1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 339 Taking off the expensive suit and putting on a plaid shirt

At the auction, Ronan felt like a 'celebrity'.

After finally managing to 'escape' with Cotillard to a restaurant to meet up with Zoe and Barty, they wanted to have a meal, drink some wine, and then comfortably recount the mind-numbing bidding wars at the morning's auction.

But before they even got to the 'price-jumping' counterattack, three people came to interrupt them, and all of them were looking for Ronan.

"The collectors have tracked us all the way here?" While Ronan and his 'fans' were chatting, Barty complained to Cotillard in a low voice.

Cotillard cleared her throat, reminding Barty to watch her words and actions and not to talk about people behind their backs, then she excitedly shook her head twice:

"That's perfectly normal, you have no idea what happened this morning!"

Zoe's appetite had been whetted for a while, but the story was interrupted time and time again, so she impatiently tugged at Cotillard's sleeve:
"Keep going! Gabriel single-handedly held off several foreign buyers, and then what?"

"Then--"

Cotillard's voice was drowned out by another voice.

The collector, who was having a lively conversation with Ronan, suddenly pointed at Zoe and loudly asked Ronan:
"This must be the prototype of the 'lovebird,' Miss Zoe, right?"

Ronan smiled and nodded:

"Yes."

The collector greeted Zoe warmly:
"Hello, Miss Zoe. I've heard so much about you, but I arrived in Gold relatively late and never had the chance to meet you. I'm so happy to meet you and Ronan today!"

Zoe suppressed her desire to hear the story and politely turned her head away:
Thank you for your appreciation.

She then joined Ronan and the buyer in their conversation, discussing the auction in the following days.

Barty wasn't very interested in listening to stories, and just said, somewhat unaccustomed to it:

“We used to only have one ‘star’, Zoe, but now we have Ronan too. Does that mean we won’t have any private space when we’re out with them?”

In fact, Zoe had been the star of Gold for several days.

In February, Gold had few tourists, and residents weren't interested in seeing any art exhibitions. Eight out of ten people walking down Gold Street were tourists visiting exhibitions, while the remaining two were salespeople like Cafu and his partner.

In short, they are all people connected to art.

These people may not have seen Zoe's work or attended her auctions, but they must have heard of Zoe's name and the news of collectors exercising their 'jumping bid' right at auctions to compete for her works.

Occasionally, Zoe would be recognized by one or two people on the street, and immediately a large crowd would gather around her, pointing and whispering like they were looking at animals in a zoo.

"This is Zoe?"

"God, she's so beautiful! She's truly talented and beautiful!"

"Zoe, we all love you!"

That's why Zoe didn't go to see Ronan off this morning.

it's good now
The zoo has gained another animal, and it's a popular one.

It's hard to even have a peaceful meal these days.

Cotillard rolled his eyes at Batty:
"It's just like this for a while now. Gold is an art lover now, but this is something that others would kill for. How can you not be satisfied?"

Barty pouted:

"I just want to focus on art."

Suddenly, the buyer turned his attention to Barty:

“I remember now, it’s said in the circle that three outstanding artists from Lourmaran shone brightly in Gold this time. Besides Ronan and Zoe, the last one is an artist who is skilled in weaving. You must be Mr. Barty?”

Batistuta immediately changed his expression and extended his right hand:

"Hello, it's me."

The buyer clapped his hands excitedly:
"I went to see your work, and it's absolutely amazing! You can actually make something like that from vines!"

Barty's face turned as red as a blooming flower:
"Knitting is a very interesting craft, actually—"

Seeing that his three top lieutenants had joined in the interaction with the 'fans,' Cotillard happily drank his wine:

"This trip to Gold was a complete success! Our goal of creating a Lourmaran craze in Gold has finally been achieved!!"

Ronan and Zoe are incredibly popular in Gold, especially after Ronan's "Lovebirds" was photographed. The couple is now mutually beneficial; one gains attention, and the other benefits.

At this peak of their popularity, their frequent appearances in the exhibition hall would cause unnecessary trouble. Moreover, Ronan's work has already been successfully auctioned, and although Zoe still has one work yet to be auctioned, everyone in Gold knows that the owner of that work has already been decided.

Ms. Patricia, who twice used her buyer's privilege to successfully thwart the Japanese conglomerate, has stated in public on more than one occasion that she came to Gold specifically for Zoe.

For the reasons mentioned above, although the art exhibition series still had a few days before its official closing, Ronan and Zoe decided that afternoon to stop traveling to and from Gold every day from then on.

Barty, who was less popular and had some 'private space,' remained in Gold to continue helping Cafu promote woven goods and publicize the artistic atmosphere of Lourmaran.

However, Ronan and Zoe will visit Gold a few more times before the event closes.

Ronan is coming to have dinner with Chairman Ines.

Ronan and Zoe also wanted to meet with Miss Patricia to formally thank this 'great benefactor'.

On the way back to Lourmaran that afternoon, Zoe finally made up her mind:

"I want to take Miss Patricia's order."

Miss Patricia not only wanted to acquire all of Zoe's works, but also stepped in to help Ronan at the most crucial moment, enabling him to achieve the feat of acquiring 'national' level artworks. Zoe had to repay this kindness. Ronan freed one hand and clasped Zoe's hand tightly:
"You don't need to worry about the renovation, I can handle it all by myself."

Once Zoe takes on that order, she will face endless torment and hardship, and Ronan can't bear to see Zoe worrying about the renovations anymore.

But how can a wedding room be decorated without the lady of the house?
“No, I have to be with you.” Zoe said, looking ahead. “I plan to complete this order as quickly as possible, preferably before we start our renovations, to minimize the pain.”

The craftsmen said that the backyard workshop would be completed by mid-March at the latest, so Zoe would have about a month, which didn't seem impossible.
“Okay, let’s take it first. If it really doesn’t work, I’ll do it with you,” Ronan said, expressing his attitude.

Zoe, as if struck by a sudden thought, looked at Ronan expectantly:
"Do you think it's possible that we could collaborate on a piece in the future? A combination of desserts and glass or ceramics?"

Zoe's experiences in Gold broadened her horizons.

Art is inherently boundless, undefinable, and full of unknowns.

Perhaps desserts can really create something special when combined with glass and ceramics.

Ronan looked over with a smile:
"I'm not sure if desserts can be combined with glass or ceramics, but I swear we'll definitely have the opportunity to create something together."

If it were someone else, saying this might be to make their girlfriend happy or to express a beautiful vision.

But Ronan's system gave him countless possibilities to work with Zoe.

Participating in Gold's event broadened Ronan's horizons.

His identity as an artist is inseparable from rosé wine, and he will undoubtedly continue to dedicate himself to the rosé wine business in the future.

But in addition to that, you can also try woven furniture and other crafts associated with 'high-end'.

Ronan has found a new direction and needs to take some time to study furniture weaving and other skills in the system.

However, these things can only be implemented after the truffle harvesting season ends.

Olivier said that truffle prices have skyrocketed like a 'price jump'.

How much has it risen to now?

Ronan and Zoe had been going to Gold every day for a while and hadn't had a proper meal with their family and friends in a long time.

They returned to Lourmaran early today, and the two of them have achieved remarkable results, which deserve a proper celebration.

As soon as he arrived at the restaurant, Ronan called Louis, Freddie, Alan, and old Carl to invite them to a get-together that evening.

Freddie asked sarcastically on the phone:
"You still remember us? I thought you weren't coming back from Gold."

Ronan said many nice things before Freddie reluctantly agreed.

However, this guy only held back for less than half an hour before appearing in the restaurant with a lamb and happily saying to Ronan:

“It’s hard to find lambs these days. Lao Luo said you guys have been working really hard lately, driving for hours every day. I’m bringing this to you and Zoe to help you recover.”

Seeing Freddy, who seemed perfectly normal, Ronan finally felt a sense of happiness, as if he were 'coming home'.

In Lourmaran, Ronan will always be Ronan; no one will consider him a great artist, and that fact will not change even if Ronan becomes richer.

Ronan took off his carefully chosen expensive suit and shoes, and put on his ripped jeans and plaid shirt:

"I have to cook two dishes myself today. How about sweet and sour pork? Freddy, do you want some?"

Freddie raised the goat's hoof:

"I want to eat it! Remember to make two portions, one isn't enough for me!!"

Old Carl has something to do today and won't be here until after 6 p.m.

Although all their friends had arrived, they decided to wait for him before starting the meal.

Let's leave aside the others, but old Karl's seniority is undeniable.

During that waiting period, Ronan had nothing to do, so he went to the cashier to help his mother with the accounts. Thinking of something, he asked his mother:

"What time does Lucas come every day lately?"

Ronan and Lucas maintained a cooperative relationship with the outside world, so Lucas would deliver truffles every day, and Cornell would deliver them regularly.

Feng Zhen sighed:
"Once the art exhibition is over, you have to thank Lucas properly. To make up for your share, Lucas has been coming home very late every day."

Ronan was both happy and worried.

Fortunately, thanks to his cover, no one noticed Lucas's unusual behavior and assumed that his efforts were to make up for Ronan's truffle.

What's worrying is that despite his hard work, it seems the financial pressure hasn't eased at all.

Ronan nodded in a seemingly serious manner:
"I understand. But the price of truffles has gone up recently, so I'll go into the mountains tomorrow to ease his burden."

"Yes, truffles have now risen to 4500 francs per kilogram, and I heard they're going to keep going up," Feng Zhen said casually as she scribbled in her notebook.

Ronan looked over curiously:

"You know truffles have gone up in price?"

My mother only manages the restaurant's finances; she's never been involved in the truffle business and doesn't know anything about the market.

"Hey—" Feng Zhen was very dissatisfied with Ronan's attitude and raised her voice to protest, "I not only know that truffles have gone up in price, but I also know why they have gone up in price. No one knows the cause and effect behind this better than me!"

(End of this chapter)