"Master, have some tea."
Terry Chen respectfully handed a cup of tea to Cao Wanzhi. His face looked pale, and both his hands were trembling slightly. Cao Wanzhi took the tea and drank a sip without suspicion.
I could see the panic on Terry Chen's face, with large beads of sweat seeping from both sides of his forehead. Especially after Cao Wanzhi drank several sips of tea in succession, Terry's panic grew even worse.
"Terry, are you sick? You haven't looked well these past few days."
"No... no... Master, it's nothing."
As Terry Chen spoke, he immediately turned around and went downstairs to keep busy. He clutched his chest, looking pained, then sat at the foot of the stairs, his face full of sorrow.
At that moment, David Dong came back. As soon as he entered, he saw Terry Chen sitting at the foot of the stairs. Terry quickly got up and started working.
David Dong just glanced at him casually, as if he knew what was going on, but said nothing.
"David, it's understandable that people aren't satisfied with photos like yours. Tomorrow, push me over and I'll take the pictures myself. Then I'll explain to you in detail what's wrong with your technique."
As Cao Wanzhi spoke, David Dong nodded. Terry Chen kept his head down, eating without picking up any food, his face filled with guilt. Finally, unable to bear the torment of his conscience any longer, Terry looked ready to confess everything.
"Master, I..."
"Terry, tomorrow your master and I have to go to that client's house, so you'll have to stay and watch the studio. I got another job today—come with me later. It's just an ordinary family's request, so you can handle it and get some more practice."
"Yes, Terry, just go and see how it's done."
As Cao Wanzhi spoke, Terry Chen looked hesitant, just about to say something when David Dong suddenly called out.
"Oh right, Master, I almost forgot—the client's still waiting. Come on, Terry, let's hurry over so we don't keep them waiting. Ah, my memory!"
With that, David Dong pulled Cao Wanzhi along, not giving Terry Chen a chance to speak, and dragged him to the doorway.
"Master, wait, I..."
"Terry, hurry up. If they're waiting, we can't make them wait for nothing. David, you too—don't forget important things like this next time."
"Understood, Master."
With a bang, David Dong, looking anxious, dragged Terry Chen out of the photo studio. As soon as they stepped outside, David's expression changed dramatically.
"What are you trying to do?"
"No, it's not that, I..."
"Listen, Terry Chen, you're involved in this too. Hmph, are you trying to betray me?"
For a moment, Terry Chen was stuck—unable to retreat, unable to move forward. Then David Dong dragged him to a small restaurant, ordered a tableful of dishes and some wine, and sat Terry down in a room on the second floor.
"Lies, once you tell the first, there'll be a second. You've lied more than three times, haven't you, Terry Chen? Don't pretend to be a good person. Who doesn't want a better life? Since you've made the choice, don't be so timid. If you turn back now, you'll lose everything."
Terry Chen looked miserable, while David Dong patted his shoulder and poured him a glass of wine.
"Drink up. Heh, conscience is like a triangle, always rubbing against you and making you uncomfortable. But over time, those edges get worn down and it stops hurting. Understand?"
Terry Chen took a sip of wine, then spoke gloomily.
"There's no going back now."
Later that night, led by Huang Mingfa, David Dong and Terry Chen went to a brothel. The three each picked some girls, drank all night, and seemed very happy. The tangled look on Terry Chen's face had completely disappeared by now.
The next day, Cao Wanzhi asked Terry Chen to help him find a reliable Taoist priest. He didn't explain the reason, but insisted the priest had to be effective, and sent Terry out to ask around.
After much effort, Cao Wanzhi managed to get Grace Hu's birth date and time from an old acquaintance. He planned to ask a trustworthy Taoist priest for help in finding Grace Hu.
Terry Chen was initially puzzled, but after Cao Wanzhi and David Dong left, he went out to the street.
"What's wrong, Terry Chen? Did Cao Wanzhi give you more orders?"
Terry Chen told the old Taoist about Cao Wanzhi's request. The Taoist just smiled and said nothing.
"You'd better hurry back and keep watch. The family you were supposed to photograph has already sent someone to find your master."
Hearing this, Terry Chen panicked and rushed back to the photo studio. Sure enough, the family had already sent someone to get Cao Wanzhi.
"Is Master Cao not here?"
"Oh, my master went out... to see a doctor. He probably won't be back today. I've already told him about your request."
The family's servant sent Terry Chen away again, but Terry couldn't ignore Cao Wanzhi's instructions. After some thought, he went to find the fake Taoist, Huang Mingfa.
"That's easy. Just say you went to East Street, where people set up stalls to read fortunes, and looked around. Then say most of them were frauds—that's enough."
That evening, Cao Wanzhi returned. He started coughing slightly and looked unwell.
"Terry, any progress?"
"Sigh, Master, I went to East Street today, where many people set up stalls for fortune-telling and face-reading. Most of them are frauds, not effective. I remember I have a friend I used to work with—he mentioned some things before. I'll ask him when I get a chance."
"Master, you've worked hard all day. Terry, help carry Master upstairs. Let's go back and not disturb his rest."
David Dong said this, and together with Terry Chen, they carried Cao Wanzhi upstairs. Both of them couldn't help but look toward Cao Wanzhi's bedroom—a place they'd never entered, strictly forbidden by his orders.
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"What do you think is in Cao Wanzhi's bedroom?"
Terry Chen shook his head.
A few days later, the family Terry Chen was supposed to photograph came to urge again. Their son was about to get married, so they insisted Cao Wanzhi come in person to take the photos. Early that morning, Terry Chen received a message from Huang Mingfa, who made up an excuse that he was free and would go visit a friend, then took the camera equipment and left to practice.
Waiting at the door, before long, Terry Chen saw the family's servant arrive again.
"No need to look for my master. He's caught a cold and is sick. He told me to retake the photos for you."
"This..."
The servant looked troubled. Then David Dong came over and, after some discussion, persuaded the family to let him take the photos in place of Cao Wanzhi.
At this point, Cao Wanzhi had no idea he'd been drinking poison for days. He thought he'd simply caught a cold. Seeing him like this, I felt deeply distressed.
David Dong's photography skills were still average, but much better than Terry Chen's. Combined with his explanations, the family was finally satisfied.
Another night, Terry Chen was at the studio, learning from the now sickly Cao Wanzhi. Terry left early, having made quite a bit of money these days, and feeling restless, he decided to go to the brothel again.
He had barely left the studio when he ran into Huang Mingfa, who greeted him cheerfully. The two agreed to go together.
"Is that really true?"
David Dong looked at Huang Mingfa in astonishment.
"Of course it's true. Sigh, although my hatred for your master has faded, I can't just let him go on like this, right? What I gave Terry Chen was just something mild, only calming in effect. Here, I'll give you some too. After all, Cao Wanzhi isn't a fool—he might catch on to your tricks."
David Dong immediately understood and took the small bottle from Huang Mingfa.
"It's really not poison, is it?"
David Dong asked, and Huang Mingfa smiled, revealing a sinister grin.
"Even if it is, so what? What, don't you want to graduate early, run your own studio, or maybe use the money for something else?"
Then David Dong laughed, and Huang Mingfa's smile grew even more sinister.
"Anyway, soon enough, Cao Wanzhi will be bedridden and unable to go out. You know exactly what to do next. Or rather, you know best, don't you?"
David Dong nodded.
Over the next week, every time David Dong returned from taking photos for clients, he told Cao Wanzhi that everyone was satisfied. Meanwhile, Cao Wanzhi's health worsened—he lay in bed all day, weak, and even developed black patches on his skin.
Several doctors were called in, but none could help.
At this point, Terry Chen seemed to realize something. He was terrified by the changes happening to Cao Wanzhi's body.
One afternoon, Cao Wanzhi lay upstairs in his room while Terry Chen and David Dong ate downstairs.
"I've already contacted the bank owner."
With that, David Dong took out the receipt and smiled.
"Over three thousand taels in total. Each of us gets more than fifteen hundred, and we can withdraw it anytime."
With a clatter, Terry Chen's chopsticks fell onto the table. At that moment, David Dong placed the small bottle on the table, and fear appeared on Terry Chen's face.
"Cao Wanzhi doesn't have long to live. Now let's talk about what we'll do next. After all, you and I are in this together now, aren't we?"