Power Up Artist Yang - Chapter 356

The day of Zixu’s birthday arrived.

Like the past few days, it was fairly cold. Perhaps because the sun was covered by a blanket of clouds, the weather was even chillier than normal. Though Yujia wasn’t all too fond of the low temperatures, she was happy this time around. It meant that her hand-sewn cloak would serve a good purpose.

The past night, she had hardly been able to sleep out of excitement. Never before had she anticipated someone’s birthday to this degree. In the morning, when she woke up, she immediately ran over to get Lili’s approval on the embroidery, to which she received a delightful answer that her embroidery on the cloak straps looked good. Once she had that approval, she ran back to her courtyard, preparing the cloak to be gifted.

Thinking about it long and hard, Yujia decided that wrapping the cloak would be a bad idea, considering how wrapping paper wasn’t really used for gifts in this era. Putting it in a box would also be a hassle, since she thought a wooden container for a cloak would be peculiar, to say the least.

So, what could she do with the cloak?

Yujia decided to just fold it and carry it in her hands.

It was a simple way of treating the gift, but Zixu wasn’t someone who cared much about unnecessary extravagant things, like the irrelevant container of a present. Especially when she wasn’t giving him a trinket or anything, which would be appropriate in a box, she figured that just folding the cloak would be enough.

She had visited Zixu a few times over the past week, such as catching him during her breaks between sewing. Yet again, even after her trip, his schedule had been busy with work, so although they talked some, they never talked much. Surprisingly, Yujia didn’t mind it. Though she had missed him, she also needed to spend time on making his present, so hours of talking with Zixu would’ve interfered with her plans.

She had been entirely secretive about her gift plans, so she hoped that he really had no idea. But now, because she had been so secretive, the next dilemma came. How was she going to give the gift to him?

Not wanting to wait for Zixu to come to Lingxin himself, she decided she would have to try to infiltrate the Yu Villa. It was his birthday after all, and she was supposed to be the delivery man.

The idea was denied in her mind almost immediately. Last time, the trick only worked because she had an excuse of delivering steamed buns that a disciple at Lingxin made for “everyone”. This time, she couldn’t say she was delivering a cloak that a disciple made for everyone, could she? She wasn’t sure what other believable excuse she could come up with either, especially since her alternate identity didn’t even exist.

Then, she remembered another visit she had at the Yu Villa, in which Zixu claimed she was Shen Yuling, the cousin of Shen Li, Zixu’s personal servant. This was also the person Yujia pretended to be while infiltrating the Yang Villa. Would the identity of Shen Yuling work in this situation?

Yujia figured it would.

And so, that was how Yujia found herself walking down the streets, dressed in simple clothes she borrowed from Xie Yufeng. She chose a set of pale lavender robes that looked average in quality, fitting of a commoner that was the cousin of Shen Li. Over it, she also wore a cloak of similar quality. It was certainly not the warmest, but Yujia didn’t mind too much.

It was relaxing to exit Lingxin in these clothes. Normally, if she was going around the capital in her usual attire, she had to wear a face veil, or others would judge her for being an improper young lady. But now, as an ordinary daughter of an ordinary family, she didn’t have to care about if she was showing her face or not.

The distance to the Yu Villa was not long at all, but on her way there, Yujia recited her excuse.

She was a cousin of Shen Li, here to deliver a cloak for her dear cousin, in hopes that he would not catch a cold. She was a cousin of Shen Li, here to deliver a cloak for her dear cousin, in hopes that he would not catch a cold. She was a cousin of Shen Li, here to deliver a cloak for her dear cousin, in hopes that he would not catch a cold.

She also remembered the tips Zixu gave in pretending to be ordinary folk, absorbing it in her step. Instead of the elegant walk of a noble, she moved carefreely, all her muscles relaxed. Instead of the way a noble might hold themselves above the crowd, she merged with the people, casting her eyes down.

Arriving at the Yu Villa’s side door, the appropriate place for servants and non-nobles to pass through, the excuse rolled off her tongue far too easily.

“Hello!” Yujia beamed with a bright smile. “I’m a cousin of Shen Li. He serves the First Young Master of this house? I’m here to bring him a cloak, in hopes that he doesn’t catch a cloak.”

Confidence, as she learned, was the key to situations like these. If one had enough confidence, they could succeed in any scenario. So, when she spoke, she didn’t stutter a single bit. Shen Yuling was indeed her identity.

The servant who received her at the front door eyed her up and down, a bit skeptical. She noticed how he definitely took in her ordinary wear, her lack of jewelry. “Shen Li has a cousin?”

Yujia didn’t skip a beat in replying, “Of course. Has he never talked about me? If you don’t believe me, just call for him.”

“Alright. Wait a moment.”

The door was closed in her face. Yujia waited, and waited, and waited, until the door was pushed open again.

Shen Li’s face popped out. Upon seeing her, his eyes widened, lips curving down.

“Hello cousin!” she greeted cheerfully.

“You again?” he said.

The servant who brought him here looked at the two of them strangely. After all, who normally said “you again?” to their cousin in such an exasperated tone?

“Cousin, I brought you a cloak,” Yujia insisted, a stiff smile on her face.

Shen Li looked down at the folded fabric in her hands, then slowly replied, “You brought… me… a cloak.”

“Indeed. It’s for you.” She made sure to emphasize the ‘you’, hoping that he was not dense enough to not understand that it was anything but for him.

“Oh!” Thankfully, it seemed like he got it. “Well, I’m apologetic to inform you that I can’t take it off your hands right now.” He showed his two hands. Even though the weather was so cold, his sleeves were rolled up, revealing red hands stained with ink and what looked to be soap bubbles, an incredibly odd combination. “If you would please follow me, I’ll take you to my courtyard.”

“That works for me,” she replied.

Meanwhile, the servant from before looked at this entire exchange with a gaze of utter confusion. From exasperation to polite respect, why was Shen Li’s attitude towards his cousin so unpredictable?

But Yujia and Shen Li were already long gone, walking into the villa. As Shen Li took her through the various corridors, he made sure they were alone before saying, “Miss, you’ve really got to stop impersonating my non-existent cousin.”

“I thought it was rather harmless?” she grinned back.

“Everytime I get news that my cousin is looking for me, it’s just— agh— such an inconvenience.” He sighed deeply.

Yujia still maintained her cheerfulness. “Then, I humbly appreciate your patience in fulfilling a few of these inconvenient favors for me. By the way,” she added, “what happened for your hands to be like that?”

Shen Li looked down at his hands. “It’s Mimi.” Yujia thought back to Mimi, the fluffy cute dog Zixu owned. “She was running around like crazy and spilled the inks Young Master was working with. I’m currently giving her a bath in the back.”

That explained the ink and bubbles.

“Inks? Is he painting for his birthday?” Yujia asked.

Shen Li nodded. “Well, Young Master was painting until this happened.” The two of them stopped in front of Zixu’s courtyard. Shen Li gestured at the entrance, explaining, “You should be able to find him in his room. I still have to go finish bathing Mimi.”

“Alright. Thank you for the help.” Yujia gave a deep nod.

With that, she went into his courtyard.

Zixu’s courtyard looked the same as always, simplistic and b.a.r.e. Especially because of the winter season, the plants were even lesser in number.

Yujia’s footsteps were quiet as she walked in. All of a sudden, the idea of surprising Zixu seemed awfully appealing to her, so she decided to do that. He didn’t know that she was coming, so why not give him a surprise?

Creeping towards the doorway of his room, Yujia stood by the side and peeked in. Zixu was, as Shen Li said, in his room. Wearing a set of Lingxin robes, he sat with his back facing away from the door— perfect for Yuija’s plan.

She adjusted the cloak to hang over her left arm, then quietly walked in, her footsteps hushed in silence. Until she was right behind him, she then shot her hands forward, clasping over Zixu’s eyes.

“Guess who?” she hummed with a laugh.

He really wouldn’t have expected this. Although Zixu should’ve known it was her by her voice, Yujia was a bit taken aback when he didn’t say anything right away.

Then, Yujia heard a voice behind her.

“Yang Yujia?”

Now, that was Zixu’s voice.

Yujia’s hand immediately dropped, spinning around with horror. Yu Zixu stood at the doorframe of the room, lips slightly parted in surprise.