Chapter Three: A Goal Made by Seven

Qingzhou Hounds set the away dressing room's air conditioning to sixteen degrees Celsius. Cape City's players dressed with numb fingers. The hot water had also “happened” to fail. A home staff member apologized from the doorway while failing to hide his smile. Outside the tunnel, forty thousand supporters formed a wall of boos. The giant screen repeated Qingzhou's home record: played nine, won nine, scored twenty-four, conceded none. Two men in suits sat behind Cape City's bench. Tang Mu recognized one as Aurum Sports' acquisition adviser. “They came quickly,” she said. “To see whether their asset has lost more value.” Shen folded the team sheet. “Let's disappoint them.”