I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 418 Memory
September 11th is the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.

Liu Jin got up early and called home to wish his parents a happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

But I sensed that they weren't happy.

That's normal!

In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions.

But Liu Jin wasn't by their side, which inevitably made their parents a little sad.

Over the phone, my mother, for the first time ever, urged me to get married.

After rambling on and on for a while, she talked about how so-and-so from so-and-so's family had a son; how so-and-so from so-and-so's family had a daughter; how so-and-so from so-and-so's family had already been married three times and had two children, and how so-and-so was so successful and very filial.

I vaguely remember that when I went home this time, my mom mentioned XX.

They say XX is a bad person because he's been married three times at such a young age.

But now, he's become a devoted son...

Liu Jin could only laugh it off.

"Go ahead, if you really don't want to date a girl from China, a foreign girl is fine too."

If all else fails, how about having a baby first? I've heard that girls abroad are very open-minded; they certainly wouldn't object.

Mom, when did you become so open-minded?

Listen to what you're saying. Are you even a DY (a derogatory term for a prostitute)? You're a retired state cadre!

Liu Jin could only mutter to himself, not daring to say it aloud.

If he tells her, his mother might come to Toulouse again, and he'll be in real trouble then.

……

That day, Liu Jin finally finished "The Girl Who Plays with Fire" and then sent the manuscript to Ottilie and Mela.

With nothing much to do at home, I decided to take all three of them out.

First, we went to see the new house so that the three of them could get familiar with the environment.

Then I went to Café Delphine to visit Sylvie and gave her a bucket of Martinique coffee beans.

The old lady was very happy.

He chatted with Liu Jin for a long time.

The old lady offered Liu Jin a hearty consolation regarding the low sales of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".

Actually, it's already considered low!

According to Mella, sales are rising as the debate surrounding "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" continues.

Since June, we have sold 500,000 copies.

It certainly can't compare to "The Old Man and the Sea," but it's still a bestseller.

Moreover, it has a very good reputation, especially among critics, who have given the book high praise.

Among them, Gérard Genette's comments, in particular, stirred up a huge wave in the literary world.

Gérard Genette was born in 1930.

He was a very famous French literary theorist and critic, and in the field of narratology, he can be called a leading figure.

His work, *Narrative Discourse, New Narrative Discourse*, is a milestone in the study of modern and contemporary French literature.

The over-seventy-year-old gentleman published his review of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in Le Figaro.

Amos is one of the finest and most outstanding Romantic novelists.

Notre Dame Cathedral, on the other hand, is a masterpiece of Romanticism. It employs contrast with ease and its narrative style is extremely sophisticated.

Notre Dame de Paris portrays the characters of the lower classes, and through its dramatic plot, it interweaves legend and realism, combining romance and reality to create a powerful and moving character.

Forgive my bluntness, but when I read *The Hunchback of Notre Dame*, I felt an urge to converse with Balzac and Stendhal. He will become one of the most representative French writers, and *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* will undoubtedly be the most brilliant jewel in the history of French literature. Believe me, it will be.

……

The old gentleman had many students and followers in the French literary world.

He spoke, and countless people immediately responded.

Mela said it must have been Professor Michel Ranke's recommendation.

Otherwise, given the old gentleman's age, he wouldn't easily speak up to evaluate a work, especially one by a Chinese person.

This is probably what it feels like to have someone to rely on.

Liu Jin said to Sylvie, "I am not worried at all about the sales of Notre Dame de Paris."

Aunt Sylvie, just you wait and see, time will prove the book's worth; it will surely become a miracle.

Well, bragging isn't illegal in the West anyway.

Just brag.

Don't worry if it doesn't happen; just pretend it never happened.

Most successful people in the West are like this: whether they succeed or not is not important, but they must first make big promises.

Sylvie laughed heartily.

“Amos, I believe that.”

After chatting with the old lady for two hours, Liu Jin took his leave when he saw that she was tired.

When he got home, he received an email from Mela.

The manuscript for "The Girl Who Plays with Fire" has been forwarded to Irene.

"Didn't Ottilie proofread the manuscript?"

"She's busy proofreading for Chicago... Liu, I have to say you've shocked me."

This is a style you've never had before. If I didn't know it was you who wrote it, I would never have believed that this book was actually written by the author of *The Hunchback of Notre Dame*.

Liu Jin was taken aback and asked, "Isn't it good?"

"Of course not, it's outstanding."

Mela laughed and said, "This must be from the case of Clay and Fernando."

"Did you see it?"

“It’s fantastic. I feel that it will easily sell two million copies in France.”

Two million units sold in France?
North America...

"Remember to send the manuscript to Ms. Luo in Senqu District."

"I know."

Before hanging up the phone, Mela said one more thing: "Liu, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"

It seemed she had done her research, knowing that today was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Liu Jin gladly accepted her blessings.

……

The next day, Genevieve Dumont called.

She had actually arrived in Toulouse a while ago and has now settled her family there.

Genevieve had three children, one boy and two girls.

My parents are still alive, but my husband... we've been divorced for almost ten years.

It seems they got divorced because of infidelity.

This is very common in France.

It's worth noting that two European countries have the most womanizers: France and Italy, both known for producing scumbags.

Of course, other countries are not necessarily better off than them.

It's just that the men from these two countries are too flamboyant and attention-grabbing, which makes them even more famous.

Genevieve brought her parents to Toulouse.

Furthermore, I bought a house in Toulouse, which is over 300 square meters in size and located near the Pont Neuf in Toulouse.

It's a bit out of the way, but it's still considered part of the city center.

House prices in Toulouse are much cheaper than in Paris.

In Paris, house prices currently range from €1,800 to €2,000 per square meter, while in Toulouse, prices are significantly lower, around €1,000 to €1,200. A 300-square-meter apartment would cost approximately €400,000, which is quite reasonable.

Genevieve did not accept Liu Jin's offer to let her family move into the house on St. Jacques Street.

In her words, it was unnecessary.

She's not young anymore and hopes to settle down in Toulouse.

It's better to buy a house than to rent one.

Anyway, she's not short of money; although not a lot, she can still come up with four or five hundred thousand euros.

Moreover, she has good credit and can get a loan.

The pressure will also be reduced considerably...

"Gina, I'm going to stay in the school dormitory for a while."

I need your help to protect Chloe. She's handling a case right now, and I'm a little worried.

"Of course, no problem, you're the boss."

Genevieve didn't care.

Anyway, with Liu Jin covering the expenses, she wasn't worried at all.

Then, Liu Jin dialed Chloe's number.

Chloe initially disagreed.

"Amos, what are you up to? I'm just helping someone with a lawsuit, I don't need a bodyguard."

"Clay, shut up and listen to me."

Liu Jin's words were very serious.

“You know what those refugees are… I don’t mean to discriminate against them, but I have to tell you, there are some people who don’t deserve sympathy. Those people dare to rob and do bad things without restraint, which shows that they are vicious and ruthless… You are the first friend I’ve made since I came to France, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Chloe remained silent on the phone!
"Alright, since you put it that way, I'll listen to you."

After hanging up the phone, she turned to Mela at her desk and said, "There's something strange about Amos."

"Clay, I think Liu is right."

He told me the day before yesterday, "There's always a reason why someone is pitiful. Those guys are really worrying when they go crazy... I know you have a gun and have martial arts training. But you're a woman after all. Ms. Dumont is professionally trained; with her by your side, Liu and I can feel a little more at ease. Just think of it as us worrying unnecessarily, but you have to listen to us."

Chloe scratched her head and didn't argue further.

……

Why was Liu Jin taking this so seriously?
It is a memory from the past.

In his previous life, after graduating in 2003, he went to work in Newcastle.

Later, I heard from classmates who stayed in Toulouse that a shocking case occurred in Toulouse around the end of the year.

A female lawyer angered refugees in Toulouse by litigating a lawsuit.

Several refugees attacked the female lawyer as she was leaving get off work, killing her on the spot.

The most sensational aspect of this case is that the female lawyer's father, also a prominent lawyer, fought a nearly two-year legal battle with refugee organizations. Although he ultimately won, he was exhausted. Shortly afterward, he committed suicide by shooting himself at home.

It was definitely suicide!

In his previous life, Liu Jin did not know Chloe.

But when Mela talked about the case Chloe was currently handling, it reminded him of this incident.

He wasn't sure if the female lawyer from his past life was Chloe.

It looks very similar!

To prevent any potential problems, he had to ensure Chloe's security.

Actually, he wanted Chloe to withdraw from the case.

But he also knew Chloe's temperament; she would never quit halfway through.

In that case, we should protect her!
This is his friend, and he has this responsibility.

After discussing the matter with Genevieve, Liu Jin drove to Abel Boxing Gym.

This year, Liu Jin and Abel have been in less contact!
It wasn't because of any change in status, but because Liu Jin had been traveling around all year, doing internships and making movies.

Abel knew it too.

So I didn't blame him.

Instead, he smiled and hugged Liu Jin, saying, "Brother, what brings you here to see me today?"

Liu Jin didn't stand on ceremony and pulled Abel aside.

“Abel, I need your help.”

"Forehead?"

“You should know Clay; she’s helping someone with a lawsuit against a group of refugees.”

"Ten thousand, you help me find someone to keep an eye on those refugees. I'm afraid that if they lose, they might desperately try to cause trouble for Clay!"

……

(End of this chapter)