You really are a discerning person.

Everything in this world leaves a trace. If you don't want others to know, don't do it in the first place. Nothing can be hidden forever. On the surface, Ding Hanbai worked at the Jade Pavilion, but behind the scenes, he was busily running around, delighting in flipping antiques. Fortunately, he had a master like Zhang Sinian, who could handle every step of the process from acquisition and storage to sales.

A light was on in a dilapidated house in the Chongshui Old District. Inside, Ding Hanbai was half-squatting, closely examining two newly acquired items. Zhang Sinian had made a tiring trip to Anhui and was now enjoying a reward of wine and food. He said, “Doucai Porcelain with Kaiguang Panels. The original owner wanted to auction it, but couldn't get approval, so it was withdrawn from the auction.”

A hero's origins are not questioned, and a treasure's provenance is not scrutinized. Ding Hanbai was extremely fond of it, not even daring to drive fast and risk bumps on the way back. After parking and turning off the engine at home, he cradled the item, which was wrapped in layer upon layer of cloth, and tiptoed into the Front Courtyard, where he ran into Ding Keyu, who was sitting by the door, trimming vegetables.

It was a large bunch of fennel, like a small broom. Ding Keyu called out, “Big Brother, we're having dumplings tonight!”

Ding Hanbai gave a perfunctory reply, “Dumplings are good.” He couldn't speed up, so he could only hurry with his long legs, cursing the glaring lightbulb that illuminated every strand of his hair with perfect clarity.

As expected, Ding Keyu asked, “Big Brother, what are you holding in your arms?”

Ding Hanbai said, “Material, what else could it be.” He walked out of the Front Courtyard and back to the small courtyard, hiding the item in a cabinet before he felt at ease. To think he had lorded over this house for twenty years without a care, and now he felt more furtive than a thief.

His behind-the-scenes business would be exposed sooner or later, but between sooner and later, later was better than sooner. At least it would be after this initial, desperate phase of flipping was over. He washed up, changed his clothes, and when he returned to the living room, they were just starting to make the dumplings, the atmosphere harmonious and cheerful.

At the large round table were three bowls of filling. Ding Yanshou and Ding Houkang were kneading the dough and rolling out the wrappers, while the brothers of the younger generation sat around the table, responsible for wrapping. The two women of the family were always shooed away whenever it was time for dumplings; their hands were slow, clumsy, and unskilled, so they weren't qualified to participate.

Ding Hanbai rolled up his sleeves and sat down. He pinched off a wrapper, scooped up some filling, and in the time it took for his right hand to put down the spoon, his left hand had already sealed the dumpling. It took only a second. Everyone was like this; even Ji Shenyu, who didn't often eat dumplings, learned quickly.

Needless to say, the two rolling out the wrappers were incredibly fast, their force perfectly even. Every single wrapper was uniform in size and of a suitable thickness. This family of divine hands that carved stone and jade were now leisurely doing a mortal's task. It was a piece of cake.

The dumplings went into the pot. The five brothers lined up to wash their hands, each receiving a small dish of aged vinegar afterward, then obediently waited for the dumplings to be cooked. Ding Yanshou said, “Let's have a couple of liang. Open a bottle of wine.”

Dumplings, white wine, and the whole family together—the meal began in perfect contentment.

During the meal, Jiang Shuliu asked about the spring exam results, and Ji Shenyu and Jiang Ting'en received praise and criticism respectively. They could get their graduation certificates after the spring exam. Jiang Xunzhu wanted Jiang Ting'en to enroll in a junior college, but with his graduation certificate in hand, Jiang Ting'en didn't even want to take the college entrance exam a few months later.

The Jade Pavilion, after all, belonged to the Ding Family, and no one could guarantee that Jiang Ting'en would become a master craftsman in the future, so he naturally couldn't bet his entire future on it. “Ji Zhenzhu, are you going to continue studying after high school?” Jiang Ting'en asked.

Ji Shenyu replied, “No, I'm going to work directly at the Jade Pavilion.”

After they finished talking about their studies, there was a moment of silence. Ding Keyu then casually asked, “Big Brother, what kind of material were you carrying earlier? I want to go to the machine room to pick out a piece of wood tonight. Can you help me take a look?”

Ding Hanbai ignored the first half of the question. “I'll help you look after dinner.”

He skipped over the topic, but unexpectedly, Ding Erhe asked again, “I saw you move a few boxes out of the car before, were those also materials? Do you work by lamplight even at home?”

Before Ding Hanbai could answer, Ding Yanshou's gaze swept over, questioning, scrutinizing, even a little accusatory. Ji Shenyu saw the situation with perfect clarity. The materials in the shop were clearly documented; any removal would be temporarily registered. So, the lack of a record meant it wasn't material. What Ding Yanshou was asking at that moment was—if it's not material, what is it?

“So secretive.” Ding Yanshou cursed openly.

Ding Hanbai was instantly displeased, but he fell for the goading. “It's not material, it's an antique I bought.” He said it lightly, stuffing a plump white dumpling into his mouth. “I bought it with my own money. I'm not bothering anyone, am I?”

Ding Yanshou asked, “A few boxes before, and more today. How much money does your family have for you to squander?”

The atmosphere grew tense. Everyone was afraid the father and son would start arguing and it would escalate to the point of family discipline. Holding his vinegar dish, Ji Shenyu was the first who couldn't hold back. “Master, Senior Brother knows his limits. Besides, if he had touched the public accounts, you would've been the first to know.”

The angry words Ding Hanbai was about to say died in his throat. It wasn't his turn to charge into battle; he had actually been defended. Who would have thought that Ji Shenyu wasn't done? Defending him wasn't enough; he even had to divert the trouble onto himself. “I've loved antiques since I was little, and it just so happens that Senior Brother is an expert, so I pestered him to get in on the action. If Senior Brother has made a mistake, then I'll share the blame for inciting and abetting him.”

For a moment, no one pursued the matter further. Ji Shenyu raised his wine cup. “Master, don't be angry with us. Let's have a drink, shall we? Please, have a drink.”

This move of retreating to advance left Ding Yanshou unable to vent his anger. And by immediately offering a toast and yielding, Ji Shenyu had given him a way to back down gracefully, so he had to let the matter drop. Ding Hanbai was pleased as punch, eating as if he were a glutton reincarnate, unbelievably downing sixty dumplings in one go.

After dinner, his conscience pricked him. He wiped the newly acquired treasure clean and snuck into the study in the Front Courtyard to appease his dear father.

It was a gilt-bronze seal box, perfectly intact, carved with a scene of a magpie on a plum branch. Ding Yanshou put on his glasses to look closely. It was a deep-seated occupational habit; he didn't seek to verify its authenticity, but only to appreciate the carving skill. After a long moment, he cursed, “Don't think that presenting a treasure makes everything alright. I know what you've been doing secretly. As long as you're just playing around and it doesn't affect the Jade Pavilion, I'll let it slide. The day it interferes with proper business, I'll break your legs.”

Ding Hanbai said, “Are you Zhou Bapi? Even if my legs are broken, my hands can still work. You'd trap me at home to toil day and night. How could you be so cunning?”

Ding Yanshou wanted to kick the bastard to death. “I'd like to ask you what tricks you used to get Shenyu to find ways to make excuses for you. He's such a well-behaved and obedient kid, and for your sake, he's even learned to speak with hidden meanings.”

That line, ‘I've loved antiques since I was little,’ truly shut down the argument. Why did he love them since he was little? It was tantamount to a reminder of Ji Fangxu's business of flipping antiques—a hobby cultivated by his own father, making it perfectly legitimate.

There's an old saying: 'Once you marry a wife, you forget your mother.' Ding Hanbai condescended to compare himself to a cherished wife for a moment. What did it mean? It meant that now that Ji Shenyu had him, all other benevolent masters and adoptive fathers had to step aside. He was the most important.

Thinking of it this way, a smile played on his lips, and he couldn't close his thin mouth.

The spring was mild and the scenery bright. The Jade Pavilion released new items one after another. The First Shop had been gaining great momentum ever since the archaic-style seals, and the Third Shop was also gradually becoming popular due to its jewelry display case.

Ji Shenyu and Jiang Ting'en went out early in the morning, taking paper, pens, and a camera, and headed for the flower market. There were many flowers in this season, and the two of them were dazzled as they browsed. Jiang Ting'en had now abandoned Ding Hanbai and become Ji Shenyu's lackey, following his every command.

A cluster of narcissus with white petals and yellow pistils looked like a beauty, its long stalk resembling a slender neck. 'Click'. They had to design jewelry before making it, so looking at flowers was actually a way of gathering inspiration. Ji Shenyu sketched a quick drawing and asked, “Have you interviewed Auntie?”

Jiang Ting'en said, “Not yet.” The two of them were boys and amateurs, so they wanted to understand women's aesthetic preferences for jewelry better. Thus, they started with the people around them. “I've made an appointment with Sister Min. Don't tell Big Brother.”

Ji Shenyu found it strange. “Why are you taking the long way around instead of asking someone closer?”

Jiang Ting'en put an arm around him, wishing he could whisper right in his ear, “I've figured it out. That business between Big Brother and Sister Min, it's just our uncle and aunt who are enthusiastic about it. It's not going to happen.”

Ji Shenyu nodded like a pestle pounding garlic. “You really are a discerning person.”

Jiang Ting'en added, “Well, since it's not going to work out for Big Brother... what about me?”

Ji Shenyu was utterly shocked. “You actually like Sister Min?!” He almost dropped his camera, staring, stunned. He did a quick calculation. “There's a six-year age gap between you!”

Jiang Ting'en gave him a look. “So inexperienced. What's wrong with the woman being older than the man? I don't like young girls, they're too chirpy. Besides, if we're talking about who came first, Big Brother is the one who cut in line.” When he was twelve, Shang Minru had called him handsome, and he had felt a vague stirring in his heart back then. At that time, Ding Hanbai was fifteen and only knew how to carve, spend money, and eat Eight Treasures Candy. What did he know about love?

Seeing that Ji Shenyu was still stunned, Jiang Ting'en thought to himself that Yangzhou was still a bit provincial, a bit unworldly. So he leaned closer and lowered his voice. “You can't accept even this? Some men are even exclusively attracted to other men. If you saw that, wouldn't your jaw drop in shock?”

Like a fishbone stuck in his throat, like thorns on his back, Ji Shenyu was as stiff as an Egyptian mummy, choked into complete speechlessness.

Jiang Ting'en felt exceptionally relieved after baring his heart. He frolicked about, taking pictures of many flowers—primroses, Chinese viburnums, and crabapples—until he used up the entire roll of film. On the way home, Ji Shenyu was silent. When they reached Sha'er Street, Jiang Ting'en asked, “What's wrong with you? You've been like this ever since I said I like Sister Min. It can't be that you like her too, can it?”

Ji Shenyu said deliberatingly, “Are we good friends?” The other nodded, and he asked with some trepidation, “You mentioned that some men are exclusively attracted to other men. What do you think of men like that?”

Jiang Ting'en answered, “How would I know what kind of problem that is? How can two men even fall for each other? Maybe they were just born different from others.” His face turned red. “Also, how do two men do... that sort of thing? I really can't figure it out.”

Ji Shenyu's face turned even redder. Before he knew Ding Hanbai, he couldn't have figured it out either. But now, not only could he figure it out, but he also had a crystal-clear understanding of the hundred different positions and the thousand kinds of sensations.

As they spoke, they stepped through the main gate. A ladder was set up in the Front Courtyard to clear the fallen leaves from the roof that had accumulated over the winter and to check for any damaged tiles.

Just as the ladder was placed under the eaves, Ding Keyu looked up and saw a hornet's nest hidden in the corner of the roof, almost the size of a soccer ball, a dark and imposing mass. He went back to the East Courtyard to find a pole and a woven bag, intending to arm himself and remove the hazard.

Jiang Ting'en, holding a pot of freshly bloomed orchids, ran to the bedroom to present his treasure and ask for a reward from his uncle and aunt.

The courtyard emptied in an instant, leaving only Ji Shenyu behind. He tilted his head up to look at the eaves, an impulse stirring within him. He had been on the roof of his home in Yangzhou as a child, too. Ji Fangxu had carried him on his back up a ladder and had gotten a scolding from his Madam for it.

With this in mind, he stepped onto the ladder and began to climb. He was very light on his feet. When he reached the eaves, he gathered his strength with a push and got all the way up.

Little by little, he moved upward from the edge, crouching, using both his hands and feet, advancing only a short distance after a long while. Below, Ding Keyu ran over, treading lightly, afraid of disturbing the nest of hornets. The one on top didn't hear the one below, and the one below didn't see the one on top. The two of them were like one deaf and one blind.

Under the eaves, Ding Keyu opened the woven bag. Wearing gloves and a face mask, he held the pole, ready to remove the hornet's nest. The pole had a hook. He extended it upward to prod the nest, hooked it, and then pulled downward, needing to be extremely careful with every tiny movement. It loosened, it moved, and half of it was already poking out, accompanied by a faint buzzing sound.

Suddenly, the phone in the living room rang. “What great timing!” Ding Keyu cursed, dropping the pole and abandoning his task halfway to answer it. At that moment, Jiang Ting'en ran out after presenting the flowers. He caught a glimpse of a figure crouching on the roof and assumed it was his annoying third brother. He tiptoed over, moved the ladder away, and disappeared. He had loved playing such pranks since childhood.

The courtyard was empty. A gust of wind blew past, and the half-removed hornet's nest swayed.

Ji Shenyu used the front of his shirt as a pouch to collect some fallen leaves and gradually climbed to the highest point. He turned around and sat on the roof ridge, even thinking of reaching out to touch the ridge-end beast ornament. Lifting his gaze, he saw the paulownia tree in the small courtyard.

The door to the South Room opened. Ding Hanbai, his fingers red, set down his drill. He stepped out the door, craning his neck to relax. The moment he looked up, his eyes met Ji Shenyu's, who was looking in his direction. He was shocked. 'He's crazy! This is absurd! Of all the things to learn, why learn to climb on the roof!'

Ji Shenyu waved on his own, then faintly heard a 'thud'! It was immediately followed by a massive, impossible-to-ignore buzzing!

The hornet's nest had finally fallen. The sound was enough to make one's scalp tingle. In an instant, dozens, even hundreds of fat hornets flew out, covering the distance from the roof beam to the ground. They darted about wildly before circling back up.

Ji Shenyu was so frightened he almost rolled off the roof. He crawled down on his stomach, still clutching the pouch of dead leaves. When he finally managed to climb to the eaves, he was dumbfounded. Where was the ladder? The ladder was clearly right here! The hornets swarming from all directions surrounded him, buzzing close to his ears. It felt as if their tiny wings were scraping his face.

He squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face, shouting for help, terrified that a hornet might fly into his mouth.

“Senior Brother! Senior Brother!” Ji Shenyu yelled with his head down, “Jiang Ting'en! Master!”

When Ding Hanbai rushed over, a chill ran through him. Where on earth did so many hornets come from?! Then he saw the ladder in the corner and wanted to grab the prankster and tear them limb from limb. The others ran out when they heard the commotion and panicked at the sight. Getting stung was a small matter; they were afraid Ji Shenyu would fall from the roof.

Ding Hanbai brought the ladder over and scrambled straight up. Getting close, he firmly supported the pathetic little quail, helping him turn around and step onto the ladder. He protected him from behind for a few rungs, then immediately jumped down, pulled off his own jacket, threw it over Ji Shenyu, and scooped him up and ran.

Whether the swarm of hornets was chasing them, whether the courtyard full of relatives was watching, he paid no heed to any of it.

He ran all the way back to the bedside in his bedroom in one breath, dropping a trail of leaves along the way. After shutting the door, Ding Hanbai put Ji Shenyu down and half-knelt, looking up at him. “Let me see, did you get stung?” he asked urgently, then scolded impatiently, “You're such a quiet person, what were you doing on the roof?! And you just had to climb to the very top!”

Ji Shenyu was still shaken. He covered his face, his fingers spread to peek through with his eyes. He wanted a mirror; he couldn't bear the thought of his face being stung into a pockmarked mess.

Ding Hanbai held him still, pinching his waist and pressing the firm, supple flesh through the fabric. “Why are you so vain? Adorning yourself for your admirer?” He brushed away the hand and studied the face carefully. The cheeks were smooth and delicate; he had escaped disaster.

His hands tightened, and Ji Shenyu hissed in pain.

Ding Hanbai lifted the shirt. The flat abdomen was red all over, chafed from carrying the leaves. He leaned in close, blew a warm breath over it, and pressed his lips to the skin, kissing every inch of the reddened area.

Ji Shenyu gripped his shoulders, wanting to push him away yet welcoming him at the same time. His back and waist went soft under his hands and mouth.

Ding Hanbai gradually moved upward, turning wicked. “Is your chest hurt? What if a hornet flew in and stung those two little pearls?” He burrowed under the loose shirt, kissing his way up to the chest, his lapping and sucking causing Ji Shenyu's voice to change pitch.

He emerged, half-rising to capture the opening and closing lips, holding the sweaty nape of his neck.

The world spun, everything grew hazy. They were entangled in a kiss under the bright, sunny sky. Ji Shenyu's head was covered in fine beads of sweat, his shirt clinging to his body. A magpie chattered, a stray cat suddenly leaped from the window, and he mumbled “Senior Brother” against Ding Hanbai's thin lips.

That senior brother lost all restraint, only holding him tighter.

They both failed to notice the approaching footsteps. The bedroom door was suddenly flung open, and a large group of people stormed in: Ding Yanshou, Jiang Shuliu, Jiang Caiwei, Ding Keyu, Jiang Ting'en... After the chaos, they had all come to see if the two were injured.

But in that moment, all that was left was a violent shock to body and soul!

Ding Yanshou swayed, his blood pressure soaring at the sight of the intimate scene. The Jiang sisters shrieked in stunned disbelief, and as for Jiang Ting'en, Ding Keyu... their jaws dropped to the floor!

The two separated at the sound, and their vision went black. Ji Shenyu was so terrified he rolled off the bed. It was true that you can't wrap fire in paper. Ding Hanbai was stunned for a few seconds, then took a step forward and called out in a hoarse voice, “Dad, Mom.”

No one answered him. It was a ripple in still water, a thunderclap on a clear day.

In this fine season, a shocking thunderbolt exploded over the Ding Family.