1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 219 Change of Destiny

The violent coughing could not suppress Gabriel's gossiping heart, he asked intermittently:
"Is your girlfriend also an artist?"

Ronan considerately handed tissues to the two embarrassed friends:

“Yes, she is an artist.”

Marini didn't bother to wipe the dirty shirt, and asked anxiously:

"Would it be convenient for me to know which 'senior' your girlfriend is?"

On the way to Ronan's house, Gabriel introduced him to Ronan's occupation and background in a few short sentences, but used a larger amount of space to describe Ronan's social interpersonal relationships.

The most impressive thing is his "friendship" with a mysterious nobleman in his 40s.

Gabriel, the king of Apte Candy, said in a tone of obvious jealousy that he had seen with his own eyes the 'mother and son' sneaking into the dark grove at the end of a party one night.

So it wasn't curiosity, but Ronan's interest?
Ronan said in a sweet tone:
"She will really get angry if you say that. Recently my girlfriend received a letter in which she was addressed as 'you' throughout the letter. She asked me three times that day, 'Am I that old? How can a person in his forties use honorifics to address me?' You know, women are always overly concerned about age."

Marini immediately changed his words:
"Excuse me, who is this colleague?"

Ronan smiled and shrugged, his pride evident in his tone:
"She is not a famous artist, nor is she very old. It was completely accidental that she was able to work with Mr. Thuram. She is only 24 years old, still very young. But I believe that artists in Provence will remember her name in the future - Zoe!"

After the last Pink Wine Lovers Association meeting, Ronan had mentioned to Zoe that Gabriel hoped to introduce an artist named Marini to the association.

Zoe said that Marini was well-known in the Provence artist circle, at least she had heard of him, and that Marini had held a solo art exhibition in Aix while she was still in college.

It now seems that Marini's solo art exhibition was most likely supported by Gabriel's money, but he was definitely not in the same league as those unknown artists in Valensole.

In front of this true 'predecessor', Zoe is certainly not considered a 'famous' artist.

Unexpectedly, Marini became even more excited:

"Is that Zoe who likes to combine glass and ceramics?"

Ronan said in surprise, "Huh?"
"Yes, it's her."

Marini clapped his hands excitedly:

"Oh my God, it's her! It's her again!"

After wiping his expensive trousers, Gabriel curiously asked his friend Marini:
"Is Ronan's girlfriend very famous?"

I've never seen him so excited when introducing his good friends to senior government officials.

Marini said in a tone of mad envy:
"There is never a shortage of new artists in this era, and Zoe is the brightest 'rising star' of the new generation! You don't know how many times I have heard her name in the past two months. Wherever I go, people are talking about her."

Ronan's smile never ceased.

Gabriel said that in Provence, reputation and fame are more important than the things themselves. Now that Zoe has both fame and outstanding works, she is not really going to "soar to the sky", right? !

Marini asked urgently:
"Ronan, does Zoe also live in Lourmarin? Excuse me. Can I go visit this female artist who has been very popular in the Provence artist circle recently?"

Ronan said apologetically:

"Sorry, Marini, I'm afraid I can't today. My girlfriend is in seclusion recently to help me cook the dishes, and even I have to "time" to see her."

The disappointment on Marini's face disappeared in an instant, and then he asked expectantly:
"Your restaurant is opening soon? She should be there on that day, right?"

Ronan said affirmatively:

"Of course she will be there. That's our restaurant together. If you are not busy next Wednesday, come over and I will introduce you to her."

Ronan then sent another invitation to Gabriel:
"Ines will also be here next Wednesday. If you want to give it another try, come along. I guess the 'weight' of my suggestions will be a little higher on the restaurant's opening day."

"Thank you Ronan!" Gabriel and Marini said in unison.

Gabriel finally kept the gift.

His persistence defeated Ronan's persistence.

After knowing that Ronan has an artist girlfriend whom Marini envies, this big businessman who "has nothing but money" said that even if Ines rejected their proposal again next Wednesday, Ronan's girlfriend will definitely be of help to Marini in the future, so this gift must be given.

Marini, who was drunk, changed his previous reserved and serious attitude, and together with his good friend forced Ronan to accept the gift. He also vowed that his "opening gift" would be brought on Wednesday and would definitely not be worse than Gabriel's.

Between the lines, Ronan could tell that the artist's family background was equally rich and wealthy.

Ronan, who was frightened by too much money in one day, went to Louis's house without stopping and told Zoe about his biggest feeling at the moment.

"The price you quoted is too low. That's Mr. Thuram! He's the founder of the Provence tourism empire and a shareholder of Airbus Group. If you quote him 30, he might agree to it. That way, you can feel better when you have to endure the hardship."

According to the plan, Zoe should have finished making all the tableware for Ronan last week.

But that 3 franc order was a real pain in the ass for Zoe.

The design draft was revised 7 or 8 times, and it was already starting to get cluttered, but the other party was still sending in suggestions for revisions. It simply showed the ugly face of capitalism to the fullest!

The plan to make tableware for Ronan had to be postponed again and again, resulting in a serious shortage of time.

These days, mild rosé wine can no longer soothe the female artist's explosive mood, and there is always an opened bottle of strong brandy in Zoe's studio.

Every day she would swing a bottle and roar:
"I'm going to smash that damn guest to death!"

If I had known the guest was so rich, it would have been too easy for him to be killed.

Ask him for more money!
Zoe was also in annoyance:

"Last week, the Granet Museum sent me another custom request. But I rejected it. If I knew that making works for rich people would be so useful, I should have calmed down."

"Another custom request for you?" Ronan raised his voice unconsciously, "You are really famous now. Marini said that he has never received a custom request from a rich person, and it was the Granet Museum that helped to connect you. He said it is the most authoritative art institution in Aix."

Zoe said calmly: "It's not that I'm famous, it's just that the technology I use is rare, and almost no one makes handicrafts that combine ceramics and glass."

"This is your advantage!" Ronan squatted in front of Zoe excitedly, "Just like cooking Chinese food in Provence is my advantage, this is my specialty and what makes me attractive."

"And you have one more advantage over me—" Ronan said excitedly, "You only make animals. These are all what make you different! Have you forgotten what those 'fans' wrote in their letters to you? They said that you made them believe that if they insist on making their own characteristics, they will be noticed. You are now a role model for countless unknown artists, Zoe."

"What fans? They're colleagues!" Zoe glanced at the clock on the wall, stood up and kissed Ronan on the face, and said in a coaxing tone, "Okay, okay, today's 'visiting' time is over. Go out and come to my house for dinner tonight."

Time is tight now, and nothing can stop Zoe from making tableware, and neither can Ronan.

"Yes, my great artist!" Ronan smiled and left the studio.

Ronan came out of Zoe's studio and happened to meet Leah entering the room with a letter.

She raised the envelope in her hand and said with great joy:

"Another letter to Zoe."

Although telephones are now popular, Zoe and her colleagues are still accustomed to communicating through letters.

Zoe explained that many artists are deeply influenced by philosophers such as Socrates and Plato, and letters, as a spiritual continuation of these philosophers, are viewed by artists as a more solemn communication ritual.

As a part of life, letters, as a physical carrier, carry real emotions and traces of the times, while the telephone is seen as a 'dematerialized' abstract tool.

Ronan and Leia excitedly came together and held the contents of the book up to the sunlight, hoping to see a few words.

"Did the person who used 'you' throughout reply?" Leah asked with narrowed eyes.

"Looking at the style of the envelope, it looks like it's from the person who asked Zoe about the glass thermal curve. Does she have a new question for Zoe?" Ronan put his face very close, hoping to see the words inside clearly through his 'X-ray eyes'.

"The one who didn't reply so quickly must be another 'fan'!" Leah happily put the envelope on a partition of the brand new display cabinet in the living room.

In the same spot lay seven or eight clean, unopened envelopes marked for Zoe.

She looked at Zoe's previous works in the display case and said with gratitude:

"You're really thoughtful, Ronan. We never thought of displaying Zoe's work. It has been stored in the warehouse for so many years."

All the tables and chairs needed for the restaurant have been made, but there is still some wood left.

Ronan made them into a beautiful display case and sent it to Louis's home.

Zoe’s previous works are all piled up in the warehouse, and she has to go and look for them when she wants to see them, which is very troublesome.

Now it is convenient. Not only can Ronan and Leah appreciate it, but everyone who comes to Louis' house can see Zoe's efforts over the years.

Ronan carefully straightened one of the glass-ceramic deer:

"Zoe's talent and hard work should be seen by more people."

Although the display case is still empty, Ronan's heart is filled to the brim.

Ronan had never heard of an artist named Zoe in France before his rebirth, so he was always worried that Zoe's development would be restricted or difficult.

But now it seems that the situation he worried about did not seem to happen. On the contrary, Zoe's development in the Provence art world is getting more and more successful.

Perhaps in time, this most dazzling "new star" of Provence will be able to go beyond this land and spread across France, or even further.

Is this something that happened in Zoe's previous life?

Or has there been a change due to Ronan's arrival?

After careful consideration, Ronan believed that the latter was more likely.

Zoe's fame began at a glassware exhibition in Aix, where she received comments and praise from Professor Goldman.

And how did Professor Goldman discover Zoe?

That's due to Ronan's not-so-bad 'acting skills'.

So it is very likely that Zoe's fate changed at that moment and developed in a better direction.

It is such a happy feeling to see the people around me become better and better under my influence.

Unspeakable happiness!

And Ronan believes that under his influence, more than one Zoe’s life has been changed.

Maybe there are also his parents, Zoe's parents, Theo, Pierre, Blanco and many other people. Everyone is moving in a good direction and towards a happier direction.

"Great!" Ronan suddenly cheered softly.

"What's wrong?" Leah asked, "Would you like to try the strawberry jam I made?"

Ronan smiled and trotted out:

"No, I'm going to make a box for Zoe to store letters. There will definitely be more and more people sending letters to her in the future, so I have to prepare in advance!"

"This kid" Leah smiled and shook her head.

Ronan really had nothing to say to Zoe.

studio.

Hearing Ronan's passionate and excited voice, Zoe looked out the window happily.

Ronan is really good to her.
Is there anything else she can do for Ronan besides this set of tableware?

(End of this chapter)