Arc 2A Home Together

Ding Ding and Bai Congming built a life together as Ding Ding reconciled with his sister and faced questions about their relationship. After Bai Congming was hurt defending Ding Ding from Wang Lao’er, Ding Ding secretly worked to set a trap for him while exploring a new way to earn money.

  • Bai Congming brought Ding Ding home, shared his household money, and promised they would live together, while Ding Ding made a promise to care for him and his mother’s flowers.
  • Ding Ding’s sister Ding Shu returned, learned about his relationship with Bai Congming, and told him their father had liver cancer, and she later helped him recover his documents and arrange matching rings.
  • Ding Ding gave Bai Congming a phone, and Bai Congming began working at the nursery, earning wages and asking Ding Ding to open a flower shop with him.
  • Bai Congming bought fireworks for Ding Ding, and when Auntie Zhou suggested he meet Xie Xiao Hua, Bai Congming rejected her and declared Ding Ding was his wife.
  • Bai Congming made money for dates with Ding Ding, but became listless after Wang Lao’er insulted Ding Ding and provoked him at the nursery, where Bai Congming struck Wang Lao’er with a flowerpot.
  • Ding Ding investigated Wang Lao’er and posed as a landscaping buyer to earn his trust, while Bai Congming recovered at home and the two shared meals and dates.
  • Ding Ding learned Wang Lao’er had served eight years in prison and owed money, then persuaded him to delay a nursery deal until next Wednesday in exchange for a bigger gift.
  • Ding Ding received a lead on cheap leftover garment stock and played Ultraman Tiga with Bai Congming while continuing to prepare for his plan against Wang Lao’er.
Chapters 26–50 Vol. 1 Read

Ch. 26A contract among flowers

Bai Congming brought Ding Ding a hydrangea and explained that his mother lived in the bougainvillea, prompting Ding Ding to bow to her and later introduce himself to the flowers. After Bai Congming left for the nursery, Ding Ding tended the courtyard and spoke at length to the flowers, promising to treat Bai Congming well.

  • Bai Congming hurried home with a pale blue hydrangea for Ding Ding, then buried it beneath the bougainvillea as an offering to his mother.
  • Ding Ding learned that Bai Congming believed his mother lived in the bougainvillea and bowed to the flower patch, nearly falling as he stood up.
  • Bai Congming praised Ding Ding for brushing his teeth, shared a meal with him, and gave him all the household money before returning to the nursery.
  • Ding Ding promised Bai Congming they would share a life together, and they sealed it with a pinky promise before Bai Congming left.
  • Ding Ding took his medicine, worried over their dwindling money, watered the courtyard plants, and introduced himself to Bai Congming’s mother through the bougainvillea.
  • Ding Ding told the flowers about his family and promised that he would be good to Bai Congming.

Ch. 27Not a bad person

Ding Ding waited for Bai Congming to come home, then learned that police had brought him back after recovering his stolen wallet. Bai Congming feared arrest because he had taken a bottle of water when he was desperately thirsty, and Ding Ding reassured him that it did not make him a bad person.

  • Ding Ding cleaned the house, made tea, and waited for Bai Congming to return.
  • Ding Ding saw Bai Congming coming home with Auntie Zhou and two plainclothes officers from the Huachao District Police Station.
  • The officers returned Bai Congming's wallet, which had been stolen by a worker caught during a gambling raid.
  • Bai Congming panicked and apologized for drinking an unopened bottle of water left at a food stall, believing the police had come to arrest him.
  • Ding Ding comforted Bai Congming and explained that taking a drink did not make him a bad person.
  • Bai Congming told the officers about the theft, and they advised him to seek their help if anything similar happened again.

Ch. 28Taking you out for meat

Ding Ding took Bai Congming to a barbecue restaurant to make up for his exhausting night and help him enjoy a meal. After feeding him, Ding Ding borrowed the owner’s phone and called a woman, hinting at the twenty thousand yuan he had given her years earlier.

  • Ding Ding comforted Bai Congming at home and promised to take him out for meat.
  • Ding Ding brought Bai Congming to a barbecue restaurant and told him to sit beside him instead of worrying about what everyone else did.
  • Bai Congming eagerly counted while Ding Ding grilled meat, then ate most of it as Ding Ding fed and cleaned him.
  • Ding Ding ordered cold noodles and borrowed the owner’s phone to make a call.
  • Ding Ding told the woman on the phone to look at the roadside trees and compare them to the twenty thousand yuan he had given her years earlier.

Ch. 29The mountain crumbled

Ding Ding arranged for an acquaintance to retrieve his belongings, then spent the day with Bai Congming, who insisted on caring for him despite his injured foot. After Bai Congming carried him home and tended to him, Ding Ding watched him fall asleep and thought of himself as a mountain that had crumbled onto Bai Congming.

  • Ding Ding told the man on the phone where to collect his belongings and deliver them, then returned the borrowed phone to Bai Congming.
  • Ding Ding bought a cactus after Bai Congming admitted he liked it, and Bai Congming helped him carry the groceries home.
  • When Ding Ding’s foot began to hurt, Bai Congming refused to leave him behind and carried him home with the heavy bag.
  • Bai Congming changed Ding Ding’s dressing and waited outside the bathroom while Ding Ding washed.
  • Bai Congming fell asleep as soon as he lay down, and Ding Ding reflected that his crumbling mountain had come down upon Bai Congming.

Ch. 30Everyday life together

Bai Congming grew more sociable at the flower nursery while Ding Ding encouraged him to share the details of his day at home. Auntie Zhou learned that Bai Congming already had someone, but Aunt Xie still planned to bring her niece to meet him.

  • Auntie Zhou thanked Aunt Xie for talking with Bai Congming, and Aunt Xie proposed introducing him to her unmarried niece, who had a leg injury.
  • Auntie Zhou told Aunt Xie that Bai Congming already had someone and said he would have to decide for himself; Aunt Xie agreed to bring her niece for a visit.
  • Bai Congming showed Ding Ding that he had used the yellow blanket, and Ding Ding praised and kissed him before they ate.
  • Ding Ding asked Bai Congming about his work, meals, and conversations at the nursery, and Bai Congming eagerly recounted what the women had discussed.
  • Ding Ding told Bai Congming to walk away when people discussed intimate matters, and Bai Congming obediently agreed.

Ch. 31Sister and brother reunited

Ding Shu visited her younger brother Ding Ding, brought him his identification documents and money, and urged him to get checked by a clinic. When Bai Congming came home, Ding Shu met the boyfriend Ding Ding had been cooking for and suspected he was being forced into the relationship.

  • Ding Ding welcomed Ding Shu to Bai Congming's home and explained that he had sold his own place and was living with his boyfriend.
  • Ding Shu gave Ding Ding his identification documents and an old phone, offered him money, and promised to bring him new clothes.
  • Ding Shu learned that Ding Ding was taking medicine without knowing what it was for, and she insisted on taking him to get a replacement SIM card and visit a clinic.
  • Ding Ding refused to go because he wanted to cook for Bai Congming, who returned home and cautiously greeted Ding Shu.
  • Ding Shu told Bai Congming to blink if Ding Ding was forcing him into the relationship.

Ch. 32Yaozu and Zhaodi

Ding Shu confronted Ding Ding over making Bai Congming work, but seeing how lovingly they protected each other, she accepted that Bai Congming was happy with him. When Ding Ding left with Ding Shu to replace his SIM card, Bai Congming feared he would be abandoned, but Ding Ding returned and comforted him.

  • Ding Shu called Ding Ding by his birth name and accused him of exploiting Bai Congming, while Ding Ding defended their relationship.
  • Bai Congming shielded Ding Ding from Ding Shu, then apologized after Ding Ding explained she was his older sister.
  • Ding Shu arranged to buy appliances for Ding Ding and offered to take him out to replace his SIM card.
  • Bai Congming secretly followed Ding Ding and Ding Shu, then watched them drive away and returned home afraid Ding Ding would not come back.
  • Ding Ding returned to find Bai Congming crying beneath the bougainvillea and reassured him that he would take him along next time.

Ch. 33An enchanting night

Ding Ding comforted Bai Congming by giving him a phone and teaching him how to call, video chat, and contact the police. After Bai Congming fell asleep, Ding Ding handled business messages and refused Manager Liu’s request to resubmit fabric that had been auctioned during bankruptcy liquidation.

  • Ding Ding gave Bai Congming a phone and taught him to answer calls, reassuring him that he could always reach Ding Ding.
  • Bai Congming told Ding Ding about his day at the nursery, then learned to make calls and video calls while Ding Ding hid from view.
  • Ding Ding and Bai Congming played in the courtyard before Bai Congming fell asleep in Ding Ding’s arms.
  • Ding Ding replied to overseas clients that his company was moving and considered whether to start another business.
  • Ding Ding told Manager Liu that the Roman fabric had been auctioned during liquidation and wished him luck with Mingpin Textiles.
  • Bai Congming murmured in his sleep that he had a wife, and that it was Brother Ding.

Ch. 34A shadowed past

Ding Shu told Ding Ding that their father had liver cancer and little time left, prompting Ding Ding to recall how his family had favored him as their only son and cast him out after he came out as gay. The chapter ended with Ding Ding remembering that Ding Zhaodi had bravely resisted being married off to fund his future.

  • Ding Shu brought appliances to Ding Ding’s home and waited to see the clothes being delivered.
  • Ding Ding video-called Bai Congming, who showed him his lunch and described his day at the flower nursery.
  • Ding Shu told Ding Ding that their father had liver cancer and did not have much time left.
  • Ding Ding recalled his original name, Ding Yaozu, and how his family had raised him as their only son while his sisters sacrificed their opportunities.
  • Ding Ding remembered coming out as gay, being driven from home by his father, and later learning his family had another son named Ding Xianzong.
  • Ding Ding recalled that Ding Zhaodi had been forced to leave school so their parents could marry her off, but she had made a brave decision.

Ch. 35Growing toward the sun

Ding Shu recalled how Ding Ding rescued her after their parents refused to pay her ransom, and the siblings reunited over a meal and a visit to Sun Chang'an's clinic. The chapter ended with Ding Ding asking Ding Shu to design matching rings for them.

  • Ding Shu remembered fleeing home after her parents planned to withdraw her from school, only to be abducted by traffickers.
  • When their parents refused to pay the ransom, Ding Ding brought twenty thousand yuan and freed Ding Shu.
  • Ding Ding and Ding Shu visited Sun Chang'an's clinic, where Sun Chang'an said Ding Ding should keep taking his medicine because Little Bai was worried about him.
  • Ding Shu added Sun Chang'an on WeChat, then showed Ding Ding the jewelry in her company car.
  • Ding Ding asked Ding Shu to design a pair of matching rings, and she told him to send her the sizes.

Ch. 36Chinese Medicine Sour Plum

Sun Xiangxiang visited Bai Congming at the nursery, bringing him sour plum drink and making friends with him. After learning he could use his phone to contact her, Bai Congming decided he wanted to buy flowers for Ding Ding.

  • Sun Chang'an teased Sun Xiangxiang into paying two hundred before telling her about Bai Congming.
  • Sun Xiangxiang visited Bai Congming at Greenhouse No. 3 and praised him for pruning a peony with gray spots.
  • Sun Xiangxiang gave Bai Congming sour plum drink and chocolate, and apologized when her concern about him boiling it upset him.
  • Sun Xiangxiang offered to teach Bai Congming to use his phone and explained that they were friends.
  • Bai Congming asked Sun Xiangxiang for her phone number so he could buy flowers for Ding Ding.

Ch. 37A good kid

Bai Congming spent the day chatting with Sun Xiangxiang and collecting his nursery wages, while Ding Ding realized how little he earned and went to ask about it. Auntie Zhou stopped Ding Ding and heard his concern, then called him a good kid.

  • Sun Xiangxiang asked Bai Congming about his relationship with Brother Ding and recognized that Ding Ding had broken his leg.
  • Bai Congming finished work and happily reunited with Ding Ding, who was waiting on an electric scooter.
  • Bai Congming collected five hundred yuan, gave some back for rent, and told Ding Ding his monthly pay was eight hundred yuan.
  • Ding Ding grew angry about Bai Congming's low wages and headed to question Granny Sun, but Auntie Zhou intercepted him.
  • Ding Ding explained that Bai Congming worked hard and deserved fairer pay, and Auntie Zhou called him a good kid.

Ch. 38Love as it was

Ding Ding accepted Bai Congming’s saved wages and promised to open him a flower shop, then surprised him by furnishing his home and giving him a key. Bai Congming called him love sent by his mother, and Ding Ding realized that the care between them carried forward the love Bai Congming had lost.

  • Auntie Zhou gave Ding Ding the portion of Bai Congming’s wages she had been keeping, while reserving his emergency money and warning Ding Ding to treat him well.
  • Ding Ding asked whether Bai Congming wanted a flower shop, and Bai Congming eagerly said yes.
  • Auntie Xie reminded Auntie Zhou that her niece would arrive the following week, but Auntie Zhou asked for more time to think about arranging a meeting.
  • Ding Ding gave Bai Congming a key to the newly secured gate and revealed that he had furnished the once-empty home.
  • Bai Congming cried in Ding Ding’s arms and asked whether his mother had sent Ding Ding to love him; Ding Ding replied that Bai Congming had loved him first.

Ch. 39A guide to growing flowers

After a night of intimacy with Ding Ding, Bai Congming worried that he did little for him and decided to buy fireworks as a gift. Ding Shu offered to take Bai Congming to buy them, and he quietly asked her to give Ding Ding some of the money if she sold him.

  • Ding Ding and Bai Congming spent the night together, and Ding Ding arranged for Bai Congming to take the day off and rest.
  • Bai Congming woke hungry and thought about how Ding Ding had cared for him and treasured the flowers he brought home.
  • Bai Congming contacted Sun Xiangxiang to ask where he could buy fireworks, explaining that he wanted to make Ding Ding happy.
  • Ding Shu arrived and offered to take Bai Congming to buy fireworks, so he took money from the Little Piggy Bank and went with her.
  • When Ding Shu joked that she might sell him, Bai Congming asked her to give some of the money to Ding Ding.

Ch. 40An important loved one

Bai Congming and Ding Shu went to buy fireworks for Ding Ding, and Bai Congming showed Ding Shu that he considered her family despite her past behavior. At the warehouse, he spent all the money he had saved on fireworks for Brother Ding.

  • Ding Shu drove Bai Congming toward M City to get fireworks, and Ding Ding called to demand they return home.
  • Bai Congming admitted he was not a child and asked Ding Ding to be good, quieting Ding Ding's anger.
  • Ding Shu apologized for the scene she had made at Bai Congming's home, and Bai Congming forgave her because she was family and good to Ding Ding.
  • Ding Shu arranged for workers to load three boxes of fireworks into the car.
  • Bai Congming recalled how his mother had promised him fireworks, then gave Ding Shu all 397 yuan he had to pay for them.

Ch. 41More than he could manage

Ding Shu came to understand that she wanted the unwavering love Ding Ding and Bai Congming shared, then accepted Sun Chang'an's invitation to dinner. At home, Ding Ding and Bai Congming enjoyed their time together until Auntie Zhou arrived and asked to join their meal.

  • Ding Shu punched Ding Ding before leaving, then cried in her car over wanting to be loved as surely as Ding Ding was.
  • Sun Chang'an rescued a kitten near Ding Shu's car, and Ding Shu invited him to dinner.
  • Ding Ding learned Bai Congming had bought fireworks for him, and the two discussed dinner and Bai Congming going out without his phone.
  • Bai Congming video-called Sun Xiangxiang, but a strange man answered and said she was asleep before hanging up.
  • Auntie Zhou visited Ding Ding and Bai Congming with jars and asked whether she could stay for dinner.

Ch. 42Have him go on a blind date

Auntie Zhou visited Ding Ding and raised concerns about his relationship with Bai Congming, asking Ding Ding to let Bai Congming meet a woman from the nursery. Ding Ding said he would think about it, leaving the proposed meeting unresolved.

  • Ding Ding welcomed Auntie Zhou to dinner and stopped Bai Congming from going out to fetch her rabbit after dark.
  • Bai Congming made sour plum drink with a packet from Sun Xiangxiang while Ding Ding and Auntie Zhou talked.
  • Auntie Zhou asked Ding Ding about his work and his relationship with Bai Congming.
  • Auntie Zhou suggested Bai Congming meet her acquaintance’s niece, arguing that he should consider whether he might be happier with a woman and warning Ding Ding could leave him someday.
  • Bai Congming came inside to tell Ding Ding the drink was hot, and Ding Ding told Auntie Zhou he would think about her suggestion.

Ch. 43No one else

Ding Ding tried to understand Bai Congming’s feelings and reassured Auntie Zhou that he could not do without him. A week later, Bai Congming brought Xie Xiao Hua home for dinner, and Ding Ding noticed their linked arms before learning she was not the person who had given Bai Congming his comic book.

  • Ding Ding watched fireworks with Bai Congming and wondered whether Bai Congming’s affection for him was love.
  • Bai Congming noticed Ding Ding was unhappy, insisted he wanted to treat him well, and told him he did not want anyone else.
  • Ding Ding asked why Bai Congming had taken him home, and Bai Congming said Ding Ding was good-looking and he wanted him to be his wife.
  • Ding Ding took Bai Congming to the nursery and told Auntie Zhou that he was now the one who could not do without Bai Congming.
  • A week later, Bai Congming called Ding Ding to ask if he could bring a friend home for dinner.
  • Ding Ding saw Bai Congming helping Xie Xiao Hua into the courtyard, then learned she was not the girl who had given Bai Congming the comic book.

Ch. 44Auntie Xiao Hua

Ding Ding tried to discourage Xie Xiao Hua from pursuing Bai Congming, but she confessed that she wanted to marry him and assumed he had accepted her. Bai Congming rejected her, declared that Ding Ding was his wife, and the two drove Xie Xiao Hua from their home.

  • Ding Ding took Bai Congming's bowl away after Xie Xiao Hua placed a chicken wing in it with her chopsticks.
  • Ding Ding learned that Xie Xiao Hua was the niece from the Xie Family and recalled that her relatives had brought her to meet Bai Congming.
  • Xie Xiao Hua confessed that she liked Bai Congming and offered to care for Ding Ding in old age, while Bai Congming called Ding Ding his wifey.
  • Xie Xiao Hua mistook Bai Congming's call for acceptance until he rejected her and kissed Ding Ding, declaring that he already had a wife.
  • Ding Ding told Xie Xiao Hua that he and Bai Congming liked each other, and she left after calling them disgusting.

Ch. 45A Bad Hand

Ding Ding taught Bai Congming why seeing him hold hands with someone else had made him jealous, and Bai Congming comforted him by washing his “bad hand.” After learning Bai Congming had helped Xie Xiao Hua make crafts because he thought his piggy bank was empty, Ding Ding gave him wages, and Bai Congming proposed using the money for a movie date.

  • Ding Ding lightly switched Bai Congming’s palm and explained that he was upset because Bai Congming had held hands with Xie Xiao Hua.
  • Ding Ding asked how Bai Congming would feel if he hugged, held hands with, or kissed someone else, and Bai Congming cried and rammed his head into Ding Ding’s stomach.
  • Bai Congming offered his hand as a bad hand he no longer wanted, and Ding Ding reassured him and helped him wash it.
  • Bai Congming explained that Xie Xiao Hua had taught him to make small crafts to sell, and that he had invited her to eat because he felt sorry for her.
  • Bai Congming showed Ding Ding his empty piggy bank, so Ding Ding gave him five hundred in wages.
  • Bai Congming said he wanted to use the money to go on a movie date with Ding Ding.

Ch. 46They Were All Bad People

Bai Congming tried to earn money for a date with Ding Ding, while the pair settled into a comfortable daily life. When Bai Congming grew gloomy and muttered that everyone was bad, Ding Ding began investigating and stumbled into a clothing shop, where he recognized how cheaply its merchandise had been made.

  • Bai Congming learned about dating from Sun Xiangxiang’s comic videos and decided he should make up for skipping that stage with Ding Ding.
  • Bai Congming asked the nursery aunties for ways to earn money, and Xie Xiao Hua made resin flower earrings for him to sell.
  • Ding Ding and Bai Congming settled into a routine of work, meals, outings, and dates as the seasons changed.
  • Bai Congming became listless and tearfully told Ding Ding that everyone was bad, so Ding Ding secretly gave him a voice recorder and went exploring around M City.
  • Ding Ding bought a knitted shirt for forty yuan, examined its yarn, and calculated that it had cost about eight yuan fifty to make.

Ch. 47Everyone knew

Ding Ding learned that Bai Congming had been injured in a fight with Wang Lao'er, who had been harassing him because of gossip spread by Xie Xiao Hua. After checking Bai Congming’s bruises, Ding Ding listened to the voice recorder and discovered Wang Lao'er had insulted him until Bai Congming struck him with a flowerpot.

  • Ding Ding met Bai Congming and Auntie Zhou outside and learned Bai Congming had been sent home to recover until the following Wednesday.
  • Auntie Zhou explained that Wang Lao'er had targeted Bai Congming after Xie Xiao Hua revealed his relationship with Ding Ding to others.
  • Ding Ding inspected Bai Congming and found a bruise on his waist and scrapes on his knees; Bai Congming said he had fought a bad man.
  • That night, Ding Ding played the voice recorder and heard Wang Lao'er insult him and provoke Bai Congming.
  • Bai Congming told Wang Lao'er to stop talking about Brother Ding, then struck him with a flowerpot, and the recorder shut off.

Ch. 48A little revenge scheme

After a night spent outside, Ding Ding took Bai Congming’s former bully Wang Lao'er to task by disguising himself as a landscaping buyer and infiltrating the nursery where he worked. He left with Wang Lao'er's WeChat and photos, while Wang Lao'er believed he had landed a major deal.

  • Ding Ding sat awake in the courtyard all night, and Bai Congming found him shivering in the morning and made him come inside.
  • Bai Congming hoped to go on a date, but Ding Ding asked him to wait at home and promised they would have hot pot at noon.
  • Ding Ding called an associate to ask for information about Wang Lao'er, then went to the nursery where Wang Lao'er worked.
  • Ding Ding pretended to be a landscaping buyer from another city and claimed Wang Lao'er was an old friend from his hometown.
  • Wang Lao'er added Ding Ding on WeChat and helped him take photos of the nursery's plants, believing the visit could lead to a large order.

Ch. 49Sweet grafting

Ding Ding and Bai Congming spent a warm day together, and Ding Ding asked Bai Congming to call him “hubby” during an intimate moment. After learning about Wang Lao'er’s troubled past, Ding Ding discovered Bai Congming’s birthday and ended the day coaxing him after upsetting him.

  • Ding Ding returned home with groceries, and Bai Congming eagerly told him about the chores he had done while waiting.
  • Ding Ding and Bai Congming ate hot pot, napped together, and shared an intimate moment after Ding Ding asked Bai Congming to call him “hubby.”
  • Ding Ding ordered pot chicken and explained that “hubby” was a term of address that made him happy.
  • Ding Ding read Xiao Li’s information about Wang Lao’er and learned that Wang Lao’er had served eight years in prison and owed money.
  • Ding Ding found Bai Congming’s ID card and noted that his birthday was July fifth, then took cold medicine after realizing he had a cold.
  • Ding Ding upset Bai Congming, who refused to speak to him for five minutes before agreeing to shorten the punishment to one minute.

Ch. 50Empty promises

Ding Ding manipulated Wang Lao'er into promising a costly gift to secure a nursery deal, while recovering beside Bai Congming. An email then offered Ding Ding a low-effort way to earn money, and he spent the night watching Ultraman with Bai Congming.

  • Ding Ding told Wang Lao'er that a rival nursery had offered a lower price and hinted that a valuable gift might win the deal.
  • Wang Lao'er asked the nursery manager to cut prices, but the manager refused, so Wang Lao'er agreed to arrange an even bigger gift and asked Ding Ding to stall until next Wednesday.
  • Ding Ding checked his messages, then sought comfort from Bai Congming, who refused to kiss him because he was sick.
  • Ding Ding received an email offering to connect him with garment factories selling cheap leftover stock, which suited his wish to earn money without becoming too busy.
  • Ding Ding played Ultraman Tiga for Bai Congming and pretended to transform into Ultraman to protect him from monsters.
Arc 2 of 8