Chapter 359 - Returning to a Promised Drink With the Artist

Only a few steps out, Zixu asked her, "Where are you going?"

"Well," Yujia spun to look at him, hand still holding his, "I was about to ask where you wanted to go. It's your birthday, isn't it? And I figured you needed a break from the villa."

"You know me well," he said, glancing back at the villa they just exited. 

Truthfully, it didn't take much for Yujia to figure this out, she thought. For the longest time, Zixu had been overwhelmed by the work piled on him. His father wanted him to inherit a business, and it was never easy to prepare for that. Rarely did he ever bring up complaints about it all, but she could tell, by the weary smile he wore day-to-day, that it was dragging him down. 

Merchant business wasn't what he wanted to do. It wasn't what he liked. But it was what was expected of him. It was his responsibility; although as much as it was a responsibility, it was a cage.

As they walked, Yujia noticed something cold touching her hand, a brief moment of ice vanishing in the split second it appeared in. Then, another flake of ice, close in succession, touching her cheek.

Looking in the direction of where it came from, Yujia's eyes met the gray skies.

And there it was, bits of white snow, drifting down from the heavens above.

Her lips curling into a smile, her gaze found Zixu's. "It's snowing!" she exclaimed.

The first snow of the year, on his birthday. A gift of the skies, an ethereal coincidence. 

Zixu looked up at the sky as well, a faint smile tracing his lips. "Once it begins snowing in the capital, it almost never stops." 

"Is that so? Do you like it?"

"I do. There's a certain serenity of a snowy morning that nothing else can replicate. When the world is buried by all of it, I think that's when I can finally find myself."

Yujia blinked. Slowly, she replied, "I didn't like snow before. It was always too cold, too murky for me. But now that you say it like that…" She found herself smiling as well. "I suppose I do see the beauty."

She wanted to see her first snow in this life through his eyes.

And then, Yujia remembered something. Caught up in the magic of the snow, she entirely forgot about something. Something they had promised, long ago.

"Remember the wine we buried?" she suddenly blurted out. "In my courtyard. We promised to dig it up and have a drink on your birthday, didn't we?" 

As if that had slipped his mind as well, his eyes lit up. "We did." 

"Then, what are we waiting for?" Yujia grinned. "If you have no plans, let's go dig that jar up, before the snow freezes the ground over!"

…

A shovel later, Yujia and Zixu found themselves sitting under the plum tree, tipping the jar they had buried before so that the wine flowed into two cups.

Clinking the cups together, Yujia took a tentative sip. The moment the wine touched her tongue, she found herself smiling uncontrollably. It was just that good. 

The wine had been lovely when they first drank it, but now that it had aged a bit, it was even better. The flavor was more mellow, the fragrance notes more complimentary to the layered taste of wine. 

"I knew it would get better," Yujia proudly noted, finishing the entire cup.

Zixu agreed with a nod, although she heard a slight sigh when he spoke. "We should've buried more."

"We really should've!" She patted the jar. "This, right here, is better than any wine they're selling in stores right now. What are shopkeepers doing?"

"I assume they save the good wine for themselves, just like how we save this for ourselves," Zixu theorized with a chuckle.

"Well, at least we won't be getting drunk over this half-jar." 

"I wouldn't want to be drunk either." Zixu poured himself another cup, fingertips brushing against hers as he went to pick up her cup to also pour one for her. "I want to remember this day."

Yujia accepted the full cup from him gladly. "Who wouldn't? It's the first snow of the year, paired with such good wine. Though…"

She looked up at the plum tree they sat under. This year, it had not yet bloomed. She was looking forward to it, yet it just never happened. It was a sight she had not yet seen.

When the two buried the wine months ago, the original plan was to drink the wine, in the snow, with the plum blossoms blooming above them. It was going to be like a scene straight out of a poem. Yet that wasn't going to happen now, with the b.a.r.e branches above them. 

It was a pity.

Zixu's gaze trailed to look up at where she was staring, understanding what she was thinking of. 

"It's alright," he said softly, "that the tree hasn't yet bloomed. This, right here, is enough for me."

"As long as you think so." Yujia found herself brightening up. "I just want your birthday to turn out well, and that, of course, all depends on what you think."

He raised the cup to his lips, taking a small sip. "I think it's perfect. This is… the best one I've had in my life."

"The best one?" That had to be an exaggeration, no?

At her doubt, he gestured his hand around. "Look at everything you've done for me. The wine, the visit, and of course, this cloak…" He paused to rest his hands on his cloak. "I couldn't thank you well enough, earlier, for this cloak."

"Weren't you the one who told me before, between you and I, there was no need for elaborate 'thank you's?" she teased.

"But I truly mean it." He was solemn, setting the cup down. "This is the first time I've received something like this. I'm almost scared to wear it right now, or ever in the future. I just want to treasure it forever."

"You won't wear it?" Yujia immediately frowned, pretending to pout. "Don't you dare—you better wear it all of the time." 

"What if I accidentally tear it? Or stain it?" 

"If that happens… well, I'll sew you another one." She laughed. "I have plenty of spare cloth on my hands." 

Zixu's head dipped down in a laugh. "Fine, fine. If you say it like that, how can I not wear it all the time?"

"It's so warm, isn't it?" Yujia's hand stretched out, catching wisps of snow that had slipped through the tree branches above. "I bet you can't even feel the snow."

"Indeed," he confirmed. "How can I ever pay you back for such a wonderful gift?"

Yujia thought for a second. She then set her chin on her hand, saying, "Since the cloak is supposed to keep you warm, don't get sick. Don't find yourself in harm's way. And then, I'll be content enough with that as payback."

He laughed again, a soft breath of air escaping his lips. "Does that even count? You're being too generous," he said.

She crossed her arms. "That's all I want in return."

Zixu looked her in the eyes, raising his brows. But seeing her unrelenting gaze, he could only cave in.

"Alright then," he promised.