Chapter 100
Shen You knew that with the limited time available tonight, she couldn’t possibly learn much, not even the basics.
However, the few hours of experience here would provide her with enough material to think about for a long time after returning home. Moreover, she would have opportunities to return in the future.
Half an hour before curfew, she and Wen Zhi had to leave.
Wen Zhi could enter even after the palace gates were locked, so he definitely wouldn’t be concerned about curfew. Nevertheless, the craftsmen here needed to hurry home.
At this time, except for the entertainment district, the streets outside were left with only the rustling sounds of wind blowing through trembling tree branches.
The wind was sharp enough to sting their faces. Once they settled into the carriage, warm fragrance enveloped them. As someone who typically stayed up late gaming and watching videos, Shen You was still quite energetic at this hour.
She pulled out her phone and recorded the traditional crafts she had observed today in her memo app rapidly.
The pale light illuminated her focused face. Wen Zhi wasn’t particularly talkative, so he waited for her to finish her tasks quietly.
“The food you wanted has been packed up.” He said, glancing at the food box.
The carriage was exceedingly quiet, with only the faint sound of wheels rolling across the ground reaching their ears. It seemed as though even the breathing of the person beside her was audible.
Shen You turned her gaze sideways. The swaying light from the lantern drew their shadows very close together. During their eye contact, she saw her own reflection in Wen Zhi’s eyes, and her emotions became inexplicably turbulent for a moment.
“Don’t the bowls need to be returned?” She quickly found a topic to discuss.
Wen Zhi chuckled softly. “I gave the tavern a reward. They wouldn’t demand a bowl from me.”
The carriage arrived at Bluestone Alley.
When Shen You reached out to receive the food box, she inadvertently brushed against the back of his hand. The warm sensation was particularly noticeable in the cold air.
The temperature that didn’t belong to her lingered between her fingers, as if it had seeped into her finger bones and remained there for a long time.
She averted her gaze, gripped the food box tightly, said goodbye, then turned and walked quickly into the shop.
Behind her, the man with his lazy and noble bearing stood in the night until he saw her push the door open and enter, and only then did he turn to board the carriage.
The moment Shen You entered, she breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t understand the flustered feeling from earlier.
The alley had returned to tranquility. She locked the door from the inside carefully, returned to her room, finished the packed late-night dinner, then took out everything she had bought that day to organize it piece by piece.
**
The next day.
Shen You immediately put her learning into practice, muttering, “big hammer 80, small hammer 60” at her workbench while hammering gold sheets.
Liu Zheng arrived at the shop at the appointed time, and his subordinates were already experienced in handling cargo transportation.
The carts made several trips back and forth, systematically moving everything out of Bluestone Alley in an orderly manner.
Liu Zheng had brought an account book to settle the earnings from the past three days with Shen You.
Shen You didn’t examine the account book in detail. She merely glanced at the numbers and collected twelve hundred taels of gold and two hundred taels of silver.
One thousand taels of gold equaled ten thousand taels of silver.
Liu Zheng had specifically exchanged the currency before bringing it over.
“I still feel at ease with your handling of affairs.”
Hearing this, Liu Zheng was flattered and delighted, saying, “I will definitely not disappoint Shopkeeper Shen!”
Shen You smiled and nodded. After he left, she closed the shop and drove out.
Since the studio’s first exhibition was scheduled for tomorrow and she would need to wake up around five o’clock, she planned to spend the night arranging everything and stay directly at a nearby hotel.
She dragged an empty suitcase to Xi Garden, and only in the room without surveillance did she take out all the items.
She arranged the porcelain bottles and potted bamboo plants she had found at the morning flower and bird market.
The fans and paintings were hung on the walls.
The final shelf of the display case was filled with items. She stepped back to the doorway and examined everything twice. There were no problems, and everything was complete.
The decorative lanterns in the studio were all brought back from the Great Qi dynasty.
Even in front of the distinguished guests arriving tomorrow, these items wouldn’t be inadequate.
She felt somewhat nervous and expectant, as this was her first time organizing an exhibition independently. She constantly worried about potential oversights that might cause embarrassment within the circle.
After completing these tasks, it was nearly midnight. She locked the door and went to the hotel.
After settling in and lying down, she felt as though she had barely closed her eyes when the alarm clock rang.
She was completely disoriented, and her eyelids felt extremely heavy.
She changed into a pre-ironed silk brocade pleated skirt, layering a pure-colored silk short shirt and a brocade jacket.
She accessorized with a natural pearl hairpin and a Hetian jade bracelet.
Her makeup skills were rather ordinary, and she didn’t want to do it herself so early in the morning, so she had already scheduled a makeup artist the previous day.
According to her requirements for an elegant, radiant, and natural look, the four-digit-fee makeup artist’s skills were exceptional. After completion, even she was pleasantly surprised by the result.
At six-thirty, when dawn hadn’t yet broken, the hotel’s buffet breakfast had just begun.
The four people from the studio had arranged to meet and gather here.
They chose seats by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Shen You first went to drink a cup of concentrated americano to alleviate her drowsiness before beginning to select food.
This hotel not only had an excellent environment but also particularly delicious breakfast options, with authentic Suzhou-style noodles and Cantonese dim sum.
“You really have the feeling of a major studio owner in the industry today.”
Gu Shaoyu sat down with his plate, studying Shen You for several seconds. She was indeed stunning.
During all the times he had seen her recently, she was always disheveled, wearing gray work clothes and holding tools while working. Only those delicate white hands of hers seemed somewhat out of place.
Shen You smiled, but didn’t take his words seriously. “I’m still far from that level.”
There were still matters that needed to be arranged and followed up on in the morning.
The exhibition would officially begin at nine o’clock. Security and reception needed to be in place beforehand.
“I confirmed with them yesterday that they’ll arrive at seven o’clock.” Gu Shaoyu checked the messages on his phone. “The Chinese-style flowers you requested will also be delivered shortly. I didn’t expect you to know flower arrangement as well.”
“I don’t.” Shen You said honestly. “As long as it looks acceptable to me, that’s fine. The focus is on the vases.”
Gu Shaoyu thought: Honesty really is the ultimate weapon.
Before they had finished breakfast, Shen You suddenly received a phone call. It was from Fu Xicheng and Hua Yun, who had arrived in Jiang City at midnight the previous night and had refrained from disturbing her rest.
They were calling to say they were coming to give her a surprise. Coincidentally, they were staying at the same hotel.
Having a vague guess about the surprise they mentioned, Shen You quickly finished the rest of her food. “I’ll go greet them. You all…”
Before she could finish speaking, she noticed that the others were eating at an equally rapid pace.
Hearing that people from Master Jiang’s studio in the capital had come, they could all guess the significance. How could they not eat quickly?
Especially Yu Xiaosu and Cheng Liang. These were Master Jiang’s personal disciples. The significance of what they had brought required no elaboration.
The group met Fu Xicheng and Hua Yun in the suite where Shen You had stayed the previous night, along with an exquisitely packaged box.
“We heard that your studio is holding an exhibition. Master worked for two days straight and finally completed this garment.” Fu Xicheng explained to Shen You. “However, he had other commitments and couldn’t come, so the two of us brought the items to Jiang City.”
This item was too precious to be shipped by mail. It required personal delivery for peace of mind.
“Thank you for your trouble.” Shen You expressed her gratitude sincerely, accepting the box and opening it slowly with excitement.
Inside the brocade box lay a narrow-sleeved short shirt folded perfectly and a delicate handbag.
The lustrous quality floating within the white fabric resembled cold moonlight scattered across water’s surface, creating rippling waves of light that immediately captured the focal point of vision.