"Where are we going to eat?"
"That fried noodles place on North Gate Back Street, for five yuan."
"Then let's hurry, it'll be packed later."
"Wait, are you really taking homework back to the dorm?"
The stairs after school were crowded with people, the noise mostly about meeting for late-night snacks and laughter.
"Hey, don't push me," Qianqian complained, walking on the inside of the stairs. "I'm almost squished into the wall; push any more, and I'll be flat."
"You weren't round to begin with," Jiang Nian said, but he still made some space for her. "Did your teacher say no Saturday morning study session?"
"Yeah, there's some coming-of-age ceremony," Qianqian said, pursing her lips.
With so many people on the stairs, she didn't feel like talking much. It wasn't until they fully descended the stairs and separated from the crowd that she let out a long breath.
The chilly night breeze blew away all the stuffiness.
