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Wang Anyi was shocked into silence, his previously relaxed body tensing up in an instant. He stared blankly at Zhou Fan, disbelief etched across his face, as if Zhou Fan's words had struck at the deepest secrets of his heart.
Zhou Fan pulled out a sheet of printed paper from under his arm, cleared his throat, and read aloud, "Li Jianxin, born in 1968, profession: Oil Painter, known for portraiture. He originally resided in Unit 202, Building F, Xinjing Community, and went missing on January 20, 1990."
Wang Anyi forced himself to regain composure and feigned calmness as he asked, "Why are you reading this?"
Though he tried to keep his voice steady, the slight tremor betrayed the tension within him. Zhou Fan shook his head and pulled out another sheet of paper, continuing, "This is the transfer record from Xicheng Qingli Garden Cemetery: On January 21, 1990, the deceased Li Jianxin, male, cause of death unknown, grave marker number 1012." Wang Anyi stared at Zhou Fan, his lips quivering slightly but remaining silent; a hint of panic and regret flickered in his eyes.
"And this painting," Zhou Fan added. "The painting 'Country Church' by American artist Benjamin Disraeli was stolen in 1996 and has been missing ever since."
"Wang Anyi is a well-known entrepreneur whose wife passed away many years ago. He has two daughters; the elder daughter Wang Ruolin committed suicide in 1990, while the younger daughter ran away that same year and has been missing ever since." Zhou Fan continued, "Li Jianxin and Wang Ruolin were college classmates and began dating in university despite strong opposition from her family..."
"Enough!" Zhou Fan's reading was abruptly interrupted by Wang Anyi's furious shout.
The once formidable old man seemed to age a decade in that moment, weariness and sorrow etched across his face.
He looked at Zhou Fan and shook his head helplessly. "It seems it was a mistake for you to investigate this matter. If I weren't worried about the smuggled painting being discovered by the police, I would never have entrusted you with tracking its whereabouts. Unfortunately, if you had investigated this painting back then, perhaps no one would have lost their life."
"Thank you for the compliment," Zhou Fan replied with a slight nod, a faint smile lingering on his face that seemed to carry a hint of determination for the truth and a reflection on fate.
The old man sighed deeply, his expression forlorn as he turned to us. "Would you like to hear a story?"
"We're all ears," both Zhou Fan and I replied in unison, our eyes filled with anticipation.
In the narrative of this seemingly tough yet deeply wounded old man, I found the main thread that connected several names mentioned by Zhou Fan.
In 1988, Li Jianxin was merely a third-year student in the Fine Arts Department of Xicheng Free Academy. However, he was exceptionally talented, and the portraits he painted seemed to breathe with life. Although he had a somewhat timid personality and often hesitated when faced with decisions, he remained a prominent figure at school, attracting much attention from his peers.
That year, fate intertwined his life with that of a fellow student, Wang Ruolin. The two fell deeply in love.
They strolled together along the tree-lined paths of the campus, created art in the studio side by side, and dreamed of a beautiful future. It was a time filled with sweetness and happiness.
However, it wasn't until their graduation that Li Jianxin discovered that his beloved was actually the daughter of Wang Anyi, the chairman of the renowned company Xiyan Pavilion. He realized he was just an obscure individual in comparison, and this reality filled him with profound insecurity and helplessness.
Despite his efforts to change himself and become worthy of Wang Ruolin, their relationship faced staunch opposition from her father, Wang Anyi. He believed that Li Jianxin's humble background could not provide his daughter with a stable life and future, and he firmly disapproved of their union.
Under immense pressure and for reasons beyond his control, Li Jianxin painfully proposed a breakup to Wang Ruolin.
Wang Ruolin could not bear this devastating blow; she loved Li Jianxin deeply and could not accept this reality. In her extreme pain and despair, she impulsively chose to take her own life.
The news hit like a bombshell, plunging both Li Jianxin and Wang Anyi into deep guilt and suffering.
Thus unfolded a tragic tale reminiscent of a novel, where Wang Ruolin's father and Li Jianxin blamed each other for her death, leading to mutual animosity filled with hatred and resentment.
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