Chapter One: The Midnight Screening Never Ended

Her mother’s death certificate said gas explosion, but water had blurred the address into gray pulp. Onscreen, a girl entered Number Thirteen. An oval mirror hung to the left, one brass tack missing from its frame. Without turning on a light, she avoided the second squeaking floorboard and walked into the kitchen. “There’s a door behind the refrigerator,” Lin whispered. Xu Kui, the production assistant beside her, turned. “You saw the rough cut?” The girl pushed the refrigerator aside. A narrow door appeared. This was the midnight victory screening of *Number Thirteen, Oak Street*. Made for less than four million yuan, with no stars or publicity, it had been scheduled to vanish after three days.