Chapter 47
There was a high level of interest in the Feiyu Awards domestically, and the awards ceremony would be broadcasted live on national television. Hence, even before the awards ceremony started, reporters were already carrying out interviews with the staff.
Award ceremonies were usually star-studded events. The bigwigs from the television industry, including producers, directors, scriptwriters, and celebrities who dressed up for the occasion, slowly appeared in succession.
There were only a few topics that reporters and audiences were interested in discussing: the best dressed actresses, the outlandish ones, the ones sponsored by the famous fashion houses, and the ones sporting imitation goods.
Almost every popular female celebrity could not escape this fate. Ning Xi was no different.
Ning Xi wore a Chinese-styled gown sponsored by a domestic haute couture label. In order to match this outfit, the label even provided her with a set of pearl accessories.
Chinese outfits were not highly-regarded in the fashion world. Therefore, celebrities preferred outfits from European fashion houses; bespoke pieces would even be created for the more popular celebrities.
Qingfeng Fashion had intentionally sought Ning Xi out because of her breathtaking appearance in Beautiful Red Clouds. On top of that, Ning Xi’s charisma suited their concept for their new line.
Zhang Qingyun managed to quickly nail down the cooperation. After all, the other party had been very sincere about their invitation, and Ning Xi was still a rookie actress.
Ning Xi and Qingfeng Fashion signed a one-year endorsement deal. Apart from generous endorsement fees, Qingfeng would also provide Ning Xi with both casual and formal outfits.
While superstars might ignore a local fashion house, for Ning Xi, this was a very good start.
This was Ning Xi’s first endorsement deal, and she was already working with a local haute couture label. This was a step closer to better endorsement deals in the future!
In order to perfect Ning Xi’s look, Zhang Qingyun arranged for Jiuji’s best make-up team to ensure that Ning Xi would look her best in front of the cameras.
At the same time, he signed Ning Xi up for classes to learn how to walk down the red carpet so that other actresses would not be able to steal the limelight from her. She was also taught how to pose for photos, in order to look elegant but approachable.
After busying herself for two days, it was finally time for the awards ceremony. As the sole female celebrity under Jiuji Entertainment, Ning Xi was given the treatment befitting of a top celebrity.
“Nervous?” Zhou Zhengchuan turned to look at Ning Xi. The exquisite make-up of the face made her beautiful beyond belief.
“I’m fine”, Ning Xi smiled at him, her long lashes exuding radiance as the lights shone into the car.
They were scheduled to walk the carpet together this time, as they were good friends privately, and Jiuji Entertainment wanted to use Zhou Zhengchuan’s popularity to increase Ning Xi’s exposure.
“It’s good that you are not nervous”, Zhou Zhengchuan saw that Ning Xi appeared calm, her seating posture graceful, and laughed, “It’s no wonder why so many fans would call you a goddess. If I were five years younger, I’d also be your fan”.
“What a pity then”, Ning Xi said ruefully, “If only I’d met Senior Zhou five years ago”.
“Haha!” Zhou Zhengchuan laughed out heartily. What he didn’t tell Ning Xi was that he had been attracted to her when they first met. However, as they got to know each other better, he realised that Ning Xi was out of his league.
This was because Ning Xi was not only endowed with good looks; she was also a hard worker, a perfectionist, and a principled person. Few men would be worthy of a woman like her.
It would be interesting to know which brave warrior could conquer this queen in future.
Their car stopped outside the venue for a while. Shortly after, the crew informed them that their ride could enter the venue.
Ning Xi looked out of the window. The end of the driveway was brightly lit, surrounded by fans and some reporters who were unable to get a prime photo spot.
The car drove slowly into the venue. The moment it stopped, Ning Xi saw that reporters on both sides of the red carpet had turned the cameras in their direction.
Zhou Zhengchuan was wearing a formal suit, with a blue tie that matched the motifs on Ning Xi’s gown.
Ning Xi was in a white fishtail dress, with hand-embroidered blue patterns on the hem. The smooth finishings of the fabric accentuated her figure, giving her a fairy-like aura.
Zhou Zhengchuan’s popularity was at its peak as a result of the box-office success from his movie the previous month. Hence, the media started frantically taking photos of him the moment he alighted from the car.
The fans watching the live broadcast were probably drooling in front of their screens.
But Zhou Zhengchuan did not immediately walk up the red carpet. Instead, he walked to the other side of the car, and opened the door in a gentlemanly fashion.
When Ning Xi appeared in front of the screens as Zhou Zhengchuan’s partner for the evening, many were shocked.
This lady, who looked as if she walked out of a painting, is … Ning Xi?
Many people knew that the Chinese high-definition cameras were critical tools in appraising beauty. Many celebrities looked flawless in their productions, but it was during interviews and events that their physical flaws would be exposed.
However, even these high-definition cameras appeared to have lost their discerning powers on Ning Xi. Her fair skin, her flawless complexion, and her dressing made her even more beautiful.
The camera shutters continued as Ning Xi and Zhou Zhengchuan made their way leisurely down the aisle, stopping occasionally to accommodate the media’s photo-taking, their entrance close to perfection.
As one of the hottest celebrities in the industry, Zhou Zhengchuan had a very strong presence. Most female celebrities would have had their limelight taken away from them if they were paired with him.
But even though Ning Xi was a rookie, she did not have this problem at all. No one could ignore her presence even when she stood beside Zhou Zhengchuan.
As friends, Ning Xi and Zhou Zhengchuan showed great rapport in their interactions. Some reporters, however, intentionally took misleading images of their interactions and swiftly posted them on the Internet, with the title “Heavenly King Zhou and Popular Rookie Ning Xi showing affection for each other”.
Even though ardent fans of both celebrities knew that there was nothing ambiguous about their relationship, from the pictures, all that could be said was … how compatible they were.
Ning Xi and Zhou Zhengchuan walked to the end of the red carpet. The videographer zoomed in on Ning Xi when she was signing on the backdrop. In return, she turned back at the camera and flashed a small smile.
Netizen 1: Is anyone watching the live broadcast of the Feiyu Awards? As a straight woman, I would have never thought that I would have a nosebleed from looking at another woman. I’ve sinned, truly I have.
Netizen 2: I’ve seen it. Right now, I just want to take back all the negative comments I had against Ning Xi. Goddess Ning, I’m your fan from now on!
Netizen 3: Did anyone notice that Ning Xi was dressed in purely Chinese elements? Even her shoes were in the blue and white porcelain motifs. This seems to be her first formal appearance at an awards show, but her outfit today was perfect. Jiuji must have spent so much effort grooming her. Even Heavenly King Zhou’s tie was an intentional match to her dress!
Netizen 4: Does this mean that they are wearing couple outfits?
Netizen 5: The one above, don’t think too much. Xixi and Chuanchuan have always maintained that they are only good friends.
At this time, both Ning Xi and Zhou Zhengchuan were unaware of the flurry of speculations on the Internet. Ning Xi even stopped to speak to the emcees before entering the event hall.
“After today, there’ll probably be directors inviting you to act as characters of peerless beauty”, Zhou Zhengchuan teased, “Your dressing today is perfect”.
“It’s all thanks to my team of stylists and Qingfeng Fashion”, Ning Xi covered her face and laughed lightly, “As the saying goes, clothes make the man”.
Zhou Zhengchuan laughed. He escorted Ning Xi to her seat, before looking for his own.
As Ning Xi was nominated for her role as Princess Dangli in Yunyue of the Han Dynasty, she was seated with the crew from the production.
By the time she arrived, some of the supporting cast had already been seated. They were not nominated, but used their participation in the drama to get some exposure at the red carpet. Ning Xi greeted them one by one, before quietly taking her seat.
Shortly after, the director and main cast arrived. The male and female leads sat on both sides of the director, and Ning Xi sat beside the lead actress Zhou Haili.
“I heard that you recently filmed a drama that had only a female lead?” Zhou Haili whispered softly to Ning Xi, “Has filming concluded?”
Ning Xi nodded, and in order not to disturb those around her, replied in a whisper: “Concluded just a few days back.”
Zhou Haili nodded in acknowledgement. It was not the first time that Zhou Haili had heard of Kong Yuheng’s name, but it was widely known that dramas directed by her always had low viewership. She did not understand why Ning Xi would choose to take up this drama.
However, both of them were not close enough to be able to discuss private matters, hence they soon moved on from this topic.
“The Legendary Chronicles of Tanhai’s broadcast date has been fixed for the period close to the Mid Autumn Festival”. Seeing that the awards ceremony was about to begin, Zhou Haili said, “There will be promotional events from next month on, so remember to free up your schedule”.
To be able to promote with such a large production was only beneficial to Ning Xi.
Ning Xi understood the meaning behind Zhou Haili’s reminder, and smiled gratefully at her.
With a loud bang, the lights above them suddenly filled the arena.
The awards ceremony had begun.
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In the Chang family’s villa, Tao Huixue was seated on the sofa, her eyes glued to the live broadcast of the Feiyu Awards Ceremony.
When Ning Xi and Zhou Zhengchuan appeared on screen, she turned her head towards her son.
She did not know anything about this female celebrity named Ning Xi, but she was a firm believer of ‘seeing is believing’. She was not bothered about what others said to her about Ning Xi.
As a mother, she loved her son, and trusted his judgement. If Ning Xi could move Shi Gui’s heart, then she probably had some merits.
The Ning Xi on screen was beautiful, her demeanour classy. The charisma that she exuded was not something that could be faked.
Even Tao Huixue, who was close to sixty years old, was awestruck when Ning Xi tilted her head to smile at the camera.
This young lady was full of vitality.
Chang Shi Gui stared at the TV screen dazedly, but regained his composure once the cameras moved to the next group of celebrities on the red carpet. “Mum, I’m going upstairs”.
“Aren’t you going to continue watching?” Tao Huixue pointed at the TV, “Isn’t this an awards ceremony? Who knows, she might win an award!”
The next thing she saw was her son quietly taking his seat back in front of the TV.
Tao Huixue laughed. How different was this son of hers from a lovelorn young man?
The atmosphere at the Feiyu Awards Ceremony had been livened up by the two emcees. Soon enough, it was time for the Best Supporting Actress award.
The award presenters were Liang Qianya from My Heart Longs for You and another veteran actor.
After exchanging some pleasantries, Liang Qianya turned to the gigantic screen onstage and said, “Please take a look at the exciting performances from the five nominees”.
Ning Xi’s clip was the last, and the clip chosen was the short conversation she had with Emperor Wu.
“Royal Father, the Crown Prince is a filial man. He would never do anything as unfilial as this, please do him justice!” Her eyes were filled with tears that never fell, “For a man as discerning as Royal Father, why can’t you trust the Crown Prince?”
Emperor Wu looked at his daughter tiredly, not expecting that his most favoured child would speak up for the Crown Prince. “Do you mean that I, your Father Emperor, have become senile?”
As an emperor who was ageing, he feared death; yet at the same time, he did not want to be seen as old.
“No, Royal Father would always be the most outstanding man in my heart”, Princess Dangli raised her head and looked at Emperor Wu with respect and adoration.
Following the end of the clips, Liang Qianya waved the envelope containing the name of the winner, and asked the male celebrity beside her, “Whose name do you think will be in here?”
At this point, the cameras were focused on the five actresses. The director even created five frames on a single screen, so that audiences could see the expressions of all five nominees at the same time.
No matter how nervous the celebrities were, they had to show their poise. Ning Xi was no different, she was full of smiles, her eyes brimming with expectation, but not to the point of desperation.
After building up more suspense, Liang Qianya opened the envelope. “The Best Supporting Actress award goes too … Yunyue of the Han Dynasty’s Ning Xi! Congratulations!”
This outcome was not unexpected. Ning Xi’s performance had truly been outstanding, and her beauty did not overshadow her ability to act.
Thanking those around her who offered their congratulations, Ning Xi walked up the stage and received the trophy from Liang Qianya’s hands.
“My apologies, I’m so excited now that my head’s in a blank!” Ning Xi smiled distractedly. This innocent look tickled the hearts of many fans.
“Thanks to the organisers for giving me this award”, Ning Xi bowed, and continued, “Thanks to Director Xu, Sister Zhou and Brother Liu. I wouldn’t have been able to gain so much recognition without your guidance. Thanks to everyone who supported me on the set of Yunyue of the Han Dynasty. To the fans who have my back all the time, thank you. It’s because of all of you that I’m able to advance in my career. And finally, I would like to thank my management company, and Brother Zhang”.
“Once again, thanks everyone!” Ning Xi took another bow, and prepared to leave the stage.
“Ning Xi, please wait!” The emcee stopped Ning Xi, and passed the microphone to her, “I would like to ask you one question, would you be willing to entertain me?”
“As long as it’s not about private things like my passwords, I’m more than willing to,” Ning Xi smiled mischievously. This lighthearted banter resulted in huge laughter across the audience.
“It looks like I can only ask one question then”, the host feigned disappointment. When he saw that the atmosphere had heated up, he put forth a more serious question. “If I recall correctly, you debuted in the movie My Heart Longs for You. Although you only had a few scenes then, audiences were attracted to your innocence and beauty. It was also precisely because of their impression then that many claimed that you are just a pretty face without acting skills. Were you ever angry when you heard such comments then?”