Chapter 97

Xu Xu landed at London Airport, and both Lin Han and Chen Jiaxuan looked somewhat tired. Although they had slept for a while on the plane, they felt much more relaxed when they saw the British uncle who had come to pick them up, dragging their suitcases behind them.

The British uncle, wearing a down jacket, held a sign with prominent Chinese characters, standing out among the crowd of British people, so it didn't take much effort to spot him.

"Good afternoon, Miss Chen, Mr. Lin. You can call me Mike. I will be responsible for your itinerary for the next two days. Let's go to the parking lot now. Today's schedule is to check into the hotel first, then take a tour of London. Tomorrow, we will go directly to the book fair for the event."

Lin Han extended his hand and shook Mike's, speaking fluently, "Thank you very much. I can't wait to explore this beautiful city of London."

This time, it was Mike's turn to be surprised. The young Chinese writer's English seemed even more fluent than his own, with a very authentic Oxford accent.

Chen Jiaxuan smiled. She had known about the Penguin Publishing Group's arrangements beforehand, so she started asking Mike about the specifics of the London Book Fair. This trip was for work, not for tourism.

After placing their suitcases in the trunk of the car, Mike drove Lin Han and Chen Jiaxuan to the Four Seasons Hotel. London is the headquarters of the Penguin Publishing Group, so the reception was very generous.

The hotel is located on the bustling Piccadilly, with a design that is low-key and elegant. Upon check-in, they received a welcome card written in Chinese, which was very considerate.

The wealthy Penguin Publishing Group had booked them two adjacent rooms. The room design was unique, perfectly balancing British elegance with modern style.

When Lin Han pushed the door open, the marble fireplace exuded a unique grandeur, and the furniture was very understated and refined, making the overall environment very pleasant.

"Mike, we're a bit tired today and won't go out for now. Can you come to pick us up tomorrow?"

Lin Han noticed the fatigue on Chen Jiaxuan's face. Her feet were slightly swollen from the flight, and going out to sightsee would only add to her burden.

Mike shrugged and said with a smile, "No problem. Have a pleasant evening. You can call me anytime."

"See you tomorrow."

After seeing Mike off, Chen Jiaxuan couldn't help but yawn. "I'm so sleepy. I'm going to take a nap and then get a spa. How do you plan to spend the rest of the day?"

Lin Han turned to look at his drowsy agent and said with a smile, "I'll just go for a walk. I'll call you for dinner tonight."

"Alright, just don't get lost. If you need help, find a police officer; they'll bring you back." Chen Jiaxuan didn't wear makeup for the flight, so she didn't have to worry about removing it now.

With a thud, the door closed, and Lin Han shrugged, shouldering his small bag and heading towards the elevator. He had memorized the map of London, so it would be hard to get lost.

The weather was still chilly, and Lin Han didn't plan to visit the tourist sites. Just a quick look from a distance was enough. The London Eye and Tower Bridge, which had been destroyed countless times in movies, still stood tall in reality.

...

At the London Olympia Exhibition Centre, 25,000 publishing professionals from 124 countries gathered to share in the annual book industry extravaganza.

Founded in 1971, the London International Book Fair is the world's second-largest book copyright trading fair after the Frankfurt Book Fair. During the fair, people exchange ideas, discuss, and negotiate business deals related to book printing, publishing, and television, film, and digital channels.

This is a global gathering, a center for the international publishing industry, serving as a bridge for business interactions among professionals and a place for readers and tourists to broaden their horizons.

Following Mike, Lin Han and Chen Jiaxuan were taken aback by the bustling scene. Neatly arranged booths and a constant flow of people mixed together, with journalists taking photos non-stop. Each country's booth had its unique features.

Lin Han's keen eyes quickly spotted the Chinese booth. The 100-square-meter Chinese booth had a white, eye-catching background, with Chinese seals, Chinese red, and Chinese books prominently displayed. Many people were browsing the exhibition books.

"Mr. Lin, your Chinese books are all very good. Besides the national booth, the China Publishing Group, China International Publishing Group, China Education Publishing and Media Group, Phoenix Publishing and Media Group, and the People's Publishing House also have booths."

Mike pointed to a nearby area with the densest crowd and said with a smile, "Look, that's our Penguin Group's booth. We have specially prepared 100 copies of 'i, rbt' for today, hoping for a good start."

"Wow, this looks amazing. Not only are the books selling well, but there are also book-related merchandise?" Lin Han said in surprise. He never expected the Penguin Publishing Group to sell merchandise, including notebooks, mugs, passport holders, business card holders, eco-bags, and even suitcases and backpacks, making it convenient for readers to take their books home.

Chen Jiaxuan's eyes lit up. Merchandise might be a potential business opportunity. She would discuss the specifics with her studio members after returning to China.

"If Lin is willing to grant the rights, we can design a set of merchandise for your novel at the Frankfurt Book Fair."

Lin Han rubbed his chin. The success of merchandise depends on the popularity of the original novel. Could he make figurines of the robots from 'i, rbt'? Or start with illustrations?

"We can discuss the merchandise later. What should we do now?"

Mike glanced at his watch and said, "We have your book launch at 9:15. Journalists will be present, and we have already coordinated with the Chinese media for an interview."

Lin Han, dressed in a suit, adjusted his shirt and followed Mike to a side of the exhibition hall. Another gentleman with gray hair was already waiting there.

"Welcome to London, my friend!"

The gentleman was very friendly and gave Lin Han a hug.

No need for introductions; Lin Han recognized the voice. He patted the gentleman's back and said jokingly, "Alex, I'm glad to be here. This is my first time attending such a big book fair."

Alex, who had directly contacted Lin Han and offered a 15% royalty, said with a touch of emotion, "After waiting so long, it's finally going to be released. What are your goals?"

"My goals? I'll take whatever I can get. Participating in this book fair is the first step."

Lin Han just wanted to move forward steadily, not expecting to become a literary god with one book. He just wanted each book to be better than the last, and progress was more important than stagnation.

Today, Chinese female writer Hao Jingfang won the "Hugo Award for Best Novelette" with "Folding Beijing," marking another step forward after "The Three-Body Problem."

Victory for Chinese science fiction novels~~~

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