The commercial street felt like a beacon of hope against the chill. The steaming lamb spine hotpot promised to drive away their fatigue from class and their gripes about the school's administration, becoming the warmest, most welcome thought on this cold Sunday noon.
They burst noisily from the classroom, their footsteps echoing through the empty school building. Filled with an urgent craving for good food and a longing for a brief respite, they poured out into the crisp midday winter sun.
The newly opened lamb spine hotpot restaurant on the commercial street was a cacophony of voices, buzzing with a lively, bustling energy.
A massive copper pot sat in the center of the table, its milky-white broth bubbling furiously.
The fragrant aroma, mingled with billowing steam, wafted straight into their noses, instantly banishing the chill they'd brought in from outside.
As they took their seats, the group "accidentally" on purpose squeezed Ah Jie and Zhuo Peipei next to each other.
