Chapter One: Tomorrow for One Dollar

Ninety-seven million yuan in debt. Three years of work. Two hundred and sixty-three employees. Final price: one dollar. At the bottom of the email, the electronic signature of his former partner, Pei Du, resembled a scar that had closed but never stopped itching. “Champagne, sir?” The flight attendant leaned toward him. Lu glanced at the old laptop on his business-class table, its corners scorched black, and shook his head. “Water is fine.” The computer was the only machine that had still booted after the fire in Prism’s server room. The insurance company had not wanted it. Neither had the creditors. In that respect, it resembled Lu himself: worth less than the cost of carrying it away.