Chapter 24 – Who else have you kissed?

The escape room theme was “Hospital Horror Tales.” Chen Haonan said that since their group ran a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, they ought to challenge the hospital-themed scenario.

No one had any objections. It didn’t matter what the game was as long as it was eerie, scary, and thrilling.

Then came the explanation of the story’s background. To clear the game, they needed to find a missing corpse.

Before entering the escape room, Zhuang Yumian pulled Bai Mu Ning aside and whispered, “Xiao Ning, stay close to jie later. If I get scared, I’ll hold your hand.”

Zhuang Yumian was the type who sucked at games but loved playing them. She really was scared, but she really wanted to play too.

To keep herself from getting too frightened, she needed someone to rely on.

“Got it,” Bai Mu Ning promised. “Mian-jie, don’t worry. I’ll definitely protect you.”

“It’s still Xiao Ning who’s the best.”

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Tlyakdt Ubld Tysdyd’p osaep, lhlausdl nasoele yaswde qsa y nzspla zssj yde pvyavle vs pwprlnv vbyv xyucl vbl pvyqq bye pkxrzu qsatsvvld vs rwv vbl cseu yoyu.

Even though the corpse was disgusting, with all its organs fully exposed, everyone knew it was fake, so they didn’t feel scared as they gathered around to watch.

They were even examining how the prop was made, looking incredibly realistic.

But within just a few seconds, the people gathered around let out a collective scream and scattered in all directions. In no time at all, everyone had run off.

The corpse lying flat suddenly sat up. It sat on the operating table and started pulling its intestines out, hanging a long stretch of large intestine around its neck, clutching its own heart in its hand and wailing.

“Who’s going to play with me?”

“My heart is still dripping blood. Wanna touch it?”

The scene was terrifying beyond words, especially with the creepy background music which was enough to scare someone’s soul right out of their body.

Bai Mu Ning was scared too, but he had promised to protect Zhuang Yumian. No matter what, he couldn’t freak out and run away. He couldn’t be scared out of his wits and slink away, he had to hold on and show his manly character.

Bai Mu Ning took a few deep breaths and forced himself to stay calm. Holding Zhuang Yumian’s hand, he tried to reassure her. “Don’t be scared, Mian-jie. I’ll protect you.”

Zhuang Yumian was even quieter than he was, and her palm was completely dry.

That broad palm wrapped around his hand, giving him a strong sense of security.

On the contrary, Bai Mu Ning was already so scared that his hands were shaking.

Confused, he looked over at Zhuang Yumian, and quickly froze. The person he was holding wasn’t Zhuang Yumian at all, it was Wen Jing.

Wen Jing glanced over and said coldly, “Mian-jie? Then you’re holding the wrong person.”

“…?”

Bai Mu Ning immediately let go, rubbing the sweat from his palms hard. “Why is it you ah?”

“Otherwise?” Wen Jing said. “You’ve been clinging to my hand this whole time. Are you blaming me now?”

Bai Mu Ning tried to turn the tables, but failed, only to have Wen Jing flip it right back on him.

“How would I dare! I was just expressing my feelings.”

“Save your feelings for later. Come with me.”

Bai Mu Ning followed him in silence, curious to see what Wen Jing was planning to do.

Bai Mu Ning was a bit expectant, thinking that this fellow Wen Jing must have thought of a way to pass the level.

But Wen Jing didn’t run, didn’t try to find their scattered teammates, and didn’t look like he was interested in solving the puzzle. He simply stood in front of the operating table and said to the NPC who was still trying hard to act, “Please lie down.”

The NPC, who had been digging through his own stomach, froze. “…?”

How rude was that?

I’m on the clock here, why would I lie back down?

“Need me to help you?”

NPC: “…?”

That won’t be necessary.

Still, the NPC was curious about what Wen Jing wanted to do, so he obediently lay back down, and stared at Wen Jing with wide eyes.

Wen Jing grabbed Bai Mu Ning by the wrist and pulled him over. “This is where all the internal organs are. This is actually pretty well-made; almost identical to real human anatomy.”

Bai Mu Ning: “…?”

Dage, this is supposed to be an escape room. Why are you giving a lecture?

Wen Jing picked up a pair of surgical gloves from the side, put them on, returned the intestines and heart to their proper places, and began explaining to Bai Mu Ning the functions of each organ and the kinds of problems they could develop.

Faced with a bloody anatomy lesson, Bai Mu Ning wasn’t the least bit drowsy. On the contrary, he was more alert than ever, not daring to let his mind wander.

This was nothing like sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher talk. This was live, up close and personal—actual bloodied organs right before his eyes. His nerves were on edge; he didn’t dare slack off.

Wen Jing occasionally poked and pointed at the various organs, explaining each one in great detail.

NPC: “…?”

Do you two have any manners?

In all the time this NPC had been working, this was the first time someone had treated him like a cadaver professor.

Thanks, he felt genuinely insulted.

After finishing his explanation of the internal organs, Wen Jing took Bai Mu Ning to the next area to look for teaching materials.

In the next room, they came across a human skeleton model. Wen Jing started another round of teaching according to materials, giving a detailed explanation of the human skeletal system, even teaching Bai Mu Ning how to set bones, the connection points between each one, and even had Bai Mu Ning feel them with his own hands.

Oh my god ah. He came here to play an escape room. How did it turn into a study session?

Bai Mu Ning wore a bitter expression as he tried to memorize Wen Jing’s stream of knowledge points. Every now and then, he even asked questions to show that he was really paying attention.

With both hands pressed against the skeleton, Bai Mu Ning was already regretting ever coming to the escape room.

Once they were done studying the human skeleton, Wen Jing began searching for the next knowledge point. Bai Mu Ning followed behind him and whispered, “Dr. Wen, shouldn’t we try to find the others first? We don’t know how they’re doing.”

They had all run off so quickly. Who knew who Zhuang Yumian had ended up with? What if she was scared?

Out of everyone in Sanwen Hall, Bai Mu Ning was closest to Zhuang Yumian. They were only a few years apart, and she always looked out for him like a little brother, so naturally he was most worried about her.

Besides, Zhuang Yumian was a girl, it was only natural to worry more about her.

“If we clear the level, won’t we know how the others are doing?” Wen Jing pointed at a key spot and said, “Go check those areas for clues.”

Bai Mu Ning, though skeptical, went over and sure enough, he found quite a few clues, even got a key and a code.

Wen Jing then brought him to another room to find the combination box.

Only now did Bai Mu Ning start to feel the fun of playing escape rooms.

It felt like he had cheat codes on. Everything was progressing so smoothly and effortlessly. It was exhilarating.

Following Wen Jing’s gaze, Bai Mu Ning looked over and saw a rusted-looking combination box at the base of the wall.

He crouched down, first unlocking the first layer with the code, then preparing to open the next layer with the key. But as he turned the key, Bai Mu Ning suddenly tensed up.

He wasn’t sure what was inside. What if it was someone’s severed limb or some disgusting giant bug?

From all the TV dramas and horror films he’d seen, he just knew it couldn’t be something simple. There was definitely something fishy going on.

He was a little scared but didn’t say anything.

He waved Wen Jing over and said, “Dr. Wen, come here for a sec.”

Wen Jing stood not far away, looking like he had zero interest in any of this.

Seeing Bai Mu Ning calling him, he reluctantly walked over and asked, “What is it?”

“Crouch down, let’s open it together.”

Wen Jing crouched down right beside him. Bai Mu Ning grabbed Wen Jing’s sleeve, giving him a sense of security.

He turned the key. Click—the lock snapped open, and the lid popped up. Inside was a bloody hand.

At first glance, Bai Mu Ning panicked and tried to bolt, but Wen Jing remained completely still beside him. The fear surged even higher. Bai Mu Ning stumbled into him in a hurry, and their faces collided, lips accidentally brushing together.

His fear was immediately replaced by another kind of shock. Bai Mu Ning fell backward and landed on the floor.

He pursed his lips and began to feel sad, his first kiss was gone.

Sure, he had been trying to seduce Wen Jing to complete the task given by Mr. Zhou, but he had never intended to sacrifice himself to do it. He didn’t plan on anything like kissing or physical intimacy.

He only wanted to engage in pure love ah!

Bai Mu Ning took a deep breath and told himself to stay calm. It was just an accidental kiss, it didn’t count.

No need to panic. They were both men.

Besides, Wen Jing was a grown man with an ex-boyfriend; there was no way that was his first kiss. He didn’t need Bai Mu Ning to take responsibility. It was just a shame about his own first kiss.

But does kissing a man even count?

Wen Jing hadn’t moved at all, seemingly stunned by the kiss as well.

Bai Mu Ning opened his mouth, about to say something, but before he could speak, the rest of the group showed up and interrupted the silent awkwardness.

Chen Haonan was the first to walk over. “Old Wen, you guys were here ah. You had us looking everywhere. So, did you find the clues?”

Now that everyone was back, Bai Mu Ning didn’t feel embarrassed anymore. He stood up and immediately started talking about the clues.

The clues have been found, but he didn’t dare to take them out.

Chen Haonan volunteered. “I’ll do it.”

With the hint they received, they located the missing corpse and successfully cleared the level.

After exiting the escape room, Chen Haonan said there was another round coming up and invited everyone to have dinner together. He’d already reserved a spot at a BBQ restaurant.

Bai Mu Ning checked the time. If he stayed any later, the dorms would close. So he said, “You guys go ahead, Haonan-ge, I’m heading back to school.”

“Don’t be like that, ah, Xiao Ning. It’s more fun with more people. We’re going for BBQ, don’t you want to come?”

Zhuang Yumian chimed in too, “Yeah, Xiao Ning, didn’t you just say a few days ago you were craving BBQ? And now you’re not going?”

Bai Mu Ning smiled and replied, “I can’t. The dorm closes at ten. If I’m late, I won’t be able to get in.”

Ever since he missed curfew that one time, Bai Mu Ning had been very careful about keeping track of the time.

He had no intention of ending up homeless again.

Wen Jing, standing to the side, glanced at Bai Mu Ning and said, “You guys go. I’ll take him back to school.”

Chen Haonan didn’t push further. “Alright then. You two be careful on the way.”

After the group left, Wen Jing turned to Bai Mu Ning and said, “Let’s go. I’ll send you back to school.”

But Bai Mu Ning was still preoccupied with the kiss. He didn’t want to be alone with Wen Jing. It felt weird, a little awkward.

Even if that kiss didn’t count, and it wasn’t intentional.

Still, Wen Jing was a man who liked men, so he must care about something like this. Bai Mu Ning needed time to think.

“Dr. Wen, don’t trouble yourself. The subway’s more convenient for me.”

Wen Jing didn’t move, just looked at him and said, “Aren’t you going to explain what happened just now?”

There was a hint of grievance in his tone, and Bai Mu Ning suddenly felt like some heartless scumbag who wouldn’t take responsibility.

“Alright then.”

On the way back to school, Wen Jing didn’t bring it up again. Bai Mu Ning kept sneaking glances at him, and eventually, unable to stand the silence, he mustered up his courage and said, “Dr. Wen, I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I got startled by that hand and panicked. I just wanted to run, but you were standing there, and I ran right into you,” Bai Mu Ning tried to find the right words. “I really didn’t expect a kiss to come out of it.”

Wen Jing’s profile revealed nothing of what he was thinking. He spoke softly, “I know you didn’t do it on purpose.”

His tone was strange. Bai Mu Ning felt like he ought to explain further.

“Actually, I don’t think it’s a big deal. It’s not like it was a first kiss or anything. No need to overthink it. We’re both men, who hasn’t kissed before?”

That was for Wen Jing’s sake. At his age, he’d probably had a bunch of boyfriends by now. Kissing must be nothing new to him, so surely there was nothing to get hung up on.

But before the words had fully left his mouth, Wen Jing stepped on the brakes, turned toward him, and looked him straight in the eye. “Who else have you kissed?”

“…?”

How did this suddenly shift to him?

He hadn’t kissed anyone ah?

Bai Mu Ning was shocked and overwhelmed, forgetting to react for a moment.

The red light turned green again. Wen Jing turned back to the road, released the brake, and stepped on the gas.

Bai Mu Ning let out a tiny sigh of relief, only to hear Wen Jing calmly say a moment later, “I’ve never kissed anyone else. That was my first kiss.”

“…?”

Help. This guy had the face of a scum man, and yet he was out here doing pure love?