Chapter 166 The Meaning of the Painting
"Uncle, I have to work now." Chicago looked at Darwin and, plucking a small flower from her braid, took Darwin's large hand and placed the flower in his palm, "This is a little flower for you."
Darwin's heart was suddenly filled with an indescribable sentiment.
After offering the flower, Chicago ran off toward the manager.
Wendy looked gratefully at Darwin, "Thank you, Sir!"
"Don't get left behind by your boss." Darwin said as he stood up, immediately putting on a stern expression.
Wendy, intimidated by him, quickly rushed to follow.
Darwin watched Chicago's small figure vanishing into the crowd, then looked down at the flower in his hand.
"I remember now, isn't this the little girl from the hospital that day?" Lilian's voice broke Darwin's train of thought.
Darwin closed his hand around the flower and looked back at the two paintings.
With so many questioning her talent, would anyone buy her paintings?
If no one bought them, she would surely be heartbroken.
"Let's go to the auction." Darwin said indifferently.
"Yeah..." Before leaving, Lilian took one more glance at the two paintings.
Damn child.
Darwin was surely speaking up because she was upset.
He never liked children...
Why then, did he seem so different with this one?
He crouched down to talk to her, his face full of gentle, loving kindness, and even accepted a flower from her!
Darwin and Lilian arrived at the auction.
They took their seats in the front row.
Fiona could see them on the television, right from where she was.
There was no way to pick up the audio from that position, but from Fiona's angle, Darwin and Lilian appeared very close, constantly engaged in conversation.
"Darn it..." Ashton muttered under her breath.
Fiona patted her own forehead.
"It's obvious!"
Charles overheard their conversation and subconsciously raised his eyelids.
He noticed the striking profile of a man.
Charles watched him for a while before indifferently shifting his gaze away and used the joystick to defeat the boss in his game.
What a boring game.
He switched game cartridges and continued playing until Ashton exclaimed, "Chicago has a documentary short too?"
Charles stopped.
The game character he was controlling was carelessly killed.
But he didn't care. He put down the handheld console and looked up at the screen.
All the artists had shorts. They showed seven or eight already. Now it was time for Chicago's short.
The screen went black. Then it lit up again.
Chicago, with an overall splattered with paint and her hair tied into two buns, appeared on screen.
An exclamation rang out from the auction's audience:
"She's so adorable!"
Lilian subconsciously looked at Darwin next to her, and saw a smile spread across his face.
Lilian clenched her teeth.
"Hello, everyone, I'm Chicago." said Chicago shyly as she greeted the viewers, "I'm five years old this year."
A voice off-screen asked, "Chicago, the paintings you're showcasing seem to have a very different style. Why is that?"
Chicago nodded, "Yes."
Then the footage switched to show Chicago outlining a birch forest.
"The birch forest is my great-grandmother's homeland. She told me it's also where my brother and I originate from. I find that very romantic."
The screen sped up to show the entire painting process by Chicago.
Despite the acceleration, it was clear that it was this child who did the painting.
The description warmed everyone's heart because of the ancestral connection.
The off-screen voice asked again, "And, what about the second painting? What does that mean to you?"
The camera cut back to the child.
Looking into the camera, Chicago blinked her beautiful eyes and softly responded, "It's the God of Salvation and Compassion."
Yes, Chicago's second painting, it was a portrait of God.
"Why did you choose to paint God?" the off-screen voice continued to inquire.
Then, the footage switched again to another painting studio, where the small child was outlining on a large canvas.
Because Mommy was sick, our great-grandmother prayed to God for her protection. My brother and I can't be without our mommy. I hoped too, that God would watch over her... so I drew this picture with all my devotion.
The scene was always taking place in the studio, showing Chicago during the painting process. In the middle, there were also scenes of Chicago praying. "Then God, who truly loves me, made Mommy get well really quickly, and now she's perfectly healthy!"
The video returns to Chicago. Tears are in her eyes, but she's beaming with joy. "Does Chicago have anything she wants to say to Mommy?" the off-screen narrator asks.
Without hesitation, Chicago chirps, "Mommy, I love you!"
After speaking, it seemed as if she remembered something. "Brother Charles, I love you too!"
The footage shakes for a moment. A boy's muffled voice can be heard saying, "You're so silly."
Even the narrator couldn't help but laugh.
Then, credits roll on the screen: "Special thanks to our friend and photographer: Charles."
Laughter fills the venue. Chicago's short film ends.
Then, in her little leather shoes and sunflower dress, she takes the stage, clutching the microphone. Some of the ladies in the crowd almost want to scream at her adorableness. One grandmother sitting next to Lilian can hardly wait to rush over and shower Chicago with kisses.
"I must get this child's parents' contact information later. My grandchild is about her age, and it would be great if they could meet!"
Darwin glanced over and unconsciously frowned.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, hello."
Her voice, amplified by the microphone and speakers, reached every corner, and the audience responded with warm cheers.
"You're so cute!"
"I really love you!"
Chicago's little face was flushed. Following the agenda, she had to sell her painting. This was her first experience pitching sales, and she was only five years old. "The Birch Forest and God are very precious paintings to me, and I hope you'll like them. Since this is a charity sale, if my paintings sell, it can help build schools for other children."
The manager chuckled and shook his head. All the scripted words he taught her seemed forgotten, not a word of it was uttered. But... tilting his head and eyes sparkling, he thought Chicago truly was the cutest child in the world. With such cuteness, and the love for her great-grandmother and mother, her paintings would have no trouble selling!
"Chicago is simply an angel!" Ashton was there, wiping away tears. She nudged Fiona, "You knew about this video, didn't you? That's why you weren't afraid of what people would say about her!"
"I'm her mother, do you think this video would get out without my permission?" Fiona retorted, and without warning, gave Charles a kiss, "Honey, you filmed it so well!"
Charles wiped his face with an air of mock despair, "It's okay, a bit shaky at times though."
Ashton looked at Charles, "If that's 'okay', then what about the ones I've taken?"
Charles abruptly changed the subject, "Here, have some chocolate."
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