Chapter Three: The Price of Desire

“Then don't waste the trust that's left.” Cheng Cheng emerged from the resuscitation room, exhausted but still able to recognize him. “You actually came. Good. Buy me a coffee.” He caught her wrist. Payment illuminated a declining number beneath her skin: IDENTITY BALANCE, 42%. ESTIMATED DEPLETION: 6 DAYS, 10 HOURS. It matched the Home Screen countdown exactly. “Where did these patients come from?” Lin Wu asked. Cheng Cheng frowned. “The Canopy Foundation sent them last night. They said the meteor shower triggered mass panic.” The answer was too neat. Cheng Ye ordered Echo to open a route. A nonexistent door appeared behind a hospital locker, labeled CANOPY EMPLOYEE MEDICAL ACCESS. The road beneath it ran west toward headquarters.