Artes antiguas y maravillosas

Capítulo 6

Zhao Zhuo, a towering 1.82 meters tall, loved telling girls terrifying stories about crime scenes, which would scare them into clinging to him. After Qin Fangcheng and Lin Hong were admitted to university, he joined the army and returned to work as the office director at the headquarters of the Qianyasi Group. Qianyasi Group was an internationally renowned construction company, and its chairman, Du Hongyuan, was an internationally acclaimed industrialist whose rise to wealth was legendary. The collapsed international exhibition and conference center was one of his projects; strangely, while the building collapsed, causing heavy casualties among construction workers, Du Hongyuan emerged unscathed. Of course, He Ming's father, He Zhenggang, who was in charge of the project, was also unharmed… In short, Du Hongyuan's connections and influence were undeniable, demonstrating his extraordinary abilities. Those who could work at this company were all exceptionally talented elites.

Zhao Zhuo admired Lin Hong's temperament and character and had always secretly loved her. However, because Qin Fangcheng had the advantage of being close to him and had taken the lead, and Zhao Zhuo and Qin Fangcheng were also very close friends, he had no choice but to back down and marry a beautiful girl named Huang Ping. At his wedding, Qin Fangcheng was the best man and Lin Hong was the bridesmaid. Normally, the bridesmaid should be Huang Ping's best friend, but Zhao Zhuo insisted, so Huang Ping agreed to his request.

Zhao Zhuo was extremely dissatisfied with Lin Hong and He Ming's passionate love, because he had willingly withdrawn just to let Qin Fangcheng and Lin Hong be together, but he never expected it to end like this. This made him feel that his sacrifice was particularly worthless, so he booked a private room at Hongbinlou Restaurant and invited only Qin Fangcheng and Lin Hong, determined to make them reconcile.

Lin Hong felt conflicted about Zhao Zhuo's interference. To her, Zhao Zhuo was like an older brother, and at the same time, she also missed Qin Fangcheng very much. Although the presence of that trashy woman Fu Xiuying made her feel awkward, how could a two-year relationship be broken off so easily?

With this conflicted feeling, Lin Hong went to Hongbinlou Restaurant. She hadn't seen Qin Fangcheng for six months. He had finally moved on from the troubles caused by Fu Xiuying and still harbored unwavering love for Lin Hong. Therefore, he was very grateful for Zhao Zhuo's righteous intervention, and the two chatted and laughed, reminiscing about the old days. At first, Lin Hong remained silent, but slowly, the memories stirred warmth in her heart, and the happiness of yesteryear seemed to reappear. The emotional barrier created by time was finally broken down. When Qin Fangcheng took her hand under the table, she suddenly thought of He Ming, and for a moment she didn't know whether she should pull her hand away again.

At this most delicate juncture, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open from the outside, and a slightly short and plump woman walked in. Her mischievous eyes darted around, and when she saw Qin Fangcheng, she exclaimed with delight, "My husband, you really are here!"

This woman was none other than Fu Xiuying.

For a moment, Lin Hong, Qin Fangcheng and Zhao Zhuo were all stunned. This was too simple to believe. Qin Fangcheng had been hiding for half a year. After returning, he moved all the company dormitories far away. What kind of extraordinary ability did Fu Xiuying have to find him so quickly?

Fu Xiuying ignored the astonishment of the others and sat down next to Qin Fangcheng. "Honey, last night I dreamt that Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared to me in my dream and told me to come here to find you. And you are indeed here." As she spoke, she waved to the door. "Big Girl and Second Girl, what are you two still standing outside for? Come in quickly. Big Girl, recite the Tang poems your father taught you before he left to him."

Five girls rushed in through the door, grabbed Qin Fangcheng's legs, some crying and some shouting, repeatedly calling for their father. Qin Fangcheng was stunned, Zhao Zhuo was dumbfounded, while Lin Hong was both amused and exasperated, and seized the opportunity to turn and run out.

With this step, Lin Hong lost any possibility of being with Qin Fangcheng, but grew closer to He Ming, eventually becoming involved in the group's operations as his assistant. During this time, she gradually learned about the background of this ambitious and extravagant young nouveau riche. He came from a political family but had no interest in politics, always believing that only money was the greatest driving force for society.

He initially studied in Japan, then went to the United States a year later. Three years later, he returned to China to found his own company, which rapidly expanded and swept across southern Jiangsu and China. His market conquest only slowed down when he encountered strong resistance from Taiwanese capital moving north. This young man was a business prodigy, making his father's political achievements pale in comparison.

From then on, He Ming became the pride of the He family, building a three-story riverside building for his retired parents and taking over the reins of the family.

He has two older sisters. His eldest sister, He Ying, has immigrated to Australia; Lin Hong has only seen photos of her before she left the country. His second sister, He Jing, suffers from severe interpersonal communication disorder. She has experienced repeated failures in marriage and never knows how to express her kindness to others. As a result, she is afraid of strangers and only feels safe within her circle of relatives and friends, but this safety comes at the cost of constant arguments. He Jing's failed life, to some extent, highlights the success of her younger brother, He Ming.

He Ming, who had achieved great success, was nearly thirty years old. He had a wealth of experience and had seen many women in the world. Unless they were exceptional career women like Lin Hong, ordinary girls would hardly catch his eye.

From the moment she met this man, Lin Hong completely gave up on herself. Although she couldn't be sure what her purpose in coming into this world was, she was very clear about what she should do.

From the moment she first lost her way, Lin Hong had already linked her life with He Ming's. He was her, and she was him. Everything about her life—the successes and failures, the glory and the anxiety, the bitterness and the sweetness—was shared with him.

Apart from the house in the painting that had gradually faded from her memory, she presented everything to this man.

The reason Lin Hongxin preserved the memory of the house in the painting is because she still retains a belief.

It is certain that Lin Hong always believed she was born with a mission: to find a house. To clarify this goal, she stubbornly painted for nearly ten years, finally understanding what the house she was looking for looked like. Afterward, she began to integrate into a normal life, trying to convince herself to forget this. However, just as she finally managed to break free from this strange feeling, immersing herself in the passion and melancholy of a woman's final destination in life, she suddenly saw this painting here, along with the old house in it.

It's easy to imagine how intense the psychological impact of this event was on Lin Hong!

Could it be that there truly exists a supreme will in the dark, influencing the course of her life?

10)

Pointing to the oil painting on the wall, Lin Hong asked in a trembling voice, "Whose painting is this... this oil painting of the old house...?"

"Who else could it be?" He Ming laughed heartily. "It's hanging on my wall, so of course it belongs to us."

"No, I mean, where did you buy this painting? And who painted it?" Lin Hong asked urgently, feeling as if she were chasing an indescribable goal, and her body trembled even more violently.

"What's wrong, Honghong?" Clearly noticing Lin Hong's unusual behavior, He Ming reached out an arm to support her. "Why are you asking that?"

"I need to know, I need to know, this is very important to me!!!" Lin Hong grabbed He Ming's hand tightly: "Tell me, A-Ming, tell me, this may be a major event that concerns my entire life."

He Ming noticed Lin Hong's strange expression. He first helped Lin Hong to sit down on the sofa against the wall, poured her a glass of ice water, and then sat down himself. "You're asking about this painting? That's really strange. Take a good look at where that house in the painting is."

Lin Hong's eyes were fixed on the painting, on the house, on that house—that house had haunted her for her entire life, and perhaps would continue to haunt her: "Why do you say this painting is strange when I ask you about it? Where exactly is this house? Tell me now!"

He Ming sat down silently, biting one of his fingers, and looked at her with a very strange expression. Lin Hong grabbed his hand urgently: "Ah Ming, please tell me quickly, this painting—this painting is so important to me, I will explain to you in detail why, please tell me quickly, tell me, where exactly is this house?"

He Ming still looked at Lin Hong with that strange gaze: "Stand up—stand up and look out the window."

Lin Hong looked at He Ming with surprise. Seeing his strange expression, she stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside.

The house she was in was located on the riverbank. It was built by He Ming for his family after he achieved success in his career. From Lin Hong's angle, she could see a lot of garbage floating on the murky river, as well as a covered boat used to decorate the river scenery. The boat had been moored in the middle of the river for too long and lacked care. The covered boat and deck were overgrown with messy weeds.

Across the river was a newly built highway, bustling with traffic but sparsely populated with pedestrians. Occasionally, a few photographers would stroll by, pointing and snapping pictures in their direction. Lin Hong looked out and suddenly noticed a tourist taking a picture of her. She instinctively straightened her hair, then abruptly realized what he meant, turning sharply to He Ming: "You mean—you mean—!"

"Now you understand, right?" He Ming stood up, walked to her side, and put his arm around her waist. "The house in this painting is the one you're visiting right now. This is really—really strange!"

"What's strange about it?" Lin Hong immediately asked.

"Why did you react so strongly to that painting?" He Ming asked instead of answering.

“Because—” Lin Hong stammered, “This painting is very deeply etched in my memory. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you now, but it’s a long story. You should first tell me where you bought this painting, who painted it, and about this house…”

He Ming extended a hand, signaling her not to get too excited: "Honghong, don't rush, let's take it slow, one problem at a time, okay?" He put his arm around Lin Hong and led her to sit down on the sofa: "Let's start here. Why did you get so excited when you saw this painting? Is there a special reason?"

"Oh, you're driving me crazy!" Lin Hong was furious. "I've already told you—okay," she sat down angrily and recounted in a few words how she had struggled to paint this picture since childhood and adolescence. Although she tried to use concise words and phrases, after she finished speaking, Lin Zhenggang's loud voice and Lin's mother's laughter could be heard downstairs. The nanny, Xiao Zhu, came upstairs shyly and invited them to come down for dinner.

“That’s fine,” He Ming said, looking at Lin Hong’s face with concern. “You don’t look well. Let’s eat first, and after we finish eating, I’ll… Where are you going?”

Lin Hong had already walked downstairs without a word, just in time to see He Zhenggang's cheerful smile. She awkwardly greeted him and hurriedly rushed out the door. He's mother heard the noise and hurriedly chased after her: "Xiaoming, Xiaoming, look at you! How could you make her leave at mealtime?" He Ming had already caught up, but when he suddenly saw his father's displeased face, his heart skipped a beat. No matter what, Lin Hong's temper had gone a bit too far. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell Lin Hong the questions she cared about, but there had to be a time limit. However, her willfulness made He Zhenggang, who always tried his best to protect his self-esteem, feel very unhappy. If he chased after her again—he smiled bitterly and had no choice but to stop at the door.

Lin Hong's sudden departure was not due to her being willful or spoiled, but rather because when she found herself in the house she had been searching for, a strong sense of fear suddenly overwhelmed her. It seemed that escape was merely an instinct, a subconscious action of a creature in a moment of crisis. She didn't have time to consider the questions He Ming was concerned about; she simply instinctively fled.

She rushed out, hailed a taxi at the intersection, and instructed the driver to take a detour to the other side of the river. From that angle, she took another look at the He family's residence.

The taxi window framed the view of the small town across the river. She would never forget this breathtaking still image, which had tormented her for over twenty years before it appeared.

The image shows a small villa in a riverside setting. A quiet, leaf-like awning boat floats on the river. Several silvery-white plants, neither fluffy nor reedy, detach from the surface of the image and sway in the wind. On the opposite bank of the river is the villa that is etched deep in her memory, with its European-style conical tower and Baroque-style arcade, combining decoration and practicality without appearing pretentious.

The villa is grayish-blue in color, leaning towards a dark and cold style, which further accentuates the building's austere style.

Beneath the dark gray building was a path paved with gravel. Cars and umbrellas were parked there, but no one was under the umbrellas. The He family had all gone into the restaurant to eat. Perhaps they were talking about her, or perhaps not, but that shouldn't have dampened their appetites.

One of the villa's doors was open, while the other appeared to be open but not quite. The iron rings with animal-shaped handles on the doors were so realistic that it seemed you could reach out and pull the door open.

Several star-shaped windows are located on the second floor, two on each side, all tightly closed. There are only two windows on the third floor, also closed. From Lin Hong's position, she cannot see the scenery inside the windows, but she has a terrible feeling that she is being imprisoned in that dark room, struggling desperately and calling out in despair.

That desperate and mournful sound seemed to drift from another world, as real as a dream.

That familiar scenery, that third-floor window, that inexplicable terror emanating from the depths of her soul, gripped her heart once more. She let out a desperate groan:

"To the airport."

Chapter Three: Ambiguous Moments

1)

"...Installing interior tiles on the exterior wall is a mistake in itself. If you absolutely must use them, the tiles should be at least 1200 by 1200 mm. Otherwise, the sheer size will completely ruin the building's aesthetics..." Emerging from the tall archway, Lin Hong angrily lectured the fat man following closely behind her.

"...And this archway, you must have mistaken it for a gate, right? That's not how it works. A building has its own characteristics that suit its surroundings, not the more extravagant the better. Not to mention that this chastity archway you erected completely ruins the style of the entire building, even during the Ming and Qing dynasties, no one would erect such an archway in front of their own house. It is more suitable for more solemn occasions, such as temples or ancestral halls..." She talked on and on, not even glancing at the fat man's increasingly ugly face.

"And another thing," she was already preparing to leave. She'd had enough of the filthy arrogance of these nouveau riche in this small, southwestern border city. But if she left this desolate place, she really didn't know where else she could go. Her hometown, Taizhou? She'd sworn never to set foot on Taizhou soil again in her life…

"There's one more thing you need to understand," she said sharply, as if she were about to argue. These days, she'd been using this tone more and more when speaking to people. Her voice was icy as she said, "I'm a home design consultant. I'm only responsible for the overall aesthetic effect of the building's interior and exterior. Don't expect me to help you with feng shui..." The fat man's face had turned completely black, a purplish-red color that looked like it was about to bleed. Lin Hong was disgusted with this unscrupulous businessman who made his fortune by reselling counterfeit medicines. She turned and left as she spoke.

"Screech!" A red taxi suddenly blocked her way. Lin Hong frowned and was about to walk around it when the door opened. A middle-aged woman wearing sunglasses and with a straight back stepped out of the car. Despite the hot weather, the woman was wearing an expensive sweater, which gave her a captivating air. Slowly taking off her sunglasses, the woman carefully examined Lin Hong with a calm gaze.

Lin Hong also looked at the woman with some surprise. There was something about this woman that seemed familiar; her facial features were remarkably similar to... He Ming!

Lin Hong's heart skipped a beat. This woman was He Ming's older sister, He Ying, the immigrant who had already moved overseas. She had seen her photo at He Ming's place before, but she never expected that she would return from abroad, let alone meet her in this small city. Lin Hong was stunned for a moment, staring at He Ying, blinking repeatedly, but not knowing how to speak.

He Ying walked over to Lin Hong's side, frowned, and flicked her fingers to brush off the dust that Lin Hong had picked up from the wall of the nouveau riche fat man's house: "You recognized me?" Her voice was hoarse, and she seemed to be forcing herself to speak.

"You... are you the eldest sister?" Lin Hong asked somewhat awkwardly, "Elder Sister He?"

"Hmm," He Ying seemed to be a man of few words. She reached out and, with a hint of helplessness, pulled down Lin Hong's T-shirt, which was already out of shape from washing. Then she turned around, walked to the car, and gestured to Lin Hong to get in.

However, Lin Hong didn't want to get in the car. She had hidden herself in this desolate town because she didn't want to have any further contact with the He family. So she preferred to see He Ying's appearance here as a coincidence with a very low probability: "Sister, I... I have something to do. My client is waiting for me." After saying that, she turned around in a panic and tried to leave.

He Ying's calm, low voice sounded behind her: "Xiao Ming is sick, very sick."

These words were like a boulder that suddenly rolled down a mountain, blocking Lin Hong's path. She stood there, stunned, listening to He Ying's emotionless, hoarse voice:

"Xiaoming never expected you to disappear so suddenly. When he realized you were gone, he almost went crazy. He placed large ads in almost every newspaper looking for you, and he even chased after you to Beijing, visiting every one of your classmates, but he still couldn't get any news of you. At this time, his company ran into problems, and he fell ill from the stress and anger. He is now in Xuanwu District Hospital in Beijing, and has been in a coma for a whole week, only being kept alive by intravenous injections. He keeps muttering your name, Lin Hong, is that your name?"

Lin Hong's body trembled. Leaving He Ming was the most contrary thing she had ever done in her life. She had locked herself in a small room for a whole week without going out, without eating, drinking, or washing her face. She looked pale and haggard. She called out that man's name a thousand times and ten thousand times in her heart.

He Ming! He Ming!! He Ming!!

But she dared not see He Ming, and deliberately hid herself to avoid being found by him. Every day she cried, struggling in extreme pain and contradiction. She longed to see him, yet she was so afraid to see him.

She had a bad feeling that if she saw He Ming again, neither she nor he would be able to control their emotional impulses. The burning passion would not only burn them to ashes, but also bring them a terrible disaster.

She couldn't quite grasp what this ominous calamity was, but one thing she was certain of: she dreaded that house by the river. How could it be such a coincidence? How could it possibly be such a coincidence? The terrifying image that had haunted her for over twenty years had mysteriously manifested itself in him. If there hadn't been this deep and passionate love between them, the situation would have been entirely different.

That's why she kept running away, like a small animal fleeing a forest engulfed in flames. She fled from love in such a panic that she ended up in this remote northern border town. At one point, she thought she had forgotten those past events, and that the tenderness and sweetness in her memory had long been blown into a pile of fragmented pieces by the biting cold wind.

However, no matter how far she ran, no matter how long she ran, she could never escape her own heart.

He Ying walked over from behind, her steps carrying a hint of weariness, as if she had long been tired of this childish game: "Get in the car." She reached out and took the bag from Lin Hong's shoulder, saying in a calm voice, "If you need anything, you can tell me on the way."

2)

Lin Hong and He Ying flew back to Taizhou.

On the plane, He Ying never asked Lin Hong a single question about why she was avoiding He Ming. She was a mature woman who had seen the world and never forced anyone to do anything against their will. She knew that if necessary, Lin Hong would tell her herself; conversely, if Lin Hong was unwilling to speak, it meant there was no need. She had flown back from America for only one thing: to help her younger brother, He Ming, find the woman who had caused him to fall ill from heartbreak. She trusted her brother's judgment; since he had given up everything for this woman, then the woman beside him named Lin Hong must be worth it.

Finding Lin Hong seemed like an easy task at first glance, but the He family's views on this matter differed greatly from He Ming's. However, it wasn't until He Ming searched tirelessly for Lin Hong, to the point of exhaustion, that the He family realized the gravity of the situation.

Given He Ming's qualities—his illustrious family background, superior social status, enormous wealth, and outstanding appearance—it's hard to imagine any girl rejecting him. This is the He family's opinion, and it's also a fact.

However, He Ming couldn't forget Lin Hong.

Initially, He Ming felt some resentment when Lin Hong left his home without saying goodbye. However, Lin Hong's disappearance that day—in fact, she had fled back to Beijing that same day—shocked him even more. He finally realized that Lin Hong's outburst that day was not accidental; it was that painting that had stirred up some hidden pain in her heart. If it weren't for his usual businessman's shrewdness, always wanting to gain the upper hand in negotiations and insisting on getting Lin Hong to say what was on her mind while delaying providing her with the information she needed, the situation wouldn't have been so bad.

He Ming felt an indescribable regret. He regretted not telling Lin Hong about the painting sooner, and he regretted not stopping her or chasing after her when she ran away from home. That's how life is; only when you lose something crucial can you experience that heart-wrenching pain. And it was only after Lin Hong left him that He Ming realized how important this woman was to his life.

Lin Hong had become a part of his life; without her, his life would be incomplete.

Unfortunately, at this critical moment, his company made a mistake. The failure of a small investment project triggered a domino effect, and all the company's previous mismanagement problems suddenly surfaced. Problems such as excessive debt, slow payment collection, tax evasion, and low efficiency all came to the surface at once. The industry and commerce and tax authorities moved in, and his most trusted subordinates led a group of people to leave and set up their own company to compete with He Ming. In a moment of panic, He Ming suffered a cholecystitis attack and was hospitalized.

Just then, He Ming's second sister, He Jing, couldn't resist coming to seek justice for her brother. While He Ming was hospitalized, she sat behind the boss's desk at He Ming's company, indulging in the fantasy of being a successful entrepreneur. However, for some unknown reason, she signed two transfer checks on her own initiative, resulting in the disappearance of 40 million yuan of He Ming's company's capital. Terrified by this serious incident, He Jing went into hiding. Several banks tracked her down to the hospital. Upon hearing the news, He Ming felt a wave of dizziness and collapsed, losing all consciousness.

And so, young He Ming, overwhelmed with anxiety and anger, fell seriously ill. When He Ying received the call and rushed back from the United States, she arrived at her brother's bedside and heard He Ming repeatedly calling out one name: Lin Hong!

He Ying, as the eldest sister, understood He Ming better than anyone else. She knew that although her younger brother appeared composed and shrewd on the outside, he was actually quite vulnerable to setbacks. He Ming's intelligence and composure were not due to exceptional willpower, but rather the result of his prestigious family upbringing. His father, He Zhenggang's, illustrious position in politics instilled in He Ming a strong sense of superiority from a young age. When he entered the business world, He Zhenggang's patronage allowed him to thrive. By the time He Zhenggang fell from grace, He Ming's influence had already been established, making him difficult to challenge unless he encountered a powerful competitor in the business world.

Therefore, He Ming, who appears to be incredibly strong on the surface, is actually quite vulnerable. He Ying's biggest concern is that he is young and might be misled by the sweet words of some vain girls. So when she heard that the girl whom He Ming had been talking about during his serious illness was ignoring the He family's wealth and status and avoiding seeing He Ming, He Ying couldn't help but become curious.

He Ying believed that only someone like Lin Hong, who despised money, could become He Ming's capable assistant, and that such an intelligent girl was a rare find. Therefore, she immediately set out to find Lin Hong. And so, she found Lin Hong and successfully brought her back with her.

As He Ying and Lin Hong reached the ward door, they happened to run into Xiao Zhu carrying a chamber pot. This country nanny had a sullen face; she was unhappy, not at all. Having to attend to a grown man's bodily needs was the most detestable job of all hospital care. When she saw He Ying and Lin Hong, a surprised smile appeared on her face. She was about to speak when He Ying raised her hand to stop her. Then, He Ying pushed open the door and looked into the ward.

He Mingzheng sat blankly on the hospital bed. His hair was messy, and his beard was stubble of varying lengths. There were three holes in his abdomen with three drainage tubes inserted. When the door opened, he didn't react at all. He just stared blankly at something in his hand.

He Ying gestured with her chin towards the inside of the room, indicating for Lin Hong to go in.

When Lin Hong saw He Ming's appearance, she could hardly believe her eyes. This man was extremely conscious of his image; all his clothes were carefully chosen and worn, seemingly casual yet perfectly coordinated, perfectly showcasing the extraordinary qualities of a successful businessman. But now, he looked like a condemned prisoner awaiting execution, exuding an aura of despair.

Lin Hong silently walked in and stood in front of him, looking at him. He Ming seemed a little absent-minded as he turned his gaze over, glanced at her, gave a blank, indifferent smile as a greeting, and then looked back at the wall. This startled Lin Hong, who thought he had lost his mind. She quickly stepped forward and waved her hand in his eyes. He Ming laughed: "Where have you been all these days? I couldn't find you."

Lin Hong gave a mumbled reply, her eyes fixed on the three tubes in He Ming's stomach: "So many...does it hurt?" He Ming smiled: "I'm used to it." Seeing Lin Hong suddenly felt like he'd accomplished a monumental task, an indescribable sense of relief. He casually lay down on the bed; the three tubes didn't hinder his movements at all—he truly was used to it. As if discussing something completely unrelated to him, he told Lin Hong: "I'm bankrupt."

Lin Hong gave an "oh" and casually pulled the blanket up for him: "What's the big deal about going bankrupt? Do you think this is important to you?"