Vol 2 Chapter 19 (1/2)

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If looks could kill, Mai Ding would have been dead. She was An Su, An Ziyan's older sister. Mai Ding was dragged back into the house. An Ziyan was still sitting on his couch, looking as if he had expected it.

“Aren't you going to explain to me what the h.e.l.l is going on?” An Su barked.

“What's there to explain? Didn't you see enough?” An Ziyan said calmly.

“What kind of att.i.tude is this? How are you going to explain this to Xiaosi? If it had been another woman, fine. But you actually cheated on her with another man? What if dad and mom find out? You are just sending them to their graves earlier! Don't you think that this is a joke that has been carried too far?” The ever-critical elder sister.

Mai Ding was standing in one corner. He was feeling so awkward. He never expected An Ziyan's family members to find out about their relations.h.i.+p so soon. He didn't know what to do. He has never felt so helpless before.

“Who said that this was just a joke on my part?” An Ziyan reb.u.t.ted coldly.

Even though these words may have suggested how much he loved Mai Ding, it wasn't the time to be touching. Mai Ding was trying to use his eyes to tell An Ziyan that he shouldn't go against his sister too much. Mai Ding always preferred a less confrontational approach. He believed that the best way out of a problem was to talk it through peacefully. Such animosity was not going to reap results.

“Are you f.u.c.king blind?” An Su said, pointing at Mai Ding. “Look carefully. This is a freaking guy! What's so good about him?”

“You don't have to remind me that he's a guy.”

Seeing how her brother was not responding to her advice made her even angrier. She turned to Mai Ding: her next target. “I really wonder what you did to my brother to make him fall for you. But let me tell you, if you are here for our family's money, you can forget about it!”

Mai Ding didn't expect to be scolded. “I do not want to know what you think of me. And honestly I can't control that. But please do not insult my love for An Ziyan by insinuating that I am in it for the money.”

“Your love? Please. Don't make me laugh. What love can two guys have? Don't disgust me.” An Su was infuriated. She was about to raise her hand to give Mai Ding a tight slap, but fortunately her hand was caught by An Ziyan.

“Don't make me angry.” he warned.

“You are actually going to turn against me just because of this lousy guy?”

“Are you still going to continue?” An Ziyan threatened. “Please leave. Stop creating such a disturbance at my place.”

“A disturbance, you say? Aren't you the least bit afraid that I will let dad and mom know?”

“That would save me a lot of effort.”

“You!” An Su was at a loss of words. She didn't know how else to persuade her errant brother. It's not that she was an extremely conservative woman. It wasn't also because she was a h.o.m.ophobe. If it had been another couple, she would have been OK. But it was her own brother. She couldn't accept it. She just couldn't understand. Wasn't he happy with Bai Xiaosi? Wasn't he straight? Why is he gay all of a sudden?

Both parties refused to budge. An Ziyan knew that he had to make the first move. An Su was a person who responded well when treated properly. “It's getting late. Come, let me send you back. It's my business after all. I'll handle this.”

An Su was somewhat appeased. She nodded, but she refused to let this matter rest to some extent. Turning to Mai Ding, she hissed, “I'll never allow the both of you to be together.”

An Ziyan looked at Mai Ding. “Wait for me to come back.”

Mai Ding nodded. That's all he could do.

When both brother and sister left the house, Mai Ding could finally relax. He collapsed on the sofa and stared blankly at the ceiling for some time. He felt a little hurt but he didn't know why. There was nothing to be worried about, no reason to be hurt. The only thing that left a mark on him was An Su's glare before she left. She was h.e.l.l bent on breaking the two of them apart. Sigh. Which family member would accept such things in the first place? Mai Ding felt he couldn't blame An Su. But he also loved An Ziyan. The only thing he could blame was the society he was in, a society that labels such love as a great sin.

Time was ticking away. Unknown to Mai Ding, Christmas Day was over. Dispiritedly, he walked to his new theatre room, put on a DVD and waited for the love of his life to return home.

After some time, Mai Ding heard someone coming in through the door. It was An Ziyan. An Ziyan saw that no one was in the living room and proceeded to the guest room instead, now a theatrette for his love.

“You waited long?” he asked in an extremely concerned way.

Mai Ding shook his head. “I'll prepare something to eat. You must be hungry.”

While eating their late dinner, An Ziyan said, “Don't take what An Su said to heart.”

“I know. I'm not angry with her. I'm a guy after all. It's only gentlemanly to let it go. But I'm worried that she might break us up.”

“She doesn't have that ability.”

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