I am a Big Player
Chapter 354 - 352, A Master Oil Painter Emerges (First Update)_1

Chapter 354: 352, A Master Oil Painter Emerges (First Update)_1

"What is this painting called?" Richard asked from behind Ren He.

Ren He thought carefully, the Yang Xi in the painting was stubborn yet resolute, so stubborn that it was even heartbreaking. He smiled and said, "Let’s call it Stubbornness."

Stubbornness... Richard could indeed feel a stubborn power coming from this painting, a rich and intense emotion that was conveyed through the entire piece. He also understood that Ren He must have deeply loved this girl to have chosen her as the subject of his final painting.

The elderly Richard even began to envy the love of the young. More than 30 years had passed since his divorce from his ex-wife, leaving him to live a solitary life. Eventually, he settled into living at Columbia University. It goes without saying that this painting had stirred many memories for him.

The painting was too delicate; the moment it was completed, it became an artwork of its own right, only matched in perfection by the corresponding emotions that inspired it.

Moreover, the other works were actually quite rough, with perhaps only "Leap of Faith" qualifying as a finished piece. Of course, Richard didn’t understand what these coarse yet soulful paintings meant for the name Knight; he simply assessed them from a technical perspective.

The last painting was different. Whether it’s the level of dedication or the soul within the painting, it was astonishing. Richard disdained to measure its value in monetary terms, stating only that if this painting were released, the classic collection of realistic oil paintings might have to add one more entry.

Ren He said, "I probably won’t paint anymore oil paintings for a while, should I go and listen to some general lectures at the academy? Keep these works here; I have no place for them. If there’s an exhibition at some point, could you put this last one out for me? Destroy the rest, please," he added. He was curious to see what kind of reaction his work of heart would elicit, but the other pieces revealed too much about the Knight’s identity. If it weren’t for Richard not being online, he might have been exposed already.

"Go ahead, there’s an exhibition in a few days, and I’ll send this one for you," Richard said. "Honestly, there’s not much left for the academy to teach you. Attend whatever classes you want, just don’t cause any trouble." Richard set aside all of Ren He’s works to dry slowly. Although they seemed less heartfelt compared to the last one, Richard found any work that bore the creator’s soul to be rare and didn’t mind reserving a bit of space for them as part of his private collection.

This time he didn’t intend to show them to anyone else. Recently, the uproar caused by the two sketches George posted online shook the entire university, even prompting a phone call from the dean saying, "Please ask your student to stop drawing such things..."

It was somewhat amusing for Richard—being advised to tell a student to stop painting was a first for him. However, he did take pride in claiming the title of Ren He’s teacher, especially since "Stubbornness" was completed right under his supervision.

Ren He respected art, and so he highly respected Richard. And wasn’t Richard the same? After Ren He demonstrated a sufficiently high artistic standard, Richard’s attitude towards him gradually became one of respect.

This was an attitude towards art that was independent of age.

That day, Ren He returned to his apartment to first listen to Yang Xi practice the piano. Yang Xi had improved tremendously, which was also related to her exceptional effort. Yang Xi also noticed something—Ren He never seemed to need to practice, yet even without practice, he was still able to teach and demonstrate on the piano with remarkable skill.

But today, Ren He seemed different. A month ago, Ren He had started to withdraw himself, and that burning flame began to recede.

Yet today, the Ren He in Yang Xi’s eyes seemed to have transformed; his hard shell had finally shattered, revealing an even more brilliant flame once again.

Curious, Yang Xi asked, "What’s with you today? Did something happen?"

Ren He smiled mysteriously, "I’ll keep you in suspense for now, I’ll give you a present in a couple of days."

A present? Honestly, the most Ren He had ever given Yang Xi were songs; he hadn’t really given her any other gifts, whereas it was Yang Xi who had given him plenty.

However, since Ren He didn’t want to say, she didn’t ask further; surprises were always best left for the perfect moment. Yang Xi was well aware that whatever Ren He was going to give her would certainly be a delightful surprise.

days later, at the New York Realistic Oil Painting Exhibition, Ren He took Yang Xi with him.

Before leaving the house, Ren He specifically instructed Yang Xi to bring sunglasses and a mask. Yang Xi was confused; this wasn’t China, it was America, where she didn’t have many fans.

The overseas Chinese community also loved to listen to Chinese songs, and the ten songs from Yang Xi’s first album indeed had substantial impact, including among overseas Chinese. However, this was still America, where her influence was modest at best.

So, while she occasionally encountered Chinese people on the street who would express their surprise with, "Ah, are you Diva Yang Xi from back home?"

Yang Xi would calmly smile and acknowledge it, but she had not yet reached the point where she needed to wear a mask and sunglasses. She really didn’t understand why Ren He wanted her to wear a mask.

However, when she followed Ren He into the realistic oil painting exhibition hall, she was shocked to see the portrait placed in the most conspicuous position. She let go of Ren He’s hand and slowly walked towards the portrait.

She knew that the person in the painting was herself, her most stubborn self.

That was her at her most ragged when she reached the 6000-meter camp, but the painting added so many indescribable things: her determination and stubbornness along with Ren He’s love. This was how Ren He saw her; just by looking at the painting, Yang Xi could clearly understand how much Ren He loved her. No matter how disheveled, no matter how tangled her hair was, or even if her jacket was dirty, she was still as beautiful in Ren He’s heart as the most dazzling sunset over Mount Everest.

So this was the gift Ren He was talking about!

She slowly turned around to look at Ren He, who was standing behind her with a calm smile. He seemed as though he’d been standing there for a century, just quietly protecting her, loving her.

Yang Xi opened her arms and rushed into Ren He’s embrace, whispering softly, "I love you, and I have never regretted loving you."

"Me too."

Just like that moment under the streetlamp on the long street years ago, it was Yang Xi who took the initiative to say those three words, while Ren He passively accepted them. Back then, it was "I like you," and now, it was "I love you."

Their feelings for each other had endured through a year and a half, gradually maturing amidst the bumps and stumbles imposed by external forces; regardless of whether the other was beautiful or not, they would be the most perfect one in each other’s eyes.

In the vast exhibition hall, only the most conspicuous realistic oil painting was labeled as "Not For Sale," and there was no introduction for the artist. It stood there, solitary, but impossible for anyone to overlook.

Some of the works by great artists were displayed on either side. Typically, this space is reserved for the most classic pieces, or the works of the most significant artists, but now, so conspicuously, there was a piece whose artist no one even knew.

But no one questioned anything because everyone could see the soul-stirring power contained in this work—it was no less impressive than that of the masters!

Who painted this?! Had a master of realistic oil painting suddenly emerged? Everyone’s mind was filled with questions!

...

As usual, a meal.