Vol 2 Chapter 23 (1/2)
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Mai Ding just wouldn't open the door. ”So what if I am backing out of our deal. I am definitely not going.”
”If you do not come out this instance, you are going to get it for the rest of the year!”
Mai Ding's dad shouted from outside Mai Ding's room. He was furious because he had planned this matchmaking lunch for some time. He couldn't just back out now. It was now a matter of face.
Hearing the threat, Mai Ding got a little scared. He called An Ziyan, begging him to help him, ”An Ziyan, what should I do? My dad is going to flip. I am afraid I can't hold the fort any longer. He even threatened me. He said that I'm going to get it for the rest of the year.”
An Ziyan was roused from his sleep. ”If you go, I'll kill you” And after saying that, he hung up, obviously going back to sleep.
Poor Mai Ding, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Mai Ding's mother was now furiously pounding his door, shouting, ”Mai Ding you little s.h.i.+t. If you don't open the door, I'm really going to get angry.”
Pushed to a corner, Mai Ding blurted, ”I already have a girlfriend.”
Suddenly there was peace. Mai Ding opened the door and saw a look of shock on both his parents' faces. Mai Ding's mother began, ”If you are saying this to get yourself out of this date, you can forget it. I am not so gullible.”
”It's true. I have no reason to lie to you.”
”Why didn't you say so yesterday?”
”The time's not right. But right now since the both of you are forcing me to go, I have no choice but to tell you the truth.” Mai Ding's ability to lie was also top-notch.
”Do you have her photo?” Mai Ding's mother asked, refusing to believe.
”No I don't.”
”You have a picture of your handsome dorm mate but you don't even carry a photo of your girlfriend? Do you think I'm stupid?”
”She hates taking photos. That's not my fault, right?”
”Do you think I will believe you so easily? You call her right now. Let me talk to her. In that way, I will believe you and I will let you off the hook.” Mai Ding's mother was rather persistent herself.
Mai Ding didn't know what to do. He didn't know his mother would also have her own tactics. All his life, he had been under the control of powerful women and all his friends had been guys. The women he could think of right at that point in time were An Su and Ellen. Both of them would not do. Suddenly, he thought of the perfect candidate: Bai Xiaosi.
Mai Ding's life was definitely tragic. The three women he could think of was all due to his relations.h.i.+p with An Ziyan. Luckily, he kept Bai Xiaosi's number from the last time. He only hoped that Xiaosi would be quick enough to understand what was going on. Bai Xiaosi was packing her stuff when her phone rang. She saw that it was Mai Ding calling her and answered the call. ”What's wrong now? Is An Ziyan bullying you again?”
”h.e.l.lo my dear.” Mai Ding used his most seductive voice.
Bai Xiaosi nearly puked.
”My dear, what are you doing now? Are you awake? My mother wanted to talk to my girlfriend. Do you mind saying a few words to her?” Before she could say anything, she heard an older woman's voice greeting her. ”h.e.l.lo? Are you really Mai Ding's girlfriend?”
Bai Xiaosi was an intelligent lady, and was quick to get what was happening. Acting was also one of her forte and using the sweetest voice that she could muster, she said, ”Hi Auntie. This is just too sudden for me. I'm really not prepared. And here I thought Mai Ding was not going to tell his parents about us.”
”So it is true. I actually thought that my son was lying to me. It's not that he was unwilling to say but it was because his Dad and I forced him to go for an arranged date. That's why he told us about you. How long have you known him?”
”Oh, I knew him from last winter. It was a cold and dreary night. My jacket was wet
and my whole body was s.h.i.+vering. That was when Mai Ding appeared and lent me the jacket that he was wearing. When I saw him, I immediately knew that he was the one for me.” Bai Xiaosi had to pinch herself to prevent herself from laughing.
Mai Ding's mother thought to herself: This girl might not be that good looking, else she wouldn't have fallen in love with my boy at first sight. However, she is still my son's girlfriend. That is something to be happy about.
”I didn't know that Mai Ding was such a romantic. Anyway, it's going to be the New Year soon. Do drop by our place. We would love to see you.”
”Auntie, I will be away with my family because my grandpa and grandma have moved. I'm afraid that I won't be able to see you. But don't you worry. The minute I have time, I'll pop by your place to see you. Mai Ding always brag about the fact that his mother was a very beautiful woman.”
Mai Ding's mother could help but smile. ”You are right. Being with your family is the right thing to do. Alright then. I shan't bother you anymore.” And smiling to herself, she pa.s.sed the phone back to Mai Ding and then to Mai Ding's father, she nodded her head, as if telling him that she was extremely pleased.
Mai Ding heaved a sigh of relief, but he felt sorry that he had to burden Bai Xiaosi with this matter. He was, after all, the person who stole her boyfriend in the first place. ”Thank you.” he said to her. ”No need to thank me. Just take it that you owe me one.” And with that she hung up. Mai Ding understood why An Ziyan would befriend Bai Xiaosi in the first place. Both were rather down-to-earth albeit cold-blooded at times. This should end this whole matchmaking thing. Bai Xiaosi was indeed his benefactor.
In a week's time, it was going to be the New Year. The temperature was dropping even more and daytime was getting shorter. Mai Ding had just finished his dinner, and the sky was already all dark. He slipped into his room and turned on his computer. An Ziyan has not given him a call for almost two days. Mai Ding knew that in a relations.h.i.+p, someone had to be the one to make the first move and he decided that he would be the one and so he took his phone out and dialed An Ziyan.