Power Up, Artist Yang!

"Y-you—" Yujia stammered. 

If that person was not Zixu, then… 

She spun to see the person who was turned away earlier. He was facing her now, looking just as surprised as the expression she wore on her face right now. 

Not recognizing his face, she realized he wasn't even someone she found faintly familiar. The lack of recognition of his face was what startled Yuija even more. He was wearing Lingxin disciple robes. If he was a disciple of Lingxin, surely she should've recognized him?

Unless, it was… 

Observing his frail appearance, along with his thin nose and lips similar to Zixu's, it all clicked.

Turning to Zixu, she began, "Is this—"

"Ziyang, my younger brother?" he finished her words for her, an eyebrow raised.

So this was Yu Ziyang, the younger brother that Zixu had talked so much about. She had heard so much about him— she had even impersonated him before— but she had never met him until now. And judging by the mistake she just made, their first impression wouldn't be the greatest.

Her expression morphed, an awkward smile spreading across her lips. Looking back at Yu Ziyang, Yujia bowed deeply. "I am incredibly apologetic," she murmured, "That was entirely inappropriate of me. I thought you were… your brother."

"Please, rise," she heard the voice in front of her speak. 

Straightening her back, she noticed that there was no tension across Ziyang's face. His expression was relaxed, more than cheerful, no signs of a grudge at all. And now that she looked at him even closer, he did resemble Zixu, but he differed just as much. Unlike Zixu with all his sharp angles, Ziyang's look was soft, his voice just as gentle. 

"But…" Ziyang continued, his eyebrows now slightly knitted in confusion, "you are…?"

Yujia blinked a few times.

"I am…" she found herself at a loss for words.

Thankfully, Zixu stepped in. Walking into the room and going to the side to pour himself a cup of tea, he was more than casual in saying, "Your future sister-in-law." 

Ziyang's jaw dropped.

Yujia's jaw dropped.

After the delivery of that line, Zixu raised the cup of tea to his lips, taking a sip. "Hm? Did I say anything wrong?" he asked.

"I just didn't expect you to be so direct about it," Yujia said with a laugh, eyes flitting between Ziyang and Zixu.

Ziyang on the other hand stood up, grabbing Zixu by the arm. "I didn't even know Older Brother had someone… as… that…"

Yujia's eyes widened. "You never told him?" After hearing everything Zixu told her about his beloved younger brother, she truly expected Ziyang to hear so much about her from Zixu as well. Ziyang seemed to be the person Zixu was the closest to in the world.

"There never was quite the proper opportunity," Zixu lamented with a sigh.

Ziyang seemed shocked at the statement. Yujia was still at a loss of words.

Over the next few minutes, they sorted all the details out, with Zixu as the ever-so-willing mediator.

Yu Ziyang found out about her identity, who she was, and how she ended up with someone like his brother. He also found out about her unlucky scenario as the Fourth Miss involved with a marriage with the Old Master of the Yu Villa, his father. Yujia was grateful he didn't seem to judge her much about it or dwell too long on that unsatisfactory part of Yujia's past.

On the other hand, Yujia discovered exactly why Ziyang was sitting there, in Zixu's room, dressed in Zixu's robes.

Apparently, he had been visiting his older brother's room to wish a happy birthday. But then, a frenzy Mimi came around and started rampaging through the room in hyped up energy. This ended up in Mimi knocking over ink and water all over Ziyang's robes. In fear that his brother would catch a cold, especially in this weather, and especially with his poor health, Zixu let him borrow the pair of Lingxin robes he had already prepared at the side for now. 

With Shen Li, Zixu's personal servant, gone to give Mimi a bath, Zixu had to exit the courtyard to find another servant that would fetch Ziyang a new set of robes. That was when Yujia wandered into the courtyard, completely unaware of the chaos that had happened, and mistook Ziyang for Zixu. 

When they arrived at that part of the story, Yujia was back to apologizing profusely. Ziyang insisted that it was fine, showing that he totally understood how a mistake like that could be made.

But that was when Zixu— he just had to— bring up the fact that Yujia once borrowed Ziyang's identity to sneak into Lingxin entrance exams.

"Did you really?" Ziyang exclaimed with a soft laugh. 

Yujia nodded with a wince. "I didn't know many names in the capital at the time, so I just used yours. Your brother… he also helped me back then because I used that name."

"Then the exam!" Ziyang continued with a grin, showing no signs of aversion for the fact that she stole his name. "How did you do on it? Did you do well?"

"More than well," Zixu interjected. "She even topped my ranks in one of the sections."

"So you must be a talented genius," Ziyang said in awe.

Yujia was slightly flushed. "No no, you flatter me too much."

"I'm grateful you used my name, though. At least part of the capital thought of me as such a skilled artist, albeit for a short amount of time." 

"That's a wonderful way to think of it," Yujia replied. She looked down at her arms, spotting the folded cloak she carried all this time. "Ah, before I forget," she began, moving to face Zixu, "I brought this for you. A gift."

Unfolding the cloak, Yujia held it in front of her with a beaming smile. 

"A cloak?" Zixu raised his brows.

"Not just any ordinary cloak," Yujia corrected. With a grand flourish of her hand, she insisted, "I sewed it myself entirely."

Blinking, Zixu reached forward for it. Yujia handed it to him, allowing him to feel the fabric and see it up close for himself. He dr.a.p.ed it around his shoulders, testing it on as he tied the straps together. Glancing down at the way it looked on himself, Zixu said with a gentle smile, "It's amazing."

"I'm glad you think so." 

Yujia took in how the cloak looked on him. She was far too proud of the end result. It seemed to fit Zixu perfectly, and it even appeared both high quality and lightweight from far away. No one would've ever been able to guess there were secret compartments of down feathers sewn into it. From the white fur on his shoulders to the dark blue fabric draping over his sides, it was just perfect.

"Did you know," Yujia went on, "it's extra insulating? I used some innovative sewing techniques to ensure that." 

Zixu went to tie the straps of the cloak together, responding as he did so, "Is that so?"

"En." Seeing how the straps weren't perfectly tied, Yujia stepped forward, adjusting them for him. "I wanted to make sure that you stayed extra warm in the winter."

She looked up, her eyes meeting his. 

"Thank you," he said, a light smile tracing his expression.

Yujia smiled back at Zixu. "No need. It's your birthday, after all."

Things seemed lovely. But that was when Yujia heard footsteps. 

At around the same time, her, Zixu, and Ziyang— who had helped himself to a seat at the side— turned to look at the source of the sound.

The doors were pushed open. A middle-aged man with gray hair walked through the doorway. Yujia didn't know this man, but at this moment, looking at him, she had a good idea for who he could be. The eyes of that man scanned over the room, landing on her, standing next to Zixu.

His expression had originally been light. But when he saw her, the color drained from his face, hand raising to point at her, shaking. There was instant recognition in his eyes. Unlike Yujia, who could only guess his identity, it seemed this man knew her. Or more precisely, he knew the Fourth Miss.

"How dare you be here?" he hissed, voice seething.

"Father."