Chapter Five: Applause, Calculated

“Then what? Wait for another rejection to turn your cards over?” Jiming had no answer. That evening, Xu Zhi printed the anonymous email. The missing founder was Shen Jiamu, once an engineer in Chengyue's personal laboratory. After Chengyue was declared dead at sea, Shen founded Far Lantern's first project and vanished six months later. “Those test credentials,” she asked, “came from the system?” “You heard us.” “I heard Cheng Ye say system. I need you to answer.” Jiming nodded and described the email, Liang Sen, Far Lantern, and Reversal Value. When he reached the system's warning about his greatest desire, he looked away. She understood. “It's evaluating me?” “I don't know.”