72 THE PAS

The drive is filled with silence. Guan Ning puts his focus on the road up ahead while Min Chu stared outside the window while occasionally glancing at him.

Soon, the car stopped in a familiar restaurant. It was the hot pot restaurant where the three of them frequented in high school. Min Chu smiled at the familiar place, her eyes started to heat up.

"You still remembered this place?" she suddenly asked as they strolled towards the entrance.

"Of course," Guan Ning casually nodded and went ahead of her. Min Chu pursed her lips and followed him inside. Of course he remembered. He always will. It was where his happy memories lie, and that night…

The two of them choose to seat in the corner table next to a window.

"The restaurant improved a lot through the years," Min Chu commented, trying to start up a conversation.

Guan Ning arched his brow questioningly. "You haven't been here for a long time?"

She nodded. "Your brother doesn't like the food here."

He only answered with an 'oh' and took a sip of water. The pot started to boil, breaking their silence. Min Chu remembered how the three of them happily ate hot pot back in the days. Guilt crept inside her heart. She looked down and knotted her hands together.

With her head down, the whiff of food greeted Min Chu's nose that made her stomach churn.

"Excuse me."

She hurriedly ran out of the room with hand over her mouth, leaving Guan Ning's face full of worry. He patiently waited for Min Chu to return. After a few minutes, Min Chu came back with a smile on her face.

"Are you okay?" Guan Ning probed after she settled on her seat.

"I'm fine now. It's the smell, maybe I'm not used to it since I haven't been here for a long time," Min Chu explained.

"Oh. But it used to be your favorite," Guan Ning's face fell after hearing what she said.

"My baby probably doesn't want it." She said with a smile.

"I'm sorry, I totally forgot you're pregnant. I probably should have asked you first. Is it okay for you to eat spicy food?"

Min Chu giggled as she looked at his dispirited figure. "I think it's fine, it's just the smell, not the food itself. Don't worry, I've been craving for something spicy these past few days but your brother just forbid me not to, except for this morning. He brought some spicy rice cakes."

This time, a trace of smile is evident on Guan Ning's face. Seeing this, Min Chu felt like a heavy burden has been lifted in her chest.

The two of them eat in silence, only the sounds of their chewing could be heard.

"Do you have something to talk with me today?" Guan Ning cut the silence.

Min Chu paused and looked up to him, their eyes meeting. She may not be aware of it but Guan Ning's heart skipped a beat, his grip on the chopsticks tightened.

The woman in front of her smiled that made his heart beat ran wild. Fuck, Guan, stop! He inwardly cursed and berate himself.

"I just wanted to know how you have been these past years." Min Chu puts her chopsticks down and looked at his face again with melancholy in her eyes.

She continued, "Guan, I'm sorry about that night. I didn't know…"

"It's okay," Guan Ning interrupted, not wanting to let her continue the words she's going to say, because if she does, it'll only open up the wounds from the past.

"It's all in the past now." He smiled while his eyes says otherwise and Min Chu could see it. She bit her lips, feeling guilty. "And I'm seeing someone right now." He added without her asking.

Guan Ning purposely said that that stunned Min Chu on her seat. Stumped for words, the only thing that came out of her mouth was, "That's great!"

He reached for his glass and sipped into it. Feeling stuffy inside, he let the water calm his nerves down. He felt somewhat guilty by his white lie. Wait, why would he be? He would be seeing Liu Yang in the near future, anyway.

"You should let me meet her one day." Min Chu said smiling. She seemed doubtful inside. She knew Guan Ning never really dated any woman.