During dinner, Lin Suzhen kept piling food onto Su Yudiel's pte, treating her even better than she treated Zhuang Zi'ang. Zhuang Jianguo poured himself a gss of baijiu (a strong Chinese liquor) and sipped it slowly, casually asking them about school. Su Yudiel, with her quick wit and clever words, had the two elders constantly chuckling.

  "Little Butterfly, my grandpa used to be a bcksmith in the vilge. He had a special skill that he rarely showed off, but when he did, it always left people amazed," Zhuang Zi'ang said with a smile.

  "What skill?" Little Butterfly asked, her curiosity piqued.

  "Molten Iron Blossoms," Zhuang Zi'ang replied. (Molten Iron Blossoms, or "打铁花" - dǎ tiě huā, is a traditional Chinese performance art where molten iron is thrown into the air, creating a shower of sparks.)

  A proud expression appeared on Zhuang Jianguo's face.

  Molten Iron Blossoms was a folk art performance passed down for thousands of years. Iron was heated to 1600 degrees Celsius until it became molten, then, using a special technique, it was flung into the air more than ten meters high. The golden sparks bloomed in the night sky, streaking across it like meteors—a spectacur and breathtaking sight.

  The visual impact of Molten Iron Blossoms was even more intense than fireworks, a testament to the ultimate romance passed down through millennia. However, this performance was quite dangerous, and very few young people learned it anymore.

  In his younger days, Zhuang Jianguo only performed it during vilge sacrifices and prayers for blessings. Now, in his old age, he hadn't done it in a long time.

  "Wow, just thinking about it is beautiful," Su Yudiel said, her eyes filled with longing. The momentary brilliance of 1600-degree molten iron blooming in the night sky, like a dazzling rain of gold—seeing it once would be enough to remember for a lifetime.

  "Little Butterfly, if you want to see it, I'll do it for you tonight," Zhuang Jianguo said enthusiastically.

  "I'm sorry, Grandpa, I have to go back before dark," Little Butterfly said apologetically.

  "What's the rush? Stay the night!" Lin Suzhen urged.

  Su Yudiel looked troubled, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. She had a reason why she had to leave.

  Zhuang Zi'ang quickly came to her rescue. "It's okay, we can see it another time!"

  Zhuang Jianguo added, "That's right, come back and see it another time. There will be plenty of opportunities."

  A look of disappointment fshed in Su Yudiel's eyes.

  Zhuang Zi'ang suppressed his sadness.

  Would there really be another time?

  Would he have another chance to witness that millennia-old ultimate romance with her?

  "Big Dummy, why are your eyes watering?" Su Yudiel noticed Zhuang Zi'ang's unusual expression.

  "Nothing, some oil spshed into my eye," Zhuang Zi'ang made up an excuse.

  "Let me see. I'll help you wipe it," Su Yudiel leaned in with concern.

  Seeing their intimate behavior, Lin Suzhen chuckled, "Little Butterfly, so you call our Zi'ang 'Big Dummy.'"

  Su Yudiel blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed. She had said it without thinking in her haste. It didn't seem appropriate to call her grandson "Big Dummy" in front of the elders.

  Zhuang Jianguo said to Lin Suzhen, "Young people like to call each other names like that. It's the same as you calling me 'old codger.'"

  His words made everyone burst into ughter. The atmosphere at the dinner table became exceptionally joyful.

  Putting his emotions aside, Zhuang Zi'ang forced a smile and joined in the ughter and conversation. This was all he could do for the two retives who loved him the most.

  After dinner, Su Yudiel offered to help Lin Suzhen wash the dishes. Lin Suzhen refused, telling her to sit and rex. But Su Yudiel insisted, going to wipe the table and sweep the floor, then helping out in the kitchen. Even Zhuang Zi'ang had never seen her so well-behaved and diligent.

  No elder could resist such a perfect granddaughter-in-w.

  In the courtyard, Zhuang Jianguo, his cheeks flushed from the alcohol, sat in a rocking chair, smoking.

  Zhuang Zi'ang kneaded his grandfather's legs and said, "Grandpa, at your age, you should smoke less."

  "I'm happy today. I'll cut down in the future," Zhuang Jianguo whispered. "Zi'ang, she's a really good girl. You need to seize this opportunity and not let her down."

  Zhuang Zi'ang blushed. "Grandpa, we're just friends."

  Zhuang Jianguo chuckled. "You've been honest since you were a kid. Your feelings are written all over your face. The way you look at Little Butterfly is exactly the way I used to look at your grandma!"

  "Grandpa, I..." Zhuang Zi'ang was at a loss for words. He understood his own feelings, but he had reasons he couldn't express.

  If only he were a healthy, normal person.

  "Little Butterfly is willing to come here with you. She clearly has feelings for you too," Zhuang Jianguo continued. "Don't you dare be like your father and have a wandering eye. You need to treat her with your whole heart."

  "I don't have many years left. My only wish is to see you settled down."

  ...

  Zhuang Jianguo rambled on, giving one instruction after another. But every word was like a needle pricking Zhuang Zi'ang's heart.

  He bit his lower lip so hard that he tasted blood, only then realizing he had broken the skin.

  These three people in this small courtyard were the ones he was most reluctant to leave. He didn't understand what he had done wrong to be so cruelly toyed with by fate.

  In the kitchen, Lin Suzhen was also whispering secrets to Su Yudiel.

  "When Zi'ang was four, he was chased all over the mountain by Old Lady Xu's dog."

  "When he was seven, he tried to ride the big fat pig I was raising. He was losing his baby teeth at the time and fell, knocking out two front teeth."

  "When he was nine, he filled a bunch of dung beetles from a cow patty into his bnket at night. It made your grandpa so mad he almost gave him a beating."

  ...

  Su Yudiel ughed until her stomach hurt. She never imagined that Zhuang Zi'ang, the model student, had been so mischievous as a child.

  She also shared some of Zhuang Zi'ang's occasional silly antics with his grandmother. The small kitchen was filled with non-stop ughter.

  In the rocking chair, Zhuang Jianguo, tipsy from the alcohol, slowly drifted off to sleep.

  Zhuang Zi'ang got up and went into the kitchen. "You're ughing so hard. What are you saying about me?"

  "Zhuang Zi'ang, how exactly do you 'fill' dung beetles?" Su Yudiel asked, covering her mouth and giggling.

  "Grandma, why are you telling her everything?" Zhuang Zi'ang's facial muscles twitched.

  It was over. Judging by their expressions, his embarrassing childhood stories had probably been completely exposed. He was sure to be mercilessly teased by Little Butterfly on the way back. His carefully constructed image was ruined.

  Lin Suzhen ughed. "Little Butterfly, if Zi'ang bullies you at school, just come and tell me. I'll give him a spanking."

  Su Yudiel pretended to look pitiful. "Okay, Grandma. He scolds me all the time."

  "That's not true! When did I ever scold you?" Zhuang Zi'ang protested.

  "You called me 'Little Fool,' and you shouted it so loud. You even wrote it on the kite," Su Yudiel said, feeling emboldened now that she had backup.

  "You called me 'Big Dummy' first," Zhuang Zi'ang said, turning to Lin Suzhen. "Grandma, you be the judge."

  Lin Suzhen put on a stern face. "Little Butterfly can scold you, but you can't scold her."

  Zhuang Zi'ang looked aggrieved. "Grandma, you're so biased!"

  "I am biased! I like Little Butterfly. What are you going to do about it?" Lin Suzhen said righteously.

  "Nothing. As long as you're happy," Zhuang Zi'ang conceded defeat.

  Little Butterfly looked triumphant, sticking her tongue out at Zhuang Zi'ang.

  "Grandma, you're the best. Come, I'll peel some fruit for you."

  "Okay, okay. Little Butterfly, you're so thoughtful."

  The two walked out of the kitchen, leaving a trail of ughter behind them.

  Zhuang Zi'ang stood there, watching their retreating figures. He finally didn't have to pretend anymore.

  Tears silently rolled down his cheeks.