Chapter Three: Fate's First Account

Luo closed his eyes. “Your father's first settlement cost him three months.” Shen Yan seized the counter. “You knew? My father had one of these watches?” “Not one like it. The one you have was his.” The doorbell rang by itself. No customer stood outside. An old camera rested on the step. Its model had never been released, yet its cracked screen glowed. Xu Zhi entered behind Shen Yan and stopped cold. “That belonged to my sister. She had it when she disappeared three years ago.” The camera contained no film, but it slowly produced a photograph. It showed a windowless gallery. Xu Zhi's missing sister stood at the back holding that day's newspaper. Beside her was Shen Yan's father, missing for seven years.