What emotions are surging within me? Is it anger? Or disappointment?
Shang Yechu felt a pain in her back molars, and only when she came to her senses did she realize that she had been clenching her teeth too tightly.
Qi Ming glanced at the sky outside the window, stood up, and said, "Alright. I should go back and get some rest too. You should go back too, Xiao Ye. In our line of work, the worst thing is to have friction with the director. Go back and have Xiao Tao give you some pointers..."
Shang Yechu snapped out of her daze and stood up as well: "I understand. Thank you, Teacher Qi."
Qi Ming nodded and was about to leave when Shang Yechu suddenly grabbed her sleeve again.
"What's wrong?" Qi Ming asked, puzzled.
Shang Yechu hesitated before asking, "Why are you helping me like this?"
Every time Qi Ming helped Shang Yechu, it wasn't for free. The first time he helped, he directly stole the lead role, sealing Shang Yechu's place in the supporting actress position; the second time he helped, half of Shang Yechu's salary was reimbursed.
What about this time? What will Shang Yechu have to give up this time?
Qi Ming chuckled: "What, can't my old lady give you some pointers? You want me to charge you tuition?"
"That's not what I meant," Shang Yechu said urgently. "Actually, you've helped me a lot before—but, but—"
Shang Yechu was always fluent and eloquent when lying, but he was always hesitant and inarticulate when telling the truth. This was a rare moment when she revealed her true feelings. Realizing what she had said, Shang Yechu wanted to slap herself.
But what? But why is this free teaching assignment? Isn't asking that question incredibly rude?
Qi Ming paused, a hint of sadness flickering in his eyes: "Xiao Ye."
Shang Yechu: "..."
Qi Ming sighed: "I wasn't born wanting to ask people for this and that."
The bright white floor reflected Qi Ming's hunched back and gray hair, with a glimmer of light—the earring Qi Ming had specially bought for the Ying Shi Awards ceremony.
She's old.
If possible, Qi Ming also hopes to be a free-spirited art master, indifferent to material things and regarding money as dirt.
When he's in a good mood, he can wave his hand and cultivate three thousand talents, each of whom can dominate the entertainment industry; when he's in a bad mood, he can raise his hand and criticize those ambitious and scheming people in the entertainment industry, scoffing at them and cursing them as slaves to fame and fortune.
Unfortunately, all fantasies crumble in the face of reality. The only chance to make her mark on film history slipped through her fingers, and she likely won't have another one.
This is not a place where one can survive on words like art and dreams alone.
Shang Yechu opened her mouth, a look of shame appearing on her face. She was ashamed of the arrogance she had inadvertently displayed.
Just as Qi Ming was about to leave, he suddenly heard a voice behind him: "Teacher Qi, please wait a moment!"
Qi Ming turned around and looked at Shang Yechu, whose face was pale in the moonlight: "Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Shang Yechu took two steps to Qi Ming and grasped his hand: "Wait for me! Please, please wait for me!"
Shang Yechu ran wildly, leaving the moonlight behind. 103 slowly said in her mind, "Why are you running? Luckily, this hotel is well soundproofed, otherwise a bunch of people would think the corridor is haunted."
Shang Yechu had no time to pay attention to 103 and pushed open her own door!
The Ying Shi Award trophy stood quietly on Shang Yechu's bedside table. The silvery moonlight shone on it, and the white porcelain gleamed with a milky sheen.
Shang Yechu suddenly slowed down.
Shang Yechu walked to the bedside table and slowly picked up the trophy.
The trophy for the Ying Shi Award is made of a very special material.
The Film Festival World Film Festival is Asia's largest film festival, and porcelain is one of the oldest symbols of Asia's splendid civilization. To remind Asian filmmakers not to forget their own culture and history, the Film Festival Awards trophies are all made of white porcelain produced in Jindong Town, China's premier porcelain town.
The trophy for the Film Awards is shaped like a piece of silk, so soft and smooth it seems about to droop. But upon closer inspection, one can see that the snow-white silk is intricately engraved with the shape of film reels. This porcelain ribbon is both silk and film.
On the mortise and tenon wooden base are five elegant Chinese characters: Best Newcomer Award. Below, also carved in Chinese characters, is the phrase "The world of Asia, Asia of the world".
The font on the trophy is determined by the winner's nationality. However, Shang Yechu believes that Chinese characters are most suitable for porcelain.
Each trophy is hand-carved by the most traditional artisans in Jin Dong Town, meaning that no two Ying Shi Award trophies in the world are exactly alike. The newcomer trophy in Shang Ye Chu's hand is unique.
Shang Yechu gazed at the small trophy with fascination. It was truly beautiful. A masterpiece of craftsmanship, it embodied the hard work of countless people. And within it lay a mark—Shang Yechu's own.
Shang Yechu traveled through two lifetimes to obtain such a small porcelain sculpture.
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