Trafford’s Trading Club

Yuri felt a headache.

As for the cause of his headache, he thought it was probably because he drank too much last night... It seemed that he had become more and more dependent on alcohol in recent times.

But he didn't open his eyes yet, he just pressed his forehead softly with his hand, and then smelled a dull, even stinking smell that filled all around him.

The salary in the art museum is very low, and the monthly purchase of paints, brushes, and drawing paper is a huge expense. He can only rent a stuffy and dark basement like this.

"Is it already this point?"

Looking up at the alarm clock placed in front of the bed, Yuri had to get up in a hurry, looking for something to wear on the ground.

Clothes were thrown on the ground like garbage... This is probably what a single man is like, especially a single and poor man.

He finally found a piece of clothing that didn't smell much, put it on casually, and then opened the door to the basement where he rented his apartment.

"A newspaper, a coffee, a sandwich, a total of..."

"Give."

Yuri ate his breakfast as usual and got on the bus to the art museum. He actually found a seat where he could sit on the bus at this point, which made him feel a little lucky.

"...The stolen "Unknown Girl" is officially hung today, and the art gallery is open as normal."

One night when he casually opened the newspaper, Yuri was surprised to see such a headline. But regarding the content written on the news, he felt as if he had fallen into another world after taking a nap.

The date in the newspaper was correct, it was indeed today.

Subconsciously biting his lip...well, it hurt, so he probably wasn't dreaming.

But.

As an employee who works in an art museum...even though he is only responsible for cleaning the exterior walls, why doesn't he know that "The Unknown Girl" was stolen?

And... it still happened many days ago?

"What the hell!"

Yuri kept his temper and read the contents of the newspaper. "The unknown girl" was actually stolen by a very famous congressman in the city.

The police got clues and found the stolen painting directly at the congressman's home. The method of the theft was not reported.

Later, the police arrested the congressman, but during the transportation, the criminal congressman was kidnapped with weapons. At that time, the escaped prisoners and gangsters broke into a manor in the suburbs and had a conflict with the owner of the manor.

The owner of the manor defended himself and shot to death a total of three people, including the prisoner, Councilor Yefim. The stolen paintings have been returned to the museum and will be officially reopened to tourists today...

"Hell..."

Yuri really felt that what was written in the newspaper was nonsense... So many things had happened, but he had no impression at all.

His head was still a little heavy, making him wonder if he had been drinking so much last night that he had forgotten so many things.

But no, even if it is a fragment, there is no reason to forget what happened a while ago.

He continued to rub his forehead subconsciously.

The discomfort after waking up from a hangover lasted until the bus arrived, and it didn't feel much better. However, after Yuri arrived, he really saw many more tourists in front of the art museum than before. , waiting for the museum to open.

"Everything in the newspaper...is true??"

Yuri muttered and glanced at the time. He found that he had completely passed the time for work... For this reason, he had to do something he often did, which was to get into a sewer outside the art museum street.

This just happens to lead to a place inside the art museum. Of course, the exit there was actually blocked early in the morning. It's just that he has been cleaning here for a while and accidentally discovered this passage, so...

Anyway, after that, even if he missed work time, he was never found to be late.

It seems it's time to open the door.

Before Yuri had time to walk to the employee room and change into work clothes, he was forced to temporarily hide aside by the influx of tourists.

"Yuri! You're here again!"

At this moment, Yuri heard someone calling his name. It was a staff member in the art museum. The name seemed to be...forgot. Anyway, he didn't pay much attention to it.

"Ah... I was going to change clothes. But look." Yuri pointed at the guests and said: "There is no way I can get there. But I did arrive on time. Look, everyone is already here Here it is.”

The employee said calmly: "I don't care if you are late. In fact, even if you are late, I won't care about you! You haven't forgotten that you have been fired for a while, right?!"

"What?"

"I said! You have been fired! Yuri, let me tell you, if you come in seriously, we won't care about you! But if you continue to sneak in like this, next time, We have to call the police!" The employee said sternly: "Now, leave immediately! Don't consume all the feelings I have for you that we have worked with together."

"Speak clearly! What is dismissal? Who is dismissing? I was still working yesterday! Why are you dismissing?" Yuri couldn't help but rush forward.

The employee took a step back in disgust, "It stinks...how much did you drink? Please, please sober up before walking on the street!"

"say clearly!"

The employee waved his hand at this moment, and two security guards immediately came up, holding Yuri on his left and right sides, and dragged him out of the art museum.

"Let me go! Let me go!!"

In front of the art museum, Yuri was pushed hard. One of the security guards said: "Let's go, let me see you again! Tell me, how many times has this happened this month? You always pretend." Standing in front of those famous paintings, do you think you are really an artist? Who would look at the rubbish you usually paint!"

"What did you say?!"

"Are you leaving? We can take action!"

The two security guards puffed up their chests at the same time. Yuri was startled and spat angrily: "You are illegally laying off employees! I will definitely go to the Labor Department to sue you! Wait! Bah!"

Yuri took a deep breath, turned around and left bitterly, still feeling absurd for a moment.

Before finally walking out of the art gallery, Yuri subconsciously looked back and looked at the newspaper he bought in the morning still in his hand.

He suddenly crumpled the newspaper into a ball, threw it hard in front of the art gallery, and shouted loudly: "Listen! One day, I will hang my painting inside!!"

…

"It's okay, oh... well, my current job is okay. Don't worry, I'm in good health. Girlfriend? I have no plans for the time being. Well, I understand, mother."

It's probably been a while since I've written to my parents back home, right?

Yuri stood alone under an old building, silently listening to his family's nagging, "...Okay, no more talking, I'm going to start working here. I love you, mother."

Yuri stuffed the phone into his waistband... He said he would go to the Labor Department to file a complaint against the art museum, but in fact it would just be a waste of time to do this.

If you have the energy, you might as well find a new job as soon as possible... This month's rent has not been paid yet.

The sky above Moscow is still so refreshing, just like when I first came here... I still had dreams at that time, right?

After using up all the money he brought from home, no one appreciated the works he sold door-to-door. In the end, he could only paint portraits of passers-by on the street to earn some living expenses.

I remember sleeping on the streets half a year ago when it was still cold and snowing, and I almost froze to death.

He put his hands in his trouser pockets and walked aimlessly on the street. He no longer thought about the reason why he was fired... What he needed to think about was how to continue his life in the future.

"Dreams cannot be eaten for food."

Yuri no longer remembers who said this... Maybe he really has no talent, but relies solely on impulse to support his so-called dream.

But now, without enough food and clothing, it's time to think about it... think about it and give up on the dream.

"here it is……"

I can’t remember how I got to this place. Yuri stopped... Perhaps because he was too focused on thinking about the problem, he actually came to this place again.

On the side of the old building with red brick walls, Yuri stood like this for a long time, silently looking at the twisted city pattern on the mottled wall.

It always feels a bit ridiculous... At that time, how on earth did I persist in painting here every day in such a cold winter?

It's just that he has an urge to fill in some of the last lines that he finally gave up... Anyway, today is a free day, and he doesn't have to work anymore.

Yuri then found a stone on the ground, walked under the wall, and closed his eyes.

After a while, he started to use the water chestnut corners of the stone to draw light white marks on the wall.

When I gave up, it was almost complete... but now I just added some missing things, and it didn't seem to take much time... or it seemed to have taken a long time.

"It seems...there's still something missing."

Suddenly, a slightly deep voice came from behind. Yuri turned around subconsciously and found that at some point, there was a man behind him.

Wearing a cap, mask, and sportswear... he must be a morning jogger. But he always felt that this man seemed a bit like he had seen him somewhere: "Who are you?"

The morning jogger's mask trembled a little, and he seemed to smile: "Do you have a dream?"

"Dream?" Yuri was stunned.

The morning runner said: "Ah, you forgot. Last winter, I asked you why you didn't burn the charcoal on your hands to keep warm in such a cold day."

The memory suddenly opened, Yuri smiled complicatedly and said: "Now, I think I will burn the charcoal on my hand."

The morning runner seemed stunned for a moment, then nodded and said softly: "That would be a shame."

Yuri shrugged, looked up at the huge graffiti, and said calmly: "Not necessarily. No one will like this thing anyway."

"I won't disturb you anymore." The morning jogger said politely.

Yuri nodded subconsciously, and when he saw the morning runner about to turn around, he subconsciously stopped him: "Wait, can you do me a favor?"

"Sir, what's the matter?"

I don't know if it was an illusion, but Yuri always felt that the other party's voice was a little cold. But he didn't pay too much attention, "If possible, could you help me?"

"help?"

…

"By the way, go a little to the left, a little further, okay, okay, right here! Don't move! It'll be over soon!"

Under the old wall, the morning jogger lent his shoulders, and Yuri rode on his shoulders so that he could reach a higher position on the wall.

He took out some paint tubes from his clothes. This was his habit, and he would always carry some with him... At this time, he squeezed out a tube of paint and painted it on the upper left corner of the graffiti with his fingers.

Lemon yellow.

A circle...a sun.

Over the twisted city, a bright yellow sun shines. The darkness and sunlight looked extremely strange... But after putting down Yuri, the morning runner stared at it for a long time.

He suddenly said softly: "Sir, I think you are wrong about something. That is, no one will like this, at least I like it very much. I think I have finally waited for the perfect day."

Yuri smiled and said, "You are such a weirdo."

He shook his head: "I won't talk to you anymore. I have to find a new job now. Otherwise, I guess I won't even have charcoal next time... Goodbye, I'm glad to meet you again."

"Sir, may I know your name?"

"Yuri, my name is Yuri."

"Do you like drawing?"

Yuri was silent for a while, shook his head and said, "I'm not too sure now."

The morning runner suddenly opened his clothes and took out a pen, "Give me your hand."

He wrote a phone number on Yuri's palm and told him: "I have a friend who also likes to draw. You can talk about it. I, by the way, I suggest you learn from him." Well... just say it was Vladimirovich, his old friend from the judo class who introduced him."

"judo?"

"I hope to see your works in the future." The morning runner said calmly: "Mr. Yuri."

…

"It turned out to be a rich man."

Yuri looked at the phone number written on his palm and watched as the morning jogger finally got into a black car... Was the driver a little too muscular?

It should be a bodyguard, right?

Yuri thought for a moment and felt that there was nothing wrong with making this call, so he dialed the number on the palm of his hand.

"Hello, this is the Repin Academy of Fine Arts. I am Professor Apliem. How can I help you?"

Yuri subconsciously reached out and patted his face... Repin Academy of Fine Arts... Former Royal Academy of Fine Arts... Apliem... This is the authority in the art world!

"Vladimirovich...Vladimirovich...Judo?" Yuri's heart suddenly beat violently: "Could it be...him!! I actually rode on...the shoulders!" !”

Yuri turned around suddenly and looked at the graffiti on the wall.

He suddenly felt that he might be favored by the god of luck today.

"Hello? Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Ah...Hello, I'm here! I'm here! I'm here! My name is Yuri. Professor Apulem, I'm sorry to call you. It's like this, there is a..."

…

…

Luo Qiu was reading softly the contents of the parchment in his hand.

"First, let Mr. Yuri forget everything about you and Yefim, and restore his memory to before he knew you. Complete."

"Second, give him a chance to pursue his dream... and complete it."

"Third, let Mr. Yuri enjoy a life span of up to twenty-five years again... Well, I'm sorry, Miss Anna, Mr. Yuri has already made a deal with us before, and your soul trading money is not enough. Even if you buy his soul back, your lifespan will only be up to twenty-five years.”

Gently rolling up the parchment in his hand, Luo Qiu looked at Anna in front of him with a smile and said softly in the house that originally belonged to Oleg but was now easily occupied for temporary residence. : "Excuse me, does the above meet what you want, Miss Anna?"

"Okay." Anna nodded gently.

Seems very calm.

It was so calm that it made no difference whether she opened her eyes or closed them. At this moment, she slowly closed her eyes, knowing what was waiting for her next.

Death...souls belong to each other. She didn't know what the soul looked like, but she knew about death.

But after waiting for a while, Anna didn't feel anything wrong with her body.

This made her open her eyes in confusion.

"Miss Anna, I'm curious about something."

Luo Qiu asked softly: "You said that Yefim and the curator of the museum conspired to steal "The Unknown Girl", and the paint used was actually a kind of fading paint. Well...the museum owner took advantage of his daily life When maintaining the painting, I secretly applied this special paint on the real painting and hung it up again. This paint is quite special and will undergo two changes, from appearing to fading."

"Well..." Luo Qiu smiled and said: "It was normal when it was hung up, but after being exposed to special light, the color appeared, and the good painting became the same color as the bottom frame. Look. When you get up, the real painting seems to have disappeared. After that, as long as you report the crime, wait for the police to ask questions, and then take down the painting with only the 'frame' left, you will be undetected..."

Anna said calmly: "What exactly do you want to say?"

"Nothing." Boss Luo walked away a few steps and came to the living room.

There was an easel placed here, and he opened the canvas on the easel, and what was revealed was also a painting called "Unknown Girl".

"This...you took it out of the art museum?"

"No. This is not the second "Unknown Girl" painted by Mr. Uri in the manor that is hanging in the art gallery now... but the first one, the first one that Miss Anna sold at the auction. "

"Impossible, it has obviously been destroyed by Yuri!"

"Well, I picked it back up later and repaired it a little bit." Luo Qiu stretched out his hand and slowly rubbed it on the painting. He looked into Anna's eyes: "During the repair process, I discovered some very interesting things. That's it. I was talking about the paint just now."

When the color on the painting slowly melted away and turned into a mass of stains, it seemed as if it had been washed away by something.

The nameless girl has disappeared.

There was only one other woman on it, with a smile... her eyes were moving and her smile was charming.

"Yuri..."

Anna folded her right hand with her left hand, and gently folded her trembling hands on her lips, looking at its original appearance dreamily.

When a tear slipped down, she could only be heard speaking softly with a choked voice.

"Thank you...for loving me."

Among the black and white, a little bit of color spreads slowly, not bright and not large, just a little bit.

But it was enough to fascinate Boss Luo, who quietly admired it.

…

The soul's light ball slowly floated out from Anna's forehead, like a floating dandelion, and finally landed in Luo Qiu's palm.

Its brilliance is shrinking little by little.

"It's above par."

The maid who was waiting silently said softly next to the master with a smile: "Congratulations, master."

Luo Qiu seemed to be in a good mood. With a smile, he picked up the painting from the painter and looked at it carefully, "After you go back, how about you find a place to hang it?"

"Okay." The maid responded softly, and then added: "It's a pity that Yuri has erased all his memories and hasn't had time to name it yet."

"Name it?" Luo Qiu was stunned, then chuckled: "Isn't it already named? Look, who is it painting?"

Hence the name of the painting.

"Anna". (To be continued.)