Because everyone at the year-end banquet worked for the same company, the atmosphere was relaxed rather than formal. Everyone from Public Relations was there. After the performances onstage ended, it was time for the executives to start handing out red envelopes. President Ji’s face was flushed red from drinking. He had barely taken out the envelopes when people below started jeering that there were too few. Mai Ding would never miss a chance to grab red envelopes. He was the most enthusiastic person there and had claimed the best position long in advance. While President Ji was still speaking, Mai Ding messaged An Zi Yan. [I saved you a good spot. Hurry over and grab some. You have a responsibility to share the family’s financial burden too.]
[You have been blocked by this user.]
[Blocked, my ass. Stop fooling around and come help me grab some.]
[This user has classified you as mentally deficient.]
[The system would never send a message like that! Don’t treat me like an idiot!]
[This user has already treated you like an idiot.]
An Zi Yan was far too good at being shameless, and Mai Ding was helpless against him. Fine, they could deal with it later. Mai Ding put his phone back into his bag just as President Ji began generously throwing red envelopes into the crowd. There was no dignified way to describe Mai Ding’s appearance now. He looked exactly like an auntie fighting over discounted goods at a shopping mall.
After the executives took turns distributing the envelopes, Mai Ding returned to his seat glowing with triumph, clutching ten red envelopes. He looked prouder than if he had successfully landed on the moon. “I got this many red envelopes. I’m definitely going to have good luck next year!”
“I’m your shifu. Give me one.” Guo Ping shamelessly stretched out a hand. Mai Ding had already stuffed the envelopes into his bag. “Shifu, you grabbed some too. Why aren’t you giving me one?”
“Red envelopes represent good luck. How can I give my luck away to someone else?”
“I don’t want to casually give my good luck away either.” Everyone then turned toward An Zi Yan, who had not gotten a single envelope. An Zi Yan said irritably, “Why are you looking at me?”
“N-nothing. Yan, I’ll give you one of mine.”
“Don’t need it.”
“Come on. Take a little good luck and make it auspicious.” Don’t give him any! If he gets even luckier, he’ll ascend straight into the heavens!
“Don’t need it.” Even though An Zi Yan refused, Guo Ping still placed an envelope in front of him. Other coworkers who had grabbed some also began giving An Zi Yan one each. Mai Ding had no intention of sharing with him. An Zi Yan would only waste the money anyway. He had no idea how to save! The coworkers who had no idea how hard Mai Ding worked to manage the household stared at his stinginess. “Mai Ding, you really have no generosity at all.”
“I have no generosity? Are all of you blind?!”
President Wang came over to the Public Relations table holding a wineglass. His neck and ears were bright red from drinking. “Public Relations actually managed to gather everyone this year. Stop thinking only about red envelopes and drink. I’m still counting on all of you to work properly after the holiday.”
“We saw Yan working so hard and ending up without any red envelopes, so we wanted to share some with him. Mai Ding absolutely refuses.”
“What kind of tiny problem is that? I specially saved a big red envelope for him.” President Wang placed the envelope in front of An Zi Yan, then draped an arm over Mai Ding’s shoulder. “How did you even manage to get into Public Relations?”
“President Wang, I…”
“I don’t want to hear you talk. Stay away from my daughter. It took me forever to have one child. If you try to steal her away, I’ll break your legs!”
“Old man, you should stay away from the guy surnamed Mai too,” An Zi Yan said blandly. Mai Ding glared at him. An Zi Yan added, “Who knows what kind of disease he’s carrying.” President Wang immediately moved away from Mai Ding. Even he had heard enough about Mai Ding’s supposedly terrible private life to think there was a real chance he carried something. Mai Ding’s eyes widened even more. The little version of himself inside his head pointed at An Zi Yan and cursed him. If I have a disease, you’ll be the first person I infect!
“I’m not even forty-five yet. I’m not an old man. Zi Yan, watch how you talk. I’m still your superior.” President Wang turned and criticized An Zi Yan instead. Under the table, Mai Ding was already applauding President Wang’s righteous words with both hands. President Wang became especially talkative after drinking. As though suddenly remembering something, he looked at An Zi Yan. “Right. Yuan Yuan keeps pestering me to take her to see your place. That should be convenient, right?” Mai Ding’s applauding hands froze. He prayed An Zi Yan would invent some excuse to refuse. Very close lovers were supposed to have telepathy, weren’t they? His thoughts would definitely reach An Zi Yan. An Zi Yan shrugged carelessly. “Whatever.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll find a time after New Year.”
The topic was like a piece of candy dropped on the floor, immediately attracting ants. Plenty of people had long been extremely curious about where An Zi Yan lived and what he was like in private, but they had never had a way to find out. Now that such a perfect opportunity had appeared, how could they let it pass? “Can we go too?”
“Whatever.”
Stop saying whatever! You whatever-person! Have you forgotten there’s another person living in that house? Think about how the other person feels too! What am I supposed to do? Don’t panic, Mai Ding. You’re smart. There has to be a way. Think. Think harder. No, maybe strangling An Zi Yan first would be faster!!
Under the table, Mai Ding kicked An Zi Yan hard, blaming him for creating another problem. An Zi Yan’s expression seemed to say: So what?
Maybe even heaven enjoyed tormenting Mai Ding. During the banquet’s raffle, the only thing he won was a dress meant for a woman. In the car, he complained, “What kind of luck is this? To make up for my wounded heart, you need to give me one of your red envelopes.”
“Why should I make up for your wounded heart? My mood is already terrible because I have to take you home.”
“What do you mean, take me home? Are you planning to go to some other home? That was only a lie we told Guo Ping and the others, wasn’t it? Right, since it’s on the way, let’s stop at Xiao Si’s place and give her the dress.” An Zi Yan said nothing. By the time they reached the bottom of Bai Xiao Si’s building, Mai Ding had actually fallen asleep. An Zi Yan nudged him. Squinting, Mai Ding handed him the dress and mumbled, “Can you take it up and give it to her for me? I’m so sleepy. Please. Good people live peaceful lives.” Before An Zi Yan could answer, Mai Ding fell asleep again. With a cold expression, An Zi Yan knocked impatiently on Bai Xiao Si’s door. “Hurry up.” The door finally opened. Bai Xiao Si frowned when she saw An Zi Yan and muttered, “Why are you here?”
“Zi Yan?” The man who appeared behind Bai Xiao Si had a deep, resonant voice. An Zi Yan looked at him and gave a slight nod. “Uncle Bai. Long time no see.”
“It has been a while. Xiao Si, why are you blocking the doorway? Let Zi Yan come in and sit down.” Bai Xiao Si reluctantly stepped aside. Bai Xiong lit a cigarette and sat on the sofa, leaving a place for An Zi Yan. Bai Xiao Si tried again. “Dad, he probably still has things to do…”
“You have the nerve to say that? Didn’t you tell me a while ago that you and Zi Yan were no longer in contact? Were you deliberately trying to keep me from seeing him?” Bai Xiong glared at Bai Xiao Si in displeasure, then turned to An Zi Yan. “I heard from your father that you’re a manager in Public Relations now. That company is pretty good. I told you I never misjudge people.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Sigh, I know Xiao Si wronged you. That girl doesn’t know any better. Don’t hold it against her.” An Zi Yan had no idea what Bai Xiong was talking about, but he answered casually anyway. “That was a long time ago. There’s nothing worth holding against her.”
“That’s good. Sigh, you should help me talk some sense into Xiao Si too. She’s impossible. She keeps saying she doesn’t want to marry or have children. Tell me, isn’t that ridiculous?!”
“Is not having children some terrible crime? Other people have children, so I have to have them too? Do I have to live my whole life according to other people’s standards? They can say whatever they want.”
“You still dare talk back? That’s called selfishness! Have you ever thought about how your parents feel?”
“I…”
“I don’t want to hear it! Zi Yan, sorry you had to see this. Uncle Bai manages so many people at the company, yet I can’t even manage one daughter. I’m going gray from worrying about her.” Bai Xiong rubbed his temples.
“Uncle Bai, with someone like Bai Xiao Si, the more you try to control her, the more she’ll fight you.”
“But I can’t just ignore her. She used to listen to you a little. Ever since the two of you broke up, she won’t listen to anyone.” An Zi Yan understood exactly what Bai Xiong meant. He stood. “I’ll help you talk to her. Uncle Bai, I still have something to do, so I’m leaving first.”
“You’d better keep your word.” Hearing that An Zi Yan would help persuade Xiao Si put Bai Xiong much more at ease. Bai Xiao Si, standing nearby, felt no pressure at all. She understood An Zi Yan better than her father did. An Zi Yan spending time persuading her? Even if someone beat her to death, she would never believe it. He had probably just said whatever came to mind so he could escape. After An Zi Yan left, Bai Xiong asked, “You and Zi Yan…”
“Nothing. Stop clinging to unrealistic hopes. He has someone he loves very much now.”
“So what? You were together for so many years. There has to be some feeling left. Otherwise, why would he still come looking for you?” Bai Xiao Si had no desire to explain everything to Bai Xiong one point at a time. “It’s impossible.” Bai Xiong extinguished his cigarette and fell into deep thought.