It's reasonable for me, a stuntman, to live a crazy life, right?

Chapter 1397 Red Carpet Taboos!

The swimming pool in the backyard of the villa shimmered, and the aroma of grilled meat wafted from the barbecue grill.

Chen Fei moved a deck chair and sat down by the pool.

Han Jianu, Wen Muye, Zhang Yi and the others gathered around, each holding a glass of iced drink, chatting about tomorrow's awards ceremony.

"Senior, how's your research going? Which awards should we mainly be focusing on this time?" Han Jianu asked curiously, her eyes showing a hint of nervousness.

Chen Fei smiled and said, "Let me explain it to you. First, there's the Best International Feature Film, which used to be the Best Foreign Language Film. You don't need to worry about that at all."

The other films competing this year either had too niche a subject matter or too obscure a narrative, and the judges generally gave them lukewarm feedback. In contrast, *Parasite* is far superior in both its execution and thematic resonance. This award is practically ours.

Upon hearing this, everyone around breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Jinmai clapped his hands: "Great! I knew our film would be a hit!"

Zhang Jingyi, standing beside her, nodded in agreement, her anxiety lessening considerably.

Wen Muye pressed on, "What about Best Director? The competition seems pretty fierce this year?"

He hoped that Han Jia Nu could win the Oscar for Best Director. If she could, she would make a fortune coming to Hollywood this time.

“The chances of him winning Best Director are probably not very high,” Chen Fei analyzed simply. “Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon are highly anticipated to win the award.”

"I love Oppenheimer!"

Han Jianu wasn't too disappointed; instead, she enthusiastically praised her competitor.

This film tells the story of Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic bomb," who led the creation of the world's first atomic bomb.

The scenes of the bombing of Hiroshima in the film are extremely shocking!
When the enormous mushroom cloud rose over the wasteland, it was destined that this film would greatly boost Nolan's award-winning prospects.

“We still have a chance at Best Picture,” Chen Fei added with a smile. “Parasite wins because of its fresh subject matter and excellent story. It has a good chance of winning a major award. Let’s just keep a calm mind.”

Anyway, no matter how many awards we win, getting this far is already a victory. Let's relax tomorrow night, walk the red carpet properly, enjoy the awards ceremony, and treat this as a party to be had.

The evening breeze swept across the pool, bringing a cool breeze, but it couldn't dispel the joy on everyone's faces.

Zhang Yi stood up, holding his cup: "You're right. No matter the outcome, we've done our best."

Everyone laughed and agreed, and the tension in the atmosphere was gradually replaced by anticipation.

After all, being able to stand on the Oscar stage is already a rare honor!

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, there was already movement inside the villa.

Apart from Xiao Shitou, who was still fast asleep in his room upstairs, everyone else, including Liu Yifei, got up very early.

As I drew back the curtains, the gentle morning light of Los Angeles streamed in. The sky was an unbelievable blue, without a single cloud in sight—clearly perfect weather for a red carpet event.

"The light is nice outside, let's move the makeup and styling to the garden!"

When Han Jianu made this suggestion, everyone readily agreed.

Soon, the staff got to work, moving the dressing table and dress rack to the lawn in the backyard.

Under the white awning, makeup artists and stylists were already in their positions, holding cosmetics in their hands and wearing gowns hanging on the racks next to them, all of which were the latest seasonal items from top luxury brands.

Besides Chen Fei, Zhang Yi, Zhou Xun, Liu Yifei, Zhao Jinmai, and others present all had several big-name endorsements.

For brands, the Oscars red carpet is a golden opportunity to showcase themselves globally, so they naturally go all out to make their artists look dazzling.

Liu Yifei sat in front of the makeup mirror, while the stylist carefully adjusted her skirt.

Today she wore a silver and gold-plated trailing gown, the hem of which was adorned with tiny crystals that shimmered like a galaxy in the sunlight—a style custom-made for her by the brand.

“This dress is too heavy,” she turned to Chen Fei and smiled, “I’m afraid you’ll have to help me walk on the red carpet later.”

"No problem." Chen Fei nodded in agreement, standing to the side.

He chose a dark blue suit with subtle patterns, simple and neat, so it didn't take much effort.

Unlike others, he has his own dedicated styling team who will coordinate his outfits for his daily outings and events, rather than having the brand handle it.

On the other side, Zhang Yi was adjusting his bow tie in front of the mirror. A discreet jade brooch was pinned to the chest of his black suit, an antique piece specially sourced by the brand.

Peng Yuchang and Zhao Jinmai, the two young men, were a little restless. They joked with each other in front of their reflections in the mirror. One said, "This hairspray is so hard it could poke someone," and the other laughed, "Your bow tie is crooked, like a child who has stolen an adult's clothes."

Zhou Xun and Zhang Jingyi use the same stylist from the same brand, and their outfits actually look somewhat like they're wearing matching sister outfits.

The garden was bustling yet orderly, more like a lively pre-battle preparation.

In order to maintain the most upright posture on the red carpet, I'm destined not to be able to eat a proper meal today.

In the morning, everyone ate a few slices of whole wheat bread to fill their stomachs, and at noon they simply had sandwiches to tide them over. They even dared to take a small sip of the juice they usually loved to drink.

"That's considered good," Han Jian said while touching up her makeup. "I've heard that many female celebrities in Europe and America start fasting three days in advance for those few minutes on the red carpet, relying entirely on IV fluids to maintain their condition. That's really ruthless!"

Zhao Jinmai stuck out her tongue and rubbed her stomach: "Luckily I'm young and can withstand hunger."

These words immediately made everyone around laugh.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the busy touch-ups and adjusting of the dress, and before we knew it, it was afternoon.

Before setting off, Liu Yifei went back to her room to check on Xiao Shitou.

The little guy was playing with building blocks with Liu Xiaoli, muttering, "Daddy's going to get the little golden man."

She smiled and kissed her son on the forehead: "Be a good boy and wait for us to come back. We'll bring you a present."

"Good mother."

The little guy waved his little hand in response, and didn't throw a tantrum.

Afterwards, everyone, holding up their skirts and straightening their suits, set off together by car, first heading to the meeting hotel designated by Oscar.

A number of filmmakers from all over the world have already gathered here, nodding to each other from a distance, the air thick with a mixture of tension and excitement. According to the schedule, everyone will transfer here to vehicles arranged by the organizers to proceed to the Dolby Theatre.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the pleasantries and greetings.

As night fell, everyone boarded the car arranged by the organizers.

The car drove smoothly toward the Dolby Theatre, where crowds and flashing lights could already be seen on both sides of the red carpet in the distance.

Chen Fei suddenly turned to look at Han Jianu and saw that she was unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress with her fingertips. He smiled and asked, "Nervous?"

Han Jianu stuck out her neck and retorted stubbornly, "Who's nervous? You're the one who's nervous!"

Unexpectedly, Wen Muye, who had been secretly holding her hand, suddenly interrupted, his tone slightly amused: "If you're not nervous, why are your palms sweaty?"

"Shut up!" Han Jianu blushed instantly and pinched his arm hard, but not too hard.

Wen Muye deliberately let out an "ouch," which made everyone else in the car laugh, and the tense atmosphere immediately relaxed a lot.

At the same time, the red carpet outside the Dolby Theatre was already packed with media and fans.

Cameras from all over the world were pointed at the entrance, their flashes going off like stars, including many from domestic media outlets.

Douyin secured the exclusive broadcasting rights for the Oscars, and the live stream was already packed with eager viewers.

In front of the camera, the host is enthusiastically introducing the event with a microphone: "Welcome everyone to the red carpet of the 96th Academy Awards!"

Now walking the red carpet is the cast and crew of "Oppenheimer." Director Nolan is wearing a classic black suit today, exuding his powerful presence as ever. Next to him is lead actor Cillian Murphy, who was nominated for Best Actor for his explosive performance in the film…

She introduced them one by one in a brisk pace: "Look over there, Margot Robbie, the star of 'Barbie,' is here, her pink dress is so eye-catching! And the cast of 'The Poor Thing,' Emma Stone's retro gown looks like it stepped out of an oil painting..."

The live stream chat was flooded with comments, and viewers were watching with great enthusiasm.

"Nolan! My God! I hope Oppenheimer wins Best Director!"

"Emma Stone looks amazing! I could admire her beauty for a year!"

"We've been waiting for ages, why hasn't the 'Parasite' crew come out yet? When will Chen Fei and Liu Yifei arrive?"

"TikTok really pulled a fast one this time, they actually managed to broadcast the Oscars! Finally, we don't have to watch raw videos anymore!"

"There are so many big-name Hollywood stars! No wonder everyone says the Oscars are the grand event for filmmakers around the world."

The comments section was filled with discussions about Western celebrities, as well as many people anxiously awaiting the appearance of the "Parasite" crew.

The host seemed to notice the trend of the comments and said with a smile, "Don't worry, everyone. As far as I know, the crew of 'Parasite,' which has been nominated for many awards this year, is on their way. This is one of the most anticipated Asian films in recent years. Let's look forward to their red carpet debut!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a louder cheer erupted from afar.

The vehicle carrying Chen Fei and the others finally came to a slow stop at the entrance to the red carpet!

Staff members quickly stepped forward and helped open the car door.

The first thing that catches the eye is Chen Fei's upright figure. He turns to the side, reaches out his hand, and helps Liu Yifei, who is wearing a silver and gold-plated long dress, onto the red carpet.

Following closely behind, Wen Muye, Zhang Yi, Zhou Xun, Han Jianu, Peng Yuchang, Zhao Jinmai, Zhang Jingyi, and others also got off the bus one by one.

The group stood side by side at the entrance to the red carpet, instantly attracting the attention of all the cameras.

"Let's give a warm round of applause to the entire cast and crew of 'Parasite' from China!" Red carpet host Vanessa Hudgens' voice rang out across the red carpet through the microphone, carrying just the right amount of enthusiasm.

Julianne Hough, standing beside him, immediately took over the conversation and began introducing everyone: "Leading the group is Director Chen Fei. He is not only a triple gold medalist at the three major European film festivals—Cannes, Venice, and Berlin—but also the youngest director in history to achieve an Oscar grand slam (Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay). His works always transcend cultural boundaries and resonate with audiences worldwide..."

"Next to her is Liu Yifei, an internationally renowned actress who has won Best Actress at the Asian Film Awards, as well as Best Actress awards at Cannes and Venice for her many classic works. This time, she is a co-producer and actress of 'Parasite,' joining the crew to compete for the Oscars..."

"This is director Wen Muye, winner of the Venice Golden Lion Award, who is serving as a co-producer for 'Parasite'..."

As the introductions were given, everyone smiled and waved to both sides.

At this moment, when the host listed a series of titles for Chen Fei, the chat in the Douyin live stream was completely boiling over:
"Holy crap! Director Chen's resume is incredible! Three major European awards plus an Oscar grand slam, that's one of a kind among Chinese directors, right?"

"I only knew he was good before, but I didn't expect him to be this good... No one would disagree that he's the number one director in Chinese-language cinema, right?"

"Others get all high and mighty just because they get an Oscar nomination, but he went on to win the Grand Slam. The difference is huge!"

"No wonder Parasite is so amazing. With Chen Fei in the cast, it's hard for it not to be a hit."

"Watching him walk the Oscars red carpet with Chinese actors, I was suddenly moved. This is true cultural export!"

The comments section was filled with amazement and pride, and even Chen Fei's composed smile in the shot seemed exceptionally confident.

He put his arm around Liu Yifei's waist, slowed his pace to match the rhythm of the photo shoot, and at the same time whispered some precautions to the people around him:
"When you enter the venue later, you must pay attention to the rules when you walk around, because since 2020, the Oscars have introduced new rules. All works that want to be nominated for 'Best Picture' must meet the requirement that at least 30% of the main creators come from at least two of the following underrepresented groups: women, minorities, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, etc."

He paused, lowering his voice even further: "This means that there will be many feminist activists and people with diverse gender perspectives in the venue."

It's not that you can't have contact with them, but some of these people are very emotionally sensitive and are notorious for being 'unstable'.

If we say something carelessly and they seize on it to accuse us of 'discrimination,' it will be difficult to shake off that label later. We don't need to cause that trouble.

Upon hearing this, the excitement on everyone's faces faded somewhat, and they nodded repeatedly.

Wen Muye frowned: "I didn't expect there to be such a rule..."

Zhang Yi replied in a deep voice, "Understood. Just speak less and smile more."

In an instant, everyone's initial anticipation for the Oscars venue faded considerably after Chen Fei's words.

Zhang Jingyi quietly tugged at Zhou Xun's sleeve, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

In her imagination, this should be a place to purely celebrate the movie, but she never expected that there were so many twists and turns that she needed to be wary of.

Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Chen Fei knew they had taken his words to heart, so he didn't say anything more. He simply gestured with his chin toward the signature wall in front of him and said, "Go sign first, follow the procedure, and don't overthink it."

The group nodded, composed themselves, and strode deeper into the venue.

However, as they walked, they unconsciously became more cautious...

(End of this chapter)