I am a literary giant in Japan

Chapter 204 I am grateful to you too, Saito
Actually, Odmesson had a lot to say to Kitagawa Hide, but they didn't speak the same language, and it was an award ceremony, so they couldn't talk openly about literature. He could only say a few words of congratulations to him in front of the camera, and then the two of them took photos together in various poses for several minutes.

After Odmeson stepped down, the award presenter, Combesco, came over with prizes, bonuses and trophies.

The translator girl quickly introduced Combesco to Kitagawa Hide in a low voice, then stepped away to avoid accidentally entering the camera and affecting the quality of the award ceremony.

Combesco jokingly exclaimed: "Congratulations, Mr. Kitagawa Hide. I am thirty years older than you, but I won this award only five years earlier. There are so many outstanding young writers like you. Maybe I should consider retiring sooner."

No one would take this seriously, but it does reflect the voices of many older writers in the audience.

Combesco won the Prix Goncourt at the age of 49, which was a success that many of them could not reach. But Kitagawa Hide, who won this honor at the age of 24, was simply a monster!

Kitagawa Hide didn't understand what he said, but looking at the complicated and admiring expressions of the people in the audience, he guessed it was some flattery, so he replied him with a few words "thank you" in English.

He was more interested in the prizes, bonuses and trophies that were handed to him.

The prize is a pure gold 24k fountain pen, which is very valuable. On the top is engraved a row of small words in French: "Winner of the th Goncourt Prize", followed by Kitagawa Hide's Japanese name.

The prize money is 5000 francs, equivalent to 50 yen.

The trophy was a new award added after 1990. It is a very abstract graphic symbol, and Kitagawa Hide doesn’t know what it means, but the names of previous winners are engraved on the base of the trophy.

His Japanese name stands out very clearly.

The entire award ceremony of the Prix Goncourt made Kitagawa Hide feel very comfortable. It was not as disgusting as the Akutagawa Prize, and was much more high-end and classy than the Naoki Prize.

In terms of sense of ceremony, romantic France does pay more attention to it than other countries and does it better.

Holding the pile of things, he bowed deeply to the audience, and then said gentlemanly amid the warm applause and dazzling lights: "Thank you, everyone. I am honored to receive the Goncourt Prize!"

Unlike the Nobel Prize in Literature, Kitagawa Hide did not have to give a long acceptance speech. After the photo session, he only had to answer a few questions from everyone present, and the ceremony officially came to an end.

What followed was the usual dinner and dance.

Kitagawa Hide was not informed of this process in advance, which means that there will be no embarrassing questions during the question-and-answer session - otherwise the reputation of the Goncourt Prize would definitely be ruined first.

Just as he thought.

The questions were all from French writers, and focused on literary topics such as "How was an excellent work like "Paradise Lost" created?" and "I heard that the theme of extramarital affairs is quite taboo in Japan. Will such works be rejected by the public?"

Kitagawa Hide answered the questions calmly one by one. He was tall, handsome and elegant, which perfectly matched the image and temperament that the French expected of a writer, so he quickly won the favor of many people.

Just as the question-and-answer session was about to end, the female host was suddenly called off the stage and ran to a table at the edge of the venue.

Kitagawa Hide saw the hostess bowing respectfully and listening to Miss Wertheimer's whispers. After a few seconds, she took the microphone and asked with a smile: "Mr. Kitagawa, Miss Wertheimer wants to ask you a more personal question, is that okay?"

"Of course." Kitagawa Hide nodded.

He was somewhat surprised at the energy of this Miss Wertheimer.

It is obvious that the Goncourt Prize is very prestigious in France. There were many elite and upper-class people present to watch the ceremony, but during the question-and-answer session, they were eager to try, but in the end no one was able to ask any questions.

Miss Wertheimer obviously came up with this idea on impulse, and the organizers and the academicians on the stage actually gave her some face.
A strong dragon will not overwhelm a local snake.

Kitagawa Hide had just accepted help from the other party, so he would definitely try his best to meet her needs.

The eighteen-year-old girl named Olivia Wertheimer stood up gracefully, blinked her charming peach blossom eyes, and asked with a smile: "Teacher Kitagawa, are you married?"

After hearing what the translator said, combined with the previous invitation and the other party's almost overflowing admiring expression at this moment, Kitagawa Hide suddenly felt something was wrong.

When I studied Japanese literature in the past, especially when reading "The Tale of Genji", the most common plot was that the suave writer was admired and loved by various women.

The same is true of the current situation in Japanese literary circles.

The image of Yomiuri Okamoto, whose five limbs were not satisfied but whose lower body was extremely satisfied, is still vivid in my mind.

I never thought that one day, I would actually have such good luck in love???

Kitagawa Hide maintained a professional smile: "Not yet."

He thought for a moment, "But I already have a fiancée." He didn't say the second half of the sentence. If the other party asked such a question in front of so many reporters and bigwigs, and you refused in person, it would be a rift. It's better not to do this in a foreign country.

Rena Saito also woke up, looked at Olivia Wertheimer, then looked at Kitagawa Hide on the stage, and for some reason she became nervous again.

Beichuan doesn't seem like the kind of man who would make mistakes, but... we still have to help Mengzi keep an eye on him!
Olivia heard the second half of the sentence from his tone, but she was not disappointed at all. Instead, she smiled charmingly, respectfully returned a Japanese bow, then lifted her skirt and sat down.

After the little episode, at the invitation of a group of academicians, Kitagawa Hide had no choice but to sit in the main seat among them with the trophy. A group of French literary giants and a Japanese writer took a precious group photo!
Back at the round table, Kitagawa Hide handed the trophy to Saito Rena. She did not refuse, but took it and stroked it carefully. She felt that the trip to Paris suddenly became like a dream.

When she saw Kitagawa Hide's name clearly engraved on the base of the trophy, she realized that they had won a big prize at an overseas literary festival in a foreign country!

This trophy and prizes will definitely be placed in Peter Cat’s honor display case. Oh, and their photo should also be put in there!

The Goncourt Prize is not well known in Japan or other countries.

For example, many literature lovers next door may never have heard of this award, nor do they know much about the world's major literary awards other than the Nobel Prize in Literature.

But in fact, the value of this award is very, very high.

For the French literary world, it is like the Mao Dun Literature Prize in its neighbor and the Tanizaki Prize in Japan. In the Western literary world, it is also one of the most well-known awards.

Reina Saito, who has been immersed in literature since college, knows it very well.

It is precisely because of this understanding that she can understand Kitagawa Hide’s difficulties and greatness better than most people!

When he changed jobs, he promised that the two of them would win various awards together.

Now he really did it.

Leading myself step by step towards the depths of this road.

Drop after drop of crystal tears fell on the trophy. Saito Reina cried with joy, hurriedly rolled up her sleeves to wipe the trophy, and kept saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry"

She was like a helpless child, her tears could not stop, her hands could not stop moving, and all this was just a reflection of the turmoil in her heart.

"I'm sorry, Kitagawa. I'm so happy, so happy, really so happy." Saito Rena suddenly had the urge to hug Kitagawa Hide tightly.

She restrained herself and hesitated, and before she opened her arms, she was suddenly gently embraced by Kitagawa Hide.

It's just a simple little hug.

It made her feel like she was in another world.

It's like meeting for the first time.

"Thank you, wuwuwu-thank you so much, Beichuan!"

At this moment, she no longer cared about anything, but just hugged Beichuan Xiu tightly, conveying to him her deep joy, emotion, gratitude, and all kinds of emotions that could not be expressed in words.

"I am very grateful to you, Saito. If it weren't for you, it would be difficult for me to sit here today and receive this award."

This is Kitagawa Hide's true feelings.

Maxima often has it, but Bole does not often have it.

The combination of a thousand-mile horse and a good horse trainer who can work in harmony and have perfect understanding is rare in a century.

In his two lifetimes, Kitagawa Hide has seen many frustrated and unhappy horses, as well as those who eventually turned against their Bole, and so on.

It is rare to find a pair like them who can always support each other and maintain a tacit understanding and close relationship in all walks of life.

Perhaps even without Rena Saito, he could still stir up the world in this parallel world and become a literary giant.

But just like what Saito Reina said to him.

If he just runs by himself without anyone following or surrounding him, then what is the difference between him and a robot?
He made her.

Wasn't she the one who provided him with the best companionship in his literary journey?
(End of this chapter)