Read Novel Full Chapter 152 Part 1 – A Scammer Who Uses Illness to Gain Sympathy (I)
Chapter 152 Part 1 – A Scammer Who Uses Illness to Gain Sympathy (I)
Ning Shaoyun’s exhibition was being held at the highly renowned Red House Gallery. On the day of the opening, Ning Shaobai had to work, but Xia Mian happened to have no classes, so she took Xiao Feng and rode in Zhou Xuewen’s car, setting off together with Ning Shaoyun and Chenchen for the gallery.
As the featured artist, Ning Shaoyun naturally arrived early. Even so, there were already people waiting at the entrance.
Ever since one of her paintings sold for a high price of 850,000 yuan four years ago, she had drawn considerable attention within the art world.
Now, as the youngest and last disciple personally accepted by Master Qi Minghao, her first solo exhibition after four years of dedicated creation had attracted eager anticipation.
Xia Mian smiled. “Congratulations, Sister Ning. A successful beginning.”
Ning Shaoyun’s eyes shone brightly, a satisfied smile on her face. “Thank you.”
Zhou Xuewen went to park the car, while Xiao Feng and Chenchen could no longer contain themselves and ran toward the gallery.
Just as Xia Mian and Ning Shaoyun were about to follow, a young man in his twenties suddenly darted out from the side.
Startled, they saw that his short hair was disheveled, his chin covered in bluish stubble, and his eyes bloodshot, as though he had been through some hardship.
The moment he saw Ning Shaoyun, it was as if he had found a savior. Excited, he said, “Teacher Qingyun, you are Teacher Qingyun, right?”
Ning Shaoyun nodded gently. “I am.”
“H-hello, Teacher Qingyun,” the young man said, rubbing his hands awkwardly. He seemed embarrassed to voice what he was about to ask, but in the end he gathered his courage. “Teacher Qingyun, could I ask you to give us a space in the exhibition?”
Ning Shaoyun tilted her head in confusion. “I’m not responsible for exhibition placements, and this is my solo exhibition.”
It would naturally be inappropriate to display someone else’s work in a solo exhibition.
“I-I know,” the young man said, shame written all over his face as he rubbed it. “I know this request is abrupt, but I have no other choice.”
“My younger brother has heart disease. We can’t afford his treatment. The doctor said he has at most two years left to live. His greatest wish in this lifetime is to hold an exhibition at the Red House Gallery and show his work to the world.”
“But we really don’t have that ability. Watching him grow weaker day by day, my heart aches unbearably.” Tears welled up in the young man’s eyes as he pleaded with Ning Shaoyun. “So I’m asking you to give us a spot. Even a corner would do, please. Just one place is enough.”
“I want him to see his own painting at this exhibition,” he said, wiping his eyes. “It would at least fulfill his wish.”
“I beg you! Maybe this is the last painting he’ll ever create.” The young man bowed deeply. “I just want him to be happy once in his final days.”
Looking at him, Ning Shaoyun sighed. “Bring the painting over. I’ll speak to the manager.”
“Oh! Thank you!” the young man exclaimed, instantly overcome with excitement. “Teacher Qingyun, you are our great benefactor!”
“I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life.”
“Teacher Qingyun,” the exhibition’s person in charge, Manager Hu, came out to greet them. When he saw the young man standing beside Ning Shaoyun, he frowned slightly. “Qian Fa?”
Ning Shaoyun looked puzzled. “You know him?”
“Yes, yes!” The young man called Qian Fa gratefully grabbed Manager Hu’s hand. “Hello, Manager Hu! Thank you for all the help you’ve given our Anran!”
“I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you this time. Teacher Qingyun has already agreed to give us a spot. I’ll go get Anran’s painting right away!”
After saying that, he bowed deeply to Ning Shaoyun, then turned to retrieve the painting leaning against the wall and handed it to Manager Hu. “It’s already mounted and framed. Thank you for your trouble!”
Manager Hu moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but Ning Shaoyun had already spoken first. “Aren’t there a few standby spots? Please see where it would be appropriate to place it.”
Left with no choice, Manager Hu led Qian Fa away to make arrangements.
When Ning Shaoyun and Xia Mian reached the upstairs lounge, Manager Hu followed in and hesitated before saying, “You shouldn’t have agreed so hastily. That Qian Fa might be a fraud.”
Ning Shaoyun did not look surprised. She simply asked, “You know him?”
“A little,” Manager Hu replied. “Half a year ago, didn’t the Yan City Evening News report on a fifteen-year-old genius painter suffering from heart disease? The doctor supposedly said he wouldn’t live past eighteen, and that his lifelong wish was to hold an exhibition so people would remember him?”
“That was Qian Fa’s younger brother, Ye Anran,” Manager Hu continued. “At the time, several kind-hearted people donated money to him. A gallery even agreed to sponsor his exhibition and entrusted us with organizing it.”
“So I’ve had contact with Qian Fa.”
“But in the end, the exhibition was never held, even after Ye Anran took the money.”
“I heard from the gallery owner that he went for medical treatment instead. In just half a year, he spent nearly one hundred thousand. I suppose his condition must have improved.”
“So the heart disease is real, but whether he truly won’t live another two years is uncertain,” Manager Hu said. “After that, no one donated anymore.”
“I also heard from colleagues that recently Qian Fa has been taking his brother around, using his illness to win sympathy and trying to latch onto exhibition spots at various galleries.”
“Today must be the same. If he manages to attach himself to a well-known exhibition like yours, and the quality isn’t too bad, uninformed outsiders might spend a large sum to buy the painting.”
Zhou Xuewen frowned. “Take the painting down. I’ll go talk to him.”
Ning Shaoyun recalled the bloodshot eyes she had seen on Qian Fa and sighed softly. “Forget it. I only agreed for my own peace of mind.”
Seeing Zhou Xuewen’s disapproving look, she smiled. “Do I look that foolish? I could tell from the way he spoke that he was an amateur. Even if he is a fraud, he won’t gain much in the end. I can tell what he’s aiming for.”
“And if it happens to be true, then all I’m giving up is a spot. Fulfilling the wish of a boy with little time left would be worth it.”
“Now that Manager Hu knows the situation, I can feel completely at ease. Since I’ve promised a space, let them hang it up,” Ning Shaoyun said with a faint smile. “My exhibition isn’t so easy to take advantage of.”
Seeing that Ning Shaoyun was fully aware of the situation, Manager Hu said no more. “I’ll arrange it in an inconspicuous place so it won’t affect your exhibition.”
Ning Shaoyun nodded. “Thank you.”
Before long, Ning Shaoyun’s fellow apprentices arrived one after another. Xiao Feng and Chenchen, who had been downstairs looking at the paintings, followed Zhu Yuanhai upstairs, trailed by several of Zhu Yuanhai’s own disciples—Xiao Feng’s senior brothers and sisters.
Chenchen headed directly toward Ning Shaoyun and Zhou Xuewen, while Xiao Feng drifted off to mingle with his senior brothers and sisters. He was clearly the darling of the group. No sooner had they spotted him than eager hands reached out to lift him up. “Come here, let your senior sister carry you.”
“Let your senior brother have a look!”
Twisting his body, Xiao Feng darted a couple of quick steps away to escape their grasp. Once he reached a safe distance, he stopped and turned back with a mischievous grin.
“Oh, he’s learned to be naughty now,” someone said, pretending to glare. Xiao Feng’s eyes curved into crescents at once.
Another sighed, “Kids really grow fast. Four years ago we were fighting to hold him. Now we can’t even catch him.”
One senior brother finally seized the chance and scooped the child into his arms. “Who says we can’t catch him? Didn’t I just catch him?” As he spoke, he vigorously ruffled Xiao Feng’s hair.
The other senior brothers and sisters followed suit, rubbing and squeezing him playfully, making Xiao Feng burst into peals of laughter.
It wasn’t every day that all senior brothers and sisters gathered together. Xiao Feng was clearly delighted.
(If you have both kofi and patreon, please subscribe using kofi. Thank you!)