Shi Che returned to his room, walked into the bathroom, stood under the showerhead, turned on the switch, and icy cold water poured down on him. With both hands braced against the wall and his dark eyes tightly shut, cold water dripped from his hair down his body, each drop hitting the floor. A tear slowly welled up from the corner of his eye but was quickly washed away by the cold water, indistinguishable from the water itself.
After his shower, Shi Che stood in front of the bathroom mirror. He carefully shaved his beard, combed his hair, and groomed himself thoroughly. Then he walked out, put on a suit, fastened his cuffs, and even tied his tie several times until he was sure he looked impeccable. Only then did he glance at his watch. It was nine in the morning, the time he and Ling Chuxia had agreed upon for their last meeting.
Sure enough, just as he thought this, the room's doorbell rang.
