Hengci recalls the last time he saw Xu-Laoshi. Xu Wen had been waiting by his car outside the police station. And just like today, Hengci had stood frozen, unable to go to him. So Xu Wen had gone to him instead. But unlike the countless times before, he did not fully close the distance between them. Three steps remained. Hengci held the panic down by telling himself it was only this: they were in public and there were prying eyes. Then Xu Wen spoke, and for the first time sin