deformed bone

After Virgili's voice fell, Calvin's brows twitched.

"'bishop'?"

He couldn't help repeating the word.Isaac reached out and pressed his shoulder.

The two brothers of the Holden family don't like this word, and anything related to religion doesn't seem to bring them any good luck.

"Maybe it's a nickname, at least according to the information we have so far, this group of new guys are not the kind of people with rules." Isaac said to Calvin, even he himself did not realize his There was a sense of comfort in his tone.

"If there is such a newcomer, I should know—don't forget that this is the place of the red beard." Calvin said expressionlessly, his face was covered with a serious shadow, and his tone of voice was very serious. calm.

Calvin didn't finish his sentence, but he believed that Isaac could understand what he was worried about.Only one religious order was active in Redbeard's territory during this time: Adventists.

If this matter is really related to the Adventists...

Isaac remembered some things that happened in the past, and he felt a little oppressive in his chest, as if a cold dead finger was on his heart.

But at this time, Calvin had already put on a cold mask, and he refocused on Virgil.

"You didn't tell the police any of this, did you?" Calvin asked, his scrutiny on Virgilis as sharp as a dagger. "So why are you telling me this?"

He leaned forward, getting closer to Virgil.He looked at Virgil deeply, deeply, even under the cover of colored contact lenses, his eyes were still so deep, like a magical spring—he seemed to be able to see the deepest part of a person. The most secret soul.

And Vigilie obviously became more flustered because of this, his breathing was short and hot, and his knees became tighter.

"That's right... I didn't report this to the police... Yes, I know I should have done that... But, my parents..." Vigili paused, his brows furrowed together in distress, and he stared Looking at Calvin, his face was full of helplessness and shame, "They are not very happy to see me involved in this kind of thing. I had some conflicts with them before. I mean, I had some conditions before... no Great situation...they're always a little jittery about this sort of thing."

"Some conditions?"

Calvin raised an eyebrow, and he repeated.

Virgil's hands on his knees trembled a little. He lowered his head to avoid Calvin's eyes. His soft brown hair drooped in front of his forehead, blocking his expression.

"Something that almost put me in jail, uh, I was younger — and dumber, youthful, maybe it should be said."

Isaac whistled a sarcasm behind Calvin's back.

"God, seeing you like this, it's really unimaginable that you can do something that can alert the police... Oh, sorry, I shouldn't say that about you," Isaac clapped his hands, "After all, you are now You are also harassing my younger brother, which is actually enough for you to go to the police station, isn't it?" He looked down at Vigily's face from top to bottom, observing the embarrassment shown by this son-in-law. Isaac was disappointed that Virgili came across as flawless, as if he really was a shy art student.

And no matter how stupid Virgil was acting, he obviously didn't miss the hostility exuded by Isaac.He bit his lip and showed that disgusting timid look towards Calvin.

"I didn't mean to harass you, I really just...wanted to paint a portrait of you."

Vigily ignored Isaac, but bit his lip and said to Calvin.After he finished speaking, he lowered his head like a 6-year-old scolded by his mother, so that he looked ready for another rejection from Calvin.

Calvin lowered his eyes, and a trace of deep thought quickly passed through his eyes.

"If you really want that..." Calvin paused for a moment, then said, "Okay."

"I can see what you're thinking, sorry I...wait? Wait? What did you just say—"

Vigily suddenly stood up from the sofa. He was tongue-tied and red-faced, putting his palms on his chest like a girl in puberty: "I, I, I didn't misunderstand your answer just now, right? What you just said is , do you agree?"

The corners of Calvin's mouth were raised slightly, revealing a subtle, indifferent smile.Isaac, who saw this expression on the side, felt a chill rushing from behind him. The police officer who had been acting vicious just now opened his mouth and almost said something, but Calvin gave him a glance just right.Isaac swallowed, he closed his mouth and remained silent.

Calvin turned his head, and he continued to look at Virgil's pink face as he spoke word by word.

"However, I have conditions."

"Whatever the conditions, the answer will be 'yes'," Vigili said.

Calvin continued as if he didn't hear that sentence: "First, you can't dawdle too much, two or three afternoons, this is the time I can leave for you. Second, you can only spend time with me. Agreed to come and paint me when you come - I won't follow you to some artist's studio or something. Third, you can only paint my face, I'm not in charge of posing or in front of yours Titanic-style undressing. Fourth, this portrait cannot be shown to anyone else after it is painted. It cannot be used in exhibitions. It cannot be used in competitions or even shown to your art department friends..."

Having said that, Calvin paused for a moment. He glanced at Virgil's expression and found that the other party did not show the slightest resistance.

"...Fifth, I am not free. If you want to paint my portrait, you have to pay me. I forgot to mention that my price is not cheap."

Calvin said finally.

"Yes, I can accept all your conditions."

Vigilie said hurriedly.

"Money is not an issue."

He added.

The elusive smile on Calvin's mouth deepened, and when he smiled like that, he looked even more charming—or, rather, a little deeper than "charming."Virgil was so dazzled by him that he didn't even notice that Calvin had skillfully lifted him off the sofa, and slowly pushed him towards the door.

"Yes, I know, art cannot be measured by money."

The once-angel, now-bad bartender said absently, before he opened the door to the apartment and pushed a bewildered Vigili out.

"Then, goodbye." Calvin stretched out a finger, and the fingertip slowly slid down Vigily's neckline, and finally stopped on the young man's chest, "...we will contact you by phone. Oh, yes, with you Say hello to the other personalities."

Then he closed the door in Virgili's face.

……

The expressionless Calvin stood at the door for a while, Virgili dawdled at the door for a while, and then walked away with difficulty step by step—he still looked so dazed, as if he was being held by someone. Choking his neck, he poured too much mead into his stomach.After confirming that Virgil's figure had completely disappeared, Calvin turned his head blankly.

Isaac looked at him with raised eyebrows, spread his hands out, and made a shrug full of disapproval.

"Why?" he asked. "You said yes? Let that guy paint you? I don't think that's a big deal—even a retarded dog can tell that guy has something up his sleeve."

"Oh, of course." Calvin said calmly, "But I just want to know what he wants to do."

"You don't need to agree to him!" Isaac raised his voice, "Please, you also asked him to draw your portrait-do you know how dangerous it is? Just because you want to know what he wants to do-I can't It's a stupid excuse not to mention it."

Calvin shrugged like Isaac was before, and spread his hands: "Actually, I agreed to him only because I really needed a sum of money, and he... I mean, at least the one he pretended to be It doesn't look like you're short of money."

"You can tell me if you need money... Wait, what does this mean? Why do you need money?" Ai Zac's voice suddenly increased.

Calvin passed him and walked towards the kitchen. He leaned against the window and looked downstairs. From this angle, he could see the figure of Virgili when he left the whole building. The sunlight cast a long, dark shadow behind him. , that shadow followed behind that soft, shy and sweet rich son like a ghost.

"If this matter is really related to the supposed Adventists, this place is no longer safe—whether it is for me or the people around me." Calvin continued to look at Virgil's back, looking at him Walk slowly across the dirty front lawn, then turn behind the dark and sewage-filled alley.His figure finally disappeared, and God bless him this time he won't be stalked by the gangsters again.

Calvin turned his head, the sun fell on him through the dirty glass window, his platinum hair and the edges of his pale cheeks reflected golden halos.

"I have to be ready to leave, Isaac."

"You... you don't need to..."

Isaac froze, his voice full of dry frustration.

This is not the first time something like this has happened.

Throughout his formative years, Calvin did cause a lot of trouble for the Holden family.If at the very beginning, this act of avoiding trouble by fleeing was not out of Calvin’s own will, later on it was a choice Calvin had to make on his own.

Isaac always felt that he should say something, but he couldn't say anything.That cold, heavy feeling came back, and that dead man's finger rested on his heart again - Calvin's expression at this moment made him feel a kind of uneasiness for no apparent reason, unlike any he had ever felt before. Never the same.

Georgie's corpse cake is also good.

The secret so-called "bishop" is also good.

Oh, by the way, there is also Virgil, that son of a bitch.

Everything made Isaac feel extraordinarily wrong.