Night Snow Weighs Down the Branches, the Male Bird Flaps Its Wings.

Although Ding Hanbai was a man through and through, he really didn't like to act decently. In a traffic accident where even the utility pole was more seriously injured, he still insisted on ordering this person and that one around, groaning without being sick early in the morning.

Ji Shenyu served him tea and water. What could he do, being mutually in love with such a person? With a basin of hot water and some medicinal ointment, he was going to wash Ding Hanbai's face and change his dressing. Removing the gauze from his forehead layer by layer, he said in surprise, "What kind of delicate royalty are you? It's something a band-aid could fix, yet you got it all bandaged up."

Ding Hanbai leaned against the headboard, letting the other do as he pleased. Ji Shenyu hadn't finished grumbling, "Scaring me is one thing, but what did Master and Madam do wrong?" He tore open a band-aid and pressed it directly onto that forehead. "Head up, let me wipe your neck too."

Ding Hanbai undid two buttons, craning his neck and closing his eyes to wait for the wash. The hot towel touched his skin—wet, hot, the pressure just right. From his chin to his collarbone, the touch was extremely light at his Adam's apple, making his neck itch. Ji Shenyu's breath was near his ear, making his ear itch too.

He suddenly opened his eyes, raised a hand to grip the other's forearm, his thumb caressing the skin, his gaze fervent. Ji Shenyu felt uncomfortable under his stare. He clutched the towel and dabbed it on his chest. Ding Hanbai took it and asked, "Why did you buy me a suit?"

Ji Shenyu replied, "You'll need to wear it for business and social events in the future, so I bought it."

Ding Hanbai said, "Of course I'll need to wear one for business and social events. I'll buy seven or eight sets myself. I won't wear the one you gave me." He sat up straight, moved closer, and hooked an arm around the other's waist. "The one you bought looks like a wedding suit."

This bit of praise after criticism made one's heart flutter. Ji Shenyu was between laughter and tears, "Marriage? It's impossible with me. With someone else? Don't even think about it."

Ding Hanbai chuckled softly. "The Civil Affairs Bureau won't issue a certificate, so I'll make one myself. Red satin cover, gilded semi-cursive script, stamped with my rose seal. That'll count as me marrying you." He took advantage of Ji Shenyu's daze. "I've said it before, you'll have a share in the Antique City in the future. If we work together, you're my partner. If not, you're my wife."

His nonsense was as plentiful as the hairs on a cow, impossible to pluck clean. After wiping him down, Ji Shenyu quickly fled outside.

During the leisurely day, Ding Hanbai changed and went to Jade Pavilion. The New Year was approaching, and the things that needed to be sorted out couldn't be delayed. At the First Shop, he checked the accounts for the latter half of the year, then tallied up the unfinished carvings and arranged the work order.

"Boss, the Snuff Bottle with Beast-Head Handles has been in the scrap box for days." An apprentice gathered his courage and approached. "I couldn't bear to throw it away, can... can I have it?"

Scrap material was usually fragments, though some were larger pieces. But he'd never seen a snuff bottle among them. Ding Hanbai took it for a look. No wonder, the hollowing had been botched.

He said disdainfully, "What rough work. Which idiot did this?"

The apprentice answered, "The big boss did it."

He'd spoken too soon. Ding Hanbai clicked his tongue and glared at the other. Even the best of men make mistakes; an occasional slip-up was understandable. He then opened the record book. Seven or eight Jade Cylinder Pendants, four or five Thin-bodied Jade Nested Pendants. He only saw that the material had been taken out, but not the finished items.

The apprentice said, "The big boss made them for the Second Shop."

No wonder he'd slipped up; it was a mistake made in a rush. Ding Hanbai closed the book and left. He paused at the door and ordered, "In the future, if the Second Shop asks my dad to make more pieces, tell me early on how many they want and what materials they'll use."

The apprentice said, troubled, "What if the big boss doesn't allow it?"

Ding Hanbai roared, "He doesn't let me come in late and leave early either, and I'm damn well leaving right now!" He really did leave, not going home but heading straight for Jade Pavilion's Second Shop. He entered with a dark face, looking like he was there to challenge and smash the place up.

Ding Erhe came out from the back hall, slightly surprised, but very polite.

Ding Hanbai paced in the entryway, finding Ding Yanshou's handiwork: a carved Cong-style Jade Cylinder Pendant, and a Phoenix-through-Clouds Nested Pendant, both made from flawless, high-quality jade. He then rushed to the material storage in the back, directly taking down a padlocked box. Ding Erhe handed over the key. He opened it; inside were uncut, top-grade jade stones.

"It's our own shop, so it's fine if the work gets messy, but the accounts can't be." Ding Hanbai took a few pieces. "When you get a pancake made, you have to bring your own egg, or else you pay extra. Where can you find such a good deal as eating the egg without paying for it, right?"

When he got home that evening, Ding Yanshou already knew about his debt-collecting visit. After dinner, only the four family members remained. Ji Shenyu read the mood and took the initiative to massage Ding Yanshou's shoulders, trying to help his master calm down.

Ding Yanshou said, "So high and mighty. Embarrassing your uncle over a few pieces of material. We're family, why are you being so particular?"

Ding Hanbai stood by the window. "The biggest taboo in business is for family members not to keep things separate, or else there will be problems sooner or later. Today they don't have enough stock, so they ask you to carve a few pieces to help out. If they lose money tomorrow, will they start taking funds from the shop?"

Ji Shenyu felt the muscles under his palms tighten and quickly soothed, "Master, don't be angry." He considered for a moment. "Master, if I may be so bold, I agree with senior brother's view. Some things start with a small opening, and then the opening gets wider and wider, until it can no longer be patched up."

Ding Hanbai said, "They are responsible for the Second Shop. If they need any help, they should just ask. If you're too busy, I'll do it. If I'm too busy, there's still Shenyu. But the prerequisite is that the accounts must not be messy. Otherwise, if we help them every time they have difficulties, they will only become lazier and lazier, which does them no good."

His own son, for once, didn't fly into a rage, but was earnestly persuading him. Ding Yanshou conceded. He would let Ding Hanbai do the things he himself wasn't ruthless enough or thick-skinned enough to do. In the end, feeling very gratified, he asked with concern if his injury still hurt.

Ding Hanbai immediately put on his 'young master' airs. It hurts, I'm tired, I feel wronged. Ding Yanshou couldn't bear to watch. He quickly waved his hand, telling Ji Shenyu to get this pest away from him, so he could have some peace and quiet.

The next day, Ding Hanbai slept until noon again. The courtyard was silent, as if there wasn't a living soul around. He went out to look. There was no one on the veranda. He paced to the window next door and pulled his old trick, peeking in silently. The room inside was neat and clean. Ji Shenyu was sitting at the table, drawing something. Tools and a wooden box were spread out.

Ji Shenyu was drawing cufflinks. He had to design the style first—not too big, not too small, square or round, what kind of setting to use, what embellishments... In the wooden box was the loose material he had brought from Yangzhou. One of the pearls was just right for the job.

Ding Hanbai coughed lightly, standing outside the window and asking, "What are you doing?"

Ji Shenyu kept his head down. "I'm making a pair of cufflinks for you." He paused, a little shy. "Pearl ones."

Ding Hanbai was being deliberately annoying. "A grown man like me wearing pearl cufflinks? That's not very tough."

Ji Shenyu shot him a look. "I'm a grown man and my name is Zhenzhu. Have I beaten the person who named me to death?"

A chuckling sound drifted in slowly from outside the window, then faded and grew distant. Pearl cufflinks. This was a belated token of love. Ding Hanbai's heart was bubbling. He crossed the courtyard, slipped into the South Room, and took out a small, round-bellied jade bottle he had acquired before.

This was an object with sentiment, a perfect match for a person with sentiment.

He measured the dimensions, sketched the outline, turned on the cutting machine, and sliced the small jade bottle. The thin slices of white jade were translucent against the light, and a pure, lustrous white when backlit. He picked up his finest brush, bent over the desk, and held his breath.

Ding Hanbai and Ji Shenyu were in the South Room and North House respectively, not making a single sound, only the rustling of their hands at work. It was so lively outside—people cleaning their houses, cooking large cuts of meat—none of it had anything to do with them. They had met when the peach branches were heavy with fruit. In a blink of an eye, it was now a world of white snow. They had given each other the cold shoulder, played tricks on each other, grown closer bit by bit, bared their hearts and souls, and given rise to an unspeakable love, betting their lives against the pressure of the forbidden.

Ding Hanbai's eyes suddenly stung, but it didn't affect the movements of his hands. A convex tenon on one side, a concave mortise on the other; a dragon pattern on one, a phoenix pattern on the other.

Polished on both sides, it could be separated into two Heart-shaped Pendants, or joined as one Concentric Bi-disc.

After a day like this, at night, Ji Shenyu finished the pair of pearl cufflinks. He clutched them in his palm, his delight showing on his face as he went to present his treasure.

He first declared, "This is my first time making jewelry. Whether it's good or not, you're not allowed to dislike it."

Ding Hanbai's habit of finding fault with everything was too deeply ingrained in people's minds. He couldn't argue, and could only nod. He rolled down his sleeve, smoothed out the wrinkles, and held out his hand for Ji Shenyu to put them on for him. Ji Shenyu opened his palm. The two pearl cufflinks had a deep luster; they were made from whole pearls cut in half and set.

Once they were on, Ji Shenyu looked down at them. "Senior brother, the day I decided to give you this, I thought about a lot of things." He looked up. "At the time, I didn't know how far we could go together. I treated these cufflinks as if I were giving myself to you, so that even if things didn't work out, there would be a memento."

He was pulled into a hug, and he laughed in exasperation. "Who knew you were so bad, scaring me by crashing the car, forcing me to be completely devoted to you, to never turn back until I hit a wall."

These few sentences were particularly touching. Ding Hanbai was silent for a long time before saying, "Shenyu, since I pushed you this hard, I've already considered the worst-case scenario. I'm not a coward. I'm still capable of protecting the one I love."

Ji Shenyu couldn't stand sentimental words. He broke free, pretended to be busy, and went to tidy up a low cabinet. Ding Hanbai fell silent. He leaned against the headboard, his gaze fixed, locking the other in his sight and sizing him up repeatedly. He had long since realized that Ji Shenyu was beautiful. Those eyes, that profile, his expressions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness—none were unattractive... But back then, his mind hadn't been opened. Now, looking at him was no longer so simple.

Ji Shenyu's back felt hot. He changed the subject, "What were you doing in the South Room today?"

Ding Hanbai gave a perfunctory reply, "You gave me such meaningful cufflinks, of course I have to give you something in return."

Ji Shenyu stammered, "...That's not necessary. Just... just consider it my betrothal gift to you."

This perceptive person from Jiangnan was squatting there, fiddling with the cabinet for show, and even talking about marriage and betrothal gifts! A fire rose in Ding Hanbai. He couldn't watch anymore. He coughed, his mouth dry. Ji Shenyu turned his head, and with great perceptiveness, brought him a glass of warm water and tucked the blanket around him.

Seeing his strange expression, Ji Shenyu asked, "Senior brother, what are you thinking about?"

Ding Hanbai said airily, "I'm thinking about that sort of thing."

Ji Shenyu froze, then immediately backed away when he understood. Ding Hanbai said righteously, "I'm a hot-blooded young man in love with you, and you're circling around me, asking if I'm warm or cold. What do you think I'd be thinking about?"

Besides, you bring me water and cover me with a blanket, my stomach is full and my body is warm. Don't you know that a full stomach and warm clothes lead to lustful thoughts? The more Ding Hanbai thought about it, the more justified he felt, and his eyes began to gleam.

Ji Shenyu said, "I've only just gotten together with you..."

He retorted, "Does the Constitution stipulate that you have to be in love for ten years before you can have physical intimacy?"

Ji Shenyu grew anxious, "I... In my Yangzhou, it's at least half a year before..."

Ding Hanbai went ballistic. "Keep making things up! You might as well just say that Yangzhou is full of male virgins!" He snorted coldly. He didn't look like someone trying to seduce a lover, but more like a tyrannical landlord chasing a debt.

Some people could be unfeeling blocks of wood like Liu Xiahui, but not him. He'd choose to be a romantic ghoul, dying among the flowers.

Ji Shenyu's face grew hot. "Then you calm down by yourself. I'm going to sleep."

Ding Hanbai confirmed, "Calm down by myself?" He leisurely took out that copy of 'Secret Games of Spring Passion' and flipped through it. "Someday I'll draw an ancient version. The clothes are more complex, so undressing would be more flavorful."

Fearing his ears would be sullied, Ji Shenyu said, "Good night," and fled. He reached the door, grabbed it, and looked back, meeting Ding Hanbai's mischievous gaze.

Half his body was burning hot. His words were as light as bubbles on boiling water, "...I... I'm afraid of pain."

Ding Hanbai shot up, stunned and speechless, but the other had already slammed the door and fled. His heart pounded wildly. Where was the roguish confidence from just a moment ago? That one phrase, 'I'm afraid of pain,' had thrown him into such turmoil that it felt like his blood was flowing backward.

Ji Shenyu was having an even worse time. Even if he could burrow into the ground, he couldn't retrieve his lost face. So direct, almost naked. In the past, he had a pure heart with few desires and only knew how to study his craft. After getting involved with the one next door, he had learned all sorts of improper things without a teacher.

Those pages of illustrations of carnal union had astonished him, but they had also genuinely enlightened him. It was just that he was afraid of pain. It was probably because of the constant grinding of his fingertips. After repeated experience, he had become much more familiar with and sensitive to pain.

Things that couldn't be brought out into the open, that couldn't be spoken of. Ji Shenyu curled up under the covers, face flushed and heart pounding, mulling it over intermittently for half the night. But Ding Hanbai was already fast asleep, paper and pen resting by his pillow. On the paper was a vivid drawing.

The next morning, Ji Shenyu hid in the Front Courtyard early, afraid of running into Ding Hanbai. Later, he went with Ding Yanshou to Jade Pavilion, hoping his master's righteous aura would dispel his own crooked thoughts.

He hid like this for a day. Before closing time, they gave the apprentices New Year's red envelopes, and then the holiday began. Returning home in the evening, he didn't see Ding Hanbai at the dinner table. He went back to the small courtyard to look, and only the South Room was lit.

Ji Shenyu knocked. "Senior brother, it's time to eat."

Ding Hanbai said, "Not hungry. Go."

The man's commands were always firm and resolute. Ji Shenyu obediently left. Meanwhile, Ding Hanbai had been cooped up in the machine room all day, the drill never stopping. He had taken the best and largest piece of jade to rough out and finely carve.

At night, Ji Shenyu sat on his bed reading after his bath. He was so engrossed that he didn't notice the machine had finally stopped.

The South Room went dark. Ding Hanbai stood in the doorway, stretching his limbs. His eyes were clear, his steps steady. He filled his empty stomach, then washed up and changed his clothes, even changing all the bedsheets and the duvet cover. He had been busy all day, waiting for this long, long night.

"Zhenzhu, are you asleep?" He knocked. "I have something to show you."

Ji Shenyu mimicked him, "Not looking. Go."

Ding Hanbai said, "A fine piece I spent all day carving. You really don't want to see it?"

His curiosity piqued, Ji Shenyu changed his mind. He held his book, craning his neck to look as Ding Hanbai entered the room. He seemed to see a palm-sized jade ornament.

Ding Hanbai came around to the bedside and sat down, hugging him from behind and presenting the object.

The jade was a light, icy green, its luster smooth and moist, warm to the touch... It was a carving of the two of them, necks entwined. Wide sleeves with intricate patterns, hair disheveled at the temples, just like their current one-in-front-of-the-other posture. A chest pressed against a back, the robe of the person in front was half-open, revealing shoulder and collarbone, legs slightly parted, not wearing any pants...

Ji Shenyu was speechless. Ding Hanbai's breath brushed past his ear, making him tremble uncontrollably. He said, "A human body carved from jade is truly 'ice skin and jade bones'. The legs are open, but the crucial part isn't exposed. It's called 'holding a pipa that half-covers the face'."

The small figure was held and caressed by the one behind, whose hand reached inside the complex clothing, sparking one's imagination. And the small figure held a sanxian in front of him, the round body of the instrument perfectly covering the space between his legs... a Sanxian, the very instrument that accompanies Yangzhou Tunes!

His back grew hot. Ding Hanbai held Ji Shenyu tightly, his large hand roaming, moving up along his side, caressing every inch until it reached his chest. It was flat there, with only a heartbeat left, yet he kneaded and rubbed it through the pajamas. Ji Shenyu went limp in his arms. The hand holding the book suddenly loosened, and he tried to pry Ding Hanbai's hand away.

"Senior brother, I'm going to sleep..."

Ding Hanbai ignored him. "This is called Secret Play Porcelain, it depicts scenes of lovemaking. But I think jade is better than porcelain." He placed the object on Ji Shenyu's lap, picked up a cup of water, and deliberately knocked it over onto the bed.

"Ah!"

The hot water quickly soaked a patch. Ji Shenyu struggled frantically, trying to save his bedding.

Ding Hanbai said, "This bed is unsleepable now."

Ji Shenyu didn't dare turn back. "Then I'll sleep on the bay window in the study."

Ding Hanbai said, "That's been soaked too." He wasted no more words, set down the Secret Play Porcelain, and hoisted Ji Shenyu onto his shoulder, walking out. Out of the bedroom, across the veranda, holding down the thrashing legs, pinching the soft buttocks, he entered his room and kicked the door shut. "You've accepted the gift, now strip naked and warm my bed!"

Ji Shenyu was thrown onto the newly changed sheets and quilt, flustered and anxious. He saw the various bottles and jars on the headboard and felt even more embarrassed and awkward. "Senior brother..." he called out to Ding Hanbai, his tone pleading. But Ding Hanbai said, "Silly Zhenzhu, calling me 'senior brother' in bed isn't begging for mercy, it's adding to the fun."

The entire courtyard was pitch-black. Only this room was lit, and nothing could hide.

Before long, sounds rose from the room—low moans, cries, intermittently lasting for half the night. His voice grew hoarse from calling out "Senior brother" again and again. Just as Ji Shenyu was about to fall into a stupor, he felt something cool pressed into his palm. Ding Hanbai had placed a jade pendant there.

Ding Hanbai lay on top of him. "A match for your pearl cufflinks. Are you satisfied?"

Sweat and tears poured down Ji Shenyu's face like rain. He used the last of his strength to clench his fist. The jade pendant was two parts joined as one. Together, it was an auspicious dragon and phoenix, two hearts beating as one. Another gust of night snow weighing down the branches, another flap of a male bird's wings. His voice was no longer a voice, his sounds no longer a tune.

Their first meeting in the front hall, from summer to winter, and in the future, they would spend countless springs and autumns together. Ding Hanbai called his name, kissed him, and pressed close to his neck, whispering all sorts of sentimental words. Pretty words, embarrassing words, words that could not be spoken aloud...

Plucking out one pure and simple line, at the very, very end—

Hanbai Jade Pendant, Pearl Cufflink, just waiting to be together day and night until their hair turns white.