122 Being Still Alive (1/2)

Guo Liqin looked away when she heard An Chu Hua's invitation.

”You guys go. I'm just going to order take-out.”

Hui Yin watched her walk away. Somehow she could feel that Guo Liqin became a little bit civil towards her these past two weeks, but she couldn't be sure. Who knows what was going on inside that girl's head? She might only be pretending to back off so that she could gain more momentum for her next attack.

An Chu Hua deflated. ”I guess I won't go too. I'll join you guys next time. I can't leave Guo Liqin here alone.”

Bao Bai also invited the other two girls, Geng Niu and Tan Na, but both of them had also politely declined. Geng Niu was going on a date with her boyfriend who was living in Shanghai, while Tan Na had to visit a family member who got sick in the hospital. Bao Bai didn't want to sound nosy, so she didn't ask Tan Na for more details.

”I guess it's just the three of us then,” Yu Qiang said happily. She didn't mind eating with others, but she enjoyed Hui Yin's company more. And Bao Bai was tolerable enough, as long as she didn't get too bossy.

When Director Peng finally let them off for the day, the three girls grabbed their wallets and walked out of the apartment for the first time in the last two weeks. Director Peng had kept them busy, sometimes shooting even late into the night. Of course, since he could only keep them for ten hours, it meant that they could start out late the next day.

Hui Yin didn't bother to change out for her outfit, and the only addition to her apparel was the small sling bag thrown over her shoulder. Yu Qiang laughed when she saw her.

”You look like a student,” she teased, nudging her with her elbow. ”Should we try to pick up some high school boys tonight?”

Bao Bai, whose expression never wavered from looking serious, stared at Yu Qiang severely. ”Do you want to be accused of enticing a minor?”

”Baobao!” Yu Qiang complained. ”I'm just joking! Lighten up, won't you?”

At night, the streets of Shanghai swarmed with people, and music from different stores blended together, creating a cacophony along with the chatter of the crowd. The three of them squeezed their way into the first restaurant that they saw, but even before they could look at the menu and order, they realized that the place was already packed.

”Look at that!” Yu Qiang pointed her finger at a table near to them. ”Gah, why are they occupying a table meant for five people when there are only two of them? Do they need personal space that much?”

Bao Bai slapped her hand. ”Don't point your fingers at people. It's rude.”

”Why are you scolding me? Scold them! They're more rude than I am!”

Hui Yin sighed and dragged Yu Qiang out of the restaurant before she could kick up a fuss. In the end, they found a roadside stall that sold barbecue and bean curd. The only other customer was an old man guzzling several bottles of beer.

”This sucks!” Predictably, Yu Qiang complained as soon as they sat down. ”If I knew we were just going to end up eating bean curd, I would have stayed in the apartment and cooked us a sumptuous meal instead.”