Actor: Thank you.

He woke up the following afternoon in his hotel room.

There was no one around me.

Seeing his phone chime, he slapped the back of his head and reached for it.

"I didn't expect you to be so serious when you need to be."

"They didn't even come to find me."

Xu Qing's charming voice, tinged with disappointment, came from the other end of the phone.

Zhang Yuan recalled the figure of this older sister at the awards ceremony yesterday, wearing a black lace dress with cutouts.

It's one thing to look beautiful from the front, but the way your hips sway with each step as you leave, like waves of wheat during an autumn harvest, that's what's truly captivating.

It makes you want to plant seeds...

Especially since they had given him room keys, but he didn't show up despite having an invitation.

It's not that I'm afraid my older sister will put a debuff on me; if that doesn't work, I can go to a temple to wash it off.

The key thing is that after receiving the award yesterday, a bunch of older guys and aunties pulled me aside to celebrate.

He had to be the one to treat us.

"I think it's better to keep a low profile and keep everything simple."

"This trophy is just a small step in my life, nothing special," Zhang Yuan thought, trying to find an excuse to leave.

All he wants to do right now is celebrate with his older sister.

"What do you mean by 'a small step'? If you put it that way, then the previous winners are no longer considered valuable."

"This award has lost its prestige!" Uncle Guoli jeered.

Although he didn't win an award, he wasn't too disappointed.

He won the Best Actor award at the Hundred Flowers Awards in 96.

Not only the Hundred Flowers Award, but also the Golden Eagle Award, Golden Rooster Award, Magnolia Award, Flying Apsaras Award, the mainland has won all the awards it should.

Moreover, he received the award repeatedly in various roles such as actor, director, male lead, and male supporting actor.

There is a saying that Lao Tzu was so powerful that he exhausted the fortune of three generations of his family.

Perhaps Zhang Mo's failure is also related to his father being too powerful.

"Of course it's valuable, and I'm very excited, so I want to calm myself down."

"Go back and get some rest so you can think about what to do next."

"You didn't make an appointment with someone, did you?" Zhang Guoli saw through his excuse in a second.

Zhang Yuan was about to give Fan Bingbing a knowing look when he noticed she was also there, listening intently.

There's nothing we can do then but tough it out.

"How could that be? I just arrived today and I'm a little tired."

"Since Uncle Guoli has brought it up, we should definitely celebrate!"

"That's right!" Everyone surrounded him and they went together to the most expensive restaurant nearby.

A hundred or so people started eating together, including a bunch of slackers who only picked out the most expensive drinks.

Zhang Yuan remained relatively sober and had his assistant greet the lobby manager beforehand.

"I want this 3000 yuan wine!"

"That's not the case."

"A two-foot-long lobster."

"nor."

"Why don't you have anything?"

We agreed beforehand that I wouldn't pay for drinks and dishes costing over 500 yuan unless I ordered them myself.

In situations like this, some people will definitely take advantage of the situation, while others will harbor resentment and feel that since you won the award, you have to pay some price.

When it comes time to pay the bill, seeing the receipt might make you faint.

One table had a bottle of Moutai, a bottle of Remy Martin, a bottle of Penfolds, and the rest were mid-range liquors.

These guys kept calling him "Movie King" and kept piling him on the bucket.

"Come on, congratulations to our Best Actor."

"New Best Actor, have a drink!"

"Hey, now that you have status, you can't look down on us. Have a drink!"

Okay, okay, you're treating me like this...

Zhang Yuan thought to himself, "No matter how good my alcohol tolerance is, I'll either get drunk to death or be forced to drink until I die."

So after eating and drinking for two hours, he suggested changing venues.

They're dragging these people who were just praising "highbrow film and television works" at the Hundred Flowers Awards into the vulgar world.

We headed straight to the karaoke bar.

The people at the Film Association were overjoyed.

Elegance is for work, vulgarity is for life.

He shouted at the madam as soon as he entered the door.

"High-tech and cutting-edge fields, no one over 18!"

What do you mean 18? It can't be a fruit platter, can it?

Zhang Yuan then went to the manager.

Do you have counterfeit alcohol here?

"No," the manager quickly replied with a smile, "This is a legitimate, high-end venue, and all our drinks have proper certification."

“No…this is possible!” Zhang Yuan glanced at this person as well.

There's a classic Shanghai joke.

A group of celebrities from Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taiwan opened bars and nightclubs in Shanghai. This was very popular from the turn of the millennium until around 15 or 16.

Wang Fei, Na Ying, and Liu Jialing all opened businesses in Shanghai, but without exception, they all eventually failed.

Nightclubs are all about novelty; no matter how nicely decorated they are, people will get tired of them after two or three years.

Rent in downtown Shanghai is expensive, and renovation costs are high, so many shops lose money within a few years.

Only one nightclub, run by Taiwanese people, remained standing.

Some people have gone to learn from your experience. You've been able to make money consistently. Is it because of your excellent management, the amazing DJs you've hired, or the good equipment?

After all that fuss, the other person finally confessed.

They can keep making money by selling fake alcohol... that stuff has a high profit margin.

"Do you have any fake alcohol or not?"

"If they don't have it, I'll leave and go to another one."

The manager was completely baffled.

Of course they exist, but I've never seen anyone actively ask for them.

It's all so I can get those bastards who ripped me off drunk.

If they're really drinking it, these guys might be able to handle it.

Drinking fake stuff will lead to bankruptcy soon.

After I fall, I might still have a chance to find Xu Qing...

After talking with the manager, I went back to the large private room and took a look.

Some council members, senior members, well-known screenwriters, and famous teachers were all singing "Entering the New Era" with all sorts of young women in their arms.

Based on the song and the scene, Zhang Yuan felt that "The Carnal Prayer Mat" was quite elegant.

He turned his head to the side and whispered to Brother Long.

"It's on record."

"Ah."

It's okay if you play with fancy toys; just write them down one by one.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before these guys who had drunk the fake alcohol got dizzy.

We finished work around 1:00 PM and could go home.

Zhang Yuan was eager to return home; it might still be in time.

After greeting and seeing everyone off, I was about to get in the car and leave.

But someone suddenly yanked the car door open.

Fan Xiaopang shifted his position and plopped down in the seat next to him.

"Hitchhiking?"

"You're really stingy." Fan Bingbing didn't reply, but looked at him with a mischievous smile: "I didn't drink much of that wine just now."

"You shouldn't have come along. These old guys are all so unreliable."

"I didn't come here for them." Fan Bingbing straightened her hair and struck a formal pose.

"First of all, congratulations on winning this big prize. You deserve it."

"Yes, you're one of the few people who genuinely wished me well tonight."

It looks lively and beautiful, but how many people are truly sincere?

Zhang Yuan could see the joy and happiness emanating from the bottom of his heart in those bright eyes.

This is genuine happiness arising from his joy and achievements.

“I remember it, a few years ago at the Golden Horse Awards.”

"It was with your help that I was able to win the Best Actress award."

"Now I'm making movies and trying to win awards on my own, but it's hard to get any reward."

"It's difficult to even get a nomination, let alone win an award."

"That's why I understand even more how difficult it is for you and me to win awards."

"Especially your help to me, which was hard-won."

Zhang Yuan nodded. Most of the world's well-known awards have an element of manipulation involved.

The awards are decided by the organizing committee, which is made up of people, and where there are people, there is a social dynamic.

He and Fan Bingbing are among the most popular male and female celebrities in China right now, but winning an award is still not so easy.

That's where Fan Bingbing is better than people like Yang Tianbao.

She has a clear understanding of the rules of the game, but she is neither self-deprecating nor arrogant.

"I accept your kindness and sincerely wish you success in the future."

"We work together."

"Mmm," she replied softly, then leaned forward and whispered in his ear.

"Do you remember how we celebrated after I won the Golden Horse Award?"

“I remember it was in Taiwan. After we left the awards ceremony, we went up the mountain…” Zhang Yuan said as he recalled, then froze.

"How about it?" Fan Xiaopang opened his mouth and bit his ear: "Want to celebrate like this?"

"And to reminisce about the past."

Zhang Yuan is known for being easygoing.

"go!"

This kind of celebration is much more sincere than those blessings followed by a beating.

That night, the two of them conducted an in-depth, repeated, and comprehensive suspension test on a rented Buick GL8 in a secluded underground parking lot in the suburbs of Jiangyin.

This activity, which had a strong sense of theft, made Jin Suo feel very excited.

The more exciting it was, the more energetic I became, and I almost broke the car's suspension.

They would separate and rest at the hotel as dawn approached.

It's just a shame that my older sister Xu Qing will have to stay home alone.

With greater ability comes greater responsibility, and Zhang Yuan works very hard.

As a newly crowned Best Actor, he has to take care of several Best Actress winners.

He told Xu Qing that he would contact her again after returning to the capital.

"Hey, he's putting on airs now that he's won the Best Actor award."

"Am I supposed to follow your schedule?"

"The line of guys who want to hang out with me could stretch for miles, I don't need you."

My older sister didn't play cards, but she was a little sulky because she won by herself all night.

I'm taking a plane home.

Before entering, Zhang Yuan sniffed his clothes.

Then he threw away the room key from his pocket.

He had just stepped into the house.

Cheng Hao has been rehearsing at the Beijing People's Art Theatre recently, and since it's nearby, he comes over often.

Upon entering, I saw that it was indeed there.

At this point, you should speak first.

"I'll take a shower first."

"After receiving the award yesterday, a bunch of unruly old men insisted on dragging me to a karaoke bar."

"They invited a bunch of women to drink with me, and I ended up smelling like a woman all over."

While talking, she went to wash off the "vixen" smell from her body.

After taking a shower and leaving the bedroom, he found Cheng Hao in the study in the backyard, holding a piece of silk and wiping the still-warm trophy that he had just brought home.

"It's not pure gold; the color will wear off if you wipe it off later." Zhang Yuan stepped forward and held it up to examine it; it gleamed under the light.

"Trophy awards may fade, but an artist's work and image in the audience's mind will never fade."

"I will always remember the way you held up the trophy."

As she spoke, her older sister picked up a laminated newspaper clipping from the table. It was a photo taken of him giving his acceptance speech after receiving the award last night.

"Not bad, the young man is quite handsome!" Zhang Yuan said boastfully after picking it up.

"Don't be narcissistic, but he really is quite handsome." The good older sister carefully put away the clipping, planning to take him and the trophy to the center of the collection room in the big house.

"Although I didn't go, I know that it was your home turf and an important moment in your life."

“At this important moment, whatever you say is right, and you should vent your emotions.” As she said this, her smile gradually faded.

"But what you said seems a bit excessive."

“Not just last night, but I’ve been getting through it all recently.”

She took out the remaining newspapers, which, in addition to reports about him winning the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actor, also included his remarks from a few days prior.

The newly crowned Best Actor predicts that his new film will definitely surpass Feng Xiaogang's box office performance.

This is what he said at the press conference for "Let the Bullets Fly".

“Last night, you took the opportunity during your remarks to publicly ridicule Hua Yi and the people associated with them.”

"It's somewhat undignified."

"I think you've been a bit arrogant lately."

"Outsiders will probably say even more strange things."

“No matter what I say, people will always have something to say.” Zhang Yuan didn’t care at all: “Your success is seen as pain by others.”

"Having won awards, it's no big deal to get a few criticisms behind your back."

“I know you have a good attitude, so I never worry that you will be sad,” the kind older sister said gently, resting her chin on her hand.

"But you just promised Ning Hao not long ago that you would help him buy back the film and contract from Hua Yi."

“I was there when you said that.”

"Now that you've provoked them so much, do you think they'll let Ning Hao go and bring him back to our side?"

Just as Cheng Hao said, the Wang brothers' faces turned black when they saw the news this morning.

Even worse than the unlucky player who keeps getting the pity pull in gacha games.

The faces of fans were almost as dark as those who saw the Chinese national football team get 0-7 defeated by the Japanese.

They're not hiding it from anyone anymore!

They publicly criticized us.

Those familiar with you in the industry all know you're being sarcastic.

The expensive teacup that the two brothers bought at auction has suffered another mishap.

Ever since Zhang Yuan came along, Hua Yi's antique teacups have not been used for drinking tea; they are mainly used for making noise.

"How could I not know how they would react?" Zhang Yuan said smugly, crossing his legs.

"That's exactly the kind of reaction I wanted!"

Feel the pain!
You never showed any mercy when you bullied me or others.

“But you’re the only one who dared to stand up and resist,” Cheng Hao replied.

"Yes, because I dare to resist, I am stronger than those who don't."

"That's why I'm qualified to keep moving forward." He clenched his fist tightly.

"Besides, I haven't settled accounts for all the things that happened before."

"This is just the appetizer."

“Sigh…” Cheng Hao lowered his head.

Annoying.

Why are all men like this?

He's combative and always wants to prove someone wrong.

"Let's not talk about these things, I understand how you feel."

"Just talk about Ning Hao."

"You also have to consider your friend's situation; his contract is still in the other party's hands."

"Aren't you just setting him up by playing these tricks?"

"Is it possible to get them back?"

“Sure.” Zhang Yuan raised his finger and nodded quite calmly.

"What did you do that I don't know about?" The older sister asked, somewhat suspicious of him.

"I had Yang Siwei send a copy of the proposal to the other party."

"I know, it was rejected, and that's it."

"Gone."

"Gone?"

“Yes.” Zhang Yuan snapped his fingers: “This is what we needed to do, and it’s already done.”

"I mean, and then what?"

"Then, all you have to do is wait."

He crossed his arms, looking very confident.

"Just wait for them to come to me."

Cheng Hao thought he was probably crazy.

Did you get a shock after winning the award?
A modern-day Fan Jin who passed the imperial examination?

You're not giving the other person any face at all, and you're provoking them like this. Do you really expect them to come looking for you?
Isn't that just wishful thinking?

Although your confident demeanor is charming, I don't understand.

Cheng Hao's state of mind at this moment was similar to that of Chiang Kai-shek when he witnessed the Four Crossings of the Chishui River.

He didn't know that Zhang Yuan had never expected the Wang brothers to agree from the very beginning.

Because this matter doesn't require their consent at all. (End of Chapter)