Chapter 44

• Mr. Robert was fifty-seven years old. Though his hair had long turned white, his bearing remained vigorous and sharp, the kind of vitality that came not from youth but from discipline and confidence. His tall frame was wrapped in a set of gray sportswear, simple yet refined, and when he stood there, he radiated a quiet elegance—an air of literary depth and artistic cultivation that seemed to seep from his very bones.
• “Kenzo, long time no see,” Mr. Robert said with a faint smile. “I only just arrived on the mainland. I didn’t expect to hear news about you so soon.”
• “Your arrival itself is already big news,” Kenzo replied smoothly. “Not to mention that this will be your first film in five years since you stepped away from the industry. The media are watching you closely.”