Katzenliebling 1

Kapitel 11

"Third, you have to be good to me, like you just said, stay with me, pamper me, love me, and give me the freedom to do my own thing. I mean, give me more support in my artistic career. Can you do that?"

"No problem, I will love you for the rest of my life, support your career, and learn to paint with you."

"Fourth, and most importantly. But I still have to ask you, is it true that you've never touched a woman? Can you swear that?"

"It's the truth, I swear, I've never dated any woman, let alone had any physical relationship with her. If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning..."

Seeing that he was serious, the woman put a finger to his lips before he even finished speaking, indicating that Gai Tianli was sincere. "Well, my fourth condition is that I have to ask you to compromise a bit. Because I'm not interested in sex, you can't have more than twice a month at first, and after a year, it can be no more than once a month. Also, it's best not to force me when I'm in a bad mood. Think about it!"

"Well, I think it's no problem." Gai Tianli had never tasted grapes before, so he readily agreed and even signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which was precisely where the trouble lay later.

And so, Gai Tianli transformed into the painter Yang Kai, truly becoming one with him; he also rightfully lived with the female painter Chen Danyan, secretly usurping her place without anyone knowing, and lived there for many years. However, the wrong time and the wrong person coming together meant that the mistake was destined to continue, and the two incompatible people lived a bizarre and incompatible life.

46. Ox-headed and horse-mouthed

Afterwards, the successor, Yang Kai, secretly buried the original Yang Kai's body on the back mountain, in the same grave where Zhu Qingyuan and I found the seal. He was buried naked, clothes and all. The seal was probably in the painter Yang Kai's pocket, buried in the ground and then dug up by rats and other animals.

Another important thing was the simple renovation of the villa. The original villa had no name, so the new Yang Kai gave it a foreign name, "Mona Lisa Mansion," without writing any Chinese characters, which added an artistic touch. He also used his disguise skills to change various documents, and since both the old and new Yang Kai rarely interacted with outsiders, the new Yang Kai thus became the legitimate owner of the mansion. Now, the mansion, all the property, the portraits, and even the women are all under Yang Kai's name, instantly making a million-dollar deal. How wonderful!

Not necessarily. Profit is an external thing, and no matter how much you have, it cannot make up for certain psychological deficiencies. These include love, true feelings, freedom, a sense of accomplishment, and happiness. Yang Kai gained a mansion and women, but he did not win the women's hearts.

They didn't sleep together on the first day, nor on the second. It wasn't until a week later, after the mansion was cleaned, that they finally lay down together. There were few words exchanged, mostly silence. They lay on their backs, each lost in their own thoughts. Yang Kai wanted to express his love, reaching out to pull the woman closer to sleep face-to-face, but his hand was quickly pushed away, and the woman immediately turned to lie on her side.

Yang Kai encountered setbacks on his first attempt, but he wasn't discouraged. Initially, he just wanted to talk to the woman more and slowly build feelings. Loving someone isn't easy. Zhu Qingyuan and I discussed mutual love versus one-sided love, but it's hard to categorize Yang Kai and Chen Danyan's relationship; perhaps unrequited love is more appropriate. Lying in bed, Yang Kai had once dreamed of being with this woman, but now, sharing a bed, he felt little passion, let alone mutual attraction.

Chen Danyan was indeed asexual, noble and aloof, with a fiery temper, though she rarely erupted, preferring to suppress it. She worked at an art collection company; though not a full-time painter, she considered painting her best companion and yearned for the sublime art. Her marriage to Yang Kai was arranged by friends; it wasn't a good match, and there was also an age difference. At the time, Yang Kai was already quite famous, while Chen Danyan was just an assistant painter, only gaining some fame years later with her realistic reproduction of "Sunflowers." Moreover, she was always very low-key, barely making friends or dating during university. Of course, she couldn't escape worldly concerns about marriage, and ultimately, she hastily married Yang Kai.

After marrying Lao Yangkai, they bought this villa and moved in. However, their marriage was unhappy. Although there were no major upheavals or extramarital affairs, a marriage without love is a living hell for two people. Aside from some artistic common ground with Lao Yangkai, which allowed them to exchange ideas frequently, they still argued constantly, mainly because Yangkai was sexually unsatisfied, while Chen Danyan was extremely averse to such things. After nearly 10 years of this, it ultimately led to this tragic murder. Chen Danyan was a smart woman; how could she go to jail for this? Better to live a miserable life than die, so she clung to Gai Tianli as a lifeline, as if God had intentionally sent her. However, she also considered the possibility of a similar fate in the future, so she could only try to make do and be somewhat accommodating to men.

Now, Gai Tianli has become her new husband, the new Yang Kai, but it's a result of an exchange, one that Chen Danyan can't escape even if she wants to. Fate is truly playing a cruel joke on her. Life is so cruel, and this cruelty is something she actively chose. The old one is gone, the new one has arrived, more vigorous, and a virgin. She had considered this, but she still compromised, because new men can be trained. She also saw that the new Yang Kai was a diligent, honest, and caring person. Having argued so much, she had already foreseen the consequences, so before marrying the new Yang Kai, she had to agree to four conditions and write a written guarantee. Although this guarantee wasn't very effective, in her mind it was a powerful tool, making it impossible for the new Yang Kai to change his mind later, since burying the body without reporting it would make him an accomplice.

"Danyan, I love you." As the woman was deep in thought, Yang Kai leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Can I say a few words to you? Nothing else." Yang Kai guessed she was in a bad mood, and the two of them could talk more.

Chen Danyan didn't want to go too far, so she gave Yang Kai some face the first time and turned around to lie face to face with him.

"Danyan, I fell in love with you the moment I first saw you. You don't know, I haven't slept well for many nights since then, my mind is filled with your image."

"Hmm, you love me, but what do you see in me?" Chen Danyan asked so directly.

Yang Kai was momentarily at a loss for words. He had very little experience with women, almost none. Besides, liking someone was a feeling, and it was rather embarrassing to express it. Moreover, he wasn't good at flattering women; if he were, with his status, he would have women swarming around him long ago. He thought for a moment and said, "I like you because you're beautiful and have a great presence," he reached out and gently stroked the woman's face, "Just like this face, so much like the Mona Lisa!" He was at a loss for words.

"Uh, to be honest, are you after my body?" She just lay there quietly, without making any move.

"Yes, yes, you have a great figure, very curvy, your height and weight are exactly my ideal type." Yang Kai's answer only touched on the topic, seemingly ignoring the woman's question; he appeared clueless about romance. Chen Danyan, however, was secretly delighted. This kind of man was perfect—a little naive, which meant fewer ups and downs in their future life, giving her more control.

Chen Danyan asked Yang Kai a few simple questions. Yang Kai didn't say much, only that he owned a large cosmetics company that served customers ranging from celebrities to beggars. Of course, he didn't mention that he came from a beggar background and specialized in beggar makeup, because that would be beneath him. In front of noble women, Yang Kai also needed to make himself appear noble so as not to be in a passive position. This was something he didn't need to be taught.

"From now on, you're my husband. I'll call you husband, I don't want to call that dead man's name anymore. You can still call me Danyan. Husband, sweetie, go to sleep tonight, we still have to work on the renovations tomorrow..." Finally, Chen Danyan gave Yang Kai a kiss on the forehead. This sweet kiss kept him awake all night. The beauty was lying right beside him, yet he couldn't hold her to sleep—it was a kind of sorrow!

47. Fig

After Yang Kai and Chen Danyan started their new life, things were relatively peaceful at first. During the day, they studied and painted together. Yang Kai had already mastered the basic painting techniques and color mixing, and Chen Danyan taught him some more skills, which Yang Kai grasped quickly. However, since it was a career change, it would take at least two or three years of practice to reach the level of a painter in this field. Fortunately, Yang Kai had plenty of time and wasn't worried about making money; painting had become a major part of his life. In addition, he was also cultivating his character, reading more books, and trying to overcome his inferiority complex, striving to become a respectable artist.

That night, the two slept in the same bed, but there was a lot of awkwardness. Yang Kai endured it, hoping that through care, the woman would gradually open up, and he wanted to appear patient and magnanimous. Slowly, they began to have some physical contact, stroking her hair, face, and arms, but they still couldn't touch each other, and Chen Danyan always slept in her pajamas, never revealing anything. Every night, Yang Kai wanted to cuddle with the woman as they slept, so he would place his hand on hers, only to be gently pulled away by her as they drifted off.

One night, after the woman lay down for a while, Yang Kai's hand was on her waist again. The woman gently removed his hand, but unexpectedly, Yang Kai's hand suddenly came over again, and he pulled the woman around, turning her around so they were face to face. After looking at each other for a while, Yang Kai spoke first: "Dan Yan, darling, I want to kiss you, is that okay?"

The woman remained silent. They'd slept together for so long; she figured she might as well satisfy him. She knew she'd have to sooner or later. "Honey, I have a habit when I sleep. Could you please not put your hands on me anymore? I can't sleep well if anything bothers me." She took the initiative to kiss him, afraid he wouldn't. The two then began to caress each other passionately, kissing sweetly. Unexpectedly, Yang Kai took advantage of the situation. Having tasted the pleasure of kissing her breasts before, he used his hands to pull aside her clothes, his wet tongue roaming over her body. The woman didn't stop him anymore, letting him do as he pleased. That very night, Yang Kai gave his best years to Chen Danyan. Satisfied, the man fell asleep, covered in sweat, while the fastidious Chen Danyan needed to take a shower before she could sleep. A peaceful night followed.

Yang Kai and Chen Danyan's life was relatively peaceful; both were restrained and rarely experienced any major upheavals. Yang Kai, having tasted the pleasures of womanhood, became increasingly kind and caring towards Chen Danyan, and they lived like this for several years. They did have occasional arguments, mostly in bed, with Yang Kai wisely stepping aside. They didn't have children, mainly because Chen Danyan didn't want any, and a year later, she began frequently traveling abroad, staying for one or two months at a time. Yang Kai, however, felt unbearably lonely, once again experiencing the bitterness of solitude, his inner inferiority and helplessness resurfacing. He recalled how he had come from a remote mountain village, penniless, fired from a film company for his lack of skills, and driven to desperation, he had become a beggar. From then on, begging became the center and defining characteristic of his life; even his later success was built on begging. Although he received guidance from a wise man and became wealthy, his own limitations were frequently exposed, ultimately ruining his promising career. Furthermore, because of his begging, he had no true friends; he alone tasted the bitterness and sorrow of life. At the time, his favorite song was Richie Jen's "Too Softhearted," which seemed to have been written specifically for him; he would always sing it when he felt lonely. To compensate for his inferiority complex and shortcomings, he entered the world of high art without hesitation, and painting became his best choice. He thought that by making a living through art, he would become elegant and mysterious, and would often receive envy and respect from others.

Now he has everything: money, a house, a car, a beautiful woman—all the worldly things he has, just a little late. However, beneath this abundance of material possessions, he is not happy. His loneliness remains unresolved; he lacks friendship, and his love is barely real. Things picked up on the street are never sweet; it seems his yearning for beautiful women was misguided. As a young man, he was naive, feigning sorrow to find a woman; now, possessing a beautiful woman, he hesitates, hesitates, and says, "What's the point of pursuing a beauty?" A gentleman seeks love, but loving someone is so difficult; it's truly "the one I love doesn't love me," so painful. But he can only continue down this path, with no turning back. This wife doesn't even have legal documentation, and he himself has become an accomplice in murder. He only understood this much later. However, he may be overthinking things; sometimes his mind goes haywire, and he inevitably indulges in fantasies, sometimes even sleepwalking without realizing it.

Lacking genuine affection and friendship, Yang Kai often spent his time alone in his mansion. One day, while wandering around Xiushan, someone grabbed him from behind. He turned around and saw a beggar, a regular customer. Yang Kai had met so many beggars before that he didn't recognize him, but the beggar did. The beggar exchanged a few polite words and asked Yang Kai to do some more makeup for them. Yang Kai thought for a moment and agreed, not for the money, but to make a few beggar friends, to see them often, and chat with them, so he wouldn't be isolated from the world. From then on, a few beggars occasionally came to his mansion, all regulars from the Xiushan area.

Fortunately, he still had his career; his chosen art gave him something to strive for and motivation to pursue. Yang Kai's painting skills improved significantly, almost reaching a professional level. To carry on his father's legacy and do so responsibly, he specifically studied painting the Mona Lisa portrait. Since there were many works to imitate, after a few years, his Mona Lisa paintings were so realistic that it was difficult to distinguish which Yang Kai painted them unless authenticated by experts. To express his love and longing for Chen Danyan, while Chen Danyan was abroad, Yang Kai painted a similar portrait of her, only with a different face, in imitation of the Mona Lisa. When Chen Danyan returned, she destroyed it, saying it wasn't good enough and demanding he continue. Of course, Yang Kai didn't understand, thinking it was encouragement. Over the years, he painted several portraits of Chen Danyan, all with the same result—not a single one was kept. Encouraged by this, Yang Kai's painting skills matured even further. He no longer needed models; after a few careful glances, he could paint a lifelike likeness, down to the smallest detail. His greatest dream was to paint a perfect picture of his wife, making it an oil painting that would last forever. It was this belief that drove Chen Danyan to destroy his new paintings one after another, without a second thought, because perfection lay in repeated failures. Just as Leonardo da Vinci painted eggs, thus creating famous works like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, Yang Kai firmly believed that his wife was inspiring him; with effort, he too would one day achieve lasting fame.

However, until last year, Yang Kai still hadn't received a complete portrait of Chen Danyan; she rejected them all. Although Yang Kai's love for Chen Danyan remained strong, resentment had accumulated in his heart. After all, Chen Danyan was spending more and more time abroad, and their intimacy and communication were becoming less frequent. A couple bound together by necessity, without true love, without a true marriage, were like a fig tree, until a burst of desire…

48. Tearing the Night

To take care of Chen Danyan's daily life and allow the two of them to focus on painting, Yang Kai also hired a nanny to cook and clean for their family.

It wasn't until June of last year that Chen Danyan went to Europe to study. Three months later, she returned to the Mona Lisa Mansion. Yang Kai drove his old Mercedes directly to the airport to pick up his wife, and even bought her a bouquet of flowers, giving her a real surprise. Yang Kai was naturally overjoyed and excited; his wife, whom he had missed for three months, was back. Distance makes the heart grow fonder; after so long apart, all the unpleasantness had faded, and the fresh joy was written all over his face. Chen Danyan, on the other hand, appeared calmer beneath her smile. Having bid farewell to the tense and chaotic life in Europe, as well as the disruption of her sleep schedule and time difference, she somewhat missed the peaceful and leisurely life at home, where there was basically no pressure. Her only fear was the man's coercive demands. Although she had lived with this man for many years and had gotten used to it, the psychological barrier was always difficult to erase.

The two first enjoyed a hearty meal of Tan Tou fish. Chinese cuisine is indeed more refined and flavorful than Western cuisine, very sophisticated, and they thoroughly enjoyed their meal. They could eat their way across China without getting tired of it, because each place offers different local specialties to stimulate their taste buds. In contrast, European cuisines and staple foods are almost identical, lacking distinctiveness; you eat essentially the same thing no matter which country you go to, like McDonald's and KFC being virtually indistinguishable. They also drank some red wine to celebrate their reunion. During the meal, they talked about painting again, a topic they shared.

Finally, Yang Kai said to the woman, "Danyan, you look your best now, after having a little wine. Your face is slightly flushed, and there's a hint of joy in your eyes. I seem to see the beauty and smile of the Mona Lisa again. Tomorrow, I will paint the most perfect picture for you, capturing your smile from today. But I need your cooperation, because you weren't sitting right next to me while I was painting, so I couldn't quite get your gaze right. I think that's why the paintings I did for you before failed. I believe that with your cooperation this time, it will definitely be a success!"

"Okay, I'll be your model this time. But I've been a bit too tired these past two days and haven't had enough rest, so I look a little haggard. I hope I'll recover in a couple of days."

Yang Kai was delighted to hear this and drank a few more cups, the two continuing their conversation about art. Yang Kai recalled a story about a painter he had recently come across: "Dan Yan, let me tell you a joke. Pierre was a portrait painter living in Montmartre, Paris, and he considered himself an avant-garde artist. Once, he held an exhibition on the banks of the Seine, the gallery filled with his latest avant-garde works. A 50-year-old woman walked past one of his paintings, saw it, and said, 'Oh my, this painting is really something! The eyes are turned to one side, the nostrils point to the sky, and the mouth is triangular!' Seeing someone interested in his painting, Pierre quickly stepped forward and said, 'Welcome to view this, madam, this is exactly the modern beauty I depict!' The woman's next reply left him speechless: 'Oh! That's wonderful! Young man, are you married? How about I marry you my daughter, who looks almost exactly like this portrait?'"

Yang Kai chuckled as he spoke, while Chen Danyan listened with a slight smile, remaining silent and composed. They exchanged views on Renaissance, Retrogression, Modernism, Postmodernism, Impressionism, Abstract Expressionism, and Cubism—merely personal opinions. Although their views differed, they didn't argue. Yang Kai concluded by discussing Gustav Klimt's golden painting, *Adele Bloch-Bauer I*, which he greatly admired for its expression of a noble beauty of decay, earning it the title of "Austria's Mona Lisa." He felt it had reached unparalleled heights in its unique realm, subtly alluding to sexual orientation through its low-cut neckline, missing finger, S-shaped silhouette, and golden eyes. Yang Kai, of course, didn't voice these implications. While he couldn't reach that level himself, he wanted to find his own entry point for painting. He was certain he could succeed if he could portray Chen Danyan, a person with asexuality, in his paintings.

However, his desires did not give him the chance, and his idea was shattered that very night.

The weather in mid-September was still a bit muggy. Yang Kai and Chen Danyan had reunited after three months. He missed this woman terribly, and his heart was filled with irrepressible impulses. But he couldn't overdo it; they had lived together for so many years, and he knew her very well.

Yang Kai, who came from the south, was still used to sleeping on a bamboo mat. Before Chen Danyan returned, he would often lay out a mat on the terrace and sleep for most of the night, enjoying the cool breeze. As a child, he often longed for such a house and terrace, dreaming of sleeping there every night under the moon and stars, but his family was poor, and such a luxury was almost never realized. Now that he owned such a mansion, this desire was too easy for him. So, when Chen Danyan returned, and the nanny had gone home, he still laid out a mat and a bamboo mat on the terrace, wrapped himself in a thin blanket, and enjoyed the beauty of sleeping in the quiet night.

Chen Danyan, probably also from the South, didn't object to sleeping on the terrace, as she had seen many people in Europe who enjoyed this luxury. However, she couldn't sleep there all night; she would only stay out briefly to cool off before returning to her room to sleep, afraid of catching a chill. After dark, the two of them would wrap themselves in thin blankets, enjoying their private night alone, talking softly.

This brings us back to the opening scene of the book: the sky was hazy, and the moon was not yet bright. The two had been lying together for over an hour. Yang Kai, wanting to be closer, snuggled closer and snuggled into Chen Danyan's blanket. Perhaps Chen Danyan was tired, and jet-lagged from her trip abroad, she just wanted to get a good night's sleep after chatting for a while. She had intended to get up and go back to her room, but Yang Kai pulled her back, and in a fit of impulsiveness, angered Chen Danyan. The two then began to roll around in the sheets and blankets, a writhing struggle ensuing, culminating in a final, piercing scream that tore through the night, leading to the tragedy described at the beginning.

49. Perverted Desires

When Yang Kai helped the bloodied and mangled Chen Danyan up, her eyes had been gouged out by an owl. He was filled with remorse, shouting "Danyan" at the top of his lungs, but the woman was already gone, her soul resting on the sunflowers she had planted herself, for she had fallen onto the cement slab next to them.

What pained Yang Kai even more was that he had wanted to paint a portrait of this woman for years, but every completed work had been torn up by her. Now, besides her voice and smile, what smile was left? He had almost never seen her genuinely smile; the woman had left him with nothing. His dream of becoming a genius painter had been shattered.

The woman he held in his arms had a pale face stained with blood, and her bloodshot eyes were dark and unfathomable, impossible to penetrate into her heart. This was his first woman, and he both loved and hated her. He truly loved her but received no reciprocation; he wanted to treat her well and spend his life with her, but that was forever impossible. He hated her coldness, her lack of smiles, her absence of emotional connection, and her complete lack of understanding of romance. He hated himself even more—how could he have fallen for such an unapproachable woman? How could he have accepted her demanding conditions and then been unable to fulfill them? It seemed he was also a despicable person, only thinking of his own wealth and peace, only of his own desires and demands. Despite his restraint, he hadn't considered this woman's feelings enough, hadn't delved into her heart to care for and cherish her—this was also his fault!

How coincidental and tragic history is! Six years ago, also in early autumn, this woman killed her husband. I witnessed it all, becoming not only an accomplice but also taking the place of the deceased to become this woman's husband—a true usurper. Even more ridiculous, I changed my name and surname to become the heir to this mansion. The woman was the murderer, and I was an accomplice. I buried that old ghost on the hill behind the house and often had strange dreams of being cursed by him. Fortunately, I wasn't superstitious and didn't take it seriously, so the ghost's torment lessened. But now, I've inadvertently driven this woman to her death, leaving her without even a complete corpse—her eyes were gouged out by a despicable owl.

He was a murderer, but that wasn't the most important thing. He wasn't any less intelligent than the woman, because he could escape punishment just like he had six years ago; nobody would even know if someone died here. The most lamentable thing was that his artistic dreams were shattered. He had lived with the woman for six years, yet he hadn't even left behind a single portrait of her—it was heartbreaking.

Night deepened, the air grew cold, and dew began to fall. He sat on the doorstep, holding the woman in his arms, her body growing cold. What to do? He shivered, unsure whether from the cold or fear. He wasn't worried about what to do with the woman's body, but rather how to fulfill his artistic dream. The Mona Lisa's smile, Adele's golden eyes and severed finger—he looked at the woman, her dark, hollow eye sockets beckoning him. An idea struck him: the beauty of imperfection! He would paint a portrait of Chen Danyan without eyes, to commemorate his wife who had passed away so suddenly.

He carried the woman into the house. Her body was still soft and smooth, though somewhat cold; her oily skin was still incredibly soft to the touch. At that moment, an even stranger idea ignited in Yang Kai's mind. He had once seen a bizarre film about the Stromog Institute of Art in America, where the painters specialized in painting the terrified faces of people before their deaths. He thought that mad artists were somewhat perverse, and Yang Kai had a similar perverse idea—he too would skin Chen Danyan, using her skin as a portrait and canvas to complete his dream masterpiece. As an artist, he believed in sacrificing himself for art, and Chen Danyan would understand this artistic sacrifice, even more so than her deceased ex-husband—her three-dimensional skin painting would be passed down through the ages, becoming an immortal masterpiece—this was the culmination of Yang Kai's long-held contemplation, and finally, his dream could come true.

50. Human Skin Painting * Soul in the Well

That very night, a beautiful woman's skin was peeled off using a special method and pieced together to form a canvas. In particular, the face was made into an original face, only lacking a pair of lively eyes—this was the foundation for Yang Kai's future masterpiece.

Yang Kai couldn't sleep all night, excited by this magnificent masterpiece. Early the next morning, he removed the cover of the dry well in the yard, dug deep to the bottom, and buried the poor woman, Chen Danyan, beneath the roots of her beloved sunflowers. She never imagined that someone who loved sunflowers and planted them would fall to his death at their feet, and continue to nourish them as fertilizer, keeping them company day and night. From then on, the spirit of the well lingered there, transforming into will-o'-the-wisps, calling for the eagle to offer sacrifices for her, calling for those living, bloodshot eyes to fill her void. No wonder the sunflowers beside the well, these "woman flowers," grew so lush under our care, and the spirit beneath the well transformed into two "demonic flowers" peeking out from under the well cover, which Yang Kai ultimately broke.

After Chen Danyan's death, Yang Kai drank heavily several times. He had never been drunk before, because he dared not get drunk when sober. Now, besides this painting, he had nothing left. Without women, without love, he had nothing. He often drank himself into a stupor, frequently sleeping on the street in the middle of the night, sometimes being helped home by his beggar customers. He reflected on his life: poverty, destitution, a miserable existence before the age of 30. After 30, he suddenly became a millionaire, but it was only personal glory; wealth doesn't equate to love and happiness. He recalled hearing stories from childhood friends years ago. This friend married a wealthy woman with intellectual disabilities, but he himself became mentally unstable because he couldn't bear his father-in-law's control and his wife's mental state. He eventually went mad, killing his father-in-law and wife before disappearing without a trace. Ten years later, that friend returned home, transformed into the owner of a furniture company in Guangdong, and never remarried. Behind his success lay a melancholic loneliness.

Yang Kai felt he hadn't completed his mission. After a period of depression, he regained his senses and truly became an artist, a desolate, tragic, and lonely soul walking the world. He became more refined, but he remained lonely, often reminiscing about the woman who had been with him for six years. What he had gained was gone, and what he didn't have, he still craved. Once, in Xiushan, he saw a woman whose back looked remarkably like Chen Danyan's, and he followed her for a long time, until they reached a supermarket entrance where the woman turned around and it wasn't her. Another time, he went hiking alone in Xiushan to clear his mind. Near a public restroom, he saw Chen Danyan carrying a small bag and entering the restroom. He followed her into the women's restroom, alarming the police. He was eventually released after being deemed mentally unstable.

Thinking it over carefully, Yang Kai felt that the woman owed him a great deal. Although he had wronged her and ultimately inadvertently forced her to her death, burying her in the well, he no longer felt guilty and wouldn't even glance at her. He firmly believed in art, not in ghosts. Now he had something to do; he was creating his eyeless paintings, one after another. From the eyeless Mona Lisa to the eyeless paintings created for Chen Danyan, he considered these eyeless paintings as finished works—incomplete beauty. He signed and stamped them all, of course, with Yang Kai's seal. The only difference was that he hadn't studied the old Yang Kai's seal; instead, he had someone carve a new one, thus clearly distinguishing the real and fake Yang Kai's paintings.

Chen Danyan created more than one eyeless painting, but the one on human skin was the most precious. He painted it, creating a standard three-dimensional oil painting specimen. This "masterpiece" imitated the Mona Lisa's portrait, using natural facial features and coloring to avoid making it appear too pale. He painted various colors onto the human skin canvas, adding clothing, skin, and hair, making it unrecognizable as human skin. Yang Kai hung this painting in his bedroom, but he dared not look at it often. He would turn it over so that the painted side faced the wall, allowing him to sleep peacefully.

Yang Kai arrived because he noticed the striking resemblance between me and his wife, Chen Danyan, hoping it would inspire his paintings. I secretly entered the silkworm-making room, and later Yang Kai invited me in as well. I saw his paintings of eyeless figures, but I didn't specifically look at his wife's eyeless painting; we didn't want to pry into his secrets. However, his bedroom was always locked, and we never had the chance to see the real human skin painting. We were unaware of its existence before. Before I learned these secrets, a tragedy was quietly unfolding before me…

51. The Ghost Hanging Window (Ending)

After the barn owl was shot down, there was a long period of calm. Yang Kai asked me to be his model for paintings less often, but we got along peacefully. My work was on track, I was busy, had more responsibilities, and my salary was higher than when I first started. As soon as I received my August salary, I treated Big Pig to hot pot, something I had planned for a long time, and I was happy to pay for it myself. The broth in the pot was steaming, making a cheerful "puffing" sound. This time, as the "host," I was generous, enjoying myself while constantly putting food on Big Pig's plate. But as we ate, I noticed the meal was getting a bit somber. Zhu Qingyuan, who was usually cheerful and talkative, only made a few noises, let alone jokes. This wasn't like him; something must be wrong.

"Big pig, what's wrong? Let me help you out of your troubles."

"Oh, it's okay, let's eat first, I'll tell you on the way after we finish eating."

"Hey, tell me, even if the sky falls, I'll still hold it up. When did you become so fussy?"

"It's nothing really, we've been through a lot together. I'm leaving the company soon; I'll have to handle some handover work this week, and then I'll look for a new job." It turns out Zhu Qingyuan is about to lose his job, no wonder he's so downcast. In this big city, unemployment is commonplace. Like before we moved to Mona Lisa Mansion, I was unemployed for over a month. While that's normal, the cost of living in this city is high, and one person losing their job puts a lot of pressure on their partner. I guess that's why Zhu Qingyuan worked so hard when I was unemployed. Now he's unemployed because he's worried about the pressure on me, and getting married and buying a house are urgent matters. His unhappiness is understandable.

"Is it because you didn't do a good job? Or is there some other reason?"

"I'm doing alright, but I want to leave because I feel very stifled and exhausted working here. It's been a year, and while my performance is recognized by everyone, my direct supervisor doesn't seem to appreciate me much. Many people have been promoted, but I'm still stuck in the same position. Maybe it's because I'm not good at flattering others and rarely treat people to meals. Even though I'm capable, it's hard for me to connect with everyone. To earn more money, I never take a lunch break and work harder than others to do a better job. If I don't get promoted, I won't earn much no matter how hard I work. Now I want to leave. I think there's still a place for me to shine, as long as you support me, Zi'er."

So that's how it is. It seems men really do face a lot of pressure. I didn't know how to comfort him, so I just put two dishes on his plate: "Big Pig, I believe in you. If this place doesn't want me, there are plenty of other places that will. We'll do even better if we switch jobs." I don't know where these words came from, but they made Big Pig laugh: "Okay, you're the boss, we'll eat your food from now on." I knew he was just pretending to make me happy. Actually, he knew that jobs weren't easy to find. Finding a suitable job with a decent salary, close to home, could take a month or two—it was exhausting!

After completing his handover, Zhu Qingyuan joined the ranks of the unemployed. This foolish man didn't secure a job before resigning; instead, he became unemployed and then started looking for work – a truly unwise move. Thinking about it, he was indeed too honest and kind. Plus, he didn't have time to sneak out for interviews during work hours, so it seems he has no choice but to endure the losses and pressure of unemployment. I understand that unemployed people often lack confidence when looking for work, practically begging for a job, unlike those who already have a job and then look for other opportunities, jumping ship if it's good and continuing with the bad. But Zhu Qingyuan wouldn't do something so dishonest.

One day, I went out to interview the owner of a women's clothing brand store. It was already late afternoon when I finished, and since it was on my way home, I came back early. I figured I could manage my own time that day, and avoid the rush hour traffic on my way home. Because I hadn't slept well for the past few days due to work, I was exhausted when I got home. It was a cloudy, dark day outside, and it looked like it was going to rain. I was so sleepy, I wanted to take a nap, so I drew the curtains, lay down on the bed, picked up a magazine, and started reading. I dozed off after only a few glances.

Perhaps it was because I pressed the book against my chest, but as I drifted off to sleep, I felt a bit stuffy, but I was too sleepy to move it. I don't know how long I slept, but I gradually started having a dream. In the dream, I was taking a bizarre exam. When I entered the exam room, I saw a ladder. People were climbing up, so I climbed up too, and then others followed me. I ended up taking the exam in the middle of the ladder. I could see the questions clearly, so I leaned against the ladder and wrote and wrote, when suddenly I encountered a question I couldn't answer. I looked at the two people on the ladder, but I couldn't see them. Then I looked down at the people sitting in the exam room, and the teacher noticed me and was about to punish me. His long hands quickly poked at my eyes, and suddenly everything went black. I couldn't see anything, threw down what I was holding, and fell off the ladder.

I jerked my arms and legs violently, and the magazine slipped onto the bed. Thinking I'd gone blind, I slightly raised my head and rubbed my eyes. Although the room was rather dark, there was still some light. I looked north and saw a dim light coming from the frosted glass of the bathroom. It seemed I wasn't blind; I'd just had another nightmare. I looked out the large south-facing window. A few centimeters of the curtains on the east side weren't fully closed, quite close to my head—I probably pulled them too hard when I pulled them. But that didn't matter. I peered through those few centimeters of gap. It was dark outside, but I spotted a thin, dark figure. The figure was hanging from the eaves, head and hands drooping, feet dangling—oh my god, someone was hanging from the eaves, swaying back and forth…

The Finale: Bloodshot Cry