Um... did I mistake someone for someone else?
Qingmu carefully examined the person in the photo again. It was indeed him!
He was certain he hadn't mistaken the person, but he still returned the photo to Wu Lixia. Perhaps there really are people in the world who look exactly alike!
Xia Wenyuan, filled with doubt, asked, "Is there something wrong with this painting? And does it have anything to do with my daughter?"
Qingmu thought for a moment and said, "When artists create, they pour their hearts and souls into it. When we face a work of art, we should not only appreciate its external form, but also observe its inner essence and understand the creator's thoughts. The greater the artist's dedication during creation, the greater the power it possesses to touch people's hearts; in our Eastern culture, this is called 'spirit'."
"Sometimes we find that when we appreciate the original work, we can feel something special that moves us, but we don't feel that way when we look at a copy or an online image. With today's technology, photography and other art reproduction methods can reproduce any detail of a work of art within the range of human visual resolution, but we still need to see the original to feel its special charm. This is the thought and effort the artist put into creating it."
"I once discussed this issue with Professor Mei, who called it ' Mental Residue,' or ' Soul Residue.' This is what makes a work of art irreplaceable, and it is also what makes art so great."
" Picasso's painting uses a method of fragmentation and combination, splitting a woman into two people, and then combining them back together, creating two sides of the same coin—they are both the same person and not the same person. When the painter created this work, he must have been filled with contradictions and pain, rather than the love and lust that so-called art critics claim. This fragmented spiritual consciousness of his is poured into the painting and remains to this day."
"Heh--" Hu Xing couldn't help but exclaim softly, "I really underestimated you!"
In her memory, Qingmu's studio was as messy as a junkyard, not someone who appreciated art. But Qingmu's words completely overturned the image she had of Hu Xing.
Wu Lixia nodded frequently as she listened. Compared to Xia Wenyuan, she was more accomplished in the arts.
"I never imagined that Mr. Qingmu and Professor Mei would be so unique in the field of art appreciation!" Wu Lixia exclaimed.
Peter wasn't very interested in art, asked, "Are you saying that the ' Mental Residue ' Picasso left in the paintings became Mr. Xia's second consciousness? So, Picasso wanted to kill Elder Xia? Hahaha..." He burst into unrestrained laughter.
Xia Wenyuan also found it unbelievable. Countless people have seen Picasso's paintings, and everyone else is fine, isn't that right?
Qingmu said, "Of course not! The ' Mental Residue ' exists solely dependent on this artwork; it cannot leave the artwork, nor can it become a complete, independent consciousness. However, if someone has already planted a seed of consciousness within Elder Xia's body, then using the ' Mental Residue ' in this painting that is 'connected' to him to activate that seed and make it sprout is the most appropriate thing to do."
"After all this talk, you still haven't explained where that shadow that wanted to kill Elder Xia in his dream came from!" Peter accused.
Qingmu was dry from talking, and he didn't want to argue with Peter anymore. You can never wake someone who's pretending to be asleep, and you can never convince someone who doesn't believe you. Besides, he didn't need to prove anything to Peter; he was only responsible to Xia Wenyuan.
He picked up the teacup from the coffee table, leaned back lazily on the sofa, and started drinking his tea, with an attitude that said, "Believe it or not."
Xia Wenyuan knew that Qingmu had said everything he needed to say. Although many things were too mysterious, he had no doubts. Only those who had truly experienced that kind of dream knew how terrifying it was.
"Anyway, Mr. Qingmu has already eliminated that thing, so I think I can finally get a good night's sleep tonight," Xia Wenyuan said.
"Um... well... I'm afraid not yet!" Qingmu said. "The one I helped you eliminate wasn't its true form. Because it had become a shadow in your mind, coexisting with you, it's very difficult to remove. It's only weakened now; as long as its shadow remains in your dreams, it will become powerful again. Unless..."
"Unless what?" Xia Wenyuan asked.
Do you remember what your shadow once shouted at you in your dream?
Xia Wenyuan and said, "I can't get rid of my own shadow unless I imprison myself in darkness forever?"
"Yes, there are no shadows only in complete darkness."
"No! I can't let darkness shroud my heart. I'd rather die a quick death than live like that!" Xia Wenyuan said.
Qingmu was a little surprised, but inwardly quite impressed, and said, "Actually, there's another way..."
"What?" Xia Wenyuan asked.
Qingmu said, "If light is everywhere, shadow will have nowhere to hide."
Xia Wenyuan paused for a moment, then smiled wryly, "This is even harder to do than the first one, but I'll try my best."
Qingmu nodded and said, "Even if we can't get rid of it, we shouldn't let it grow too fast. If things get really bad, have Li Wei come to Ruhua Bar to find me. As for the root of the problem, I'll wait for Professor Mei to come back and discuss it with him to see if there are any other solutions."
"Well, I just wonder when Professor Mei will be back?"
When Mei Ziqing stepped out of Copenhagen Airport, she felt dizzy due to jet lag, while Professor Mei Yiqiu seemed to be in high spirits and was chatting enthusiastically with Mr. Hans, the biology professor from the University of Copenhagen who had come to pick them up.
Mei Yiqiu laughed and said that young people nowadays have too little stamina, and told Mei Ziqing to get a good night's sleep after arriving at the hotel to adjust to the time difference. But Mei Ziqing was quickly captivated by the fairytale world of Copenhagen, and the fatigue from the more than ten hours of travel was instantly swept away.
Zealand boasts stunning scenery and fresh air. The trees in the cities seem taller than the houses, and there are green spaces everywhere. The smooth roads are not as congested as those in China, and people can freely ride bicycles.
As the car turned onto the side road, Mei Ziqing saw people setting up tents in the woods by the roadside, and children picking mushrooms around them.
"What a fairytale world!" Mei Ziqing exclaimed.
Mei Yiqiu said, "Now you know why so many international conferences choose to be held here."
Mei Ziqing nodded. She had made up her mind. After returning to the hotel and putting down her luggage, she was going to go sightseeing. With two days left before the conference, she wanted to explore the entire Zealand.
Unfortunately, her wish was not fulfilled. The organizing committee hurriedly informed them that the meeting had been moved up.
Mei Ziqing followed Professor Mei was still jet-lagged, to the Bella International Conference Center.
One of the organizers of the conference, Professor Frederick, who was also the host of the conference, announced that the agenda had been changed. The International Genetics Conference, which was originally scheduled to be held last, would be moved to the beginning. However, he did not mention anything related to the pyramids in his speech.
Reporters flocked to the scene, demanding to know what the new discoveries at the pyramids were and why the agenda had been suddenly canceled.
After answering more than a dozen questions in a row, Frederick, utterly exasperated, shouted, "No new discoveries! No pyramids! It's all a rumor! The pyramids are in Egypt, so why hold a conference about them in Copenhagen?"
The reporters were then ushered out to wait outside the main hall.
Frederick said apologetically, "Those whose names I've read, please proceed to the second conference center on the third floor for a private meeting. Everyone else, including their assistants and companions, please return to your hotel to rest."
As Mei Ziqing heard the names of internationally renowned scholars read aloud by Professor Frederick, she realized how long Western names were, especially when the host read out their full names in a very formal setting.
Amidst a long list of names, Mei Ziqing suddenly heard a very short name, which she almost missed due to its pronunciation:
"Professor Mei Yiqiu..."