The Jade Pavilion on Yingchun Avenue was the most spacious, with two floors, a main storeroom in the back, and a machine room with the best equipment. The small building right next to it was the District Police Station; the second floor directly faced the police office, making it exceptionally safe.

At noon, Ding Hanbai was eating at Zhuifeng Tower across the street. The leaders from the Museum were treating him to a meal to thank him for his work carving the Han Dynasty Portrait Stone. After leaving the hotel, he vaguely saw Ding Yanshou leading Ji Shenyu into the Jade Pavilion.

After finishing his social obligations, he went over. Only the shop assistants were in the lobby. He stepped into the back workshop and saw Ding Yanshou personally wiping down a machine. "Dad," he called out, taking a step to lean against the doorframe. "Weren't you supposed to go to the Second Shop today?"

Ding Yanshou said, "Your second uncle and Erhe are there. No need for so many people."

In the span of those two sentences, Ding Hanbai noticed a cardboard box on the table. It was wrapped in layers of newspaper, and when unwrapped, it revealed that piece of Hibiscus Stone. He was like a firecracker, needing only a split second to explode with rage. "Why are you touching my material again?! Where's Ji Zhenzhu! I told him to watch it, that little stooge!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Ji Shenyu ran in from outside. "Who's yelling for me?"

Seeing it was Ding Hanbai, he explained, "Senior Brother, Master told me to bring it over for polishing, not for anything else." The deerskin cloth in his hand was damp. He wiped down the finely carved Hibiscus Stone, then turned to ask Ding Yanshou, "Master, are we each polishing one half?"

Ding Yanshou had also finished cleaning the polishing machine. "You polish his half, and he'll polish yours."

Polishing was the final step in jade carving. If one's hand trembled at this last stage, all previous efforts would be wasted. They had spent a day finalizing the design for this Hibiscus Stone, a day on outlining and rough carving, and had worked tirelessly, forgetting to eat or sleep, during the fine carving. Once the polishing was done, this contest would have a result.

Up to this point, it had been a competition of individual skill, but Ding Yanshou was making them polish for each other.

Ding Hanbai let out a subdued laugh. "Do you want to see us sabotage each other, or work together happily?"

Ding Yanshou also laughed quietly. "That will depend on both of your characters."

The stone couldn't be split in two, so they had to take turns. Ji Shenyu went first, polishing Ding Hanbai's half. He calmed his heart and mind, ignoring the father and son behind him, and completed the task with extreme earnestness.

The reason he was so serious was not because he feared a tirade from Ding Hanbai for any carelessness, but purely because he loved this object so much and only wanted to do his best to make it perfect.

After he finished and handed it over, Ji Shenyu suddenly felt apprehensive. He could polish the other's work with an undivided heart, but could Ding Hanbai?

He had carved according to Ji Fangxu's method; if Ding Hanbai deliberately made a mistake, the finished product's luster would surely be greatly diminished.

Ji Shenyu stood to one side without moving, his eyes lowered to stare at that "Silver Stream across the Endless Heavens." The machine started, and he reached out and tapped Ding Hanbai's shoulder with his index finger. Ding Hanbai looked up at him. "What's up?"

He couldn't say it outright. "...Don't cut your hand."

Ding Hanbai seemed to find it ridiculous and ignored him. Just as he was about to start, he felt a weight on his shoulder. It was that same long index finger, pressing down on him, calloused-less yet carrying strength.

He looked up again. "Have you taken a liking to my shoulder?"

Ji Shenyu held back for a long moment. "...Please, don't cut your hand."

Ding Hanbai was on the verge of exploding. He pushed Ji Shenyu away with a sweep of his hand. Just then, Ding Yanshou gloated from behind, "He doesn't trust you. He's afraid you'll ruin his good work."

"Master..." Ji Shenyu hurriedly shot Ding Yanshou a look. When he turned back to Ding Hanbai, the man was already scowling at him with cold fury. He really was not to be trifled with. He turned to tidy up the storeroom. He'd just have to leave the result to fate.

Customers came and went, magpies left their branches and returned, again and again.

Ji Shenyu stood under the eaves of the back hall. The moment the sound of the machine inside stopped, he tilted his head to look. He saw Ding Hanbai sweeping away debris with a small brush, his face grim, his thin lips pressed together, showing none of the excitement of a great accomplishment.

'Did he really mess up the polishing?' he worried.

Ding Hanbai remained seated for a long time, staring at the Hibiscus Stone, lost in thought. When he'd had his fill of thinking and looking, he went outside to wash his hands without a word. Like a feral cat slipping into a house, Ji Shenyu deftly darted inside to inspect it. One glance was all it took for a smile to bloom on his face.

"Master!" he presented the treasure to Ding Yanshou. "This piece is called 'Silver Stream across the Endless Heavens.' It has figures, birds, and poultry. The four lines you drew were changed into the Silver River... Senior Brother did a great job polishing it."

He had misjudged a gentleman's heart with his own petty concerns, and felt a little embarrassed.

Ding Yanshou put on his glasses to examine it, commenting, "The design is brilliant, and the carving technique is impeccable. The figures are slender, not like Hanbai's usual style. At first, I thought you had carved it."

Ji Shenyu replied, "Senior Brother said this material is sparkling and translucent, and since it's a carving of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, a slender form gives it a more ethereal feel."

He glanced back at the doorway. Ding Hanbai hadn't returned yet, but he couldn't wait any longer. "Master, which half do you think is better?"

Ding Yanshou asked in return, "What do you think yourself?"

This was a difficult question. A wrong answer was sure to offend someone, but Ji Shenyu planned to be honest. "Purely in terms of carving skill, Senior Brother is better than me. He's so steady and practiced. I was truly amazed and impressed when I carved alongside him." He paused for a moment, then leaned in to whisper to Ding Yanshou, "But the light effect on my part is better. Every cut is in the perfect spot, isn't that right, Master?"

Ding Yanshou was taken aback, then began to chuckle. He originally had four apprentices, and the other three had always been afraid of him, and respectful, perhaps because he carried the authority of the head of the family. Ding Hanbai, on the other hand, was difficult to manage; when they argued, he dared to talk back about anything, which was a headache.

Never before had an apprentice gotten so close, with a sparkle in their eyes, whispering like classmates or co-conspirators in some mischief. He regarded Ji Shenyu as a son, and at this moment, his youngest son was being clever and charming, making him laugh out loud, his heart blooming with joy.

Ding Yanshou also lowered his voice to whisper back, "Yes, you've thoroughly learned all of Fang Xu's secret techniques."

Ji Shenyu didn't necessarily need to win or lose; he was more interested in gaining Ding Yanshou's approval, in making him feel that he was valuable. "Master, actually..." His joy gradually subsided. "Actually, I originally planned to keep this ultimate technique to myself. If I'm the only one who knows it, then I'll be useful to the Jade Pavilion."

Ding Yanshou nodded, listening intently. Ji Shenyu continued, "But you've been too good to me, and Senior Brother is your biological son. Should I teach it to him?"

Ding Hanbai, having returned from washing his hands, still wore a grim face, as if polishing a stone had bankrupted him. Sensing trouble, Ji Shenyu picked up the Hibiscus Stone to escape disaster and fled to the front hall to watch the counter.

Only the Ding father and son remained in the room. Ding Hanbai sat down and sighed. "Tell me, Master."

Ding Yanshou said, "It was a close match. In terms of technique, you had the upper hand. It shouldn't be so hard for you to accept, right? Did you really expect a landslide victory?"

Ding Hanbai was used to landslide victories. Winning by a mere sliver was killing him. He had even scornfully mocked Ji Shenyu; thinking back on it now, how could he have been such a blockhead? The key was... he was a little scared.

He was afraid that one day, Ji Shenyu would surpass him.

It wasn't exactly fear, more of a lingering discontent.

"Son, relax." Ding Yanshou rarely called him that. "Everyone in the trade says my craftsmanship has reached the pinnacle of perfection. I just treat it as a joke. But no matter how others praise you, I accept it all. You're my son. I know better than anyone how talented you've been since you were little and how much hard work you're willing to put in. As long as you don't let it go to waste, you can continue to run roughshod over everyone."

This choice of words made Ding Hanbai laugh. After laughing, he looked at his dad. "What about Ji Shenyu?"

Ding Yanshou answered truthfully, "Shenyu is too much like Fang Xu. Exceptionally intelligent, with a high aptitude for learning. He has the same flaws, too, which is a lack of experience. The reason for their lack of experience is that they like too many things, and because they're so smart, they can learn anything, making it impossible to focus on just one."

Ding Hanbai interrupted, "What else can he do?"

Ding Yanshou said, "I can't say for sure. He followed Fang Xu for a dozen years; it's impossible that he only knows how to carve." He paused slightly, patting the back of Ding Hanbai's hand. "You're not afraid of being overtaken at all. You're afraid because he possesses something you lack. He loves carving, and he pours his emotions into everything he carves. But ask your heart, do you?"

This was precisely what unsettled Ding Hanbai. Ding Yanshou had said it long ago: when he produced a piece, technique always trumped emotion. To put it harshly, he would sometimes say he was just coldly showing off his skills.

Ding Yanshou had also warned him that whether he loved this trade or not, he had to bear the responsibility. He had agreed and never slacked off, but that was all. He couldn't invest any deeper emotion.

The front hall was silent. The "Silver Stream across the Endless Heavens" was displayed on the west counter. Ji Shenyu sat behind the counter with a box of pistachios on his lap. To hide what he was doing, he had mixed a handful of Ice-float Agate into the pistachios, pretending he wasn't sneaking snacks during work.

He cracked a nut with a crunch, tossed it up, and tilted his head back with his mouth open, but someone intercepted it before he could catch it. He turned to look at Ding Hanbai but said nothing, continuing to crack nuts. After finishing, he offered one to the other man. "Are you done talking with Master?"

Ding Hanbai grunted, "You were praised."

Ji Shenyu asked again, "Master praised me. Are you jealous?"

Ding Hanbai said, "I was the one praising you."

Ji Shenyu believed him. He knew from the beginning what mattered to Ding Hanbai. After finishing the pistachios, he and Ding Hanbai silently watched the counter. When a customer came in and asked about the Hibiscus Stone, the two of them played dumb, not even giving a proper answer.

So meticulously carved, they couldn't bear to part with it.

But in the end, they sold it. One sale could cover half a year's expenses. Ji Shenyu happily ran to find Ding Yanshou, shouting that he had made money for the Jade Pavilion. Ding Hanbai chuckled to himself, and his gloomy mood began to lift.

The two of them stayed until closing time. After work, Ding Hanbai wheedled Ding Yanshou into treating them to dinner, so they simply went back to Zhuifeng Tower across the street. During the meal, Ding Yanshou asked Ji Shenyu if he missed the restaurants in Yangzhou, but unexpectedly, Ji Shenyu shook his head.

"I've eaten at all the Yangzhou restaurants with Master, so there's nothing new," he said. "Later on, Master didn't like eating out anymore. He just had the nanny cook a variety of dishes. He wouldn't eat this or that, all for the sake of health."

Ding Hanbai casually remarked, "All that health consciousness, and he still passed away so early."

The words were out too fast. Even though it was inappropriate, it was said. A sharp pain shot through his shin as Ding Yanshou kicked him under the table. He picked up a golden-brown Butter Chicken Wing and placed it in Ji Shenyu's bowl. "Here, don't be angry."

Ji Shenyu liked the chicken wings. He took a bite and mumbled, "It's okay."

The master and his two apprentices ate their fill. By the time they went home, the sky was completely dark, but the small courtyard had a new light bulb and was much brighter than usual. Ding Hanbai was finally going to work tomorrow. After entering his room, he stood in front of the wardrobe looking for clothes. Ji Shenyu had already finished his shower by the time he was barely ready.

Ding Hanbai dawdled as he went to wash up. Afterward, he paced back and forth in the courtyard, taking a walk. Seeing the bedroom light was on, he called out, "Zhenzhu! Come out!"

Ji Shenyu peeked through a crack in the door. "Why go for a walk so late at night?"

Ding Hanbai deliberately replied, "For my health, of course. Learning from Master Ji."

Ji Shenyu ran out to hit him, calling his full name and kicking at his vitals, but he was laughing. He reached out to restrain him, twisting his arm and tripping his leg, but pretended to beg for mercy.

There was something on the other's wrist, cool to the touch, swinging back and forth incessantly. Ding Hanbai grabbed it. "That's quite a hefty bracelet you've got there."

Ji Shenyu snatched the Amber Pendant back, his smile not yet gone, revealing a few white teeth.

After they had horsed around enough, Ding Hanbai turned off the light. The small courtyard was instantly plunged into darkness. He and Ji Shenyu walked forward in the blackness, then up the steps, parting ways at the door. "Sleep," he said. He didn't often say goodnight.

Ji Shenyu suddenly patted him. "Senior Brother, I want to give you a gift in return."

A breeze blew past, a magpie in the treetops chirped, and the clouds in the night sky were blown away. The stars revealed themselves, and the moonlight allowed Ding Hanbai to see Ji Shenyu's face clearly.

The young man's eyes were blazing, seriously wanting to return the favor.

A gift... it inexplicably reminded him of the fake Jadeite Earrings.

Ding Hanbai took a step back and said bluntly, "Oh, give me a break."