"This bunch could easily drink until dawn!" Xiang Xiaotong whispered into his ear as well. "If you want to slip away, then let's slip away!"
Song He did not hesitate. He put down his chopsticks, stood up, and left!
Xiang Xiaotong was startled, seemingly caught off guard by how quickly her student ran off.
She drank another glass of juice but could not sit still any longer. Taking advantage of the singing starting up again, she first rose and retreated in small steps, then gradually quickened her pace, hastily making her escape amid the noisy singing.
The two of them flew downstairs like thieves. As soon as they left the cafeteria, they ran to a dark spot by the roadside. After panting for breath, they burst into laughter.
"Do you call that slipping away? You were way too brazen!" Xiang Xiaotong said, torn between laughter and tears.
"Huh? Was it that obvious?" Song He asked with an embarrassed smile. "It's fine. Once you've done it once, you'll get more experienced. I'll know what I'm doing next time!"
The two of them walked along beneath the dim streetlights. There was hardly anyone on the base's streets at night. It was dark and quiet. Strictly speaking, this was not a residential area but a workplace. Those who were supposed to work the night shift had already started, while those whose shifts were over had already returned to their dormitories.
"How do you feel about receiving your first Third-Class Merit, young man?" Xiang Xiaotong asked. "Are you so excited that you're about to stop breathing?"
"Excited, sure, but mostly I feel relieved, like I've finally cleared an extremely difficult game." Song He sighed. "I've been working myself to the bone for this Third-Class Merit, to the point that my hair kept falling out."