She didn't know how long she'd slept before the next movie played on the screen. No one was waiting around, and in the silence, she suddenly felt a profound emptiness and loneliness. She didn't call for help, but turned off the movie herself and headed straight for the elevator.
After getting out of the elevator, the decoration style was still black and white, but she unexpectedly found that there were many picture frames in the corridor. Lin Yitong then realized that she had taken the wrong path. Just as she was about to leave, her attention was attracted by the paintings in the corridor.
The styles of the paintings are very different, some are childlike, some are passionate, some are dark, and some are strange, but from the subtle details one can still tell that they were all created by the same person.
Suddenly, an old voice came from behind, "Madam?"
Lin Yitang turned around and found the housekeeper standing in the shadow at the corner of the elevator, holding a pot of tea in his hand.
Seeing that it was really her, the housekeeper's serious expression softened a little. "I was just about to add a pot of tea for you when I realized you were not downstairs."
Lin Yitang nodded at him and turned his gaze back to the painting.
Seeing her staring at the paintings, the housekeeper took the initiative to explain: "These were all painted by the young master. The young master showed an interest in painting when he was a child. He would paint a picture almost every time he had free time."
A flash of surprise crossed Lin Yitang's face. She hadn't expected Wen Hangxing to be such a versatile person. After all, he came from a wealthy family. She had thought it was just a trivial interest of the young master, but she hadn't expected the housekeeper's next words to completely overturn her view of Wen Hangxing.
The butler shouldn't have said this to others, but the person standing in front of him was Lin Yitong. For some reason, it was as if he had opened up today and brought up a past event. "But when the young master was fourteen years old, he suddenly didn't want to pick up the paintbrush." As he spoke, the butler's eyes were filled with nostalgia and inexplicable sadness.
He paused and continued, "You should have noticed that the young master's painting style has changed a lot. Only a small part of the paintings are hung on the wall. There are also some paintings placed in the studio, but they are not suitable to be hung here." His words were vague, but Lin Yitong understood instantly.
"How could this happen?" Lin Yitang had an inexplicable feeling that what the butler said next would be helpful to her mission.
"The young master was later diagnosed with a serious mental illness."
He observed Lin Yitang's expression, feeling slightly relieved when he saw she showed no fear or disgust. Bringing this up was a huge risk for him. If Lin Yitang really showed an expression they didn't want to see, then... The butler closed his eyes slightly, imperceptibly.
Lin Yitang's eyebrows twitched slightly, "Have you found the reason?"
"Although we were surprised, we didn't know the reason." The housekeeper shook his head, his face helpless. "The only person in this family qualified to inquire about this matter is the master, but he is busy with work and rarely pays attention to this matter. It was not until later that the young master's condition worsened and the old master was alarmed. He stepped forward and sent the young master to a training base under the pretext of physical exercise. He also arranged for the medical team to monitor the young master's mood at all times. In recent years, the young master's condition has slightly improved."
While listening, Lin Yitang stared at the absurd and weird paintings, and gradually became frightened. Although she had not studied psychology, she knew that the person who could draw these paintings was negative and depressed. She originally thought that Wen Hangxing was just an awkward and gloomy child, but she didn't expect that he was suffering so much pain.
Lin Yitang felt like something was blocking her heart, making her feel bitter and want to cry. She didn't know why she resonated so deeply with the housekeeper's words. It was as if... as if she had seen Wen Hangxing at that time with her own eyes.
"Can you take me to the studio?" Lin Yitang asked softly.
The housekeeper looked stunned and said apologetically, "The key to the studio is in the hands of the young master. If Madam wants to go and take a look, please wait for the young master to come back and ask him."
After that, without waiting for her to respond, he said in a gentle voice: "Madam, let's go down. Wang's wife made your favorite water chestnut cake today. It should be ready by now."
Lin Yitang looked at him and felt that the butler's attitude towards her had changed a little. Even though the butler had always been very respectful to her, she could still clearly feel the alienation. But now she felt that the butler was a little more intimate with her.
Was it because he had heard about Wen Hangxing's past today? Lin Yitang was puzzled.
The housekeeper noticed her gaze, smiled without saying anything, and made an inviting gesture, motioning her to go downstairs.
After seeing Lin Yitang leave, the housekeeper picked up the phone and dialed a number. A hoarse yet majestic voice sounded, "How is it?"
The butler respectfully recounted what had just happened, and at the end he said, "The Madam seems to have taken pity on the young master."
"Really? If it's really as you said, then Wen Zeli married a pretty good wife." In the spacious and empty study, an energetic old man with gray hair sat on a chair and said after thinking for a moment.
"Shuyuan, I'm old. You know the relationship between Hangxing and his father. No one is wrong. I'm the one who's wrong. I don't know what their relationship will be like after I'm gone and no one is taking care of them. I put you by their side because I want you to pay attention to them all the time and not let them do anything irreparable." Old Master Wen's sharp eyes rarely showed fatigue and worry.
The butler's voice choked. "Master, please don't say that. The young master, the master, and you will all be fine."
Old Master Wen stared into space, recalling the painful memories of the past. He shook his head when he heard this, "We can only deceive ourselves with this. You should pay more attention. If someone is able, bring her to the old house and let me see her."
The butler quickly collected himself and replied, "Yes."
After hanging up the phone, the housekeeper looked at where Lin Yitang had stood before, thinking to himself, "Madam, I hope you won't let us down." Although this family appears prosperous on the surface, the internal rifts are indeed quite deep. The master can still suppress it somewhat, but if he leaves, who knows what will become of the father and son.
Thinking of this, the housekeeper sighed and shook his head. His back, which was usually straight, bent down under the pressure. He was no longer as neat and straight as usual, and he staggered down the stairs.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
