Ding.
The elevator chimed as Xu Juan stepped inside carrying a box, surprised to find three people already in the elevator.
"Heading out so early?" A female neighbor inside greeted Xu Juan in a friendly tone. Everyone living upstairs or downstairs occasionally bumped into each other.
"Yes." Xu Juan replied briefly, then felt it seemed out of character and forced a smile, adding, "Are you heading to work?"
"That's right. We have to start two hours earlier than you guys. You're still quite comfortable." The female neighbor smiled.
"How could us private sector workers possibly be more comfortable than you government employees?" Xu Juan responded with a similar line she'd likely repeated numerous times before. As neighbors, their conversations rarely went deeper than exchanging workplace details, something the female neighbor initiated.
