question mark operator in c#

List<int> numbers = null;
int? a = null;

(numbers ??= new List<int>()).Add(5);
Console.WriteLine(string.Join(" ", numbers));  // output: 5

numbers.Add(a ??= 0);
Console.WriteLine(string.Join(" ", numbers));  // output: 5 0
Console.WriteLine(a);  // output: 0