I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 224 Reunion with My Brother (Continued) (Please subscribe and vote!)
On February 6, the entire city of Berlin was abuzz with excitement as the Berlin Film Festival opened.

The opening film of this year's film festival is "Paradise" from America, starring Cate Blanchett.

Liu Jin flipped through the program booklet; the response was lukewarm.

But judging from the introduction, it seems to align with his values.

A story of a vengeful drug dealer and a fugitive.

Sophie Marceau called to confirm that Liu Jin had arrived, and she was very happy.

However, as a judge, she is very busy.

This year's film festival features 180 films.

She and the other judges would watch each film one by one and then discuss them.

"I'm about to break down. Right now, I feel like my head is filled with nothing but movies..."

She complained like a little girl.

Liu Jin couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Sophie, so many people want your honor, stop complaining. Take your time, I have plenty of time anyway... Don't worry about me, go about your business, I can wander around on my own."

"That's fine too, there are quite a few good places to visit in Berlin."

"Come on, it's a film festival, of course I'm going to see a movie... How's Paradise? It sounds pretty good, why does it seem like the reception is so-so?"

Sophie Marceau paused for a moment, then said softly, "A very America-esque film."

As soon as she said that, Liu Jin understood!

Ultimately, Europe at this time was ambitious.

The euro was officially launched this year, with the ambition to become the world's third pole, not a vassal state.

In their eyes, America's films were too secular.

They hoped to express European ideas...

"By the way, there's a Chinese-language film premiering today, you can go check it out."

"what movie?"

"The movie 'Men at Forty' seems to have been shown at the Berlin Cultural Square."

"I understand... By the way, will it be a problem for you if I stay here?"

"What impact could it have? Can't I have a boyfriend?"

"But you are a judge."

Sophie Marceau hesitated for a moment, then sighed.

"Are you always so considerate of others, Amos?"

"Haha, of course, especially when facing the French Rose."

Laughter came from the other end of the phone.

"It's okay, you can book your own room if you want, or stay at my place, it's up to you."

"Okay, I understand!"

After hanging up the phone, I checked the time.

It's only four o'clock in the afternoon.

Liu Jin came out of Sophie's room and asked at the front desk.

Upon learning that there was a luxury suite available, he decided to book it.

After all, Sophie is a judge, and people will definitely come to visit... It's ultimately a bit inappropriate for him to live there.

The house price is a bit expensive, 7,400 euros!

Based on the exchange rate, it's roughly 70,000 francs, which is more expensive than what I paid at Athena Square.

That's normal, though, during the film festival.

Liu Jin only booked one night; he'd look at other places later.

He completed the formalities at the front desk, hailed a taxi at the hotel entrance, and headed straight for Berlin Cultural Square.

A man in his forties?

I saw this in my past life!
It looks like Anita Mui is in it...

He couldn't quite remember the specific details, but the only thing that left a deep impression was Anita Mui.

No wonder she was in Paris last month; she was probably there for the film festival.

I wonder if my brother will come too?
Leslie Cheung once said that his main purpose in coming to Europe was to relax.

Perhaps the paparazzi on Hong Kong Island are making it hard for him to breathe.

……

The premiere is over!
When Liu Jin arrived at Berlin Cultural Square, the main creative team had already left.

There weren't many people watching the movie; in the huge screening room, there were only a dozen or so people.

Liu Jin really liked this movie, which is full of Hong Kong Island charm and depicts the various troubles and helplessness of middle-aged men facing social realities.

He was young when he watched this movie in his past life.

I don't really understand the dilemmas faced by middle-aged men.

Now, he can appreciate and feel the helplessness within it with relish.

Anita Mui is indeed the female lead, playing Chen Wenjing.

To Liu Jin's surprise, the singing god was actually the male lead.

To be honest, Liu Jin is indifferent to the songs of the "God of Songs".

But the God of Songs' movies... really left him with too many memories.

In particular, the "Eat shit" fly guy will frequently appear on social media in the future, becoming an unforgettable memory for people.

He's truly an actor whose talent was wasted on singing!
Seeing the singing god on the screen always makes Liu Jin want to laugh.

That damn fly is invading his brain again.

Overall, the man in his forties looks pretty good.

It was already dark when Liu Jin came out of the screening room.

He bought a travel brochure from the entrance of the screening room, glanced at it, and was just about to look for a place to eat when the phone rang.

His number had European roaming enabled, making phone calls extremely expensive.

Liu Jin answered the phone; it was Sophie Marceau calling.

She had just finished her work and was preparing to invite Liu Jin to dinner.

Just as Liu Jin was about to agree, someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder from behind.

Almost instinctively, Liu Jin turned his body and threw a punch.

"Amos, it's me!"

"Eh?"

When Liu Jin saw the other person clearly, he was stunned.

"Leslie?"

He said in surprise.

Leslie Cheung breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me to death, you almost hit me... I saw your back just now, it looked like you, I didn't expect it to really be you."

At that moment, Sophie Marceau's anxious voice came through the phone.

"Amos, are you alright?"

Liu Jin quickly gestured to Leslie Cheung and put the phone to his ear. "I just ran into an acquaintance, it's alright."

"acquaintance?"

"Leslie, Cheng Dieyi, do you remember him?"

"Him...he's in Berlin too?"

Liu Jin looked at Leslie Cheung, as if to ask: One person, or two people?

“I was with Maggie. Anita Mui was going to a party with the crew, so Maggie and I decided to go out and have some fun.”

"Sophie, Leslie and Maggie are together. Are they having dinner together?"

"Of course, 22 Bergstrasse, Katz Orange. I've already made a reservation. Let's go together."

"Okay, see you in a bit."

At that moment, Maggie, who was not far away, also walked over.

"Amos, what a coincidence!"

"Yeah, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Want to eat together?"

Leslie Cheung hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Won't this be a bother?"

“Sophie, Sophie Marceau, you know her too.”

A smile flashed in Leslie Cheung's eyes.

He and Zhang Manyu exchanged a glance, then he smiled and said, "Alright then, we won't stand on ceremony."

With that, the three of them walked out of the hall.

"Why are you back? Didn't the premiere end a long time ago?"

“We were watching a movie in another theater. We’re not part of the film crew, so there’s no need for us to join them.”

“Haha, me too!”

The three hailed a taxi, and Liu Jin gave the name of the restaurant.

Clearly, the restaurant Sophie booked was very famous, and the driver immediately said he knew about it.

Liu Jin and Leslie Cheung sat in the back seat, while Maggie Cheung sat in the front passenger seat.

"Why did you come to Berlin? Did you come specifically to see Sophie?"

"I had no choice. The reporters came to our school, which made our principal very angry, so he kicked me out."

Liu Jin recounted his experiences, which surprisingly resonated with the two Zhangs.

"Just like in Hong Kong Island, but the paparazzi there are even more frantic."

I just... feel like I'm suffocating. Maggie dragged me to Europe to escape those guys.

"They'll hide in the toilet and take pictures of you peeing?"

"Ha, there are even more outrageous things than this!"

“Brother, why don’t you move out of Hong Kong Island and come to Europe, or to mainland China… Hong Kong Island prioritizes entertainment above all else, and with its slogan of ‘freedom of the press,’ you’ll become depressed sooner or later if you stay in that environment all the time. Hong Kong Island is too small!”

Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhang Manyu turned around and asked, "What depression?"

"Depression is a mental illness, it's terrible... If you can't control it, it can even kill you."

"what?"

In 2002, depression was not taken seriously.

Most of the time, people know it's a mental illness, but many ignore its seriousness because they don't understand it.

My brother was plagued by this disease back then, and ultimately he took his own life.

"is it so serious?"

A glint flashed in Leslie Cheung's eyes.

He asked softly, "Amos, do you know anything about this disease?"

"I know some things, but not all of them."

Liu Jin sat in the car and began to ramble on about the various symptoms of depression that he knew.

“Brother, your performance in Gun King showed symptoms of depression.”

The urge to self-destruct, to hurt oneself… However, people with depression don't hurt others; they only hurt themselves.

"Leslie!"

Zhang Manyu's expression was somewhat solemn.

She softly called out Leslie Cheung's name, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Because some of the symptoms Liu Jin mentioned had already appeared in Leslie Cheung.

In the movie "The Gunman," the scene where he looks in the mirror and tries to shoot, repeatedly pressing the gun to his head as if about to pull the trigger, is very realistic.

Even Johnnie To said that Leslie Cheung's performance was exceptionally realistic and outstanding.

Zhang Manyu thought it was him acting.

After hearing what Liu Jin said, I feel...

"I……"

Leslie Cheung remained silent!

He didn't know if what Liu Jin said was true or false, but some things were indeed as Liu Jin said.

Gun King, Another Dimension...

Everyone says he has outstanding acting skills, but only he knows that he was once deeply immersed in them.

"Really, brother, Hong Kong Island is too small... and the people of Hong Kong Island are too vulgar."

As long as you're on Hong Kong Island, you'll be constantly troubled. If you can't break free from that cycle, you'll only end up becoming extreme.

Liu Jin's gaze was very sincere.

He genuinely loves his brother and hopes he can overcome his difficulties.

He disliked the atmosphere of Hong Kong Island, just as he disliked the people of Hong Kong Island twenty years later.

"Think about it, have you gotten any better during your time in Europe?"

"what?"

"Relax, be happier, instead of having so many worries."

Zhang Manyu said, "Leslie, I didn't realize it until Amos said it, but you have indeed become much more cheerful these days."

"really?"

"Of course!"

Leslie Cheung remained silent!

Liu Jin knew it would be difficult for him to break free from his old environment.

After all, that's where he lived, grew up, and became famous.

My brother must have had a very deep affection for Hong Kong Island, but unfortunately, the people of Hong Kong Island only like to gossip about him, talk about his sexual orientation, and tell his jokes.

After his death, people on Hong Kong Island came forward one by one to say how deeply they loved him.

But while he was alive, every Hong Kong Island resident was the murderer who ultimately led him to his death!

He has to make the decision himself...

(End of this chapter)