Chapter 130: Receiving the Award

The nominees for Best Picture have been announced: "God of the Wild," "The Invisible Man," and "Fashion Capital." These three distinctive films, evaluated by industry professionals, now await the final verdict on which will claim the top honor.

Director Evans sits in the front row. The elderly man is full of fighting spirit and charisma, chatting and laughing with two other nominated directors with a relaxed demeanor, embodying the style of a true international film master. As a three-time Oscar-winning director whose films have garnered countless international awards, he possesses both the qualification and the capability to remain calm and composed.

A montage of "God of the Wild" plays on the big screen. Even upon a second viewing, the film’s majestic and sweeping atmosphere leaves the audience in awe; it is flawless in its character design, acting, script, and cinematography. The desolate, corpse-strewn wilderness, the bleakness of the blood-red twilight, the grand spectacle of war in the primitive lands, the clash between the God of War and destiny, and the struggle between life and death—all set to ancient, lingering melodies—allow the audience to quietly experience the brilliance of the era captured by the film.

The release of this montage, specially edited for the Oscars, immediately causes the competing directors beside Evans to change color. The old fox Evans wears a look of triumphant satisfaction, which leaves them feeling stifled, yet they are forced to acknowledge the greatness of this masterpiece, which has blazed a new trail for modern cinema.

"Oh? Looking at the expressions of the audience, they must be stunned by 'God of the Wild.' When it first premiered, it broke global viewership records. It truly is a visual feast!" the host exclaims with endless praise. The two directors beside him look blacker than coal, thinking, *Can you let a person die with dignity? Stop blathering!*

"Oh, and I heard the investment for this lavish production was three hundred million. Of course, only a giant like Director Evans could handle such a massive project. Naturally, the box office surprise on the opening day recouped the costs with interest; it is truly a miracle in film history," the female co-host adds, not to be outdone.

"So, will 'God of the Wild' take home the crown for Best Picture?"

"Let’s wait and see!" The two banter back and forth, completely ignoring the other two nominated films. The two directors in the audience have transitioned from initial anticipation to irritability, then to disappointment, and finally to resignation. They wear standard smiles, though they are thinking: *I lost to that old bastard Evans again!*

"Now, we invite the Honorary Chairman of the Oscars, Mr. Dalton, to announce the winner," the host declares, welcoming Mr. Dalton to the stage.

Mr. Dalton, dressed in a suit and tie, looks robust for a man of his age. His mature features, framed by gold-rimmed glasses, project the air of a successful man. He reveals the mystery, announcing with gravity and solemnity: "The winner of the 43rd Academy Award for Best Picture is—" Mr. Dalton surveys the three eager directors, a hint of a smile appearing beneath his stoic expression, "—'God of the Wild!'"

"God of the Wild!" Heaven! The four words bloom like heavenly music in Rong Qing’s heart. From the moment the announcement was made, her heart began pounding with nervous excitement. There was no suspense; it was their film, a validation for everyone on the crew. They had done it; they had truly done it. Rong Qing stands up excitedly and embraces Director Evans, who is sitting in the front row.

Like an excited child, Rong Qing hops up and down, wrapping her arms around Evans’ neck and refusing to let go. "It’s our film! It’s amazing, it’s just amazing!" Her usual image of elegance and nobility completely shatters in this moment.

"Silly girl, you did a wonderful job!" Evans pats the back of Rong Qing’s head with deep affection. For this Chinese girl, her contribution to the film was indispensable. After a moment of embracing, Evans walks onto the stage to accept the award.

He receives the trophy from Mr. Dalton as thunderous applause breaks out in the hall. The audience respects this international directing giant; "God of the Wild" is truly deserving of the award.

"I have attended countless award ceremonies and received significant honors, but at this moment, I feel especially proud. 'God of the Wild' represents half a lifetime of my heart's blood, bringing together the most outstanding creative team and actors. Without them, this film would not have been completed. Here, I thank our great creative team. I am proud of you all; this—this glory belongs to you!" Evans kisses the trophy and holds it high. The creative team of "God of the Wild" cheers and celebrates, savoring their feast.

With the Best Picture decided, the next award is the highly coveted Best Director. Without suspense, the award falls into Evans’ pocket. No longer as excited as before, Evans speaks briefly and walks off the stage amidst the cheers of the crowd. As he prepares to bid farewell to the film industry, he leaves behind an indelible spiritual legacy for all of humanity. "God of the Wild," this epoch-making film, will become a classic.

With the most significant award claimed by "God of the Wild," even the dissatisfied directors and actors in the room can only pin their hopes on the Best Actor and Best Actress categories. The Best Actor award is claimed by a famous Hollywood star; without question, his raw portrayal of a war-crazed man, his grasp of the battlefield, and his subtle, emotional performance made him the clear favorite. It was a result that met everyone's expectations.

Time passes quickly, and the competition for Best Actress begins. This year, the race for this category is the most intense. Wendy, a famous American star; Baolai, a famous French star; and Rong Qing, the most popular star in the international film scene, are all nominated. The first two have astonishing track records and strength, with Wendy having won this award two years ago. For everyone, the battle for this award is full of suspense. Whether it will be Rong Qing, with her super-high popularity and perfect acting skills; Wendy, the Hollywood superstar with a powerful background; or the French mixed-race actress Baolai, who emerged as a dark horse, remains a mystery.

"Sigh, there are so many rising stars this year. The competition for Best Actress is so turbulent, I can hardly bear to watch," the male host says pitifully, shaking the card in his hand that holds the name of tonight's final winner.

"Indeed. And the most famous, the most stunning, and the most talented actress nominated for Best Actress this year—I guess everyone here is familiar with her. Who is she?" The female host points her microphone toward the audience.

"Rong Qing—" The crowd cheers enthusiastically, the atmosphere of the entire venue ignited. The name "Rong Qing" is shouted in different languages from all over the world, a testament to her influence and fame.

Rong Qing, hidden among the stars, is captured on screen. She wears a calm smile, a state of being unswayed by gain or loss—this is the true demeanor and temperament of an Easterner. To be honest, for Rong Qing, winning is no longer important; Best Picture has already confirmed her ability. She has already met her expectations for the night; she does not need another award to add to her glory.

"Everyone is so enthusiastic; it truly shows the power of a superstar," the female host says with a smile.

"Alright, everyone is getting impatient. Let’s announce the winner of Best Actress," the male host says, shifting the tone as he deftly pulls the contents from the envelope.

Even though Wendy appears composed, she cannot help but focus intently. She has fought hard for this award. Even if Rong Qing has deep connections, and even if her acting is indeed excellent, Wendy does not want to yield. This is a contest of strength, and more importantly, a battle for status. She has a premonition that if... if Rong Qing wins the Oscar for Best Actress with her astonishing talent, her status as the Queen of Entertainment will be under threat. This Easterner would surely be the one to bury her success!

"The winner of the 43rd Academy Award for Best Actress is—the youngest and most popular superstar who entered Hollywood as a dark horse!" the host declares excitedly.

Even without naming her, everyone knows who it is. Rong Qing, an Eastern girl, has created a cinematic miracle. She is also the youngest of the contenders, having climbed to the top of the world on her own merits without any background. She is the Eastern Superstar—Rong Qing!

"We invite the President of the World Film Association to present the award to Rong Qing."

All the lights shine on Rong Qing. Tonight, she wears an ink-wash painting style gown, as pure as a blooming white lotus. Without flashy adornments, she radiates the natural gentleness and grace of an Easterner. A faint smile rests on her lips; she shows no excessive excitement, remaining as calm as if this were meant to be.

Rong Qing stands up gracefully, embraces Evans and Wendy in turn, and walks toward the stage with steady steps.

The President of the World Film Association is a gray-haired old man, his face full of wrinkles, but his smile is exceptionally serene. He embraces Rong Qing, truly admiring the Chinese girl before him. Back when the old men were hesitant about this award, it was her performance as Elus that made him insist on recommending this beautiful girl. World cinema has been confined by certain boxes and circles for too long; there are too few films and actors who can make him feel such nostalgia. He cannot help but want to preserve something beautiful for the world.

"Congratulations. Your performance was truly outstanding. I have become a fan of yours," the old man jokes, but the sincerity and recognition in his tone move Rong Qing deeply.

"Thank you," Rong Qing says, affectionately embracing the old man and kissing his kind cheek. The elegance of the Eastern woman and the kindness of the old man become the most harmonious scene of this year’s Oscars.

Rong Qing receives the trophy; its weight fills her heart to the brim. The lights shine upon her, and the hall is packed with people. At this moment, words are unnecessary. From her struggles and helpless loneliness in the entertainment industry two years ago to her current success and happy family life, every scene flashes through her mind, gathering into words she cannot express. If there is one person she is most grateful to right now, it is her husband, who has been by her side—it was he who gave her a new life!