Chapter 367 Just a Bit of Talent?
"I grabbed a sandwich," Fiona replied. "Is there anything else?"
"When Charles and Chicago wake up from their nap, I'm going to choose some stuff for their room. I'll send you pictures then," Darwin added.
"No need. Charles and Chicago can decide on their own."
After that exchange, an awkward silence ensued.
"Remember to take Chicago's water bottle when you leave, and keep an eye on Charles. He's good at hiding how he feels. I need to get back to my meeting, so I'll hang up now."
The call ended.
Darwin and Fiona both stood still for a few seconds after their conversation. Darwin then dialed another number to sort out matters concerning Jessie. Fiona returned to the conference room as if nothing had happened,.
*
After their nap, Chicago and Charles made their way downstairs. The trio headed out the door after a quick word with Janna.
Chicago chatted excitedly with her brother about Jessie while they walked. "I told Jessie that you're my brother. When she barks at you, she’s just saying hello!
"When will you get better, Charles? Jessie wants to play with you too," Chicago mumbled.
"I'm happy just watching you play," Charles reassured her.
"Don’t worry, Charles. One day I'll be a great doctor, and I’ll make sure you get all better," Chicago said, patting her chest with conviction.
Charles looked at her, moved, then asked, "How many Spanish words did you learn today?"
Chicago promptly hung her head low.
The aura of a soon-to-be great doctor had completely vanished.
Chicago was a peculiar kid. You couldn’t really call her slow, because her innate talent for color and lines was astonishingly high. But you couldn’t really call her smart either. She couldn't memorize ten Spanish words in three days no matter how hard she tried, and always ended up with a mess. You might think she couldn't read, but she could recognize some of complex words in ancient texts. But when it came to writing her own name in English, she got it wrong six out of ten times, although she never misspelled her brother’s nickname. She even complained that his name was easier and hers was too complicated.
Half an hour later, Darwin arrived at the interior design firm with Charles and Chicago. To them, someone of Darwin's caliber was a VIP client. The staff greeted him with exceptional warmth. Everyone was surprised to see Charles and Chicago, but no one dared ask Darwin where the children had come from.
"I mentioned on before coming that I have very high requirements for the materials," Darwin said bluntly as he sat down.
The designer immediately responded, "Rest assured, we’ll use baby-safe materials to customize your furniture."
"Mhm," Darwin acknowledged, then beckoned Chicago and Charles over. "Come sit next to me. The designer’s going to show us some videos. Let me know if you like anything."
Darwin was exceptionally tender, which gave the designer goosebumps. They were used to seeing Darwin's icy demeanor, so this display of warmth was new to them. It was true what they said – a father’s love is boundless.
The firm was among the global elite in the industry, but Chicago looked at the stylish furniture with a blank expression.
"Don’t you like it?" Darwin asked softly.
Chicago shook her head. "It's pretty, but I feel nothing."
An assistant next to the designer struggled to save the company’s reputation. "The young lady probably just doesn't understand those designs."
A flicker of annoyance passed through Darwin's eyes. As he was about to speak, Charles, who had been quiet, suddenly said, "My sister's paintings auction for millions. Many master artists envy her talent for color. And you’re saying she doesn’t understand?"
Charles had one rule – you could criticize him, but you could never criticize his sister.
The assistant, who was a rich kid gearing up to start his own brand and looking to polish his skills at the firm, chuckled when he heard what Charles said. He said condescendingly, "Kid, I know you love your sister, but children shouldn't lie."
"Allen!" The designer shot him a stern look. Had he lost his mind? He was insulting Darwin's children right in front of him!
" My apologies, Mr. Solomon. He’s new, and he doesn’t quite understand how we do things here," the designer said, smiling apologetically.
"I heard you have a DIY design system?" Darwin asked, his tone already cooling.
"Yeah, it's a new feature," the designer nodded, thinking Darwin wasn't really interested.
"Sweetie, if you don't like any of these, why don't you draw what you want, okay? I can make it happen, whatever it is," Darwin encouraged Chicago.
Chicago was already annoyed with that guy, Allen.
How dare he accuse her brother of lying?
"Okay!" Chicago replied without hesitation.
Moments later, a brand-new digital drawing tablet was delivered into Chicago's hands.
Allen, who still hadn’t seemed to sense that he was sealing his doom, said, "Do you know how to use it, kid? Do you need me to teach you?"
Chicago glanced at him. "It's not hard. I don't need your help."
Allen thought she was just being stubborn.
But to his surprise, Chicago quickly adjusted the settings of the tablet with ease.
Shortly after, she started to sketch swiftly, translating her thoughts onto the screen. She began with a professional line draft, treating her artwork with immense seriousness. Even her simple outlines were beautiful.
From a distance, the designer watched, casting a glance toward Allen. Allen was the son of a major client who insisted he learn the ropes, but his design skills were abysmal.
"Your drafts don't come close to the quality of hers, Allen," said the designer.
Allen's face twisted uncomfortably.
But he still believed that no matter how skilled that kid might be at drawing, she couldn't be as extraordinary as her brother had boasted. A talent envied by masters? That was pure exaggeration, he thought.
But it didn't take long before Allen was humbled by the prodigious talent of the five-year-old.
Through her manipulation of the tablet, Chicago demonstrated what sophisticated color coordination really looked like.
Half an hour later, she had nearly completed the designs for both her and her brother's rooms using the firm's database. One was vibrant and lively, and the other was futuristic to the core.
Shockingly, despite her bold use of color, it didn't clash with the established aesthetic of their home.
After finishing, Chicago signed her name in the bottom right corner out of habit.
The sharp-eyed designer caught sight of the small English letters and was astounded. "You're You?"
"Mmhmm," she nodded.
Feeling a little shy under his intense gaze, Chicago put the pen down and returned to Darwin's side, looking up at him. "Can we make it happen?"
"Absolutely!" Darwin tapped her nose affectionately, beaming with pride. "You're amazing, Chicago. I’m so impressed!"
Her pride was impossible to conceal.
"Do you like it, Charles?" Chicago playfully hooked her brother's finger.
"I love it!" Charles nodded in agreement.
His sister knew all his preferences without asking.
"Who the heck are you?" Allen asked, with an awkward look plastered across his face.
He figured the designer was probably just trying to suck up to Darwin again. She was just some kid with a bit of talent. What was so special about that?
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