"My love, she was already dead when I first met her."
The painter said this, and then took out a small wooden box from his pocket.
His movements were extremely careful and gentle, as if there was some rare treasure contained there.
Then, the wooden box was opened.
The painter took out a book from inside. It was not big or thick. It looked very old, but the owner of the book had kept it well.
With the dim light in the room, Kanoya and Tsurumi could barely see clearly. On the cover of the white book, there was a pure and smart edelweiss painted, and the title of the book was - "Liu Li".
The painter gently touched the small square book with his hand: "Liuli, it's a beautiful name, right? It's the name of this book, and it's also her name. My Liuli, that's how I got to know her."
"Ah, when did I meet Liuli? It was a long time ago, when I was in junior high school. What I was like as a student, to be honest, even I can't remember. I vaguely remember
, I also had some friends in school, who also studied hard and joined clubs. In short, I did what the people around me did, without clear goals and objectives, just drifting with the crowd. Haha, at that time, it seemed like I
He's just such a featureless, mediocre person."
"Until I met her."
"I remember clearly that it was an afternoon. As usual, I went to the bookstore I frequented. At that time, it happened to be the period when Kenzaburo Oe won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The owner of the bookstore wanted to display more of Oe's works.
, was sorting out the bookshelves. Taking down the books that no one cares about, making room for books by literature prize winners. And this book, my treasure, my "Liu Li", was screened by the boss at that time, and was randomly
Stacked in a pile of books in the corner."
"I noticed this book almost at first glance. The crystal clear and pure edelweiss on the white cover is beautiful, isn't it?"
"That afternoon, I opened Liuli in the bookstore, and finally met her. It was a picture album, and it was also like a diary of essays. The author of the book, Liuli, was an art student, and she was an art student long before the book was published.
He died before."
"The book says that she committed suicide. She took a lot of sleeping pills in a snow-covered mountain. Liuli was only 19 years old when she passed away."
"This is beautiful, isn't it? Just like the crystal clear edelweiss on the cover, where it can't be touched by the dirty world, it blooms magnificently and withers beautifully. No, maybe it will never wither."
"There is a self-portrait of Liuli in this book. At that time, I saw her short and poignant life, which was described in a few words on the page, and saw her self-portrait. At that moment, it was like an electric current passed through me.
Body, I couldn't help but think about how there could be such a beautiful woman in this world, and she was only 19 years old when she committed suicide. What a pity, and how... attractive."
"I bought this book home. For me at the time, the book was a little expensive, but I knew it would be worth it."
"After returning home, I locked myself in the room and turned over the glass greedily. I wanted to know more about it. Every time she turned a page, my heartbeat would get stronger. I looked at what she had drawn.
I read the paintings, read the poems and witticisms she wrote... Sure enough, Liuli is just like what I thought."
"Through what she left behind, I can talk to her and feel her. She has an extremely pure, noble, free and romantic soul."
"In the days that followed, I read this book many times. When I came back to my senses, I finally realized that I was obsessed with her and I couldn't put this book down. It was like love at first sight, although
When I fell in love with her, she was no longer alive, but I was sure that I could face my own emotions calmly. I was obsessed with her and couldn't help myself."
"I fell in love with her, yes, I fell in love with Liuli. Whenever I think of her, my body will get hot and I will be so sad that I want to cry."
"Of course, of course. I am also rational. Sometimes I think that based on the words Liuli has written, the paintings she left, and the few photos in the book, it is really
Is it enough for me to fall in love with someone?"
"I would also think, what's the difference between me and those people who are obsessed with untouchable idol stars?"
"But, I can understand. What I love is the inner part of Liuli, which is as clear and noble as the edelweiss she painted with her own hands. This kind of love is not cliché, and time can prove it.
As time goes by, my love for Liuli has not wavered, but has become deeper and deeper."
"Liu Li is my first love, my only one. She is the only woman I love from beginning to end."
The painter kept talking for a long time, but the two girls who were confronting him cautiously never said a word.
The little deer had already begun to gasp.
There is something wrong with this person!
I have never seen such a sick and paranoid person!
At this time, the painter finally paused to tell his love story. He looked at Tsurumi Aoi again, but only met the latter's sharp and strongly hostile gaze.
"hehe."
The painter didn't seem to care about Tsurumi's attitude. He smiled kindly and rubbed his hand over "Liu Li" again, as if caressing his lover's skin:
"Oh, I just talked about it. I forgot to show you Liuli's appearance. She is a very beautiful woman. There is a self-portrait of her in the book, but the light in the room here is too dark, so it is difficult to see clearly. But it doesn't matter, I
I also painted her, based on her portrait, and took many photos based on her life."
"Because of Liuli's influence and guidance, I, who was originally mediocre, also had a goal and chose to embark on the path of painting, just to be closer to her past life. From entering high school, to university, and finally to
As an adult, I practiced painting day after day, even when I was sick. For me, it was a happy time, because I could feel that Liuli was watching me grow."
"So, I finally became another reasonably qualified painter. Among all the paintings I have painted, Liuli is the only 'living' subject. This may not be entirely true. After all, before I met Liuli, she
He is no longer alive.”
The painter's hand once again grasped the white cloth covering the largest painting on the wall.
This time, he took off the white cloth.
The soft and white fabric fell onto the wooden floor like running water.
"This is my most satisfying work so far. Of course, it is not enough, far from enough, and it is not as good as real colored glaze. I hope to create a more beautiful and pure white colored glaze. But now
, let’s take a look at it first.”
Inside the carefully framed picture frame is a pure white canvas.
The content of the paintings can finally be seen.
Unlike other paintings that the painter hung on the wall, this painting is not an oil painting depicting a corpse, and the colors are so strong that it is weird.
But a sketch.
It was an excellent painting, in which was a young girl.
Her profile was perfectly presented on the canvas, with her long black curly hair, tall nose, thin lips, and eyes that seemed to be looking into the distance, gloomy and full of melancholy.
.
It's very atmospheric, the characters' expressions are well-drawn, and they're full of texture.
The beautiful, pure, and pitiful girl was painted vividly on the paper. It seemed as if she would leave the frame of the painting in the next second, and Tingting would step into the dim room where everyone was.
"Well?"
Kanoya looked at the painting, her eyes widened, and she couldn't hide her expression of surprise. She subconsciously glanced at the junior sister standing next to her.
She noticed that the beautiful and gloomy girl in the painting was 67% similar to Xiaokui!
Apart from some differences in facial features, if there is another obvious difference, it should be temperament.
The girl in the painting is gloomy and feminine, with a hint of delicate morbidity.
As for Tsurumi, although she is often frowning, her temperament is harder, sharper, and healthier due to her years of practicing kendo.
As for Tsurumi Aoi herself, she was a little confused when she saw the portrait of the girl.
However, she could feel that the person painted in the painting was not herself.
At this time, the painter spoke again, this time looking directly at Tsurumi: "I forgot to introduce you, especially to you, the granddaughter of the Tsurumi family. I know your name is Tsurumi Aoi. Let me introduce you again.
, my lover Tsurumi Ruri, she is your grandmother’s sister.”
"Liu Li, she is really beautiful, isn't she? The granddaughter of the Tsurumi family, your eyes are just like hers. Of course, it would be better if your eyes could be softer and not so sharp."
The sister of Tsurumi's grandmother.
In fact, to be more precise, she should be Tsurumi's grandmother's sister.
However, there is no distinction between "grandma" and "grandma" in Japanese, and Tsurumi's father is a married woman, so this kind of title doesn't matter.
Anyway, according to the painter’s wishes——
Ruri, Tsurumi Ruri, is Tsurumi Aoi's great-aunt.
The blood of the Tsurumi family flows in both of them.
Perhaps due to genetic inheritance, Tsurumi Aoi's appearance is somewhat similar to that of her great-aunt, whom she has never met.
Before Tsurumi Aoi could react to the painter's words.
The copper chain of the incense burner in Kanoya's hand rattled. She puffed up her chest and took a big step forward, blocking her junior sister behind her. Like a Nara deer who didn't know what fear was, she stared,
He glared at the painter.
The little deer finally understood.
This very wrong painter will appear here and at the Summer Night Festival held by Yoshikoji Temple. He is definitely here for Xiaokui!
…
Kamiyagawa's two disciples were in a stalemate with the painter, and neither of them acted rashly.
Then, the painter began to talk to himself again:
"In order to get closer to my Liuli, I worked hard to learn painting. Of course, I also made other efforts. For several years after meeting Liuli, I always wanted to visit the place where she once lived."
"In Liuli's book, there is an inconspicuous painting called "Home". It depicts a corner of a dry landscape-style courtyard, and you can still see the temple wall in the background. So I thought she might be from a certain temple.
Miss."
"While I was studying in college, I went to many temples. Until I came to Ibaraki and came to Yoshikoji Temple."
"When I got here, I understood. I finally found the place I had been looking for. It was a wonderful feeling. It blessed my soul. When I got close to Yoshikoji Temple, I could feel that Liuli must have lived here.
.”
"Sure enough, I found a corner in Yoshikoji Temple that corresponds to that painting. Sure enough, it is here, my pure and beautiful colored glass, and this is her home."
"I told the people of the Tsurumi family in the temple that I was a friend of Ruri and came to worship her. At that time, the people of the Tsurumi family looked at me very strangely, as if they were looking at something... annoying
Flies. But they still told me the location of Liuli’s tomb.”
"Tsurumi Aoi, do you know? Your family is really outrageous. Instead of burying Liuli in the temple cemetery, you buried her alone in the mountains and forests behind. How could you do this?
What? After all, Liuli is also a part of your family."
"That day, I remember it was raining lightly. I went to the mountain forest behind the temple and found Liuli's tomb. She was really pitiful. No one worshiped her tomb, and she was crying alone in the wind and rain."
"Of course I felt sorry for her. I sat in front of her grave for a long time. I helped her pull out weeds and tidy up the grave. That was my first date with Liuli. When we parted, we kissed in the rain.
. I kissed her tombstone gently, and finally stuck out my tongue to lick it. The cold, moist Yuying Stone left a very soft touch between my lips and tongue. I can be sure that from that moment on
, Liuli and I both fell in love.”
Listening to the painter's continued narration, Tsurumi Aoi felt a chill.
At the same time, she seemed to vaguely remember something about her great-aunt.
By the way, the elder in the family was not buried in the cemetery, but buried in the back mountain.
"No...it's not..."
Tsurumi Aoi suddenly shook her head, she finally remembered.
Regarding my great-aunt, it seems that when I was very young, I accidentally heard the elders in the family talking about her.
When it comes to this elder in the family, people in the family seem to be ashamed.
Tsurumi's great-aunt, Tsurumi Ruri, was once the eldest lady of Yoshikoji Temple. Because she did not need to bear the responsibility of inheriting the temple, she lived a relatively free life, and she did study art in Tokyo.
But my family said...
Said that this great aunt was a dissolute woman.
She said that while studying in Tokyo, she also contracted bad habits and became an addict.
In addition, my great-aunt did not commit suicide by taking sleeping pills in the snowy mountains.
She died accidentally due to an alcoholic orgy and overdose of drugs in a certain boyfriend's apartment.
So, are the pure white and flawless perfect lover described by the painter, like the blooming and withering edelweiss on the high mountains, and the great aunt whose family did not want to bury her in the temple cemetery really the same person?