Paintings of Terror

Chapter 128: I Really Like You

The owner was very busy. He was still in China the day before, but flew to Europe the very next night.

Ke Xun didn’t contact him much, for fear that he would catch him at a moment of much-needed rest. Therefore, the consequences of this restraint was that the boss of Ke Da finally visited his own gym to inspect the place and whittled away his idle time on fitness equipment.

Wei Dong got off the treadmill and was so tired that he could only wheeze between pants. “…This is like taking my own life…Running…isn’t suitable for us…artists…”

Ke Xun put down the barbell. “I’ll recommend a suitable exercise method for you artists. Celestial yoga.”

“I know yoga, but what’s celestial yoga?” Wei Dong asked, leaning down and bracing himself with his hands on his knees.

“Practicing yoga naked,” Ke Xun said. “It’s pursuing a high degree of unity between man and nature, aligning the human body aesthetics and natural aesthetics, thus satisfying your artistic sentiment as a senior artist.”

Wei Dong said, “Damn… Then you tell me whether the trainer is male or female?”

Ke Xun said, “As you wish. I’ll let our most feminine Sister Xin teach you.”

After saying this, he beckoned and called to the person standing in the distance with an employee tag on his chest. “Xiao Xin, come and guide this guest.”

Wei Dong watched as a burly man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, chin dotted with the barely-there whiskers of youth, wearing tights hugging his sturdy waist and buttocks, turned his eyes to stare attentively at the boss’ chest with a smile. He walked closer and reluctantly turned his gaze away to look at Wei Dong. He asked, “Does this customer want to gain muscle or lose fat?”

Fuck…

Wei Dong’s legs went soft, dangerously close to falling on his butt. What was up with this person’s melodious anime-like voice?

“No, no, no, your boss is just joking.” Wei Dong waved his hand again and again, for fear of getting this stunner. “I’m not a local. I’m leaving tomorrow, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

As soon as Xiao Xin heard this, he promptly ignored him and his gaze fluidly turned to look at Ke Xun. “Boss, are you free tonight? Some of us newcomers want to treat you to a meal together.”

Wei Dong shivered as he watched nearby.

Ke Xun pointed to Wei Dong. “I’m seeing him off tonight so I’m afraid I’m not free. Just ask Brother Liu, and Brother Liu will represent me.”

Brother Liu was Ke Xun’s buddy. When Ke Xun wasn’t in the gym, Brother Liu was in charge.

After Xiao Xin was finally dismissed, Wei Dong elbowed Ke Xun in the ribs. “Fuck, what kind of devil are you recruiting here?! What’s the situation with that guy?”

“A few old employees left for other gyms, so Old Liu recruited a few new ones,” Ke Xun said, taking exception to his words. He took a towel and wiped his sweat. “Don’t judge Xiao Xin by his femininity, his work ethic is awesome.”

Wei Dong looked at him deeply. “I’m seeing this person’s unkind intentions. The look in his eyes when looking at you is like looking at a human-shaped vibrator.”

Ke Xun denied his words three times. “Shut up. I’m not. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Wei Dong circled him. “By the way, your state isn’t quite right these days. Have something happened that I don’t know about?”

Ke Xun walked toward the shower stall. “What’s my state?”

Wei Dong squinted at him hesitantly. “Just… happy?”

Ke Xun said, “Except for when I was in the painting, hadn’t I always been happy?”

“It’s not the same.” Wei Dong gestured to Ke Xun’s face. “This current happiness is like–Have you seen those corgi videos on the Internet? The kind that, when they’re happy, all their fats are shaking.”

“Get lost. Where are you going with this?” Ke Xun swatted at him. “Hurry up, go to my house, and continue to study those paintings.”

During this period, members of the “Entering the Painting Discussion Group” had researched all the paintings displayed throughout the year in the Flower on Water Art Gallery and noted down the key points. The next thing they needed to study was the batch of paintings that would be on display the day they’re due to enter the painting.

This batch of paintings came from the works of sixteen painters from the “weird circle” of painting at home and from abroad. The “weird circle” was a name given by ordinary netizens, primarily because their paintings were very bizarre and strange, extremely out there, and even full of absurdity.

“I have a bad premonition.” Wei Dong sighed at the bizarre painting on Ke Xun’s computer. “If we really entered such a painting, I don’t know how we’ll be killed by it.”

“Be prepared,” Ke Xun said. “Tomorrow, on Sunday, you and I are going shopping.”

“To buy what?” Wei Dong asked.

“Mobile phones and power banks.” Ke Xun said. “From the Human Studies painting, we discovered that although most of the functions on our mobile phones were locked, we could still use them as explosives at a critical time.”

“Even so…how many phones do you plan to buy?” Wei Dong asked.

“Ten,” Ke Xun said.

“Damn! You have so much money that you need to burn it like this?! You’re crazy. Sure enough, you’ve been weird these days!” Wei Dong cried.

“You’re being stupid. I’m not buying the expensive ones. There are hundreds of cheap cell phones everywhere in Electronic City,” Ke Xun said. “My buddy sells them there. All cheap, domestic brands have the same basic functions as big brands. Besides, when entering the painting, all we need are those that have a flashlight, a camera, and are long-lasting.”

“…You are awesome.” Wei Dong finally had nothing to say.

His bro was the greatest…He not only came little shortcomings and great benefits, but he also had a special mentality that could deduce many things.

Mu Yiran had said before that, even if guns and knives were brought into the painting from the outside world, they would lose their functions or become scrap iron–except for the ones that were included in the painting, naturally.

Although cell phones wouldn’t degenerate into a waste product when entering the painting, it’s only working functions were better than nothing. As a result, since the last painting, when they discovered that they could use cell phones as explosives, he immediately grasped this favorable benefit, or bug inside the painting, and wanted to prepare this as an extra layer of self-protection.

Wei Dong suddenly felt that Ke Xun’s growth and maturity during the course of entering paintings was simply stunning.

No…It should be said that after Father Ke and Mother Ke left him, Ke Xun had to instantly grow up and mature. But in front of his friends, he would still use that same sloppy and silly teasing look to cover up the pain of growth. When he returned to his empty house where there was no one but him, he returned to his real self, that deeply detached, solitary him post-growth and transformation.

Yes, but…Wei Dong thought to himself, fortunately, this kid met Mu Yiran.

His current happiness was really from the heart. As a good friend and brother who grew up together with him, Wei Dong could see it.

Wei Dong also hoped that his good brother could come out of the negative state caused by losing his family as soon as possible, but Wei Dong dared not think about it. One day, Ke Xun and Mu Yiran would face life and death in a painting…What would happen to Ke Xun if…

One rapid growth was enough.

After growing to the limit, only decay and death await.

When Ke Xun and Wei Dong arrived in E City, they were greeted with a heavy, endless rain.

Ke Xun held a very eye-catching rainbow umbrella with a shoulder bag slung over one shoulder. In addition to a change of clothes, the shoulder bag also contained ten cheap cell phones and several power banks.

“This hotel isn’t bad,” Wei Dong said as he raised his arms and threw himself onto the big mattress in one of the high-end suites in Crystal Swan Hotel. “You booked this room? It must be a lot of money, right?”

“Fuck, you’re eating and living off of me for free and you’re still talking so much shit.” Ke Xun kicked a foot over. “Get out of here and go to your room next door. This is my room.”

“Nani?! Are you crazy?” Wei Dong sat up, shocked. “You’ve booked two rooms for us? Doesn’t this room have two beds? Why do you need one room per person? Get a refund for the other room and give it to me. I’m willing to sleep on your floor!”

“Go away. Stop talking nonsense. Go back to your room.” Ke Xun took out his phone. “The other bed in your room is for Haowen’er, and his train arrives at half past five.”

“Then what about the other bed in your room?” Wei Dong narrowed his eyes. “Don’t tell me it’s for the boss…Fuck! No way?! You two…What’s the situation?! What’s the situation?!”

“Nothing. Don’t talk nonsense. Go quickly.” Ke Xun sent a message in the “Enter the Painting Discussion” group.

Corgi: We’ve arrived. @ZHW @With Courage and Wit, do you both remember the hotel address? The room numbers are 1503 and 1504. We’ll wait for you to come and have dinner together.

ZHW: I just got in the car.

With Courage and Wit: All right.

With Courage and Wit: Has anyone contacted Li Yaqing?

Corgi: I called her and she’s on a bus toward E City.

Wei Feng·Meng: This girl is quite courageous. After everything that had happened in the last painting, she still dared to come to this painting.

Corgi: …Didn’t I tell you? She’s been calling me at least ten times a day, crying on the phone for half an hour each time, and then asking me what to do for another half an hour.

Wei Feng·Mang: What else is there to do?… Either die inside the painting, or die outside. If you don’t go into the painting, you will definitely die. If you go into the painting, you might be able to live. You have to try whatever you can…

Corgi: So that’s why she’s coming. Can’t the two of us put down our phones and talk with our mouths instead?

Wei Feng·Mang: …I say, no wonder why this is so awkward.

Ke Xun said, “Go to your room quickly.”

Wei Dong said, “Why? It’s only three o’clock in the afternoon, and it’s not time for sleeping. What do you want to do by yourself in a closed room? Something dirty?”

Ke Xun scoffed, “…I’m always alone at home, why can’t I do it at home?! Go back to your room, or just stay with me in the same bed.”

Wei Dong said, “…Damn! So that’s it! You’re afraid that I’ll dirty your male god’s bed! Fuck, I get it. You value your lover over your friend! From now on, you and I have broken all ties! I’m going to my room! Call me when it’s time for dinner!”

Afterward, he went to his room next door.

Zhu Haowen and Qin Ci arrived one after another. At about 6:30 in the afternoon, Ke Xun went downstairs to wait for Mu Yiran at the entrance of the hotel.

It had only been ten days since he’d last seen him, but waiting to see him again was like waiting through 10,000 years of vicissitudes.

Ke Xun couldn’t prevent the corners of his lips from rising. The overwhelming curtain of rain seemed to reveal a beam of golden sunlight, causing several girls at the front desk to continuously peek at him. Some people even secretly took a photo with their cell phones.

Mu Yiran was still dressed in business suits. The only difference was that his hair was longer than the last time Ke Xun saw him, and now it was gathered behind his head very stylishly, making him appear even more cold and solitary and extraordinary. The moment he entered the hotel lobby, he attracted a great deal of attention. Even the gazes of the opposite sex staff and guests contained a few light praises.

Ke Xun took the black umbrella from him and wanted to take the business travel bag as well, but Mu Yiran pressed his arm down and said, “No need.”

They both walked into the elevator, which only had the elevator lady and no one else.

“15th floor,” Ke Xun told the elevator lady as he moved to stand next to Mu Yiran in the middle of the elevator.

They had stood next to each other countless times in past paintings, but this time was different.

Ke Xun heard the rapid pounding of his own heart. He raised his gaze and looked at the clean and smooth elevator door, clearly reflecting his and Mu Yiran’s figure.

Ke Xun raised a smile at the figure on the door. He lightly moved the hand hanging at his side, raised two fingers, and gently hooked them around Mu Yiran’s fingers that were next to him.

He really, truly liked him very much.