It had been almost a week since graduation, and Mai Ding spent huge chunks of every day browsing job sites. Today was no exception. Just as he was about to submit another résumé and try his luck, somebody knocked on the door. Mai Ding had barely reached the living room when an impatient voice came from outside. “Hurry up.” He quickly opened the door. An Su pushed past him and went directly to the bedroom door, then gently closed it. “Don’t wake Yan.”
What outrageous favoritism! An Zi Yan was spoiled rotten because of people like you! Mai Ding complained silently while keeping his voice pleasant. “Sis, what brings you here?”
“Who are you trying to disgust? Call me ‘Sis’ again and I’ll make sure you don’t have a little brother.”
I’m kindly giving you some face. Careful or I’ll beat you to death! Naturally, Mai Ding could only be fierce inside his own head. He would probably remember being pinned helplessly beneath An Su for the rest of his life. An Su sat directly on the sofa and crossed her legs. “I came to borrow the car.”
You came to borrow something, so why are you acting so arrogant?! “Okay. I’ll find the keys for you right away.”
“How are things going with Yan’s job?”
While searching a drawer for the keys, Mai Ding answered, “I think his interview is tomorrow.”
“Is that so? What company is he applying to?”
“I don’t really know the details.”
“You spend every day beside him just eating and drinking for free? Ask him more questions.” An Su scolded him.
Why don’t you ask him yourself? Just turn your back to me and I swear I’ll beat you to death! “Other than insulting my character, he doesn’t say much to me.”
“That makes sense. Telling you things really wouldn’t accomplish much.” An Su took the keys from Mai Ding and stood. “Text me his interview result afterward.”
“I’ll definitely keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t spend every day doing nothing except dreaming about living off his parents!” Once again Mai Ding had transformed into an envoy of justice.
“Live off what? The An family rule is that a parent’s responsibility ends once the child graduates. After that, you rely on yourself. What do you think I work every day for? The day I graduated, Mom and Dad cut off my financial support. I suffered plenty for a while just trying to live.” Mai Ding was stunned by the information. An Su did not look as though she were lying. This righteous envoy had not been feeling too much pressure before. He had secretly assumed that if he went a long time without finding work and could not keep going, he might nibble a bite or two from the An family. That plan had just shattered.
An Su had already opened the door when Mai Ding finally came back to himself. “Sis, aren’t you going to ask about my job situation? We’re family now, aren’t we?” Mai Ding’s skin was thick enough. When An Su failed to ask, he actually volunteered the subject himself. He wanted to find some family warmth from a person surnamed An. An Su glanced at him. “Then you…” She got two words out and stopped. An Su thought for a full two minutes, confirmed there was absolutely nothing she wanted to ask, then shut the door and left.
I really am going to beat you to death!!
The next morning, Mai Ding temporarily set his own job hunt aside. He got up early, made breakfast, then walked onto the balcony and solemnly prayed to heaven. He was very practiced at this. Back when he bought lottery tickets, he had prayed plenty.
“What are you doing?” An Zi Yan appeared behind Mai Ding in the middle of all his little rituals, eyes still heavy with sleep. He curled one hand loosely near his mouth and gave a handsome yawn.
“Did you graduate from some idol-actor training academy? Can’t you yawn like I do?” Jealous, Mai Ding opened his mouth wide to demonstrate. An Zi Yan, who had been criticized for absolutely no reason first thing in the morning, gave him an ugly look. “Your skin itching this early?”
“I’m trying to help you, and you want to hit me?”
“Help me?”
“I’m praying that your interview goes well. That company you want is really demanding, right?”
“With your rotten luck praying for me, don’t drag me down with you.”
“Peh, peh! Don’t say unlucky things.” Mai Ding completed his final prayer gesture, then hurried An Zi Yan to change. “Don’t be late. Hurry. Stop moving so slowly.”
“Annoying.”
“You can complain about me as much as you want today. Who goes late to a job interview? What kind of impression would that give the interviewer? I already made breakfast. Do you want me to go with you and cheer you on? Even if you don’t get the job, don’t get discouraged. Life looks down on people anyway.” Mai Ding fired off an entire stream of words. An Zi Yan seemed not to hear a single one. He even switched on the television with the remote. Mai Ding alone grew anxious beside him, went to the wardrobe, and started rummaging through An Zi Yan’s clothes. Soon he shouted toward the living room. “These are all the clothes you have? Where’s your suit? You’re supposed to dress formally for an interview, do you understand?” There was no answer. Mai Ding gave a heavy sigh. His prayer was clearly doomed to go to waste. There was no hope. He really was going to have to support the household himself. He picked out a random outfit and left it in the bathroom. “Your laziness is going to ruin you, you know that? Look at me. I’m exactly the kind of person every boss loves: hardworking and capable. Then look at you. Society is going to eliminate you sooner or later. If you seriously can’t find a job, stay home and do the cleaning.” An Zi Yan walked over, pinched Mai Ding’s lips shut, pushed him out of the bathroom, and closed the door.
After washing up and changing, An Zi Yan looked expressionlessly at the breakfast set in front of him. On one slice of bread, some unidentified substance had been used to write the two crooked characters meaning “Good luck.”
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“I lost my appetite instantly.”
“Are you too nervous?”
“It’s too disgusting.” Only after An Zi Yan took a fork and smeared the words “Good luck” beyond recognition was he willing to eat.
After breakfast, An Zi Yan went to the entryway to leave. His attitude looked no different from someone heading to the nearby supermarket. Mai Ding asked again, “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
“Sigh…” Mai Ding sighed yet again. He understood. An Zi Yan did not want Mai Ding accompanying him because he was afraid that if he failed, he would be too embarrassed to face him. With that thought, Mai Ding gave An Zi Yan the compassionate gaze one might give someone certain to fail. “Sigh… take care of yourself out there.” Who exactly was the unlucky one here? An Zi Yan had not even left yet and Mai Ding had already decided he would fail.
“I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to beat you before I leave.” An Zi Yan turned around and walked toward Mai Ding. Mai Ding retreated step by step, completely unable to understand what he had done wrong. An Zi Yan reached out. Mai Ding squeezed his eyes shut. Then his head was shaken from side to side, after which everything went still. He had assumed An Zi Yan was finding some new method to trample his dignity, but only when he heard the door close did Mai Ding open his eyes. His hair had been rubbed into chaos from every direction. Baring his teeth, he made a furious face. “You’re the one who’s nervous, so you use me to vent. What do you think I am? Heartless bastard.”