"All right, it's getting late." He Tao glanced up at the old quartz clock hanging on the wall. The hour hand had already pointed to eight in the evening, and the numbers on the dial were somewhat blurred.
He stood up and clapped his hands, his jacket swaying with the motion.
"Everyone, go home and get some rest. Tomorrow morning, stick to the plan and split up to recruit at the entrances of the various schools. Don't be late. Let's try to recruit some more people."
At his words, everyone got up and left.
After a rustle of movement, the sound of the door closing rang out.
The noisy living room instantly fell silent, leaving only the heavy smell of smoke in the air and snack crumbs scattered across the floor.
He Tao sat back down on the sofa, pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and lit it with a sharp click of his lighter.
The flame illuminated the wrinkles on his face and the greed in his eyes. He smoked leisurely, the smoke curling before him and blurring his expression.
Leaning against the back of the sofa, he tapped the armrest absently. Puffing away, he calculated his next steps, his mind filled with an endless stream of banknotes.
"Ring-ring..."
The phone lying on the sofa beside him suddenly rang urgently. Its shrill sound shattered the living room's silence and seemed especially grating.
He Tao's brow furrowed sharply as he smoked. He lowered his head impatiently and looked at the phone screen.
When he saw the two characters "Brother Liu" displayed on the screen, his relaxed expression immediately turned intensely annoyed. He muttered curses under his breath.
"Nag, nag, nag—you call every day, hounding me like you're here to collect my life. What a pain."