Even if you are a boy, I will still love you.

Chapter 8: Has God taken notice of Mai Ding?

Chapter 8: Has God taken notice of Mai Ding?

 Author: Angelina

Translator: Adrian Julian

The movie Like love was adapted from this novel.

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Mai Ding was creating a raucous outside An Ziyan’s room, and the latter was awoken by it. He tried covering his head and ears but he couldn’t help but hear how this boy both hated and loved him.

By the time Ziyan finally got up to open the door, Mai Ding was no longer there.

The next day, fully aware of what he had done, Mai Ding decided to stay away from An Ziyan. He didn’t know what possessed him to say all those stupid things out loud. Now the cat’s out of the bag. How is he ever going to face An Ziyan? ‘He hates me, I am sure. He’s straight but he had to have another guy liking him.’ The more Mai Ding thought about it, the more he was overwhelmed by feelings of regret. ‘Why was I so bloody rash?’ More thoughts bombarded his mind and thoughts of suicide crossed his mind.

Mai Ding was exiting the toilet when he saw An Ziyan. He immediately rushed back in. For those who did not know what he was doing, it might even seem like he was a pervert. And when Ziyan walked past his classroom, Mai Ding would use a book to cover his face. If they bumped into each other while walking up the stairs, Mai Ding would walk hurriedly away, disappearing from An Ziyan’s sight. In fact, it would seem to some that Mai Ding had a radar, always looking out for An Ziyan. When his target was spotted, Mai Ding would run away faster than others. And this went on for several days.

Mai Ding was done with school and was about to return to his dorm when he saw An Ziyan waiting outside his classroom by the railings. ‘How long are you going to hide from me, Mai Ding?’ AnZiyan asked. Mai Ding wanted to respond but he didn’t know how to. Instead, he threw the books he was carrying at An Ziyan and ran in the opposite direction. Unfortunately for Mai Ding, his legs were a tad shorter than An Ziyan’s and in the end, he was caught by the person he loved and hated the most. ‘You are such an asshole.’ AnZiyan cursed after grabbing Mai Ding.

‘Let me go! Else I am going to shout for help.’ Mai Ding threatened, half struggling.

‘What the fuck are you shouting for? Why are you running away?’

‘I have lost all my self-respect…and…I can’t face you.’

‘Why can’t you face me?’ Ziyan pursued.

‘Do you even have to ask? It’s because of those words I said that night.’

‘What words?’ AnZiyan decided to pretend that he heard nothing, afraid that by confirming that he had heard Mai Ding’s confession, this boy would stay away from him forever.

Mai Ding calmed down a lot more after hearing that. ‘You mean you did not hear anything that night?’

‘What? What did you say?’

Mai Ding heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God for that, Mai Ding thought to himself. That way, he can still be An Ziyan’s friend. As long as An Ziyan doesn’t hate him, he wanted the next best thing: his companionship and friendship. He flashed a sudden smile and said, ‘Why didn’t you say so earlier?’

Mai Ding is really an idiot, An Ziyan thought to himself. He was so loud that night. How could I not have heard it? But he did not want to say it.

And so that was how Mai Ding and An Ziyan’s friendship returned to normal as if nothing had happened. But for Mai Ding, even though things have indeed returned to how it was in the past, he still couldn’t face An Ziyan in the calm way he that he used to. Mai Ding didn’t know whether to rejoice or to be upset by the fact that he was now An Ziyan’s friend. At times, he wanted to just confess his love for Ziyan one more time. Let him hate me for all I care, he thought. But after thinking it through, he didn’t dare to. He wouldn’t want to gamble away what he had just reclaimed, especially when the friendship he has now was something that was so dear to him.