In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

March 1st, evening, BJ.

Yang Guangming sat at his desk, the computer screen in front of him displaying the official Oscar website.

The page was still loading, and the rotating icon kept spinning.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, his mind surprisingly calm.

Today is the day the Oscar nominations will be officially announced. Charles called half an hour ago, saying he was waiting for news and would let him know as soon as there was a result.

Yang Guangming wasn't by the phone. He was just sitting in his study, with his computer on, waiting for the page to refresh.

The door was gently pushed open, and Chen Zhiyun walked in carrying a cup of hot milk.

She put the milk on the table, glanced at the computer screen, and asked, "Is it still not done?"

"Okay." Yang Guangming nodded. "Mom, you go ahead with your work. I'll let you know as soon as I have the results."

Chen Zhiyun sat down next to her son and gently patted his hand: "Mom will wait with you for a while."

Yang Guangming looked at his mother, a surge of warmth welling up inside him. Although she didn't say it, Yang Guangming knew that his mother cared about this outcome just as much as he did.

The icons on the screen finally stopped spinning, and the page refreshed.

Yang Guangming's gaze fell on the screen, quickly scanning the lines of English text.

Best Foreign Language Film:
A Separation (a separation), China
His heart skipped a beat.

Nominated.

Keep reading.

Best Director:

Yang Guangming, A Separation
Yang Guangming's fingers tightened slightly.

He even received a Best Director nomination!
He took a deep breath and continued reading.

Best Original Screenplay:

A Separation (A Separation), Yang Guangming
There are three nominations!
Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay.

The result was a pleasant surprise, somewhat unexpected. Yang Guangming leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

Watching her son's changing expressions, Chen Zhiyun asked nervously, "How did it go? Did you get nominated?"

Yang Guangming turned his head, looked at his mother's expectant eyes, and smiled: "Mom, three nominations. Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay."

Chen Zhiyun was stunned for a moment, then her face lit up with surprise.

She stood up, walked to her son, and hugged him tightly.

"Mingming, Mom knew it, I knew you could do it."

Yang Guangming gently patted his mother's back without saying a word.

At this moment, words are superfluous.

After a while, Chen Zhiyun finally let go of him, wiped away her tears, and smiled, "Mom will call your dad. He's probably waiting for you in Hong Kong."

She walked briskly out of the study, her footsteps light and quick.

As Yang Guangming turned back to look at the list of nominees on the screen, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him.

Nominated for Best Director.

This is the first time in Oscar history that a Chinese director has been nominated for this award. Although it's just a nomination, it's already a huge breakthrough.

He knew Charles had done a lot of public relations work, but receiving a Best Director nomination was still beyond his expectations.

The phone rang.

Yang Guangming picked up his phone; the caller ID showed Charles as the caller ID.

"Yang!" Charles's voice came from across the ocean, filled with barely suppressed excitement. "Did you see that? Three nominations! Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay!"

"I saw it! We did it!" Yang Guangming smiled. "Chuck, thank you. You worked hard."

"Why thank me? It's because your film is great!" Charles's voice was full of excitement. "Yang, do you know? A Best Director nomination! This is the first time in Oscar history that a Chinese director has been nominated! You're the first!"

“I know,” Yang Guangming said calmly. “Chuck, there are still tough battles ahead. The nomination is just the beginning; winning is the goal.”

“That’s right!” Charles affirmed. “But the nomination is already half the battle won. We need to ramp up our public relations efforts over the next month. When can you come to the United States?”

Yang Guangming thought for a moment and said, "Next week, I'll arrange things here and go as soon as possible."

"Great! I'll wait for you!" Charles said excitedly. "Yang, we must win Best Foreign Language Film this time! It's a pity that the competition for Best Director and Best Screenplay is too fierce, but it's not impossible! We'll give it our all!"

"Okay, let's give it our all."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming sat in a chair, looking at the night view outside the window.

The phone rang again.

This time it's Han Sanping's turn.

"Guangming! That's fantastic! Three nominations!" Han Sanping's voice was even more excited than Charles's. "I just got the call, the studio is buzzing with excitement! Guangming, you've brought great honor to Chinese cinema!"

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Director Han, please don't get excited. This is just a nomination."

"Nominations are enough!" Han Sanping laughed. "Just you wait, the media will explode tomorrow! I'll have someone prepare press releases and give it a good publicity!"

"Don't overreact," Yang Guangming cautioned. "After all, it's just a nomination, not an award."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Han Sanping paused. "By the way, when are you going to the US? Do you need the factory's cooperation in anything?"

"Next week, I don't need anything for now. I'll contact you anytime if I need anything."

"Great! Just let us know if you need anything! Beijing Film Studio will fully support you!"

Just as Yang Guangming was about to put down his phone after hanging up, it rang again.

This time it's Shi Nansheng.

"Young Master Ming! Congratulations!" Shi Nansheng's voice was filled with laughter. "I just saw the news, three nominations! That's amazing!"

"Thank you, Mr. Shi," Yang Guangming said. "How's it going in Hong Kong?"

"Excellent!" Shi Nansheng laughed. "The news just got here, and the media is already going crazy. Tomorrow, all the major newspapers will definitely have it on their front pages. Young Master Ming, you're now the pride of all Asia!"

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Mr. Shi, you flatter me."

"No flattery, not at all," Shi Nansheng said earnestly. "By the way, when are you coming to Hong Kong Island? There are some things at the company that require your decision."

"I'm going to the United States next week. I'll go to Hong Kong Island after I come back from the United States."

"Okay, I'll pick you up then."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming looked at his phone and shook his head.

The nominations have only just been announced, and it's already causing such a stir. Who knows what will happen if he actually wins?

The phone rang again.

This time it's Chen Hong.

"Guangming, congratulations." Chen Hong's voice was gentle and sincere. "Three nominations, that's amazing."

Yang Guangming felt a warmth in his heart: "Thank you, Honghong. How are things on your end?"

"It's great," Chen Hong said. "I just finished filming a movie and called you as soon as I saw the news."

"I'll come see you after I'm done with this busy period."

"Ok, I will wait for you."

We chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up.

Just as Yang Guangming was about to put down his phone, it rang again.

This time it's Zuo Xiaoqing.

"Brother Guangming!" Zuo Xiaoqing's voice was filled with excitement, "I saw the news! You're amazing! Three nominations!"

Yang Guangming laughed: "It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I can't sleep," Zuo Xiaoqing said. "I've been following the news online, and I called you as soon as I saw it. Brother Guangming, I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you, Xiaoqing," Yang Guangming said gently. "Go to sleep early, you have class tomorrow."

"Okay, you should get some rest too. Goodnight, Guangming."

"Good night."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming was finally able to put down his phone.

He stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.

The cool breeze of early spring night blew in, making him more awake.

Outside the window, the night in Beijing is quiet and vast. The buildings in the distance are brightly lit, the city breathing in the night.

Three nominations.

He knew what this meant.

The Best Foreign Language Film nomination was expected. Charles did a lot of public relations work, and with the Palme d'Or aura, this nomination was a sure thing.

The competition for Best Original Screenplay was fierce, but receiving a nomination wasn't unexpected. The screenplay for *A Separation* is indeed solid and has already garnered considerable international recognition.

But the Best Director nomination was a truly unexpected surprise.

In Oscar history, only a very small number of directors of non-English language films have received this nomination. The last time an Asian director was nominated was Akira Kurosawa, decades ago.

And now, his name is listed alongside those legendary directors.

Yang Guangming took a deep breath and closed the window.

He knew this was just the beginning.

The next morning, Yang Guangming was woken up by the ringing of the telephone.

He picked up his phone and saw a dense list of missed calls and text messages on the screen. Some were from people he knew, some from strangers, some were reporters, and some were teachers and classmates.

He turned on the TV and tuned to the morning news on Beijing and Taiwan.

The host announced in a solemn yet excited voice: "...Last night, the nominations for the 68th Academy Awards were officially announced. Our young director Yang Guangming's film 'A Separation' received three nominations: Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. This is the first time in Chinese film history that a film has received an Oscar nomination for Best Director, and it represents a significant breakthrough for Chinese-language films on the Oscar stage."

The scene switches to a photograph of Yang Guangming, followed by a clip from "A Separation".

Yang Guangming watched TV, his feelings complicated.

He knew the news would cause a sensation, but he didn't expect the reaction to be so fast and so huge.

The phone rang again.

This time it's Teacher Xie Fei.

"Guangming, congratulations." Xie Fei's voice was full of satisfaction. "Three nominations, this is an achievement that has never been seen before in the history of Chinese films. Your teacher is proud of you."

Yang Guangming sincerely said, "Thank you, teacher. Without your guidance, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"It's all thanks to your own hard work," Xie Fei said. "By the way, the school is thinking of throwing you a celebration party. When would be a convenient time for you?" "Teacher, let's not do it," Yang Guangming politely declined. "It's just a nomination, not an award. Let's talk about it after I actually win the award."

Xie Fei thought for a moment and said, "That's good. I'm relieved to see you have this attitude. I'll wait for your good news."

"Thank you, teacher."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming finished washing up and walked out of the bedroom.

In the living room, Chen Zhiyun and Yang Hongwen were watching TV on the sofa. Yang Hongwen was very excited after receiving the phone call last night, and to show his support for his son, he flew back from Hong Kong Island overnight.

Despite Yang Hongwen's busy schedule, with many important work commitments in Hong Kong Island today, his son's affairs were clearly more important to him. Even just sharing his joy in person, and not being able to offer his son much support, was enough to make him put aside all his work.

Seeing her son come out, Chen Zhiyun immediately waved: "Mingming, come and see!"

Yang Guangming walked over and sat down next to his mother.

A special program is playing on TV, looking back on his film career. Judging from the icon, it's a program from a provincial TV station.

"From the Venice Film Festival's Best Actor award to the Cannes Palme d'Or, and then to three Oscar nominations, Yang Guangming has proven his talent with each of his works. He is not only the youngest Chinese director to win the Palme d'Or, but also the first Chinese director to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director."

The screen flashed photos of him receiving awards, working on film sets, and clips of his performance at the Spring Festival Gala.

Yang Hongwen whispered from the side, "Son, Dad is proud of you."

Yang Guangming looked at his father and smiled: "Dad, it's all thanks to you and Mom for raising me so well."

Yang Hongwen laughed heartily, feeling very relaxed and happy.

After the news ended, Chen Zhiyun turned off the TV and turned to look at her son: "Mingming, when are you going to America?"

“Next week,” Yang Guangming said. “Charles is pressing us hard; he needs to get there to do the final public relations work.”

"Have the box office statistics for 'Love Letter' been released yet?"

"Not yet, but we should have the results in the next few days."

Just then, Yang Guangming's phone rang again.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was Nansun Shi.

"Good morning, Mr. Shi."

"Good morning, Mr. Ming." Shi Nansheng's voice was filled with laughter. "I have some good news for you. The box office statistics for 'Love Letter' across Asia are out."

Yang Guangming sat up straight: "How much?"

"you guess."

Yang Guangming thought for a moment: "Four hundred million?"

Shi Nansheng laughed: "Four hundred and sixty million RMB, a total box office of four hundred and sixty million across Asia!"

Yang Guangming was stunned for a moment.

He knew that "Love Letter" would do well at the box office, but 460 million still exceeded his expectations.

"Mr. Shi, is the data accurate?"

“Of course it’s accurate! I had the statistics counted three times to confirm it was correct,” Shi Nansheng laughed. “Young Master Ming, you’ve made history this time. A Chinese-language romance film grossed 460 million across Asia—that’s an unprecedented achievement!”

Shi Nansheng reported the box office data for each country, and Yang Guangming quickly calculated it in his mind.

The total box office revenue was 113 million in China, 167 million in Japan, 78 million in South Korea, 46 million in Taiwan, 23 million in Hong Kong, plus some scattered box office revenue from Southeast Asian countries, which indeed amounted to 460 million.

"Congratulations, Young Master Ming," Shi Nansheng said. "This movie not only sold very well at the box office, but also received excellent reviews. Chen Hong is now a top star in Asia, and Zuo Xiaoqing is also famous throughout Asia. And those two young girls, Fan Bingbing and Gao Yuanyuan, have also gained quite a few fans."

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Shi."

"It's no trouble at all, it's my duty," Shi Nansheng said with a smile. "By the way, Ming Shao, after the Oscars, shouldn't we start planning a new project?"

"Yes, we'll discuss the details later."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming told his parents the box office figures.

Chen Zhiyun's eyes lit up after hearing this: "460 million? Mingming, this should be another new record, right?"

Yang Hongwen also exclaimed in surprise, "This number is higher than many blockbuster films."

Yang Guangming nodded: "It certainly exceeded expectations."

Chen Zhiyun was overjoyed and held her son's hand, saying, "Mingming, Mom is so happy for you."

Yang Hongwen laughed from the side, "Alright, stop being so happy. Our son is going to America next week, so we need to prepare properly."

Chen Zhiyun quickly said, "Yes, yes, we need to prepare things. Mingming, what do you want to bring? Mom will go buy it for you."

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Mom, there's no need to go to so much trouble. Just bring a few changes of clothes."

Yang Hongwen, who was standing nearby, also said, "Let the child make his own arrangements. He knows what he's doing."

Chen Zhiyun thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay then. But if anything happens, you must tell Mom."

"Okay, Mom."

In the following days, Yang Guangming's life was filled with congratulatory phone calls and interview requests.

The media response was even more enthusiastic than he had imagined. Major newspapers, television stations, and radio stations were all reporting on his three Oscar nominations.

Some media outlets have called him "the pride of Chinese cinema," others "a genius director," and still others "China's shining light at the Oscars."

Yang Guangming kept a low profile, only accepting interviews from a few authoritative media outlets and declining most other invitations.

He knew this was just a nomination, not an award. The real battle was yet to come.

On March 5th, Yang Guangming boarded a flight to New York.

Charles personally went to the airport to pick him up.

"Yang! Welcome to America!" Charles gave him a big hug. "How was your journey?"

"It's alright." Yang Guangming smiled. "Chuck, you'll have to work hard again this time."

“It’s no trouble at all, it’s my duty.” Charles took his luggage. “Let’s go, the car is outside. We’ll go straight to the hotel, and I’ll explain the arrangements to you in detail on the way.”

In the car, Charles took out a thick document and began to detail the upcoming public relations plan.

"With three weeks until the Oscars, this is the final sprint. We've arranged fifteen special screenings for Academy members. You'll need to attend at least four in person to interact with the audience and answer questions."

Yang Guangming took the schedule and quickly glanced at it.

The program included fifteen screenings in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. The schedule was very tight, with events almost every day.

“Besides the special screenings, there are also some dinners and cocktail parties,” Charles continued. “These are social occasions where you can get close to the Academy members, let them get to know you, and let them like you. Your personal charm works especially well in these situations, and I’m not worried about that.”

The sunlight nodded.

“And then there are the media interviews.” Charles turned to the next page. “We’ve shortlisted over a dozen mainstream media outlets, including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. They’ll be doing exclusive interviews, and you’ll need to cooperate.”

"can."

Charles closed the file and looked at Yang Guangming: "Yang, we have a great chance this time. For Best Foreign Language Film, you and the Italian film are currently the frontrunners. Best Director and Best Screenplay are highly competitive, but being nominated is already a victory. However, we must give it our all and strive for even better results."

Yang Guangming said earnestly, "I understand. Chuck, I'll follow your instructions."

Charles smiled: "Alright, then let's fight together."

Over the next three weeks, Yang Guangming embarked on an intensive public relations campaign.

He traveled between different cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco, like a tireless migratory bird.

He participated in six special screenings. His English was fluent, his speech was elegant, and he answered the audience's questions with ease, winning the audience's favor in every screening.

"Director Yang, how did you come up with the idea to make a film about 'A Separation'?" an audience member asked.

Yang Guangming thought for a moment and answered seriously: "Because I've found that moral dilemmas are problems that everyone faces. When emotions and laws, love and responsibility conflict, how should we choose? There is no standard answer to this question, but it is worth everyone's consideration."

"Director Yang, you're so young, how come you're interested in such a profound topic?"

Yang Guangming smiled: "Age doesn't equate to experience. I enjoy observing and thinking. Moreover, I believe that movies shouldn't just be simple entertainment; they should raise questions and stimulate thought."

His answers were always sincere and insightful, earning frequent nods of approval from the audience.

After each screening, audience members would come up to him to shake hands, take photos, and express their appreciation.

Charles always followed along, watching Yang Guangming's performance, his smile growing brighter and brighter.

"Yang, you're amazing." That evening, as the two reviewed the event in their hotel room, Charles exclaimed, "You know what? Those academy members who came today were just there as a formality. But after watching the movie and talking to you, they all became your fans. One of the old men said on the spot that he would definitely vote for you and would also mobilize his friends to fully support you."

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "This is the resonance of art."

“That’s just rubbish, that’s the resonance of art,” Charles said seriously. “It’s your charm. When you talk to people, you have a special kind of charisma that makes people want to get close to you and trust you. That’s your unique talent, and no one can learn it.”

Yang Guangming did not refute.

He knew this was the effect of his mental power, but there was no need to explain.

In addition to special screenings, he also attended many banquets and cocktail parties.

These occasions are more relaxed, but also require more social skills.

Yang Guangming moved through the crowd, talking to different filmmakers. He remembered everyone's name, remembered everyone's work, and knew how to say the right thing at the right time.

"Director Yang, you've seen my movies?" an elderly director with white hair asked in surprise.

“Of course. Taxi Driver is one of my favorite movies.” Yang Guangming said sincerely, “Your portrayal of the streets of New York, that sense of loneliness and alienation, has influenced countless directors who followed.”

The veteran director, moved, grasped his hand and said, "Young man, thank you. I hope you win the award."

Charles watched from the side, secretly marveling at the sight.

Sunshine is like a magnet, attracting people wherever it goes.

Two weeks passed quickly.

Yang Guangming finished his last event and returned to his hotel in New York.

Charles accompanied him back, and the two sat in the hotel lobby bar, drinking coffee and chatting.

“The awards ceremony is just around the corner,” Charles said, looking at him. “Are you nervous?”

Yang Guangming shook his head: "I'm not nervous. I've done everything I can; the rest is up to the judges."

Charles laughed: "You have a great attitude. I've seen too many directors who are so nervous they can't sleep in the days leading up to the awards ceremony. You, on the other hand, are acting like nothing's wrong."

Yang Guangming picked up his coffee cup and sipped it slowly.

Outside the window, New York City is ablaze with lights. In the distance, the spire of the Empire State Building is illuminated.

“Chuck,” Yang Guangming suddenly spoke.

"Ok?"

"Thank you." Yang Guangming looked at him sincerely and said, "You've worked hard these past few months. No matter the outcome, I'm grateful to you."

Charles paused for a moment, then smiled: "Yang, it's my luck to have met you. The movies you make make me feel that my work has meaning."

The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp. (End of Chapter)