sealed. Luo objected that guests would arrive in two hours and a closure would provoke media speculation. “Let them speculate,” she replied. “Better than letting the banks confirm it.” On Lin Yan's phone, the trust deficit fell from negative 0.6 to negative 1.1 percent. Containing the exhibit had not contained the crisis. The opponent had a second move. Four people could access the cartridge. One cleaning supervisor had abruptly taken leave. Lin Yan did not chase that obvious trail. Instead, he noticed a fresh crease in Su Qirong's auction catalog, directly across the settlement terms. “Who is tonight's buyer?” Lin Yan asked. Su Qirong snapped the catalog shut. “Confidential.”