While Long Hui was trying to make trouble back in China, almost everyone in France was focused on watching the Sommet International Film Festival in excitement. Due to the time difference, it was still early evening in France. The sun hadn’t completely set yet. There was still a lingering light in the horizon. The dimming sunlight was sandwiched between the growing darkness above and the rippling Mediterranean Sea below. It was a beautiful view, but at the moment, it was ignored. The people were more concerned about looking and snapping photos of their favourite celebrities currently walking the red carpet.
The casts and crews of the participating films finally started arriving. Most of them were unknown faces in the international scene, but there were some who were already world-famous or near that level. The screams and shrieks from the adoring fans were deafening when these famous international celebrities appeared.
Later, darkness enveloped the sky, yet the riviera only became brighter and livelier. The night lights were so strong and bright that the stars in the sky couldn’t be seen by the naked eye. Nevertheless, the place still retained its famous romantic atmosphere.
The red carpet was currently very busy. Cameras flashed nonstop. The film festival’s organizers were hard at work making sure that the flow of people on the red carpet was smooth. After Wei Lan earlier, they no longer allowed anyone to overstay their welcome on the red carpet. Some of the more fame-hungry and clueless ones were even rudely told off to move on by the paparazzi and reporters. They held up the line by posing too long, thinking that they could also do it because Wei Lan did it before. This earned the ire of the paparazzi, reporters, and the organizers, especially when there were more famous and important personages waiting for their turn behind them.
Fortunately, these little mishaps were resolved quickly and didn’t blow up into something bigger. There were a couple of instances when the organizers almost kicked off people from the red carpet, but good thing that it didn’t reach that point.
Finally, the cast and crew of the only Chinese entry, “Strong Yet Broken”, started appearing one after another. They arrived in separate vehicles. First were the director and producer, then the President of LX Productions. The other important crew members also arrived.
Next, Guan Jintao and his wife arrived. When his name was announced, many of the spectators and the media recognized the retired blind Paralympic gold-medalist. They cheered for him. The people’s reaction almost rivalled that of what the other world-famous celebrities received earlier.
Seeing this, the organizers sent a representative to personally welcome the inspiring retired athlete and guide the husband and wife through the red carpet. Even though he was already retired from competitive sports, Guan Jintao maintained his fame on the international level as a motivational speaker. The paparazzi and the reporters requested him to pose longer. They were excited to take photos of the swimming legend because he usually didn’t appear in public, unless he had to attend events like this.
Afterwards, the film’s actors and actresses, both main and supporting, also arrived on the red carpet. Before starring in “Strong Yet Broken”, they were relatively unknown even in China. It was only after the indie film made a surprising explosion in popularity that they became famous. Almost all of them benefited from the film and received many offers to star in new works.
This was especially true for the main actress who played Guan Jintao’s mother. She became well-respected in the acting industry after winning Best Actress at the Diamond Guild Film Awards for her role in “Strong Yet Broken”. This time, she was once again nominated for Best Actress at the Sommet International Film Festival.
“Where’s Iris Long?” Guan Jintao asked.
For him, Iris was the one who managed to persuade him to become involved in the making of the film through her soulful music. Without her musical contribution, Guan Jintao wouldn’t have given the film the time of day. Then “Strong Yet Broken” would have to bear the label of an unauthorized biographical film, decreasing its authenticity and perhaps even its impact in the film industry.
Guan Jintao thought that the film wouldn’t be as successful as it was now without Iris’ music. That was why he treated her with great respect and wanted her to be appreciated for her contribution in the film.
“Miss Iris Long is coming. She should be here at any moment,” the President of LX Productions told him.
“I see. That’s good, then,” Guan Jintao replied with a nod.
One of the supporting actresses interjected, “I wonder why Iris Long has a different arrival time than the rest of us.”
LX Productions’ President hesitated. He was about to answer her but decided to keep his silence instead.
The group chatted quietly among themselves while waiting at a corner. The main actress and actor were still having their individual posing time in front of the cameras.
At the entrance of the red carpet, another vehicle slowed down and stopped. The door opened and someone stepped out. A tall figure straightened to his full height. He swept his cold eyes across the crowd of people behind the barricades and on the red carpet in an indifferent manner.
When the spectators behind the barricades saw him, their eyes lit up. They buzzed with curiosity and excitement while ogling him.
“OMG! Who’s that hottie?”
“Wow! Another hunk arrived!”
“He looks familiar but I can’t remember where I’ve seen him…”
“This guy’s cold elegance is more of my type than that Hunter Lu’s dangerous wildness earlier. There are so many handsome mentonight! Yum!”
While the people speculated about his identity, the man turned around and extended his hand inside the vehicle. A delicate, porcelain-like hand reached for it. The man’s cold and indifferent expression became gentler, as he helped someone out of the vehicle.
Seconds later, a beautiful woman emerged. The man and woman gazed into each other’s eyes. It was very obvious to everyone that the two were a couple.
Then the woman smiled at her man. The smile was so lovely that it even took others’ breaths away. Of course, her man’s eyes darkened. He lifted the hand that he was holding and kissed it, while continuing to gaze into her eyes.
“Ayiiiii!!!!” the crowd squealed while watching them.
“Hot damn! That woman is gorgeous! Look at that face and hourglass body! What’s her name?”
The people continued to wonder about the couple’s identity. Finally, the emcee announced their names.
“Miss Iris Long and Mr. Liam Jin!”
###
Chapter Title: “Iris Long and Jin Liwei’s Grand Entrance”
