Hospital 444
Chapter 219 - 10 The Woman Under the Sea

Chapter 219: Chapter 10 The Woman Under the Sea

Dai Lin sat opposite Dai Ming and said, "Dai Ming, long time no see. Recently..."

He looked at Dai Ming’s serious expression and began to speculate in his heart: How much money does he... does he actually... does he really want to...

borrow from me?

Dai Lin was not stingy; his uncle and aunt had always taken good care of him. If he really lent the money, he would do so without expecting Dai Ming to pay it back. However, he needed to be clear about the amount because he couldn’t let Dai Ming fall victim to a scam. Society was full of all sorts of people with incredibly clever scams; one couldn’t be too careful.

"Dai Lin," Dai Ming interrupted his thoughts and said, "If we’re out here having skewers, let’s not talk about my work. At my current job, I’m just getting by and earning a meager salary."

In fact, it was not Dai Lin but Dai Ming who was considered a genius in the Dai family during their childhood.

Dai Lin’s progress was a result of both talent and hard work, whereas Dai Ming was different. He showed artistic promise in elementary school, even winning a major prize in a city-wide children’s painting competition, and his uncle’s family probably still keeps a clipping of the news of him receiving that award.

But, Dai Lin remembered... it was probably after Dai Ming was in fourth grade that his uncle and aunt seldom mentioned his paintings at family gatherings anymore. In the past... they would always bring a tube of his new works for everyone to appreciate.

Later on... it was heard that Dai Ming had given up painting. Soon, there were rumors like a dramatic decline in his talent and speculations akin to ’Wounded Zhong Yong.’ Dai Lin himself had heard several versions from relatives, with the more exaggerated ones including that Dai Ming had developed depression.

Dai Ming glanced at the menu, ordered several barbecue dishes, and called for two bottles of beer.

"Dai Ming," Dai Lin cautiously probed, "Is there something troubling you recently? If you need my help?"

If it was about borrowing money, Dai Lin had already paved the way for Dai Ming, just waiting for him to speak up.

"Today, I went to a painting exhibition."

Dai Ming, with a sorrowful look, recalled the painting he had seen, "The painting I saw today was simply... simply..."

"Do you... still want to continue painting?"

Dai Lin sincerely hoped that Dai Ming could pick himself up and start painting again. He had always had a deep impression of Dai Ming’s artwork from their childhood.

"How should I put it to you..."

Clearly, whatever Dai Ming had to say next was difficult for him to express.

"Dai Lin, I have never spoken to you about these things, but today... after thinking it over, it seems I can only talk to you about this matter. I don’t have many friends, and I can’t talk to my parents about it..."

Dai Lin could see that Dai Ming obviously had some secrets that were difficult to share.

"Go ahead and talk, I’m listening. I won’t tell my parents or your uncle and aunt."

The beer arrived.

Dai Ming poured a little into both his and Dai Lin’s glasses and took a big gulp.

"I thought I would never see such a painting again..."

Although a large glass of beer wouldn’t make someone very drunk, it seemed to make it easier for Dai Ming to speak.

Finally, he shared with his cousin Dai Lin the secret he had been harboring for many years.

...

Until the age of ten, Dai Ming had never doubted that he would become a painter.

He was naturally gifted, and his talent grew exponentially, especially after receiving guidance from a professional art teacher.

Even so, his parents were somewhat unsure whether they should let him pursue art professionally. Just like sports, becoming successful and earning a living through art was fraught with instability. His mother was relatively open to it, but Dai Ming’s father was always less supportive of him deciding his career path too early.

Until one particular day...

It was an evening no different from any other ordinary day.

That night, Dai Ming, who had just turned nine, went out to sketch from life.

He went to the Aomori Park in W city. That day was May 3rd, and during the Labor Day holiday period, the park stayed open until 8 p.m. The park was just across the street from his home and knowing that Dai Ming liked sketching alone in peace, his parents didn’t accompany him.

What he planned to paint was the park under the moonlight.

He always preferred to paint real objects rather than rely on his imagination.

On that day, Dai Ming chose a hilltop with a wonderful view and sat down.

"The scenery is really fantastic..."

Watching children playing by the lakeside and boats gliding on the lake under the moonlight, he picked up his brush and prepared to paint.

But at that moment... he suddenly felt an intense sadness and pain.

The feeling was as if tearing at his heart and lungs, making it difficult for him to breathe.

His arms trembled, and then... his brush began to move subconsciously, dipping into the palette of colors from time to time.

He didn’t know how long had passed when he heard a girl say, "Your painting is so beautiful..."

Only then did Dai Ming realize that quite a crowd had gathered behind him.

"The kid paints really well."

"At first, I thought he was sketching from life."

"He can paint so well at such a young age, hey, can you tell auntie which art class you take? I want to sign my child up for one."

"Hey, wait, why is this child crying?"

I...

Crying?

Dai Ming touched his eyes, only then realizing the tears were streaming down his face.

What’s happening?

Afterward, Dai Ming looked at the nearly completed painting before him.

In the painting... was a woman in white, sinking into the water.

The woman was extremely beautiful, and even though her eyes were closed underwater, her peerless grace could not be hidden.

Dai Ming looked at the painting before him, somewhat confused.

He couldn’t remember how he came to think of painting this picture.

The image was incredibly lifelike, but for some reason, looking at the woman made Dai Ming feel an indescribable sadness.

It was the first time Dai Ming had created a painting that wasn’t of something real, and even he found it baffling; how had he sketched out such a painting?

People around started praising the painting’s artistic conception, sparing no compliments for Dai Ming.

At that time, although Dai Ming felt something was amiss, he thought about it and wondered if maybe his inspiration had surged and perhaps his talent was even greater than he’d imagined?

So, he didn’t think too much about it and went home amid the park crowd’s praises.

But...

This was just the beginning of a series of anomalies.

After the May Day holiday ended, Dai Ming returned to school.

During the art class, the teacher allowed everyone to paint freely; most students would just scribble with crayons, but Dai Ming would bring a variety of special painting tools. Each art class, everyone would gather around to watch him paint.

This time, Dai Ming painted...

It was still that woman.

But this time...

The painting became very dark.

Not only that, but he also drew some fish.

The woman sank into the deep sea, with some fish swimming around her.

Yet, her face was still beautiful.

"Dai Ming, this..."

The students watching nearby were somewhat stunned.

"This is the seabed, right?" A girl suddenly said, "That’s a grenadier! It’s a type of deep-sea fish!"

Dai Ming was taken aback upon hearing this.

"Grenadier? The fish is called that?"

"It’s a grenadier, not grenadine. Yes, I can’t be mistaken, my father works at an aquarium, so he’s been teaching me to recognize different fish species since I was little."

Deep-sea fish?

Dai Ming, who was only nine at the time, looked closely at the fish he had drawn.

"I... I’ve never seen this kind of fish."

Dai Ming had no interest in marine life at all; he hadn’t even been to an aquarium at that time.

"Well, how did you draw them?"

"I..."

Dai Ming recalled the process of painting, it seemed... quite naturally... he thought of it, and then he painted it.

"This woman... has sunk to the bottom of the sea?"

The other children asked.

"Hmm, she should... yeah."

Looking at the woman sinking to the bottom of the sea in the painting, Dai Ming felt a strange feeling inside.

Why had he painted this woman again?

Why did he paint deep-sea fish he had never seen before?

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