Chapter Two: Every Fortune Has a Price

After the meeting, he received an internal email titled SPONSOR SHOOTING SCHEDULE. The attachment contained one sentence: If you see numbers beside money, old practice court, eleven tonight. Lu Chen did not go. Instead, at ten thirty he hid in an equipment room across the old court. At 10:58, Su Tang appeared alone, checked the exits, and placed a yellowed contract on the first row of seats. At eleven, every light went out. Footsteps entered the dark—three sets. Men came through the staff tunnel carrying a medical case. “Ms. Su,” a stranger said, “Chairman Xu is concerned about your stress. We are taking you somewhere to rest.” “There are cameras here.” “The circuit is under maintenance tonight.”