1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 175 'Actor' Mr. Ronan

One day in late July, Sylvie suddenly visited Ronan's house.

A strange man carrying a camera came with her.

"What's going on?" Ronan and his family of three gathered at the door, not knowing what was going on.

Sylvie cleared her throat and took out a thick envelope from her backpack:

"Mr. Ronan, thank you for your trust in the Lourmarin government. This is the 'renovation fund' we are funding for you. I wish your restaurant business will be prosperous and bring different travel experiences to friends from all over the world in the future."

Didn’t he even know to notify in advance before acting? Ronan complained in his heart.

He took the envelope with both hands, as happy as a poor country boy who had never seen the world:

"I would like to thank the Lourmarin government, the Lourmarin Commercial Street Investment Promotion Office, the Lourmarin Tourism Center, and the Lourmarin Market Management Center. I will continue to work hard and live up to the support and expectations of the government and various departments."

Sylvie asked the man carrying the camera:

"Do you need another one?"

The cameraman shook his head and said with satisfaction:

"What this guy said makes sense. Isn't this the kind of content you want? He looks photogenic too."

Sylvie smiled exaggeratedly and said with a laugh:
"You really are an expert at everything, Ronan. Where is the best sunlight in your home? Let's change the background and record some more footage."

"The lighting in the restaurant is very good." Ronan pushed his mother Feng Zhen out, "In fact, there are people in our family who are more photogenic and more talkative."

Sylvie takes the cameraman into Ronan's house:

"Don't worry, we'll all pick them, but we'll start with you."

Ronan family: "."

What is this going to do?
Feng Zhen sat under the Roman column with her legs together, facing the camera with her most charming right 30-degree profile.

Wearing sunglasses, she indulged in her celebrity addiction:

"There were no setbacks or doubts. His father and I supported Ronan's decision to open a restaurant from the beginning. Unity and friendship are our family's consistent creed. I believe that if the family works together, we can open the restaurant smoothly and make a small contribution to the future of Lourmarin."

Under the shade of a tree about ten meters away.

Sylvie drank iced pink wine and gave Ronan a thumbs up:

"Your mother is better at talking than you are. Can I come to her for other 'projects' later?"

"What is this 'project' you're working on now?" Ronan asked her.

Sylvie tapped her cup and said:
"Of course it's the commercial street project. We recorded the entire process of the commercial street from planning to final formation. This is the most valuable information, and it requires some materials from the shop owners."

"Oh, it's for internal use." Ronan laughed. "My mother thought she was going to be on TV. Didn't you see she even put on makeup?"

Sylvie covered her mouth and said:

"Tell your mother not to worry, the TV station will be here on August 8st."

"August 8st?" Ronan looked at her. "What day is that?"

Sylvie said quietly:
"The days for distributing the keys will be announced to you one by one starting tomorrow."

In fact, Ronan had signed a cooperation agreement with the Lourmarin government more than a month ago.

But on August 8, Sylvie invited the media and needed to "sign" with the store owners again in order to record this memorable moment.

Ronan thought that his mission, at most, was to take his family to the government to "perform" on August 8st.

I didn’t expect that this drama would start on July 7st.

On the afternoon of July 7, Sylvie brought three young girls to visit Ronan's house again, waking up Ronan from his nap.

Ronan said to Sylvie in a not-so-good tone:

"You should know how important the siesta is to the people of Provence. Can't we talk about it later?"

Sylvie said seriously:
"Since you know how important naps are to the people of Provence, you should know that we gave up our important nap time to come to your house. There must be something more important."

Ronan rubbed his eyes and said in a weak tone:

"What's the matter?" "To package you." Sylvie returned to her 'strict' look when Ronan first met her.

Her expression also reminded Ronan of the scene when they first met. He said in resistance:
"I'll just wear my normal clothes. Have you forgotten how the media ridiculed me after the last 'packaging'?"

I will never let you control me!

Sylvie glanced at the young girls behind her and said coldly to Ronan:
“This is not for the media.”

Those girls conjured up one outfit after another like magic:
"We rented these for you from Apte using the department budget. It cost us a lot of money. Come and try them."

Ronan leaned against the back of the sofa nervously, as if he wanted to lock himself in there tightly:

"You don't have to help me put on clothes. I'll call Zoe over."

I am grateful to the government for respecting me and giving me money, but I have the best stylist in Lourmarin.

Sylvie threw a set of expensive suits on Ronan without question:
"I'm afraid this isn't Zoe's area of expertise. Blanco said you're the 'face' of Lourmarin. You can't lose to the 'bosses' from other villages in terms of momentum and appearance. So we have to 'package' you."

"What?" Ronan's facial features twisted together.

On the morning of September 8th.

Before Ronan entered the government building, he was met by Blanco who was "inspecting work" outside.

"How do you feel today?" Blanco looked Ronan up and down and nodded with satisfaction.

Ronan loosened his tie and adjusted his suit:
“Very good, I feel full of energy.”

I've been dressed up as an insurance salesman, so of course I have to be full of energy.

Blanco accompanied Ronan towards the government building and asked kindly:
"You'll get the key soon. Are you nervous?"

Ronan was about to speak when he heard his mother cough twice behind him. He looked in the direction of his mother's eyes and found that two cameras had been pointed at him and Blanco at some point.

If Louis is Zoe's 'agent', then Feng Zhen must be Ronan's 'agent'.

A competent "agent" has the obligation to let his artists show their best side in front of the camera.

Ronan said gratefully to the camera:

"These past few days, I was extremely nervous when I thought about getting the keys. Fortunately, my colleagues from the government have been giving me psychological counseling. They explained to me in detail what I would do next. They helped me think of things I could and could not think of. This greatly relieved my anxiety. The government's work is so meticulous. Thank you."

Sylvie took the lead in applauding Ronan.

Like mother, like son, this guy Ronan said it so well!

Blanco waved to Sylvie:
"Get the camera out of here. I want to talk to Ronan."

After Sylvie took the person away, Blanco said to Ronan in a grateful tone:
"Thank you for your cooperation."

It is our government that should thank you.

Ronan was finally able to take off his disguise and be himself. He shrugged and said:
"I was ridiculed several times this morning. Pierre and the others even lined up to take photos with me. But it doesn't matter. This is all for Lourmarin."

Blanco put his hands behind his back and said slowly:
"Nine of the 11 buildings on the commercial street were successfully sold for investment, and four of them were rented by people from other villages."

He looked at Ronan and said in a complicated tone:

"The plan to change Lourmarin's external image will begin from this moment. The other four shop owners are villagers who have lived here for generations, but you are the only one... We hope you can leave a different impression on those outsiders and let them know that Lourmarin is not a 'remote and poor place'."

Ronan smiled and said:
"They didn't receive subsidies from villagers, but still decided to open a store here, which shows that they are optimistic about the future of Lourmarin. Is it possible that you are too nervous?"

Blanco patted Ronan on the back and motioned for him to go in:

"They opened a shop here without receiving subsidies from the villagers, which means they are truly wealthy people. And as far as I know, those people have rich and powerful backgrounds. Who can guarantee what their style of doing things will be like? Of course, I hope I am overthinking."

Ronan seldom wore suits when he lived in Paris, but in order to support Lourmarin, he still showed not-too-bad "acting skills", and his every move showed his grace, just like a big boss.

He kept giving himself psychological hints:
All we need to do is scare those people from other villages.

Anyway, they don't recognize your bold "pretense"!
But he failed as soon as he entered the signing office.

God, how could there be acquaintances among the shop owners from other villages?

(End of this chapter)