Part 1: Met three friends + visited “half” an exhibition (planned for two)
Met a primary school classmate I hadn’t seen in years. We tried Songhelou for the first time and ordered a double set meal — overall, it was delicious. The blanched seasonal greens (Napa cabbage?) might just be the best I’ve ever had. The noodles were wonderfully springy, though the meat in the “Braised Meat Noodles” was a bit fatty and the sauce leaned salty. Only downside: the price-value ratio felt a bit steep — ¥95 for a set with two noodles, one veggie dish, one dessert, and one soup.
The day didn’t start smoothly — Gaode Maps was… less than virtuous today. The location was inaccurate, my ride took over 10 minutes to arrive, and then there was a car swap midway. After wandering around lost for more than 10 minutes, we even had to resort to video calls and location sharing (which we almost never use). Turns out the positioning was still off by 40+ meters, and the direction was reversed. Finally found the place after asking around.
Through our conversation, I learned that public school schedules sound far more exhausting than I imagined. I still prefer my current routine with more flexible time — though scoring high even in my system demands daily practice, and with subjective grading in humanities, the payoff feels even less certain. I truly feel grateful — for the opportunity, my parents’ support, and the ability to study in an international curriculum that simply suits me better.
Wrapping up: May everyone stay healthy, avoid sickness and injury in the days ahead — pushing limits like going without sleep will always take its toll. Here’s to moving through life free from pain and struggle.
Wishing you smooth days ahead. [Worship]
— Xiao Chen Stories
October 18, 2025, 9–11 p.m.