Chapter 34: Mendeleev’s Epiphany (Part 2)

“I’ve actually been following your work since I was very, very young!”

“I once aspired to be a painter, just like you…”

“I used to feel your loneliness in your paintings… It was a desert-like solitude, as if you were running, but the race had no end…”

“I also saw a sense of decline in your work. Take ‘Spring’, for instance. You wanted to express romance, but it was permeated with a sense of sinking…”

“More than that, I saw you going through the motions. Ever since ‘Street Lamp’, every single one of your works has felt half-hearted!”

“…And now, each new painting feels more rushed than the last, as if they were tossed together in a matter of minutes!”

“Many people think you’re being satirical about reality, but I don’t see it that way… I think you’ve become numb. You’re sinking deeper and deeper…”

“Mr. Mendeleev, what exactly happened to you? I believe the man you used to be pursued perfection. But now, are you truly satisfied with the status quo?”

Inside a small tavern on the outskirts of Yanjing.

Zhang Yang was knocking back drinks, one glass after another.

His face was slightly flushed, looking very much like someone grieving over a person’s refusal to live up to their potential¹.

He stared at Mendeleev, throwing these rhetorical questions at the bearded artist.

Mendeleev sat beside him. For some reason, facing this young man who was small enough to be his grandson, he felt an overwhelming sense of shame.

Every word the youth spoke was like a blade piercing his chest.

It forced him awake, yet it was incredibly difficult to swallow his pride…

Even though the man was absolutely right and his words had brought a moment of sudden clarity, it had been a very long time since Mendeleev had heard such things, not since the older generation of famous painters had passed away one by one.

But this person was just too young!

In truth.

If the youth before him had been a seventy or eighty-year-old man, a painter of the same caliber, he probably wouldn’t feel such complex emotions.

But…

He was a young man, likely in his early twenties, and certainly no older than twenty-five!

“I… you don’t know what I’ve been through…”

“No, I do know. Your soul, like your heart, is being corroded by capitalism!”

“…”

Mendeleev fell silent.

The young man’s presence was too powerful. Unconsciously, Mendeleev had allowed himself to be overwhelmed by his momentum.

He wanted to say something to defend himself, but the words simply wouldn’t come.

“I know you think I’m too young, that I’m not qualified to say these things to you. But if you truly felt that way, then why did you chase after me?”

“…”

Mendeleev instinctively looked up.

He looked at Zhang Yang.

He saw a profound depth in the young man’s eyes, as if he could see right through a person’s heart.

Every sentence he uttered seemed to drag Mendeleev’s inner thoughts into the light.

Such a person…

Did not seem like someone of his age!

Not at all!

“Mr. Mendeleev, I’ve said my piece. I feel much better now. As for what you think or how you want to curse me later, it doesn’t matter…”

Zhang Yang shook his head.

What was art?

Art was the pursuit of something to its absolute limit…

That was art!

Artists were generally paranoid, possessing obsessive personalities.

Painters were no different…

Looking at the first half of Mendeleev’s life, he had pushed the art of satire to its peak.

In Zhang Yang’s eyes, such a person was obsessive and would never change for a lifetime.

However, human nature had another side: it was easily tainted by society.

Even things one once loathed could become acceptable if they brought the desired fame and fortune. One would gradually become corrupted…

That was human nature!

And it made sense. Once you had everything you needed, how many people would actually hold their ground?

The things you painted with genuine effort were praised, and the things you painted carelessly were praised just the same. As the generations of artists before you passed away, you became one of the titans² of the industry…

Under the management of capital, everyone looked at you with only one thought in their eyes: “Legendary.”

In such a state, you would inevitably sink…

That, too, was human nature!

Of course, you would occasionally miss the people of that bygone era, miss those like-minded souls…

But they were long gone…

And then, deep in your heart, you would feel lonely.

This was also human nature.

Zhang Yang felt he had a firm grasp on human nature!

He felt he knew exactly how to handle Mendeleev.

“Mr. Zhang… as much as I hate to admit it, and as painful as it is to be criticized by a child like you…”

“I was indeed wrong… Thank you!”

Inside the tavern.

Mendeleev held it in for a long time before finally letting out a long, low sigh. Then, he raised a glass to Zhang Yang.

Mumaen Network.

Eight hours remained until the release of “Beat the Grass Mud Horse”!

Shen Yi and Liu Ruohan were looking at the data for the game.

They saw that the pre-orders for “Beat the Grass Mud Horse” had already surpassed thirty thousand!

Liu Ruohan finally let out a sigh, her brow furrowing in a cute display of concern.

“Uncle Shen, offering him a million a year to poach him should be enough, right?”

“It’s enough. There aren’t many people in this industry who can offer such a price. However, Ruohan, are you sure you don’t want to mention this to President Liu?”

“Father is currently busy dealing with challenges from other companies; he definitely won’t care about this. Besides, based on my observations, there are indeed problems within Mumaen… I will take full responsibility for this. If Father gets angry, just tell him it was my idea!”

“Very well.”

“Exceptional talent must not become our rival, and certainly not our enemy. We cannot afford to underestimate anyone…” Liu Ruohan pushed up her glasses, her pure and beautiful face filled with resolve!

“Alright, should I contact him now? Before his new game hits the market?”

“Yes… if possible, we could even buy out his game at a high price. It would definitely be more profitable for him than releasing it himself…”

“Alright!”

Under the cover of night.

Shen Yi made a serious phone call to Zhang Yang.

The call connected.

It sounded a bit noisy on the other end…

The connection was intermittent, but it seemed like he was in a place like a bar or a tavern.

Later, whether it was a signal issue or something else, Zhang Yang hung up the phone right after mentioning the name of a small tavern.

“He’s drinking at a tavern not far from here. I’ve been to that place before. It sounds like he’s not in a very good mood right now. How about I take the contract and go see him now?”

“Mm, okay. Actually, Uncle Shen, I’ll put on a hat and a mask and come along to see him too…”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Shen Yi and Liu Ruohan left the company with the contract in hand.

Half an hour later…

When they walked through the door of the tavern and saw the two people drinking in the corner…

“Is that… Mendeleev?”

Shen Yi’s mouth hung open.

“…”

Liu Ruohan, meanwhile, took off her glasses in disbelief and wiped them. For a moment, she thought something was wrong with her lenses, that they were projecting some kind of hallucination…

But…

When she put her glasses back on and looked clearly…

She was stunned.

(End of Chapter)

Translator’s Notes