Prologue

A light autumn rain was falling on the blanket of yellowed leaves that covered the sidewalk.

The evening was advancing, and, with it, small groups of people crowded the neighborhood's streets. Some were hurrying for last shopping, some were rushing to the nearest subway, and others to the pubs.

Adam was trying to navigate his way through this whirlwind of voices and hurried footsteps. He had just received some disturbing news, and the disorientation it caused was affecting his progress through the crowd.

The long-awaited promotion had finally arrived, and he would be moving from simple editorial work to work in the field. But, unfortunately, this new assignment would take him away from his beloved city.

That morning he had made a remarkable effort to keep his cool after finding out where he would be working when the boss told him of his destination. Instead, his attention had been drawn solely to one word.

Beijing

He would be working in Beijing. He would be returning to the city he had promised never to set foot in again for the rest of his life.

Sometimes fate was indeed mocking.

He had worked hard over the past few years to get that recognition, and now that he had received it, he was destined to live it in the place he hated the most. But he certainly couldn't turn down this opportunity.

"You are the best person for the job," his boss had exclaimed. "The correspondent who works for our paper will retire at the end of the month, and you are the only one in the newsroom who also speaks Chinese."

He had made no secret of this knowledge; after all, it was in black and white on his resume. What that piece of paper didn't say, however, was that not only did he speak the language, but that he was half Chinese, even if from the look of it, one would never have guessed it.

Well, the city is vast. So what are the chances that I'll run into him? He tried to comfort himself with his thoughts while he struggled to make his way through the bedlam of people around him.

Caught up in his thoughts, he arrived in front of the short staircase that led to his apartment in Soho.

He looked for the keys to get in and, with a deep sigh, leaned heavily on the door he had just closed.

Three weeks. Adam had only three weeks before moving in to sort out all the paperwork he needed and get everything in order.

"I better get busy," he told himself before heading for the bedroom.

After all, he was a grown man now; he didn't need anyone's support. He could handle anything.

What could possibly happen to him once he got back to Beijing?