Ding Hanbai had never cared much about other people's business; this was the first time he was so anxious. He didn't even say hello, drove straight to Miao'an Alley, braked to a stop at the alley entrance, and rolled down the window to wait for Liang Hecheng to show up.

He could have knocked on every door, but Liang Hecheng had intentionally hidden his personal information, so he had to consider it from the other person's perspective.

Ding Hanbai waited bitterly like this, smelling the greasy odor wafting from the breakfast stalls, listening to the neighbors bickering as they jostled in line. Suddenly, a middle-aged man passed by, leaned in, and asked him for directions.

While striking up the conversation, the man offered him a cigarette. He took it, and after telling him the way, the man lit it for him as a thank you.

Ding Hanbai didn't usually smoke, so he let the cigarette between his fingers burn down a bit. He tried putting it to his lips and taking a drag. Tasteless, senseless. Only when he exhaled did he taste a hint of nicotine's fragrance. Gazing at the alley, he took drag after drag, gradually finishing the first cigarette of his life.

Whether smoking and drinking could truly dispel sorrow was unknown, but they were somewhat effective in temporarily numbing one's senses and making one forget their troubles.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Ding Hanbai finally spotted a figure. Old, unsteady, exuding the air of someone in their declining years, it was Liang Hecheng. Liang Hecheng was plagued by illness and pain. Unlike other elderly people who woke up early, he always had to struggle groggily in bed for a long time before getting up.

Ding Hanbai clearly saw the large bowl the other man was using to buy soy milk—white glaze, wide mouth, with a Ming Jiajing mark. 'Damn, he's got style,' he thought to himself.

Grumbling internally, he got out of the car and briskly walked to Liang Hecheng's side. Before Liang Hecheng could be surprised, he pulled out money to pay. "Master Liang, sorry to disturb you at home, but I really have no other choice." His voice was deep and low. "I have a very important item here that's broken, and I'd like to ask your apprentice to help fix it."

Since Liang Hecheng already knew Ding Hanbai was Ji Shenyu's senior brother, he couldn't be bothered with other considerations and immediately invited Ding Hanbai to his home. In the few steps it took to get there, he figured it out: if Ding Hanbai was coming to him for help, it meant he still didn't know Ji Shenyu's identity.

His apprentice was painstakingly hiding it, so as his master, it wasn't his place to rashly expose the truth. He could only continue to play dumb.

After entering the house, Ding Hanbai kept his eyes straight ahead. He unwrapped the package, revealing the shattered Jade Incense Burner, and concisely explained his purpose. Liang Hecheng looked at the exquisite carving and asked, "Did you carve this?"

Ding Hanbai said, "My junior brother carved it."

Liang Hecheng's heart stirred, recalling that Ji Shenyu had mentioned being busy carving an incense burner. In the ensuing silence, Ding Hanbai thought Liang Hecheng was hesitating about something and hurriedly explained, "Master Liang, I won't let you help for free. This item is something my junior brother worked on day and night, it's extremely important. I'll owe you a favor for this. If there's anything you need from me in the future, don't hesitate to ask."

Liang Hecheng couldn't help but probe, "You and your junior brother seem to have a really good relationship."

Ding Hanbai suddenly pressed his thin lips together and averted his gaze slightly. His expression seemed as if he didn't want to admit it, yet also as if he had some unspeakable secret. It was indeed hard to speak of; he himself didn't feel their bond was that deep, his thoughts too tangled to examine.

Having made his request, Ding Hanbai thanked him repeatedly and turned to leave. Liang Hecheng suddenly called out to him, "How did you know I live here?"

Ding Hanbai confessed frankly, "I acted despicably. I followed you here before."

A frank villain. Liang Hecheng chuckled. However, he wasn't asking to hold him accountable, but as a prelude: "Well, as a matter of courtesy, where do you live? I don't have a phone here. If there are any issues, how can I find you?"

Ding Hanbai immediately told him: Cha'er Street, Chi Wang Fu Station. The largest household there is the Ding Family.

He said his goodbyes and left, not taking the time to look closely at the bricks and tiles. But as he stepped out of the small courtyard, he caught a glimpse of something and inexplicably felt that the few potted green plants looked familiar.

There were many sorrows in this world; it was good enough to solve them. Ding Hanbai headed home, the heavy stone in his heart casually set aside. The house was as usual. He had missed mealtime and went to the kitchen to find something to eat on his own. The soup was delicious, but his expression and gaze grew colder by the minute. The trouble was temporarily resolved, but now he was thinking about the person who had caused the trouble.

With that grim face, Ding Hanbai returned to the small courtyard. The moment he stepped through the arched gateway, he came face to face with the person having a fit on the veranda. Ji Shenyu's eyes instantly went from gray to bright. Pouting, he ran down the two or three steps, looking as if he was about to burst into tears.

He had been miserable and wretched all morning. Ever since the Jade Incense Burner disappeared, he had stood dumbly in the south, then paced in the courtyard, and then stood in the north in a daze. If the item was broken, he could swallow his anger and fix it. But the item had grown wings and flown away. What was he supposed to do?

Ji Shenyu didn't trust anyone; he only dared to tell Ding Hanbai. He had waited silently until now. The moment Ding Hanbai appeared, he almost lost control and threw himself at him.

"Senior Brother." He gripped the other's arm tightly, his teeth chattering. "I went to the South Room this morning... and found my Jade Incense Burner shattered."

Ding Hanbai was surprised. "You already saw it?"

Ji Shenyu didn't think much of it. "I didn't tell Master. When I came back after my meal, the Jade Incense Burner was gone! It wasn't just shattered, someone stole it..."

The other's fear and anxiety were impossible to hide, revealed completely as he spoke. Ding Hanbai turned and held Ji Shenyu by the shoulders, comforting him, "Don't worry, I took it." He explained, putting an arm around him and walking toward the room, "I woke up and found it broken, so I quickly wrapped it up and made a trip. I'll get it back for you once it's fixed."

He coaxed, "Relax, don't panic."

Ji Shenyu stared at Ding Hanbai, frozen. "Made a trip? Fixed?" He grew even more anxious. Ding Hanbai had actually given the Jade Incense Burner to someone else. Who was that person? Who could possibly fix it?

Ding Hanbai said, "I told you before, there's a highly skilled master. I've entrusted it to him."

Ji Shenyu's worries didn't lessen. It was as if a bottle of five flavors had shattered in his heart, splashing the sour taste everywhere. He broke free from Ding Hanbai's arm and stared intently at him. "The person you're talking about, is it the one who's only seventeen but already so skilled that you admire him?"

Ding Hanbai replied, "Yes, don't worry, he can definitely fix it for you."

Ji Shenyu couldn't hold it in any longer. "...What right do you have to give my things to someone else? I don't need it!" He rarely lost his composure, widening his eyes to appear more intimidating. "After it's fixed, do I have to go thank him? Are you helping me fix the Jade Incense Burner, or are you using my Jade Incense Burner to get close to that person?!"

Ding Hanbai looked at Ji Shenyu in shock. He could imagine Ji Shenyu obediently thanking him, imagine Ji Shenyu relying on him to solve problems, but how could he have predicted that Ji Shenyu would actually lose his temper at him?!

"This is bizarre!" he roared in frustration. "I rushed around in a panic, putting on a smiling face like a sycophant. Who the hell was I doing it for?!"

Ji Shenyu was unrepentant and unafraid. "I didn't ask you to go put on a smiling face!" He simply couldn't imagine Ding Hanbai being solicitous toward someone. Ding Hanbai was so fierce, looking down on this person and scorning that one. What right did "that person" have to make Ding Hanbai put on a smiling face?

Skilled? Could he possibly be more skilled than Ding Yanshou?!

Unless Ding Hanbai was after something. He didn't lack money or skill, so what could he be after?

Ji Shenyu was in a daze. Ding Hanbai wanted to associate with that person, first as a friend, then as a confidant. What did that mean? It meant that he and the other junior brothers still weren't worthy of Ding Hanbai's notice. He felt it was unfair, he was resentful, he was unwilling to accept it. He didn't care about the others, but why wasn't he good enough either?

That Silver Stream across the Endless Heavens, that Rose Seal—he thought he was different.

The huge fight ended with Ding Hanbai's "my kindness was taken for ill intent." The doors of the two adjacent bedrooms slammed shut. The angry one was angry, the sad one was sad. Shortly after, a fine rain began to fall, as if even the heavens were vexed for them.

Separated by a wall, Ji Shenyu buried his head in his homework, the answers he wrote down nonsensical. He finally just buried his head in his arms to waste time. Ding Hanbai wasn't having a good time either. He lay on his bed flipping through a book, not even noticing he was holding it upside down.

Every second was agonizing. It was as if whoever opened their door first would be the loser. Both of them stubbornly sulked in their bedrooms. The rain pattered down all day. They were finally dragged out by Jiang Caiwei in the evening.

A copper hot pot meal was set up in the large living room, the table full of fresh vegetables and lamb. Ding Hanbai strode in first, putting on the airs of a young master. He did nothing, just sat down and stirred his own sesame oil dipping sauce.

Ji Shenyu rolled up his sleeves to help. From a yellow-glazed jar, he fished out three or five heads of pickled sweet garlic and peeled them clove by clove. Once everyone was seated, he sat next to Ding Hanbai. Their arms brushed through their clothes, and the warmth fanned the flames of his anger.

The milky-white bone broth came to a rolling boil, and the lamb was put in. The whole family warmed their stomachs in the white steam. Ding Hanbai's peripheral vision was always sharp; he could clearly see the other person's poor appetite. He said, "Third Brother, go to the kitchen and slice a plate of Hawthorn Cake. I need something to cut the richness."

Ding Keyu was eating heartily. "You're already tired of the richness after just starting? ...Just have some vegetables."

Ding Hanbai said unhappily, "Just go when I tell you to. Can't I even order you around anymore?"

Ding Keyu quickly went and sliced a plate. Ding Hanbai casually placed it in front of him, askew, facing his left. At the table, people chatted and served each other food. Ji Shenyu remained quiet the whole time. After a long while, he extended his chopsticks and picked up a piece of Hawthorn Cake.

It was more sour than sweet. He picked up another piece, and his appetite improved slightly.

About a quarter of an hour passed. The meat in the copper pot was finished, and Ding Hanbai picked up another plate of lamb. He suddenly stood up as if he couldn't reach, and with a flick of his wrist, he dropped the plate, shattering it on the floor, and even let out an exaggerated cry.

Porcelain shards flew everywhere. The commotion startled everyone at the table. Ding Yanshou scolded him for being careless, while Jiang Shuliu clutched her chest to calm herself. Ding Hanbai sat down, showing no remorse. "Since we can't eat the lamb, let's just cook the radish. I think the radish is getting a little impatient."

Jiang Shuliu said, "What do you mean the radish is getting impatient? There's more in the kitchen. Go get two more plates."

Ding Hanbai feigned surprise. "There's more lamb? Won't that take time to bring out? Are we really not cooking the radish?"

Ding Yanshou said, "What's with you? You act like you're drunk. We haven't had enough meat yet. The radish can wait."

Ding Hanbai turned his head and told Ji Shenyu to go get the lamb. Ji Shenyu glanced at him and got up to go. He put down his chopsticks and said, "With hot pot, the most important thing is the lamb, of course. Even if the radish is impatient, even if you drop the lamb, it's useless. You still have to wait for another portion!"

His words were forceful, causing everyone to look at him. "What does this show?" he added leisurely. "It shows that ruining someone else's work won't necessarily benefit yourself. If you really want to harm others for your own gain, you'd better weigh your own capabilities first."

The table was silent, with only the sound of the boiling soup. But Ding Hanbai wasn't finished. He picked up a slice of radish, chewed it raw, and swallowed. "Tastes pretty good. But for those harboring ulterior motives, I—ptui!"

This time he didn't just put down his chopsticks, he slammed them down.

Ji Shenyu had already gotten the lamb and was standing frozen just inside the kitchen door, listening to Ding Hanbai's veiled accusations. Ding Yanshou asked Ding Hanbai what madness had possessed him. Ding Hanbai said that those who should understand, would understand, then he strode away.

Whether the culprit understood or not was unknown, but Ji Shenyu understood.

He never thought Ding Hanbai would raise such a storm for him.

The hot pot dinner was a thrilling affair and ended hastily. Ji Shenyu helped clean up, then hid in the kitchen and ladled out a bowl of bone broth, adding Yunnan ham and green vegetables to cook a bowl of mixed noodles. He carried it back to the small courtyard and placed the noodles on the veranda.

Ding Hanbai was half-leaning against the headboard, watching as the partially closed door opened. Ji Shenyu peeked in, imitating his previous way of speaking: "Senior Brother, I'll show you a magic trick."

Ding Hanbai was annoyed. "Don't want to see it!"

Ji Shenyu clutched the door awkwardly. An idea struck him. "If you don't want to see it, then close your eyes."

Ding Hanbai was choked speechless and turned his face to the side. Ji Shenyu brought in a bowl of hot noodles, the fresh aroma assailing the senses. He placed it on the bedside table, a temptation. "Why did you make me noodles?" He was relentless. "Now you know who's good to you? Trying to make peace?"

Ji Shenyu wasn't expecting to make peace; he just felt the other person hadn't eaten enough.

Silence wasn't permitted either. Ding Hanbai yanked him forward. "If you're going to admit you're wrong, then obediently say to me—'Senior Brother, I know I was wrong, please forgive me.' Making a bowl of noodles is useless. Even making a whole pot of Fotiaoqiang would be useless!"

Ji Shenyu fell against the side of the bed. The furious Ding Hanbai of this moment and the furious Ding Hanbai at the dinner table gradually overlapped. The former was angry because of him, the latter was venting anger for him. He said obediently, "Senior Brother, I know I was wrong, please forgive me."

The hand gripping his forearm suddenly loosened. Ding Hanbai let him go, turned his face away, and his ears had actually turned red.

Ji Shenyu went out, pushing the window open before he left.

Ding Hanbai was puzzled. "Who told you to open the window?"

Ji Shenyu answered, "I saw your ears were red, so I thought you were hot."

Ding Hanbai's face turned red too. "What business is it of yours if I'm hot or not? Get out!"

Ji Shenyu left immediately, marching in place to pretend he was walking away, then stood still and held his breath. He heard the slurping sounds of noodles being eaten from inside the room. He was drained, weary. He crept back to his room, not knowing when the Jade Incense Burner would return, not knowing if he and Ding Hanbai had made up.

A night of wind and rain. A branch on the tree broke.

Ding Hanbai didn't have to go to work at the Cultural Relics Bureau. He drove Ding Yanshou to the Jade Pavilion.

Ji Shenyu went to school. It was the midterm exam today, so school would end early. After finishing the exam in the afternoon, he walked out of the school gate to find Liang Hecheng waiting for him with an umbrella. "Master?" He ducked under the umbrella. "It's raining, why did you come?"

Liang Hecheng was direct. "Come to my place. You'll know when you get there."

Ji Shenyu had no choice but to follow him. In truth, he was in no mood to do anything. As long as the Jade Incense Burner wasn't back, he couldn't be at ease. As they entered the alley, Liang Hecheng said, "Zhang Sinian's apprentice brought over a broken item and asked you to fix it."

Ji Shenyu said worriedly, "Why him again? Does he think he's some big shot?"

He opened the door. The few potted plants were a vivid green. Inside the house, the old clothes on the table were dim. Liang Hecheng said, "That thing was made by his junior brother. It's very important. For his junior brother's sake, I agreed."

Ji Shenyu was incredibly annoyed. "Who's his junior brother now... Today his junior brother's thing breaks and I have to fix it, tomorrow if his wife's jewelry breaks, is he going to look for me to fix that too..."

Liang Hecheng uncovered the cloth. On the table was the shattered Jade censer with loose-ring butterfly handles. The sound of the rain was incessant. Ji Shenyu's rambling words got stuck in his throat. His mind went blank, his thoughts a roaring ocean.

Knows carving, Zhang Sinian's prized disciple, the Jade Incense Burner... it's Ding Hanbai, it's actually Ding Hanbai!

Liang Hecheng said, "His junior brother is you. As for who his wife is, I wouldn't know."

Ji Shenyu plopped down onto a chair, collapsing completely inside and out.