Dangerous Aesthetics

"I just admire his always so calm expression, making people wonder if there is anything in this world that can shock him." Solomon pushed a cup of coffee in front of Olivan, "Taste it, this is Lu Wacker coffee."

Coffee Luak is undoubtedly the most expensive coffee, if compared with oil painting, it is the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.

Oliwen picked up the cup and shook it slightly between his nose twice. His elegant aristocratic demeanor revealed rational qualities. He lowered his eyes and took a sip.

"The taste is really long and incomparable. It's a pity that it's a little overbaked." Olivan put down the cup.

Solomon clapped his hands, "Whoever said that Mr. Kane's painting is a masterpiece of modern art, I think you are a piece of art."

Neo laughed secretly, but tried his best to control his trembling shoulders.

Except for Solomon and Neo himself, Neo has never heard anyone describe Olivan so disgustingly.

"If you don't mind, we will visit this art treasure left by Katerina here tonight." Solomon looked at Olivan.In fact, it is not difficult to guess that he was so anxious to show this egg because he was worried that if Oliwen changed his mind, he would not tell him how to open the egg.

"Yes, but I have one condition." Olivan said slowly.

"Actually, I've long thought that, Mr. Kane, you can't open the Easter egg for me so generously just to take a look at what's inside. So what's your condition?"

"After half a year, I and several other painters will hold an exhibition in Russia. I hope to borrow this egg as one of the exhibits."

"What's so difficult about this? Since the exhibition is held in Russia, native Russian artwork can make the exhibition more accessible. I will definitely go to your exhibition in person then."

Oliwen nodded, and handed out the key to the safe hanging in his collar.

Solomon opened the lid of the safe, and on the velvet bottom of the black curtain, an elegant and round egg was displayed in front of them.This easter egg is not as gorgeous and dazzling as other tsarist eggs. The lines of its own are combined with the decorations to look elegant, and the embellishment of the gems just right brings it a sense of mystery.

"Although it's not quite the same as I imagined...but it's beautiful." Solomon's fingers caressed the surface of the egg, "There is no gap on it, can it really be opened?"

"Yes. The sapphire on the base is the twelve o'clock of the clock, and the agate is the six o'clock. You can press [-] in turn."

"These gems can be pressed down?" Solomon looked surprised.

"Yes, most collectors are afraid of destroying the gems inlaid on it, so they dare not press it too hard. In fact, the circle of gems is the password to open the egg."

Solomon looked at Olivan's face, and the other party's calm expression showed firm persuasion.

So Solomon pressed down hard. When the four gemstones representing "[-]" were all pressed down, the egg made a crackling sound, and the egg body bounced off the base. Solomon laughed, "So as long as it is With the right method, it really can be opened! Let's see what's inside!"

The eggshell is removed with extreme care, and the exchange of oxygen during breathing also stays in the lung cavity.

There is actually a small circle of gemstones embedded in the base. Surrounded by the gemstones, it is a small portrait of a character, which is slightly mottled due to age. Due to the long-term preservation of the eggs, the humidity and temperature of the air have not changed much. , so the faces of the characters on the miniatures are clearly visible.

"It seems to be a man..." Solomon carefully identified, what is the relationship between this man and Ekaterina?So mysterious but sealed by the empress in the easter egg and kept to this day?

"He is Sergei Saltykov, the first lover of the Empress, that is, he and Ekaterina, who was still the crown princess, got the first love of the Empress in [-] in the cabin where she went hunting. Once, she became pregnant with the Queen's only son, Paul I. Their relationship didn't last long, but thanks to Sergey's contribution, the Queen got a son with a stable position." Olivan explained .

"So that's how it is... But I think an egg with a small portrait of a Queen's lover will be more valuable than an egg full of gems, right?" Solomon looked at Olivan.

"I suggest you not to sell it, because the Easter egg that preserves the queen's secret thoughts cannot be described by money."

Solomon smiled and clapped his hands: "I really lost my composure. It's too vulgar to keep bringing up money in front of an artist."

Oliwen picked up the coffee and took a sip: "You are a businessman. But I hope this easter egg is still in your hands before my exhibition is over."

"Naturally, I, Solomon Downer, keep my word."

"It's getting late, I think I need to rest." Olivan bowed and got up to say goodbye.

Solomon held out his hand to him: "Indeed, it's already one o'clock in the evening. I hope to have the opportunity to invite you to dinner."

Oliwen also shook hands with the other party, and the other party clasped his fingers very close, stroking his palm with his fingers, the ambiguous meaning was self-evident.Neo knew that his old friend was about to lose his temper, so he quickly reached out to shake hands with him, and then Olivan took his hand back.

The two left the spa and walked back to their room.

"Solomon seems to be really interested in you, but unfortunately he doesn't know, you are the one above. But he looks quite strong, don't you like to overwhelm this type the most?" Neo whispered half-jokingly.

"Be careful that Solomon's bodyguard will blow your head off when he hears you."

Neo laughed dryly, "We're considered successful now, aren't we?"

"Yes."

When he came to Olivan's room, before he took out the key card, David opened the door suddenly, with a smug smile on his face: "How is it? Solomon's play is not bad, right?"

Neo stepped forward to give him a high-five, and an atmosphere of excitement and joy filled the room.

"Of course it's perfect. Olivan also said that he must lend the egg to Solomon's painting exhibition, so that the idiot will believe that the one in his hand is the real one." Neo sat down and tapped his finger on the safe that David brought back. A little bit, "Solomon never thought that the bomb... To be precise, it was a smoke bomb, which was actually placed in advance by me. And those few gunshots were actually miniature bombs that I set up. Similar to Chinese firecrackers."

"And I, as long as I wait there, even if Solomon doesn't come to hit me, I will hit him, and then take the opportunity to swap his safe with mine. When he watches with you with a fake, Olivier taught How he opened the egg left him no doubt that what he was holding was the real thing." David also leaned on the table and laughed, "But I'm curious, what is inside Ekaterina's egg."

"True love." Olivan looked at David, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but his eyes looked a little lonely.

"True love?" David blinked, "Although I used to be ignorant, I have read all the books in your study. Ekaterina is a very romantic queen, and she has countless lovers." There are many, but none of them can stay on the throne of 'The Queen's Lover' forever."

Oliwen took out the easter egg, pressed the gems in the correct order, and took off the eggshell. On the base, there was still a small portrait. The man in the small portrait was handsome and smiling, with a charming demeanor .

"Who is he?" David was a little curious, "Sergey Saltykov? Forget it, this guy is a playboy, let Ekaterina down. Stanislav Poniatovs Ki? When she met the last king of Poland, she said, 'Don't let a man be your master, don't let love replace your rule.' I guess he is not enough to have such an important position in the queen's heart." Olivier Looking at David racking his brains to think, a smile appeared on the corner of his lips: "He is Potemkin, who won the Crimea Peninsula for Yekaterina and made the empress's name famous in Europe. But Potemkin Jin's love for the queen did not last long, but he was loyal to the queen until his death. For this reason, the queen also sighed, "Why can't love and loyalty be combined?"

David froze for a moment, then smiled helplessly: "At least compared to other lovers, Potemkin will stand by her side until his death."

"That's why you drew Sergey Saltykov, the love liar, in the Easter egg for Solomon? How ironic..." Neo suddenly realized.

Olivan didn't say much, but just meditated on the easter egg.

David knew that he must have thought of the original owner of the egg, the professor whom he had always admired.

Neo stretched his waist, "I'm sleepy, I'm going to bed! I hope Solomon won't come to you very enthusiastically tomorrow, so hide the safe!"

David looked at Olivan suspiciously: "Why did Solomon come to you so enthusiastically?"

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't ask." Olivan frowned.

David curled his lips, yes, Olivan will not tell himself.Like that professor, David didn't even know his name.

"Okay, I'll go back to sleep too, I'm so sleepy—" David walked towards the door.

Just as he touched the doorknob, someone suddenly hugged him from behind.