The broadcast came three days later.
I was in the kitchen making tea when Xu Zhenlan turned on the television in the living room. The sound drifted through the doorway—the familiar cadence of a government announcement, the kind that tried to sound reassuring while delivering news that wasn't.
"—urge citizens to remain calm. The infection, while spreading faster than initially projected, is still contained to isolated regions—"
My hand stopped mid-pour.
The kettle hung suspended over the cup, steam rising in lazy spirals.
Faster than initially projected.
I set the kettle down carefully and walked to the doorway.
On the screen, a government official stood behind a podium, her expression professionally neutral. Behind her, a map displayed red zones spreading across regions that should have been yellow. Should have stayed yellow for another eleven days.
