The painting titled "Dream" still hangs on the wall of the study.
While Mei Yiqiu and Xia Wenyuan were discussing investment issues, Qingmu walked up to the painting and began to carefully appreciate Picasso's original work once again.
For some reason, when he saw the girl in the painting, he immediately thought of Xia Wenyuan's daughter, Xia Xiaoxiao, and then the image of the little girl named Meimei and her mother appeared before his eyes.
"Professor, do you think it's possible that the Mental Residue left by the painter during the creative process could be parasitized by a consciousness?" Qingmu suddenly asked, looking at the painting.
Mei Yiqiu was talking quietly with Xia Wenyuan when she noticed the painting on the wall. "I can't be sure about this. Theoretically speaking, the Mental Residue in the painting are not a complete consciousness. Perhaps it is complete in the two-dimensional world within the painting. If a consciousness intruder wants to parasitize, it will also parasitize a two-dimensional world."
"But we can feel the artist's dedication in his work. Does this mean there's some connection between the two-dimensional world the artist created and our three-dimensional world, and that consciousness, or rather, the human spirit, can move between the two worlds in some special way?"
"That's a possibility, but it's beyond our current scientific understanding." Mei Yiqiu stood up and walked to the painting, carefully placing his hand holding the pipe behind his back to prevent the smoke from obscuring the artwork, and admired it closely. "What a fine painting!"
"Hmm..." Qingmu pondered for a moment, then turned to Xia Wenyuan and asked, "Mr. Xia, you mentioned last time that this painting was sold to you by so-and-so?"
" Ronald Cohen," Xia Wenyuan said.
"Is it Ronald Cohen from the Dream Foundation?" Mei Yiqiu asked. "I know him; he's an art collecting fanatic."
"That's right." Xia Wenyuan nodded.
Qingmu reminded Mei Yiqiu: "I remember Mr. Lester's last words mentioned that he was invited by this Ronald to visit an art exhibition, and before his accident, Elder Xia also met Ronald at an auction and bought this painting, 'The Dream'."
Xia Wenyuan said in surprise, "You mean Cohen is...?"
Qingmu said, "It's all just speculation right now, but I find it very suspicious. What does this Dream Foundation do?"
"Speaking of which, this Dream Foundation is indeed somewhat mysterious. It's a fund management platform with over a hundred mutual funds under its umbrella," Xia Wenyuan explained the structure of the Dream Foundation. "Unlike fund companies like BlackRock, the Dream Foundation's management is relatively loose. It's not an independent company, but more like a guild organization spontaneously formed by many fund managers. Moreover, the Dream Foundation not only accepts funds but also Dream Society, and it's said that the requirements for membership are very high; it's not just about having money to get in."
Did they invite you to join?
"No."
"It looks very suspicious!" Mei Yiqiu, puffing on his pipe, lost in thought.
Qingmu also took out a cigarette, lit it, and began to puff away. The study was immediately filled with thick smoke and silence.
Although the study had a good ventilation and air purification system, Hu Xing still couldn't stand it and reminded her, "My grandfather's health isn't very good, could you please smoke less?"
Xia Wenyuan said, "It's alright. I used to smoke too, but I quit because I valued my life. Now that I don't have much time left, why should I care about the smell of smoke?"
Hu Xing said angrily, "Grandpa, what are you saying? You'll live to be a hundred! Qingmu will definitely have a way to completely get rid of that shadow in your dream." As she spoke, she looked at Qingmu, "Right, Master?"
Qingmu exhaled a long puff of smoke and said, "This Parasitic Consciousness is intertwined with your grandfather's original consciousness, disguised as his shadow. But it's impossible for a person to live without a shadow; that's a rule of the real world. When Elder Xia was dreaming, he incorporated this rule into his dream, and because of the shadow's existence, this rule was consciously or unconsciously amplified by Elder Xia's own consciousness. There are only two ways to make the shadow disappear..."
Which two?
"Make the light source disappear, or make the object blocking the light source and creating the shadow disappear."
"That's impossible! You mean either make my grandfather's dream eternal darkness, or you'll erase his very consciousness..." Hu Xing covered her mouth, swallowing back the last word that was about to escape her lips.
"Actually, the first method doesn't work either. Even in darkness, you just can't see the shadow; the invading consciousness still exists, and at that point, it doesn't even need to disguise itself," Qingmu said. "There is another way."
"What?"
"Change the rules of dreams."
How to change it?
"The presence of shadows under light is a physical rule of our world. But the rules of dreams are constructed by the subconscious. Think about it carefully, sometimes you dream of flying, don't you?" Qingmu asked himself and answered, "That's because you yourself have changed the rules of dreams. Of course, consciously changing them is very difficult and requires a high level of Mental Power. Therefore, I once suggested an alternative method to Elder Xia."
Xia Wenyuan realized, "Is it what you said last time about making light omnipresent?"
Qingmu said, "That's right. Having light but no shadows is too different from the rules of the real world. Changing one rule means that a series of related rules will change, which will consume a lot of Mental Power. But to make light omnipresent, you only need to increase the number of light sources, like the shadowless lamp on the operating table, and not let shadows appear. This is in line with the rules of the real world, and creating such a dream world is relatively easier."
"But my grandfather doesn't have lucid dreaming, so how can he control the content of his dreams?" Hu Xing reminded him.
Qingmu said, "Yes, that's why I only offered hints without forcing it. However, it seems I've found another way to deal with that Parasitic Consciousness."
What method?
"I encountered many extraordinary people and events during my trip to Southern Yunnan, and one of them had a situation that was remarkably similar to that of Elder Xia."
"Oh, just tell me everything already, don't keep me in suspense!" Hu Xing said impatiently.
Qingmu smiled and briefly recounted the events surrounding Mama Yao in Cuanzhou, then said, "Once her bone marrow transplant is complete and she's feeling better, I'll investigate how that intruder was driven away."
Hu Xing immediately said, "You can come to Wuzhong for leukemia. The Blood Research Center at Wu University Affiliated Hospital is the best in the country."
Mei Yiqiu interjected, "I've already spoken to the hospital, but some things are more efficient for you rich people."
Xia Wenyuan understood Mei Yiqiu's meaning and immediately said, " Xing'er, tell your Aunt Xia in a bit and ask her to send someone to make arrangements."
Hu Xing agreed, then winked at Qingmu, snorted, and said, "You'll see that pretty flight attendant again soon!"
Qingmu exhaled a puff of smoke, revealing a half-smile, before turning to speak to Mei Yiqiu.
Hu Xing wrinkled her nose and muttered under her breath, "Playing around with women and then showing off!"