One-way Passage

,” Xia Wennan replied before falling silent again.
He had a lot on his mind, such as whether or not someone had intentionally slipped him sleeping pills that night, and whether Ming Siyan had actually hinted that there was something going on between Ming Luchuan and Duan Ning.
However, what occupied his thoughts at present was the fact that he and He Yufeng had been assigned to the same academic advisor.

If He Yufeng was Mo Zen’s boss, then why hadn’t he gone to work for Mo Ze and ended up in Ming Yan instead? Could it be that Ming Luchuan wasn’t lying, and that he really liked Ming Luchuan?

“Are you hot?” Ming Luchuan asked.

“No,” Xia Wennan answered offhandedly.
If there really was something going on between Ming Luchuan and Duan Ning, he thought, then why would the man marry him?

The car was decently soundproof, and in the quiet, only the extremely faint sound of the engine was discernible.

“Are you hungry?” said Ming Luchuan.

“I’m not hungry,” Xia Wennan answered.

Around half a minute later, Ming Luchuan coldly said, “I’m hungry.
Let’s get something to eat.” 

Xia Wennan followed Ming Luchuan into a little roadside diner for a late-night snack, perplexed.
As they sat inside the inconspicuous restaurant, still dressed in the evening suits they’d worn to the charity banquet, the first thing a customer did upon entering was shoot a glimpse their way, and one they’d found a seat, they’d continue sneaking looks at Xia Wennan and Ming Luchuan. 

The driver had pulled over on the side of the road, leaning against the car as he smoked in a neat suit. 

Xia Wennan stood by the principle that, if Ming Luchuan wasn’t afraid to lose face, then he shouldn’t be either, and since he’d come this far… He ordered a bowl of wonton noodles.  

Across from him, Ming Luchuan was straightening a pair of disposable chopsticks against the tabletop.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t hungry?”

Xia Wennan looked at him.
“Well, since we’re here…”

The blistering summer had yet to reach its end, and even though the sun had set, the temperature at night was still sweltering.
The modest restaurant was air-conditioned, but as customers came and went, the glass doors kept opening and shutting, and the coolness was only fleeting. 

After sitting for a time, Xia Wennan removed his suit jacket and haphazardly draped it over the back of his chair.
Once he’d unbuttoned the collar of his white shirt, he stopped feeling like a fool in front of Ming Luchuan.

“You’re not full from all that cake?” he asked.

Ming Luchuan didn’t answer. 

Xia Wennan carefully studied Ming Luchuan’s expression.
“Are you mad?” he asked tentatively.

Ming Luchuan gave a faint snort.

“Why are you mad?” Xia Wennan positioned the disposable chopsticks between his fingers.
“I didn’t bug you at all tonight.”

Ming Luchuan remained mute.

Knowing that he wouldn’t be getting any answers for him, Xia Wennan immediately abandoned his questioning and lifted his head to look around.
“Why aren’t my wonton noodles here yet?”

It was already quite late when they finished their meal.
All the blood in Xia Wennan’s body had rushed to his stomach, leaving his head entirely empty.
When he returned to the car, he covered his tummy and zoned out.

Some time later, Ming Luchuan suddenly spoke, “What’s with the silence?”

Xia Wennan turned to look at him.
“Is Duan Ning your ex-boyfriend?” he blurted.

Ming Luchuan was slightly startled.
“He isn’t,” he answered unthinkingly.

“Did you ever like him?” Xia Wennan asked.

This time, Ming Luchuan didn’t say a word. 

Xia Wennan leaned into Ming Luchuan and stuck up two fingers in front of him.
“I’ll give you one chance.” He used his other hand to pull down a finger.
“Shake your head if you didn’t.” He then pulled down the second finger.
“Don’t shake your head if you did.”

Ming Luchuan neither nodded nor shook his head.

Xia Wennan sat back down.
“That means you liked him.”