The master knew his apprentice's mind was in turmoil, so he went to the inner room to take it easy, not saying much.

Ji Shenyu stared blankly at the Jade Incense Burner, trying to sort things out bit by bit. Zhang Sinian's apprentice was Ding Hanbai, which meant he had lost the Jade Boy Figurine competition to Ding Hanbai? And the Joined Jade Rings, did the Joined Jade Rings ultimately fall into Ding Hanbai's hands?

Then... Ji Shenyu's heart panicked, his gaze fixed. So it turned out 'that person' Ding Hanbai had mentioned was actually him? It was he whom Ding Hanbai admired, he whom Ding Hanbai had eagerly pleaded to associate with. He stared at the edge of the table, finding it utterly incredible.

Thinking back to yesterday, he had even argued caustically with Ding Hanbai. It was truly a blunder, and so absurd.

Ji Shenyu sat there for a long time, pondering many things. His heart gradually calmed, and he began to emerge from his surprise. He went to find Liang Hecheng and asked, "Master, my senior brother has come looking for you a few times. Does he have some idea in mind?"

Liang Hecheng said, "You're finally willing to ask me. You two martial brothers are truly a handful." He then relayed Ding Hanbai's thoughts and plans one by one. "I can see that your senior brother is very capable, and his ambition is not small. Those three Jade Pavilion shops at home can't satisfy him, much less hold him back."

Ji Shenyu did not reply. Ding Hanbai had said his surname was Ding, and that the Jade Pavilion was his inherent responsibility. He couldn't judge what Ding Hanbai's ultimate plans were, but the fact that Ding Hanbai was hiding his apprenticeship from his family and dabbling in antiques indicated that the two were currently in conflict.

Liang Hecheng asked, "Are you planning to tell him?"

Ji Shenyu said, "I don't know." He was learning this from Liang Hecheng purely because he liked it, and because he didn't want to let the skills Ji Fangxu had taught him go to waste. He did it only in secret, never attempting to gain anything, and certainly without any grand ambitions.

It was getting late. Ji Shenyu wrapped up the Jade Incense Burner and carried it away, holding it carefully all the way. When he got home, he quietly hid it away and immediately went to the main living room to help. Ding Yanshou asked him how his exams went, and started coughing as he spoke.

Ji Shenyu offered him a cup of tea. "Master, should I brew some more Small Pot Pear Soup?"

Ding Yanshou said, "Only medicine can suppress this." He had Ji Shenyu sit by his side to watch TV. "It's fine on warm days, but the moment it gets a little cool, I start having problems. I should admit I'm getting old."

Ji Shenyu suddenly felt a pang of sadness. He feared birth, aging, sickness, and death; because he had seen it with his own eyes, he was especially afraid. "Master, you're not old at all." His voice grew softer, not wanting to talk about this. "Where's Senior Brother? Didn't he go to work at the Jade Pavilion?"

Ding Yanshou laughed. "Him? He was swift and decisive at work, straightening out all the assistants' bad habits. After work, he drove me back, then took the car and went off to who-knows-where to have fun."

Ding Hanbai hadn't gone to have fun. After dropping off Ding Yanshou, he immediately went to Miao'an Alley, even passing by the bus Ji Shenyu was on. He knocked, waited for Liang Hecheng to open the door, but didn't go in. After some greetings, he asked about the Jade Incense Burner.

Liang Hecheng only said that his apprentice had already taken it back to repair, and to come pick it up on the weekend.

Ding Hanbai was anxious. "Master Liang, my junior brother can't even eat because of this. I hope you can do it as soon as possible—"

Liang Hecheng smiled. "He couldn't eat yesterday, but he might be able to today."

Ding Hanbai was bewildered, but the door had already closed, so he had no choice but to head home. To think that he, who had run amok without restraint for twenty years, was now humbly begging someone, rushing about in all kinds of weather. And for what? For a Little Southern Barbarian who didn't know what was good for him.

That Little Southern Barbarian had some conscience after all. He held an umbrella and waited at the Ding Family's main gate. That wasn't enough, so he paced along Sha'er Street. Seeing the car turn in, he ran away in a flash, pretending to be thoughtless and inconsiderate.

The dinner table was a bit quiet. Second Uncle's family hadn't come. Ding Yanshou said, "After you went crazy yesterday, who would dare to eat with your family?"

Ding Hanbai heard this as he entered. "Forget it. I'd find it too crowded with more people anyway."

He exuded a damp chill. A bowl of hot soup was appropriately placed before him. He stirred it with a porcelain spoon; few daylilies, many scallops. "Who served this soup?" After a busy day, he wanted to see who cared so much for him.

Next to him, Ji Shenyu said apprehensively, "I did. What's wrong..."

Ding Hanbai stubbornly changed his tune. "You served so many scallops, don't other people need to eat?"

Ji Shenyu had nothing to say in his defense. When he had served himself, he only took clear broth. After eating for a moment, he turned to look at Ding Hanbai and, as if unable to help himself, asked in a small voice, "Senior Brother, didn't you make up with me last night?"

Ding Hanbai averted his gaze. "Stop being so sentimental."

Ji Shenyu asked again, "Then when will you make up with me?"

Ding Hanbai said, "Don't talk when you eat. Are you going to let me eat or not?" He spoke loudly, trying his best to hide his flustered heart.

While they were whispering over here, Ding Yanshou over there started coughing again, an earth-shattering fit. After calming down, he instructed Ding Hanbai to watch the shop, saying he needed to rest for a few days. The tears coughed up welled in his eyes, nearly dripping into his soup bowl.

Ji Shenyu didn't say a word. That night, he was in the Front Courtyard, taking care of Ding Yanshou until he fell asleep. When he took care of Ji Fangxu, he had done all sorts of tasks. When Ji Fangxu couldn't get out of bed, he carried the bedpan. An apprentice should do so, and a son even more so.

But before falling asleep, Ding Yanshou had said that even if he became old and decrepit, as long as he had Ding Hanbai to look after the Jade Pavilion with him, he could die without regrets even if he never woke up. His voice was very soft, but his words carried the weight of a thousand jin.

Ji Shenyu returned to the small courtyard, his steps heavy. The rain had stopped and the moon had emerged. He stood by the Lucky Bamboo and made his decision. He would not tell Ding Hanbai who "that person" was, and "that person" would also not agree to Ding Hanbai's request for association.

He had no right to control others, but toward his benefactor and adoptive father, he had to have a clear conscience.

Just then, Ding Hanbai came out of the study. Ji Shenyu walked over, his clear conscience toward his father turning into a guilty conscience toward his brother. Looking at him, he was momentarily speechless.

Ding Hanbai said, "The Jade Incense Burner will be repaired by the weekend. Eat and drink as you should, no need to worry about it all day."

Ji Shenyu grunted an "en," his lips parting slightly, then closing again after a moment of stunned silence. "Senior Brother," he still couldn't hold it in; ever since meeting Ding Hanbai, his self-control had been getting worse, "that person you mentioned, is his craftsmanship really that good?"

Ding Hanbai looked askance at Ji Shenyu, as if weighing how to answer, afraid that praise would provoke this jealous person into talking nonsense again. "His carving skills are excellent, but it's not just his carving skills that are good." He said, "The Jade Incense Burner broke, and he can repair it. Understand?"

Ji Shenyu nodded, a secret sense of pride rising and fermenting within him. The way he looked at Ding Hanbai's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Ding Hanbai found it very strange. "Yesterday you were seething with hatred, how come you're not jealous now?"

How could one be jealous of oneself? Ji Shenyu continued to walk closer until he was right in front of Ding Hanbai. He didn't respond, just stared at the other man, examining him closely. What expression did Ding Hanbai have when he saw the Jade Boy Figurine? How delighted was he when he received the Joined Jade Rings? And how awkward was he when he eagerly begged their master for help?

He thought about these things, wanting to get a glimpse of them through the now-tranquil Ding Hanbai, but he didn't realize that his focused expression was making Ding Hanbai's heart beat erratically. "What are you staring at me for?" Ding Hanbai asked, forcibly steadying his breath.

Ji Shenyu also asked, "Senior Brother, I've seen Joined Jade Rings in a book, but I don't understand how they are interlocked. Do you know?"

Ding Hanbai took him to the bedroom. He opened a Western-style box, inside which lay a pair of green jade interlocking rings. Sitting side-by-side on the edge of the bed, Ding Hanbai handled them gently, explaining the object itself in detail, but only briefly touching upon its origin.

A secret thrill swirled inside Ji Shenyu. These rings had come from his own hands, and Ding Hanbai treasured them. And to spare his feelings, Ding Hanbai deliberately concealed how much he treasured them. He didn't look at the object, but continued to stare at the person. And staring wasn't enough. He asked, "Senior Brother, between the Rose Seal and the Joined Jade Rings, which one do you like more?"

Ding Hanbai was stunned, trying to bluff his way through with a fierce tone. "What business is it of yours which one I like?"

Ji Shenyu said, "You like this one more, right? If you liked the seal more, you would have answered directly."

Ding Hanbai was at a loss for words. He snapped the box shut, like someone flying into a rage from embarrassment after being exposed, or like someone who felt that even half a sentence was too much when conversation didn't flow. "Go back to your room and sleep." He issued the order to leave without a shred of courtesy.

Ji Shenyu didn't move. "It's your right to like whichever you want. I didn't mean anything else by it. Maybe in the future, if I give you something better, you'll change your mind again."

Ding Hanbai was truly baffled, unable to understand how this person could do a complete one-eighty. But this well-behaved manner of speaking nicely was getting to him. He couldn't bring himself to chase him away again, nor could he muster any fierceness, so he just sat there quietly next to him.

The patch of warmth where their arms touched was endearing.

Ji Shenyu's overt side was disliked, while his hidden side was admired; he was quite satisfied with both. However, this was very brief. As "that person," he would reject Ding Hanbai's request to associate, and in the future, he would gradually lose Ding Hanbai's thoughts.

And Ding Hanbai hadn't revealed a single thing about his dealings in antiques to him, so it was hard for him to gauge where Ding Hanbai's focus would be in the future.

That night, Ji Shenyu only slept for half the night before getting up to repair the Jade Incense Burner. All was silent, a roomful of lamplight his only companion. He should have felt tired, should have felt unlucky and angry, but as he carefully worked, he actually felt happy.

To come full circle like this, how interesting.

Once Saturday arrived, Ji Shenyu lied that he had plans with a classmate and went to Liang Hecheng's place early. In the inner room, he took out the repaired Jade Incense Burner. It had been rainy the past few days, so it hadn't air-dried sufficiently.

"Master, I'm out of talc powder, can you mix some for me?" Ji Shenyu rolled up his sleeves and did a final check. "The shards couldn't be reattached, so I ground them into powder, mixed it with resin, and applied it. I didn't finish before I realized I didn't have enough materials from Yangzhou."

Liang Hecheng's movements were practiced. "You're hiding this from your senior brother. Don't run into him when he comes over later."

Ji Shenyu said, "It's still early. He sleeps in on weekends."

Ding Hanbai usually slept in on weekends, but today of all days, he didn't. Aside from the Jade Incense Burner, he also had the intention of catching this person. The Jade Boy Figurine, then the Joined Jade Rings, and now this—time and again, he absolutely had to meet the other person.

After getting ready, he first drove to the World Trade Department Store. He couldn't go to a first meeting empty-handed; he had to prepare a proper gift. And this gift could only be something ordinary. Antiques were too valuable, and it would be awkward for the person to accept.

A doubt suddenly occurred to Ding Hanbai. What does a seventeen-year-old boy like?

He regretted not asking Ji Zhenzhu. Huh? He didn't seem to have seen Ji Zhenzhu before leaving. Where did he go? Ding Hanbai was clearly supposed to be picking a gift for someone else, yet he spent the whole time thinking about Ji Shenyu, and in the end, bought a cotton-padded jacket for the winter.

The north was cold; the Little Southern Barbarian wouldn't be able to stand it.

Ding Hanbai paid and came back to his senses. Why was he considering this? 'That person' wasn't from Yangzhou; for all he knew, they were a born-and-bred local. And looking at the size, it was completely based on Ji Shenyu's build. He hadn't considered at all whether it would fit 'that person.'

He had no choice but to buy something else, spending money like water, but much more perfunctorily.

Ding Hanbai parked outside Miao'an Alley and turned off the engine. He checked his watch, planning to pay a visit on the dot in a quarter of an hour.

Ten minutes passed. His fingertip flicked the loose ring, making a crisp jingle. Ji Shenyu let out a breath of relief, unable to put down the perfectly restored Jade Incense Burner. Liang Hecheng came over and praised, "Can't see a single flaw, not one bit. This is what you call passing off the repaired as original."

Ji Shenyu stuffed the old clothes back into his schoolbag, needing to find some old newspaper to wrap it in. With a creak, he pushed open the door to go borrow some waste paper from a neighbor. In the distance, he saw the car at the alley entrance, and his steps came to a screeching halt.

It was Ding Hanbai's car...

Ji Shenyu turned and ran back, rushing into the house, grabbing his schoolbag, and taking off. "Master, my senior brother is here!" He had no time to explain, terrified of running into him. "I'm slipping out first. Please refuse him for me, just say that he shouldn't look for me to make things in the future either."

As he spoke, he ran outside. He opened the door a crack, and only after confirming no one was there did he squeeze through. Something got caught, and he had to use brute force to push his way out. He glanced over and saw Ding Hanbai getting out of the car. He immediately ran in the opposite direction, planning to circle around at the end of the alley.

Ding Hanbai, carrying a handful of gifts, had no idea that the person he wanted to see had already slipped away. He approached and called out, "Master Liang, it's Ding Hanbai. I'm coming in."

Liang Hecheng led him into the house and into the inner room, which was filled with tantalizing curios. Ding Hanbai was reminded of Zhang Sinian's room, full of bewitching real and fake items; this room was even more interesting. But he couldn't be bothered to look, asking, "Master Liang, is your apprentice not here?"

Liang Hecheng said, "What a coincidence. He just left a moment ago."

Ding Hanbai said urgently, "Didn't you tell him I wanted to meet him? When can I schedule another time?"

Liang Hecheng relayed, "He's not interested in the collaboration you proposed. And he's a shy child who doesn't want too much contact."

This explanation was far from tactful; Ding Hanbai had been thoroughly rejected. He had no choice but to set the matter aside and turn to look at the Jade Incense Burner. "This..." He was extremely surprised. The cracks on the censer were hard to find, as if it had never been dropped.

Ding Hanbai's morale was rekindled. "Master Liang, I will meet that brilliant apprentice of yours sooner or later. If I can't meet him, I'll corner him. If I can't corner him, I'll catch him. I'm no gentleman, I'm capable of any dirty trick, and I'm known for spouting nonsense. I missed him today, but next time, and the time after that, I'll book out the entire Zhuifeng Tower to treat you and your apprentice to a meal."

Liang Hecheng was shocked beyond belief, not expecting Ding Hanbai to be so blatant. Ding Hanbai, however, was efficient. After his declaration, he packed up the Jade Incense Burner and left. Walking out of the small courtyard, he glanced around briefly. The eaves were damaged and the windows were dusty; only a few pots of plants were growing brightly.

But why did those plants look more and more familiar?

Ding Hanbai couldn't stay long, so he stepped over the threshold and turned to say goodbye. As the door slowly closed, he lowered his gaze, then froze, stunned. Bewildered, he bent down and picked up an Amber Pendant from a corner.

'Why did you choose this to give me?'

Because its color was very similar to Ji Shenyu's eyes, he had given it to him.

Every piece of amber is unique. Ding Hanbai clenched his fist, his heart pounding as he stood outside the door. Why would the pendant that Ji Shenyu hung on his bag have fallen here? What was Ji Shenyu doing here? Ji Shenyu knew Liang Hecheng?!

Ding Hanbai burst in through the door, disregarding all etiquette between elder and younger, and stared intently at Liang Hecheng's hands. He said, "Master Liang, that thick layer on your fingers doesn't look like calluses."

Liang Hecheng was intimidated by him. "In our line of work, beginners can't have calluses. We grind away until our skin splits and the flesh gapes open, forming scars." In the early stages, you endure the pain. By the time you reach the scarring stage, you're so skilled you no longer need the pads of your fingers; any part of your hand can perceive things without error.

Ding Hanbai slowly nodded and slowly walked away.

No calluses. No wonder Ji Shenyu couldn't have calluses. The old man he met back then must have been Liang Hecheng. And skipping school—he wasn't off playing, he was hiding here learning a craft. The green plants... so they were the ones bought at the flower market, the ones he lied about giving to Teacher Du!

That yellowed, permeated Jade Boy Figurine, with its three yellow spots and one brown... to hell with the loquat tree!

Ding Hanbai walked out of the alley. He understood everything. With the Amber Pendant hanging from his wrist, he practically floored the accelerator all the way. The person he thought he could never see or touch was actually eating at the same table with him every day.

Did that Little Southern Barbarian have any conscience, getting jealous of himself and making an unreasonable scene with him? He then thought about Ji Shenyu's behavior last night and understood even more. Asking which he liked more, the rings or the seal—he was clearly just messing with him!

Ding Hanbai laughed out of anger, but was he really angry?

The person he looked up to and the person he admired were one and the same. The person he sought but could not obtain and the person he cared so much about were one and the same.

The feeling was exceptionally wondrous, so much so that it converted a bellyful of emotions into impulse. It had been a long time since Ding Hanbai had madly chased after anything. When he got home, he got out of the car, went around the screen wall, knocked over the Lucky Bamboo, and ran to the door, slamming it open with all his might!

Ji Shenyu was so startled he shot to his feet, his eyes like a deer encountering a predator, full of panic.

Ding Hanbai asked, "Where did you go this morning?"

Ji Shenyu forced himself to remain calm. Ding Hanbai raised his hand. "You didn't even know your Amber Pendant fell by the door."

Ji Shenyu lied, "I bumped into the door, it probably fell off then."

Ding Hanbai said, "Which door did you bump into? The archway here or the main gate of the house? Hiding things from me in such a roundabout way, did you really think I couldn't catch you? You bumped into the broken door of No. 25 Miao'an Alley!"

Ji Shenyu fell into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. Some things are beautiful when viewed through a veil of gauze, but not necessarily so when the veil is lifted. Ding Hanbai walked up to him. He hung his head, not daring to meet his gaze, so Ding Hanbai squatted down and looked up at him.

"Zhenzhu," Ding Hanbai said, "let me see your hands."

Ji Shenyu was like a lamb to the slaughter. He held out his hands, imagining how he would explain, how he would politely refuse the request for collaboration. Suddenly, his hands warmed. Ding Hanbai took them, touching the pads of his fingers.

Smooth, soft. He couldn't imagine them being ground thin until the skin split and flesh gaped, forming gnarled scars.

Ding Hanbai couldn't bring himself to ask. He had been so intent on meeting 'that person,' and had prepared a whole speech to persuade him. Now, all those polite words were nothing but smoke. He had been inwardly grumbling and sulking all the way here, he should have blamed him for last night's teasing, should have shamed him for that day's unreasonable tantrum, but all his anger vanished without a trace.

"Senior Brother," Ji Shenyu called out to him, as timid as the day they first met.

Ding Hanbai asked if his hands hurt. When making the Jade Boy Figurine, the Joined Jade Rings, the Jade Incense Burner, did his hands hurt? His heart was beating fast, too fast. It was like finding a life-sustaining bonfire in a vast wilderness, only for it to leap up in a flash, threatening to scorch a piece of flesh from his heart.

To hell with all those speeches!

He held those hands. "...I don't want you to be in pain."

The words were spoken with utmost sincerity. Ji Shenyu's heart suddenly felt empty.