“It’s a painting.” Huo Jinyan opened the box and removed the painting before displaying it with a flourish.
Huo Yao was only interested in a few antiques and was not much into calligraphy and brush paintings. As a result, she didn’t have an in-depth knowledge about them. “Is there anything wrong with it?”
“It’s Zhao Mengfu’s original from the Yuan dynasty. Since all his works are rare, they don’t come cheap,” explained Huo Jinyan.
Huo Yao was surprised. Then she composed herself and said nonchalantly, “I see. In that case, you can store it with the rest of the paintings.”
After all, her medicine was not cheap either.
Huo Jinyan saw how calm his daughter appeared to be. She seemed to treat the precious painting as just a piece of paper.
His lips parted. Huo Yao seemed to have read his mind and said, “Don’t worry, Dad. It really came from my classmate’s father, so it’s fine.”
She headed to the dining room and started eating breakfast.
Huo Jinyan touched his nose as he gazed at her from behind. “This kid is so…”
“Enough. Her friend’s father must have had good reason to give her such a fine painting. Moreover, she’s a sensible girl,” said Song Ning.
What else could Huo Jinyan say? He took the painting to the storeroom and stored it lovingly amongst his antiques.
He could always arrange for a meeting and offer the man an antique in return for his generosity.
**
Meanwhile, on the other end.
Huo Yulin was lying on his back in the chair. His eyes were closed tightly, and his face was almost devoid of color. His arm trembled as it rested on the armrest, and his body twitched from time to time.
His psychiatrist sat next to him with cold sweat on his forehead. “Lin, wake up. Don’t keep succumbing to your nightmares. You have to overcome them.”
Two minutes later, the psychiatrist noticed that Huo Yulin was still incapable of waking up and was becoming worse. Hence, he retrieved his medical flashlight and shone it into Huo Yulin’s eyes.
In an instant, the trembling man opened his eyes. He pushed the psychiatrist aside before staggering into the bathroom.
He turned on the tap and rinsed his face with cold water. He felt better and completely awake only after five minutes of such ministrations.
He looked at his pale face in the mirror. His face had gotten a lot thinner in comparison to the time when Huo Yao met him.
Huo Yulin wiped his face before walking out of the bathroom. He headed back to his chair and lay on his back as he stared at the ceiling.
“You may leave.” He said to his psychiatrist.
His psychiatrist looked at him and sighed. “Lin, you can’t resist the fear in your heart. If this goes on, your condition will keep deteriorating.”
Huo Yulin pursed his lips before he closed his eyes without talking anymore.
The psychiatrist shook his head. “I’m going. If any problem arises, give me a call.”
Before long, the door clicked shut. Huo Yulin slowly opened his eyes. They were bloodshot as he had not slept well in ages.
His phone pinged a notification, lying on the table nearby. Huo Yulin lay in the chair for a few minutes before he got up slowly to walk over.
It was a text message from his little sister.
[Brother Yulin, I received the revision material. Have you received my incense?]
Huo Yulin’s hands paused. He had been in the laboratory for two days straight and only came home now. If any deliveries came during this time, they would have been placed in the villa’s cabinet.
He narrowed his eyes slightly before he left the room with his phone.
