“About the child…” Even though he did not want to bring it up at a moment like this, there was no time left to avoid it. An Zi Yan stood, turned slightly, and held out a hand to Mai Ding. “Do you still not understand? If I ever have a child, I only want one with you, not with someone else.”
“But…”
“I’ll explain everything to our parents.”
“So this can actually be resolved perfectly?” Mai Ding took the hand An Zi Yan held out and let himself be pulled to his feet. An Zi Yan squeezed his hand. “This is something that can never be resolved perfectly.”
Only at the end do many things begin to seem as though they were never that difficult. You look back and wonder what was wrong with you then, but then was then. We cannot know the ending in advance, nor can we avoid pain, because pain and happiness exist in contrast with each other. A person who has never known pain will never know what happiness is.
When Mai Ding’s father saw the two of them, he lowered the television volume. “Call your mother quickly. She just went out to buy groceries. Tell her to get more.” Mai Ding nodded as he took out his phone. By the time he finished the call, An Zi Yan and his father had already started chatting, though only about work. Mai Ding still had no idea how An Zi Yan planned to explain things to his parents and Auntie. His own parents were one thing. He was almost afraid to face Auntie because he had made her a promise, and now he was taking it back. Mai Ding could no longer bear to see anyone around him cry because of him. There was no trace left on An Zi Yan of what had happened the night before. It was as though all that sadness had never existed. Before long, Mai Ding’s mother returned carrying a bag stuffed full of vegetables. The moment she came through the door, she scolded Mai Ding. “Even if it’s the weekend, you still have to tell us ahead of time when you’re coming home. I told you that last time. Why can’t you ever remember?” The instant she finished scolding him, she turned to An Zi Yan with a warm smile. “Xiao Shuai, I bought your favorite dishes.”
“I actually should’ve married you.” An Zi Yan’s words were devastatingly effective on a middle-aged woman. Mai Ding’s mother laughed so hard she practically bloomed. Normally Mai Ding would already have protested, but today he was unexpectedly quiet. His mother glanced at him. Mai Ding forced out a smile. She set the groceries down. “You two came back today because you have something to tell us, right? If it’s about what happened last time, didn’t I already say it was fine? Xiao Shuai, don’t take it to heart either. This brat must’ve complained to you. I was just emotional at the time.”
“Auntie, neither of you did anything wrong, so why would I take it to heart? Maybe Mai Ding hasn’t told you yet, but we just took out a mortgage and bought a house. We have monthly payments now, and Mai Ding’s job still isn’t stable, so for the time being we haven’t considered having a child. We’re only in our twenties. It’s still too early. Once there’s a child, there are education costs, living expenses, and all kinds of other problems. Making such a careless decision would only hurt the child.” Mai Ding had wondered what An Zi Yan would say. It turned out he was simply spouting a mouthful of lies. The An Zi Yan in front of him now was entirely the An Zi Yan from the office.
“You bought a house? Why didn’t you discuss something this important with the family first?” Mai Ding’s father immediately fixed his gaze on Mai Ding and began blaming him. An Zi Yan said from the side, “I told him he should discuss it with the family. Who knew he’d settle on the house behind my back?” He had that backwards! Mai Ding had just opened his mouth to defend himself when his mother sighed. “This child must make you worry. He’s always been reckless since he was little. He must’ve caused you plenty of trouble. I never imagined he’d even do something this important, buying a house…” She hesitated. “Xiao Shuai, about the child, we…”
“Dad, Mom.” An Zi Yan changed how he addressed them. “From now on, I’ll be here with you too. I don’t know whether that can make up for what you feel you’re missing.” Even Mai Ding was moved by him. His mother felt her nose sting and nodded again and again. “That’s already enough.” Mai Ding might not have brought her a grandchild, but he had brought her the best son she could ask for. Perhaps some regret would still rise in her heart from time to time, but who went through an entire life without regrets? People were always looking at others, other people’s sons getting married and starting families, while some people lost their children in middle age or suffered serious illnesses… Wait. Mai Ding’s mother looked at Mai Ding. She could see blazing love in his eyes. Beside An Zi Yan, he was so happy. He was healthy and happy. What else could she possibly complain about?
An Zi Yan picked up Mai Ding’s mother’s phone from the coffee table and rapidly entered something while speaking. “Mai Ding and I both work now, so sometimes we may not be able to keep you company. If you get bored, call any of these people. They’ll come spend time with you.” Mai Ding glanced at the phone. The numbers being entered belonged to Zhou Ge and the others. Mai Ding thought it was fortunate he was An Zi Yan’s lover, because being An Zi Yan’s friend was an especially miserable thing.
“You don’t need to worry so much about things at home. Men should focus on their work. We were the ones who overlooked how difficult things have been for you. Enough of this. Mai Ding, go help your mother cook,” Mai Ding’s father said. Mai Ding nodded.
His parents accepted it very easily. It was not difficult at all. When Mai Ding had tried talking to them himself, it had turned into an argument. He did not think his parents were biased. Back then, all he had done was keep demanding to know why they would not help him. The same issue, handled in different ways, could produce completely different results. Thinking about it still left him a little unwilling. He could never beat An Zi Yan at this. Except when it came to Mai Ding himself, An Zi Yan could always remain rational and know exactly what to say to be effective. Except when it came to him. For some inexplicable reason, Mai Ding really liked being the one person who got treated differently.
After coming clean with his parents, Mai Ding felt as though he needed several days to recover. Yet the moment lunch was over, An Zi Yan dragged him straight to Wu Xin’s house. Even at the door, Mai Ding refused to go in.
“Let’s come back in a few days. We should think first about what we’re going to say to Auntie.”
“Dragging it out is worse than ending it quickly. Unlike an unemployed drifter like you who quits whenever he feels like it, I only have time on weekends.”
“You…” Mai Ding managed only one word before An Zi Yan forcibly shoved him inside. To Mai Ding, An Zi Yan’s attitude was like a kaleidoscope. One turn and it changed completely, leaving him dizzy trying to keep up.