Chapter Three: The Price of Attention

“I need every edit station, top render priority, and your name.” “My name?” “A client won't formally reject a junior editor's version. They will reject a version submitted by Creative Director Tang Xiao.” For the first time, Tang understood that his title was merely a trigger in Chen's hands. “Deal.” At 11:12, every processor in Starbridge turned toward *Through Tomorrow*. Chen laid variables across the timeline like a minefield: silver logo or black, left tunnel or right, acknowledge the recall or remain silent, heroine exits or keeps driving. Tang used his most useful talent—arrogance—to provoke the board into explicit rejection. The first rejected cut showed Aurora's PR director dropping a hotel keycard in an elevator.