With school about to start, Ding Yanshou allowed Ji Shenyu to have some fun for a few days, telling him he didn't need to help at Jade Pavilion. Ding Erhe and Ding Keyu then proactively took on the extra work, stating they would cover for him. Seeing this, Ji Shenyu rested with peace of mind, lest he annoy the two brothers even more.

"Going out?" Ding Hanbai asked before leaving for work.

Ji Shenyu nodded. He was going to see Liang Hecheng.

Ding Hanbai misunderstood, instructing, "Don't cause any trouble when you're out with your classmates. Just eat and drink."

After everyone in the house had left, Ji Shenyu ducked into the kitchen and busied himself making a pot of soup. Carrying large and small bags, he rushed to Miao'an Alley. Last time he had tidied up the small courtyard, and today it looked different again. When he entered, he saw Liang Hecheng practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard, though his movements were soft and feeble.

"Master, you're in good spirits." He went into the house to tidy up on his own accord, then came out while pouring the soup to ask, "Master, will you use the Yellow-glazed Bowl with Incised Dragon Pattern, or the Famille Rose Bowl with Nine Peaches?"

Liang Hecheng laughed heartily. "Stop that, don't make fun of me."

Ji Shenyu poured the soup into the Famille Rose Bowl with Nine Peaches. "Didn't you put them out for me to see? And after seeing them, wasn't I to be tested? And if I failed the test, you'd teach me."

Liang Hecheng was full of praise, enjoying both the savory soup and his intelligent apprentice. After finishing, he asked, "Why did I choose these two bowls to ask you about?"

Ji Shenyu answered: "The dragon-pattern bowl has a flared mouth, and the small angle is difficult to get right, making it very easy to reveal flaws. The double-dragon-chasing-a-pearl pattern has complex lines, and since the incision is subtle, the defect rate is high. As for the famille rose one, it's painted on both the outer wall and the inside of the bowl; the slightest difference in the painting would ruin it."

These two bowls represented two highly difficult categories: one with patterns, one with paintings. Liang Hecheng failed to stump Ji Shenyu. He set down the bowl and practiced another set of Tai Chi. Perhaps because he was overjoyed, his fists now carried some force.

Ji Shenyu was eagerly waiting to learn the craft, having already made a list of things to ask about one by one before he came. But Liang Hecheng was in no hurry at all; he wanted to witness the fine process of jade carving.

Ji Shenyu, in turn, became the teacher. "This is a Chicken-Blood Stone. I'm going to carve a seal."

Liang Hecheng asked, "Comparatively, which do you prefer, making antiques or carving?"

Ji Shenyu thought for a moment. "Making antiques involves many processes, which is more interesting than carving. But it's merely imitation, unlike carving where I have to come up with my own ideas. I'd say they're equally matched." After answering, he eyed a certain vase. "Master, what's the most successful piece you've ever made?"

After being diagnosed with cancer, Liang Hecheng had barely made anything. He lay at home for half a month, muddle-headed. His skills had no successor, and being hospitalized for treatment made him feel doubly lonely, so he became even more muddled. Later, thinking he didn't have many years left to live anyway, he figured he had to leave behind one or two masterpieces. Thus, he mustered his strength and created that Hundred Longevity Vase.

When he was out of money, he would take a piece from his house to sell. He never deceived the buyers, only selling them at the price of a replica. He hadn't expected to meet Ji Shenyu. It was fate, or perhaps the heavens had taken pity on him, so he gave away the Hundred Longevity Vase.

After listening, Ji Shenyu asked, "You said before that even Blind Zhang might not be able to tell if it's real or fake. Who is Blind Zhang?"

Liang Hecheng lowered his voice. "He is your master's arch-nemesis. He's blind, and I'm Six-Fingers—"

Ji Shenyu was amused. "Did you poke his eye out?"

This new master-and-apprentice pair, who hadn't known each other long, did no proper work. They faced each other, drank soup, and chattered endlessly, their laughter never ceasing. But while some were happy, others were worried. Ding Hanbai was preparing to see Zhang Sinian, but just before leaving, he was sent on a business trip by Zhang Yin.

A small tomb had been excavated in a neighboring city, and he was told to go attend a meeting with the local Cultural Relics Bureau. It would only be for a day or two.

Ding Hanbai went home to pack his clothes. As soon as he entered the Front Courtyard, he smelled a fragrant aroma. It was Jiang Shuliu cooking in the kitchen. Why was she back cooking in the middle of the morning? He followed her towards the bedroom. His mother entered Jiang Caiwei's room, and he went in too, startling the two sisters.

Jiang Caiwei's face was pale and the corner of her mouth was split. She forced a smile.

Ding Hanbai asked, "Swapped your day off? Not feeling well?"

Jiang Shuliu answered for her sister, "Yes. What are you back for?"

"I'm packing my things to run away from home. I'll be back in two days," Ding Hanbai said as he walked out. His mother actually paid no mind to what he'd said. Jiang Shuliu sat by the bed feeding Jiang Caiwei. She paused after two mouthfuls to wipe away Jiang Caiwei's tears.

"Don't be scared anymore." Jiang Shuliu started crying herself. "I'm comforting you, but honestly, I'm scared too..."

Jiang Caiwei threw herself into Jiang Shuliu's arms. "Sis, the wounds on my body hurt..."

With a bang, Ding Hanbai, who had heard enough from outside the door, rushed in. He ran to the bedside and crouched down to look at Jiang Caiwei. "Auntie, you got off work late last night. Did something happen?"

Jiang Caiwei refused to speak. He said anxiously, "What's the use of only telling my mom? Can you two solve it by hugging and crying? Tell me, who bullied you, I'll go find them. How did you get these injuries?!"

Jiang Caiwei had gotten off work late yesterday. Worried about accompanying Ji Shenyu to burn paper offerings, she took a shortcut through a small alley and ended up running into a hooligan. She was beaten and injured while resisting. Fortunately, her cries for help were heard by a passing colleague, and she managed to escape. She had spent the night at her colleague's home and only told Jiang Shuliu after returning in the morning.

Ding Hanbai shot to his feet, furious. Seeing Jiang Caiwei crying so hard, he forcefully stopped himself and comforted her, "Auntie, you rest up first. When your condition stabilizes, and when I get back, tell me the specific details of what happened then. This matter isn't over."

Jiang Shuliu asked, "Don't be reckless. What are you planning to do?"

Ding Hanbai was forthright. "That place is next to a newspaper office and a school. It's likely someone has encountered this before. If we ignore it, more girls might suffer in the future. If I didn't know, it'd be one thing, but now that I do, I can't just pretend to be deaf and dumb."

After he finished speaking, he went to pack his clothes. Jiang Caiwei couldn't stop him and asked Jiang Shuliu to do it. It wasn't that she was afraid of people finding out; she was scared from the beating last night and worried something would happen to Ding Hanbai.

Jiang Shuliu didn't move. Picking up the bowl of food again, she said, "Let him be. If one isn't enough, we'll call Erhe and Keyu, and also Ting'en and Shenyu. With so many young men in the family, can't we deal with one stinking hooligan?"

When Ji Shenyu returned that day, Ding Hanbai was already gone. He had even left a note telling him to clean the machine room. He had finally caught his chance. Clutching the key, he immediately went in and observed with bold confidence.

The cabinets were full of fine materials, all sorted by category. There were also some roughly shaped objects, all unfinished pieces of Ding Hanbai's. Ji Shenyu opened a wooden box. Inside were eight Green Jade Plaques, neatly arranged. They were multi-layered relief carvings depicting a story with characters, and the eight plaques told the complete tale. The story, set on five-centimeter jade plaques, was extremely complex. Peddlers, porters, pavilions, and towers were all depicted in detail with lines as fine as hair. Even if he had the patience for it, he himself could not achieve this level of skill.

Finally, cleaning the machines, Ji Shenyu meticulously finished the task. As he was locking the door, he heard a loud crash. The pot of Lucky Bamboo that Ding Hanbai had kicked over a while ago had been sent flying again by Jiang Ting'en.

"Ji Zhenzhu!"

Ji Shenyu was already immune to this name, looking at him with calm composure.

Jiang Ting'en bounded over. "I went to find Younger Aunt to check my homework, but she was actually asleep and wouldn't let me in. Then Older Aunt scolded me and told me not to bother Younger Aunt for the next two days."

Hearing this, Ji Shenyu said worriedly, "Is Auntie sick?"

Jiang Ting'en said, "She'd need someone to take care of her if she were sick. She always bosses me around when she's sick." He paused. "I think, well, she's of the right age. Could she be in a relationship and got pregnant before marriage? Though I've never heard of her dating anyone..."

Ji Shenyu cursed, "Are you sick? You're like an idiot all day long!"

Jiang Ting'en was a weathercock. He usually followed Ding Hanbai's lead. With Ding Hanbai gone, he'd follow anyone who sweet-talked him. He had finally managed to analyze something on his own, only to be berated for it.

The next day, Ji Shenyu got up very early and waited in the Front Courtyard for a full two hours before Jiang Caiwei finally appeared. His heart clenched. He had thought she was just feeling unwell; how could there be a wound on her face?

"Shenyu?" Jiang Caiwei looked embarrassed. "So early. Is something the matter?"

Ji Shenyu said, "I have a piece of Chicken-Blood Stone, and I want to make something for you. Do you prefer a bangle or a bracelet?"

Jiang Caiwei casually said a bangle, and then went back into her room. Ji Shenyu felt it was inappropriate to follow, but when he noticed she was walking with a limp, he grew even more worried and rushed forward. "Auntie, what on earth is wrong with you?"

Jiang Ting'en also rushed out from the side room, shirtless. "Younger Aunt, are you trying to worry me to death!"

Jiang Caiwei hadn't actually been sexually assaulted by the hooligan, and she felt that even if he were caught, he wouldn't be severely punished. But now, one after another, they were acting like they had radar, frantically questioning her. She couldn't be bothered to hide it anymore and simply told them what happened that night.

The room was filled with clattering sounds as an enraged Jiang Ting'en knocked several things over. Ji Shenyu, meanwhile, stood rooted by the bed, saying guiltily, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault for asking you to take me to burn paper offerings, otherwise—"

Jiang Caiwei interrupted, "Isn't it foolish to trace it back to the root like that? No one is at fault. If anyone's to blame, it's that hooligan."

Soon, the whole family knew. Jiang Ting'en's family also found out. His father, Jiang Xunzhu, came to see his younger sister, and all the elders crowded into the bedroom. The four juniors sat at the stone table in the small courtyard, looking like they were playing mahjong from a distance.

Ding Erhe, the eldest, said, "The alley is dark. She definitely couldn't have seen the hooligan's face clearly."

Jiang Ting'en asked, "Then how do we catch him? How do we know who the hooligan is?"

Ding Keyu said, "The hooligan can't see us clearly either."

Ji Shenyu listened quietly, understanding that they meant to lure the hooligan out first. It seemed absurd, yet there didn't seem to be a better way. If they managed to lure out the same hooligan who had accosted Jiang Caiwei, that would be perfect. And even if they lured out a different one, it wouldn't be an injustice.

But the question was, who would be the bait, and how?

He stared at the tabletop, thinking. He suddenly noticed the silence and looked up to find the other three all looking at him. The second and third brothers didn't know him well, so he first asked Jiang Ting'en, "Why are you looking at me?"

Jiang Ting'en stammered, "They're both looking at you, so I'm looking too..."

Ji Shenyu met Ding Keyu's gaze directly. The meaning was self-evident. Ding Keyu was also quite straightforward and said clearly, "Here's what I'm thinking. It's not safe to use a girl as bait, and besides, there are no other girls in the family apart from Auntie. So, a boy should dress up as a girl. Junior Brother, I think you're particularly suitable."

Ji Shenyu said, "I think you, with your fair and clean looks, and your familiarity with the city's layout, are more suitable than me." He kicked Jiang Ting'en under the table, and Jiang Ting'en immediately nodded in agreement.

"How am I as fair as you? Besides, I'm so tall, the hooligan wouldn't dare approach." Ding Keyu glared at Jiang Ting'en. Jiang Ting'en's neck seemed to wind up like clockwork, nodding non-stop. At this moment, Ding Erhe said, "Shenyu, Auntie got into trouble because she was rushing back to accompany you to burn paper offerings. If you make a small sacrifice to take care of the hooligan—"

Ji Shenyu was suddenly lost for words to retort. He already blamed himself and was afraid that although Jiang Caiwei didn't say it, she actually blamed him in her heart. Ding Erhe's words hit him where it hurt, and he didn't dare refuse any longer.

The four of them made their own preparations. Every carving tool in the house could be used as a weapon. Jiang Ting'en even pocketed a large piece of Tianhuang Stone, heavier than a brick. They planned for Ji Shenyu to wander the alley after dark while the others lay in wait, aiming to capture the hooligan in one fell swoop.

Ji Shenyu wandered to the Front Courtyard and waited until everyone had left before going to see Jiang Caiwei. "Auntie?" He saw Jiang Caiwei knitting gloves in bed. Whether it was to distract herself or because she couldn't sleep, she was knitting them for him. He wished he could beat that hooligan to death right then and there.

He didn't stay long. He mainly asked about the hooligan's physical characteristics, height, voice, and whether he was carrying any tools. Unfortunately, Jiang Caiwei had been too terrified at the time to notice much. After asking, he left without saying a word about their plan for the evening.

The four of them left after dinner. Ding Erhe drove, while Ding Keyu and Jiang Ting'en squeezed Ji Shenyu in the middle of the back seat, unable to hold back their snickers. Even if they didn't usually get along, they were only eighteen or nineteen, quick to forget old grudges.

Ji Shenyu was wearing a long dress that Ding Keyu had borrowed from a photo studio, with shorts on underneath. He wore a shirt on top and a wig. Ding Keyu put an arm around him. "Junior Brother, your chest is so flat. Do you think the hooligan will take an interest?"

Wearing the wig, Ji Shenyu was sweating profusely. "It's pitch black. How's he going to tell if I'm flat or not?"

The car parked on the roadside. After the sky was completely dark, Ji Shenyu walked into the alley alone and began to pace back and forth. This required patience. If the damned hooligan didn't show up tonight, they would come again tomorrow night.

The other three waited in the car, one of them getting out from time to time to go into the alley and check. If there was no movement, they would return, careful not to get too close. By eleven o'clock, Jiang Ting'en was yawning, dozing against the car door.

Another half hour passed, and Ding Keyu was also getting sleepy, his stomach rumbling. The three of them decided not to wait any longer. They got out of the car, planning to grab some late-night snacks nearby and bring a portion back for Ji Shenyu.

Back home, they were preparing to turn off the lights. Ding Yanshou turned off the spotlight on the spirit screen and heard the gate creak as he turned around. The iron gate made a loud noise, but Ding Hanbai, returning from his business trip, made an even louder one. He stepped over the threshold and yelled, "What are you doing standing there so late at night! You scared me to death!"

Ding Yanshou asked, "What kind of business trip was that? A one-day, one-night excursion to the suburbs?"

Ding Hanbai ignored his old man. He couldn't calm down at all, constantly worrying about whether Jiang Caiwei was okay. He also had a faint feeling that something might happen, so he simply bailed and came home. He first went to the Front Courtyard to see Jiang Caiwei, asking her many questions about that night before she fell asleep.

Jiang Caiwei let out a rare laugh. "Shenyu asked me the same things today, word for word."

Ding Hanbai asked, "They all know?"

The lights in the small courtyard were off. Ding Hanbai discovered that Ji Shenyu wasn't there. He went to the East Courtyard and found that the second and third brothers weren't there either. Since they had been asking about the situation, they must be planning to deal with the hooligan. He immediately hailed a cab to the mouth of the alley, feeling that those guys were extremely unreliable.

Ji Shenyu had already been pacing back and forth for several hours. His legs were sore. He leaned against the wall to stand for a while, mustering all his alertness whenever someone passed by. He walked to the end of the alley again. Exiting it led to another street, and around the corner was a dead end. He started walking back towards the entrance of the alley, wondering why the other three hadn't come by for so long.

The wind blew his skirt. He almost lost his coordination. He adjusted his posture to make himself look more like a woman. Just then, a pair of hands shot out from a narrow side alley, grabbed him, clamped down on his shoulders, and began to drag him in.

A damp palm clamped over his mouth, and his waist was grabbed. Only then did he realize in shock that there were two people.

Ji Shenyu struggled with all his might, managing to kick one of them hard, but was immediately grabbed by the hair and slapped across the face. His wig was knocked askew, and his long dress was torn and hitched up. He secretly pulled the small carving knife he had hidden from his shorts pocket.

"Fuck! Is this a guy?!"

The hooligan holding Ji Shenyu's chest let go, shouting in a hushed voice. The other one, eager to confirm, removed the hand covering his mouth and reached down to grope between Ji Shenyu's legs. Ji Shenyu gasped and cried for help, "Senior Brother—Senior Brother—"

With a bang, the taxi door slammed shut. Ding Hanbai saw his family's car, but there was no one inside. He charged into the alley, hearing the sound of rustling clothes and the curses of two men from a distance.

"Why the hell is a guy wandering around in a dress?! A man dressed as a woman? Fucking disgusting!"

"It really is a guy! What fucking pervert is this!"

Ji Shenyu was being kicked and punched. His vulnerable parts were suddenly grabbed. He struggled in panic, clutched the carving knife tightly, and swung it with all his might.

"—Ji Zhenzhu!"

What did he just hear? It was so close, so familiar.

Veins bulged on Ding Hanbai's forehead. At that moment, two screams of agony echoed through the alley simultaneously.