Just a step away from you

CHAPTER VIII: You're a Smart Man; You'll Know What to Do

An Ziyan left the hotel after he told Mai Ding to go get some rest. It was a Sunday and the expansion of the venture was now put into a close.

"Where are you going now?" Mai Ding wondered as he looked at him.

"Listen to my sister's ranting." His back was facing the other man; he was putting his coat over.

"Ah...wait." Mai Ding stopped him for some reason. An Ziyan didn't saw the man's face but Mai Ding was definitely taken aback on what he heard.

He wants to know where An Suo's location is, or did the others have learned about the evil woman's arrival at this point.

"Hmm?" An Ziyan just replied as he opened the door and would be leaving.

" Ah..uhmm...thank you for taking care of me." The bespectacled man scratches the back of his head and smiled hesitantly. He hasn't decided what to do.

"What's with that face?" An Ziyan smack his head playfully while he laughed.

***

A couple of hours lapse, he arrived at his family home, An Ziyan got out from his white car and entered the house.

"You're late, where have you been this whole time, you even turned off your phone. I clearly said to go and get me at the airport, right?" A sophisticated woman was sitting at the living room, he stopped and faced her.

"An Suo, leaving him like that, Lin Shuyi must be sad now." An Ziyan was referring to his sister's husband. He removed his tie and got a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

"He doesn't understand that my line of work needs my complete focus on the Fashion Collection, all year round." She told An Ziyan frowning, this man was not paying attention to her and continued to smoke.

"How is work, have you also set a date for your marriage with Bai Xiaosi?" Lin (An) Suo asked his younger brother timidly.

"You travelled for business and not for my personal affairs, right." An Ziyan went to the kitchen as he sneered at his big sister.

***

The next day Mai Ding was still trying contacting them. Yet, it wasn't intended to harass him but...

Bai Xiaosi was in a convention while on the other hand Zhou Ge and Ellen were together on a cruise; they are individually occupied in their own affairs.

Since Mai Ding and An Ziyan were now in good terms, it was obvious that they thought he wanted to handle the situation on his own. Undoubtedly, that was the established plan in the first place.

"Honestly, are you friggin' kidding me, the wicked sister is here and you all leave me behind like it's a natural thing to do in the world?" Mai Ding stared at his phone, baffled.

Someone grabbed his hand forcibly. As he glanced at the person, he was rendered speechless

"An Suo?" Mai Ding cannot fathom that his luck is wearing out.

He was in complete turmoil; they met in such an untimely manner.

***

On that fine day that they have met unexpectedly, An Suo was there to visit An Ziyan at the office; it was by chance that she saw Mai Ding outside making a call.

"Oh my god, Why are you here?" An Suo said in disbelief.

"An Suo?" Mai Ding was stunned to see her, as well.

*As his only relative staying in the city, the hospital personnel called her. Once An Suo knew about An Ziyan's Amnesia because of the incident, she contacted Mai Ding about his supposed death.

She knew that Mai Ding would be doubtful about it, that's why he made Zhou Ge as a living eyewitness to insinuate the lie to the boy.

She even called their parents back to tell about his relation to a gold-digging wretch and even intimidating Bai Xiaosi about Mai Ding's safety.*

An Suo deliberately assumed that her plan was foolproof.

However, until that moment she was definitely proved wrong.

***

She was shaken by the fact that this man was here again to take his little brother away to the wrong path. An Suo followed a line of investigation and figured out that when she was away from Europe.

Bai Xiaosi and Zhou Ge used the reason of a business deal and have brought Mai Ding to meet An Ziyan.

It was a meeting that took place 3 days ago. It was really a civil one because they were both seen by An Ziyan ahead of time.

She called his number through her connections from the hotel to invite him out to dine and met him in secret.

Although, the three were away from sight for now... "If you dare tell them, you'll regret it." She warned him.

***

Consequently, here they are; at a luxurious French restaurant situated in the capital.

Mai Ding's boss was calling him to come back to China; he will be replaced by Qian Lei to carry on with the venture, he viewed that An Suo really works fast with her plans.

"An Suo, I really admire your determination for hindering our relationship, you even faked your own brother's death." Mai Ding was clenching his hands on the side hiding his upset.

"I'm doing this for An ZIyan's sake. I hope you understand where I'm coming from." An Suo slid a long white envelope in the direction of Mai Ding at the top of the table.

He picked it up and opened it; it was a plane ticket back to Mainland, China.

"I'm amazed that you haven't told him about your unproductive relationship, it's futile anyway. Yet, if you do, I won't know what kind of things will happen to your family."

Of course it was an empty threat; she knows that Mai Ding has a very vulnerable character.

"Are you implying that you'll hurt them if I don't agree to the things that you're saying...how can you be this cruel?" Mai Ding was now trembling with dread.

"Oh by the way, before I nearly forget." An Suo then again gets a folder from her bag and gave it to Mai Ding, he then receives it with no hesitation.

When he opened, it was no other than An Ziyan's medical record when he was hospitalized. Mai Ding began to read it completely but at the very end of it...

"It just means that An Ziyan's memory loss is a permanent one and no matter what you do, he won't remember anything at all." Mai Ding was stunned on what he had heard from An Suo.

"You're a smart man; I believe you know what to do." An Suo humiliated him and smiled with content as she left him there alone.

From that moment, Mai Ding was awfully quiet. The bustling sounds and laughter of the people made both of his ears to ring and head to painfully ache.

In that instant, he felt like his entire world was shattered into pieces.

TBC