Mai Ding poked his head out of the bedroom. “Don’t just sit there! Come help!” He’d barely spoken when Zhou Ge and Ellen arrived. Zhou Ge hugged Ellen from behind. “Baby, let’s try a little moving-house play today.”
“Play, my foot! We’re here to move furniture properly, not flirt, and definitely not get dirty!” Mai Ding emerged and forcibly separated the pair. Cao Cheng Yi came in yawning and collapsed on the sofa. “Why’d you call me over for something so trivial? I drank too much at the gay bar last night. My head hurts.” Mai Ding planted his hands on his hips, planning to lecture Zhou Ge and Ellen first and Cao Cheng Yi next. Before he could, An Su pushed him aside. “Stop standing in the way.”
“Yeah, Mai Ding, why are you blocking the way?” Li Ming chimed in. What a hopeless bunch. Guan Zhu was busy and couldn’t come. Mai Ding had wanted to recruit more people to help with the move, but every last person who’d arrived acted like royalty. He hadn’t dared hope Fu Shu or Ji Meng would show up. Those two always moved in mysterious ways.
“Forget it. I’ll go pack my things.” Giving up on educating anyone, Mai Ding hummed his way back into the bedroom. Cao Cheng Yi propped up his head. “Mai Ding’s in an unusually good mood today.”
“Who knows what goes on in his head? You can’t understand the thinking of an idiot.”
Because everyone had driven over, one trip would be enough to move most of their belongings. But while Mai Ding was brimming with energy, everyone else complained. Far too many people, led by An Zi Yan, did nothing but stand around issuing instructions, so it took a long time. Cao Cheng Yi rose from the sofa at the rented apartment only to lie down on the sofa in the new place. “I’m exhausted.”
“You haven’t done anything at all, have you?”
“Mai Ding, get me some water,” An Su said, fanning her face. Bai Xiao Si raised her hand. “I want something to eat.” Zhou Ge raised his hand too. “Can we borrow your bed?” What exactly had he invited these people here for?! Mai Ding thought furiously, holding a cardboard box. Worst of all, An Zi Yan walked past, glanced at him, and said, “Why aren’t you finished yet?” Mai Ding took a deep breath. Endure it. Don’t let them ruin his wonderful mood. Just remember how he’d fooled An Zi Yan yesterday.
Looking around at them, he remembered the night of graduation. Who would have thought two years would pass so quickly? Zhou Ge was still a rich second-generation heir who adored Ellen more than anything, while Ellen was still the rich wife who adored Zhou Ge. Li Ming had become the happiest homebody in the world. Cao Cheng Yi was determined to continue sampling every sort of man under the sun. Bai Xiao Si really was a free-spirited, dedicated single woman. And the things An Su had never said aloud back then would probably remain unsaid forever. Now, though, there was someone who would help her accomplish anything else she wanted.
More or less, all of them had realized the wishes they’d made two years ago. What about his own wish? There was no need for it to come true anymore. What he wished for was already at his side.
After they’d eaten and drunk their fill, the whole lot of them prepared to leave without even helping tidy the new place. Mai Ding called after them. “It’s my birthday! Aren’t you going to stay and celebrate with me? Give me some presents or something?”
“Think about who you are. What right do you have to demand that we celebrate your birthday?”
“I have the same status as you! I’m a citizen!”
“Goodbye.”
Perhaps it would’ve been more efficient not to ask them to help at all. At least the new home wouldn’t be so filthy! Mai Ding complained to An Zi Yan. “Look at them! What a bunch of scoundrels. It’s my birthday! I’m the birthday boy! You won’t even help me teach them a lesson. Everyone just picks on honest people.” Could someone who spoke badly of people behind their backs really count as honest? An Zi Yan played with his phone. “Then hit them.”
“Easy for you to say. How could I beat them without your help? Stop sitting around. Let’s go. There’s just a little stuff left. One more trip and we’re done.”
“No time. Something’s come up at the company.” An Zi Yan kept his eyes on his phone. Mai Ding walked over and snatched it away. “Stop lying! You’re obviously playing a game.” He deliberately kicked An Zi Yan’s leg, then added, “I’m the birthday boy today. Only I’m allowed to hit you. You’re not allowed to hit me.”
“Where did you hear such a ridiculous rule?” An Zi Yan promptly pinned Mai Ding to the sofa and gave him a beating. His hair and clothes were left in disarray. Hugging his own arms, Mai Ding stared at him in disbelief. “I’m the birthday boy. How could you bring yourself to do that?”
“Are you coming or not?”
“Hmph!”
“Hmph again and I’ll twist your nose off.”
The two returned to the old place and packed up the last few things. Mai Ding looked around the home they were about to leave, with all the memories he could no longer quite recall. They were forever saying goodbye and forever beginning again. He wanted to feel sentimental, but the feeling wouldn’t come. Perhaps nostalgia would rise years from now, but not today. Right now, he was filled with something more beautiful, something better. Their hands were separated by a small distance. Then they drew closer and closer, until both turned sideways and their hands overlapped.
The car’s next destination was their home. Their real home. Mai Ding watched out the window as the houses they’d lived in and the schools they’d attended receded behind them. In the rearview mirror he saw his face, now another year older. So many things were still waiting for him: the project he was handling on his own, the messy new home… His story would be too long to tell and would fill more pages than anyone could spare. But it had always been an ordinary story. Why should it need a sensational ending?
Have you ever envied love? Love is actually something very ordinary.
“Hey, what birthday present are you getting me?” Mai Ding asked suddenly.
“Nothing.”
“Stingy!”
“What do you want?”
“I want…” Mai Ding murmured. Perhaps he’d been too excited the night before and had worn himself out moving all day. He drifted off to sleep. He felt as though he’d slept only ten minutes, but when he opened his eyes, he could see a slender crescent moon through the car’s sunroof. His birthday had ended so quickly. “What a waste,” he muttered. He knocked on the window, and An Zi Yan, who was standing outside, turned around.
“Why are we stopped here? Are you waiting for something?”
On the other side of the glass, An Zi Yan’s quiet words were scattered by the wind. Mai Ding couldn’t hear clearly, or perhaps he thought he’d heard wrong. He rolled the window down. “What did you say? Say it again. I didn’t hear you.” An Zi Yan bent his head and looked at him.
Mai Ding repeated his question. “Are you waiting for something?”
“Isn’t it your birthday? I’m waiting for you to finish telling me what you want.” So he’d heard correctly after all. He wanted to hear it again, yet he also hoped An Zi Yan might say something even more beautiful next. Mai Ding opened the car door so he could see him better. He immediately regretted it. An Zi Yan was too beautiful, eclipsing all color and everything else. He was someone who could lure Mai Ding straight into an abyss.
“I want… your body, your heart, your feelings, your future. All of you.” How would An Zi Yan scold him for making such an outrageous demand? Mai Ding closed his eyes.
“What a stupid thing to say.” There it was, the scolding he’d expected. Mai Ding was about to laugh when An Zi Yan continued, “Don’t you already have everything you’re asking for?” The effect of those words was too powerful, far too powerful. Mai Ding opened his eyes, and everything seemed a little blurred. An Zi Yan leaned down, bringing his lips very close. Surely the look on An Zi Yan’s face ought to be against the rules. Mai Ding had no choice but to close his eyes again.
I wish you weren’t so wicked. Don’t come any closer. I’ll fall into the abyss.
I wish you were a little more wicked. Come closer, and let me fall.
The kiss he gave Mai Ding almost stopped his heart. Mai Ding thought he’d already fallen into the abyss. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered it wasn’t an abyss at all. It was the entrance to a fairy tale.
I am Mai Ding. You are An Zi Yan.
Two names that were always destined to stand side by side.
Author’s Note: I’ll Still Love You Even If You’re a Man 2. This time I wasn’t fooling you. It really is finished… All I hope is that you liked it.