Anna thought of many possibilities.

The good and the bad.

She was prepared to withstand ridicule and looked forward to relief and encouragement.

What kind of results.

She was able to take it in stride.

Only this sentence was not on the list of possible long replies that she had in mind.

It's a mother's walnut tart that isn't on the restaurant's menu, a rare gem that will never be on the auction roll.

So Anna cried instantly.

It's been many years.

Time is like water, and the world is like the sea.

She sat alone on a high throne, lonely watching the tide flow past her, as if sitting in an old-fashioned movie theater watching a black-and-white silent movie rolling.

Everyone is unvivid, pale and colorless, like puppets playing a specific role on stage.

Including herself.

Proud and noble Miss Elena, elegant and beautiful Miss Elena, strong and calm Miss Elena...... She and the scheming Sir Brown, the flashy prodigal cousin Ole, and the faithful Mr. Butler...... All of these characters, as well, are on the other side of the black and white screen.

And the little girl who is holding the little prince and holding the doll is sentimental, she is something that does not belong to that world.

in that world.

No one sees her as someone who needs pity, and she can't be a person who needs pity.

So she could only shut herself up in the corner of the theater, in the deepest part of her soul, and watch the joys, sorrows, and sorrows on the screen amid the rustling sound of the projector film turning.

In this theater, there used to be other people.

She used to have her parents sitting next to her, but they were not there when they were very young.

Also sat his own aunt.

After my aunt passed away a few years ago, there was only one little girl sitting in front of the screen with three crosses from the cemetery, day after day, year after year.

If there's anything else that's barely alive, it's Auguste.

Auguste is almost fifty years old when converted into human life.

It's a full old dog.

Anna took August with her every day, bathed him, brushed him, and equipped him with a special veterinarian.

She was so scared, so scared, so scared that August would one day leave her.

Then in this world, she is really the only one left walking through the black, white and silent deserted space, and there is no companion who asks her to feed popcorn.

Every day, every hour, every moment.

There are bright and lustful smiling faces on the screen, saying to Miss Elena with a veil crown that they want to love her, want to get her, and want to kiss her hand.

When she thought that the same plot would be repeated endlessly forever.

Until one day.

Suddenly, someone didn't look at the head of the Elena family, who was high up.

Instead, she turned her head, looked through the curtain of the movie, and whispered, "Poor, I want to hug you." ”

In a flash.

She managed to cross the barrier of the curtain, walk into the barrier of the theater, and take the little girl into her arms.

It is the meeting of two colored figures in a black and white world.

Serendipitous and fateful, the warm embrace of two dimensions runs through Yelena's heart.

Therefore, the little girl who lived in Miss Elena's heart threw herself into this embrace across time and space without any scruples.

Burst into tears.

Anna, who was holding the phone, was laughing.

She covered her mouth lightly with the back of her hand, pursed her lips and smiled, smiling freely and gracefully, smiling so that she bent down slightly.

A tear rolled down his cheek.

Dripping from her smooth chin onto the carpet, like the first melted spring of early spring, flowing through the snowy mountains of Austria.

August sniffs tears on the carpet.

It put its front paws on Anna's chair, stretched out its big dog's head, and whispered in a little panic, licking its master's forehead with its tongue.

"I'm fine."

Anna patted August's nose and shook her head slightly, indicating that she was not doing anything, she was just happy.

"Huh?"

She didn't want the detective cat to hear the anomaly from her tone.

So he only made a slightly nasal voice into the phone, and asked the other party to continue.

"She's very pitiful, you're right, she must be very scared in her heart, very afraid, afraid of doing nothing, afraid of doing wrong, wandering. I know how it feels, and I've felt the same way. ”

Gu Weijing's tone was sympathetic.

He heard the young heir in Mr. Sloth's words, as if he had seen himself weeping by the lake a few weeks ago.

"Mr. Sloth, do you know?"

"A friend told me that no matter how much the world changes, you must be serious about becoming a painter. You're famous, you're a serious painter. No one cares about failure, and you are also a serious painter. Do your own thing and find your own anchor. The tide rises and falls, and it is not moving. ”

"And no matter what the outcome is, she will always be there for me, which is the most moving expression I have ever heard."

Gu Weijing omits the part of yoga and meditation.

As much as possible, I will express the meaning of Miss Katsuko to Mr. Sloth.

"Heart anchor?"

Anna wiped her face and whispered the statement in her mind.

"Mr. Sloth, you just said that the most important thing for my nephew to understand is not to make a choice, but to know what is most important to him."

"I suppose it's exactly the same for your friend, isn't it?"

As a sensitive personality owner who had just experienced a similar situation, Gu Weijing became full of words when he began to talk about it.

"She has to understand what she wants, be herself, and succeed she is herself. Failed, she was still herself. ”

"Whether she chooses the right thing or not, she's at least moving towards what she wants. So no regrets, no fears, that's the anchor of her heart......"

He spoke for several minutes in a row.

After a little breath, I took a sip of water.

"That's the truth. White teeth may be a little pale to say, but as long as I am willing to think about it carefully, I feel a lot better every time I feel hesitant. ”

Gu Weijing nodded firmly.

"When you asked me if I drew a ten-dollar illustration, I was convinced that I would make it? Of course not. No one can foresee success the moment they pick up a paintbrush. At least that's not me, I certainly don't have such a strong and determined heart. "But I think I can decide to be myself the moment I pick up the brush." Painted for the people I love. Then you won't be afraid. ”

Anna didn't speak.

She sat in a wheelchair and listened quietly with a gentle expression.

In the adult world, no one can convince others of the fateful decision in just a few words.

Not the pompous lecturers on the podium who promote successology, not Dr. King, the $1,000-a-hour psychologist in New Zealand.

Gu Weijing......

Actually, he didn't have the ability to do that either.

But Anna never needed to be persuaded to make a decision.

The real decision, she had already made in her heart.

All she needed was a little courage, a ray of sunshine, a little revelation.

All she needed was a shared breath and a warm hug.

Just wait for the person who can bring her strong comfort and psychological support, and embrace her into her arms.

If Anna's aunt is still alive, of course it is a more suitable candidate to open her arms.

Gu Weijing, a person who is a little sensitive and fragile, would not have the ability to give such strong beliefs and support.

But after that magical couple trip, he had the qualifications.

Any big name that Vianna knows is eligible.

In fact, the belief and support did not come from Gu Weijing, or even Miss Sakai, but from the source, it should be Mrs. Sakai.

The one who left the Mercedes-Benz car and the privileged life behind followed her husband to Asia without hesitation.

Without frowning, he rushed to the unknown fate.

After making a decision, a Latin girl who never regrets even jumping downstairs.

It can be said that she is mean, it can be said that she has a poisonous tongue, and it can be said that she is a difficult "old fairy".

But Mrs. Sakai is really a person who is super mentally strong and super determined.

She can throw away everything without care, single-handedly "train and pull" Uncle Sakai from the bottom, and feed the successful strong woman to the top.

One in a million.

Even Elena's wise and erudite aunt would not have such a precious and bumpy life experience, because the other party, like Anna, has also been a noble girl in a pile of gold and jade all her life.

Twenty years ago.

The blonde aunt's crisp slap on Uncle Sakai's face reverberated in the long river of time, turning into an affectionate kiss in the botanical garden, and then into a hug across time and space in the virtual radio waves, hugging Miss Anna's heart.

hitherto

Still echoing.

"I don't know if these words will be useful, but all I can think of, and I don't dare to express my opinion on the inheritance of such a large family property......"

The cat lady, who was full of sympathy because of her sense of substitution, became shy again after expressing her personal opinions with emotion.

After all, it's a $12 million thing.

"Useful. Be brave and be yourself, full of philosophical advice. Thank you, I will pass on your words to the other party. ”

Anna gently interrupted the detective cat.

It must be useful.

I promise you.

Is there a moment when you feel that when you are being held in someone's arms, you will have endless courage to stand up to the whole world?

Anna had an irrepressible urge to ask Ms. Cat, no matter what the outcome was, would she be by her side?

It's just that she opened her mouth several times.

I didn't know what position to take to say this somewhat ambiguous word, and in the end I could only say goodbye to each other regretfully and hang up the phone.

Anna put her phone back aside.

Pushing open the bedroom window, I picked up a 1965 pottery jar made by Picasso on the table, threw it from the window, and watched it dissipate freely in the fields of the manor.

"I'm going to do a big thing the day after tomorrow."

The girl turned her head, looked at Auguste lying beside her, and smiled silently, "To be myself, and for the detective cat." ”

Anna gathered up her emotions and rang the bell at the table.

When the well-dressed butler knocked on the door, she instructed, "Give Mr. Valita a call and tell him that I need to cancel my appointment for tomorrow morning's visit, and give him my apologies." ”

"Okay, I'll call His Majesty Valita's office, considering that dinner with the president will be prepared at sunset, plus the drive back and forth, tomorrow's trip is indeed too rushed." The steward bowed down to receive the order.

His Majesty Valita, as they spoke, was not the monarch of any European country, but the abbot of Melk Monastery.

The archbishop of such a region is officially able to be called His Majesty.

In the historical electoral system of Germany next door, two of the voting princes were archbishops of each generation in a particular diocese.

The archbishop is also the only person in Austria who can be addressed in public without breaking the law.

Of course.

Even when the aristocracy ceased to exist, Anna herself was often given the title of Highness as a sign of respect in the Melk Abbey or in correspondence with the families of the Commonwealth countries.

Anna shook her head.

It's not a matter of time.

It is the tradition of the Elena family that when making a major decision, they should go to the Merk Monastery and face Athena under the dome of the lion chariot and make a decision carefully.

This is probably some kind of psychologically suggestive habit.

She canceled her plan to go to Melk Monastery, not because of the exhaustion of the journey and the tight schedule.

Rather, Anna no longer needed the goddess Athena on the chariot to give her inspiration and courage, she had her own soul to rely on.

Detective Cat Sister.

It's like a companion to that well-known saying.

For you,

Thousands of times.

She waited for the butler to leave the study, then took out her phone again, found a name from the contact list, and clicked call.

Just a few seconds of waiting.

The call was answered immediately.

"Miss Elena, good afternoon!" A respectful and polite voice came from the phone.

"Reporter Jon William of The Economic Critic, I have a big announcement at the annual meeting, and you might want to write a press release ahead of time—"

——

Forty hours later.

Early Sunday morning.

The old castle and bell tower are bathed in the rising sun, and the contrast is the strange building in the city center.

The surface of the huge azure New Art Center presents a certain curvature arc, giving people an unreal sense of science fiction.

Locals affectionately call it "Friendly Alien" or "Heterosexual Bug".

For this day and age.

It's too new, and the city architecture is too old.

So it looks like a magnificent plastic art building covering an area of 16,880 square meters, like a giant spaceship, moored among the small red brick buildings of the Middle Ages around it.

Two dislocated space-times collide with each other, with the feel of a strange space opera.

At this time, visitors were already lining up in front of the museum.

A steady stream of taxis and Ubers pass by drop-off points, braking and accelerating, and taillights forming a continuous strip of neon lights.

William, who had barely slept all night, had just been in the car for a while.

When he pushed the car door and stretched out to get out of the car, he saw such a noisy scene of traffic.

Tomorrow will be a day off.

(End of chapter)