Hidden depths

"Dirk, I can't accept this painting." Jake said to Dirk.

"Why?" Dirk asked in response, "I thought you liked this painting. Why don't you want it now? Do you think it's poorly made and don't want it anymore? It's alright, I'll give you another masterpiece in three days." Dirk thought Jake had come to his senses and didn't want the painting anymore, which he could understand.

"It's not that." Jake shook his head, "It's because this painting is too valuable."

"Too valuable?" Dirk exclaimed, then smiled and said, "It's just worth a few tens of thousands, how valuable can it be? Jake, even though you don't have much money now, I believe your future accomplishments will be extraordinary." Dirk thought Jake was refusing the painting because he felt tens of thousands were too expensive.

"If it really was only worth tens of thousands, I would accept it." Jake said, "But its true value is not just tens of thousands, it's worth tens of millions."

After saying that, Jake felt a sense of relief. Although he might be losing tens of millions, he wouldn't have a guilty conscience after speaking out. This was more important to him than the money.

"In the gaming world, I have so many resources. Just selling some of the trees in the Hermit Village's mountains would easily cover these tens of millions. If these millions are lost, they're lost." Jake consoled himself.

"Tens of millions?" Dirk was surprised and smiled, saying, "Jake, are you joking?" Dirk even thought the painting wasn't worth sixteen thousand, let alone being worth tens of millions.

"I'm not joking." After making his decision, Jake felt even more relaxed. He continued, "I've studied some antique appreciation during my leisure time, and I've read some related historical books. This painting is not as ordinary as it looks on the surface; it holds hidden depths."

"Hidden depths?" Dirk became interested due to Jake's words.

"That's right." Jake said, "I've come across some historical accounts. It's said that a famous calligrapher from the Sui Dynasty, Li Suzhi, passed down his work 'Farewell to a Guest'. In the Qing Dynasty, a lesser-known poet acquired it. To protect the masterpiece and keep it safe from others, he used certain techniques to incorporate Li Suzhi's 'Farewell to a Guest' into his own artwork, confusing its true identity."

"Are you saying that poet is Jin Fei, and the painting with Li Suzhi's 'Farewell to a Guest' hidden within is the one you have?" Dirk parked the car by the roadside, looking astonished as he gazed at Jake.

"It's quite possible." Jake didn't elaborate further, as that might raise suspicion, "When I looked at this artwork, I found it suspicious. Unfortunately, my self-taught knowledge of antique appreciation isn't comprehensive, so I don't know how to reveal its hidden layers."

This was an excuse Jake gave himself. If he claimed he was self-taught, it was normal for him to lack some knowledge. It also explained why he was able to identify the hidden meaning.

Dirk looked at the painting in Jake's hands, nodded with a serious expression, made a phone call, then started the car again. Jake was curious about Dirk's actions, but he had already decided to return the painting, so he didn't feel pressured anymore.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of a villa. Dirk led Jake inside.

"This is where I live. If you have time, you can come visit." Dirk told Jake.

Inside the villa, apart from the servants, an elderly man was waiting. Dirk took the painting from Jake and handed it to the old man, saying, "Axel, please take a look."

The old man nodded, sat down on the couch, and took out a magnifying glass to study the painting. Jake felt a bit reluctant to see something worth tens of millions being taken away from him, but since he'd made his decision, he didn't regret it.

"Would you like something to drink?" Dirk asked Jake.

"Whatever." Jake said.

Dirk had a servant open a bottle of red wine and poured a glass for Jake and himself. He then said to Jake, "Axel has been studying antiques for many years, especially some ancient techniques. If this painting really contains hidden depths as you said, I believe Axel will be able to discover it and unveil its secrets."

Jake nodded, hoping that Axel could indeed reveal the hidden technique and broaden his own horizons. Axel spent about half an hour studying the painting. Suddenly, he exclaimed with excitement, "I've found it!"

Although Dirk and Jake had been chatting during this time, their minds were clearly focused on the painting. So, when they heard Axel's words, they both turned their attention to him.

"Axel, is it true that this painting holds hidden depths?" Dirk asked.

"Yes," the old man replied. He used a small flame to gently roast the painting, surprisingly, the painting didn't burn, only its surface changed slightly in color.

Then, he took out a small bottle from his pocket, pouring its contents onto the surface of the painting. The change in color on the surface seemed to intensify.

Finally, the old man had someone bring water and carefully wiped the painting, handling it delicately as if afraid of damaging it. By this point, the appearance of the painting had changed significantly, revealing individual characters and exposing its true nature.

Both Dirk and Jake widened their eyes, watching as the old man unveiled the true nature of the painting step by step. Their faces were filled with astonishment. Even Jake, who knew beforehand that the painting held hidden depths, was amazed at this moment.

"The techniques used on this painting are truly admirable, almost seamless. If Dirk hadn't informed me in advance that this painting held hidden depths, even I wouldn't have been able to see through its deception." Axel sighed with emotion.

Dirk looked at the revealed calligraphy artwork, which turned out to be the 'Farewell to a Guest' by Li Suzhi that Jake had mentioned earlier. His shock was immense. Jake had actually been right!

Beneath this unremarkable exterior, it had truly concealed a masterpiece by the calligraphy master Li Suzhi. How did Jake manage to see through it? Was he also skilled in antique appreciation? What other abilities did Jake possess that he wasn't aware of?

A series of questions flooded Dirk's mind. Initially, he thought he knew Jake quite well, but now it seemed that he had underestimated Jake's capabilities.