The gathering that night ended after nine. The men left the dining table and set up a mahjong game, smoking with women by their sides, debating wins and losses at the table.
Fu Jichen didn't join the game; he sat on the side with a wine glass and watched two rounds. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Shen Jianian stifling a yawn. He set down his wine glass and got up to fetch their coats.
Zhou Zhizhen glanced at him, took the cigarette from his lips with two fingers, flipped his wrist, and glanced at his watch. "Leaving so soon?"
The others looked over one after another. Fu Jichen unfolded the down jacket and draped it over Shen Jianian. "Got something to do back home."
"Come on, it's the lunar New Year's sixth day, everyone's on vacation, what could you possibly have to do? You're the busiest of us all, Fu Da, aren't you?"
"I was even thinking after this round, you'd take over, but here you are, planning to sneak off."
