The following story is inspired by the novel's themes of power dynamics, class, and transactional love: The Grammar of Indifference
"Will you miss me?" Ava asked. She didn't want him to say yes; she just wanted to see if he could manage the word without a disclaimer.
"I'm going to London for a few months," Julian said, checking his watch. It was a gesture of efficiency, not a farewell.
The request refers to debut novel, Exciting Times (titled Aufregende Zeiten in German), which follows the cynical and linguistically obsessed Ava as she navigates a complex love triangle in Hong Kong.