“This is not under our jurisdiction,” said the person in charge. “The nominations are handled by the National Radio and Television Administration.”
What he left unsaid was that if they had to choose between the two movies, then there was no doubt that Before the Beginning would be their first choice. After all, the target audience for that movie was a lot wider than The Aster Flower, and it was a very mainstream and well-received movie even among other countries and over a wide range of ages and social backgrounds. Moreover, it was the only locally produced movie that made it into the top 50 highest box office sales globally, so they definitely had an edge because of that achievement alone. The probability for Before the Beginning to net an award was definitely higher than its local competitors.
“Can we kick them out?” snarled Su Muran as she sat down. No matter what, by hook or by crook, she would never appear at the same place as Yan Huan. Most of the time, when that happened, she was often oppressed by Yan Huan so severely that she did not even have the chance to retaliate.
“We can’t do that. Everything’s already submitted to the International Evaluation Committee, not to mention that this isn’t something that we can interfere with recklessly.” Of course, the person in charge did not reveal that the other party had their own behind-the-scenes supporters, which meant that they could not kick them out without a proper reason.
“Why do they insist on fighting with us over this award?” Su Muran was so angry that she felt her chest constrict painfully. The person in charge sitting opposite her could only nod awkwardly, unable to answer this question.
The International Film Awards were held once every three years, and coincidentally one would take place this year. They could not possibly wait three more years for the next one, and neither could Linlang. Thus, it was natural that their movie entries would clash.
Of course, it was not only these two movies that had made it into the list that was submitted for evaluation. There were several others, but those were not mainstream movies, so it was highly unlikely that they would win an award. They might even be eliminated early on in the first round of nominations.
The most promising movies that stood a chance of winning at the awards this year were The Aster Flower and Linlang’s Before the Beginning.
As for which one the award would fall to, or whether both of them would leave with empty hands, that was a question that no one could answer until the awards ceremony. It was useless to speculate right now as everything was still in the unknown.
No matter how unwilling Su Muran was, Yan Huan’s name would always be brought up in contrast to hers. Whatever she did, that woman would always be involved as well, and they would be compared against each other. This included the annual International Film Festival this year.
Three months later, both movies were nominated for the International Film Awards.
This was the first time that Director Jin was nominated for the award of Best Director. Of course, they were also nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, as well as Best Actor and Best Actress.
If they ended up winning these awards, then this would be the most valuable and meaningful fruits of their lifetime. Winning at the International Film Awards would add a layer of shine to their entertainment career. Of course, that was still secondary compared to the glory and fame that they would enjoy, a testament to the blood, sweat and tears that they had injected into their performances and creations. Who in the world would not desire such a highly recognized international award?
Director Jin was so nervous that he could barely speak. Before the ceremony, he had dyed and styled his hair, in addition to having a suit tailored specifically to fit him. He did everything he could to make himself appear flawless, so that he would not bring shame upon his country’s name and its people when he was standing amongst the other big-shot directors.
On the other side, Su Muran had arrived with at least ten different outfits in her suitcases. She had also brought along an entourage of makeup artists and stylists, all dedicated to her personal service.
In contrast, Yan Huan had only brought Yue Ran along with her, and two outfits. One to wear before the ceremony, and one for after.
“You’re so low key.” Yue Ran was in awe of Yan Huan’s calm disposition. Currently, Yan Huan was reading a book while leaning on her side. Traditional paper books had lost its popularity in recent times, as people had mostly switched to using their phones for browsing reading materials. However, Yan Huan still preferred physical books as she liked to inhale the faint papery smell as she read.
“I would not have attended this thing if I could opt out of it,” Yan Huan sighed as she flipped another page of the book. She did not have much expectations for awards at this point. It would be nice if they won, but it did not matter that much if they lost.
“You will succeed,” Yue Ran said in a serious tone.
“He will bless you.”
A faint smile appeared on Yan Huan’s lips. No one knew that mentioning this ‘blessing’ was actually twisting the knife in her heart. She did not like it when people brought up Lu Yi’s name, because she did not want to associate his name with the word ‘death’.
Even though it was true that he had died. He had been dead for two years.
Yan Huan lowered her eyes and flipped another page of her book, the smell of ink staining her fingers. In the many years to come, that familiar silhouette would always remain in her heart, constantly reminding her of an aching loneliness and a lingering melancholy that pierced all the way down to her bones.
Finally, the plane landed, their feet stepping onto foreign land as they disembarked. The people milling around them were of the golden-haired and blue-eyed variety, and even the air they breathed was unfamiliar and somewhat unsettling. There were many different smells blending together in the air: perfume, sweat, and the smell of a foreign country.
Since it was not the first time that they had set foot abroad, they were neither overwhelmed nor amazed by the unfamiliar sights and smells around them. They made a beeline for the designated vehicle that was waiting for them, setting off toward their hotel immediately so that they can rest and regain their energy. The next day, they would attend the award ceremony for the International Film Awards.
Yan Huan did not think about anything else. She firmly believed that not worrying about it would help her manage her expectations, or lack thereof. When night fell, she did not know if everyone else were having good or bad dreams, but the only thing she knew was that she was exhausted. As a result, her slumber was deep and undisturbed, and when she opened her eyes, the sun was already up.
The outfits that she had brought along with her consisted of a white outfit and a black outfit. They were of a minimalistic yet elegant style, as she did not want to stand out too much amongst her peers on the red carpet. She was fine with any outfit as long as they were presentable.
The look that Yue Ran decided to put her in was a similarly elegant and sensible style.
“Even if they used the best cameras, I don’t think anyone could find a single flaw on your face. Every angle is a perfect angle for you.”
Yan Huan tied her hair in a loose ponytail, leaving her head free of any additional ornaments or accessories. The simplistic hairstyle was casual yet refined, highlighting the natural beauty of her facial features.
Asians usually had flatter and less defined facial features when compared to Westerners. However, Yan Huan belonged to an exceptionally gorgeous variety of Asian beauty, delicate and reserved yet completely natural. Her eyes were as dark as pure onyx, and she carried herself gracefully. Merely judging from her external features, she was a rare beauty when compared to everyone else in her country. Although she was not beautiful enough to be stunning or breathtaking, but her looks were soothing to the eyes.
She gave people a clean and minimalistic impression, making her seem gentle and approachable. However, in reality, it was hard to get close to her. She had closed off and sealed the door to her heart, concealing herself in the sunset, refusing the face the world in its full brightness.
Su Muran was truly dressed to the nines as she stepped onto the red carpet. She was decked out in an elaborate cheongsam with high slits along the sides, all the way along her legs up to her thighs, which combined the delicate beauty of Eastern culture with the daringness of Western culture. Her face was dolled up with makeup, making her features pop. Her beauty did not pale the slightest bit even amongst all of the Westerners, as the makeup had done a good job of enhancing her features.
