Vol 2 Chapter 15 (2/2)

“I pa.s.sed a market on the way here. Perhaps we could go there to buy some stuff and I could whip out something for lunch.”

“Go ahead.”

“What do you mean by that? Aren’t you going with me?”

“No.”

“Come with me please…. I won’t feel safe without you.”

“How dangerous can going to a market be?”

“So,” Mai Ding began. “After doing that, you are back to your old aloof self.”

“Stop being so noisy, will ya?” It was one of his standard responses, and after saying that, he walked to the living room to watch TV. Mai Ding followed him and even though the TV was just turned on, he switched the TV off.

“Do you believe I will…”

“What?”

“I’ll kill you and send you to h.e.l.l.” An Ziyan looked like he wasn’t joking. His look was able to send chills down Mai Ding’s spine. Just then, the phone that was left upstairs started to ring. An Ziyan waved to Mai Ding, “Go and answer the call for me.” Mai Ding was irritated, but still he went upstairs to retrieve the phone. But before he could say anything, a middle-aged woman on the other side began, “Ziyan, are you at home? Your mom asked me to take some things to you. I’m on my way to your place. Let me leave those things at your house. I’m coming soon and may not stay that long. I have to go to the hospital to let the doctor check the baby.”

“Err..but…” But that lady had already hung up. “It’s your aunt, the one who’s pregnant. She said that your mum asked her to drop something off here. She’s going to reach very soon.”

“Mmm.” An Ziyan acknowledged. Walking down the stairs, Mai Ding continued, “In that case, I’d better go to the market now. It’s better that way so that she won’t see me.” “What’s there to hide?” It was obvious that An Ziyan had stayed abroad for some time. The way he thought was entirely different from how Mai Ding thinks. To Ziyan, there was nothing about the relations.h.i.+p that needs to be hidden. If people can accept it, they will. If they can’t, then they should just get lost.

“You stupid boy. I’m not meeting her because I don’t want her to find out about us. How would she think? You know, people in that generation are a bit more conservative”. “And you are Mr. Liberal?”An Ziyan shot back, knowing how Mai Ding had no right to say that. While the two men were bickering, the doorbell rang. Mai Ding panicked and wanted to hide, but An Ziyan ordered him to open the door instead.

Mai Ding had no choice but to do so and when he opened the door, it was indeed a middle-aged lady who had a big tummy. The woman looked a little startled when she saw Mai Ding. “Who are you?” she asked.

“He is my…”

“Um... Housemaid! I am An Ziyan’s housemaid. That’s right.” AnZiyan rolled his eyes.“Oh.” His aunt responded. Mai Ding was extraordinarily polite. He thought that it was An Ziyan’s relative, after all. It was important to ensure that he could get into the good books of a relative, so he gave her his widest Ches.h.i.+re grin and to her tummy said, “How big is the baby already?” His face was just oozing sweetness and kindness. However, An Ziyan’s aunt’s face blackened.

“Idiot.” An Ziyan cursed softly. Mai Ding obviously didn’t know what was happening. But after a while, he finally figured it out. Out from behind that aunt appeared another middle-aged lady and this time, the lady was obviously pregnant. She was wearing flats and her hand was holding her tummy. “Ziyan.” she began. “Your mum asked me to drop this off. I’m not going to stay. Auntie Yun has kindly offered to accompany me to the hospital for the baby’s check up.”

An Ziyan walked past a petrified Mai Ding to receive the stuff that his aunt had brought. “Please be careful along the way.” he sweetly reminded his aunt.

“Alright. We’re on our way then.”

Auntie Yun shot a murderous glare at Mai Ding as if she wanted to skin him alive. “Ziyan.” she started. “Such housemaids must be really cheap. But you can’t be stingy when it comes to good help these days. If you pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys. If you really need a housemaid, let me find a better one for you.”

“Aunt Yun, I really appreciate your offer. Aunt Hong is waiting for you outside, why don’t you go ahead first? We can talk about this next time.” And then, pointing at Mai Ding. “Furthermore, with regard to this guy, you can’t return goods that you have already used.” Aunt Yun obviously didn’t get it. Instead she glared at Mai Ding again when she exited.

Aunt Yun was just a lady who was a little on the plus size and was definitely not pregnant. Her glare was forever etched in Mai Ding’s mind. When the ladies were finally gone, An Ziyan couldn’t help but burst out laughing. It was Mai Ding’s turn to glare at someone. “Yes, go ahead and laugh laugh laugh. Laugh until you die, please. I’m going out too; don’t block me.”

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To be continued...

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