Chapter Four: One Life Divided Twelve Ways

That night against the Nangang Breakers, the Whales played their first game under the trust. Nobody hunted empty statistics. Centers boxed out so guards could rebound; bench players called opposing sets; Gao passed whenever trapped. Lu Chen scored thirty-two, with twenty-six created by teammates' assists. Eight seconds remained in a tie game. The crimson candlewick reached from Xu's courtside seat. Before it touched Lu Chen, it split into thirty-six lines so pale they were nearly invisible. Lu Chen used Gao's screen and hit the three. The arena erupted. Instead of a charge, gold text appeared: [Collective value realized. Life value increased: 1 year, 4 months.]