[Chapter Eight ] Old Love and New Affection
[8] Shocking Secrets
27
As night fell, the quiet hotel revealed a hint of mystery. According to their arrangement, Minhua gently pushed open the door of Room 504. The dim yellow light inside the room, filtered through the curtains, appeared soft and hazy. She stepped inside, stood at the doorway, and softly asked, “Teacher Lin, who are you going to take me to meet?”
Lin Xiaoyang stood up from beside a nearby table, tilted his head slightly, and a mysterious smile curved at the corner of his lips. “Minhua, I told you—you will be very surprised. I am going to take you to meet your grandfather, Huang Lihua, whom you have never met.”
Minhua froze, her brows slightly furrowed, staring at Lin Xiaoyang in confusion. “Huang Lihua? Are you sure he claims to be Huang Lihua?” There was a trace of disbelief in her voice.
Lin Xiaoyang remained calm, his lips lifting slightly, as if he was not surprised by Minhua’s doubt. “Yes, I am sure.”
Minhua suddenly stepped back, her eyes wide open, her mind in turmoil. “Huang Lihua is indeed my grandfather. I have only seen photos of him when he was young in my father’s photo album. I heard from my father that he once went to France to study, and after a few years, he lost contact with the family.”
Lin Xiaoyang let out a soft sigh, a trace of recollection appearing in his eyes. “Your grandfather has been living in this hotel. When I came here traveling, if he had not stepped in to save me in time, I would probably have already turned into a vampire.” His tone was calm, but every word seemed to reveal an unspoken danger.
A flash of shock crossed Minhua’s eyes. A chill ran down her spine instinctively, and her voice carried unease: “A vampire? Don’t joke like that to scare me.”
Lin Xiaoyang’s expression darkened, and his face became serious. “I’m not joking with you, Minhua. Everything I said is true. When I checked into this hotel last year, the manager and the staff here were all vampires. At first, I didn’t notice. But your grandfather couldn’t bear to see me become like them, so at a critical moment, he warned me to leave immediately.”
Minhua was stunned for a moment, her whole being falling into confusion. “If what you say is true, then I have to go with you to see my grandfather. You’ve really stirred up my curiosity.”
Lin Xiaoyang let out a light laugh, his gaze firm. “Alright, I’ll take you to see him now. Follow me.”
He turned around and led Minhua out of the room, through a dim corridor, and finally stopped in front of a huge mural. In the painting, several musicians were performing outdoors, and the melodious tune seemed to flow out from within the artwork.
“This painting.” Lin Xiaoyang pointed at the mural, his tone lowering, “Huang Lihua lives inside this painting.”
Minhua froze, then let out a soft laugh. “Lives inside this painting? Stop joking. How is that possible?”
Lin Xiaoyang’s expression remained unchanged, his tone carrying a hint of mystery. “This mural leads to another world. The painter is your grandfather, Huang Lihua. Don’t ask so many questions for now. I’ll take you inside.”
Minhua was stunned, still unable to fully believe what she had heard, but Lin Xiaoyang had already reached out his hand, gently tapping on the mural with his fingertips.
“Tap, tap, tap.” With three crisp knocking sounds, a faint echo came from inside the mural. “Come in! I’ve been waiting for you.”
Minhua’s heartbeat quickened, her eyes widened even more, shock and curiosity intertwined on her face. Lin Xiaoyang turned back, wearing a comforting smile, and gently took her hand. “Don’t be afraid. Come with me.”
The textures of the painting gradually twisted, revealing the outline of a door. The door slowly opened, and a faint light seeped through the crack, carrying a strange attraction. Holding Minhua’s hand, Lin Xiaoyang led her step by step into the door, crossing into a brand-new world.
Minhua’s heart was filled with mixed emotions, yet her steps became firm under Lin Xiaoyang’s guidance. She did not know what she would face next, but at this moment, she could only follow his lead into the unknown realm.
28
Inside, the garden courtyard was filled with cheerful music and relaxed laughter. The air seemed to be infused with a certain kind of magic, making everyone present unable to resist being affected by it. In the courtyard, a band was playing rhythmic dance music. The sound flowed as smoothly as running water, while the trees on both sides gently swayed. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and scattered onto the ground, where mottled patches of light danced along with the steps of the dancers. Men and women paired up, the silhouettes of skirts and suits intertwining in the sunlight, their steps light, like spirits moved by the music.
Not far away, at a café seating area, several elderly people and children sat together, chatting and laughing. Exquisite desserts and steaming drinks were placed on the table, and the air was filled with the aroma of caramel and coffee, unconsciously relaxing anyone who breathed it in.
Led by Lin Xiaoyang, Huang Minhua stepped into this strange scene. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke softly, her face showing amazement: “Wow! This place is just like the legendary Peach Blossom Spring!” She took a deep breath. The shock in her eyes had not yet fully faded, and her tone carried a hint of disbelief. “At first, I thought this place would be terrifying, but instead it turned out to be such a dreamlike place.”
Her gaze wandered around, her body and mind seemingly immersed in this unreal world. Seeing her expression, Lin Xiaoyang could not help but smile slightly. “I know this is hard for you to understand. Everything here is very strange, but you will slowly get used to it.”
Suddenly, Huang Lihua walked over from the crowd. He smiled, his steps steady, his eyes carrying a trace of profound light. He extended his hand and warmly shook Lin Xiaoyang’s hand, his tone filled with a long-lost sense of familiarity. “Follow me.” His voice was deep, yet carried a soothing power.
Huang Minhua looked at him, a trace of doubt flashing in her eyes. She unconsciously tilted her head and carefully examined this man who looked strikingly similar to the grandfather in the photograph she remembered. She thought to herself, “Is this person really my grandfather? Why does he look much younger than in the photo?” Her lips pressed together slightly as an inexplicable emotion welled up in her heart.
Huang Lihua seemed to notice her gaze. He turned back, smiled gently, and spoke in a soft tone: “You want to ask why I look so young, don’t you? You will understand all of this later.” He led them through narrow streets, each step seeming to lead toward an unknown world. Huang Minhua unconsciously quickened her pace to follow him.
Soon, they arrived in front of a three-story garden villa. The villa was surrounded by dense shrubs, with lush foliage and a fragrant atmosphere. The surrounding flowers and trees were flourishing, and birdsong could occasionally be heard in the courtyard. The entire place exuded a quiet and elegant charm. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows that danced along the path, as if every stone slab had been given life.
Looking at the beautiful scene before him, Lin Xiaoyang suddenly felt puzzled. He stopped and could not help asking, “Senior, why is this place the reverse of day and night compared to our world? Why does everything feel so unreal?” There was a hint of confusion in his tone.
Huang Lihua narrowed his eyes slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile. “Haven’t you heard that the paths of humans and spirits are different? This way, we won’t interfere with each other.” He waved his hand lightly, as if that sentence explained everything.
Lin Xiaoyang nodded slightly, with an understanding smile. “Yes, I almost forgot that you are…” He deliberately stopped before finishing his sentence, avoiding touching upon those past matters that were not meant to be discussed.
Huang Lihua glanced at him and said lightly, “Don’t scare my granddaughter.” He gave Lin Xiaoyang a look. Lin Xiaoyang immediately understood and changed the topic: “Minhua, let me introduce you. This is Huang Lihua. He says you are his granddaughter.” There was a hint of playfulness in his tone.
Huang Minhua still seemed a bit timid. She lowered her head, wanting to speak but swallowing her words. Her hands gently overlapped in front of her chest, and a trace of uncontrollable shyness appeared on her face. Her gaze lingered on Huang Lihua’s face, her heartbeat suddenly quickening, her lips trembling slightly. “Are you really my grandfather?” she asked, almost as if speaking to herself.
Huang Lihua smiled at her gently, his tone soft and reassuring. “At our first meeting, it’s natural to feel a little unaccustomed.” His smile slightly eased Huang Minhua’s em However, Lin Xiaoyang’s attention was drawn to the painting on the wall. He walked up to it and pointed to the signature in the lower right corner, saying, “I’ve seen this person before.” There was a trace of puzzlement in his tone.
Huang Lihua’s eyes narrowed, as if he too felt a slight unease about the painting. Curiously, he asked, “You’ve seen Qiu? Where?”
Lin Xiaoyang lowered his head in thought, then answered, “On the banks of the Seine in Paris, in a riverside park.” Recalling that period, a sense of unease rose within him.
A faint bitter smile flickered across Huang Lihua’s face, his gaze deepening as if he were sinking into a memory. “Trouble is coming! Qiu will definitely return here. Before August 13th, this Black Friday, we will likely have no peace afterward!” He spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying a subtle warning.
Lin Xiaoyang frowned upon hearing this. “How could that be? That old Mr. Qiu said that you were once his painting teacher.” He felt that the situation was more complicated than he had imagined.
At that moment, Huang Lihua suddenly extended his hand and gently brushed across Minhua’s face. The gesture was tender, yet imbued with an irresistible force. Seeing this, Lin Xiaoyang was startled and could not help shouting, “My God! What did you do to Minhua?” His tone was filled with astonishment and disbelief.
Huang Lihua smiled faintly, his gaze calm. “Don’t worry. I just used a freezing spell to temporarily make her unable to hear our upcoming conversation. Some things she shouldn’t know, and she doesn’t need to be involved.” He explained this calmly.
Lin Xiaoyang was still puzzled, his face written with confusion. “Why not let Minhua know? She’s your family!” He could not help asking again.
A trace of concern flickered in Huang Lihua’s eyes. He lowered his voice and replied, “Minhua doesn’t know, so she won’t get caught up in it. I’m doing this to protect her.” His tone was steady, yet the deeper meaning behind his words remained hard to grasp.
