Married in a Daze - Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Mountain Girl was even more of a hit than Qin Zhenzhen had anticipated. She had originally thought that no matter how high the box office for such an art-house film might be, it couldn't possibly surpass commercial blockbusters. However, the reality was that it directly crushed them, with box office numbers so absurdly high they were nearly unbelievable. Five days after its release, the box office had already approached 1.5 billion, breaking the five-year record for art-house film rankings and rapidly ascending to the top spot.

Director Zheng's film was completely overshadowed.

But that didn't mean he had given up hope. After all, his film was aiming for film festivals. At this stage, box office numbers weren't the sole measure of a film's quality; the real, tangible glory lay in winning awards. So, they decided to adopt a different approach, to sprint for the film festivals.

There were four major international film festivals of significant weight. The Shengshi and Changle festivals both had deadlines at the end of June for submissions. The other two were in October and at the end of the year, respectively.

Apart from the four major festivals, there was also the most prestigious honor of all: the Hani Film Gala.

The Hani Film Gala was held once every four years. Apart from its 343 film critics, it also featured past award-winning Best Actors and Best Actresses as judges. They invited internationally renowned figures, each one a heavyweight name in the film industry.

Such a massive, high-caliber panel placed the Hani Film Gala at the absolute pinnacle within the circle. Even just a nomination from them was several times more valuable than an award from any of the four major festivals.

Unfortunately, to date, not a single film from their country had ever received a nomination.

It wasn't that their country hadn't produced any good films over all these years. It was a combination of poor timing and the Hani Film Gala's excessively stringent requirements that had kept them nomination-less.

Of course, their country wasn't alone. Many other nations shared the same fate of never having received a nomination. The more exclusive it was, the more it highlighted the Gala's grandeur, uniqueness, and the sheer difficulty of winning its awards, making people all the more envious and yearning.

When Qin Zhenzhen learned that Director Zheng's film was making a sprint for the Shengshi Film Festival, she wasn't surprised at all. What surprised her was that Director Yu had also chosen Shengshi.

She had thought Director Yu would avoid Director Zheng and submit to Changle, or even aim for Hani. After all, the quadrennial Hani Gala was also being held at the end of this year, and Mountain Girl, whether in terms of box office or critical acclaim, was incomparable to previous films. The result, however, defied her expectations: they had chosen the same festival.

This outcome surprised Qin Zhenzhen and once again set the online gossip-mongers abuzz.

After all, as soon as the films were released, people had guessed both would be submitted to festivals simultaneously. But unlike before, when everyone had blindly believed Director Zheng's film would win awards, now the buzz was all about Mountain Girl.

Mountain Girl's achievements were there for all to see. Plus, having seen the film themselves, people were even more confident in it.

Mountain Girl had completely reversed its fortunes. From initially being dismissed to now being universally praised, it had taken less than half a month.

The day the submission deadline closed, Qin Zhenzhen was being dragged around for wedding dress fittings. Sister Wei had designed two wedding dress styles for her and Lu Ruyun. One was a classic golden gown: sleeveless, fitted at the waist, with a sweeping train. The skirt was studded with real diamonds—actual diamonds—that sparkled dazzlingly under the light, stunningly beautiful.

Qin Zhenzhen held up the skirt hem as she sat at the dressing table, smiling softly at her reflection in the mirror. Her bright eyes shimmered like water, her gaze captivating. Sister Wei stood beside her, holding a makeup sponge. "Lift your chin a little. A bit higher."

"Okay, hold still. Just like that."

"Perfect."

Once Qin Zhenzhen's makeup was done, she heard a sound behind her. She turned to see the curtain being drawn back. Lu Ruyun stood behind it, wearing the same style of wedding dress. She wasn't wearing makeup, her long hair casually cascading down her back. As she looked down at the skirt hem, her bangs fell, partially obscuring her eyes. When she looked up again, her gaze met Qin Zhenzhen's bright eyes. Their eyes locked, a flicker of awe in each other's depths.

Sister Wei, seeing them gazing at each other, tactfully exited the room. The soft click of the door closing snapped them out of their mutual stare. Qin Zhenzhen lowered her eyes and smiled. "Come here."

Lu Ruyun wasn't wearing heels, just slippers. She walked over, looking at the exquisitely made-up Qin Zhenzhen before her, radiant and stunning.

Her red lips parted, voice tinged with a smile. "Zhenzhen, you're so beautiful."

Qin Zhenzhen's heart instantly blossomed with joy. She bit her lip and said, "Teacher Lu, you're not too shabby yourself."

After that, their eyes met in the mirror again, and they shared a smile.

After Sister Wei left, Qin Zhenzhen personally applied Lu Ruyun's makeup. She outlined her eyebrows, accentuated her eyes with fine brushes, and gently patted on powder with a puff. Her movements were gentle and skilled. As she worked, Lu Ruyun asked, "Have you thought about where to go for our honeymoon?"

Originally, they hadn't planned a honeymoon. But because Qin Zhenzhen had told Yin Lanfang they would hold two wedding ceremonies, they now had the time slot free. So they decided to use that time for a trip abroad.

Qin Zhenzhen yawned. "I'm fine with anything. It's up to Teacher Lu."

Lu Ruyun glanced at her sideways, knowing she must be exhausted lately.

The Mountain Girl promotional tours, matters with the crew, plus wedding arrangements had meant Qin Zhenzhen hadn't had a proper night's sleep in half a month. Feeling a pang of heartache, Lu Ruyun reached out and took Qin Zhenzhen's wrist, pulling her to sit on her lap. She wrapped her arms around her and patted her back, her voice filled with concern. "Zhenzhen..."

Before they could finish their sentence, they heard the door click open behind them. Lu Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen looked over simultaneously to see He Shuangshuang standing awkwardly in the doorway. Meeting their bright gazes, He Shuangshuang blinked and cleared her throat. "Am I interrupting your wedding night?"

Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun exchanged a look: ...

"What is it?" Lu Ruyun broke the awkward silence. He Shuangshuang immediately said, "Nothing major. Just take a look at this guest list. If there's no issue, I'll start notifying everyone soon."

"Also, Aunt Qin just called me. She said you need to go back home to decide which type of wedding candy to use for the ceremony."

"The scene setup over at Hu Ling's place is almost done too. When do you have time to go check it out?"

"And Sister Meng said..."

Listening to He Shuangshuang rattle off a long list, Qin Zhenzhen rubbed her throbbing temples and turned to Lu Ruyun. "Teacher Lu, do you regret deciding to have a wedding ceremony?"

She didn't even wait for Lu Ruyun to answer before sighing mournfully. "I sure regret it."

Unfortunately, her regret was useless. Time continued to slip by relentlessly. The closer the wedding date came, the busier she became. Because Mountain Girl had exploded beyond expectations, theaters extended its screening run. Originally scheduled to end after twenty days, it was now extended to a month. Qin Zhenzhen's promotional tours had her flying all over the country. Thankfully, Director Yu was aware of her situation and would give her time off privately whenever possible, exempting her from unnecessary appearances.

The day Mountain Girl concluded its run was the day before her wedding. Online, news about her film and wedding was everywhere. This wedding hadn't invited any media outlets. Furthermore, they had booked out an entire resort, which had been closed to outsiders for three months. Therefore, the outside world was intensely curious about their wedding venue.

But curiosity was futile. Security for this wedding was extremely tight. They had hired a renowned international security firm. Guests attending were not allowed to bring phones or assistants inside; they would be accompanied by bodyguards throughout the event.

Such a grand display had previously only been enjoyed by a few entertainment industry legends. But on Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun, it didn't feel ostentatious or like they were putting on airs.

It seemed that in everyone's minds, they deserved such a spectacle.

Qin Zhenzhen sat at the dressing table in the lounge, the golden wedding dress hugging her lovely figure. Her exposed arms were slender and pale, with a floral wreath adorning her wrist. The white-tinted-with-pink flowers accentuated her fair, snow-like skin, smooth as jade. The dress had a sweetheart neckline, revealing her long neck and delicate collarbones. The color gold inherently conveyed luxury, and the skirt hem, studded with diamonds, shimmered brilliantly under the light, adding to the overall impression of opulent grandeur.

When Ji Lu first entered the lounge and caught a glimpse of her, her eyes were instantly glued. This face, hailed by fans as utterly enchanting, under Sister Wei's meticulous craftsmanship, now appeared even more radiant, a stunning beauty that eclipsed all others.

He Shuangshuang followed behind her. Seeing her dazed expression, she nudged her arm, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Good-looking, huh?"

Ji Lu nodded vigorously. "So good-looking!"

More beautiful than any bride she'd ever seen, simply breathtaking!

He Shuangshuang's mouth twitched. "No matter how good-looking, she's not yours."

Ji Lu: ...

While they were bickering, a voice came through Ji Lu's earpiece: "Starting soon."

Ji Lu hurriedly scurried to Qin Zhenzhen's side, adjusting her skirt hem with a smile. "Zhenzhen, the wedding is about to start."

Qin Zhenzhen looked at her reflection in the mirror, feeling a sense of unreality. Half a month ago, she was still trying on wedding dresses, and now she was about to walk down the aisle.

But that unreal feeling vanished the moment she saw Lu Ruyun standing at the other end of the red carpet. Lu Ruyun stood at the far end, wearing the same wedding dress, her makeup exquisite. Through the veil, Qin Zhenzhen could see her slightly upturned red lips and the deep affection in her eyes. All distracting thoughts were instantly wiped away. Only one thought filled her heart.

Walk over there.

Get closer.

Until they were side by side, with no gap between them.

Lu Ruyun looked up, gazing straight at her, as if seeing through the thin veil to Qin Zhenzhen's expression—so resolute, walking towards her without hesitation.

Her heart stirred, her eyes filled with a smile.

Step by step, Qin Zhenzhen slowly walked to Lu Ruyun's side, their fingers intertwining. Sunlight filtered through the window cracks, showering them in several layers of halos. To everyone present, the two before them seemed like fairies who had mistakenly wandered into the mortal world, their beauty so dazzling it was almost blinding, impossible to look at directly.

Even the minister couldn't help but smile as he read the vows.

"Ms. Lu Ruyun, do you take Ms. Qin Zhenzhen to be your wife?"

Lu Ruyun pursed her lips into a gentle smile and nodded. "I do."

"Ms. Qin Zhenzhen, do you take Ms. Lu Ruyun to be your wife?"

Qin Zhenzhen lowered her gaze. "I do."

A round of applause immediately erupted from below. Flower girls came forward, presenting the wedding rings to them. Lu Ruyun held the ring and leaned close to Qin Zhenzhen, whispering by her ear. "Zhenzhen."

Her breath brushed against Qin Zhenzhen's earlobe, instantly turning it pink. Qin Zhenzhen's cheeks, hidden behind the veil, flushed a light red. She gave a soft hum in response.

Lu Ruyun continued, "Do you remember us talking about holding a wedding ceremony abroad?"

Qin Zhenzhen was slightly taken aback, unsure why Lu Ruyun suddenly brought this up, but she nodded. "I remember."

Lu Ruyun's smiling voice, transmitted through her ear, seemed to go straight to Qin Zhenzhen's heart, making it thump wildly.

A clear, distinct voice spilled beside her ear as Lu Ruyun said, "Zhenzhen, I will give you a grand, magnificent wedding."

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