1836: I Became a Literary Giant in Great Britain

Cohen Street, on the edge of St. Giles Parish.

When Bella and Anna found the three-story apartment building where Michel lived, following the address on the letter.

The immense joy they felt from Michelle's rise to fame was instantly overshadowed by the sight before them.

The streets here are narrow and muddy, with suspicious filth everywhere, and an indescribable sour smell in the air.

Even the apartment building itself was dilapidated, with large chunks of plaster peeling off the walls, revealing the dark red bricks underneath.

What made them feel most oppressed was that the building had almost no windows. The places that should have been windows were completely blocked off with bricks, making the whole building look like a huge, airtight coffin.

"Michelle... lives here?" Bella's face showed a look of heartache.

Anna's heart sank.

They had imagined that Michelle's life in London might be difficult, but they didn't expect it to be this bad.

My initial anticipation turned to disappointment, and doubts began to surface again.

If he's really as famous as that student named John says, why is he living in a place like this?

With mixed feelings, the two entered the apartment building.

The hallway was dimly lit, and a damp, musty smell hit you as soon as you entered.

Just as they were hesitating about how to find Michelle's room, the door on the first floor creaked open.

A woman with a stout build, resembling a small mountain, came out. Upon seeing the two unfamiliar faces inside the building, she immediately began to scrutinize them warily.

Who are you looking for?

This robust woman was none other than the landlady, Mrs. Marshall.

"Hello, we're here to see Michelle LeBlanc. May I ask which room he's staying in?" Anna asked politely.

Upon hearing the name "Michelle LeBlanc," Mrs. Marshall's wariness vanished instantly, replaced by an exaggeratedly enthusiastic smile.

"Oh! So you're looking for our great writer, Mr. Michel. Oh, please come in, please come in! It's cold outside, come into the restaurant and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up!"

The landlady's attitude left Bella and Anna somewhat bewildered.

They were warmly invited into the restaurant on the first floor.

The dining table wasn't big, but it was kept fairly clean.

"Are you related to Mr. Michel?" Mrs. Marshall asked as she brewed tea for them, trying to strike up a conversation.

"Michelle is my brother."

Anna replied.

"Oh my, you're so lucky to have such a promising younger brother!"

Upon hearing that she was Michelle's sister/mother, Mrs. Marshall's smile grew even warmer.

She quietly replaced the tea leaves she was about to brew with another packet.

This is not the inferior tea made from a mixture of tea dust and plants that we had at the last tea party, but genuine tea imported from the East.

This common black tea, sourced from Fujian and Guangdong in China, costs 5 shillings per pound and is considered a favorite among London's middle class.

"You have no idea how famous Mr. Michel is in London now! Even the aristocratic gentlemen are following his stories!"

"When he first moved in, I could tell this young man was no ordinary person! So, when he was down on his luck, I even gave him a two-month rent extension. Sure enough, just as I predicted, Mr. Michel succeeded not long after!"

Speaking of Michelle, the landlady immediately began to tell the story of how she had a keen eye for talent and had given Michelle a rent reduction when he was down on his luck...

It seems she had recognized Michel's talent long ago and was his mentor.

"Then we really have to thank you for your kindness on behalf of Michelle."

Hearing about the landlady's help to Michelle, Anna's gaze softened as she looked at the robust woman.

However, the landlady's current enthusiasm is clearly due to Michel's current status as a writer.

"Um... Madam," Bella finally couldn't help but ask after hearing a barrage of compliments.

"Is Michelle... not here right now?"

"Oh, he's not home right now. I saw him at noon today; he said he went to look at houses," Mrs. Marshall replied casually.

"He should be back soon. You all sit down and have some tea, I'll go upstairs to check on him."

Looking at houses?

Hearing this, Bella and Anna felt a little relieved. It seemed that Michelle was planning to move away from this terrible place.

Just then, footsteps came from the stairwell.

It was Michelle who came back.

He was in a good mood today, despite the setback at his upscale apartment in Bloomsbury.

But just like a tree dies when transplanted, a person thrives when they move, so there are still other properties to look at. If all else fails, they're a great backup option.

He had just gone to the West End to look at a few more apartments. Although the amenities were not as good as the previous high-end apartment, they were all much better than his current attic.

Although the price is high, with his current income, renting one is more than enough.

Michelle was planning to look at houses.

As soon as he stepped into the foyer on the first floor, he saw two figures that were all too familiar, sitting at the dining table with the landlady.

He stopped abruptly, even wondering if he was hallucinating because he was too tired from writing lately.

Those two figures were his mother Bella and his sister Anna!

What are they doing here?

"Mom? Anna?"

Michelle's voice carried a hint of disbelief.

"Why...are you here?"

Hearing a familiar voice coming from the apartment entrance, Bella and Anna immediately looked in that direction.

I spotted Michelle standing at the door, wearing a decent wool coat, but her face betrayed her exhaustion.

Michelle, the man they longed for day and night!

Bella's tears streamed down her face instantly.

She quickly stepped forward and hugged Michelle tightly.

"My child...you've suffered so much...waaaaah..."

Although he was not used to it at first, the convergence of memories from his past and present lives soon helped him adapt.

Michelle’s mother’s embrace was warm and real, which confirmed that it was not an illusion.

He hugged his mother tightly, his heart filled with the joy and emotion of their long-awaited reunion...

"I'm fine, Mom."

Michelle gently patted her mother's back until her mother calmed down, then looked at Anna, whose eyes were red and swollen.

"Sister, why didn't you write to tell me you were coming to London?"

Anna stepped forward and looked him over carefully.

In just one year, my younger brother has changed drastically from how I remember him.

Michelle used to be somewhat introverted and shy. Although she was very intelligent, she was always a bit reserved.

Now, the younger brother has a gentle demeanor with a strong sense of confidence, as if nothing can faze him.

It's like a piece of beautiful jade that has finally been polished to its full glory.

"Don't we understand you? If we write a letter, you'll definitely come up with a bunch of reasons not to let us come."

Anna's words carried a stern tone, but her face beamed with an exceptionally bright smile.

Combined with her already stunning beauty, she was as radiant as the afternoon sun.

"We heard about what happened to you in London when we came here."

"Michelle, you're amazing..."

PS:

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