Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 179 Version Overwhelming
In October, the autumn wind in Paris carried a chilly feel, dispersing the coal smoke and fog over the Seine.

After a long and complicated holiday, Lionel once again set foot on the Republic Avenue leading to the Sorbonne University.

Lionel no longer needed to ride in a public carriage, and his clothes were decent and clean, but he remained upright and calm, without any arrogant demeanor.

At the start of the new semester, the school gate was more bustling than usual.

Various private carriages came and went, transporting young students from all over Paris and even from the provinces.

The professors, dressed in long black robes and carrying lecture notes, hurried along.

Most of the students were in small groups, chatting excitedly and exchanging their summer experiences. The air was filled with the restlessness and energy unique to youth.

As soon as Lionel stepped off the taxi's footboard, a figure lunged at him, nearly colliding with him.

Albert de Rohan exclaimed with undisguised excitement: "Leon! My dear Leon! You're finally back!"
Good heavens, in just one summer vacation, you've already shaken Paris again! 2 francs! You really know how to spend money like that…

Lionel didn't want to continue the topic and smiled helplessly: "Good morning, Albert."

You seem to have had a very enjoyable summer vacation—nice clothes, they remind me of an Englishman…

Albert was wearing a brand-new velvet coat in the most fashionable burgundy red, and his cologne smelled stronger than ever before.

Albert waved his arms: "Enjoyable? Oh, it's utterly boring! My father dragged me back to the estate, and I'm stuck with grapevines and oak barrels all day!"
All you do is drink and hunt, nothing new! Unlike you…”

He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and winked: "Seriously, that's 5000 francs! You bastard... that's more than I spend in a year!"

Lionel was completely baffled. What on earth was 5000 francs?

Albert slapped his forehead: "Oh! Right! The most important news! I almost forgot to congratulate you—"

The first recipient of the great, sublime, and unprecedented "Rothschild-Sorbonne Literary Scholarship"!

Lionel Sorel! 5000 francs! My God!

That shout was incredibly captivating, immediately drawing the attention of many students nearby.

Surprise, envy, jealousy, curiosity... 5000 francs is enough to pay for several years of tuition and live a fairly comfortable life.

"It's really him..."

"The Old Guard, Letter from an Unknown Woman..."

"That's nothing, Benjamin's 'The Curious Cases of Bouton' earned much more..."

“What good luck…”

Whispers came like a tidal wave.

Albert looked around triumphantly, as if he himself had won the award.

Lionel then remembered that there was such a thing—5000 francs was indeed a considerable sum, and could certainly be considered a "surprise".

However, he didn't want to be seen as a monkey by his classmates anymore, so he quickly walked into the school and hurried towards the classroom.

Albert caught up with Lionel from behind and put his arm around his shoulder: "Come on, future great writer! Let's go and receive the adoration of the crowd!"

Oh, by the way, there's a 'surprise' waiting for you in class today..."

Lionel didn't bother to ask what the "surprise" was. He went up the stairs, walked through the corridor, and finally went into the classroom.

Albert followed closely behind him, and once inside the classroom, he chuckled, "See? The 'surprise' is right there!"

Lionel looked up and saw a figure standing proudly at the center of the crowd.

The man was tall and slender, wearing a perfectly tailored dark suit made of expensive fabric with sharp lines, and a pair of gleaming lace-up ankle boots.

His golden hair was carefully combed and pulled back, revealing a smooth and full forehead; there was also a slender and neat pale golden mustache on his lips!
But all of this was a futile attempt to cover up the truth—even if the man were reduced to ashes, Lionel would still recognize him. Lionel turned to Albert: "This is the surprise you were talking about?"

Albert shrugged and whispered, "The bill to allow women to receive a college education is already causing a huge uproar in Parliament."

But my father said it would be approved in a few months... Is this considered... a drill?

When Lionel walked in, the buzzing that had been almost lifting the roof off the classroom instantly quieted down.

All eyes darted back and forth between "him" and Lionel, as if waiting for a grand show to begin.

Louis-Alphonse de Montferrand, who had been standing beside “his” chair with a fawning smile, immediately straightened his back when he saw Lionel enter.

He pushed through the crowd and stood in front of Lionel: "Mr. Lionel Sorel?"

"Nice to meet you, I am Sofin Ivanovich Durov-Sherbatov."

Lionel, however, did not indulge her, and said calmly, "Good morning, Sophia."

A suppressed gasp rose from the crowd—no one had expected Lionel to expose Sofia so directly.

Sofia's pupils contracted slightly, and she gave a forced smile: "Here, please call me Sofin Ivanovich Durov-Sherbatov."

Starting today, I will be studying at the Sorbonne Faculty as an auditor. I believe that the pursuit of knowledge should not have gender barriers, should it?
Although some may believe that women's minds are only fit for salon gossip and fashion magazines.

Louis-Alphonse immediately chimed in, his voice booming as if announcing some major news: "That's right! It's an honor for the Sorbonne to have Soffin listen in!"
We should welcome anyone who loves knowledge, regardless of where they come from or what their background is!

Lionel was unaffected by Louis Alphonse; he stared into Sofia's eyes: "So, why did you listen in as a man?"

Sofia was stunned. She hadn't expected Lionel to ask that, and a sudden panic gripped her: "It's because... France doesn't allow it yet... I think this is more..."

Lionel smiled – “Your punch was too primitive. Now I’ll show you what a true version crushing is.”

His voice remained calm: "So you yourself also think that women are inferior to men?"
So that's why you call yourself 'Sophie' and wear a fake mustache?"

Sofia's eyes began to glaze over: "No, I didn't... Don't talk nonsense..."

Lionel did not let her off the hook, but continued to press: "If you really believe that the pursuit of knowledge should not have gender barriers, then shouldn't you appear at the Sorbonne as a woman?"

As a man, you suggest you still believe that university is a male-dominated field, and women are not suited to be there.

Sofia was furious: "You..."

Lionel didn't give her a chance at all, speaking in rapid succession: "Oh, I remember now—the last time you appeared at the Sorbonne, you weren't called 'Sorfin,' and you weren't wearing a fake beard."

You just barged in, all glitter and swagger, and rudely interrupted my oral exam—I think you felt like you were superior to men at that moment.

So your point is that only power and money can make women equal to men;
Is it true that women are inferior to men in the realm of knowledge, and that only by acting like men can they learn properly?

Sofia gritted her teeth and said, "I! Didn't!..."

Lionel sighed: "Sophia, I have to criticize you seriously, this is sexism!"
Women should be able to sit confidently in the classroom, dressed in their beautiful clothes, and receive knowledge when they go to university.

Instead of disguising themselves as men—especially deliberately possessing male physical characteristics—and sneaking in like a thief or a conman.

Lionel then turned to Louis Alphonse: "Louis, you called Sofia 'Sofina,' that's also discriminating against women!"

Louis-Alphonse nearly jumped out of his chair: "I didn't..."

Lionel gave a dismissive smile and walked to his seat: "Remember, knowledge itself is neither biased towards wealth nor towards gender—"

It favors only those souls that are sincere, humble, and diligent.

Just then, the bell rang for class, and Professor Ernest Renan, carrying his lecture notes, walked into the classroom.

(End of this chapter)