Shrine - Chapter 56
Chapter 56
The Weibo Awards Ceremony was held at the Jiangcheng Arts and Sports Center. On both sides were star-chasing fans, packed in so tightly, three layers deep, that it was impossible to get through. The arrival of each artist caused a commotion, big or small. The cameras of proxy photographers live-streaming were hidden among them, and the sounds of arguments and quarrels could occasionally be heard.
But before Ruan Ruan's eyes was a blaze of white light. She walked steadily on the red carpet, the heels under her skirt pressing down with a bit of force. She was actually a little scared—scared of falling, scared of tripping—yet she was also so excitedly enjoying the feeling of her ankles giving way, as if she were walking on clouds.
She felt she had become a glass of champagne, to be savored by gazes, to be celebrated for the grand occasion.
The more bejeweled the artists, the more splendid the night.
Was there a sweaty young girl in the crowded throng, with her hair styled plainly, waiting in line and struggling to hand out a resume, who saw Shi Ran on the trending topics just as she was being looked down upon? And who would be looking at Ruan Ruan now?
She felt her heartbeat dissolve into a pool of water, flowing through her limbs and bones. All her pulses and physical sensations were displaced. Only the place where her skin touched Zhong Yi's was burgeoning as if a fire were being lit.
She smiled until her eyes stung a little. The long red carpet finally came to an end.
The fans' cheers receded, and the host's voice rang out: "Hey, Zhong Yi and Ruan Ruan have arrived."
"Come, come, over here, you two. Hahahaha, Zhong Yi is greeting our audience members." The female host held a cue card, her young and energetic voice making one unconsciously relax.
Zhong Yi and Ruan Ruan stood hand-in-hand in the interview area. As they turned, Zhong Yi glanced down at Ruan Ruan's skirt, making sure she wouldn't trip.
"First, why don't you say hello to everyone?" the host said.
"Hello everyone, I'm Zhong Yi."
"Hello to all our viewers, I'm Ruan Ruan."
Their clear and gentle voices intertwined, one rising as the other fell, like pearls striking a jade plate.
The host was curious. "Why did the two of you walk the red carpet together? I was really surprised when I saw."
Ruan Ruan looked at Zhong Yi. Zhong Yi leaned toward the microphone, first turning to smile at the host. "You were surprised? It should be written on your cue card."
The host bent over with laughter, lightly waving the cue card at her. "It is. But I'm personally curious, was it really just the organizer's arrangement?"
The event organizers had arranged for many artists to appear together in pairs. The different combinations were a fresh sight for the audience, but most of the artists who had appeared earlier walked side-by-side, polite and courteous. Only Zhong Yi and Ruan Ruan had arrived arm-in-arm.
The two had no interaction other than the previous variety show. Normally, let alone interacting, they didn't even follow each other online. Yet tonight, they smiled with great familiarity. One was radiant with every glance, the other elegant and free-spirited—they were inexplicably well-matched.
"It was the organizer's arrangement, but of course, I was also very happy to be with Ruan Ruan," Zhong Yi said.
Seeing that Ruan Ruan wasn't speaking, she playfully passed the topic to her. "Are you happy?"
"Very happy," Ruan Ruan said, leaning closer to the microphone.
"Or would you rather have walked with your boss?" Zhong Yi's smile was delighted.
"Which boss are you referring to?" Ruan Ruan smiled back.
Both Xin Chen and Shi Ran were coming today.
"Whichever one you'd like."
"I'd like to be with you."
The host covered her mouth with her cue card as she laughed. The entertainment value was off the charts. She cleared her throat. "It's truly a pleasure to see you both, and it's clear you have a great relationship. Before the signing and photos, shall we chat a bit about today's theme?"
Zhong Yi and Ruan Ruan stood up straight, smiling and nodding slightly.
"You both know the theme of our event is the Christmas Confession Season. If you were to confess to someone, what method would you use, or what would you say to express your feelings?" the host posed the question.
Zhong Yi blinked in the light, thought for a moment, took the microphone, and looked ambiguously at Ruan Ruan. "Me... me... you."
"Huh?" The host didn't understand. "What does that mean?"
Ruan Ruan smiled serenely and took the microphone. "She's saying, 'I Zhong Yi you.'"
The host gasped, and the crowd below erupted. The pun was brilliant and clever, and the two had perfect chemistry. They were an incredibly shippable pair.
The seasoned media members already knew: the explosive story had arrived. Influential social media accounts had also received the pre-release promotional materials for Shrine. The news rippled through the red carpet like a shaken blanket, a wave that passed quickly and then settled back into calm.
Half an hour later, Shi Ran made her grand finale entrance.
The red carpet event finally reached its climax for the night. The moment the host said the name "Shi Ran," light-up signs that had been hidden all night were raised in unison. It turned out that the earlier commotions from the audience on both sides had been politely restrained. It turned out that one could feel the overwhelming passion even through a live stream.
The live-stream camera abandoned the gracefully departing back of the previous artist and stared fixedly at the empty space at the start of the red carpet. Security pushed the fans on both sides back. Three to five minutes later, the business vehicle finally arrived, and Shi Ran appeared under the watchful eyes of millions online and offline.
Haute couture from Zuh, a pre-season piece, its global debut. The black and gold threads summoned her figure with righteous confidence. From the high slit on her right side, a leg stepping out diagonally was like a moonbeam slicing through the night sky, only to be reclaimed by the darkness—now visible, now hidden, tantalizingly present.
For someone at the zenith of her career, even the weather was sensible, sending a wisp of wind through her long, loose hair. Amidst the brilliance of a thousand stars, the ends of her hair curled, and delicate light and shadow sprinkled through the strands.
Amidst deafening cheers and screams, she stepped onto the red carpet.
From the moment she appeared, she rapidly dominated the trending topics. Following closely behind was "I Zhong Yi you."
Shi Ran raised her forearm and waved to the audience.
The internet was in an uproar. The "Zhong Yi and Ruan Ruan" tag was refreshing rapidly.
"MAMA I'M EATING WELL!!!" "This is too good!!!" "They should get married immediately!!!!"
Shi Ran lowered her hand, held her skirt, and walked forward, surrounded by a barrage of camera flashes.
The "Zhong Yi and Ruan Ruan" tag was now marked with "Hot."
"Ahhhhh, I Zhong Yi you ahhhhh, who gets it!" "Was she saying it to Ruan Ruan?" "What's their relationship, holy cow!!!"
Shi Ran raised her eyes slightly, looking towards the end of the red carpet.
Leaks about Shrine were being dug up online.
"So the previous leak about Shrine contacting a second-tier actress, could that be Zhong Yi?" "Very possible!!!" "Then what about Shi Ran, what about Shi Ran, what about Shi Ran, what about Shi Ran?"
Shi Ran arrived at the interview area, giving the host a faint, ice-breaking smile.
Another tag appeared online.
The movie Non-Desire was officially announced. Director: Zhao Ansheng. Female Lead: Shi Ran.
Directed by a rising star beloved at international film festivals and frequently nominated for awards, adapted from the best-selling novel Desire That Isn't Desire, with a luxurious cast and a top-tier production team—it was, without a doubt, a film aiming for awards.
This night was a rising storm, a night of dramatic shifts, a night of swirling rumors, a night where she was second to none.
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