Watchmaker in Guilin Rehearsal Room

Late afternoon north-window sidelight cuts through a Guilin rehearsal room, illuminating deep lines on a watchmaker's face as he stands beside a wooden crate. Dust motes hang suspended in the bright shafts, marking the passage of time within the space. The ceiling defies gravity, crowded with giant, floating fruit and lanterns that rest as solidly as the tools on the workbench below. The man's expression is joyful, his hands poised over the crate with vibrant energy. Tiny specks of gold dust reflect off the polished metal gears scattered across the wooden surface, catching the light before falling into the shadows beneath the crate's edge.