Chapter One: The Ring That Crushed an Elevator

“Every affected object in Riverside Mansion belonged to the newlyweds,” she said. “The bride’s possessions gained three to five times their weight. The groom’s barely changed. But the ring recognizes Zhao Kai.” “Where is the bride?” “Su Rui is missing. Zhao says she fled with a lover. He gave police a secret recording—the room in it is the piano room you described.” Lin looked up. He had never told her about the room. Xu crouched beside him. “My father died in East Tunnel at 3:17. His recovery truck gained fourteen tons and crushed the cab. It wasn’t his or even his company’s. It belonged to a municipal project called Scale Zero. Those were the last words he sent me.” Her screen showed a transcript timestamped 3:16: DON’T TRUST THE SCALE.