Chapter Three: The Seller

credit, and undisclosed accident memories. Seeing a price beside “maternal relationship” made Cheng calm. “How do we stop it?” Every product needed proof of initial ownership, Xu explained. The origin certificate was cached on the laptop, but the folder required a credential not yet migrated. Face verification had failed. Ji was using his voiceprint. His professional skills were transferring; his kinship was on auction. Cheng remembered Lin's question in the recording. “It isn't proof of who I am. It's proof of who someone accepts me as.” He video-called his mother and showed her the station. “Mom, I forgot your birthday. Who did you bring home from here ten years ago?”