The Last Mr. Dongguo

Have you ever seen a ghost?

The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. Legend has it that on this day, the gates of the underworld open, allowing communication between the living and the dead. A family squats around a brass brazier, carefully folded gold and silver coins being placed into it. The flames reflecting on their faces at this moment may well be a way of offering greetings to their loved ones.

"Is it cold over there? Wear more clothes."

"This time there's a lot, so don't be stingy with it over there."

"What's wrong? Tell me in a dream."

"Everything is fine at home, don't worry..."

The streets were filled with the acrid smell of smoke. The ashes from burnt cigarettes swirled in the air, perhaps telling a story, or perhaps lingering in remembrance.

"Why would he hold an art exhibition at night, and today no less?" Li Mengying, unlike her usual self, kept looking back and forth at the people around her who were communicating with ghosts, her hands tightly gripping Fei Li's sleeves.

Fei Li remained remarkably calm, though in his heart he desperately hoped that those braziers could truly serve as a passage between the human and ghost realms.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Fei Li patted the back of her hand, a gesture that instantly replaced her fear with shyness.

"girl."

"what!"

A chilling voice sent shivers down Li Mengying's spine. On this unusual night, surrounded by people talking to themselves, a single address could terrify them instantly.

Are you calling me?

Li Mengying turned her head to find the source of the sound, and saw an old man with a weathered face standing behind her, holding a copper basin in his hands.

"Girl, give up. You two can never be together." The old man spoke in a very mysterious tone, and Li Mengying felt a chill run down her spine from his words. If it weren't for the sweat slowly seeping from Fei Li's hand, she would have truly thought the old man before her was a messenger from another world.

"What are you saying?"

"Both of you carry a burden you can't let go of, and these burdens are mutually restraining, conflicting, and irreconcilable. Do you think there's still a possibility of you being together?"

"A burden?" This time it was Fei Li's turn to question. Fei Li knew in her heart that her burden was the car accident fifteen years ago, but what was Li Mengying's burden? Was it related to her?

"Young man, you'll find out." The old man looked at Li Mengying again, revealing a mysterious smile. "I hope you two can make it to the end."

"Who are you?"

The old man gave no further reply. Holding the copper basin, he turned and walked into the hazy night, leaving behind only one sentence that drifted into the quiet air with the rising incense.

"In this world, there will always be people who leave before you. But I prefer to believe that they are not truly dead, but simply living on in a different way."

It wasn't until she arrived at the museum that Li Mengying felt like she had returned to reality. The experience she had just had left her feeling as if she had been through another world, a blur of reality and illusion, impossible to define.

How could an old man know about her own affairs? What would Fei Li think? Even though she was still holding Fei Li's sleeve, there was no longer any intimacy or sweetness, only worry and fear.

Upon entering the exhibition hall, Fei Li saw Director He chatting with Gu Hezhi. Director He was also Gu Hezhi's student. Since Gu Hezhi not only had considerable expertise in geological exploration but also possessed unique insights into calligraphy and painting, Fei Li was not surprised to see Gu Hezhi here.

"Professor Fei, Professor Li, welcome, welcome. It is truly an honor to meet you both at this art exhibition."

Li Mengying looked up and saw a middle-aged man walking towards her. The man was tall, with a straight back and brisk steps. Although it was summer, he had all the buttons on his shirt, and his kind smile made him both polite and approachable.

"I didn't expect you to arrive so early. I should have been the one to greet you at the door."

"Director He, you're too kind."

Fei Li immediately extended her right hand and shook hands warmly with the curator. Then she thought of Gu Hezhi, but couldn't find him anywhere.

Fei Li glanced around. Director He had clearly put a lot of effort into this exhibition; the automatic alarm and anti-theft devices alone represented the pinnacle of modern technology. "Spring Outing" hung quietly on the main wall of the exhibition hall, surrounded by sixteen thermal conductivity security systems and signal blocking devices. If anyone approached, the alarm would activate, and the doors and windows of the hall would automatically lock. Even a slight tilt of the painting wouldn't escape the detection system.

In addition, Director He also invited the Criminal Investigation Division to provide security guidance. At this time, Cheng Luan was discussing something with a man who looked like a security captain. He only nodded and smiled when he saw Fei Li and Li Mengying, which was his way of greeting them.

Just as Fei Li and Director He were talking, a couple walked into the exhibition hall.

"Director He, it's been a long time!"

A sweet voice instantly became the focus of everyone's attention.

The woman had a striking figure, dressed in a light blue evening gown. Her high updo was adorned with a beautiful headdress, and her delicate features, combined with understated makeup, exuded an air of sophistication. She carried a small pearl handbag in her left hand and gently linked her right arm with that of the man beside her. The man, dressed in a formal suit, was robust and handsome, with a well-groomed mustache that added to his masculine charm.

"Haha, no need to look, I can tell from the voice that you are a distinguished guest. Mr. Liu, I specially invited a Western chef today, I'll treat you to a late-night snack later."

"Director He has gone to great lengths, showing us the paintings and treating us to dinner. I just wonder how the chef's skills are; we'll have to savor them carefully later."

Liu Ting extended her slender right hand.

"Mr. Liu's attire doesn't seem like he's here to look at paintings; it looks more like he's attending a banquet!"

A rough voice came from outside the door, and then a burly man, his fat jiggling, barged in. Without greeting anyone, he pushed his way through the crowd, facing the painting "Spring Outing," and asked Curator He, "Old He, I won't beat around the bush. Name your price, how much for this painting?"

"Hmph, brother, I've already said it before, this painting isn't mine. I'm just holding this exhibition at someone's request. I don't even know who the invitees are, so how can I sell you a painting?" He Zheng's half-serious, half-joking manner left the burly man somewhat bewildered.

"Old He, what do you mean? Didn't you invite us here?"

Director He took out an invitation card identical to everyone else's from his pocket. "I also received an invitation card and was asked to exhibit the 'Spring Outing' painting here. As far as I know, there are nine people invited this time, and we are still missing one person. Once everyone arrives, we will study this mysterious and ominous painting together."

Director He's words sounded very mysterious, and given the unusual nature of the day, they made Li Mengying feel even more uneasy. Just as everyone was captivated by Director He's words, a man wearing a baseball cap entered the museum. He was short in stature, and unlike the others, he didn't try to make his presence known. He showed no interest in the "Spring Outing" painting, but instead found a quiet corner to sit down and silently watched Li Mengying.

However, when Li Mengying looked at him, he immediately lowered his head and looked away. Even so, Li Mengying recognized him, and this person both surprised and terrified her.