Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 156 Part 3 – May All Your Remaining Years Be Treated With Gentleness (III)

The day of the auction was also Ye Anran’s scheduled surgery. Before he was taken into the operating room, Xiao Feng held his hand and said, “Brother Ye, Uncle Hu said he’ll definitely succeed. You have to do your best, too.”

Ye Anran’s expression remained calm, but his eyes were bright. His gaze moved over Wei Yuanhang, Han Juan, and Xia Mian before finally settling on Xiao Feng.

His lips moved. After a long while, he said very softly, “Thank you.”

Wei Yuanhang laughed. “That’s far too insincere! I think you should at least paint me something. I’m not in a hurry—I can wait for years.”

Han Juan chuckled in response. “Same here. I also prefer practical things, you know? I want one of your paintings, too. Don’t forget.”

Xiao Feng said, “Brother Ye, I painted you. Teacher said I did a really good job. When the exhibition opens, you have to go see it, okay?”

Ye Anran smiled gently.

“Okay.”

It was the first time any of them had seen him smile. Han Juan smiled at him, tears glimmering in her eyes. “Ye Anran, the students from the academy asked me to tell you—you must do your best!”

As the nurse pushed him away, Xia Mian placed a hand on his head.

“I’ll share some of my luck with you. All of us have already done everything we can. Now you’re the only one left. Don’t let us down.”

Ye Anran’s eyes curved into a smile. His gaze was steady as he said softly, “Okay.”

Ten hours later, Manager Hu rushed to the hospital, arriving just as Ye Anran was being wheeled out of the operating room.

At first, no one had any attention to spare for him. They all stared nervously at the doctor.

Professor Ma removed his mask and smiled gently. “I have not betrayed your trust.”

Everyone burst into cheers.

Manager Hu also said happily, “Looks like I arrived at just the right time…”

Everyone turned to look at him. Although they had already guessed the result, they still could not help wanting to hear it confirmed.

Under their expectant gazes, Manager Hu imitated Professor Ma’s tone and said, “I have not failed your trust.”

Wei Yuanhang suddenly scooped Xiao Feng up and tossed him into the air, laughing and cheering together with Qianfa.

The head nurse happened to pass by and immediately stopped them. “Keep it down. This is a hospital!”

Wei Yuanhang and the others stuck out their tongues, then continued cheering silently.

Xiao Feng also grinned with them.

…

“Brother Chenchen, I’m heading out first!”

Xiao Feng was wearing a pair of suspender shorts and looked rather formal.

Chenchen was dressed almost the same. He waved at him. “Got it. See you in a bit.”

Mao Huizhu waved as well. “See you in a bit.”

Ning Shaobai’s car pulled out first. Xiao Feng ran over and very naturally opened the back-seat door for Xia Mian. Only after Xia Mian got in did he climb in himself, saying cheerfully, “Let’s go!”

Ning Shaobai could not help laughing. “You’re that happy?”

Xiao Feng swayed from side to side the way he used to when he was little, joy practically bubbling out of him. He nodded hard. “Mm!”

When they arrived at the hospital, Mother Ye and Ye Anran were already waiting by the entrance.

Xia Mian looked Ye Anran over and smiled. “You look pretty good.”

His surgery had indeed been very successful. Half a month earlier, he had already been transferred from the ICU to an ordinary ward, and he had gradually finished the draft of the painting modeled after An’an. Today, that painting would also be displayed at the exhibition.

There was a faint smile on Ye Anran’s face. He was completely different from the cold, gloomy young man he had been before.

Mother Ye said happily, “The doctor said that after another week of observation, he’ll be able to leave the hospital.”

Hearing this, Xiao Feng’s eyes curved into a smile.

When the group arrived at the gallery, Wei Yuanhang’s group was already there. Seeing Xiao Feng and Ye Anran get out of the car, they waved excitedly.

“Junior Uncle! Ye Anran! Over here!”

Following their voices, Xia Mian saw more than a dozen art academy students gathered in the square in front of the gallery, smiling as they called out to the two.

Xiao Feng held Ye Anran’s hand and slowly walked over.

They had only just joined the others when Qianfa’s excited voice rang out, “Anran!”

Immediately afterward came a chorus of crisp voices, “Brother Anran!”

Everyone turned around and saw the children from Star Orphanage climbing out of a car one after another. Chenchen stood like a little gentleman beside the door, helping them down.

Qianfa pushed Anjie’s wheelchair. The other children followed timidly behind him.

The art academy students stepped forward, using their bodies to shield the children from those unfamiliar gazes as they laughed, teased them, and chatted with them.

After all the children had gotten out, Chenchen ran over, and Xiao Feng happily hugged him.

By the time Ning Shaobai and Zhou Xuewen returned from parking the cars, the group had more or less finished their lively greetings. Just as everyone was about to head inside, a crisp, bright voice called out.

“Xiao Feng! Chenchen! Wait for me!”

Everyone stopped again.

Xiao Feng and Chenchen turned back and saw Mao Huizhu jump down from the car and run straight toward them, greeting An’an, Anbai, and the others along the way.

Xia Mian looked in surprise at Mao Huimei’s slightly protruding belly. “Sis, why did you come too?”

Xia Wenyue said, “To join in the fun, of course. Ever since she got pregnant, she’s become like a child herself.”

Fang Yongpeng, who was supporting Mao Huimei, smiled cheerfully. “Mom, Huimei feels better when she walks around more.”

Xia Wenyue looked at Mao Zhishan and smiled. “See that? I can’t say a single word now!”

Mao Huimei’s face was filled with happiness. “No matter what, this is our Xiao Feng’s first time having a work included in an art exhibition. Of course I had to come support him.”

Mao Huilan came over and linked arms with Xia Mian. “Sister Mian, everyone at our school has heard about it. The students from the Capital Academy of Fine Arts did something huge. People were moved to tears, and our school’s Chinese department even wrote poems for them specially.”

Xia Mian laughed heartily and looked at the group of students, “That’s right. They really are amazing.”

The group entered the gallery amid chatter and laughter, only to fall silent in surprise.

In fact, Xia Wenyue and the Mao sisters had originally come only for Xiao Feng and Xia Mian. But the moment they saw the works before them, they suddenly found themselves unable to speak.

The original plan had been to hang fifty paintings, but in the end, more than eighty works had been collected. Since more painting sold meant more donations, Manager Hu had rearranged the exhibition to display every one of them.

As a top-tier planner, Manager Hu’s skill was on full display. The compact arrangement did not feel crowded or uncomfortable; instead, it created an entirely different atmosphere.

For example, right at the entrance, everyone seemed to be surrounded by children with albinism, cleft lips, limp, and various other disabilities.

And yet, the innocent smiling faces in the paintings—spreading their wings and flying, blooming like flowers, running forward with joy—made people feel that as long as they were carefully protected, they too could become a unique kind of scenery in this world.

Mao Huimei, who was about to become a mother herself, seemed especially moved. She unconsciously touched her belly and said, “This exhibition is wonderful.”

As they continued further inside, they saw realist works as well, each one just as powerful and stirring.

An athlete who had lost both arms, biting a gold medal between his teeth.

A strong swimmer with no legs.

A snow-white model with albinism.

They seemed to be telling people that when God closed one door, He would also open a window.

Their perseverance, optimism, and courage declared to the world: We came here. We lived brilliantly!

Their differences, in turn, added another kind of color to the world.

As the group walked on, they soon ran into the students from the art academy. Xia Mian saw Xiao Feng, Chenchen, Mao Huizhu, An’an, and the other children gathered together, all tilting their heads up as they stared at a painting on the wall.

And it was not only them. Many people had stopped there too, their faces full of emotion.

It was a fantasy-style work, similar to Ye Anran’s paintings. A thin young man was bound in iron chains, blood seeping from his body in patches as he struggled forward along a road full of thorns and mud.

And yet, wherever he passed, grass and trees swayed, colorful butterflies danced, and flowers bloomed in abundance.

There was no particular expression on his face, but his eyes looked firmly ahead.

There, warmth and dazzling prosperity seemed to open their arms, welcoming his arrival.

Zhu Yuanhai had personally written the inscription:

May every place you pass shine brightly. May all your remaining years be treated with gentleness. You came here, and this world knows.

Looking at the painting, Xia Mian suddenly felt that perhaps she was not completely without aesthetic sense after all.

That rich warmth and tenderness, almost overflowing from the canvas, filled her chest and made her nose sting. Yet at the same time, it made her smile knowingly.

Ye Anran lowered his head and looked at Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng swung the hand he was holding and gave him a warm smile. “Brother Ye.”

Ye Anran smiled, faint tears glimmering in his eyes, “Yeah.”

Xia Wenyue suddenly said, “I want this painting.”

Her words seemed to remind everyone of the purpose of this exhibition. The crowd, which had just been somewhat quiet, suddenly stirred, and several people immediately headed toward the area responsible for selling the works.

Xia Wenyue froze for a moment, then looked at Xiao Feng. “You painted this. Won’t you open a back door for your great-aunt?”

Xiao Feng grinned and leaned against her, rubbing against her waist. “Manager Hu is in charge of selling this one.”

Xia Wenyue said gloomily, “I miscalculated. I shouldn’t have said that out loud just now. I thought since it was Xiao Feng’s painting, we could have priority.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Xia Mian actually wanted to buy it too, but seeing quite a few people walking over there, she worried it might already have been reserved. After all, it was first come, first served.

She sighed with some regret.

Ning Shaobai seemed to know what she was thinking and whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry. This painting will probably go through a mini-auction.”

Xia Mian looked at him in surprise.

Ning Shaobai said, “Manager Hu is an excellent businessman.”

In that case, Xia Mian was no longer worried. When it came to financial strength, her Dr. Ning would not lose!

Sure enough, after everyone had spent the whole morning browsing and was about to go eat, they happened to run into Manager Hu hurrying out.

Wei Yuanhang and the others greeted him warmly. “Manager Hu, what are you busy with?”

“How are our works selling? Has anyone bought them?”

Manager Hu’s face was filled with irrepressible joy. “Several have already been reserved, and there are a few that too many people are fighting over, so we’ll be holding auctions for them.”

He looked at Xiao Feng and smiled. “Especially that painting by your little junior uncle. Many people like it very much.”

He gave Xiao Feng a thumbs-up. “At present, someone has already offered one hundred thousand yuan for it.”

Everyone was stunned.

Anfei asked innocently, “Is that a lot of money?”

Anbai nodded hard. “It’s enough for Brother Anran’s surgery fees…”

Wei Yuanhang suddenly picked Xiao Feng up and tossed him into the air. “Wow! Long live Little Junior Uncle!”

“How are you so amazing?!”

Once the other students reacted, they also cheered and rushed forward, working together to toss the child high into the air.

At first, Xiao Feng was a little scared, but very quickly, he began giggling. Especially when he flew upward, he closed his eyes and faced the sunlight.

It was the feeling he liked.

Chenchen suddenly said to Mao Huizhu, “Our investment made a huge profit.”

Then he turned to Zhou Xuewen. “Right, Dad?”

Zhou Xuewen lowered his head and stroked his hair, saying gently, “Right. Our Chenchen’s judgment is excellent. This investment of yours is bound to give you great returns.”

The children did not understand the deeper meaning in the adults’ words. Chenchen said to Mao Huizhu, “But your share is too small, so you won’t get much.”

Mao Huizhu immediately felt as if she had suffered a tremendous loss. “Dad, you should have given me all my acting salary!”

Chenchen mocked her. “Even if you had your salary, it’s already too late. Who told you to spend money recklessly all the time? Anyway, you invested the least, so your return won’t be much either.”

What Mao Huizhu could not tolerate most in her life was being last, being the worst, or being the most useless.

Enraged, she started arguing with Chenchen.

The argument soon turned physical.

But Chenchen, now grown up, had principles. After saying, “A good man doesn’t fight with women!” he ran off.

Mao Huizhu was furious. She turned to An’an and said, “An’an, help me catch him!”

Chenchen ran toward Anjie, who was sitting in his wheelchair, and used him as a shield, pushing the wheelchair as he sprinted away.

Anfei quickly followed too, holding Anxin’s hand.

Mao Huizhu stomped her foot in frustration. “Sister Anbai, you help too! I don’t believe we can’t catch him!”

The children turned the small square in front of the gallery into a joyful playground.

After seeing the exhibition, courage had taken root in their hearts.

Even if they were different from others, they were still special. They could still live brilliantly.

And in the hearts of the other people who had seen the exhibition, tenderness had taken root as well.

As long as they were carefully protected, these different children could also bloom into a splendor that would draw the eyes of the world.

So they ran happily and freely beneath the sunlight, while the people passing by watched them with smiles.

“Dr. Ning,” Xia Mian leaned to the side.

“Yeah,” Ning Shaobai raised his hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Xia Mian leaned into his embrace, turned her head to look into his deep eyes, and smiled brilliantly.

“It really is wonderful to have come to this world.”

Ning Shaobai paused, then looked steadily at her.

Unable to help himself, he kissed her forehead and said softly, “You are right. Thank you for coming to this world.”

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