The automatic doors of the 24-hour convenience store gave a crisp electronic chime.
The cold, damp wind was shut outside.
The three pulled out plastic stools and sat at the long table by the window.
The clerk took the heated boxed meals out of the microwave with a sharp clink.
The microwave door swung open, and steaming curry and discounted fried chicken filled the rainy night with a cheap but tempting aroma.
Bright yellow half-price stickers clung to the edges of the plastic containers.
"Eat up while it's hot."
Su Bai snapped apart his disposable wooden chopsticks and rubbed them together twice to remove the splinters.
With practiced ease, he used plastic chopsticks to peel the blackened, crispy skin off the fried chicken and stuffed it into his mouth.
He casually pushed the tender white meat left behind beside Su Xiaoxiao's curry rice container.
"You stripped that really clean."
Su Xiaoxiao mumbled around a mouthful of rice ball.
"I'm cutting your allowance by twenty percent next month."
Su Bai did not even lift his eyes, and his nagging continued unabated.
"We walked six kilometers round trip today. Shoe-sole wear and depreciation alone came to at least two yuan fifty."
"Add in the E-Scooter's battery wear, and the cost of this discounted meal is already over budget."
"Can you stop doing the accounts while we're eating?"
Su Xiaoxiao swallowed her rice and shoveled a big mouthful of chicken into her mouth.
"Keep nagging and my stomach's going to cramp."
"If I don't keep accounts, are you paying next quarter's property management fees?"
Su Bai picked up the last bit of pickled radish. "Finish those force diagrams before morning reading tomorrow, or you're getting half a breakfast."
"I know, I know. Hajige, you're such a nag."
Su Xiaoxiao's cheeks bulged as her