Entertainment Industry: I am a top-tier movie star

Chapter 109 Golden Rooster Nomination

In October 2019, on the eve of the announcement of the Golden Rooster Awards nominations.

The sea breeze in Xiamen was already carrying the scent of autumn, but Chen Nianbei had no time to pay attention to it.

He was shooting a promotional video for a high-end luxury brand in Shanghai, and had just finished work after working for twelve hours straight.

On the way back to the hotel, Lao Zhao called.

"Nianbei, the Golden Rooster Awards nominations will be announced tomorrow."

There was a hint of tension in Lao Zhao's voice, "There are rumors that you might be nominated for Best Actor."

Chen Nianbei leaned back in the car seat, watching the night view rushing past the window, and remained silent for a few seconds.

"Better Days?" he asked.

"Yes. The character Xiao Bei is highly regarded in the industry. You won the Best Actor award at the Magnolia Awards, but the Golden Rooster Awards are for films, so the significance is different."

Old Zhao paused for a moment, then said, "If you get nominated, you'll be one of the youngest nominees for the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor."

Chen Nianbei did not respond.

He recalled the days two years ago when he filmed "Better Days." The rainy night in Chongqing, that dimly lit back alley, those moments delivered in front of the camera...

A broken yet complete soul. Xiao Bei lived inside his body for five months, and it took him a long time to walk out when she left.

If I could get a Golden Rooster nomination for this role, that would be the best way to commemorate that time.

But he didn't let expectations get too high. He knew that nominations were 30% skill and 70% luck. Besides, the competition for Best Actor at the Golden Rooster Awards was always a battle of the titans.

"Understood," he said. "Wait for news."

On October 22, at 9:00 AM, the nomination list for the Golden Rooster Awards was officially announced.

Chen Nianbei was having breakfast in his hotel room. He wasn't deliberately watching the live stream; he just asked Lao Zhao to keep him informed.

At 9:03, Lao Zhao called.

This time, his voice trembled.

"Nian Bei! He's nominated! Best Actor! For 'Better Days'!"

Chen Nianbei's grip on the phone tightened slightly.

He put down his chopsticks, stood up, and walked to the window. Outside the window was the view of the Bund in Shanghai, with the Huangpu River shimmering in the sunlight.

"Who else is on the list?" he asked.

Old Zhao quickly rattled off several names—

"Wang Jingchun, *So Long, My Son*. Duan Yihong, *The Looming Storm*. Xu Zheng, *Dying to Survive*. And you, *Better Days*."

Chen Nianbei remained silent for a few seconds; he was the youngest among them.

"Nianbei?" Old Zhao's voice pulled him back to reality.

"Yes," he said. "I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Brother Zhao."

The call ended. He stood by the window, looking out, motionless for a long time.

The internet exploded the moment the news broke.

The hashtag #GoldenRoosterAwardsNominations# surged to the top of the trending topics list, followed by a bright red "Explosive" sign. Meanwhile, the hashtag #ChenNianbeiGoldenRoosterBestActorNomination# skyrocketed to second place.

"Chen Nianbei nominated for Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor?!"

"Holy crap!! The youngest Golden Rooster Award nominee!"

"Xiao Bei deserves it!! Xiao Bei deserves it!! Xiao Bei deserves it!!"

"The youngest of the five nominees, but he absolutely deserves the role of Xiao Bei!"

Major media outlets quickly followed up.

Sina Entertainment immediately published the news: "The nomination list for the 32nd Golden Rooster Awards has been announced. Chen Nianbei has been nominated for Best Actor for his role as 'Xiao Bei' in 'Better Days,' becoming the youngest Best Actor nominee at this year's Golden Rooster Awards."

Tencent Entertainment's headline was even more direct: "From a student at the Beijing Film Academy to a Golden Rooster Award nominee, Chen Nianbei has completed his transformation into an actor in seven years."

Sohu Entertainment interviewed several industry insiders. A well-known film critic commented: "Chen Nianbei's Xiao Bei is one of the most unforgettable teenage characters in Chinese-language films in recent years."

His performance possesses a composure and explosive power beyond his years; the unwavering determination to protect even in dire straits is etched into his very being. This nomination is truly well-deserved.

Chen Nianbei's Weibo super topic has completely descended into a frenzy.

Wang Churan immediately posted a pinned message with only one sentence: "Seven years. He went from Xiaoman to Xiaobei. From being unknown to being nominated for a Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor. We witnessed it."

In the comments section, countless people were posting the same sentence: "Seven years have passed, and we're still here."

"Xiao Bei, it was worth it."

"Nianbei, charge!"

Liu Haochun created a long infographic overnight, listing all the important milestones for Chen Nianbei from 2012 to 2019: entering the Beijing Film Academy in 2012, Xiaoman in "Battle of Changsha" in 2013, Jin Yichuan in "Brotherhood of Blades" in 2014, Prince Jing in "Nirvana in Fire" and Mingtai in "The Disguiser" in 2015, winning the Magnolia Award for Best Actor; Yang Xun in "Like a Flowing River" in 2016; Xiaobei in "Better Days" in 2017; Fan Xian in "Joy of Life" in 2018, becoming the Weibo King; the phenomenal sales of the September issue of "VOGUE" in 2019; and now—a nomination for Best Actor at the Golden Rooster Awards.

The last line of the long image reads: "Every step counts."

This long image was shared 800,000 times and liked 3 million times.

Tian Xiwei took the lead in organizing the "Golden Rooster Cheerleading Group" in the super topic, calling on fans to cheer for Chen Nianbei in a civilized and rational way.

"Don't spam, don't control the comments, and don't swear."

All we need to do is tell everyone that Xiao Bei deserves it, Chen Nianbei deserves it.

At the same time, various forums and communities have begun to discuss the issue enthusiastically.

In a Douban movie group, someone posted: "Let's have a rational discussion: what are Chen Nianbei's chances of winning the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor this time?"

The comment section quickly filled with comments like, "To be honest, the opponent is too strong."

Chen Nianbei's nomination is already a huge victory.

"A nomination is an affirmation. He's only 28; he'll have plenty of opportunities in the future."

"But I really think Xiao Bei acted well. That feeling of completely surrendering one's soul is something not every actor can do."

"Whether he wins an award or not, Xiao Bei has already become a legend in my heart."

On Zhihu, the question "How would you evaluate Chen Nianbei's nomination for Best Actor at the Golden Rooster Awards for his role in 'Better Days'?" received over three thousand answers overnight.

Among the highly-rated answers, one person analyzed from a performance perspective: "The most difficult part of the character Xiao Bei is not the outburst, but the restraint. Chen Nianbei portrayed the stubbornness of 'guarding the light in the darkness' very well."

Especially the final interrogation scene, the line spoken through the glass, "You protect the world, I'll protect you," that calm yet resolute tone—it made me cry my eyes out in the theater. He deserves this nomination.

Some people analyze it from the perspective of an actor's growth—

"From Xiaoman in 'Battle of Changsha' to Xiaobei in 'Better Days,' Chen Nianbei spent seven years transforming from a young person who could act into a true actor."

Every role he chooses represents a breakthrough for him.

Prince Jing, Mingtai, Yang Xun, Xiao Bei, Fan Xian—none of these roles are repeated. This kind of ruthlessness towards oneself is extremely rare among actors of the same age.

Some people also analyzed from an industry perspective that "Chen Nianbei's rise represents a new possibility—actors can reach the top step by step without relying on popularity or hype, but only on their works and acting skills."

His fans aren't just "fangirls," they're genuine viewers. This power of "casual audience" is more convincing than any data.

Of course, there are also some dissenting voices.

Some say he's "too young and inexperienced," others say he's "lucky to have found a good script," and still others sarcastically remark, "It's just a nomination, not an award, what's there to brag about?"

But these voices were quickly drowned out by a deluge of support and praise. One fan retorted directly: "Being nominated for Best Actor at 28 is called being young and promising, not too young. As for luck? Try making a film like 'Better Days'!"

The response from industry peers was equally enthusiastic.

Zhang Lei called immediately, his voice trembling with excitement: "Brother Bei! Golden Rooster Award nomination for Best Actor! Holy crap! I'm so happy for you!"

You know, back when we were filming "Better Days," I knew the character Xiao Bei was special! Now it's finally being recognized!

Chen Nianbei felt a surge of warmth in her heart as she listened to his incoherent voice.

"Lei Zi," he said, "thank you. Without you, there would be no movie."

Zhang Lei was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone, then said, "Brother Bei, you're the one who asked me to film this. You gave me this opportunity. I should thank you."

Wang Hao sent a long message: "Brother Nianbei, from 'Take My Brother Away' to 'Better Days,' I've watched you get to where you are today step by step."

You are my role model, always will be. A Golden Rooster Award nomination—you deserve it.

Liu Haochun sent a voice message, her voice trembling with tears: "Brother Bei—I'm so excited—Xiao Bei—I've finally been seen—thank you—thank you for letting me play Wei Lai—thank you for always guiding me—"

Chen Nianbei's eyes welled up slightly as she listened to the voice message.

He replied, "Haochun, it's all thanks to your own hard work. Keep up the good work in the future."

Kong Sheng called in the evening.

"Nianbei, I saw the nomination."

His voice was as steady as ever, but Chen Nianbei detected a hint of satisfaction in it. "The role of Xiao Bei is one of your best performances. This nomination is well-deserved."

Chen Nianbei was silent for a while, then said, "Uncle Kong, it was you who led me onto this path."

Kong Sheng laughed: "You went there on your own. I just pointed you in the right direction. Next, prepare well for the Golden Rooster Awards ceremony. No matter the outcome, just being able to stand on that stage is a victory."

"I understand, Uncle Kong."

The news about Dilraba Dilmurat was the most enthusiastic.

"Teacher Chen!!! You've been nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Rooster Awards!!! I'm so excited!! Even if you don't win, you'll always be my favorite actor!!!"

Chen Nianbei couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the string of exclamation marks.

He replied, "Thank you. I'll treat you to dinner after the awards ceremony."

Dilraba replied instantly: "It's a deal!! I'll be waiting for you!!"

Naza's reaction was the quietest.

She didn't send a long message, nor did she send fireworks or applause; she only sent a single message: "Nianbei, I saw the message. I'm proud of you."

Chen Nianbei felt a mix of emotions as she looked at the message.

He replied, "Okay. Wait for me."

"Nianbei," Old Zhao handed him a document, "this is the agenda for the awards ceremony. Take a look."

Chen Nianbei took it and quickly glanced through it.

The red carpet event starts at 5 p.m., and the awards ceremony is at 7:30 p.m.

His seat was in the first row, with the main cast and crew of "Better Days".

"And another thing," Old Zhao handed him, "this is a detailed analysis of the nominees. Among the five candidates, your advantages are your youth, high character recognition, and good audience appeal. Your disadvantages are that you have the least experience and your competitors are too strong."

Chen Nianbei nodded without saying anything.

Old Zhao looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Nianbei, are you really not nervous?"

Chen Nianbei looked up at him and smiled.

"Is being nervous helpful?" he said. "I just need to do what I can. The rest is up to the judges."

Old Zhao looked at him, his heart filled with mixed feelings. This young man was always so composed.

In the following days, Chen Nianbei entered "preparation mode".

Every morning, he goes to the gym to maintain his physical condition.

In the afternoon, he would meet with the styling team to finalize the red carpet look. In the evening, he would stay alone in his study, watching "Better Days" over and over again.

I'm not watching my own performance, I'm watching Xiao Bei.

He wanted to make sure that on the day of the awards ceremony, when he stood on the red carpet and on the stage, everyone could see that Xiao Bei was still inside him.

November 19th, three days before the Golden Rooster Awards ceremony.

Chen Nianbei finalized her red carpet look with her styling team for the last time.

The final choice was a dark blue velvet suit with a minimalist cut and no unnecessary embellishments. The stylist said that the inspiration for this outfit came from Xiao Bei—a person who appears cold on the outside but is gentle on the inside.

He stood in front of the mirror, looking at himself.

He was impeccably dressed in a suit, with a calm gaze. But upon closer inspection, there was still a trace of Xiao Bei in his eyes—that stubbornness in guarding the light in the darkness.

He nodded.

"This is the one."

November 22, the day before the Golden Rooster Awards ceremony.

Chen Nianbei arrived in Xiamen. As he walked out of the airport, he saw a dense crowd of fans.

They held up his light sticks and a banner that read "Chen Nianbei is aiming for the Golden Rooster Award," waiting for him in the sunlight.

He stopped and waved to them.

The screams were deafening.

He walked over, shook hands with the fans in the front row, and accepted the letters and flowers they handed him.

Some people cried, and some were too excited to speak.

He didn't stay long, but he remembered those faces.

Those faces that have been supporting him since 2013.

That night, he stayed at a hotel by the sea in Xiamen.

Outside the window, the waves gently lapped against the beach, making a rhythmic sound.

He stood by the window, gazing at the sea in the night, motionless for a long time.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Nazha: "Good luck tomorrow. I bought my plane ticket; I'll be in Xiamen tomorrow."

He paused for a moment, then laughed.

"Didn't you say you weren't coming?"

Naza said, "I didn't want to put pressure on you. But I thought about it, and at such an important moment, I want to be by your side, even if it's just watching from afar."

As he read the message, a warm feeling welled up inside him.

He typed: "Okay. See you tomorrow."

On November 23, the day of the Golden Rooster Awards ceremony.

Early in the morning, Chen Nianbei was awakened by the sunlight streaming through his window. Lying in bed, listening to the sound of the waves, he felt an unusual sense of peace.

He knew that today, no matter the outcome, he had already won.

Because Xiao Bei has already come alive in his heart.

Because those who support him will be there for him in the audience, in front of the television, and in their hearts.

He got up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant sea.

The sunlight shimmered on the sea, making it sparkle like countless expectant eyes.

He let out a soft sigh of relief.

Xiao Bei, today, I'm taking you to see the Golden Rooster.

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