"Miss, would you like to buy a painting? This one isn’t expensive, just 2800. A teacher from the academy painted it, so the price is quite reasonable!" The shop owner approached.
"I..." Mabel Quinn opened her mouth, intending to call Kyle Kinston over to take a look at the painting, but she saw he was already standing in front of another painting, staring at it intently.
The painting depicted a child curled up in the corner of a wall. The overall tone was dark and heavy. The child’s face was innocent and tender, but behind the child, a devil’s mask was faintly outlined.
It seemed to subtly hint at another side of the child’s heart.
"Kyle," Mabel called as she walked closer.
But Kyle seemed not to hear her, still gazing directly at the painting.
Mabel reached out and held Kyle’s hand, only to find it was chillingly cold.
"Kyle," she raised her voice and called out again.
It was only then he seemed to snap back to reality, turning his head to look at her, the clarity slowly returning to his eyes. Then, he took a long breath and suddenly hugged her tightly.
"What’s the matter?" she asked, puzzled.
"Nothing." Although he said this, he held her tighter and tighter.
Though the stall owner and some passing customers were watching, Mabel didn’t care if anyone was looking. She just lifted her hand and gently wrapped it around his back.
After he released the hug, the painting stall owner enthusiastically came forward, "If you both like the painting, you can buy both together, and I’ll give you a discount."
"No need!" Kyle quickly refused.
The refusal was so swift that Mabel found it a bit strange.
"Let’s just buy the painting I was looking at earlier," Mabel said, and after some negotiation, they settled for 2200 yuan.
When it came time to pay, Kyle wanted to settle the bill, but Mabel insisted on paying herself.
"It’s originally my responsibility to compensate for someone else’s painting, so it’s not right for you to pay," Mabel said.
"Do we need to be so clear-cut about things between us?" he asked.
"I just feel if I pay for it myself, I’ll feel better inside," she replied.
He looked at her for a moment, then retracted his card, and Mabel paid with her own money.
While the owner packed the painting, Mabel took hold of Kyle’s hands again. His hands were still very cold, so she wrapped them in hers, rubbing them to warm them up.
"Are you feeling unwell? Why are your hands so cold?" she asked, rubbing them as she spoke.
He looked down at her, warmth spreading through him from her touch. Was his life tether worrying about him?
He turned to look at the painting he had been staring at earlier, "What do you think, will this child grow up to be an angel or a devil?"
"Huh?" She was taken aback, glancing at the painting he was referring to, confused, "It’s just a painting."
Suddenly, he smiled, "Yes, it’s just a painting."
When they returned to the car with the painting, Mabel noticed that Kyle seemed to be a bit absent-minded.
"Are you still thinking about that painting?" she couldn’t help but ask, as if that artwork had triggered quite a response in him, "If you like that painting, why not buy it..."