Chapter Three: The Price of Desire

The familiarity of it nearly buckled his knees. “The future isn't inevitable,” Lin Wu said. “But its price has arrived.” Echo pushed Pay to the center of the screen. The icon trembled, as if it understood its fate. It delivered one last official notice—YOUR BALANCE IS SECURE—before the gray bubble opened and swallowed it with every bank card, bill, and transaction record. Price tags filled the world. Above a passing man: 【Desire: Father survives tonight. Price: sensation in left hand.】 Above a crying girl: 【Desire: Lover remembers her. Price: three years of life.】 Lin Wu's shone brightest: 【Desire: Evidence that the deleted existed. Price: no one remembers you.】 Cheng Ye looked away before he could see his own.