Jiang Ran shuddered all over, breaking free from the gaze of the girl in the painting. After breaking free, he looked at this painting again.
He discovered that the blood on this painting was so realistic, as if it were real human blood left on the canvas.
"What's wrong? Are you particularly interested in this painting of mine?"
The sound of footsteps, tap-tap-tap, ca from the stairs to Jiang Ran's right.
Jiang Ran turned his head, seeing a man with black hair reaching his shoulders, an ordinary face, around 35 years old.
Dressed and attired with a strong artistic sense, the man smiled at him.
"Not really, I just think your painting is very well done."
Jiang Ran also returned a smile.
Then he asked, "Are all the paintings here yours?"
He pointed to the other paintings inside the art gallery.
The long-haired man shook his head, "This art gallery contains the works of several painters."
"Several of us painters all live in Alice Apartnt, and since an art gallery was conveniently built here, everyone placed their paintings here for all residents to visit."
"However, usually not many residents co to visit. It seems the people living here are not very interested in art or paintings."
"I never expected that early in the morning, I would actually encounter soone coming to visit."
Jiang Ran let out a long "Oh," "I see. So it's only you here now? What about the other painters?"
The long-haired man smiled, "There are five of us painters in total. Each painter takes turns for one day; the other four are usually in the apartnt building. Of course, sotis they also stay here to paint."
Jiang Ran let out another long "Oh," then pointed with his right hand at the vampire painting on the left.
"Your painting is really good, especially this vampire. It's so realistic, I almost thought vampires in the real world really look like this."
The long-haired man smiled, "Actually, I painted it based on real-world vampires."
Jiang Ran chuckled, "From what you're saying, you've seen legendary vampires in reality?"
The long-haired man nodded, sowhat reminiscing about the past,
"That was ten years ago in Europe. I was at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, and I went with classmates to a prival forest for inspiration. That's when we encountered a male vampire, and I lost many classmates."
Jiang Ran's mouth fell open, "Vienna Academy of Fine Arts? Wasn't that the academy even the Führer couldn't get into? You're that impressive?"
If Hitler had actually gotten into the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts back then, perhaps World War II would never have happened. So, the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts should bear full responsibility for WWII.
Long-haired man, "It's alright."
Jiang Ran, "But I still find it hard to believe that there's really soone in front of who has seen a vampire."
Long-haired man, "Actually, in this world, many legends are true."
"Like werewolves, lizard people, vampires, zombies, aliens, subterranean people, and so on."
"It's just that, to avoid causing panic, governnts around the world won't admit their existence."
"Only unlucky yet fortunate people like might encounter them once."
"Of course, at least you believe what I say. Many people who know I've seen a vampire before simply don't believe it."
Jiang Ran, "That's normal. Humans find it hard to believe things beyond their understanding. For example, if you say that in our country's Taoism, so people can still use things like thunder magic, how many would believe it? Including myself, I'm only half-convinced about such things."
"After all, I haven't seen it with my own eyes."
Long-haired man, "Then we're fated. How about this, let's go to the second floor. I'll brew a cup of coffee and treat you? What do you think?"
Jiang Ran slowly shook his head, "No, the doctor told not to touch things like tobacco, alcohol, coffee, or drinks while I'm recovering from my injury."
"I think it's getting late, I should head out now."
Waving his hand and giving a greeting, Jiang Ran turned and walked away slowly.
After Jiang Ran turned around, the long-haired man's friendly expression instantly turned sinister and icy cold.
However, he did not take action, rely watching Jiang Ran leave.
After Jiang Ran left, a woman wearing black high heels walked down from the second floor.
This woman was around the sa age as the long-haired man. Although well-maintained, placed among truly young people, one could tell at a glance she was different.
She lacked the vitality and that youthful spirit that true young people should have.
"Failed, huh? Very vigilant."
The long-haired man smiled at the black high-heeled woman.
The black high-heeled woman said, "Isn't failure normal? Moreover, you're quite bold, daring to set your sights on him."
The long-haired man gave a disdainful smile, "I never give up because the prey is strong."
"Besides, if I can kill him, I only want his blood for painting. Wouldn't the rest of his body belong to you all?"
...
Jiang Ran absolutely would not go upstairs to drink that coffee.
Because when the long-haired man appeared, the Danger Warning System had already sounded an alert.
This was a dangerous person worth 7 points.
He had already made up his mind.
To properly accumulate 50 million points, so he could truly be free, completely severed from dissociative identity disorder.
Besides, before when he encountered danger, he was always overconfident, thinking that anyway the alternate personalities would handle it, so it didn't matter.
But after last ti, that inexplicably long vacuum period.
He decided that he should also avoid danger if possible.
At the sa ti, try to resolve dangers himself as much as possible, rather than continuing to rely on the so-called alternate personalities, causing such a long vacuum period again.
Returning to Building No. 1, the glass automatic sensor door separated the warm world inside the apartnt building from the cold world outside.
Jiang Ran took out his phone to see if anyone had sent him ssages.
WeChat showed a red dot.
It was from soone saved as Xiao An.
"Xiao An?"
Jiang Ran opened Xiao An's WeChat profile and the chat history between "himself" and her before.
He discovered that it seed during the vacuum period, an alternate personality had taken control of the body and signed up for a mbership at this place.
Xiao An was his gym salesperson.
"These alternate personalities..."
"How many things have they done during this period?"
The chat ssage Xiao An sent to Jiang Ran was simple, "Huh? Jiang Ran, how co you haven't been to the gym for so long?"
Jiang Ran typed a reply, "Got injured, so I haven't gone."
Putting away his phone, returning to Room 304, he found Xiao An had already replied, "Injured? Is it serious? Do you want to co see you?"
Jiang Ran typed, "No need, minor injury."
Xiao An, "Okay, then after you recover, you should co exercise often! Otherwise, the mbership card you bought will be wasted."
Jiang Ran sent a "Got it" emoji over.
For the rest of the morning, he stayed at ho, watching "The White Tower."
Around noon, he ordered a fifteen-yuan takeout.
After eating, he rested for an hour, then went downstairs again to go out for a walk.
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