Vol 2 Chapter 13 (2/2)

An Ziyan was sitting in the driver’s seat and lazily instructed Mai Ding, “Ok hold the handbrake. Step on the clutch. Don’t step on the gas. And slowly turn the ignition. Once you have done that, slowly release the handbrake and the clutch and you can then step on the gas. And you are ready to go.” Even though An Ziyan went through every detail, Mai Ding still fumbled. But despite the initial clumsiness, he managed to get the car going slowly. “All you need to do next is turn the steering wheel left or right and that should be all.”

“Is this how you teach others how to drive?” Mai Ding was not satisfied with his lesson.

At t, a car appeared in front of them and Mai Ding panicked. He was fine when no one was in front of them. “What should I do now, An Ziyan? There’s a car in front of us. What should I do?’

“You just need to overtake him.”

Mai Ding managed to successfully overtake the car in front of him, even though his hands were still shaking. It was his first time driving, and already he was on the street. It would have been more of a surprise if he weren’t nervous. Just then, he realised from a distance that there were two cars in front of him. He started to panic again. “Quick, quick! Take the wheel! We’re gonna cras.h.!.+ I don’t know what to do!” Once he started to panic, he would forget everything.

“You have to calm down! Turn left now.”

But that advice came a little too late. Seeing that he was going to crash into the car, Mai Ding opened the door and jumped out. Fortunately, the car was travelling at a very slow speed and so his injury was superficial. However, for An Ziyan who was still in the car, he had to see his car crash into the other one, but thankfully, it was just a light b.u.mp as both cars were travelling very slowly.

Mai Ding ran towards the car. “Are you alright?”

An Ziyan glared at Mai Ding. It was the coldest look that Mai Ding ever got. The owner of the other car was approaching them, already hollering, “Are you out of your f.u.c.king mind! Don’t you have f.u.c.king eyes! Can you see how badly scratched my car is?”

Mai Ding bowed and apologized, “I am so sorry! I was learning how to drive. It wasn’t intentional.”

An Ziyan got off the car, took out a wad of cash from his wallet. “Is this enough?”

It was obviously more than enough. The owner of the car stared at the cash in front of him and then glanced at An Ziyan’s scary face. He also noticed Mai Ding was still apologizing to him profusely. “Please be careful in future. If you are learning how to drive, it is better to choose a road that is not too crowded.”

And that was how the matter was settled. An Ziyan took his phone out and called for help. “h.e.l.lo? Uncle Fu? My car is currently about a hundred over metres away from my house. Could you get someone to tow it away?”

Once it was settled, both boys were walking in the direction of An Ziyan’s house. “Are you angry with me, An Ziyan?” Mai Ding asked guiltily. “It wasn’t intentional, I swear. It was a moment of danger. You can’t blame me for jumping out of the car.”

An Ziyan turned to look Mai Ding in the eye. “You are not allowed to drive anymore.”

“Why can’t I? It was just a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Isn’t this too harsh a punishment?”

“Just go ahead and try defying me.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“So what if I am?” An Ziyan was firm, leaving Mai Ding with no option but to obey. But once when they were home, An Ziyan took an ice pack from the fridge and threw it at Mai Ding.

While treating his own wounds, Mai Ding casually mentioned, “Since you are not going to allow me to drive, then our deal is off. I am not cleaning this place and… and we are not doing that.”

“Rubbish.”

Mai Ding was feeling a little enranged. “Why is it rubbish? Those were the terms of our agreement.”

“You can’t take back what you promised.”

“But you are the one going back on your promise first!”

“That’s me. You are you.”

“What logic are you using? Since you can’t fulfill your end of the bargain, then why should I?”

“But my dear Mai Ding, what you have promised to do are but things that you should have done anyway. That’s your duty as my lover.”

And to some extent, An Ziyan was right. Helping your lover, in all sense of the word, was indeed a kind duty, a kind of responsibility. That was his logic.

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To be continued...

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