First published 2007
Li Wei stands at the window of his Shanghai office, watching the city transform below. As a young investment banker, he navigates the treacherous waters of China's rapidly changing economy. His firm handles deals that reshape entire industries, but each transaction brings new ethical dilemmas. Li must choose between personal advancement and his principles when a major client proposes a scheme that could enrich them both while devastating rural communities. His relationships with his traditional father and his ambitious girlfriend fracture under the pressure. The higher Li climbs in Shanghai's financial hierarchy, the more he questions what success truly costs. Lowenstein crafts a story about one man's struggle to maintain his integrity in a world where money speaks louder than conscience.
Genres: fiction, business, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, moral-dilemma
Setting: China, Shanghai
Period: 21st Century
327 pages · Paperback · CITIC Publishing House; 1 (2008 on September 1)