Chapter Three: The Deleted Screenwriter

The report existed for four minutes. After a refresh it became a story about rescued cats. The reporter denied writing about Lin, and the image server had no record. Gu had captured the page. Enlarged, the photograph showed three figures beneath Number Fourteen’s porch: eight-year-old Xiaoman, Shen Qing in white, and an older girl whose face was covered by a credit. SCREENPLAY BY QIAO LU. “Qiao didn’t write it,” Lin said. “She claims it arrived anonymously.” “She also calls this her first film.” Gu opened an old archive. “At twelve she acted in an unreleased short at Qihe. Her name was Lin Lu.” The sound of scissors closed inside Lin’s head.