A crowd gathered, drawn by the high stakes, eager to view the painting that was causing such a stir.

Upon seeing the painting, the crowd was visibly impressed, showering it with compliments.

"What an incredible painting! It would look perfect on my Living room wall."

"This young artist is truly remarkable! She has a real gift for painting."

"I'd snap it up in a heartbeat if I could afford it, but let's see what else they have."

"How about it? Will you let it go for five million?" the bidder persisted.

The girl was overjoyed. The value of her painting had skyrocketed in mere moments.

Hawley, looking to drive the price up further and show Kenneth a thing or two, glanced at Kenneth and remarked, "Five million? Maybe you should take a look at the kid's painting over there."

Realizing the painting had likely reached its peak value at five million, the man hesitated to increase his offer.

Noticing that an offer of five million was turned down, other wealthy collectors were reluctant to bid further.

Yet, Hawley was undeterred, confident that once everyone had seen the work of Kenneth's student, they would be even more eager to bid higher for this one.

While Hawley was silently applauding his own clever strategies, the area around Jerrold's display erupted in a wave of enthusiasm.

An onlooker couldn't help but shout, “This painting is a knockout! I came hoping to see at least one good piece, but this is something else entirely."

Another onlooker added, "This kid's got real talent. It's not just paint on a canvas; it's as if he's inviting us into the scene."

A third person remarked, "Compared to this, the girl's piece just doesn't measure up."

The crowd, drawn by these praises, swiftly moved from Hawley to Kenneth.

Hawley, taken aback, wondered if he'd misunderstood. Could a five-year-old child really produce something that gathered such acclaim?

It was only when he approached and viewed the artwork himself that he was utterly astonished, rooted to the spot as he tried to grasp the reality.

Was this masterpiece really created by a five-year-old?

Nearby, the little girl's mood had shifted. Just moments before, she had been the center of attention, showered with compliments.

But now, another young artist was stealing the spotlight, leaving her feeling dejected.

Over at Jerrold's section, excitement filled the air as people snapped photos and inquired about prices.

An eager collector offered, “Kid, how about I buy this piece for ten million?"

Jerrold, not rushing into a decision, turned to his mentor, Kenneth.