The following night, Hua Jiren secretly left the house while other slept. Just like the night, the street was unnaturally quiet. Those light footsteps of his, and the hustling wind could only be heard. Quietness really never failed to bring warmth in his heart.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks after walking quite a distance. Slowly, he raised his head and looked in that great sky. Millions of beautiful stars were embedded in the sky, brightly lighting up the night.
He had liked the stars since the young age. Noticed that beauty hiding the loneliness. And that kindness clouding the isolation.
His mother had once told him and his sister that they were like stars. But were they?Perhaps she was only pointing to the beauty.Hua Jiren himself didn't regard himself a star. A star regardless of that loneliness within,lit up people path. Him on the other hand had no intention of lighting up any one's life. You can't bring light to a person when you don't possess it yourself. Can you?
His mother had always been a true star.
But he grew up to realize, neither him nor Hua Longxue were qualified to be stars. They were nothing like that beautiful woman. Who had a pure smile blended with a pure heart. And that pure heart of hers only brought her death in the very end.
He slowly lowered his head and stared blankly in the darkness ahead of him for a while before finally stepping forward. His feet led him to an antique shop placed in a not so conspicuous spot.He calmly pulled the string of the bell hung on the door thrice before the door was unhurriedly opened by an elegant lady. She gave a lazy bow as a greeting.Hua Jiren did the same in response. The lady then stepped aside and let him enter. He then sat in an exquisite chair in the corner as the lady went in an inner room. She was only back after short time with a punch sized undecorated wooden box and a rolled piece of paper. Hua Jiren politely took them. He gazed at them and then looked in the air as his thumb caressed the box. He calmly stood up and gave a simple bow as appreciation. The lady did the same.
Hua Jiren walked out.
That very moment,the lady felt fresh air drop inside the room again.
And she sighed in relief. With her hand on her hip and another fanning her cute face, she walked on that chair Hua Jiren had been sitting in. She dropped herself in it and closed her eyes. Hua Jiren's character wasn't her favorite. She liked open people, those you can run your mouth with. Too bad she always had to adapt to the characteristics of her clients.
" Ayame-san!" The excitement in the girls voice matched the one in her eyes. Ayame opened her eyes with a frown.
" What?"
The girl rushed to her side.
" Are you getting married?"
Ayame almost rolled her eyes.
" Why?"
" That man..."
" No."
" He is handsome."
" Looks deceive."
"But..."
" Sheila!"
The death glare she got immediately sealed her mouth shut.
" I will go to sleep." She then ran to her room.
Hua Jiren slouched home peacefully.
In his room, he opened that wooden box. A few pills were lying there waiting to be swallowed. He immediately closed it and just tossed it wherever.
He subconsciously held his temple with his hand.
If not for that immature rascal Han Dishan, he wouldn't be in such sorry state,having to drink pills this now and then. He immediately tossed the thoughts away and unrolled the rolled paper he was given.
His eyes seemed to hurt at the first glance. His two fingers massaged his eyes before giving attention to the drawing on the paper once again. He examined the drawing after assuming that the artist probably used legs to draw this.
The round circle indicating head had two dots in it for eyes and then a downward curve for mouth. The hair was just three zigzags. There was an X line drawn in the so called face.
Whoever drew this was really an expert.
Hua Jiren tossed the paper on the bed. He then headed to Han Dishan's room and entered as if it was his own. He even shamelessly turned the lights on.
Han Dishan was carelessly lying on his mat. One leg here,another there.
Hua Jiren frowned at the sight. He then spotted a wooden box in the corner and walked towards it. He started searching the box. All items in the box were no less than a pile of trash in Hua Jiren's eyes. He carelessly started removing them one by one as he inspected each one of them. His eyes fell on a cruel yet beautiful drawing.
On that pale face was a pair of closed eyes, high nose and then a slightly opened full lips. There was a deep X cut on the face. Hua Jiren couldn't help taking a peek at Han Dishan. He calmly folded the paper and tucked it in his pocket. Without bothering himself . He stood up unbothered by the mess he had just caused in someone else's room. He collected his collar, and then glanced at Han Dishan before slouching out. With no guilty conscience.
Han Dishan slowly opened his eyes. He had been awaken by Hua Jiren the very moment he entered but chose to continue pretending to be asleep all the time. He wanted no trouble at the moment.He sat upright and glanced at the mess that filthy scumbag had caused and then lazily at the door.
' No one probably taught him to respect someone else's property. Dumber than fishes.'
He lay back down and closed his eyes ready to sleep again. And he really did.
Hua Jiren sitting on his bed, held both drawings in his hands deeply judging both of them. His lips involuntary twitched.
Any one with clear eyes can see which one was a drawing and which one was a joke. The difference was as clear as an ant and an elephant. Not even worth comparing. He put the so called drawing away and examined the piece of art.