Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 332: Chapter 287: Rise: 123

If Zhou Yun saw this scene, she would surely say: Childish.

But she’s not here.

She’s waiting for the last day, the award ceremony.

The organizing committee has been in touch with them, inviting them to attend the ceremony.

Every year at the Venice International Film Festival, if a production team doesn’t receive an invitation, they basically have no chance at winning any awards.

Similarly, those who are invited to attend the award ceremony basically have at least one award in the bag.

Receiving this call, everyone who had been waiting for news finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Even though confidence was high due to positive evaluations from various quarters, those were, after all, still insubstantial signs.

There have been instances where films well received by the media and audience weren’t favored by jurors.

Privately, Yao Yuanfeng asked his wife, ”What award do you think we’ll get?”

His wife asked, ”Which award do you hope to get?”

”I naturally hope for Best Picture,” Yao Yuanfeng said and then sighed, ”But considering the current critical consensus, the chances of Best Picture seem slim. The loudest buzz is for Zhou Yun’s Best Actress nomination, but she also has a strong competitor, an actress from a Malaysian film who has received high acclaim.”

Mrs. Yao asked, ”Is there room for public relations?”

”The jurors don’t recognize personal connections, and it’s different from back home,” Yao Yuanfeng replied. ”Taking home the Best Actress award would be great, but...”

Mrs. Yao said, ”I thought you were very keen on helping her win Best Actress.”

”She’s not an actress from my company,” said Yao Yuanfeng. ”Had I known this film would make it to Venice, I should have had Yang Xi take the role.”

”Yang Xi? She might not perform better than Zhou Yun,” Mrs. Yao pointed out.

Yao Yuanfeng said, ”Do you think Zhou Yun is that good on her own? Wen Bing knows how to coach actors.”

”So you’re saying that if Zhou Yun wins Best Actress, it’s all thanks to Wen Bing?” Mrs. Yao asked, surprised.

”At least half of the credit goes to Wen Bing,” Yao Yuanfeng replied.

Mrs. Yao smiled faintly and asked, ”Do you think Zhou Yun would be happy to know that?”

Yao Yuanfeng said, ”I’m only discussing this with you, she won’t know about it.”

Mrs. Yao said, ”In my opinion, she’s better than Yang Xi.”

”Why?”

”She’s tactful and knows her limits,” Mrs. Yao explained. ”Moreover, her luck is something not many possess.”

Yao Yuanfeng conceded, ”That’s true.”

Since receiving the call from the organizing committee, Zhou Lan had been in a state similar to euphoria.

She was pacing back and forth, unable to settle down.

”Xiao Yun, have you written your acceptance speech yet?”

Zhou Yun said, ”Of course not!”

”Why haven’t you written it yet?”

Zhou Yun sighed and said, ”I haven’t figured it out.”

”You better hurry up, the ceremony is tomorrow!” Zhou Lan, hands on hips, kept reminding her about the ceremony, but her gaze was distant, clearly contemplating other matters, ”We didn’t prepare a dress for the ceremony before, but thankfully we have a few backups. However, none of them are particularly great. No, I need to get in touch with Zheng Xiaowen again. If they don’t have a suitable outfit at VX, we’ll borrow from Dior or some other brand. We can’t afford to dress poorly on such an important occasion tomorrow!”

Zhou Yun said, ”Sister Lan, stop mumbling.”

Zhou Lan immediately glared at Zhou Yun and said, ”Am I mumbling? Tomorrow is so important. If you win Best Actress, even if it’s in the Horizons Unit, it’s still the Best Actress of the Venice International Film Festival’s Horizons Unit! That holds a lot of prestige! You’ll become a bona fide Movie Queen, and your value will skyrocket!”

”Ah, if only it were that simple. You’re setting your hopes so high. What if we don’t get the award in the end? How disappointing would that be?” Zhou Yun waved her hand, ”Relax a bit.”

”Don’t give me that; you’re just trying to calm me down now. I don’t believe for a second that you’re as composed as you appear.”

”Ah,” Zhou Yun sighed.

Finally, Zhou Lan came to a halt.

The two of them looked at each other quietly for a couple of seconds, then suddenly broke into a smile, laughing together.

Indeed, it’s not easy to stay calm, nor is it easy to win awards. Being so close to the trophy disrupts one’s peace of mind.

Zhou Yun wasn’t as calm as she claimed to be.

To say she didn’t harbor that desire was hypocritical. To claim she really had no hopes was self-deception.

It was because Zhou Lan had already expressed all her thoughts that Zhou Yun seemed to take the ostensibly rational stance.

But that was the Best Actress – an honor any Actress would yearn for.

Of course, Zhou Yun wanted it too.

At that moment, Zhou Yun’s phone rang.

It was Song Chi calling.

”Nervous?” Song Chi asked as soon as Zhou Yun answered.

Zhou Yun replied, ”Isn’t that obvious?”

Song Chi laughed.

Song Chi said, ”Don’t worry. Whatever happens, stay relaxed. Even if you don’t get it this time, there will be many more opportunities.”

Zhou Yun shot back, ”Stop cursing me. Who says I won’t get it this time?”

”So confident?”

”If I can’t have confidence in myself, then what’s the point? I might as well pack up and go home,” retorted Zhou Yun.

”Haha, everyone in the industry is watching your every move now. The crew I’m filming with is all talking about your gossip,” said Song Chi, ”You’re even more famous than me now.”

Zhou Yun, with a laugh, asked, ”What, are you jealous?”

Song Chi admitted, ”Jealous, of course, I’m jealous. But remember what we talked about before? Have you thought about it?”

Zhou Yun looked puzzled and inquired, ”About what?”

Song Chi asked, ”You didn’t forget, did you?”

Zhou Yun tried hard to remember but still couldn’t recall.

”What is it? I can’t remember.”

Song Chi said in disbelief, ”...Before you left, I asked you. When you get back, do you want to move in and live with me?”

Zhou Yun suddenly snapped back to reality.

Song Chi asked, ”Did you really forget?”

Zhou Yun admitted, ”...I forgot.”

Song Chi protested, ”I’m annoyed now.”

Zhou Yun asked, ”...Should I console you?”

”How?” asked Song Chi.

”What do you want?” Zhou Yun countered.

Song Chi retorted, ”I still need to tell you how?”

Zhou Yun teased, ”Who’s consoling whom here? Can’t you see my sincerity?”

Song Chi joked, ”You could bring that sincerity to my place.”

Zhou Yun pondered, ”...Wait, you mean, the two of us would live together?”

”Our schedules are so busy, and we barely see each other. Living together, things should improve, right?” Song Chi had a convincing reason.

Zhou Yun hesitated, ”Let me think about it.”

Song Chi pressed, ”What’s left to think about? You don’t want to move in?”

Zhou Yun clarified, ”It’s not that I don’t want to move in.”

Song Chi asked, ”Then what?”

Zhou Yun pleaded, ”Stop pushing; just let me think.”