*Chapter 415: The Baby in Paris*

Although Link also wanted to become an A-list actor soon, this trip didn't offer much of a chance.

Due to its theme, "Midnight in Paris" was invited by the Cannes Film Festival organizers to be the opening film. It wasn't Woody Allen who proactively sought to participate in the festival awards.

For a director, being invited by the Cannes Film Festival to screen their film at the opening ceremony is a form of recognition and honor, almost as prestigious as winning the Palme d'Or. Thus, there was no need to compete for subsequent awards.

For Link, this meant one less opportunity to win an award.

Of course, he asked Director Allen why he didn't apply to compete at the Cannes Film Festival, as winning a few trophies could help promote the film.

Director Allen responded dismissively, saying he had already won awards at all the major film festivals in Europe and the U.S. Now, at his age, he wasn't very interested in winning more awards.

He also didn't want to compete with a bunch of young filmmakers.

Finally, he said in a lofty manner, "I want to leave opportunities for the younger generation."

Link felt his reasoning was somewhat strained.

Director Allen claimed that his age made him uninterested in film awards, yet he still participated in the Golden Globes, the Oscars, and the BAFTA Awards.

This indicated that it wasn't that he didn't want to win at Cannes but that he couldn't.

This had to do with the selection system of the Cannes Film Festival, known for being the "youngest," "most open," and "most inclusive" of film festivals.

Every year, the directors competing at Cannes are mostly young, innovative filmmakers from around the world.

Moreover, the Cannes Film Festival jury isn't fixed. Each year, they invite nine renowned filmmakers from various countries, covering all age groups and equally balanced between genders.

For instance, this year's nine jury members included Robert De Niro, Jude Law, Johnnie To, Olivier Assayas, Uma Thurman, Nansun Shi, Liv Ullmann, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, and Martina Gusman.

Among these nine jurors, only the president, Robert De Niro, was over sixty years old. The rest were under sixty and had less experience in the film industry compared to Woody Allen. Some had even worked with him.

Having these people judge Allen's work would make both sides feel awkward. If he won the Palme d'Or, it would be fine; if not, it would be embarrassing.

Thus, in the film industry, many veteran filmmakers, after reaching a certain age or level of experience, no longer compete for the main competition awards at Cannes.

"Link, you're still young. Don't always think about awards. You should focus on improving your acting skills. If your acting is good enough, those festival jurors will actively give you awards. Except for the Oscars," said Director Woody Allen.

Link nodded. Before reaching a net worth of ten billion, his main goal as an actor was to become famous and earn higher pay. Now, his interest lay more in acting itself, and winning awards was just the cherry on top, so he wasn't in a hurry.

"Good morning, Mr. Baker, Director Allen. I'm happy to see you here," greeted a young woman in a light green gauze dress as she approached them.

She was in her early twenties, with blonde hair and fair skin, tall and beautifully dressed. She looked at Link with a slightly flushed face, showing an uncontrollable excitement.

"Hello, Miss Olsen. Are you also going to Paris?" Link asked.

"Mr. Baker, you know me?" the young woman asked in surprise.

"I've seen your movies. Your acting is very good," Link replied.

"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Baker," Elizabeth Olsen said with an excited smile.

Link shook hands with her and invited her to sit and chat.

He had just said he had seen her movies, but he was referring to her future work. Elizabeth Olsen would become popular with her role as 'Scarlet Witch' in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and would also appear in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

Her older sisters, the Olsen twins, were already famous, known for their roles in the TV series "Full House" and their success in the entertainment industry and business, with net worths in the hundreds of millions. They even appeared on Forbes' list of the richest women in the world in 2004.

In comparison, Elizabeth Olsen, the younger sister, was much less famous and was currently a newcomer in the acting industry.

After sitting down, she told them she was also going to the Cannes Film Festival. Her art film "Martha Marcy May Marlene" had been selected for the main competition at Cannes.

Link congratulated her.

Olsen then excitedly told them that she was a sophomore at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and that she had seen him at the school's sports event earlier that year, where she had been a cheerleader.

Link smiled and greeted her as a fellow student.

Olsen laughed and asked when he would be back at school. He was the most famous student at NYU, and many students wanted to meet him.

Link said he would return to school for exams after finishing his current work and would study with her in the library then.

Olsen excitedly nodded, took his contact information, and left, satisfied.

"It's nice to be young. When I was your age, girls often came to ask me out. Unfortunately, I was focused on studying and writing, aiming to become a writer, and missed many opportunities to experience love," Director Woody Allen said wistfully.

Link glanced at him. The old man was not tall, probably under 170 cm in his youth, thin, and not very handsome. That time, shortly after World War II, the world was still in an era that valued physical strength. Could someone like him really have had many girls chasing him?

Director Allen, a sharp-eyed filmmaker, immediately read his expression and said indignantly, "I was a talented writer, don't you understand? During college, I published many articles in newspapers, and those girls were attracted to my talent.

Unlike some people who rely on their looks and physique to attract girls and boast shamelessly to the media about their physical prowess, claiming to last for hours. If it were me, I wouldn't have the nerve to say such things."

Link shrugged, not arguing, as the old man's words were full of jealousy, like a jar of sauerkraut aged for seventy or eighty years.

——

When the plane landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, it was already past six in the evening, and dusk was falling.

Due to its basin geography, Paris is hotter than surrounding areas in summer, like a small furnace. As Link and Director Woody Allen walked out of the airport, they were greeted by waves of heat, feeling slightly warmer than Los Angeles.

To get from Paris to Cannes, they first had to fly to Nice, a coastal city in southern France, and then take a car to Cannes. Given Woody Allen's age and inability to endure too much travel, they decided to rest in Paris for a night and take a train to Cannes the next day.

Link didn't object. After sending Director Woody Allen back to the hotel, he changed clothes, got into the car Bob had rented, and headed to Marion Cotillard's small villa in the 6th arrondissement, near Luxembourg Gardens.

The villa had plane tree-lined avenues, rose gardens, fountains, and many statues of famous historical figures, with a nice environment.

When Link got out of the car, the sky was already dim. The streetlights along the plane tree avenues were faint, and the fountain lights flickered on and off. The surroundings were very quiet.

He put on a hat, gave some instructions to Bob and Wallace, walked to the villa's entrance, and rang the doorbell.

A maid, who had been waiting at the door, opened it and politely greeted him, "Good evening, Mr. Baker."

Link had been there once in March, so he wasn't unfamiliar with the place.

Following the maid to the bedroom door on the second floor, he thanked her before pushing open the bedroom door.

Inside, a lamp was lit. Marion Cotillard leaned against the bed's headboard, her golden-brown hair flowing down, holding a book with a glass of red wine on the nightstand.

Her face was slightly fuller than when he last saw her, adding a touch of softness to her unique elegance and sensuality, making her even more captivating.

"I just watched the video of you playing the piano at LAX. Were you thinking of me when you sang 'All Of Me'?" Marion Cotillard asked with a smile.

"Yes, you are a woman who deeply fascinates me. Every time I come to see you, it's with eager anticipation. While singing, I was looking forward to the flight arriving sooner so I could hold you tightly," Link said, looking into her eyes.

"My dear, then what are you waiting for?" Marion said, extending her arms with a smile.

Link leaned down, hugging her tightly, inhaling her perfume mixed with a faint scent of disinfectant from her hair.

Marion passionately kissed him, and he responded fervently, savoring her soft, moist lips tinged with a faint taste of red wine.

After a long kiss, Marion leaned into his arms, saying she could feel his love through his kiss, reassuring her that he hadn't changed.

Curious, Link asked why she thought he might change.

Marion said she had a worry that women, after giving birth, lose half their charm and feared she wouldn't be able to attract him anymore.

Link stroked her hair, saying she was overthinking it. He would only love her more after she had their child.

Marion then asked what he would think if the child wasn't his.

Link said he would be jealous of that idiot Guillaume but would still love her and the child.

Marion wrapped her

 arms around his neck, saying, "Thank you, dear. But you don't have to worry about that. This child is definitely yours. I told Guillaume a long time ago that we could only be friends."

Link's heart settled as he gently caressed her belly, asking how their baby was doing.

Marion's eyes softened as she said the baby was very good. The doctor said it was a boy, and he was very active, often kicking her stomach.

Link happily said he would play football with their son in the future.

Marion said he had better plan for baseball or basketball; football players are often kicked in the shins.

Link smiled, jokingly saying he couldn't make his son's decisions for him.

He then said he had prepared a name for their son. "How about we name him 'Jean-Baptiste'?"

Jean-Baptiste is a common French name with a rich history, meaning "John the Baptist." Link thought it was a nice name and also suitable for Marion's French heritage.

Marion's eyes sparkled as she said it was a beautiful name and she loved it.

Link held her hand, promising to always love her and their son, Jean-Baptiste, no matter what.

The room was filled with a sense of love and anticipation for the future as they held each other close, looking forward to the arrival of their baby boy.