The two men stood outside waiting for a while, enduring the chilly northern wind, shivering as they glanced inside at David Clark. But after waiting for about twenty minutes, David Clark still hadn’t come out. The two of them were already freezing and could barely stand it, each stomping their feet and covering their ears, which had turned bright red from the cold, as one said, “Damn! Are we going in or not?”

The other blew some warm air onto his hands and said, “That mahjong parlor is tiny. If we go in, he’ll definitely realize we’re following him. Let’s just wait out here. Damn... it’s fucking cold.”

“If that guy just stays in there playing and doesn’t come out, are we supposed to keep waiting?”

“Let’s wait a bit longer. Brother Robert told us to find out where he lives. If we don’t get it done, how are we supposed to report back to Brother Robert?”

“Damn, this money really isn’t easy to earn. If I’d known we’d be tailing someone today, I would’ve worn my down jacket or something.”

“Tell me about it, this job really is a tough one.”

The two waited and waited, and finally David Clark came out. The two of them immediately looked around, pretending they had just arrived.

But David Clark walked straight toward them, grinned, showing his teeth, and said, “Hey, you two, can’t you be a bit more professional with your tailing? At the very least, use a phone booth or blend in with some pedestrians to hide yourselves. And don’t follow me so closely—at this point, even an idiot would know you’re tailing me.”

“Uh...” The two instinctively took a few steps back, looking at David Clark in frustration.

“And another thing...” David Clark frowned, his tone exasperated as if he hated to see such incompetence. “When you get found out, don’t get so nervous. You should act like you’re totally innocent.”

“Yeah... you’ve got the wrong people. We’re just here to play mahjong,” one of the guys quickly responded.

“Sigh... hopeless. I’ve already recognized you, so why keep up the act?” David Clark patted both of them on the shoulder and said, “Tailing someone is an art. Go home, watch more movies, read more books. Next time you follow someone, you won’t get caught so easily.”

Under the two men’s dumbfounded stares, David Clark leisurely hailed a taxi and left.

The two looked at each other, and one said, “Are we still following him?”

“He already caught us, what’s the point? Should’ve watched more movies, read more books—can’t even tail someone! Fucking useless!”

“Shit! Like you’re any better!”

Chapter 8: Flaws and Mistakes

“Damn it, what the hell, trying to act tough with me!” Robert Miller took a swig of liquor and gave the girl beside him a hard squeeze, his face twisted in anger. For people like him, face was everything. Emily Cooper hadn’t given him any face, and even brought out some country bumpkin of a guy to show off, which made him feel really pissed off.

A fat guy sitting with Robert Miller shook his head and said, “Why bother with those commoners? That chick is nice, but look at the girls here—aren’t they just as good?”

Robert Miller glanced at the girl beside him. She was pretty enough, but her face was caked with heavy makeup, nothing like the natural beauty of Emily Cooper. Normally, partying at the karaoke bar was his favorite thing, but tonight he just wasn’t in the mood.

“What’s so hard about getting a girl?” Seeing that Robert Miller was still sulking, the fat guy grinned and said, “If it comes to it, just throw money at her. I don’t believe there’s a girl out there who doesn’t like money.”

“Fatty, why don’t you throw some money at me!” the woman beside the fat guy cooed.

“Throw it! I’ll definitely throw it. As long as you make me happy tonight, I’ll bury you in cash!” The fat guy laughed loudly, his hands roaming all over the woman, who immediately started moaning like a cat in heat.

“I’m being serious here. My classmate’s family seems to have some money, so just throwing money at her might not work. Help me think of something else.”

“Something else... that’s easy. Slip her a drug, get her drunk and take her home.”

“Drugs won’t work. If she’s knocked out, she’ll be like a log—no fun at all. If you’re going to use something, use an aphrodisiac. Girls on that stuff get wild, guaranteed to blow your mind!”

“Drugging is too sleazy. We’ve got a reputation now. I say just invite her out for drinks and let things happen after she gets drunk.”

Listening to his friends’ suggestions, Robert Miller felt each idea was worse than the last. He’d done things like this plenty of times before, but just thinking about Emily Cooper’s captivating aura made him feel that using these tricks on Emily Cooper would ruin the whole experience.

The phone rang. Robert Miller quickly answered and asked in a low voice, “How did it go?”

“Brother Robert, he spotted us.”

“Idiots, you can’t even handle something this simple!” Robert Miller cursed, slamming the phone down in anger. David Clark’s sarcastic attitude earlier had already annoyed him, so he’d immediately arranged for someone to look into David Clark’s background, to decide how to go after Emily Cooper.