Chapter Five: Who Breaks First

The cache began accepting Xu Zhao’s version. Lin Mo’s breath shortened. His tongue caught against his palate as it had in childhood. Every silence became evidence. “Admit they’re right,” Xu Zhao said, stepping closer, “and this persona is all you’ll ever be.” “Why did you leave the internet?” Qiao Qi asked. Xu Zhao’s smile caught for half a second. “The whole internet says criticism broke you. The paper file says you died. Which judgment are you afraid they’ll believe?” The rooms flickered. The duel was not about who was stronger. It was about who first accepted the audience’s definition. Zhou Ye flipped his board and showed Lin Mo: [WHAT’S WRONG WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY? SAVES WORDS, SAVES POWER, SAVES EXPLAINING THINGS TO IDIOTS.]