NWAFAM 078: Jiang’s Sarcasm

After a silent winter, snow finally fell in Xinan County.

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Yu Jinnian hurriedly opened the shop door to welcome in Young Master Jiang, quickly grabbed the items from his and Ji Hong’s hands, and tossed them haphazardly into the backyard. He then grabbed a small teapot of freshly brewed osmanthus honey tea and a plate of soft pastries to appease the “Jiang gingerbread man.”

Earlier, he had taken some pleasure in watching Jiang’s misfortunes—after all, the strong stay strong—but when he realized Jiang was all talk and no action, a mere sharp-tongued young noble, Yu Jinnian’s feelings began to waver. As he observed Young Master Jiang walking normally, he felt relieved, thinking that Jiang’s previous injury had healed.

At that, his heart finally settled a little.

Jiang Bingren, with his baby face and almond-shaped eyes, always looked innocent and adorable. When he cried, he resembled a tearful flower, tugging at others’ heartstrings. As Yu Jinnian watched him, his heart instantly swayed to one side. Cursing Shi Xing in his head, he thought, *If that guy bullied him again, this time, I’ll make Ji Hong use the ironclad family rules of the Ji family to teach him a lesson.*

Yu Jinnian set down the pastries and pushed the osmanthus honey tea towards Jiang Bingren. “Alright, alright, stop crying. Your voice is hoarse. Drink some tea to soothe your throat. Now tell me, did he bully you again?”

Ji Hong had finished tidying up the mess left by the boy’s scattered belongings and walked into the main hall. Seeing the two young boys together, with one crying and the other comforting him, Ji Hong observed Yu Jinnian—still a child himself—awkwardly trying to console the other with a tone that oddly resembled that of an adult.

“Men are all big jerks, selfish pigs! Don’t cry. If he bullies you, cut off his hand and make it a side dish! If he tries to force himself on you again, we’ll chop off his… thing and eat it raw like geoduck sashimi!”

Ji Hong: “…”

Jiang Bingren wiped his eyes with his sleeve and sniffled. “No… don’t curse him. He didn’t bully me…”

Surprised that Jiang defended Shi Xing, Yu Jinnian asked, “Then what happened?”

Jiang Bingren pulled a letter from his sleeve, looking wronged. “I’ve been stuck at home recovering, and every day, the Spring Breeze Delight Restaurant is filled with the scent of delicious dishes, but all I get are bland things! Tofu mash, sticky millet porridge, overcooked cabbage… Did I complain? Today, I just wanted some braised pork, but no, he brings me another bowl of steamed tofu!” He glanced at Yu Jinnian with frustration. “Not only am I starving, but he also insists on dragging me out to watch an opera. Do I even have the energy for that? So, I got mad and told him to get lost, saying I never wanted to see him again…”

As he spoke, his expression quickly twisted with visible grievance. “And he really left!”

Yu Jinnian read the letter and handed it to Ji Hong. The letter, surprisingly unlike the Ji family guards’ usual concise style, was long-winded, filled with complaints. It detailed how Young Master Jiang kicks off his blankets at night, spends too much time eating hot and cold food, and refuses to take bitter medicine when sick. Apologies and thanks filled the rest of the page, with Shi Xing even leaving his savings at the Spring Breeze Delight Restaurant to cover the debts he had accumulated from eating and drinking at Jiang’s expense.

It was as if Shi Xing had turned into Jiang’s nagging nanny.

Jiang Bingren, fuming with indignation, said, “Look! All I did was complain about not getting meat, and he has so much to say! How can someone with such a broad chest be so petty?”

Yu Jinnian ventured cautiously, “So, what does Young Master Jiang want?”

“I’ve waited for him to return, but he hasn’t. There’s really silver added to the account. I even washed his clothes and hung them out to dry. I searched for him at the opera house, the tea house, the marketplace, and all our usual spots, but I couldn’t find him anywhere.” Grabbing Yu Jinnian’s sleeve as if clutching a deity, Jiang Bingren pleaded, “Didn’t you say he’s one of Ji Hong’s people? Ji Hong must know where he is. Please, get him to come back, and I’ll let bygones be bygones!”

Though Jiang’s words were demanding, his eyes were full of tears. Yu Jinnian, knowing this spoiled young master for so long, had no idea he could cry so easily. Seeing him in this state, who could resist helping him? Yu Jinnian looked back at Ji Hong, who shook his head slightly, indicating that Shi Xing had not reported back to him.

This could be trouble…

Jiang Bingren, full of hope, was not used to disappointment. Having had everything handed to him, he was unaccustomed to loss. Like a young pine tree standing tall, he had thrived under favorable conditions, but Shi Xing had become an unexpected crooked branch in his otherwise perfect life. Initially, he wanted to cut it off, but later, he began to appreciate it silently, even if he never praised it openly.

But in a twist, the branch cut itself off, disappearing into the fog, never to be seen again.

Jiang Bingren’s final hope vanished, and the grievance in his heart overwhelmed him. Tears streamed silently down his face—not like his earlier wailing to garner attention—but quietly, with tightly pressed lips trying to hold back the tears. Yet, once the flood started, it couldn’t be stopped.

Seeing this pitiful sight, Yu Jinnian panicked and grabbed his own sleeve to wipe Jiang’s face. After a while, he remembered that his sleeve was dirty and not suitable for wiping tears, but Ji Hong helpfully handed him a soft handkerchief.

They say women are made of water, but Yu Jinnian thought this young master Jiang was no different. He sat in the noodle shop’s front hall and cried for half an hour before stopping. His voice, once only slightly hoarse, now sounded like it had been dragged through gravel. Dejected, he stood up, his spirit drained, and said, “I’m leaving.”

“Don’t go.” Yu Jinnian instinctively said. His heart softened at the sight of Jiang’s despondent state. “You wanted to sleep in my bed last time, right? You can sleep here today.”

Jiang Bingren, head lowered, mumbled as he walked away, “Then you two won’t have a place to sleep. I’m not likable anyway, so I should go.”

*How did he suddenly become so considerate?*

Yu Jinnian reached out to stop him but missed as the young master broke free and disappeared into the night. Strangely, he wasn’t heading toward the Spring Breeze Delight Restaurant. Worried that Jiang might do something foolish, Yu Jinnian tugged on Ji Hong’s sleeve. “What should we do?”

Ji Hong glanced down the street and saw a figure approaching in the distance. Clapping his hands softly, the figure darted toward them—it was Duan Ming. Ji Hong ordered, “Follow Young Master Jiang from a distance. Make sure he’s safe and return when he’s settled.”

Duan Ming acknowledged the order and disappeared into the night. After a while, Qing Huan returned with Sui Sui, both panting heavily. “How did that blockhead run so fast? In the blink of an eye, he was gone!”

But she quickly pulled out several bundles of silk threads, excitedly saying, “Brother Nian, look! There was a silk thread vendor at the market today. These are soft and durable, and the colors are great. You said you wanted a tassel for your dagger before, but I didn’t like the one I made with my thread, so I didn’t show it to you. This time, I’ll definitely weave one that matches your little curved dagger!”

With Duan Ming following Jiang, Yu Jinnian felt less worried. Other people’s problems were their own, and there was no need for him to meddle further. Relieved, he happily joined Qing Huan to pick out the thread colors.

After that, Yu Jinnian thought he wouldn’t see Young Master Jiang for several days or even weeks. But starting from the very next day, Jiang Bingren showed up at the noodle shop every afternoon like clockwork—more punctual than the rooster next door.

Although the shop’s Laba porridge wasn’t profitable, word had spread in the county about its quality, and people came daily just to try it. Yu Jinnian, not shrewd enough for hunger marketing, simply made more batches of Seven Treasure Porridge to sell.

Young Master Jiang had his daily bowl of porridge and a side of pickled vegetables, sitting in the shop for hours on end. He often surveyed the customers with his sharp eyes, only leaving after the shop closed at dusk. On good days, he would even get up and help Yu Jinnian clean up, using the excuse to sneak into the backyard to “spy on the enemy.”

Poor little Jiang Bingren, who looked like a plump bun, had lost several pounds in just a few days. His chin had become sharper, and because he no longer cared about his appearance, he wore dark, random clothes every day. This made him appear thin and tall, shedding some of his boyish immaturity and gaining a touch of refinement and elegance. He looked as if he had matured overnight, with his brows slightly furrowed, holding his gold-threaded plum blossom fan, now exuding a noble aura that could no longer be taken lightly.

According to the reports from Duan, the guard who was supposedly tracking but actually protecting him, the young master would wander through the streets and alleys every night after leaving the noodle shop. He would make a big loop around the city, only returning home late at night, not to the Jiang mansion in the east of the city, but to sleep at the Spring Breeze Delight Restaurant.

Gossip among the customers at the noodle shop revealed that Spring Breeze Delight Restaurant had been displaying portraits in search of someone. Anyone who could provide even the slightest clue about this person could have their meal for free that day. As a result, the place had been swarming with freeloaders—thugs and beggars offering vague and false information just to get a free feast.

Yu Jinnian could tell that Young Master Jiang wasn’t giving up easily. He sighed, but he had no idea what to do.

That night, while trying to sleep, Yu Jinnian tossed and turned as if there were nails in the bed. Suddenly, he sat up. Ji Hong opened his eyes helplessly and looked at the boy sitting on top of him, who asked, “Are you sure Shi Xing hasn’t come looking for you?”

“No,” Ji Hong replied.

Yu Jinnian eyed him for a moment but didn’t press further. Instead, he suddenly dove under the covers, creating a large bulge on the bed that looked like a cocoon from afar. Inside, he mischievously stirred, causing a brewing storm—a soft rain and a warm wind. The flashes of lightning and claps of thunder seemed to hit Ji Hong directly. He reached out to grab the boy, only to be bitten on the hand, leaving a circle of bright red teeth marks.

*Just like a cat,* Ji Hong thought, feeling both annoyed and affectionate.

Outside, the cold wind rose again, and the fog gathered and dissipated, gradually condensing into a layer of frost on the steps near the well in the courtyard. In the room, a small window creaked open, disturbed by an invisible hand, stirring the remnants of a half-melted candle on the table. The wax dripped slowly, and beads of sweat formed on Ji Hong’s brow as his gaze remained fixed on the flickering candlelight.

After a while, the light flickered and finally went out with a soft puff.

The bulging cocoon on the bed finally broke open, and out crawled a boy, drenched in sweat. He poked his head out, speaking as though interrogating but with a playful tone, “Really, he didn’t come to find you? Tell me the truth, and I’ll teach you a new game.”

The storm outside weakened but hadn’t completely stopped. The air felt heavy, as though a thunderstorm was looming. Ji Hong felt like he was under the boy’s complete control, as if the situation was spiraling out of his hands. He chuckled inwardly at the absurdity of the boy’s so-called “interrogation,” but he reached out, grabbed something to wipe the sweat from the boy’s face, and confessed honestly, “No, he really hasn’t. But I know he’s still in Xinan County. Without my orders, I doubt he would leave so easily.”

Yu Jinnian thought for a moment. “Can you summon him?”

Ji Hong replied, “I’m not sure. If he’s deliberately hiding, there’s nothing I can do.”

That made sense. After all, even a guard could evade reality. Yu Jinnian mulled it over, trying to come up with a way to lure Shi Xing out—things had to be cleared up sooner or later. Hiding wouldn’t solve anything. As he pondered, Ji Hong sighed deeply and said, “Yu Jinnian, can you let go of me now?”

Ji Hong hadn’t expected the boy to follow through with the new game he had mentioned, but Yu Jinnian was a person of his word. Since he had promised, he had to keep his end of the bargain. After all, it wouldn’t be fair to punish his beloved for someone else’s wrongdoing.

As they spoke, Yu Jinnian once again disappeared under the covers. Ji Hong gently stroked the boy’s hair, but a sudden clap of thunder shattered his composure. His hand trembled, accidentally pulling out a few strands of the boy’s hair.

After a long while, Yu Jinnian emerged again, smiling. “Good, or not good?”

Ji Hong was in shock, staring at the boy’s lips, which seemed to be stained with a rosy hue. He swallowed hard, his internal organs quivering from the earlier rumble of thunder.

Seeing that Ji Hong wasn’t responding—either dumbfounded or dissatisfied—Yu Jinnian’s hard-won courage began to falter. The more he thought about it, the more insecure he felt. His eyes lowered, and he unconsciously licked his slightly swollen lips. Slipping out from under the covers, he tried to get out of bed, saying, “I, I…”

The room was so quiet that the sound of a speck of dust hitting the floor would have been deafening. Yu Jinnian felt too awkward to stay any longer. Not knowing what to say, he blurted out, for the first time in his life, something terribly embarrassing: “Suddenly… I’m hungry. I’ll go have some porridge.”

*Ugh! Why would I mention porridge now of all times?!* He wanted to flee, but Ji Hong grabbed his sleeve, staring intently at his lips. “Really?”

“What’s real?” Yu Jinnian felt as though his sleeve had fused with his skin, burning where Ji Hong clutched it. He was torn between blaming himself for being impulsive and cursing Ji Hong for his lack of understanding. Frustrated, he shook his sleeve hard and glared at him. “You tell me, what’s real?”

Ji Hong didn’t let go, his gaze unusually direct. The two of them, clearly inseparable lovers, now stood opposite each other as if poised for a duel. Their eyes pierced deep, as if searching for the reddest, most vivid blood. Who would break first? Naturally, it was Yu Jinnian. The moment he couldn’t take it anymore and tried to run, Ji Hong chased after him, catching him by the waist.

Beneath the silver moonlight, their shadows stretched long. The two stood on the ground, locked in a kiss. Ji Hong had never lost control like this, acting aggressively, while Yu Jinnian’s legs went weak. Cradled in Ji Hong’s arms, he glanced down, seeing their intertwined shadows on the ground, resembling two snakes coiling tightly around each other.

Ji Hong’s body seemed much stronger now. At least, he was able to hold Yu Jinnian up without trembling, perhaps bolstered by his newfound courage. Yu Jinnian’s mind was already scattered, having had the upper hand earlier, but now he was the one being played. He closed his eyes, giving in entirely, sinking lower until he nearly touched the cold floor, only to be pulled up by Ji Hong. “Don’t move. If you move, I can’t control myself.”

Ji Hong held Yu Jinnian tightly, though with a bit too much force, squeezing his ribs. “Are you some kind of mountain demon, enchanting people to give you everything?”

Yu Jinnian, feeling relieved, blinked playfully. “You already got plenty earlier.”

“Shut up,” Ji Hong muttered, exhaling sharply as he lightly swatted the boy’s behind. Yu Jinnian finally burst into laughter, no longer teasing him, and allowed Ji Hong to lead him back to bed. Ji Hong then went to pour some tea.

Yu Jinnian obediently drank the tea, and Ji Hong said, “Next time, you don’t have to…”

“Was it bad?” Yu Jinnian immediately tensed up, unable to enjoy the tea.

“No,” Ji Hong’s voice was low. He took the cup and placed it on the table, pulling the boy close again. “I just don’t want you to… go through the trouble.”

Because of their earlier antics, Ji Hong’s eyes drooped with exhaustion. Yu Jinnian, touching his face, casually replied, “I’m happy to do it. I want to. Besides, you have such good habits, and you eat lightly… It’s not bad at all.”

That simple statement took Ji Hong a long time to process. Shocked by the boy’s nonchalant attitude, Ji Hong was speechless, his eyelashes trembling. After a long pause, he finally blurted out, “Just stop talking.”

“Fine, I won’t say anything.” Yu Jinnian huffed and, ignoring Ji Hong’s unsettled mood, snuggled into his arms and fell asleep.

——

For the next few days, Jiang Bingren didn’t show up at the noodle shop, giving them a rare moment of peace. Qing Huan had finished making the tassel, and Yu Jinnian had picked some soft, elegant colors that weren’t too eye-catching. He immediately brought out his little curved dagger and asked Qing Huan to attach the tassel. Once it was done, with a decorative fringe hanging from the hilt, he proudly wore it at his waist, strutting around the shop to show it off.

Waist accessories had been a tradition since ancient times. Years ago, martial culture was prevalent at court, and many officials and nobles carried beautifully adorned short swords to demonstrate their boldness. Recently, however, refined, scholarly men were in vogue, and so noblemen had switched to wearing jade ornaments instead of swords. The more elegant the design, the better. In the capital region, jade had become highly prized. A small, intricately carved piece of jade could be worth as much as a grand estate, but even so, people’s enthusiasm for jade remained undiminished.

This is also why Yu Jinnian could only afford a piece of rough, murky jade to make Ji Hong a bamboo hairpin.

Yu Jinnian, with his small curved dagger hanging from his waist, jingled the bells on it as he moved in and out of the shop, making it impossible for anyone not to notice. A few customers praised him with flattering words, and Yu Jinnian, easily swayed by compliments, gave them a discount with a wave of his hand. This led other customers to follow suit, admiring his dagger and even attaching irrelevant poetry and phrases to it. Some who were less eloquent blushed and could only muster, “Only a celestial being could have something so beautiful!”

If it hadn’t been for Qing Huan, who quickly intervened, dragging their overly proud little boss into the kitchen and tossing him into Ji Hong’s arms, who knows how much more money would have been lost in the front! Qing Huan, annoyed, scolded Ji Hong, “Young Master Ji, can’t you control him?”

Yu Jinnian looked up and asked, “You control me?”

Ji Hong glanced at the dagger hanging from Yu Jinnian’s waist and immediately understood what foolishness he had been up to. He couldn’t bring himself to scold the boy, so he smiled and said, “I wouldn’t dare. It’s Boss Yu who controls me.”

Qing Huan stomped her foot in frustration and ran out, “You two, just stay back here! You’re blinding everyone with your antics!”

Yu Jinnian burst into hearty laughter behind her.

After noon, with fewer customers in the shop, two officers in gray-blue uniforms came in, grumbling. They sat down heavily in the shop and shouted in rough voices, “Bring a plate of crispy pork, a dish of roasted pig tongue, four big buns, and make sure to bring a bowl of soup as well.”

The other one urged them to hurry so they could eat and get back to work.

Fortunately, these weren’t complicated dishes, so Yu Jinnian quickly agreed and went to the kitchen to prepare.

The roasted pig tongue was simple to make. After removing the rough outer skin, the tender tongue was chopped into small pieces and marinated with vegetables and wine. Then it was stir-fried quickly in a hot pan with star anise and peppercorns, seasoned with fermented bean sauce, and garnished with a handful of chopped green onions.

The crispy pork, however, required more effort. The meat needed to be fresh pork belly with the skin still on. It couldn’t be too fatty, or it would be greasy, but it also couldn’t be too lean, or it would be dry. The perfect cut had evenly spaced layers of fat and lean meat.

The meat was cut into square chunks, blanched briefly in boiling water with ginger, scallions, and spices, and then marinated in yellow wine and salted sauce. Afterward, a coating of sesame oil was applied, and the meat was skewered and grilled over charcoal. As it cooked, another layer of sesame oil was brushed on, turning the skin crispy and the meat a beautiful red color. The skin curled up and became crispy, while the meat remained tender and juicy. The dish was sprinkled with sesame salt and chili powder for added flavor.

As for the soup, Yu Jinnian made a salted egg yolk and tofu soup. The tofu was chopped finely and cooked in a rich broth with beaten eggs. Then, crushed salted egg yolk was sprinkled on top, giving the soup a flavor similar to crab roe, with its slightly fishy but very fresh taste and its rich, golden color.

When the three dishes were served, even the grumbling officers had nothing to complain about. Clearly exhausted, they devoured their meal in no time, leaving not a single bun or scrap of food behind. Satisfied and full, they leaned back and started chatting with the young and handsome shop owner.

One of them said, “You’re quite the looker, Boss. Just be careful not to wander around at night. There’s been a flower thief around lately, targeting pretty boys like you.”

The other chimed in, “That’s right. The other night, the young master from the Jiang family nearly fell victim! Can’t imagine why a noble like him was out so late. The scoundrel almost got him! That’s why we’ve been scouring the streets like flies, searching for the culprit.”

“Let’s get going. Looks like it’s going to snow tonight. Let’s finish our work quickly and get home for a drink!” They paid their bill and hurried off, remembering they had important duties.

Yu Jinnian was startled. Jiang Bingren hadn’t come by in a few days—could he have been caught up in some misfortune?

He was worried and wondered if he should visit Spring Breeze Delight Restaurant to check on Jiang Bingren. But just as he was thinking about it, in walked the “unfortunate” young master himself, swaggering in as if nothing had happened. His chin was still sharp, but his complexion had improved. He looked refreshed, as if he had soaked up water like a sponge, and he was back to wearing his luxurious sapphire blue silk clothes, adorned with a pearl headband, a jade belt, and a gold-inlaid silver sachet. It seemed his true nature hadn’t changed at all.

Jiang Bingren entered the shop, but before he could say a word, he let out a loud “Woof!”

Yu Jinnian stood on tiptoe behind the counter and exclaimed, “Where did that dog come from?”

Jiang Bingren was leading a hunting dog with glossy brown fur. “I’m just waiting for someone. Bring me a plate of meat—raw—for Dahei.”

Dahei was the name of his dog. Yu Jinnian wasn’t afraid of dogs, but he didn’t particularly like this snarling beast either. He went to the kitchen and cut a piece of raw meat, adding it to Jiang Bingren’s tab. Not daring to get too close to the dog, he tossed the meat from a distance. “Are you waiting for someone or setting your dog loose to bite someone?”

“It won’t bite you,” Jiang Bingren huffed. “That bastard thinks I can’t find him? …Why are you sitting so far away? How are we supposed to talk?”

“No, no, it’s fine. Distance makes the heart grow fonder.” Yu Jinnian refused to move closer, staying two tables away. Jiang Bingren didn’t force the issue and continued petting his dog. “I heard you had a bit of trouble the other day?”

Jiang Bingren let out an “ah” of understanding. “You mean that old pervert who tried to strip me?” He waved it off casually. “I had my men give him a good beating. Stripped him naked and tied him to a tree outside the city. By now, he’s probably been found, I guess? He wasn’t anyone special, just a bit slippery.”

He chuckled. “But no matter how slippery, could he escape from my Dahei?”

“…” Yu Jinnian glanced at the ferocious hunting dog and silently felt sorry for Shi Xing.

Jiang Bingren continued smugly, “But yeah, a couple of days ago, I almost got into real trouble. That old pervert knocked me out, but some jerk fell from the sky and saved me.”

*What’s there to be proud of in that?* Yu Jinnian thought to himself.

They didn’t talk much after that. Yu Jinnian was busy, unlike the idle young master. As usual, Jiang Bingren sat silently until dusk. Yu Jinnian had just finished making dinner and was about to ask if he wanted to eat when his fierce hunting dog suddenly started growling. Jiang Bingren’s eyes lit up, and he immediately unhooked the dog’s leash.

The dog bolted out like a black shadow, with Jiang Bingren close behind.

Afraid something would go wrong, Yu Jinnian chased after them.

He saw the dog chasing someone down the street. The person, caught off guard, froze for a moment before realizing what was happening. But by the time they reacted, the dog was too close. Knowing he couldn’t outrun it, the person quickly came up with a plan. They leaped onto a wall, then onto a rooftop, moving swiftly and gracefully, clearly showing their skill.

Jiang Bingren saw the person trying to escape across the rooftops and shouted, “Shi Xing!” The black-clad figure paused for a moment but then took another step. “Take one more step, and I’ll get ten more dogs to chase you to the ends of the earth!”

The dog barked furiously below, while the person on the roof hesitated.

“Shi Xing,” Jiang Bingren called out, tilting his head up. “I saved you from Tongzi Alley, fed you, gave you everything, and now you think you can just walk away? It’s not that easy!”

Shi Xing stopped in his tracks, his heart sinking. In a low voice, he said, “Young Master Jiang, I wronged you. I know this sin is unforgivable, but I can’t keep making the same mistake. You’re annoyed with me, you despise me, so I’ll leave. I won’t ever appear before you again. You’re still young, you don’t understand. I shouldn’t have tempted you to do such things. One day, when you ride in an eight-carriage bridal procession, with children and grandchildren around you, you’ll realize how foolish this was. If I can protect you to live a full and happy life, that’s enough for me. Just pretend I never existed.”

He turned to leave, but before he could take a step, he heard Jiang Bingren’s voice urgently call from below, “Who cares about children and grandchildren or some eight-carriage wedding procession! I just want a lifetime with you! To ride the red bridal sedan with you, to sleep in the bed of a hundred fruits with you!”

Shi Xing was stunned, turning back to look at him. Jiang Bingren, caught in the heat of the moment, hadn’t realized what he was saying until the words were out. But since he had said them, there was no taking them back. He continued, revealing more of his feelings, “I know I’m sharp-tongued, not as good at sweet-talking as Nian, who knows how to make people feel good. But couldn’t you tell? I’m a man, and I didn’t even have the strength to fight you off!” His voice grew quieter. “It’s not just that I complained because it hurt… And you pretended to be sick to fool me—I haven’t even called you out on that yet!”

“You…” Shi Xing was shocked, his tongue tied. He had never heard such passionate words before. Luckily, his face was covered by a black cloth, hiding his loss of composure. After a long pause, he stammered, “But don’t you… like Young Master Yu?”

Jiang Bingren’s face turned bright red with anger. “Where did you get that nonsense from?!”

Yu Jinnian, also startled, thought to himself, *What does any of this have to do with me?!* He had chased after them to make sure no one got hurt by the dog, only to witness such a scene. He hesitated, wondering if he should leave, but then Ji Hong appeared, also watching the drama unfold. Yu Jinnian was even more shocked. “You, the master, are watching your subordinate’s drama?”

Ji Hong folded his arms and observed calmly. “It’s pretty entertaining, don’t you think? Or should we show them our drama instead?”

Yu Jinnian moved closer to him, almost as if they needed a chair and tea for watching the show.

Shi Xing, still trying to process everything, muttered, “You talk about Young Master Yu all the time. In the morning, you rave about his delicious pastries. At noon, you praise his cooking. In the afternoon, you admire his remedies. And at night, you dream about spending every day with him.”

Ji Hong scoffed, “Oh? Is that so?”

Yu Jinnian quickly defended himself, “How would I know? I spend every day with you!”

Jiang Bingren, exasperated, retorted, “So what if I like hanging out with him! I used to think I wanted to be with him…”

Yu Jinnian gasped, “What?!”

“But after we slept together that time, I thought about it,” Jiang Bingren continued, “and realized I couldn’t be with Nian. It has to be you.”

“Wait, wait, say that again?” Yu Jinnian, now fuming, wanted to argue about the issue of sleeping together, but Ji Hong scooped him up by the waist and dragged him back into the shop. The door shut behind them, cutting off the rest of the conversation. Inside, Ji Hong led him to their room, washed his hands and feet, and seeing that Yu Jinnian was still fuming, shook his head with a smile. “Why argue with those two fools? Let’s just go to bed. How about we try that new game again?”

“…I’m really like a fish caught in a net,” Yu Jinnian muttered, feeling thoroughly dragged into this mess.

Outside, the argument didn’t last much longer. Suddenly, Jiang Bingren called his barking dog back and reattached its leash. “Forget it, go on, you can leave,” he said, turning to walk away with the dog in tow. The figure on the rooftop hesitated, unsure whether to really leave, and eventually followed from a distance. They soon found themselves back at the Spring Breeze Delight Restaurant.

Jiang Bingren crouched down to pet Dahei’s neck and said, without a care in the world, “Really, forget it. Whatever I do—whether it’s gazing at flowers under the moon, sharing a bed, or having children with someone—none of it will have anything to do with you. So get lost!”

Shi Xing stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do. He took a small step back, but then heard the soft patter of something falling—like raindrops. The night was cold, colder still as if they were inside a great, icy cellar. Only then did he realize that it was starting to snow. Without thinking, he quickly took off his coat and placed it over the young master’s shoulders. “It’s cold at night. You should head back.”

“What does it matter to you if I’m cold!” Jiang Bingren suddenly lashed out, pushing away Shi Xing’s hand. When Shi Xing finally looked at his face, he saw that it was wet with tears. Jiang Bingren had cried all the way here, and Shi Xing hadn’t even noticed. He reached out to wipe his tears, but Jiang Bingren pushed him away again, biting his lip and glaring up at him, determined not to show any weakness. “Get lost! If you don’t want me, there are plenty of others who do.”

Shi Xing, who had spent all these days hardening his heart, hoping that Jiang Bingren would forget about everything and move on with his life, suddenly felt his resolve shatter with those few tears. His heart ached terribly. Panicking, he pulled up his sleeve and, ignoring the boy’s resistance, gently wiped away his tears. “How could I not want you? I’d give you my life if you asked for it!”

A snowflake gently fell, marking the start of Xinan County’s first snowfall of the season.

“Was it you who mashed up the tofu in the stew?”

“Yes, I was worried you wouldn’t be able to swallow it…”

“And the cabbage in the stir-fry, did you chop that up too?”

“Yes, I thought it might be easier for you to digest…”

“When I kicked off my blanket while sleeping?”

“I put it back on you.”

“And when I insisted on eating hot food?”

“I cooled it for you.”

“And what about my braised pork?”

“I’ll make it for you tomorrow. I’ll cook it for you myself.”

At last, the young master was satisfied.

That night, there were no soft jade bodies or warm fragrances, no rosy blushes or comforting perfumes. But there was a small overturned bottle of fragrant oil on the bedside, dripping onto the floor to the sound of the falling snow, soaking into the edge of a sapphire blue sleeve.

“I’ll give you everything,” Shi Xing whispered, holding the person curled up in his arms. His heart was so full it felt like it would burst. “If you don’t mind me, I’ll give you my life.”

What else did he have? All he had left to give was his life.

The snow fell softly through the night, and by morning, Xinan County—usually full of mist and water—was covered in a thin, white blanket. The chaos and noise, the cold and heat, the crying and the clinking of dagger bells—all were muffled under the snow. The world was silent, with only the occasional stray cat walking proudly along the narrow walls, leaving behind paw prints like plum blossoms and carrying the breath of spring with it.

The next morning, Yu Jinnian opened the window and saw a courtyard and rooftops covered in snow.

“Snow’s falling!” he called out, awakening the new day at the noodle shop.