"Give it away?" Director Sen asked.
"Yes. Within one minute, whoever bids the most will get the painting. The money will be donated to the Nanshan Red Cross Society in the bidder's name.
"It will be used to help disadvantaged groups.
"That's what I meant by giving it away," Wang Lin answered with a smile.
"Giving the painting to a donor-Ms. Wang Lin, this is truly so moving. You're doing this for neither fame nor profit. How noble."
As soon as Director Sen finished speaking, the camera turned to Wang Lin and her painting.
The comments in the livestream began scrolling furiously.
[Waaah, I love her so much! Now that's a true lady.]
[I'll bid two million! For no other reason than to support her.]
[The difference is clear as day. The moment Lu Xingluo heard someone wanted to buy her painting, she shoved Ms. Wang aside and couldn't wait to name a seven-figure price.]
[Exactly. Sure, she said she'd donate the money too, but she clearly said it to boost her own fame. She even went on and on about learning to paint as a child. What a joke. Who wanted to hear that?]
[There's a clear gulf between a third-rate starlet and a true master of Chinese painting. She can't compare to that innate refinement.]
The Summer Lotus Painting ultimately went to the livestream viewer who bid two million.
Everyone there was stunned by the price!
Grandma Wang Lin merely smiled faintly, took out her personal seal, and stamped the painting.
Then she addressed the camera. "Thank you to this viewer. Please contact the production team and submit your personal details. I'll have the painting mounted and framed, then mail it to you."
Li Yi's mouth was still hanging half-open. Grandma Wang Lin reached out and closed it for him. "Sweetie, why are you so surprised?"
"Grandma, why did you never tell me you were such an amazing painter?
"I only knew you were good at painting. I never knew you were this good."
"Silly child, I retired long ago. I just want to paint in peace, without all that socializing. These days, doing some square dancing every day and painting occasionally makes for a pretty nice life."
"But now that it's been revealed on the livestream, other people are bound to come looking for you because of your reputation. Won't that disturb your peace?"
Li Yi lowered his head, feeling a little guilty. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on coming..."
"It's not your fault, sweetie." Grandma Wang Lin gently stroked Li Yi's hair. "You underestimate us grandparents.
"As long as we don't want to see someone, no one can get into this nursing home."
"Really?" Li Yi's eyes instantly lit up with delight. "That's great. I was worried I'd cause trouble for you."
"You won't. You'll never be a burden to us."
"Hehe."
[Is it just me, or does Grandma really dote on Li Yi?]
[Didn't Li Yi say he often came to play at the nursing home as a kid? Of course he'd be close to Grandma and the others.]
[I'm so jealous. Such an amazing grandma, and she dotes on him too. She's so gentle.]
[This is so heartwarming. I drew a picture. [Image]]
[Are you taking commissions? If so, I'm calling the police.]
Seeing the elderly woman's painting fetch a staggering two million, Lu Xingluo was furious. She clutched her own painting, wanting nothing more than to tear it to shreds.
The production team felt their mistake had caused Lu Xingluo's misunderstanding, so they offered to let her painting be sold for charity too.
Lu Xingluo felt confident again. Even if it couldn't sell for two million, surely it could fetch five hundred thousand.
There was a particularly supportive, wealthy fan in her fan group. Whenever she endorsed something, he was always among the first to buy it. He would surely step in this time too.
However, bids in the livestream comments started at one hundred and had only reached one thousand after a minute.
The final selling price was one thousand.
Unable to see the livestream comments, Lu Xingluo waited nervously and expectantly for Director Sen to announce the result.
Su Xia folded his arms and said casually, "With Lu Xingluo's popularity, there should be a fan willing to buy this painting for ten thousand."
Qiao Qianqian shook her head. "Xingluo is the Nation's Daughter. I think it'll be more than ten thousand."
Cheng Qing chuckled. "Whatever the amount, it's an act of kindness. No need to worry about the price."
Shi Yan wore a smile of anticipation, ready to enjoy the show. Rather than joining their discussion, he looked past the people beside him toward Li Yi.
The little fellow was smiling too, clearly also waiting for a good show.
"Congratulations, Xingluo! Your painting sold for one thousand." The moment Director Sen announced it, Lu Xingluo's expression changed, all color draining from her face.
One thousand?
Wasn't that a slap right in her face?
She might as well have given it away!
"Xingluo?" Seeing no response from her, Director Sen called her name again.
"Thank you to this viewer." Lu Xingluo bit her lip, struggling to contain her anger.
Although she had done her utmost to keep her features composed, the fury in her eyes did not escape the livestream viewers.
[Hahaha... know why the nursing home's so clean? Because Lu Xingluo's dignity just swept the floor.]
[Lu Xingluo went through thirty expressions in a second just now. I'm dying.]
[Was she still expecting her painting to fetch a high price? Turns out even her fans would only spend a thousand on it.]
[The secondhand embarrassment is so real. I'm already on a spaceship headed into outer space.]
[That fan's in for a treat. You spent a thousand to buy your idol's teeth-grinding fury. Lu Xingluo must hate your guts.]
"Next, let's look forward to everyone else's performances," Director Sen said.
The fifth performer was Qiao Qianqian. She was from Xinjiang, and her specialty was Xinjiang dance.
She had invited a handsome elderly gentleman. His shoulders and back were straight, and he wore a simple white T-shirt, black shorts, and a pair of casual white sneakers.
Both his bearing and his outlook were youthful, and he had a cheerful personality. As he danced with Qiao Qianqian, his footwork was nimble and his movements agile, every kick and swing full of strength and rhythm.
Even Qiao Qianqian herself was surprised. She hadn't expected the elderly gentleman she'd casually invited to be so impressive.
Although his Xinjiang dance movements weren't particularly professional, he was far better than the average person. Still, rather than someone who performed Xinjiang dance, he seemed more like someone who would invite people to waltz at a grand banquet.
This pair's performance was also warmly received, with the elderly ladies in the audience applauding especially enthusiastically.
Li Yi smiled with his lips pressed together and gave old Mr. Zhang Jin, who stood in the center, a thumbs-up.
These people really knew how to pick. They had managed to choose several of the nursing home's most talented residents.
[Oh no, I think my eyes are playing tricks on me. I think I just saw old Mr. Zhang Jin, the former richest man in Beicheng!]
[Holy crap, after you said that, I actually looked him up. It really is him!]
[Didn't they say he'd gone off to an island to enjoy life? Why is he staying at this nursing home?]
[Incredible. This nursing home is really something.]
Before you continue