Manhattan Reborn 1978

London.

Langham Hotel, fifth floor.

When David returned to the room, the first person waiting was not Elena Mesa; .Livlin and "Little Transparent" Maggie.

"Why are you here?"

"Hehe~"

"Well... we have to go to bed early today and have a whole day of fun tomorrow~"

Livlin pulled Maggie and sat down directly on the sofa: "Let's talk about tomorrow's matters tomorrow!"

"What's going on with Elena?"

David smiled and put his hands into his pajama pockets and glanced at Maggie standing in the corner of the door: "What else can I do~ I like her."

"Ok??"

"Hehe~"

"The reason is very simple~"

"You have a boyfriend, Maggie... and you resist getting close to me~"

"Who else can I ask for to spend a wonderful night with me besides Elena?"

"you..!?"

Livlin never expected that David would make such "shameless" remarks~

David saw that she was speechless for a moment, sat down next to Livlin, and asked.

"After these two days, have you ever thought about it~"

"Why did we come to London?"

Livlin tilted her head and frowned: "Aren't you here to play?"

"Hahaha~"

"I received the invitation and came here passively~"

"Maggie can testify to this!"

"Oh~ so what?"

David raised his hand, gently rubbed Livlin's eyebrows with his thumb, shook his head and smiled.

"Women, never let wrinkles appear between your eyebrows!"

"Even if the passage of time leaves traces on your face~"

"It should be in the corner of the eye, too!"

"Smile more, Livlin~"

"Let us men do these... things that require headaches!"

Livlin stared at David motionless for a few seconds, with a smile on her lips: "Although... when Leslie agreed to let me follow you to London, I vaguely guessed something. ~"

"But that's not the reason why you go behind Lilith's back and get close to Elena!"

"Hahaha~"

David turned to look at Maggie and waved to her: "Maggie, do you know where to find Mr. Otis Parker?"

"Call him for me, okay?"

Maggie blinked a few times and nodded slightly: "Okay~"

David crossed his legs, folded his arms in front of his chest, and said under Livlin's somewhat confused gaze.

"You should be able to understand that many things will not change according to my will."

"There are not many things that I take the initiative to do, want to do, and am willing to do~"

"But being passive pushes me forward and pushes me to do a lot of things!"

"The passives I mentioned include this trip to London, and...Elena~"

David glanced at Maggie who picked up the phone and made a call, turned to look at Livlin, and said calmly and seriously.

"Ever since that night at the Blue Crystal Hotel, when I took the initiative to get to know Giles and Pine~"

"My life no longer belongs entirely to me~"

"Livlin, if I follow my original life trajectory..."

"There is a high probability that I will stay and work in the Wildfire Bar and develop a relationship with Susan~"

"We may get married, or we may not~"

"You also know a little bit about my story."

"Whether I'm with my first girlfriend Ruby or my current girlfriend Susan, I'm always the passive one~"

"To this day~ Personally, I am still the very conservative and stupid David Coleman~"

"But I just said it."

"After I chose to take that step, my life was not entirely my own."

"You...may not understand!"

"It's okay~ I can give you a simple example~"

"For example: I am still the bartender at the Wildfire Bar, and I don't know you, Giles, Bloomer, and Leslie."

"I might come back home in a few years and inherit the soda factory my dad left behind."

"Then in the small town of Morrison, I will marry a beautiful and kind-hearted girl, have children, and form a very warm and stable family until the end of my life~"

"Of course, if I choose this way, there will be no Da company, let alone my investment company~"

"There will no longer be those people who receive help because of my plan and my success~"

David stretched out his hand, gently pressed Livlin's shoulder, and said with a smile: "I said~"

"Every time I reflect on myself, I gain something~"

"Among these gains, what helped me the most is that I understood that no matter how hard I try, I can't run fast or far~"

"Only if I find more like-minded friends and more partners who can rely on each other and have the same goals, can I continue to strengthen myself while overcoming obstacles with my partners to achieve all my ideals and goals!"

. . .

On the side, Maggie, who had already dialed the phone, whispered to David in a tangled voice.

"Boss, the call is connected..."

"Oh~"

"Hehe~"

"I'm going to make a call first, wait until I get off!" David smiled and retracted his hand from Livlin's shoulder, stood up, walked towards Maggie, and took the phone.

"Hello~ I'm David."

"Yes~ Otis, are you busy?"

"Yeah...I know."

"How's Mayor Lynch's race going? Are there any results yet?"

"Wow~haha~"

"When will he hold a celebration party?"

"Ah~ Then I can't go back or participate..."

"Are Mag and Janet still in New York? Let them express my congratulations to Lynch on my behalf~"

"Ok!"

"Where's Hardman? How's his campaign?"

"Oh?? You know who is there..."

"Okay~ You go find Ludy, he will do it!"

"One more thing~"

"Last time, Mag introduced me to someone... Spencer."

"Do you know him?"

"Um...that should be the name."

"Haha~ I just met the heir to the Duke of Westminster, Gerald."

"So I want to ask you if he has the ability to help solve Spencer's matter."

"Oh~ Where is his father?"

"Okay...Okay! I understand~"

"Is there anything else you can do? Otis!"

"Hmm...hahaha~"

"I'm not saying that. You can only go to Polly and Shirley."

"Hahaha~ Okay, I'll give it to you when I get back..."

"Okay, bye!"

David put down the phone, turned to Maggie and smiled: "Go and inform Toby and Cui Yingying that we will check out all the rooms tomorrow and leave Livlin's room to store our luggage and shopping bags~ "

"When we come back in two days, come and get it."

"Okay, boss~"

Maggie lowered her head, turned around and walked quickly to the door.

When she opened the door, she happened to see Elena walking out of the elevator.

David, standing behind Maggie, also saw Elena walking in and smiled.

"Come on, come and sit."

Elena, who was holding a small bag in her hand, glanced at Livlin sitting on the sofa, shook her head slightly and smiled.

"No, let's talk~ I'll go to the room to change into pajamas."

"Oh~ good!"

. . .

David walked back to his seat, sat next to Livlin again, and smiled.

"ok~ let's continue..."

Livlin stared at Elena as she disappeared from the bedroom door, raised her eyebrows, raised her hand to stop David, and turned around to ask.

"Did you just mention Jellal?"

"Yes~"

"You think... it's not a coincidence that only a young Jellal showed up at the reception, right?"

David smiled and gestured with his thumb, nodded and said, "Wow~ That's right!"

"So? You don't think old Mr. Morgan, Mr. Wisler, or Mr. Julie would do anything pointless."

"That's why Jellal showed up?"

"Of course!"

"Go on, Livlin! What else did you think of?"

Livlin raised her hand and gently held her chin, looked at the door of the room, and said softly: "Jeral is just the heir to the duke~"

"His father is the one who can help you with your plan!"

"So, why did you tell him so much about economics today?"

"Hmm~ Is there any more?"

"Also...at dinner just now, you mentioned that you are not optimistic about the stock market and foreign exchange investment, and you described bonds as useless~"

"Finally, I focused on Keynes's experience of making money through speculation and his theory of fools..."

"Are you hinting to him...what?"

David opened his mouth slightly, looked at Livlin in surprise, nodded and praised: "Yes!"

"On the plane to London, I learned that Gerald's family has shares in Westminster Bank."

"Chase Manhattan Bank and Westminster Bank entered into a cooperative alliance several years ago."

"The credit card Leslie gave me in my hand, the settlement bank here in London is Westminster Bank."

"So, it has been arranged for young Jellal to attend the reception~"

"What else did you think of? Keep going!"

"..No more~"

Livlin tilted her head and stared at David, as if she wanted to get acquainted with him again. He should be very familiar with him. .Boy~

David smiled and shrugged, and said with a smile: "I have expressed the greatest sincerity I can give to Gerard and the Duke of Westminster~"

"We will know the answer tomorrow~"

"How about it?"

"Are you still used to this kind of life?"

"No!"

"Hahaha~ You will get used to it gradually~"

"...Will you?" Livlin showed a trace of unconfidence on her face, as if she was asking David or herself.

David stood up, pulled Livlin up, and said with a smile: "This is not a problem at all!"

He put his arms around Livlin, kissed her hard on the forehead~

Then he stared into her eyes and said, "You have to be more confident!"

"Your origin and family have already determined your life~"

"No one wants to change anything about you~"

"However, if you want to be a wise man and a winner in life~"

"You have to experience more than ordinary people, think more clearly, and see further~"

"Never follow in the footsteps of Patty Hearst!"

"Leslie and I don't want to see the tragedy she experienced in you!"

Livlin raised her head and raised the corners of her mouth with a strange expression: "Paddy Hearst?"

"If I were kidnapped... would you rescue me?"

"will not!"

"what?"

"Hahaha~ This kind of opportunity for a hero to save a beauty must come to Leslie!"

"You are so special.. What a bastard!"

"Hahaha~"

"I just like to see you swearing and swearing!"

"fxxxyou!" Livlin rolled her eyes and raised her middle finger of contempt at David.

David hugged her happily, sent her into the elevator, and said with a smile: "Go back and go to bed early!"

"We will have more tomorrow..."

"roll!"

"I'll call Lilith later!"

"Okay!"

"Haha~"

"..."

. . .

Finally, I sent Livlin away~

David rubbed his temples with his hands, returned to the room, poured himself a glass of wine, and drank it with his neck up~

Elena, who had changed into pajamas in the bedroom, came over and smiled softly at David.

"are you tired?"

"Hmm~"

"I have learned some massage techniques, which can relieve headaches!"

David put down the cup, stretched out his arms, wrapped his arms around Elena's waist, let his breath spray on her smooth face, and shook his head.

"This is just the beginning~"

"Livlin needs to get used to it, and so do I!"

"What about you?"

"Tell me your story~"

Elena lowered her head slightly, put her forehead on David's nose, and whispered: "Can you hold me harder?"

"Hahaha~"

David bent down, hugged Elena directly, and walked to the bedroom~

----

sunset.

new York.

An oyster bar near New York University in Manhattan.

Martin Scorsese, the director of the movie "Taxi Driver", and Coppola, the director of the movie "The Godfather", sat together, looked at Robert De Niro and Al Pacino opposite, and laughed. Get up ~

Martin found it particularly interesting. He pointed at his old friend Robert De Niro and smiled: "When did you go to the set of "The Godfather" to participate in the casting? Why didn't you tell me?"

Robert De Niro made an embarrassed face, spread his hands and said: "I don't know you two...fxxx!"

"Coppola~ I still think that Vito Corleone's eldest son, Sonny, in "The Godfather" is very suitable for me~"

"Do you want to think about it again?"

Coppola picked up an oyster, opened his "bloody mouth" and sucked it in, laughing.

"No~ you are not the Sonny I think of!"

"Sorry~ man!"

"Hahaha~"

Robert De Niro choked on his words. .

Martin smiled and came to the rescue for his friend: "Just play my role in this film with peace of mind~"

"You can't play the role in "The Godfather"!"

"Al, what about you?"

"Have you decided to take on the role of Mike in The Godfather?"

Al Pacino, who seemed a little silent, glanced at Coppola, who was smiling, hesitated for a few seconds, and asked.

"As for the producers, will they..."

"will not!"

Coppola waved his hand extremely proudly and said loudly.

"Don't worry~"

"This time no one will tell us what to do, let alone argue with investors~"

"The first amount of filming funds from Paramount and investors has been deposited into the crew's account."

"As long as we are ready, we can start it at any time!"

"...Okay~" Al Pacino responded, but he was not as optimistic as Coppola.

For the role of Vito Corleone in "The Godfather", Coppola has always had a crush on Marlon Brando~

But he is currently involved in a "scandal" lawsuit, and Coppola doesn't want anyone else to play the "godfather". .

The time to start shooting is still far away~

----

a new day.

London.

Langham Hotel, fifth floor.

David rubbed his eyes with his hands, yawned, and walked into the bathroom.

On the bed, Elena, wearing a nightgown, slowly opened her eyes and smiled brightly~

Last night, her story. .A bit long~

Until the early hours of the morning, the two of them hugged each other and fell asleep without accomplishing anything. .

However, after Elena's story was told, the distance between the two became closer and closer.

. . .

Most of an hour.

Langting Hotel, in the restaurant on the second floor.

David, who looked tired, wiped the corners of his mouth, waved and smiled at Jellal who came to pick them up.

"Morning~"

"morning!"

"You...didn't sleep last night?"

"Hey~ yes!"

"Hahaha~ You have to... take care of yourself!"

David rolled his eyes and turned to look at Toby Olga: "Go and urge them, we are about to set off~"

"Ok!"

. . .

After more than 20 minutes.

In front of the Langham Hotel.

David held Livlin with one hand and Elena with the other, and got into the car.

Jellal consciously sat in the passenger seat and turned to introduce David.

"This is our driver and guide today, Angres Holm."

"Holm, these are my good friends, David Coleman, Livlin and Elena~"

Angres Holm, who was sitting in the driver's seat and wearing a casual suit, nodded and smiled at David and the others in the rearview mirror.

“It’s an honor to serve you all~”

"Haha~ It's our honor to get to know you!"

The five people in the car chatted politely for a few words.

Holm started the car and led the following vehicles to form a small convoy of four vehicles, driving quickly towards northwest London.

. . .

on the way.

David tilted his head towards Livlin, who was sitting on the right, and glanced at her.

Livlin rolled her eyes at him, turned to look out the window, and scratched the back of David's hand twice.

Emm. .

It seems that she really understands!

okay~

David relaxed even more~

He turned to look at the window next to Elena and asked Jellal.

"Are these people on the street... going to join the parade?"

"Yes~"

Jellal took out a newspaper from his side, handed it to David, and said, "Read today's newspaper for yourself~"

"The general strike is about to begin again~"

"Oh??"

"Is London always like this these days?"

"Almost~"

"Before you came to London, there were strikes."

"But none of the previous strikes were as large in scale and involved as many people as this one~"

"The newspaper said that workers in London's municipal, postal, subway and other departments responded to the union's call to organize and participated in this general strike."

"Furthermore, the union has threatened that this strike will last for at least fifteen days!"

"Fifteen days!?"

"Yes~"

David choked up~

Working brothers in London, you really know how to play!

. . .

out the window.

Due to the traffic lights at some intersections. .They were also forced to participate in this general strike because the vehicles on the street were completely disordered.

David's team, led by Holm, quickly passed through seven or eight traffic lights that were not on, and gradually drove away from the city center area.

It wasn't until the motorcade exited the Hanger Lane roundabout and entered Northwest Avenue that driver Holm let out a sigh of relief and smiled at the three Davids in the rearview mirror.

"It will take about an hour and we will arrive in Oxford~"

"Ok!"

"Holm, are you from Oxford?"

"No~ I was born in Manchester, and later moved to London with my family and attended Westminster Public School."

"Later, I studied in Oxford for a few years~"

David glanced at "Academic Master" Holm in the rearview mirror a few times, shook his head and said with a smile: "Isn't studying very easy for you?"

"Simple?"

"No~"

"Jeral may think that studying is easy. He has been at the top of his grade since childhood, but I can't do that~"

"Oh?"

"Jeral, which school did you graduate from?"

"Harrow School."

"Uh... never heard of it~"

"Hahaha~" Jellal turned his head and laughed at David's "frankness". .

The driver, Holm, glanced at David in the rearview mirror and smiled.

"Let me introduce Oxford University to you first~"

"Okay~" David found a comfortable position in the spacious space in the back row, tilted his head and leaned against Elena, pretending to be listening.

"Well... To introduce Oxford University, I have to start with a short story."

"David, have you seen Alice in Wonderland?"

"Uh... I've seen cartoons~"

"Hahaha~"

"Its author, whose real name was Dodgson, was a professor of mathematics at Oxford University."

"A hot and long afternoon in July, 1862."

"Professor Dougson, taking his colleague's daughter Alice, rowing on the Tsawel River."

"He casually made up a story for this seven-year-old girl, which was Alice in Wonderland."

"In the fairyland of the story, the little girl Alice encounters all kinds of weird characters, whose words and deeds are absurd."

"However, those who know the living environment of Oxford University at that time will understand after reading this story~"

"The fortune-telling bird that always likes to use pictures of Shakespeare's posture to think about problems is those scholars who are ignorant and incompetent."

"And that... caterpillar is always refuting others~"

"They are just some college students who are proud of their talents."

"In addition, the Mad Hatter in the animation was inspired by the real life of hatters in society at that time."

“At that time, hatters needed to use mercury to preserve the felt cloth used in making hats, so mercury poisoning often occurred.”

"Victims will develop a convulsive phenomenon known as Hatter's shakes. When seriously ill, they may also experience hallucinations and other symptoms of psychosis."

“Mercury poisoning??”

"Wow~ Those people who are used to wearing hats are so pitiful..."

"Hahaha~"

The driver, Holm, shrugged and continued with a smile: "'Alice in Wonderland' is Dodgson's self-deprecating way of telling the story of Oxford University at that time."

"All the colleges of Oxford University are hidden in the city of Oxford."

“On the streets, there are almost no signs or plaques to remind people.”

"So, when we arrive in Oxford later, we will first go to St. Mary's Church, climb the tower and look out at the scenery of Oxford~"

"Then, I will take you to visit Oxford University one by one..."

. . .

David listened to Holm's story with great interest.

But his eyes were always paying attention to Livlin beside him.

Livlin seemed to feel his gaze and grabbed David's hand with her little hand.

In his hand, he slowly wrote a dozen words~

A smile appeared on David's lips, and he wrote two sentences on her palm with his fingers.

Livlin rolled her eyes, curled her lips with a smile, and continued to look out the window.

A little tacit understanding between the two was achieved happily~