Dian Mo was considered an authoritative and prestigious magazine in the field of calligraphy and painting. Art students often aspired to submit their works to this magazine, as having a piece published in it added credibility to their portfolio and could serve as a valuable asset when job hunting in the future.
Art enthusiasts never missed an issue of Dian Mo and just like any other release, they casually purchased the latest edition, flipping through its pages and admiring the artwork inside.
Hmm, the artwork in this issue was quite impressive!
As they turned the pages, readers found themselves nodding unconsciously. Newcomers’ works usually had some flaws, but those selected for publication had their own unique strengths. The pieces featured in this issue of Dian Mo were especially remarkable, several of them stood out, radiating a rare and vibrant energy.
Page after page, they reached the final section of the magazine. As they turned the last page, they were greeted by a magnificent painting of peonies in full bloom. The blossoms clustered together without appearing crowded, exuding a rich and elegant beauty that was striking yet not gaudy. A few butterflies flitted among the flowers, their wings so delicately rendered that they seemed to tremble before the viewer’s eyes. Though the painting was static, the butterflies brought it to life, as if they might take flight at any moment.
The entire piece radiated an aura of grandeur and grace. The noble elegance of the peonies was vividly captured, to the point where one might almost imagine catching their fragrance in the air.
“These butterflies… truly a stroke of genius!”
One of the viewers couldn’t help but voice their admiration. While the peonies were beautifully painted, it was the butterflies that made this artwork truly exceptional. The artist had masterfully used overlapping shades of light and dark to create an illusion of delicate translucency, making it seem as if the butterflies were fluttering mid-air rather than being mere brushstrokes on a page. This subtle yet powerful detail breathed life into the entire composition.
In terms of both technique and artistic conception, this painting was nothing short of a masterpiece, one that showcased the peony’s opulent beauty without a hint of vulgarity.
After closing the magazine, readers found themselves wanting to take another look. The previous paintings had seemed impressive at first, but now, after seeing this one, they suddenly felt lacking. The gap in quality between this painting and the others was simply too vast.
Initially, some people were puzzled as to why such an outstanding painting had been placed at the very end. But upon further thought, they realised the reason, it was simply too superior. If this painting had been placed earlier in the magazine, it would have completely overshadowed the ones that followed, making the contrast too stark.
“‘A Fleeting Dream’… Who is this newcomer? New artists these days are truly unbelievable!”
As their awe settled, readers noticed the artist’s name in the lower right corner, ‘A Fleeting Dream’. It was an unfamiliar pseudonym, making it clear that this was not the artist’s real name. This only deepened their curiosity.
“Who is ‘A Fleeting Dream’?”
To some, however, the name was all too familiar.
“‘A Fleeting Dream’? Isn’t that my idol?!”
Ding Ruo, a student at the Academy of Fine Arts, was an avid reader of Dian Mo, which was published semi-annually. She had submitted a piece to the magazine earlier that year, but it had not been accepted, a rejection that had left her feeling disheartened.
“I heard Song Ziyi bought a bunch of copies and gave them out to our classmates. Practically everyone has one now. The one I have was from her,” said her roommate. The mention of Song Ziyi made Ding Ruo frown slightly; she and Song Ziyi had a long-standing rivalry.
Their ‘fateful entanglement’ stretched back to middle school, continuing through high school and even into university, where they ended up in the same class once again. Over the years, their competition had been relentless, sometimes one gaining the upper hand, sometimes the other. This time, Ding Ruo’s submission to Dian Mo had been rejected, while Song Ziyi’s had been accepted. Naturally, Song Ziyi took every opportunity to gloat, flaunting her success in front of Ding Ruo, who, in her frustration, had decided she wouldn’t even bother buying this issue of the magazine.
Her roommate flipped through the magazine and asked, “You really don’t want to take a look?”
Ding Ruo, sketching absentmindedly, replied stubbornly, “Even if I do, I’ll buy my own. Who wants something from her?”
Understanding their history, the roommate didn’t press further and simply continued browsing. When she reached the last page, she suddenly gasped.
“Ding Ruo! You have to see this, this painting is absolutely incredible!”
Ding Ruo, still indifferent, asked, “What painting?”
Her roommate, lying on the bed, stretched out her arm to pass over the magazine. “This peony painting… my god, it’s amazing! The colours, how did they manage to blend them so perfectly?”
Initially uninterested, Ding Ruo glanced over absentmindedly. But in the next moment, she immediately sat upright, instinctively reaching for the magazine.
The instant her eyes landed on the painting, she was utterly captivated.
The luxurious peonies radiated an enchanting charm and delicate butterflies fluttered onto the branches, their wings trembling as if caught in an unseen breeze. It felt as though wind was stirring the petals, making them sway with a graceful rhythm.
She unconsciously sniffed the air, almost expecting to catch the fragrance of peonies.
This painting was, without a doubt, a masterpiece.
Ding Ruo snapped out of her daze, realising she had been holding her breath. Beauty had a way of entrancing people, drawing them in so completely that they lost themselves in it.
Jiang Yu, the artist, possessed an extraordinary talent, her ability to capture the essence of beauty and present it in its purest form was unparalleled. Words alone seemed insufficient to describe the breathtaking allure of her work.
“This style… It’s simply mesmerising. It’s grand yet dreamlike. How did they manage to blend these colour tones so seamlessly?” Ding Ruo murmured, cradling the magazine as she considered tearing out the page to keep it. Then, as she glanced down at the artist’s name, she muttered, “‘A Fleeting Dream’… Wait, why does that name sound so familiar?”
Her roommate chuckled. “Isn’t that the artist you’ve been fangirling over on Weibo lately?”
Ding Ruo froze.
No wonder the style felt so familiar!
For years, no artist had truly captured her admiration, until now. She had assumed she had discovered two extraordinary painters, but it turned out they were one and the same.
“‘A Fleeting Dream’ had their artwork featured in Dian Mo, which means they’re technically a newcomer,” Ding Ruo mumbled.
Her roommate scoffed, “Newcomer? Are you joking? Even Professor Zhang’s paintings don’t look this good.”
Ding Ruo immediately grabbed her phone. “I have to post about this and let everyone know that ‘A Fleeting Dream’ is in Dian Mo!”
“Maybe you should DM them first. What if it’s not actually the same person? That’d be embarrassing,” her roommate cautioned.
“Impossible. Their styles are identical, it has to be the same artist,” Ding Ruo declared confidently. After all, it was nearly impossible to find two artists with exactly the same style.
As she spoke, she snapped a picture of the painting and posted it on Weibo, emphasising the artist’s name.
[This is them! This is our idol!]
Jiang Yu’s fans, though mostly casual admirers rather than professional art students, were thrilled. Some weren’t familiar with Dian Mo, but experts soon explained its significance in the art world; it was a mark of true recognition.
And compared to the other featured artists, Jiang Yu’s work was simply on another level.
The news spread rapidly. Some cautious fans even messaged Jiang Yu directly to confirm and she soon responded with a simple answer: Yes, it was her painting.
She had submitted it months ago out of financial need and had nearly forgotten about it. But now, it had finally been published.
With confirmation in hand, the fans erupted in celebration.
[Our idol is amazing!]
[I don’t know much about this magazine, but it sounds prestigious, I need to buy a copy to support them!]
[Not just one, I’m buying ten!]
Jiang Yu now had quite a few followers, 500,000, to be exact, and the number was steadily increasing. Of course, only a fraction of them were truly active, but many expressed their intention to buy the magazine to support her.
With this unexpected surge, the staff at Dian Mo magazine noticed that the latest issue’s sales were exceptionally strong. Compared to their usual numbers, the sales had skyrocketed.
“What’s going on? The artwork in this issue is definitely of higher quality than usual, but this is still too much,” a staff member muttered in disbelief as they looked at the fresh-off-the-press sales report.
To be honest, Dian Mo had never been a best-selling magazine. Compared to entertainment publications, their sales figures were far behind. The fine arts world had a niche audience and true enthusiasts were rare. Fortunately, the magazine was subsidised by the state; otherwise, it might not have survived this long.
But this issue was an exception. Even after multiple reprints, the demand still exceeded supply.
Curious about the cause, the staff investigated and quickly discovered the answer, it was all because of an artist named ‘A Fleeting Dream’.
“I remember that name,” the magazine’s editor said. The artwork had left a deep impression on him. Amid a collection of merely decent submissions, this one stood out as a perfect-score masterpiece. It was impossible to forget.
A staff member, somewhat envious, added, “This artist has 500,000 followers on Weibo!”
They emphasised the number 500,000. In comparison, Dian Mo’s own Weibo account had only 100,000 followers. This artist’s follower count alone was five times that.
Someone nearby scoffed, “A proper artist should focus on painting, not putting on a show online. This kind of attention-seeking behaviour is disgraceful, it tarnishes the reputation of real painters.”
The speaker was the magazine’s deputy editor-in-chief, Mr. Qian, an esteemed figure in the fine arts world who was already in his fifties. He was proud of his achievements and somewhat stubborn in his views.
The chief editor, however, saw things differently. “Times have changed,” he said. “We live in the digital age now. Artists need to keep up. Online audiences far outnumber those of print publications. Even my daughter is obsessed with digital art. We have to move forward.”
Mr. Qian remained firm. “Traditional painting, with its pigments and textures, conveys emotions and passion in a way that digital art never could.”
While the chief editor agreed that traditional painting had its unique charm, he countered, “But this ‘A Fleeting Dream’, her work is truly exceptional. Her technique speaks for itself, and even in terms of emotional expression, she excels. Honestly, her skills surpass mine.”
Mr. Qian said nothing. He couldn’t deny that the artist’s peony painting was nearly flawless. More importantly, it had a soul, it radiated a luxurious beauty, exuding prosperity and grandeur.
Still, he muttered, “It’s too gaudy.”
Jiang Yu, unaware of this discussion, was surprised when she began receiving private messages after Dian Mo’s latest issue was released. Many people wanted to buy her peony painting, offering generous prices, higher than any of her previous works had fetched.
“I knew people would love your painting,” Lu Mingshen chuckled over the phone. On his computer screen, Jiang Yu’s peony painting was displayed. “Peonies symbolise wealth and prosperity. People believe they bring fortune. Of course, everyone wants one, it’s like a money magnet.”
When Jiang Yu first painted it, Teacher Shen had joked, “No wonder you chose peonies, they scream ‘I want money.’ This painting radiates wealth!”
Jiang Yu pressed her lips together in slight embarrassment. She hadn’t consciously thought about it that way, but paintings often reflect the artist’s emotions. Apparently, her subconscious had infused the piece with a desire for abundance. No matter how she looked at it, the painting exuded an unmistakable aura of prosperity.
Businesspeople especially loved it. They valued wealth and success, and this peony painting was practically a visual representation of money.
Some critics found it ‘too tacky’, but many more adored its opulence. The higher the demand, the more they were willing to pay.
Lu Mingshen changed the subject. “Your final exams should be over by now. How do you think you did?”
Jiang Yu snapped out of her thoughts. “I did fine, just my usual performance.”
Lu Mingshen nodded. “So, what’s your plan for winter break? Are you coming to B City?”
“I should be,” Jiang Yu replied after some thought. “It’s almost the New Year, and my Master is returning to B City for the holidays. He wants me to go with him.”
“And what do you want?” Lu Mingshen asked.
Jiang Yu considered for a moment. “Winter break gives me more time to paint, so of course, I’ll go with my Master. But I don’t want to stay at his house. Could you help me rent an apartment? A simple three-bedroom place is fine. I can afford it now.”
Not long ago, Pang shijie had sent her the money from her recent art sales. Right now, Jiang Yu was financially comfortable. Since she barely spent money on anything other than art supplies, she didn’t mind the expense.
Lu Mingshen wasn’t surprised by her decision. Though still young, Jiang Yu had a strong sense of independence. Perhaps because of her upbringing, she disliked relying on others. Even in S City, when her Master invited her to stay over, she had declined.
Sometimes, Lu Mingshen couldn’t help but feel that she was lonely. It made those around her feel a twinge of sympathy.
But Jiang Yu herself didn’t seem to mind, maybe she was just used to it.
“I’ll handle it,” Lu Mingshen said.
“Thank you,” Jiang Yu replied sincerely.
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