Chapter 23

There was an awkward moment when the more embarrassed of them all seemed to be the journalist. Wei was full of questions inside, but he also felt bad for him because Yunlan wasn't even acknowledging his presence now.

From the way the guy looked at Yunlan Wei could tell that he still liked him, but Yunlan's expression was neither angry or sad or resentful, it was the perfect depiction of indifference.

Yunlan helped Hong to her feet, and when he turned he found the man still staring at him.

"You're here for the latest disappearance, I assume. Chu here will give you what he can, we need to take Hong back, she's not feeling well."

With those words Yunlan walked Hong to his car, without even a last glance back, followed by Wei who wasn't sure if he ought to go with them but since he didn't have his own car here he reasoned he had no other choice.

Chu and the journalist watched them walk away until they were left alone on the sidewalk.

Chu grinned. "No comment."

The man sighed in resignation.

Wei and Hong sat on the backseats together while Yunlan drove them to the station. Wei had so many questions he wanted to ask, but her presence held him back.

She didn't have the same problem though.

"Who is that guy?"

Wei said nothing as if it wasn't his concern, but he listened very carefully.

"Li Chang is a journalist, I thought you knew them all."

She caught the meaning behind his words and his sharp tone, but she ignored it. She knew many journalists indeed, but Li Chang was not the one that had printed Wei's story, and his job was not what she was interested in now.

"I meant: who is he to you? Did you go out with him?"

"Yeah. We were together for five months." No anger or sadness transpired from his voice. He simply stated a fact.

Wei was conflicted; on one hand, knowing that he had dated a guy left the door open for him, but on the other hand, his indifference sounded weird, rather cruel actually.

"What happened, did you cheat on him? Or was it him who cheated on you?"

"I'm a faithful guy, I don't cheat. But he didn't either, as far as I know. Things simply didn't work out. What's with all the questions, Hong? Why do you care?"

"I care because I like you, but I see now I never stood a chance."

She said those last words in a low voice. It felt strange to confess it now, but she never had the courage to do it before. It all seemed so silly, all her hopes and all her bitterness, for nothing.

There was an awkward silence for the rest of the ride, broken only by three simple words: "No, you didn't."

They arrived and together the men helped Hong inside. After she assured them that she was feeling fine now, they eventually left.

Actually, she was still a little flustered. Physically she felt fine, but inside she hadn't yet fully recovered. She told them they could go though, that she was alright because she wanted some time alone to think about how silly she had been and also to push away the horrible sensation of feeling estranged from her own body.

So they went, and Yunlan drove Wei home.

Wei's mind was full of the latest discovery, so after a few seconds of silence he approached the subject again.

"May I ask you what happened between you and that journalist? Why it didn't work? He still cares about you." Yunlan had said since you dumped me, meaning that Li Chang was the one to break it off, but why would he do that? It was obvious that he still liked him.

Yunlan didn't falter.

"Why do you want to know? It's over, and it's not my problem if he has or hasn't moved on."

"Maybe I'm just as curious as you are. Maybe I want to know something about you as well."

But I'm going to ask you directly instead of doing things behind your back was not said out loud, but the words hang in the air nonetheless.

Yunlan smirked. "Touché."

Wei sat in silence waiting for him to speak.

"He was the one who asked me out. He's very handsome so I said yes, but we were not really... compatible."

Wei turned to him with a frown, dying of curiosity but not willing to say the words.

Yunlan noticed and laughed.

"I don't mean sexually, we did have our fun."

Wei cursed inwardly. He had no desire to hear about Yunlan's sexual life with others, but he had asked the question and now he had to bear with the answer. Too late for regrets now, because Yunlan spoke again.

"It was great when we were together, but outside the bedroom he wanted something that I couldn't give him."

"And what's that?" Wei couldn't help asking, he felt very interested in this part of the conversation.

Yunlan sighed and Wei wondered if he was being too indiscreet, but then Yunlan went on. It was the first time that they spoke of something other than Wei's ghosts or the cases, but Yunlan had always wanted to establish some kind of friendship with Wei. Having a choice, he would have talked of something else first, but it was as good a time as it would ever be to clear things up, so he spoke.

"He was a perfect boyfriend, you know. He was sweet, attentive, he called me every day and always texted me while we were at work and couldn't see each other. He always wanted to be with me. He thought that I was too distant because I wasn't like that."

"You didn't like to spend time with him?"

"I did, but not all the time. I'm good by myself, I need my space. I don't see why two people should be attached 24/7. Everyone has his own life, and I like mine, and I like being by myself. I couldn't be what he wanted me to be."

He really didn't know how else to explain it. It was just who he was, but it had never been enough.

They had arrived at Wei's apartment building, but neither of them got out of the car.

Hands still on the wheel, Yunlan stared into nothing.

"It's late, go home. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable with my questions."

"No, it's okay. It's good to talk, sometimes."

Wei felt like they had never been so close, so many things had happened that day, and he didn't want it to end.

"Would you like to come up? I can offer you something to make amends."

"Look, Wei..."

"I have no coffee or alcohol, but I have ten kinds of tea you can choose from."

Yunlan laughed. "Ten? Really?"

"You can check."

Yunlan turned to him and found himself staring deeply into his eyes. Very determined, longing eyes. He nodded slowly and they both got out.

They didn't speak until they reached the apartment. Wei opened the door and closed it behind him.

"Do you really want tea?" Yunlan half-joked. He really couldn't help it. Somewhere inside him he knew he shouldn't rush things, but once again the words came out of his mouth before his brain could catch up to them.

"Maybe later."

Wei got closer, so close they could feel each other's breath, and he finally kissed him again. He had been longing to do that since he had become aware of his own feelings and he didn't waste any more time.

It started slowly, tentatively. Wei was still a bit unsure but when Yunlan didn't push him away he buried his hands in Yunlan's hair and attacked his mouth, so hungry for him that he left him breathless.

This time Yunlan responded to the kiss, and it got so heated that it looked like a battle. When they finally parted, needing to breathe, they stared into each other's eyes.

"Want to stay here tonight?" Wei asked, panting and needy.

"Are you sure? I'm not boyfriend material, Wei, I don't want to ruin our relationship."

"It's not a marriage proposal, Yunlan. I simply asked if you want to stay the night. With me."

Wei kissed him again for good measure, to better make his point. He kissed him long and hard, with all the passion inside him. He understood the situation and was ok with it. He wanted him, now.

He began to pull him towards the bedroom, a gentle pull that was more of a question. Yunlan seemed to have made up his mind because he followed him eagerly.

Once they reached the bed, Wei quickly went back to close the door after hissing, "Out!"

He was back in a second; he couldn't remember the last time he had wanted someone so badly. Only looking at Yunlan made him shiver in anticipation. He had liked him for a long time, but once he admitted it the full force of his longing hit him like a thunderstorm.

Wei kissed him as if any second apart was a second wasted. Clothes were discarded and hands began to explore.

Wei felt like in a daze, he couldn't believe that Yunlan was here, that they were on his bed, that he was touching his bare skin while Yunlan's hands became bolder and bolder.

He wasn't worried about tomorrow, he wanted to focus on every instant of this magical night. He wanted to lose himself completely in his arms, to savour every thrill caused by Yunlan's touch, taste every inch of him until his thirst could finally be quenched.

As it turned out, they were both very thirsty.