When will I be the queen

Chapter 478 Shield
Cai Cai held the Immortal Lord's trophy. The magnificent trophy was a single golden star, entirely plated with gold, and marked with a logo—the real gold kind. The base bore the winner's name, date, and award name. It felt heavy in her hand.

"Does anyone sell trophies?" Even gilded ones have real gold, but I wonder how much gold is actually in them. Gold is so malleable; a trophy this size probably doesn't even contain two grams of gold.

"Even the gold-masked trophies are for sale, and the 'Gorgeous' ones are even more so." Si Chen looked at the trophies but didn't dare to touch them. The "Gorgeous" trophies, seemingly without much value and purely for entertainment, were still something many artists could only dream of their entire lives. Yet, some who obtained them, lost their popularity, or even retired from the industry, simply resold them.

Cai Cai wasn't surprised. Trophies are something you crave like a demon before you get them. When you finally get them, you're happiest. After that, it's all about commemoration, nostalgia, and even resentment. When the significance of something outweighs its intrinsic value, the risk of it being disliked increases.

“You will get it,” Cai Cai said to Si Chen.

Si Chen looked at Cheng Yinzhu, who had gracefully walked onto the stage. She was wearing a red dress, and apart from the length, the entire dress was very similar to Cai Cai's. Even the style was similar. Si Chen frowned immediately. He hadn't seen many people wearing red dresses so far, and he thought tonight would end smoothly, but unexpectedly...
Cai Cai also looked towards the stage, noticing Cheng Yinzhu's red dress first because of Mei Zhang's instructions. To be honest, it didn't suit her. Cheng Yinzhu was the kind of beauty described by the audience as having delicate features, harmonious facial features, and a gentle temperament. A light-colored dress would definitely suit her better. Red was too intense, too visually aggressive, and completely clashed with Cheng Yinzhu's overall aura.

The immortal remained calm, offered his congratulations, stepped aside, gave his seat to Cheng Yinzhu, and then walked off the stage.

Huh? Cai Cai was puzzled. You haven't presented the awards yet.
Suddenly, someone in the audience started clapping. Si Chen smiled and clapped along. Cai Cai, still confused, also clapped.

At the same time, the hostess presented the trophy to Cheng Yinzhu. Zhou Haoran stepped over from the host's position, stood next to Cheng Yinzhu, and said, "Thank you for your applause. Let's congratulate Cheng Yinzhu and wish her all her dreams come true!" Cheng Yinzhu's expression was a little unnatural, but she still picked up the trophy with a proud look, held it in front of her, thanked Zhou Haoran, and then gave her acceptance speech.

She spoke in English, thanked Xianjun, and talked at length about how difficult it is to be a female artist. Then she compared herself to Cai Cai, saying that there are many talented young female artists who are young, beautiful, and talented. She admires them but will not be discouraged. She will walk her own path in her own way, do her best, and work even harder to present better works to the audience. Finally, she said thank you in Chinese and was led off the stage by Zhou Haoran.

Cai Cai felt like she'd been tricked, but then thought she was overthinking it. This fleeting thought made her hesitate to clap. Si Chen's smile faded, and he nudged Cai Cai with his knee. Cai Cai looked down at him, then back at Si Chen. Si Chen reached out and adjusted her hair ornaments. After that, a new performance began on stage.

Staring at Si Chen, Cai Cai leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Is this guy trying to sarcastic or malicious towards me?"

"." You could tell? I thought you weren't hearing anything.

Cai Cai was even more puzzled, "Why is she making sarcastic remarks about me?"

Si Chen didn't speak; the Immortal Lord had returned.

After the immortal lord sat down, Cai Cai handed him the trophy and leaned closer, asking, "Why didn't you present the award?"

"I forgot," the immortal lord gave a perfunctory answer.

"How could that be? You just received an award and you're already forgetting about the award ceremony?"
However, Cai Cai grinned, "She made sarcastic remarks about me, and you forgot to give her the award. I'm actually quite pleased with myself."

"..." The Immortal Lord looked at Cai Cai, "You can be openly happy." He added, "She was speaking so veiledly, and you actually caught it?"

Cai Cai blushed, though she hadn't quite caught the meaning. "Why did she use me as a raft?"

"Because you are truly young, truly beautiful, and truly talented," the immortal lord replied perfunctorily.

But Cai Cai still found it quite satisfying. "Oh, okay, fine," she thought, "she wore a red dress, but she definitely looked better in lighter colors."

The immortal lord smiled but remained silent.

Before Cheng Yinzhu even stepped onto the stage, the Immortal Lord immediately noticed her dress and decided not to award her the prize. It was simple: the sparkling things on Cai Cai's dress were real diamonds, while the sparkling things on Cheng Yinzhu's dress were crystals. Cheng Yinzhu's dress had more crystals, and while it appeared to sparkle more when she moved, it was clearly a completely different level of brilliance without close inspection.

Even the sequins on the dress are being replicated. And even surpassed in quality. I don't know where this person gets their audacity. It's true what they say, shallow minds breed many scoundrels. Just because they're thriving in South Korea and managing a conglomerate, they think they're invincible in the entertainment industry? Clearly comparing themselves to Cai Cai (a popular Chinese celebrity), haha, where does this confidence come from?
The Immortal Lord rarely attacks women's appearance or age, but Cheng Yinzhu's behavior this time truly enraged him. Why not just follow your own path? Why insist on squeezing into Cai Cai's arena? The problem is, even those around Cai Cai's age who are capable and have strong financial backing wouldn't dare claim to be on the same path as her. How dare you? It's fine to be unwilling to grow old; all artists want to age, but you should compete with yourself. What's with this veiled mockery of younger artists?

But the most speechless one is Cai Cai. She was completely humiliated, yet she foolishly relied on others to vent their anger for her, secretly feeling smug.
Leaving aside the subtle gossip at the scene, the live stream comments section was also buzzing with discussion. Fans immediately recognized Cheng Yinzhu's ill intentions; among casual observers, some more perceptive noticed and sensed it, while others, less perceptive, didn't quite grasp it but felt this foreign actress had won the "Most Popular Woman" award based on her domestic drama, and her acceptance speech sounded like she'd won an award for Best Actress.
【baffling】

I was baffled by her dual nature, by everything about her. The audience in H country mostly felt the same way, but they still thought Sung Eun-joo was remarkable—a successful divorce, an independent woman, and someone who brought honor to her country.

The staff delivered the gift box containing the trophy, along with a large box of gifts—all from sponsors. Xianjun packed the trophy away, and Cai Cai took the gift box and rummaged through it with Si Chen. It contained everything imaginable: cell phones, computers, watches, skincare products, cosmetics, perfumes, calendars, pens, notebooks, and snacks.
Cai Cai was holding a large box of chocolates, a brand she had tried before. Wanting some, she turned to the Immortal Lord and asked, "Can I eat this?"

The Immortal Lord nodded, "I'll open it." He took the box, opened it, and let Cai Cai take one first. Cai Cai quickly picked up five pieces, then the Immortal Lord stepped aside and let Si Chen take one. Si Chen took one piece, and then the Immortal Lord stood up and let the people around him take one.

Surrounded by thousands of celebrities, Cai Cai, following Xianjun's lead in distributing chocolates, took in all the artists from the company she met. They all greeted her. They had been watching closely, and now that Xianjun moved, they knew Cai Cai would too. Meng Ning and Chunqiao didn't seem particularly critical, but among the artists, they truly stood out. Beyond their appearance, it was their overall demeanor that mattered. Artists who establish themselves in the industry gradually transform from a drifting, uncertain presence to one of composure and confidence. This is the confidence that comes with popularity.

Fans often fondly remember the early days of an artist's life, feeling that the tension, anxiety, and cautiousness they experienced were the most beautiful aspects of their career. However, for the artists themselves, while the early days may be the most unforgettable, cherished, and deeply memorable, they are certainly not the period they most desire.

In the spirit of friendly communication about the upcoming cooperation, Cai Cai turned around, leaned back, and pointed at Meng Ning's choice of chocolate from a distance, "This one is delicious, not too sweet."

Meng Ning quickly picked up the piece Cai Cai was pointing to, saying, "I just don't dare to eat anything too sweet."

Cai Cai nodded, "I understand. All celebrities are afraid of sweetness."

Meng Ning smiled and remained silent. Subconsciously, he felt that saying anything more would be too much.
The Immortal Lord had just finished distributing the chocolates, handed the empty box to his assistant, and then returned to sit down. Cai Cai then reached out, holding a piece of chocolate in her palm. "You like sweets, this is the sweetest." Although the Immortal Lord always presented himself in public as someone who preferred sweets that weren't too sweet, Cai Cai knew that he actually liked sweets.

She picked it up and ate it right away. The Immortal Lord looked at Cai Cai; it was indeed very sweet. However, he asked, "You ate all five pieces?"

Cai Cai hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She had already finished all the chocolates when the Immortal Lord started distributing them.

The immortal took out his phone to check the comments section of the live stream, and sure enough, everyone was asking about the chocolate brand. At this moment, a staff member from Huamei brought over two men in suits. The men looked like male models, each carrying a large plate of carefully arranged chocolates.
Before Cai Cai could react, the Immortal Lord reached out and stopped them from placing the chocolates. Mei Zhang and Gu Sheng also came over, one blocking Cai Cai and the other separating the people and the chocolates. Si Chen reacted a little slower, but he quickly pulled Cai Cai closer to him to prevent her from being cut out by herself later.

Before Cai Cai could react, Gu Sheng and Mei Zhang took the three people away, and Si Chen released her.

Xianjun loosened his tie. "From now on, don't show the brand of imported products in front of the camera. You don't do commercials, so don't let brands take advantage of you." Xianjun only decided to share the chocolate when Cai Cai wanted some, just to divert attention from her. But she ate five pieces in one go—the advertising effect was too strong, completely overshadowing his act of sharing the chocolate. Sure enough, the live stream chat was discussing the chocolate brand; there were definitely paid promoters involved. Even more ridiculous, Huamei, seemingly blinded by greed, brought representatives from the brand with her.
They wanted to put chocolates in front of Cai Cai, and even brought in male models to deliver them, supposedly to please her, but it was really quite underhanded.
The immortal lord was immediately displeased.

Cai Cai understood, but didn't quite understand why the Immortal Lord was so angry. However, since the Immortal Lord clearly didn't want to talk, she didn't dare to speak.

The immortal noticed Cai Cai's innocent and bewildered expression and knew she hadn't understood. But how to put it? For celebrities, this might not be a bad thing, as it generates buzz and aligns with current audience expectations and perceptions of female artists. However, looking beyond this phenomenon to its essence, it's still a campaign against women.

"Many people online enjoy seeing female celebrities being fawned over by men, interpreting it as proof of their independence, strong feminist consciousness, and disdain for men. I don't really care about this phenomenon. Whether celebrities deliberately create a persona to cater to fans or this is their true attitude towards life, it's a personal choice. But first and foremost, it has to be a genuine personal choice. Furthermore, I don't agree with equating feminist consciousness with indifference towards men; feminist consciousness shouldn't be confined to heterosexual relationships."

That's too narrow and one-sided. I've seen countless female-centric scripts, and almost all of them confine women to family and romantic relationships. The few female characters who do have fulfilling family, friendship, and romantic relationships are mostly portrayed as naive and innocent.
"Viewers often complain that current female-centric films are poorly made, with bad scripts and bad character development. But they don't realize that they themselves are trapped in the script settings they dislike. They assume that the rise of female consciousness and feminism means rebelling against parents, betraying friends, and killing boyfriends or husbands—extreme and superficial portrayals."

Cai Cai was completely confused. Why were they starting to talk about the script?
Xianjun then turned back, "The brand wants to take advantage of you. Sending two girls is better than sending male models. It's as if they've decided that you're the kind of female celebrity who likes to create a strong woman persona, and that you'd like me. They look down on you." Or rather, "They think you're the kind of female superior who relies on belittling men to show off. I'm very unhappy about that."

Cai Cai then understood, oh, oh oh oh, uh
"The simplest interactions between people are often this simple. The gift my mother received most often was people, both men and women."

"..." The immortal lord choked, but Ms. Cai didn't lose her temper?

“My mom never gets angry. Because giving gifts is the simplest and most convenient way to give them. Perhaps to outsiders, this is a very bad way of giving gifts, neither the giver nor the receiver is respectable, and it might even seem insulting. But my mom says that history shows that the highest form of gift-giving is giving people away. Marriage alliances, imperial concubine selections, and even the selection of officials through the imperial examinations are all ways of giving people to those in power. So if men can accept people as gifts, why can't women?”

Cai Cai felt that the Immortal Lord tended to overthink things. He would complicate many simple issues. Of course, this was just her opinion. After all, many people saw the Immortal Lord as being very thorough.

"My mom filters out many unsuitable business partners by giving them gifts. She has several assistants, all of whom were gifts, and one of them has a special ability: he can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. He really can't get drunk no matter what he drinks. My mom had him get checked out, and the results showed that he seems to be lacking some kind of substance or something, making him insensitive to alcohol fermentation products, which is why he never gets drunk. My mom always brings him to parties and gatherings. There are even people offering him high salaries to poach him."

Cai Cai continued, "Giving gifts is about giving feelings. Physical appearance is also a form of appearance. I don't think there's anything wrong with male models giving me chocolates. It shows that in their eyes, I'm a normal woman. Respect or not, since we don't have any contact, is completely irrelevant. I don't rely on other people's respect to stand on my own two feet. And as you said, they think I'm a woman in a superior position, well, actually I'm quite happy about that."

"..." The Immortal Lord closed his eyes. Fine, Cai Cai's thought process was too bizarre. Considering the influence of her mistress, it was already quite remarkable that she had such views and ideas.
As for the script, Cai Cai also felt that there was no major problem. "Women in female-centric scripts are trapped in heterosexual relationships, which is mainly determined by the market. Ratings are everything. This is also related to the socio-economic environment, so it can't be said that the script is poorly written. Women are the ones who speak the most in heterosexual and family relationships. More dialogue makes the plot richer. There's nothing wrong with naive and innocent female characters. Tragedy is about destruction and destruction, while comedy is about pampering and sublimation. Both are good plots."

The main point is that "a script is simply a story. The central theme can be influenced by the screenwriter's core ideas, the director's cinematic language, the actors' performances, the audience's interpretation, and even subsequent marketing. I don't think it's necessary to elevate feminist consciousness and rights too much or make them too obvious. Because the more you emphasize something, the less it actually means. Don't treat the audience like they're ignorant and try to educate them."

Cai Cai believes that a script written with the intention of educating the audience is absolutely terrible. "Schools and society are constantly educating people, but if you watch a drama and still get educated and disciplined, isn't that exhausting? There are actually feminism and female consciousness everywhere in life. It's so simple: women are in school and working. Why insist on focusing on the difficulties female students face in school and the difficulties women face in the workplace, emphasizing women's struggles and pain? This doesn't really help women; instead, it creates anxiety."

The immortal was puzzled. "How can this be considered anxiety? Women's struggles and suffering need to be written about and filmed so that more people can see them."

Cai Cai waved her hand, "The point is not to let more people see it. Everyone can see women's struggles and pain, but many people just turn a blind eye. For example, the number of men's and women's toilets, birth control pills, the quality and price of sanitary napkins, maternity subsidies, and so on, there are too many to count. The point is how the characters resolve these issues after they are shown. Do they all have to resort to crime? Or repay evil with good? Moreover, sometimes what the audience wants to see is not the real solution, but the mindset and attitude."

Well, "happiness is actually a very illusory thing; you either feel you have it or you don't." Subjective, or objective, and abstract. Truly abstract.