Liang En chose to arrive at the bookstore early, hoping to buy some books for Joan of Arc. However, he did not anticipate the large crowd that had gathered, making it impossible for him to do so.
"It's a pity. I originally planned to buy some gifts for my friends, but I didn't expect there to be so many people today," Liang En said after greeting his editor, Mr. Taylor.
"There's no way around it. Even we didn't expect you to be this popular," Mr. Taylor shrugged helplessly. "Because of the crowd, we even called the police to help maintain order."
To maintain order, five security personnel in suits and sunglasses were present, mainly to oversee the upcoming book signing event.
Given the importance of today's book signing, Liang En wore a brown checkered suit, standing out among the black-suited security personnel.
If they all walked out together, they might indeed look like a group of celebrities.
"Mr. Liang, doesn't your outfit seem a bit outdated?" Mr. Taylor commented after discussing the situation.
Indeed, Liang En's outfit was quite old-fashioned, resembling the mid-20th century style, but he had chosen it deliberately.
The style, combined with gold-rimmed glasses, was intended to match the typical image of a historian, leaving a deep impression on people.
Everyone agreed with Liang En's explanation, especially Mr. Taylor, who felt it distinguished Liang En from ordinary writers, giving him a unique characteristic.
In this age of visual economy, individuality is most important, as it highlights the most attractive aspects of a person.
Lunch was ordered in, considering the afternoon's book signing. To avoid any unpleasant smells, everyone ate fish and chips, the national dish of Britain.
As a representative British food, fish and chips tasted quite good, convenient to eat and flavorful. The only downside was the greasiness, making it unsuitable for daily consumption.
Though Britain is considered a culinary desert, traditional British dishes are indeed tasty. However, the industrial revolution and two world wars destroyed the foundation of British cuisine among the populace.
Now, except for some noble families, what remains are simple, high-calorie, and convenient foods like fish and chips or various pies.
"Take your time eating. If you're not full, you can order more. There's no rush; finish eating before the signing," Mr. Taylor said to Liang En.
"Don't worry, I won't be polite about this," Liang En replied, swallowing a large bite of fish. "Not everyone attending the signing will have their own books, right? How are the books prepared?"
"We've prepared 2,000 copies of 'Dracula' today, which should be enough," Mr. Taylor smiled. "Initially, we had 1,000 copies, but seeing the situation outside, we doubled it."
As they chatted, everyone finished their lunch and rested for a while. Around 1:30 PM, Liang En stood up, ready to start the signing early.
The bookstore's first floor was about five or six hundred square meters, quite impressive for a bookstore on London's West End commercial street. The wooden floors and beige walls added a cozy atmosphere.
Outside the bookstore was the bustling West End, while inside was a serene reading space with sofas for customers to relax. Fresh flowers, changed weekly, decorated the space.
Perhaps due to the environment, when Liang En sat at the signing table, the waiting readers only cheered softly before falling silent, organizing themselves into a queue.
Liang En was touched by their support. Despite waiting outside for a long time, their faces showed excitement, though their fatigue was evident.
Behind Liang En's seat was a bookshelf covered by a large poster, which also served as the book cover: a Mucha-style illustration.
The poster depicted a man in a tailcoat, flanked by three beautiful yet sinister women, standing before a faintly glowing large window, surrounded by darkness with faint red light.
This style was Liang En's own creation, combining various elements and Mucha's ability. The feedback since publication had been very positive.
To the left of the table was a stack of books, piled as tall as a person. The front row of people had already bought their books, waiting for Liang En's signature.
The first in line was an elderly man with white hair, looking calm, but his trembling hands betrayed his excitement as he handed the book to Liang En.
Interestingly, the book he held was "Grimm's Fairy Tales," which seemed quite at odds with his serious demeanor. Liang En took the book, opened the cover, and asked:
"You must have been here for a long time. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. But I suppose this book isn't for you?"
"I arrived at 9:30 AM. As an elderly person, I don't sleep much at night, so I came early," the man smiled. "The book is for my granddaughter. Though she's still too young to read, I'm buying it for her."
"This is my first signed book. To little Susan, I wish you a healthy and happy growth," Liang En wrote after learning the granddaughter's name.
After signing and exchanging a few words, the new grandfather left with the book, and the next reader stepped forward.
An hour passed quickly. For an ordinary person, signing books for an hour is no simple task. But for Liang En, whose body had been repeatedly strengthened, it was easy.
Initially, readers brought their own books, but later, more people bought books on-site, eventually making up half the crowd.
Unexpectedly, as he kept signing, the number of people didn't decrease but increased, likely due to others hearing about the signing and rushing over.
Fortunately, the crowd remained orderly, so there was no major concern. Especially since many of Liang En's previous book fans were older, preventing excessive fervor and maintaining overall order.
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