Married in a Daze - Chapter 170
Chapter 170
For the X Gold Qianhua Award in previous years, Tang Ya had always served as the presenter, having done so continuously for four years. Last year, she achieved a grand slam. As expected, everyone assumed she would appear again at the Qianhua Awards as the presenter. No one expected the official announcement that this year's presenter would be changed to Qin Zhenzhen.
It wasn't hard to understand, actually. Although Tang Ya had won a grand slam, those were all domestic awards. Among the four major international film festivals, she only had nominations and hadn't won any substantive awards yet. So, it was understandable for X Gold to invite Qin Zhenzhen as the presenter this time.
But Tang Ya's fans could not understand.
They sneered and mocked on Weibo and forums. Just recently, they had followed Tang Ya in congratulating Qin Zhenzhen for winning the Shengshi Best Actress award. A little while before that, they had thanked Qin Zhenzhen for speaking up for Tang Ya. But at this moment, they had completely forgotten those previous events, directing all their sarcasm and mockery at Qin Zhenzhen.
After all, Tang Ya was considered a senior in the industry and, in the minds of many netizens, a representative of acting skill and substance. So, with her fans kicking up a fuss this time, many netizens sided with her.
Comparatively, the awards Qin Zhenzhen had won, aside from the Shengshi Best Actress, really couldn't compare to Tang Ya's.
But even one Best Actress award from the four major film festivals was enough to leave domestic awards far behind. A clash between their two fan groups was inevitable.
Tang Ya's fans argued that Qin Zhenzhen won her award because of the script's quality, and that any other actress could have won it. There was really no need to be so ostentatious; as an artist, one should learn to be low-key, lest you stand high and fall hard. Especially since her next movie was Duan Qiuhan's. If she didn't know to lay low now, she'd know what humiliation felt like later.
As for Qin Zhenzhen's fans, they subtly mocked Tang Ya, saying she had gone to audition for Mountain Girl but wasn't chosen by Director Yu. And on the day of Mountain Girl's premiere recently, she had actually gone to support Zheng Shaoyuan's film. Clearly, Yu Changlin was the one who had brought her fame, yet she forgot her roots at such a moment. It seemed her character wasn't that great either.
As the discussion went on, it inevitably dragged in the assistant incident from filming The Means to Survive.
Tang Ya's fans and Qin Zhenzhen's fans had become enemies precisely because of the later revelations about The Means to Survive. Now that it was dragged out again, old and new grudges erupted uncontrollably.
Qin Zhenzhen only found out about the online fight the next day. Looking at the screen full of vicious arguments, she twisted her lips and hurriedly called Lu Ruyun. Lu Ruyun had just finished discussing countermeasures with Meng Xin. Hearing Qin Zhenzhen's question, she opened her lips. "Yes, Sister Meng is suppressing it."
"What's going on?" She was still a bit confused about the sudden online flare-up. Although Tang Ya had been the presenter for four consecutive years, it wasn't a fixed position; there were bound to be changes. How could it cause such a huge uproar?
Seeing Lu Ruyun didn't reply immediately, she asked again, "What did Tang Ya's side say?"
Lu Ruyun pressed her lips together. "Tang Ya's side said she's filming and can't be reached for the time being."
Qin Zhenzhen tugged at the corner of her mouth. The matter had blown up this big, and they still couldn't reach her? Did they take them for fools?
Lu Ruyun let out a light laugh. "They are taking us for fools, Zhenzhen."
"If I'm not mistaken, this is man-made."
Qin Zhenzhen paused, immediately understanding after her hint. "You mean Tang Ya?"
Lu Ruyun gave a light affirmative hum.
After all, in this matter, the beneficiary was only her.
Although she hadn't shown her face from start to finish, it didn't mean she wasn't adding fuel to the fire.
She might even be the one who started this entire mess.
After all, the change of presenter for the Qianhua Award wasn't big news in itself.
But she not only pushed Zhenzhen into the spotlight, but also chose not to speak up at this moment, letting her fans slander Zhenzhen to the extreme, followed by netizens bandwagoning to attack her. Seeing such a scene, how could X Gold possibly still invite Zhenzhen as the presenter?
Tang Ya's target wasn't this presenter position.
It was Zhenzhen herself.
Lu Ruyun's words made Qin Zhenzhen pout. Actually, she had long sensed Tang Ya's attitude towards her. But since Tang Ya hadn't torn off the mask, she had no reason to make the first move either. She thought that after winning the award, Tang Ya would be more cautious. She didn't expect her to be unable to hold back.
Holding her phone, she thought for a few seconds. "So, what do you plan to do?"
Lu Ruyun's tone was as calm as ever. "Sister Meng says she has a gift she wants to give her."
Qin Zhenzhen frowned slightly. Hearing this, she immediately thought of the gift Meng Xin had once given Zheng Shaoyuan. She quickly asked, "She caught Tang Ya on camera?"
"No." Lu Ruyun flatly denied her guess, her voice unhurried. "But she caught Lin Feng."
An hour later, a Weibo post's popularity skyrocketed, reaching the top of the hot search list in just over ten minutes.
—Tang Ya's boyfriend cheats with H-surname model?
This post instantly overshadowed the previous news about Tang Ya and Qin Zhenzhen, spreading across the entire internet. Photos of Lin Feng and the female model entering and leaving a hotel were forwarded in various chat groups.
The fans who had been passionately cursing Qin Zhenzhen's fans on Weibo immediately switched targets, turning back to curse the scumbag Lin Feng, tearing him apart completely.
Watching the direction of public opinion change in the blink of an eye, Qin Zhenzhen pursed her lips into a smile and sent a message to Meng Xin.
—Sister Meng, how did you know Lin Feng was cheating?
Meng Xin quickly replied: Ruyun asked me to pay attention.
Qin Zhenzhen stared at the screen for a few seconds, then her brows and eyes relaxed, an understanding look on her face.
Ruyun must have noticed her interactions with Tang Ya earlier, realizing a clash was coming, so she had Sister Meng pay extra attention. She was always like this, preparing for rain before the clouds gathered.
A sweet feeling welled up in Qin Zhenzhen's heart. She closed the chat window with Meng Xin.
When Lu Ruyun returned to the apartment, the lights were off. She closed the door, changed into slippers. Thinking Qin Zhenzhen shouldn't have any schedule today, but the living room was pitch dark, unlike someone being home, she furrowed her delicate brows slightly, a little puzzled, and turned on the living room's crystal chandelier.
No one was there, indeed.
Not even the bathroom light was on. Lu Ruyun opened the study door and glanced in—no one.
She looked up towards the second floor. Still napping?
That shouldn't be. She had clearly called her in the afternoon.
Lu Ruyun padded upstairs in her slippers, letting out a sigh of relief when she opened the bedroom door. Although the room lights were off, the dim light from downstairs filtered in, and she could still make out a vague figure on the bed.
Qin Zhenzhen was sleeping. Seeing this scene, Lu Ruyun's gaze unconsciously softened. She leaned against the doorframe, her body relaxing.
"Ruyun."
The person on the bed suddenly spoke, her voice sweet and soft—Qin Zhenzhen's voice.
Lu Ruyun unconsciously took two steps inside, her hand just resting on the light switch when she heard Qin Zhenzhen say, "Don't turn on the light."
Her fingers withdrew. Qin Zhenzhen peeked her head out from under the blanket, smiling at her. "Come here."
A faint light shone from behind her. Lu Ruyun walked slowly to the bedside. She saw Qin Zhenzhen pat the spot beside her. "Lie down."
Lu Ruyun thought for a moment, took off her coat, and lay down beside her.
Qin Zhenzhen was still wrapped in the blanket. Seeing Lu Ruyun lying next to her, she reached out and pulled the blanket over both their heads. Lu Ruyun only felt darkness before her eyes, surrounded by a familiar fragrance.
"Zhenzhen..." Before she could finish her sentence, she saw a light. She turned her head, looking towards the source of the light. Under the glow was Qin Zhenzhen's bright, beautiful face, smiling bright eyes, long eyelashes fluttering lightly, like butterfly wings about to take flight. The scene felt so familiar, she immediately made the connection.
That time during the show recording.
Their first time sleeping in the same bed.
"Can you..."
"Blink again?"
It seemed a voice echoed in both their ears. Qin Zhenzhen met her bright eyes, blinked slowly once more, then leaned closer, doing what she had wanted to do back then but hadn't.
The living room lights remained unextinguished, a night of pleasure.
When Qin Zhenzhen got up and checked Weibo the next day, her name was already nowhere to be seen. Almost everyone was discussing Tang Ya, Lin Feng, and the female model.
And Tang Ya, who Ruyun had contacted earlier claiming to be filming, had also issued a statement overnight. Her aggrieved attitude further incited her fans, who went on a furious rampage against Lin Feng and the model. Qin Zhenzhen glanced at it a few times before closing Weibo.
If under the previous circumstances, she might have been removed by X Gold.
Then now, Tang Ya was completely out of the game.
Fortunately, X Gold wasn't affected by the earlier controversy and continued to invite her as the presenter.
A week later, the Qianhua Awards were held as scheduled. Qin Zhenzhen stood on the stage as the presenter, facing numerous media and flashing cameras, her demeanor poised and graceful.
Lu Ruyun sat in the audience, watching a Qin Zhenzhen completely different from before, a smile playing on her lips, her gaze gentle.
After the Qianhua Awards, Qin Zhenzhen went abroad for a fashion show, while Lu Ruyun stayed in City A. Because of Qin Zhenzhen's connection, more artists came seeking out her studio. He Shuangshuang and Meng Xin's workloads increased, and she also had frequent meetings to attend, so she didn't accompany her.
Time passed quickly amidst the busyness. In the blink of an eye, it was October again.
In one year, Qin Zhenzhen had completely transformed. She was no longer the traffic star who needed TV dramas and commercials to maintain her popularity. She had become an existence within the industry that shone too brightly to be ignored.
At the beginning of the month, she received an audition invitation from abroad, handed to her personally by Lu Ruyun. Any audition that had passed through her hands meant she had already carefully considered it for her.
Seeing the name on the audition list, Qin Zhenzhen's eyes lit up slightly. She looked up. "Are you sure they didn't send the invitation to the wrong person?"
Lu Ruyun looked at her astonished expression and lifted her lips in a faint smile. "Sure. I've already contacted the director's assistant. Sister Meng has scheduled the audition time for the next two weeks."
Qin Zhenzhen held the list. It read:
Save the Galaxy 4 Female Lead Audition—Qin Zhenzhen.
Director—Peter Volt.
The news exploded online the moment it came out, leaving netizens stunned. After confirming the news wasn't fabricated, they quickly became excited.
Who was Peter Volt?
They might not know who the current little princes and princesses of the entertainment circle were, but it was impossible not to know Peter Volt. His films were annual holiday blockbusters, and his classic representative work, Save the Galaxy, came out every two years. Three installments so far, with a global total box office of 4.6 billion US dollars, ranking third on the all-time box office charts.
Every time Save the Galaxy came out, didn't it sweep awards both domestic and international? The male and female leads won awards until their hands were sore. Some had joked before that even without a salary, just these two roles would make people fight tooth and nail.
And how could there be no salary?
Not only was there one.
It was terrifyingly high.
For his movies, forget about the female lead role; just the audition for the female lead was handled with extreme caution. After screening across the world for up to a year, audition invitations would be sent out. Currently, within the country, no artist had ever received an invitation from this director. Qin Zhenzhen was the first.
What an honor.
This wasn't just an honor for her fans.
It was an honor for the entire nation.
While the internet was roaring with excitement, Qin Zhenzhen was also in a very good mood. This invitation was Peter Volt's affirmation of her. Whether she succeeded or not, she was thrilled.
The audition time was quickly set for mid-October. With two weeks to prepare, Lu Ruyun pushed aside studio matters to accompany her throughout.
Besides accompanying Qin Zhenzhen to the audition, the other reason she cleared her schedule was because The Real Culprit was about to have its premiere. She and Qin Zhenzhen needed to attend the premiere ceremony, scheduled for the end of October, right after the audition.
"Will we make it in time?" Qin Zhenzhen let out a breath, trying to use other topics to ease her nervousness. There were thirteen artists participating in this audition, from five different countries, all with considerable fame. The pressure was immense.
Seeing her usual modus operandi, Lu Ruyun smiled slightly. "We'll make it. After this is over, we'll go directly to meet up with Qiuhan."
Qin Zhenzhen nodded. Although she was talking about the premiere with Lu Ruyun, her mind was completely occupied with the upcoming second round of auditions.
"Next, Miss Qin Zhenzhen."
A staff member came to knock on the door, calling Qin Zhenzhen out. She took a deep breath but hadn't yet stepped out when Lu Ruyun grabbed her wrist. Qin Zhenzhen turned to look, meeting Lu Ruyun's bright eyes, ink-black pupils, deep and serene like a still pond. She gazed deeply, and the wild pounding in her chest suddenly calmed considerably.
"Zhenzhen, if you succeed, you can do whatever you want when we get back."
Qin Zhenzhen was amused by her tempting words. The earlier nervousness vanished instantly. She nodded proudly. "Alright then, Teacher Lu, you just wash up and wait for me."
Seeing her radiant smile return, Lu Ruyun breathed a sigh of relief and watched her leave.
The audition results weren't announced immediately; notification would come at least a month later. After finishing the audition, Qin Zhenzhen flew directly with Lu Ruyun to City H for the premiere ceremony.
They had just landed when they were whisked away to change clothes and have their makeup done. Qin Zhenzhen, arm in arm with Lu Ruyun, walked to the front of the stage and saw a familiar face sitting at the very back—Gu Changyun.
Gu Changyun gave her a slight nod. Qin Zhenzhen, both flattered and alarmed, quickly nodded back.
The Real Culprit, strictly speaking, was a suspense thriller. There were no comedic or humorous segments. The plot was tense from the start, beginning with the mysterious death of the female lead's boyfriend, leading the police to suspect whether the female lead or her best friend was the murderer. This then unraveled the female lead's illness, and further connected to events from her childhood, ultimately revealing that the female lead's boyfriend was the very person intricately linked to her past. From beginning to end, not a single scene was superfluous. The entire film created a very heavy atmosphere. The police's meticulousness, every careful deduction, made one's heart race and body tense up involuntarily. Each time you thought you saw the truth, it was overturned. The more rigorous the police investigation seemed, the more it highlighted the killer's cleverness.
The film's conclusion was also very unexpected. It wasn't the usual "good triumphs over evil," with the killer caught. Instead, the killer escaped.
Because until the very end, it wasn't revealed who the real culprit was.
The film sparked a huge reaction upon release, not just because of Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun's superb acting, but because everyone had their own opinion. The open-ended conclusion led people to argue vehemently for their own theories—was Qin Zhenzhen the killer, or was Lu Ruyun the killer, or were they both killers working together? The three factions of speculation refused to concede to each other, instantly igniting a wave of discussion online.
Initially, many netizens went to see The Real Culprit for Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun. But after leaving the cinema, their minds were full of the plot. They couldn't wait to share their views with others.
Some even got into arguments with friends right outside the cinema.
Compared to other films released around the same time, they seemed unable to compete.
Thanks to Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun's influence, The Real Culprit topped the box office charts for its release period from day one. The Means to Survive, originally scheduled to premiere the following week, changed its release date, afraid of a clash.
When Qin Zhenzhen saw this post on The Means to Survive's official Weibo, she almost laughed.
She had never imagined that one day, Tang Ya would step aside for her movie.
She didn't know what others would think seeing this.
But she—felt—great!
Feeling great, Qin Zhenzhen bought a lot of lingerie to properly reward Lu Ruyun. While Duan Qiuhan was busy running around, the two of them hid in the apartment for several days without going out, until Meng Xin's relentless phone calls finally brought them back to work.
There was still no notification about Qin Zhenzhen's Save the Galaxy 4 audition, so aside from promoting The Real Culprit, she didn't have any major schedules for the time being. Lu Ruyun, on the other hand, was busy handling studio matters, sometimes working late into the night.
During this period, Duan Qiuhan frequently came to find Lu Ruyun. The two often talked in the office for half a day. Sometimes when Qin Zhenzhen came over after finishing her schedule, she would still see them deep in conversation. Duan Qiuhan's film had completely surpassed the achievements of his previous TV dramas and movies. Its box office outperformed other releases of the same period, even coming close to the mid-year blockbuster Mountain Girl. However, after about twenty days in theaters, its final box office settled around two billion, not surpassing Mountain Girl.
Although it didn't surpass it, this box office was still a very impressive result for Duan Qiuhan.
Because he had no money for promotion in the early stages, relying mostly on his own efforts to generate buzz. Under such circumstances, achieving such high box office numbers proved the inherent strength of the film itself.
As for why he kept coming to find Lu Ruyun, Qin Zhenzhen guessed it might be related to the initial investment.
Back when filming was about to start and funding was pulled, it was Lu Ruyun's investment that made it possible. They were probably discussing that matter now.
Hearing her guess, Lu Ruyun shook her head with a light smile. "Not because of the investment."
The investment contract had been discussed and signed with Duan Qiuhan long ago; why would they talk about it now?
Hearing it wasn't that, Qin Zhenzhen blinked. "No? Then what is it about?"
Lu Ruyun looked up at her. "Because Qiuhan wants to win an award."
"Win an award?" Qin Zhenzhen's brows knitted together, then she said, "He wouldn't want to..."
The Shengshi and Changle among the four major film festivals were already over. That left the other two—one with a submission deadline at the end of October, the other at year's end. Duan Qiuhan couldn't possibly be thinking about that?
Lu Ruyun nodded, meeting Qin Zhenzhen's eyes. "But I gave him a bolder suggestion."
A bolder suggestion?
Qin Zhenzhen suddenly thought of something, swallowing hard, and whispered, "The Hani Film Gala?"
Lu Ruyun's expression remained unchanged as she gave a light nod. Qin Zhenzhen stood dumbfounded, stunned for a long while before saying, "You've really gone crazy!"
A film festival that even Yu Changlin didn't dare submit for review, and she actually considered it?
This wasn't just bold; it was sheer madness!
And she was crazy, and Duan Qiuhan was joining her in this madness—he actually submitted The Real Culprit for review at the Hani Film Gala!
Qin Zhenzhen only found out about this at the end of the year.
Because the Hani Film Gala's official Weibo released the list of nominations. The name The Real Culprit stood out prominently amidst a sea of English film titles.
Qin Zhenzhen stared, dumbstruck. Beside her, Ji Lu uttered in disbelief, "Holy shit?!"
—Holy shit, for real?
—Wait, is this definitely The Real Culprit, the one that was released not long ago?
—Could it be fake? Don't you recognize the words 'Director Duan Qiuhan'?
—My God! I must be dreaming. Someone wake me up!
—Don't even say it, I'm dreaming too. Am I sleepwalking? Or has the world gone surreal?
—Zhenzhen and Cloud Fairy are awesome!!!!! Amazing! But what's this nomination for? Best Actress? Is it for Zhenzhen or Cloud Fairy?
—Probably Cloud Fairy, right? After all, she's the female lead. But why is it listed twice?
—Must be a typo?
Two hours later, the netizen who said it must be a typo was quickly proven wrong. Because it wasn't a mistake. It really was listed twice.
Because there were two nominations.
Qin Zhenzhen and Lu Ruyun were both nominated for Best Actress.
For one film to have dual female lead nominations—this wasn't just unprecedented at the Hani Film Gala; it had never happened even at the four major film festivals. It was utterly unheard of!
Netizens felt that aside from the words "holy shit," nothing could express the excitement and surging emotions in their hearts. They didn't even know why their vision blurred as they stared at the screen.
Qin Zhenzhen also blinked rapidly, quickly calling Lu Ruyun, only to get a busy signal. She hung up and, a few minutes later, received a call back from Lu Ruyun.
"Ruyun, did you see the nominations?" Qin Zhenzhen's voice choked up slightly as she spoke, her eyes rimmed red, a wave of heat rushing to her head, making it feel warm and fuzzy.
Lu Ruyun's voice was as usual. "Yes, I saw."
Qin Zhenzhen wanted to say more, but she was too excited, her words becoming a bit incoherent. Lu Ruyun, on the other end of the phone, soothed her agitated emotions, calming her down. After a long while, Qin Zhenzhen finally said, eyes warm with tears, "Ruyun, where are you? I want to see you."
Lu Ruyun was in the office. She had just hung up with Sister Wei when the office door burst open with a bang. Qin Zhenzhen flew to her side like a butterfly, hugging her and spinning her around. Lu Ruyun was still holding a pen, her waist encircled, the world spinning before her eyes. There were a few soft coughs at the door, then the door was gently pulled shut with a click.
Qin Zhenzhen seemed oblivious. She held onto Lu Ruyun tightly, refusing to let go for a long time. Lu Ruyun had no choice but to let her hold on. Neither spoke, simply enjoying the quiet atmosphere.
Until dusk began to fall outside, Qin Zhenzhen finally spoke. "Ruyun."
Lu Ruyun lowered her head, her chin resting on Qin Zhenzhen's shoulder. "Hmm?"
"Meeting you is the best thing."
Hearing this, Lu Ruyun lifted her lips, revealing a faint smile in the dim light.
The Hani Film Gala arrived as scheduled. When Qin Zhenzhen received the invitation, she looked at it several times, even rubbing her eyes hard and pinching her arm fiercely, wondering if she was dreaming.
The sharp pain came. It clearly hurt, yet she couldn't help but break into a radiant smile.
Pain was good.
Pain meant this was real.
When attending the gala, Lu Ruyun took Qin Zhenzhen to change into their gowns. Qin Zhenzhen's gown was a pale pink floor-length dress with several embroidered flowers at the cuffs, accentuating her slender, pale wrists, seemingly easy to grasp.
Lu Ruyun wore the same style, but not a dress—it was a women's suit. A white shirt inside, a pale pink blazer outside. Her cuffs had the same floral pattern as Qin Zhenzhen's, which didn't look messy at all but added a touch of refined elegance.
Last time walking the red carpet at Shengshi, Qin Zhenzhen had walked arm-in-arm with Director Yu. This time, she finally got her wish, walking arm-in-arm with Lu Ruyun. Both wore faint smiles, their expressions bearing some similarity.
After entering the venue, Qin Zhenzhen clung tightly to Lu Ruyun. Lu Ruyun leaned over and whispered, "What's wrong?"
Qin Zhenzhen bit her lip and also lowered her voice. "My legs are weak."
A light laugh came from beside her. Qin Zhenzhen knew she shouldn't be this unsteady at such a time, but darn it, her legs just wouldn't cooperate. On the right side of the hall sat three hundred and forty-three film critics. On the left sat past award-winning Best Actors and Best Actresses. Behind them sat countless other seniors, luminaries from the film world all over the globe, every single one renowned.
This venue encompassed all the major figures currently in the film industry. It was hard not to be nervous.
Lu Ruyun, however, maintained her usual calm demeanor, only slowing her pace slightly.
Once they entered the venue, Qin Zhenzhen couldn't help but feel her heart race. Even though the awards presented earlier had nothing to do with her, she clapped every time the host announced a name. Soon, her palms were bright red. Unaware, she immersed herself in the atmosphere.
Finally, when Best Actress was announced, hearing her own name, her first reaction was still to applaud.
People in the venue couldn't help but look at her. Lu Ruyun grabbed her hand and stood up. Qin Zhenzhen was stunned for a second, then her face flushed bright red, and she lowered her head, following behind Lu Ruyun.
"Congratulations to Miss Lu Ruyun, Miss Qin Zhenzhen."
Immediately, thunderous applause erupted behind Qin Zhenzhen. Her slightly hunched back instantly straightened. She glanced at Lu Ruyun's profile, her agitated expression gradually calming.
Once again standing on the award stage, lights shining on her, the entire hall slowly quieted. Qin Zhenzhen clearly heard Lu Ruyun's voice in her ear.
"Zhenzhen."
She raised her eyes slightly, meeting Lu Ruyun's gaze. She saw ripples disturbing the depths of that still pond.
Lu Ruyun leaned close to Qin Zhenzhen, whispering, "Zhenzhen, are you satisfied with this wedding venue?"
Qin Zhenzhen's mind went blank for a few seconds before quickly processing the words, almost cursing out loud on stage.
Hell! What kind of unparalleled wedding was this? How could she not be satisfied!
Qin Zhenzhen gave Lu Ruyun a faint, knowing smile. Lu Ruyun lowered her head, covering Qin Zhenzhen's lips with her own, kissing her gently, solemnly, and devoutly.
For many years thereafter, a saying circulated in the entertainment industry.
One gala every four years, twin queens in one gala!
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