After finishing their coffee, Leitao and Alice walked together through the streets of Shanghai. The sunlight cast two shadows behind them, one long and one short. Alice happily invited Leitao to visit the newspaper office where she worked, and Leitao agreed.
The newspaper office was somewhat aged but full of vitality. Reporters and editors hurried in and out of the entrance, some clutching manuscripts as they moved with urgency, others engaged in spirited debates over news topics. The air was thick with the mixed scent of ink and paper—a smell Leitao found both familiar and strange.
Alice led Leitao into the lobby and introduced it with pride. "Leitao, this is our office. Look over there; that’s the typesetting area. Every day, a great deal of news is arranged into lead type here before being shared with the public." Leitao looked on as workers focused on arranging the type, their movements practiced and professional.
Chapter 55