1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 329 The Only Audience

The opening and closing days of an art exhibition are the busiest.

The central sculpture exhibition does not require artists to attend in person, but prominent figures in the art world have been active in the Gold area this month, and since they are there, they naturally want to promote their work.

After viewing all the works in the exhibition and observing several interactive sessions, it was already past 3 p.m. Rodrigo was there.

For the relaxed Provençal, this is the time to start thinking about what to have for dinner and how to spend a wonderful evening.

But Rodrigo contacted his art advisor again.

How many bids are there for "Lovebirds" now?

Rodrigo knew that with the endorsement of the authoritative Marechal and Goldman, and the support of his girlfriend, who was also a popular artist, he would have more than one competitor.

Although he had prepared himself mentally, the result still caught him off guard.

"We've already received 10 core applications of interest," the art advisor thoughtfully reminded us. "But many collectors are still in the gallery or haven't arrived yet, so the number is sure to continue to increase."

The meanings of 'intention' and 'core intention' are different.

Many visitors, upon seeing artworks they like, will inquire about the price from the exhibitors. If they find the starting price acceptable, they express their intention to try and purchase it.

In similar cases, a popular artwork exhibition can receive dozens of requests throughout its run.

But not just anyone can attend an auction.

If there are too many bidders, the organizers will then propose 'screening criteria', such as at least three records of bidding at major European auctions, or proof of assets issued by a bank, in order to filter out the core bidders.

The 'Lovebirds' exhibition only opened today, and most collectors haven't had time to provide proof yet. At this point, those who can be called 'core interested parties' are either well-known collectors, art institutions, or qualified museums. Only these people do not need to provide qualification certificates.

Even before ordinary collectors have begun providing their qualifications, there are already 10 core expressions of interest. The actual number of people entering the bidding could reach a terrifying figure.

In the past, the bidding for top works in Provence was usually concentrated among 8-12 core collectors.

Rodrigo took off his monocle and rubbed his eyes wearily.

The auction in a few days is destined to be a brutal battle!
But in Gold at this time, how could there only be one brutal battle?

In the afternoon, Zoe met up with Ronan and Cotillard at the sculpture exhibition, and as soon as they met, she told them some amazing news:

"The organizers told me that 16 collectors have qualified for tomorrow afternoon's auction."

Zoe's first film starts shooting tomorrow, and these 16 companies are all vying for her work.

Cotillard was so excited he almost jumped up:
"There were only 7 yesterday, how come there are so many more today?"

Ronan opened his arms to congratulate his girl.

Zoe bypassed Ronan and went straight to the 'Lovebird' in the display case, putting her hands in her pockets:
"Isn't this to 'thank you'?"

Ronan frowned at Cotillard, as if accusing her of betraying him.

Didn't you promise me you'd keep it from Zoe and wait for me to confess?
Cotillard raised his hands to indicate his innocence.

As Ronan's art agent, she naturally knew about the plan early on and even cooperated by covering for him.

When Zoe asked about Ronan's work, Cotillard played along, saying that he had made a beautiful grapevine out of dessert. Zoe believed him wholeheartedly and commented that Ronan had been working with grapevines every day for the first half of last year, so he could indeed make a beautiful grapevine dessert.

As a professional art dealer, she would naturally support something that would benefit both artists and their work.

Zoe said coldly:
"It has nothing to do with Codia. It's just that you guys made too much of a commotion, and it got to me."

God knows how 'exciting' Zoe's day was.

People she knew, people she didn't know, even the organizers' contact person all came to congratulate her.

She was the last to know that Ronan had created a work of art for her!
Cotillard suddenly clapped his hands:
"I almost forgot, I have dinner plans with friends tonight, so I won't be going back to Lourmaran for now. You don't need to wait for me."

After saying that, she strode away, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

Ronan hadn't expected Cotillard to do anything for him anyway, and he readily admitted his 'mistake':
"Let me explain. This idea originated from the 'hope' that fueled the knitting craze. At that time, I—"

Zoe didn't give Ronan a chance to explain, and said in a low voice:
"Of course I know why you did this, and I understand why you did it. You want what's best for me, you want a better artistic environment in Lourmaran, and you want the people around you to be better, but you shouldn't have kept it from me."

Ronan nervously grabbed Zoe's hand:
“I don’t know what the version you heard is like, but I swear that my original intention for making this work was really because of ‘longing’.”

He explained at breakneck speed:

"You have no idea how much I missed you during those days when I was brainstorming ideas. I tossed and turned in bed at night, unable to sleep. I wished I could grow wings like that lovebird so I could fly to you whenever I missed you. That's how this work came about."

Zoe turned to look at Ronan, and playfully punched him in frustration.
"If you miss me, you can tell me. Tell me what you did. Why did you hide it from me?!"

Ronan shook his head and said seriously:
“It’s different. Informing you that I’m going to do this is different from 'telling' you after I’ve done it.”

Zoe felt even more wronged:

"But I wasn't there when you said that, and now I have to listen to others say how much you love me."

Zoe heard many people talk about what happened at the sculpture exhibition center today.

Everyone has different language expression abilities and different thinking logic, so the content they say will also be different.

But all these people expressed the same thing—that Ronan loved her very much.

Zoe was furious.

She wasn't there for such an important moment.

On the way here, she was so angry she wanted to "eat" Ronan alive!
When she arrived at the sculpture exhibition, she had intended to have a serious talk with Ronan, but upon seeing the "Lovebirds" and the accompanying descriptions, all her anger vanished.

All that remained was a deep sense of gratitude and a touch of grievance.

My God, this little bird is so beautiful, and Ronan's description is fantastic.

There are actually people in this world who would create a work for her. This can't be simply described as 'romantic'.

If she hadn't known she couldn't compete with those wealthy people, she really would have loved to keep this piece.

This means so much to her!
Ronan gripped the crumpled draft paper in his pocket: "If I said... I haven't had a chance to say what I wanted to say yet, would you believe me?"

Marecchall took over all his work that morning, so Ronan had no chance to speak his mind.

When he was about to speak, the people below went wild.

It's inappropriate to talk about love and romance anymore.

"Really?" Zoe asked, both expectant and aggrieved.

Ronan nodded solemnly and asked gently:

"Would you like to hear the story behind this work? You might be the only audience member who gets to hear it."

Zoe stood side by side with Ronan and nodded vigorously twice:
"willing."

Ronan finally spoke the words he had kept hidden in his heart for a thousand times:
“You know what? After we moved to Provence, you were the first woman my age to appear in my life. The first time I saw you, I thought you were so beautiful, like an angel.”

Zoe glanced at the first sentence of the synopsis of 'Lovebirds' and commented humorously:
"Yes, angels have wings too."

Ronan's pleasant voice appeared beside her:
“Last spring was my first spring planting season. I vowed to plant crops, but I didn’t even have the tools to haul fertilizer. Everyone else was laughing at me, but you really helped me. That day, I sat with you on the tractor. Although it was cold and the tractor was noisy, I knew that winter was coming to an end and I felt the warmth of spring.”

Ronan's words stirred up Zoe's memories.

Countless images from last spring flashed through her mind.

There was Ronan who went to his house for dinner, Ronan who looked troubled because there were too many main dishes, Ronan who was very interested in everything when he went to the market for the first time, and Ronan who insisted on paying the bill with her.
“Summers in Provence are hot, much hotter than in Paris. It’s so hot that I wish I could bury myself in the ground, especially since the days are so long. I don’t have the habit of taking a nap, but you brought me a handmade hammock and read me bedtime stories. You gave up your own nap time and work time to coax me to sleep. You are the most precious coolness in my memories of last summer.”

Zoe rested her head on Ronan's arm.

Wasn't Ronan also her source of coolness that summer?
Whenever she felt irritable or upset by the weather or other things, the thought of going on a night out with Ronan would immediately soothe her.

“In autumn, I experienced a harvest season full of twists and turns. Those experiences made me love Provence even more and feel a joy that I could not experience in big cities. But last autumn, it was not just grapes that were harvested, but also my heart. You bravely knocked on the door of my heart and told me that you wanted to be with me.”

Ronan leaned his head closer to Zoe, his voice even softer:

"You have allowed my body and soul to take root in Provence."

Looking at the artwork in front of her, which symbolized 'longing', and listening to her lover's voice, Zoe felt her eyes begin to sting and swell, and the emotions she had been holding back all day were about to burst forth. Then, all the little things from that autumn began to flood her mind.

Last autumn was also Zoe's 'harvest season'. Her success in her career gave her the confidence to pursue love, and Ronan was the most precious fruit of her harvest season.

Ronan's tone was soft and gentle:

“A lot of bad things happened last winter, and I was once confused about the future and my career. But whenever I see you shining, I am filled with motivation and determination. My girl has grown into the core of Lourmaran artists without me even realizing it. With followers, how could I be defeated here?”

Zoe's emotions surged, her mind was in turmoil, and she couldn't utter any poetic or evocative sentences, but there were some things she had to say:

"I love birds because they have free spirits. I once thought I would be like a bird, perhaps never having a place to settle down in my life, until I met you."
Ronan, when the Mistral winds blow, I'm willing to be your eagle sheltering you from the storm; when the winds are calm, I'm willing to be your obedient oriole. In good times, we encourage each other; in bad times, we support each other—I'm willing to be with you, a pair of inseparable, devoted, loyal, and mutually protective 'lovebirds'."

“I’m willing too,” Ronan said without hesitation.

On the first day of the Gold sculpture exhibition, Ronan and Zoe were the last two people to leave.

They lingered together for a long time, gazing at the 'love tree' before them, whispering sweet nothings as if they had endless secrets to share. Even the staff couldn't bear to disturb them—it was such a beautiful scene.

Even Marecchal was eventually alerted.

However, Marecchal did not allow them to urge Ronan and Zoe to leave, only saying to wait a little longer.

Simmons said to Mareccal beside him:

"I thought you would take a picture of this and publish it in tomorrow's Provence Daily. You should know what kind of explosive effect this photo will have after your efforts this morning."

A sweet artistic revolution has swept through Provence.

Earlier, they received a notification from the organizing committee that perhaps the first 'hot' work in this series of events would appear at tomorrow's auction, and that artist would be Zoe, who was right in front of them!

Marechar shook his head with a complicated expression:
"I've already used them for far too much; let them keep this beautiful moment for themselves."

Simmons said with considerable surprise:
"I thought you would stop at nothing to achieve your goals."

Marechar left with a smile:
"Not only is nature multifaceted, but so are people."

Simmons asked him from behind:

"Do you want to go to the auction tomorrow?"

The first hit work may be about to be born, and it will be born with your help. Don't you want to go and see the excitement?
Marechar said in a calm tone:

"I'm not going. I have a lot of work to do, but you can go."

Simmons thought for a moment:
“Then I won’t go either. Maybe we can have our own popular artworks.”

Zoe was going to an auction the next day.

Since this was Cotillard and Zoe's first time attending, they didn't go to Gold with Ronan in the morning, but stayed in Lourmaran to prepare.

For girls, the preparation process will definitely include beautiful makeup and pretty clothes.

Cotillard even commissioned a special outfit for this occasion to show his appreciation.

But when she was all dressed up and felt ready to go to Goldza's place, she felt a sense of inferiority, like an ugly duckling seeing a swan, when she saw Zoe standing in front of her.

Zoe is completely different today.

She wore an extremely 'sharp' makeup, her blonde hair was styled in a high bun, and her clothes were quite imposing.

When Zoe approached him with the air of a noble queen, Cotillard even began to feel jealous of Ronan.

Damn, Zoe is so beautiful!
"Going for a 'mature and sophisticated' look today?" Codia asked jokingly.

Zoe proudly raised her head:
"Today, I will be Ronan's eagle."

(End of this chapter)