“Your makeup is smudged here,” Shao Guangji frowned. “You’d better touch it up and cover it up before you go in.”
The spot he pointed to happened to be the same place where Shang Yechu had developed pimples from overeating.
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Shang Yechu took his seat.
Zheng Bohan sat to her right, the chair to Shang Yechu's left was empty, and further to the left, Shao Guangji sat in his seat without looking to the side.
The lead actor and director of "The Heavenly Emperor" were separated by only an empty chair.
The awards ceremony began, as usual, with a lively opening ceremony featuring singing and dancing. Next came the awards for Outstanding Variety Show, Traditional Opera, and Animated Film. Following that was the award for Outstanding Documentary.
Five documentaries won the Outstanding Documentary Award. "The Imperial Capital" came in first. The guests politely applauded, and the documentary directors and producers went up on stage to accept their awards. When Shao Guangji took the stage, the applause suddenly grew much louder, like a thunderous eruption.
Shang Yechu sat among the clapping crowd, clapping along to the rhythm. She seemed to feel Shao Guangji's gaze on her, but perhaps it was just her imagination.
As the award drew closer, Shang Yechu became increasingly nervous.
As expected, Zheng Bohan once again won the Sky Award for Best Screenplay. The elderly Zheng walked with his head held high, a humble smile on his face, and delivered a very appropriate acceptance speech, looking remarkably like a normal person.
The Best Director Award went to someone else; the winner was the director of "Old River." The elderly director, already seventy years old, had to be helped onto the stage by his fellow actors.
Shang Yechu clapped her hands enthusiastically, but even so, she couldn't hide the frantic pounding of her heart. The director of "Old River" spoke in a rhythmic, drawn-out manner, pausing every few seconds to catch his breath. Shang Yechu's heart rose and fell with the rhythm of the old man's speech, always returning to her chest just before it was about to leap out of her throat.
Her expression was too focused. Generally speaking, celebrities, for the sake of appearances, wouldn't show such eagerness. A serene and unassuming demeanor, indifferent to fame and fortune, is the persona admired in the industry. Everyone waits with a quiet anticipation until the award is given, at which point the winner reveals an undisguised elation, while the loser shows a hint of disappointment and a sense of pride.
Losing composure is the privilege of the victor. However, Ye Chu disregarded this unspoken rule and enjoyed this privilege ahead of time.
If it were for someone else, it would be understandable. For example, Ye Chu might be hoping for an award for her good friend and teacher, thus gaining a reputation for being kind and loyal. Unfortunately, none of Ye Chu's friends are among the nominated actresses, and everyone knows that her current actions are for her own benefit.
They are so young and inexperienced.
If I lose, wouldn't I become a laughing stock?
Zheng Bohan sensed Shang Yechu's nervousness and anticipation. He put down his trophy, grasped Shang Yechu's hand, and whispered, "You'll be on stage."
Shang Yechu stared unblinkingly at the host on stage: "Yes, thank you, Teacher Shao."
A slight rustling sound came from Shao Guangji's side, where the chair was rubbing against the fabric.
Zheng Bohan: "..." Fine, this is the last time. I'll kill this wicked disciple after the awards ceremony.
The two award presenters on stage smiled and said, "This year's Sky Awards still have many excellent works..."
Shang Yechu could barely hear the polite remarks from the guests. She even had a slight ringing in her ears, as if the world was being filtered out from her.
"There are six actresses nominated for Best Actress at this year's Sky Awards. They are..."
The screen began playing clips of the nominated actors' performances. Shang Yechu's Li Yiming was placed last, and the selected clip was also classic: Li Yiming walking forward on the execution ground, constantly recalling the past and fantasizing about the future. Shang Yechu looked at her face and felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
Courageous, resolute, and determined. Tall and straight as a pine, principled as bamboo, and beautiful as an orchid. This is Li Yiming. A person very, very far from Shang Yechu, yet very, very close to her. Shang Yechu will never love her more than Guan Yue, but she remains one of the most important people in Shang Yechu's heart.
The host opened the envelope, raised an eyebrow, and kept everyone in suspense: "So it was her."
Shang Yechu leaned forward slightly, gripping the armrests on both sides of the seat with both hands.
"The winner of this year's Sky Award for Outstanding Actress is—"
At this point, the host, just like the director of "Old River" earlier, started panting heavily.
Shang Ye thought that if she won the trophy, the first thing she would do was take a picture, post it on her Weibo side account, and tag the official Weibo account of the Xinghan Awards. —It's all fake, all fake. Actually, although she was very disappointed with the Xinghan Awards, she was still resentful that she hadn't won that magnificent Xinghan trophy. If she still couldn't win this Sky Award trophy—there are no ifs.
The host's gaze swept over Shang Yechu, who was about to be launched from her seat in the first row, and he smiled slightly, finally granting her relief.
"Half of the Sky, Ye Chu!"
The host said loudly.
Shang Yechu leaped to her feet, her smile almost leaping off the stage. Thousands of flashbulbs blazed in, capturing her proud, satisfied, and excited smile from countless angles. Shang Yechu turned around, waving to the audience behind her like an emperor, then turned back and gave Zheng Bohan, who had already stood up, a tight hug.
The award citation resounded throughout the ceremony: "With his accumulated acting skills and unique, profound understanding of the character, Ye Chu has delved into the soul of a generation of national heroes. He vividly portrays the warrior, bringing the character to life. Though his body is dead, his spirit lives on; his soul is resolute, a heroic ghost. Though Yiming is anonymous, his light shines on us. Ye Chu has proven to the audience the boundless potential of young actors, showcasing the spirit and soul of a generation of Chinese sons and daughters through his portrayal of Li Yiming..."
Shang Yechu absorbed each character with rapt attention, and the world became clear again. It was in her ears, in her eyes.
The lights were dazzling, and celebrities filled the hall. However, the smile on Ye Chu's face was even more radiant than the lights themselves.
Shao Guangji looked up at her, squinting slightly as if he found the light a bit too bright. Then, he stood up, bent over, and stretched out his arms to Shang Yechu across Xu Hanwen's empty chair.
Shang Yechu was stunned.
Shao Guangji maintained his slightly bowed posture, raised his arm again, and calmly said, "Congratulations, Ye Chu."
Shang Yechu swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and without further hesitation, quickly hugged Shao Guangji.
After making this move, Shang Yechu turned her head away and rushed onto the podium without hesitation.
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Shang Yechu had written several versions of Li Yiming's acceptance speech, but discarded them all. The version that remains is the one she finally chose.
She didn't want to improvise, ramble on, and show her lack of ambition, unpreparedness, and bewilderment. Li Yiming deserves the best of everything: the best father, the best director, the best actor, and the best acceptance speech.
Nevertheless, the moment she opened her mouth, Shang Yechu felt a lump in her throat and choked up.
"I……"
Shang Yechu paused for a moment, then realized that she was holding the Sky Award trophy and certificate in her hands, her palms were sweaty, and she couldn't even remember when she had received these things.
The tactile sensation of the trophy and the sweat on her hands helped Shang Yechu regain her composure. As is customary, she first thanked the organizing committee and the guests present. During this process, her emotions gradually calmed down.
Shang Yechu gradually regained her voice.
"I'm very happy, I'm extremely happy."
"Before receiving the award, I was puzzled by the strange shape of the Sky Award trophy. After checking online, I learned that the Sky Award trophy is shaped like a cloud in the sky. Each trophy is handmade by craftsmen, so no two clouds in the world are exactly the same, and no two Sky Award trophies are exactly the same."
"Now, I hold this wisp of cloud that belongs only to me..."
At this point, with a soft "plop," Shang Yechu saw a drop of water fall onto the trophy in her hand. So she had indeed shed tears, though she herself hadn't realized it.
Waves of applause erupted from the audience, a tradition of the Sky Awards, where guests routinely encourage the award winners by applauding them as they go on stage to receive their prizes.
Shang Yechu wanted to wipe her face, but holding the trophy in one hand and the certificate in the other, it was impossible. She simply ignored her current appearance and continued, with a smile and tears in her eyes:
"However, I know that although this trophy is mine, Li Yiming does not belong to me—she belongs to the world, to all of us. She merely used my body to showcase fragments of her life's brilliance..."
"It was not my performance that gave Li Yiming his soul; rather, it was the profound soul, stirring spirit, and tumultuous journey of the people's heroes that gave me a deeper shock, inspired me to think more, and gave me a broader space for interpretation."
"It is my honor to play such a great warrior; it is my fortune to portray such a romantic character."
"Dawn will eventually come, but the heroic spirits will never die. As the daylight shines bright, their souls will never perish."
"Winning the Sky Award is just the icing on the cake for my personal efforts. The magnificent and profound history of this land, the countless outstanding figures, and the glorious tradition of resistance and struggle are the unbroken threads; while the entire crew of 'Half of the Sky'—including the director, screenwriter, the actors and teachers I worked with, and the hardworking staff—all of them worked together to weave these radiant threads into this magnificent tapestry."
"Among them, I would especially like to thank my three teachers."
"My first teacher, Mr. Zheng Bohan, was the one who gave me the opportunity to play Li Yiming;
"My second teacher, Ms. Hu Shuizhi, reshaped my thinking and understanding of Li Yiming, and made me realize what is most important in interpreting this role."
"My third teacher, Ms. Qi Ming, helped me perfect my acting, allowing me to truly transition from actor to character."
"Meeting the three of you is a series of unrepeatable miracles in my acting career."
"Even the longest acceptance speech needs an ending. Since this is the Sky Award ceremony, and this is an acceptance speech related to Li Yiming, I choose to end with these words:"
The world has changed, as if the heavens and the earth have been turned upside down; I still remember the days of fighting and narrowly escaping death, as if it were yesterday.
"A unique sense of heroism, like the bright moon hanging in the sky."
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