December 31, a sunny day.
New Year was tomorrow. Normally, all major businesses would have started their promotions by now with employees of all companies ready for their long weekend. The young ones were especially eager for action—tonight, they would be busy playing their "instruments" deep into the night, until the "simultaneous harmony" was reached.
However, there was not a trace of jubilation in Huo Zhou at the moment. The entire city was trapped in a state of confusion, with a mixture of excitement, fright, expectation, and bewilderment.
The government had been highly efficient. In the past month or so, a third of the population was successfully evacuated. The frequency of the trains had been increased and every day felt like the Spring Festival peak season, shipping people out of town.
