In October in Paris, the autumn wind already carried a nipping chill, scattering the soot and mist over the Seine.
After a long and complicated holiday, Leonard once again walked down the Avenue de la République towards the Sorbonne University.
Leonard no longer needed to take a public carriage, and his clothes were decent and clean, yet he remained upright and composed, without any arrogant demeanor.
At the start of the new semester, the campus entrance was livelier than usual.
A continuous stream of private carriages arrived, bringing young students from various districts of Paris and even from the provinces.
Professors in black robes hurried along, clutching their lecture notes.
More common were students in groups of three or five, excitedly chatting and exchanging stories of their summer holidays, the air filled with the unique restlessness and vitality of youth.
No sooner had Leonard stepped off the hired carriage's footboard than a figure rushed towards him, nearly colliding.
Albert de Rohan radiated unbridled excitement:
"Leon! My dear Leon! You're finally back! Heavens, in just one summer, you've once again shaken Paris! Twenty thousand francs! You really know how to spend..."
Leonard didn't want to continue the topic, smiling helplessly:
"Good morning, Albert. It seems your summer was quite pleasant—your clothes are nice, they remind me of an Englishman..."
Albert was wearing a brand new velvet jacket, in the most fashionable Burgundy red of the moment, and the scent of his cologne was stronger than usual.
Albert waved his arms:
"Pleasant? Oh, it was utterly boring! My father dragged me back to the estate, staring at grapevines and oak barrels all day! Nothing but drinking and hunting, absolutely nothing new! Not like you..."
He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and winked:
"Seriously, tsk tsk, five thousand francs! You, my friend... that's more than my annual expenses!"
Leonard was utterly confused; what was this about five thousand francs?
Albert suddenly clapped his forehead:
"Oh! Right! The most important news! I almost forgot to congratulate you—
The first recipient of the great, noble, unprecedented, and unmatched 'Rothschild-Sorbonne Literary Scholarship'!
Leonard Sorel! Five thousand francs! My God!"
That shout was highly attention-grabbing, and many students' gazes immediately focused on them.
Surprise, envy, jealousy, curiosity... five thousand francs was enough to pay several years' tuition and live a quite comfortable life.
"It really is him..."
"The Old Guard," "Letter from an Unknown Woman"..."
"What's that? The Misadventures of Benjamin Button earned even more..."
"Such good luck..."
Whispers surged like a tide.
Albert proudly looked around, as if he himself had won the award.
Only then did Leonard remember such a thing—five thousand francs was indeed no small sum, truly a "surprise."
But he didn't want to be a spectacle in the eyes of his classmates anymore, so he quickly walked into the campus, hurrying towards the classroom.
Albert caught up with Leonard from behind, putting his arm around his shoulder:
"Come on, future literary giant! Let's go receive everyone's adoration! Oh, right, there's another 'surprise' waiting for you in class today..."
Leonard didn't bother to ask what the "surprise" was, he rushed up the stairs, walked down the corridor, and finally slipped into the classroom.
Albert followed closely behind him, and once inside the classroom, he chuckled:
"See? The 'surprise' is right there!"
Leonard looked up—he saw a figure standing proudly at the center of the crowd.
The person was tall, wearing an extremely well-tailored dark suit of expensive fabric with sharp lines, and gleaming, polished lace-up boots.
Golden hair was carefully combed and swept back, revealing a smooth, full forehead; and on their lip was a slender, neat, pale-golden mustache!
But all of this was a transparent attempt at disguise—even if this person were turned to ash, Leonard would recognize them.
Leonard turned to Albert:
"This is your surprise?"
Albert shrugged and whispered:
"The bill allowing women to receive university education is already causing fierce arguments in parliament. But my father said it would pass in a few months... this is... a drill?"
As Leonard walked in, the buzzing in the classroom, which had almost brought the roof down, instantly quieted.
Everyone's gazes traveled back and forth between "him" and Leonard, as if awaiting the start of a great drama.
Louis-Alphonse de Montferrand, who had been standing next to "his" seat with an obsequious smile, immediately straightened his back when he saw Leonard enter.
"He" pushed through the crowd and stopped in front of Leonard:
"Mr. Leonard Sorel? It's a pleasure to meet you, I am Sofin Ivanovich Durov-Shcherbatov."
Leonard, however, did not humor her, his tone calm:
"Good morning, Miss Sofia."
A wave of suppressed gasps rippled through the crowd—no one had expected Leonard to so directly expose Sofia.
Sofia's pupils contracted slightly, revealing a fake smile:
"Here, please address me as Sofin Ivanovich Durov-Shcherbatov.
Starting today, I will be auditing classes at the Sorbonne Faculty of Letters. I believe the pursuit of knowledge should have no gender barriers, don't you?
Even if some people might think women's minds are only fit for salon gossip and fashion magazines."
Louis-Alphonse immediately chimed in loudly, as if announcing some major news:
"Exactly! It's an honor for the Sorbonne to have Sofin audit classes! We should welcome anyone who loves knowledge, no matter where 'he' comes from or what 'his' identity!"
Leonard was not swayed by Louis-Alphonse; he stared into Sofia's eyes:
"So, why are you auditing as a man?"
Sofia froze; she hadn't expected Leonard to ask that, and she unconsciously panicked:
"That's because... France doesn't allow... I feel this is more..."
Leonard smiled—your move is too primitive, let me show you what version crushing looks like.
His voice remained calm:
"So you yourself believe women are inferior to men? That's why you call yourself 'Sofin' and even put on a fake mustache?"
Sofia's gaze became flustered:
"No, I didn't... don't talk nonsense..."
Leonard did not let her off, but pressed on:
"If you truly believe that the pursuit of knowledge should have no gender barriers, then shouldn't you appear at the Sorbonne as a woman?
Appearing as a man indicates that you still believe the university is a male domain, and women are not suited to be here."
Sofia was enraged:
"You..."
Leonard gave her no chance, speaking like a machine gun:
"Oh, I remember—the last time you appeared at the Sorbonne, you weren't called 'Sofin,' nor did you wear a fake mustache.
You just grandly and arrogantly opened the door and walked in, rudely interrupting my oral exam—I think at that time you felt you were superior to men.
So, in fact, your view is that only power and money can make women equal to men;
But once it comes to the field of knowledge, women are inferior to men, and only by acting like a man can one truly learn?"
Sofia gritted her teeth:
"I! Did! Not! ..."
Leonard sighed:
"Sofia, I must seriously criticize you, you are discriminating against women!
Women attending university should sit in class openly in their beautiful clothes, receiving knowledge.
Not disguised as men—especially deliberately adopting masculine physical features—sneaking in like a thief or a swindler."
Leonard then turned to Louis-Alphonse:
"Louis, calling Sofia 'Sofin' is also discriminating against women!"
Louis-Alphonse nearly jumped out of his chair:
"I didn't..."
Leonard smirked disdainfully and walked to his seat:
"Please remember, knowledge favors neither wealth nor gender— It only favors sincere, humble, and diligent souls."
Just then, the class bell rang, and Professor Ernest Renan walked into the classroom, clutching his lecture notes.
(End of Chapter)
---------------------
Support me on P@treon
[email protected]/charaz
$3 -> 50 chapters in advance
$5 -> 100 chapters in advance
$10 -> 300+ chapters in advance
Check my pinned post on P@treon