Chapter 50: Defeat
Zhang Zhi was quite friendly toward Su Can. Contrary to the air of mystery he had projected when others introduced him, the man, though formally dressed, made plenty of little gestures as he spoke, rubbing his hands one moment and brushing off his trousers the next. His face was exceptionally expressive, and he was quite talkative.
Su Can's gaze sometimes met his and sometimes drifted out the window, toward Huaihai Road, where long rows of bicycles stood beneath tropical trees. In fact, his ears and attention were trained on Lin Guangdong and the Shanghai businesspeople behind him. Including Su Can and Lin Guangdong, eight people were present. Apart from Zhang Zhi and a young woman sitting beside a middle-aged man on the sofa, Su Can was the youngest.
Although everyone was playing cards and the atmosphere was quite friendly, Su Can could sense that several people had already discreetly sized him up. Their scrutiny was subtle, perhaps no more than a quick glance as they looked up, but their eyes took in his expression as he spoke with Zhang Zhi, his clothes, and even his shoes.
Had he merely come with Lin Guangdong, that would have been one thing. He might have been Lin Guangdong's assistant or a young lackey. But he also knew Zhang Zhi, the son of Avril's owner, which invited scrutiny. Overall, however, Su Can's youthful face still kept people from giving him much attention.
"The last time I went to play cards, I ran into two young fellows, students about the same age as the fresh university graduates our company just hired. But they played well, very seasoned at the table. Just listening to them talk, you'd never have believed their age." A real estate boss with a fleshy face apparently made an