Chapter 4: The Birth of Beijing Ghost

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Alice Sun appears invisible in Henry Li's dorm at 4 a.m. to pitch a plan: monetize her invisibility by carrying out covert tasks for classmates. Henry questions the ethics, but Alice deflects by citing his family's tech company, SYS, and its own moral compromises. After a tense negotiation, they agree to a fifty-fifty profit split. Henry goes silent for three days, then in social ethics class, he arrives late and disheveled. After class, he reveals he has built the app "Beijing Ghost" during that time, complete with a secret bank account and anonymous user system. He quickly markets the app across multiple platforms. Within forty-five seconds, the first message arrives from user C207 asking, "is this legit?" Alice replies, "Only one way to find out," officially launching their venture.

Key Events

Alice appears invisible in Henry's dorm to present her business proposal.
Henry challenges the ethical implications of spying on classmates.
Alice argues that SYS's own practices are not purely ethical.
The two negotiate a profit split, settling on 50% each.
Henry goes missing for three days, then arrives late to class.
Henry shows Alice the completed app, named "Beijing Ghost."
He explains the app's features: anonymous requests, binding contracts, and a bank account under a fake name.
Henry markets the app via multiple social media platforms.
Within a minute, the first inquiry from user C207 appears.
Alice responds, committing to the scheme.

Character Development

Alice Sun: Transitions from a fearful scholarship student to a strategic entrepreneur. She overcomes her initial guilt by focusing on her family's financial needs. She shows vulnerability in admitting her desperation and resolve in pushing the plan forward.
Henry Li: Reveals a more industrious and ethically aware side than Alice expected. He questions the morality of the venture but still builds the app, demonstrating his technical skill and his own drive to prove himself to his father. His late arrival and tired appearance hint at the effort he invested.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Invisibility as power and peril: Alice's condition becomes a tool for financial gain, but also forces her into ethical gray areas.
Class divide: The stark contrast between Alice's need for tuition money and Henry's privilege (three phones, family connections) underscores the story's social commentary.
Surveillance and exploitation: The app monetizes secret observation of others, raising questions about privacy and consent.
The "Beijing Ghost" app: Represents a new, dangerous kind of agency for Alice—a digital mask for clandestine operations.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the pivot point of the novel's plot. Alice decides to stop hiding her invisibility and instead weaponize it for profit. Her partnership with Henry transforms their adversarial relationship into a business alliance, setting up the central conflict of the story. The launch of the app introduces the core mechanic of the plot: Alice will now complete paid tasks while invisible, which will inevitably create complications with morality, relationships, and her own safety.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Alice choose to trust Henry with her secret plan despite their rivalry?
Answer: She needs a technical partner to build the app and believes Henry is the only one capable of doing it quickly and discreetly. Her desperation for money overrides her usual caution around him.
What specific ethical concerns does Henry raise about the business?
Answer: He points out that the plan capitalizes on classmates' vulnerabilities and darkest secrets, and that Alice would have to face these people in class afterward. He also questions the morality of exploiting others for profit.
How does Henry's behavior in the three days before launching the app reveal his character?
Answer: He isolates himself, works relentlessly (evidenced by his tired appearance), and refuses to update Alice until the app is fully functional. This shows his need for control, his pride in his work, and his desire to present concrete results rather than promises.