I Couldn't Think of a Summary, So I'll Just Wish Senior Brother a Happy Birthday!

The moment the bed collapsed, gravity pulled them down, and Ji Shenyu almost died a little. He kept his eyes shut, panting heavily, tears streaming endlessly from his eyes as if they would never stop.

This sight set Ding Hanbai aflame. Never mind the bed collapsing; not even an earthquake could make him sound the retreat. It was a spring morning, the sky a perfect clear blue, yet here they were, hidden away in this room, indulging in wild abandon.

After an unknown amount of time, all the shameful sounds gradually ceased, and silence fell. Ding Hanbai gently lifted a corner of the quilt, placed a kiss on Ji Shenyu's sweaty forehead, and peeked inside. He reckoned only a coat of lacquer and patina could cover up those marks.

Ji Shenyu, on his last breath: "Senior Brother, I feel all sticky."

Ding Hanbai said, "I'll fetch some water to wash you." After the nice words, he had to add a crude one. "Just sticky? Not clutching your stomach and saying you're sore?" He had been too merciless, utterly reckless in his passion.

Ji Shenyu was still clutching his stomach. From his abdomen down to his knees, everything ached and felt weak. Ding Hanbai took a quick shower, then brought back hot water to wash him. He couldn't be touched; the slightest contact made him tremble uncontrollably.

Ding Hanbai started to panic a little. "Don't tell me I actually broke you..." He was exceedingly gentle, coaxing, teasing—it didn't matter what he said, Ji Shenyu didn't even have the strength to make a sound.

After a long while, the washing was done. Getting dressed took an age, and then they had to change the bedsheets before the job was truly finished. Ji Shenyu felt refreshed but pained, and started acting precious. He said lazily, "Wuyun, bring that bamboo-carved incense tube over for me to see."

Ding Hanbai was taken aback for a moment, but fine. Even if he were called Little Ding or Little Bai, he'd still have to answer eagerly. He presented the incense tube—a Gu Juekuan bamboo-carved incense tube worth tens of thousands. It was authentic; no wonder Zhang Sinian had found the one at Jade Pavilion lacking.

Speak of the devil. The old man had been hiding out for most of the day, waiting until now on an empty stomach, and had just returned. Zhang Sinian entered the house, saw the inner room's door was open, and went to take a look. "This is outrageous!" he roared. "The bed I just fixed! Do you two—do you two have no sense of propriety or shame!"

Ji Shenyu was too ashamed to face anyone and slipped under the covers. However, Zhang Sinian was protective of his own. He rushed to the bedside and continued to scold, "Six-Fingers' apprentice! You're a man with balls, for crying out loud, yet you let this bastard wear you out until the bed collapsed! What's the difference between you and a fox spirit?!"

Ding Hanbai stood up. "I'm your apprentice, overcome with lust and with my mind in the gutter. Why are you yelling at him? Careful, or Master Liang might visit you in your dreams tonight."

Zhang Sinian almost threw down the groceries in his hands. And to think he'd been worried about these two shameless bastards. He'd been too careless. When he left, he knew they were turning the world upside down in this room, but how could he have known his bed planks would suffer for it!

Even the thick-skinned Ding Hanbai felt a little embarrassed. He reached out and took the groceries. The food was still warm, and there was also a bag of uncooked noodles. Today was his birthday; this was for him to eat longevity noodles. "Master, my great Master." He started his routine again. "I'll go cook the noodles. Shall you open a bottle of wine?"

More than half a bottle of Maotai was left. Zhang Sinian flicked his sleeves and left. Ding Hanbai turned and pulled Ji Shenyu out, brushing aside his bangs to look at his flushed face, and asked for advice, "Master Ji, how do you cook noodles?"

This young master, who had only ever eaten ready-made meals, entered the kitchen for the first time. He watched over the pot, waiting for the water to boil over three times, then plucked a few stalks of bok choy to toss in, sighing with each one. In his twenty-one years, this was the first time he'd ever had such a meager birthday.

Zhang Sinian asked, "You're not a child anymore, you still celebrate it every year?"

"More than just every year," Ding Hanbai said. "We'd reserve a table at Zhuifeng Tower, sometimes the whole floor. The trade has a lot of connections, and my dad, who bows to no one and upholds the 'gentleman's friendship,' would only on my birthday toast and smile apologetically to people, asking the elders in the trade to look after me."

Zhang Sinian cursed him, "Don't you have a conscience!"

He didn't answer. Ding Hanbai stirred the noodles, unable to speak. More than just having a guilty conscience, he felt he deserved to be struck by lightning. But he had no other way. For the one in the room, and for the future he couldn't abandon, this irreconcilable conflict was bound to hurt someone.

He was guilty, but he did not regret it. It was the path he had chosen. If it was wrong, he would bear it. If it was right, he would press forward without hesitation. Never stop to ponder; that would make him look like a good-for-nothing.

The three of them ate a meal of longevity noodles, paired with a couple ounces of liquor, and celebrated the birthday.

Ji Shenyu was half-crippled, unable to sit or stand straight, his legs trembling violently. Ding Hanbai, the culprit, was extremely considerate, saying all the nice things he could. Zhang Sinian couldn't stand the sight and shooed the two disgraceful creatures into the inner room. Out of sight, out of mind.

Sitting on the broken bed, Ji Shenyu saw a small box that had rolled next to the pillow. He opened it, and inside was a Coral Brooch. Ding Hanbai sat beside him and said, "I was in Shanghai bidding on a few antiques when I came across this. I bought it without a second thought."

It was red coral, carved into a rose. The pattern of branches and blossoms was extremely intricate, like that seal. Through this, Ding Hanbai got to know the consignor of the auction piece. He recounted, "Although it's very floral, it's actually a men's piece. Because it's worn for a wedding, the bride wears a dress and veil, so the groom uses this for adornment."

Ji Shenyu held it in his palm. "It's your birthday, yet I'm the one receiving a gift."

Ding Hanbai laughed, as if it was no big deal. He moved closer and wrapped his arm around him, asking many questions about how he'd been lately—about himself, his family, the shop, covering every little detail like a nagging mother. Ji Shenyu first told him about Ding Yanshou's illness, and only at the end did he say, "Second Brother moved the materials from the South Room. He said he wants to distribute them among the shops and also wants Second Uncle to go oversee the First Shop."

Ding Hanbai pondered for a moment. "Let him move them. He can move anything he wants from our courtyard, and from the shops too. Don't mind whatever he wants to do, let's see what he's up to." After a pause, he tweaked Ji Shenyu's ear. "If he divides those materials fairly, then fine. But if it's unfair, you need to know what's what."

He began to list them off: every type of material, its size, quantity, and grade—dozens of crisscrossing categories, not even leaving out the glass beads. He knew Ji Shenyu had a photographic memory and never forgot anything he heard. After finishing, he asked, "Did you remember all that?"

Ji Shenyu nodded, surprised. "You remember all of it?"

Those materials were Ding Hanbai's treasures. He had always kept a clear account of how much he bought and how much he used. The rooms could be messy, the courtyard could be messy, but the accounts of what came and went could never be. It was a pity Ding Yanshou didn't understand this, having spent half his life focused solely on honing his craft.

A craftsman cannot be a businessman; that's why it's such a struggle.

The afternoon was brilliantly sunny, perfect for an old man to be surrounded by his children and grandchildren, or for lovers to while away the time together. Unfortunately, Ji Shenyu couldn't stay for long. He struggled to his feet and took a couple of stiff, awkward steps. Ding Hanbai carefully supported him. That didn't work, so he put his arm around him. That still didn't work, so he just picked him up.

Zhang Sinian lamented the decline of public morals. "Just push him back in a flatbed cart!"

Ding Hanbai ignored him, squatted down, and had Ji Shenyu lean on his shoulders. He piggybacked him and, while the sun was still bright, went out the door. Wearing a pair of Shanghai Warrior sneakers, he walked step by step out of the Hutong and onto the street, seeking the shade of trees, heading from Chongshui toward the Ding Family's Residence.

Ji Shenyu kept his head down so pedestrians couldn't see his face. After a while, his breath made Ding Hanbai break into a sweat, and Ding Hanbai kept trying to dodge it. "I'll just take a car back, you should stop walking." He wiped the sweat for him. "It's nearly ten li. Are you trying to kill yourself from exhaustion?"

Ding Hanbai said, "It's merely ten li. I'd rather it were twenty, or even fifty."

The longer the road, the longer the walk, and the more time they would have together.

This was their situation now; every second was to be cherished. Ding Hanbai was tall with long legs, and carrying another person, he turned quite a few heads on the street. He didn't seem to mind being looked at and would even flash a smile at people.

"You wrote that you missed me in the envelope. Weren't you afraid I wouldn't find it?" he asked suddenly.

Ji Shenyu said, "If you didn't find it, you wouldn't have to think about me. If you did, you'd know I was thinking about you." He had only eaten half a bowl of noodle soup, but his words were as sweet as honey. "Senior Brother, when can we finally be together? I could sneak away to see you this time, but what about the next?"

Ding Hanbai asked in return, "How did you sneak away this time?" After hearing Ji Shenyu's explanation, he gave his bottom a little pat. "When you get home, you have to let Third Brother know you secretly came to see me. Then Second Brother will know too. I've only been gone a month and he's already making moves. He definitely can't wait for you to leave as well."

Then, Ding Erhe would surely tell Ding Keyu to be a little lax in his supervision, making it easier for them to meet. Ji Shenyu was silent for a moment. He was afraid Ding Yanshou would be angry if he found out, and if Ding Yanshou didn't approve, would they have to meet like this forever?

Ding Hanbai said, "It won't be for long. My dad's initial reaction was just a delaying tactic." Ji Shenyu was a living, breathing person. There was no reason on earth for one person to control another's every move. Ding Yanshou understood this; he was just stalling, trying to wait for a change of heart in the meantime.

The two of them talked sentence by sentence. They rounded a corner and arrived at the entrance to Sha'er Street. The willows had new buds, yellow flowers bloomed at the corner of the wall; the scenery was beautiful. Ji Shenyu hopped off Ding Hanbai's back. After being carried all this way, he really didn't dare be lazy for this last stretch.

To be safe, they should part ways here.

But Ding Hanbai didn't stop, and Ji Shenyu didn't stop him.

They walked all the way to the main gate of the Ding Family Compound. The two little stone lions still looked the same. The red lanterns under the eaves had been taken down, with only two light bulbs hanging there. The spirit screen blocked the view of the inside, but it also provided cover for those outside. It was a mixed blessing.

"Don't do any work when you get back. Get some sleep." Ding Hanbai said in a low voice. After giving his instructions, he stared at Ji Shenyu without looking away. He should have said, "Go on in," but he pressed his thin lips together, unable to get the words out.

Ji Shenyu moved closer, tilted his face up, and called, "Senior Brother."

He hardened his heart, took half a step back, and gestured with his chin. "Go on back."

Ji Shenyu was crestfallen. "I haven't wished you a happy birthday yet."

Ding Hanbai's resolve completely crumbled. He stepped forward and hugged him, clinging to him as they shuffled to the corner of the courtyard wall. "Zhenzhu," he said earnestly, "When the Antique City is completed, I'll book Zhuifeng Tower to celebrate. I'll wear the suit you gave me, and you'll wear the brooch I gave you."

Ji Shenyu was stunned, and in an instant, he understood the meaning.

Openly, it would be a celebration banquet. Secretly, it would be their wedding reception.

He snuggled into Ding Hanbai's shoulder and agreed. The exhaustion of the past few days, the cold looks and humiliation he had suffered—none of it mattered anymore. His life now had something to look forward to. He could bustle about with renewed spirit. They let go, walked side-by-side back to the gate, and he whispered, "Goodbye."

Ji Shenyu entered the gate. The Front Courtyard was empty. He crept along the edge back to the small courtyard and only breathed a sigh of relief once he was back in his bedroom. But Ding Hanbai still stood at the bottom of the steps, fixed, dazed, staring blankly inside.

After a very long time, he turned to leave.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the courtyard. Faintly, it was two people. "The clivia is wilting in the sun, and no one helps me move it." Ding Yanshou rolled up his sleeves and moved the clivia into the shade behind the spirit screen. Jiang Shuliu carried an aluminum kettle and said, "Don't just sulk in your room. Come out and water the flowers, tend to the soil. You'll get better faster that way."

Ding Hanbai froze, his eyes turning red as he listened to the indistinct conversation. His dad was still angry, cooped up in his room every day. His mom must be very sad too; her voice lacked its usual spirit.

Ding Yanshou dug a candy wrapper out of the flowerpot and cursed, "That bastard can't even leave cleanly. Still throwing trash in my clivia." Yet he held onto it, not throwing it away or flicking it aside, and examined the three words "Eight Treasures Candy" on it. He was almost fifty, and at this moment, he felt exceptionally wronged, so he took it out on his wife. "It's all your fault. You never stopped him from eating candy when he was little. A doting mother spoils her son."

Jiang Shuliu tried to snatch the candy wrapper, and they tussled over it. "He loved to eat it. Every month when the shop settled its accounts, you'd immediately go buy two bags. How was I supposed to control him? I wouldn't dare call myself a doting mother, but you're quite the spineless strict father."

The couple stood under the sun, bickering, dredging up old grievances. Ding Yanshou was ill, and as soon as his breathing became ragged, he lost the upper hand. Jiang Shuliu helped him catch his breath, then her expression changed, and she gently asked if he wanted some soup.

Ding Yanshou said resentfully, "Soup... On this day in previous years, when did we not have the grandest celebration? Now, it's just soup!"

Jiang Shuliu was on the verge of tears. "What's the use of a grand celebration every year, only to raise an ungrateful, disobedient wolf." Getting involved with his junior brother like that, shifting his focus to dabbling in antiques—two outrageous things at once. She wiped her tears and asked softly, "What do you think that white-eyed wolf is doing?"

Ding Yanshou looked up at the sky. "Why do you care about him."

He was a piece of their own flesh and blood; how could they just forget him? Jiang Shuliu turned Ding Yanshou's chin, making him look at her, trying to evoke a similar emotion in him. "Guess, did he have longevity noodles?"

Ding Yanshou said, "I'm so angry I could die an early death, and you're still worried about whether he ate longevity noodles?"

Jiang Shuliu suddenly smiled. "You're not worried? Then who was it that looked through the photo album and forgot to put it away?"

Crying and laughing, bickering and arguing. Ding Hanbai neither left nor entered. Separated by the spirit screen, he couldn't see Ding Yanshou and Jiang Shuliu, and they couldn't see him. The faint, intermittent voices were unclear, their breath short, seeming out of place in the vibrant spring.

He couldn't stand there any longer. In his heart, he called out, 'Dad, Mom.'

Ding Hanbai left.

In the courtyard, Jiang Shuliu helped Ding Yanshou walk around the spirit screen. Slowly, they glanced out at the small street outside the gate. There was no one there. They stopped by the pond. The couple fed the fish, and their bickering and squabbling softened.

Ding Yanshou said, "Serving tea and fetching clothes, clocking in at Jade Pavilion every day, living a prosperous and stable life, marrying a wife and having children. Actually... I've long known my son couldn't do these things."

Jiang Shuliu said, "How can redwood be used to make a horse trough? Character determines destiny."

Ding Yanshou was indignant. "Look at the son you gave birth to. He doesn't want to be a filial son; he wants to be a hero."

Just then, two fish bumped into each other, splashing water. They both paused, then looked at each other in sudden realization.

No wonder. The hardest trial for a hero is love.

Author's Note: Let me clarify, the two elders had no idea Ding Hanbai was outside. Regarding comments like "they were intentionally saying it for Ding Hanbai to hear," I find them utterly speechless. I don't know what you all think parents are like.