Chapter Two: The Whole World Betrays His Secrets

"I never intended to exploit what happened." "But you're exploiting me now." She removed the diamond necklace the Gu family had lent her and placed it on the terrace table. "I'll finish tonight's performance. Tomorrow we rewrite the agreement. Return the debt to the original bank. Pay my fee monthly. Give me equal access to all technical tests involving either of us. Otherwise, the arrangement ends." His gaze was complicated. "You could take the money and leave." "I'm short of money, not backbone." After a long silence, he nodded. "Agreed." As she turned, his watch lit once more. She braced for another humiliation. Instead, a brief mechanical announcement sounded: [Sample intimacy increased. Phase-two threshold enabled.]