After the party, Lionel politely declined the invitations from Maupassant, Huysmans, and others to take him to "see the world," and walked back alone.
On one hand, it was to organize his thoughts, and on the other, to exercise and maintain his physical fitness.
When he first arrived in this world, Lionel's body was weak from long-term malnutrition, merely a large skeleton.
As his economic conditions improved and Petty's cooking skills advanced, his diet became increasingly rich and nutritious, recently even to the point of excess.
To stay healthy, Lionel had recently consciously increased his walking frequency, which was also one of the daily activities for French gentlemen.
"Sports" in this era were different from those of later generations—if you ran in a park, you'd be arrested as a lunatic by the police in less than 20 minutes.
Apart from fishermen, hardly anyone swam.
Most gentlemen and ladies vacationing by the sea merely sunbathed on the beach.
What was considered "sport" were only aristocratic pursuits: fencing, horsemanship, rowing, tennis, croquet (similar to gateball)...
And then there was mountaineering, hiking, hunting, and fishing.
Lionel had not yet had the chance to try any of these—they usually required going to specialized clubs.
Typically, once his annual income and bank deposits grew, investment managers would soon contact him and, incidentally, recommend him to join a club.
Phileas Fogg, the protagonist of Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days, gained membership to the Reform Club precisely because he had £40,000 deposited in Baring Brothers Bank.
However, Lionel's current assets had not yet reached that standard, so he remained an outsider to Paris's "high society life."
But he himself didn't care; otherwise, he could have long since become a favored guest at many noblewomen's salons through Mrs. Rothschild's connections.
Walking along the road, Lionel reflected on the afternoon's debate.
For him, with over a hundred years more experience in literary history and literary theory development, whether "Naturalism," "Romanticism," or "Realism"... all were, in fact, outdated.
But he couldn't simply introduce "Magical Realism" to the table now—especially when The Peculiar Affairs of Benjamin Button had just begun, it would undoubtedly be an overly premature offense.
Instead, his observations at "Old Lemere's" tavern a few days ago greatly inspired him.
Although the old shoemaker held Le Petit Parisien in his hand, he didn't read it verbatim but improvised his interpretation based on his understanding.
As the author, Lionel not only wasn't displeased but greatly appreciated the old shoemaker's "re-creation."
Because he was addressing the ordinary, less educated drinkers in the tavern, subtle rhetoric and profound metaphors would have been lost on them.
Instead, exaggerated, commonplace descriptions allowed them to feel immersed and appreciate the story.
In Lionel's view, this was also a compliment, praising The Peculiar Affairs of Benjamin Button for possessing some of the most unadorned, essential qualities of a story.
If only elite clubs and salons could accept this novel, The Peculiar Affairs of Benjamin Button would have failed.
He "wrote for people," and the old shoemaker "read for people"—a story, if it lost a broad audience base, was a failure by Lionel's current standards.
Unconsciously, Lionel arrived at his apartment at 64 Rue Laffitte.
Opening the door, he was greeted by a rich aroma of meat—Petty seemed to have improved the recipe again?
To hell with literary concepts and creative methods!
Lionel now only wanted to enjoy a hot bowl of soup!
————
It was another Monday, and Lionel finally returned to class at the Sorbonne.
Although Monsieur Douane said he could take leave whenever he wanted, Lionel still had some self-awareness.
It was already mid-May; if he didn't come back to class, the annual exams would be soon, typically written in mid-June and oral in late June.
If he failed, he would have to repeat the year, and even if he was now a famous writer, it would still be a stain on his life.
After all, academic reputation and literary fame were not interchangeable—of course, dropping out directly was another matter, Jules Verne being one example.
Seeing his "good brother" Lionel return to the classroom, Albert de Rohan was particularly excited.
Ever since he appeared in the newspapers as "good friend of Lionel Sorel," he unexpectedly received praise from his father, Count Rohan, who even increased his living allowance by 100 francs, making him quite flush.
However, after class at noon, just as Albert was about to embrace Lionel and go out for a big meal, they were stopped by a newspaper—Le Figaro.
Professor Hippolyte Taine had specifically brought this newspaper to Lionel, turning to a particular page:
"Read this carefully, don't underestimate it."
Lionel looked at the headline and immediately saw that the article was aggressive:
Beware! A Literary Freak Show is Playing in Paris—A Review of Sorel's New Work The Peculiar Affairs of Benjamin Button and Its Commercial Farce
The article was signed: Jules Arsène Arnaud Claretie.
Lionel had no impression of this name, so he continued to read the content, only to find the author's criticism of him to be incredibly sharp—
[Our literary taste is being fooled by a carefully orchestrated circus act! Who is the protagonist? A young author named Lionel Sorel, and his highly touted The Peculiar Affairs of Benjamin Button.]
[What trick is Monsieur Sorel playing this time? It's quite simple: it's a freak show! No different from those tents at the fair that attract onlookers with two-headed sheep and conjoined twins!
Literature, our noble muse, when did it stoop to attracting attention by displaying such unnatural, horrifying "monsters"? This is a blatant trampling of literary dignity!]
[Some might argue: Ah, this is symbolism! Symbolizing the chaotic era of the Revolution! How profound an metaphor!—Give me a break! Don't flatter yourselves!
To use such an extreme, absurd, purely sensation-seeking "freak" to symbolize a grand, complex, and profound historical change? That's like trying to explain the entire ocean with a single drop of ink!]
[What is the great tradition of French literature? It is the sublime sentiments of Corneille's heroes, the pungent wisdom of Molière's insight into human affairs, the shining light of Voltaire's reason, the profound brushstrokes of Balzac's depiction of society's myriad forms!
Its foundation lies in deep insight into human nature, precise portrayal of society, meticulous refinement of language, and the eternal pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty!]
[The popularity of The Peculiar Affairs of Benjamin Button is by no means a victory for literature.
It is a sad symptom of the prevailing superficiality and vulgar taste in current society! It caters to people's lowbrow tastes for shallow thrills and a fondness for collecting curiosities.
Those of us who cherish literary values must remain highly vigilant! Open your eyes, readers! Don't be fooled by those gaudy little pictures and an absurd story about an "old baby"!]
Professor Hippolyte Taine meaningfully reminded him again:
"Don't underestimate Claretie; he will enter the Académie Française later..."
(End of chapter)
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