Chapter 86: The Award Winner
The Stellar Awards were usually held in the early spring, when the lingering cold made the air seem quieter than in other seasons. Therefore, the sudden eruption of cheers and screams in the cold wind created an incredibly striking scene.
It took Lu Xu a second to realize that the fans on both sides of the red carpet were shouting his name.
The sun shone brightly that day. Although it was still cold, Lu Xu had stuck a few heating pads under his thin suit, so he didn’t feel chilly as he walked outside.
However, the moment the fans called out his name, Lu Xu felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, and goosebumps rose all over his skin. At that instant, he had the distinct feeling that every gaze in the crowd was fixated on him.
It felt as if no matter where he looked, his reflection could be seen in the pupils of the fans.
Lu Xu stopped in his tracks and flashed a dazzling smile at the fans on both sides.
…
If the red carpet had merely been a pot of simmering water moments ago, it was now boiling over completely.
The volume of the cheers surged dramatically, and the crowd began to shift and surge forward. Reporters in the front row of the interview area had to protect their cameras while rapidly pressing their shutters, capturing photo after photo.
Last year, Lu Xu had already caused a sensation at the Stellar Awards. This year, he was nominated for Best Actor, and his popularity had more than doubled compared to the previous year.
The dramas The Path of Bones and Voice of the Dead had both premiered within the past year.
Because of Lu Xu’s unexpected rise, the rankings among young male actors in the industry had shifted significantly over the past year.
Previously, the top spot among the younger actors belonged to Zhang Che. Wen Li and Xie Linshen were equally popular, but their fans weren’t as fiercely loyal as Zhang Che’s. Whenever conflicts arose, Wen Li and Xie Linshen were usually overwhelmed by Zhang Che’s fanbase.
After them came Yan Qichen and a few others who had gained fame through idol dramas.
The young male actors who gained some presence after the over-hyped drama The Empress ranked even lower.
Last year, after Lu Xu was nominated for the Stellar Awards, he had slipped right into the gap between Yan Qichen and Wen Li, as well as Xie Linshen. But this year, with The Path of Bones and Voice of the Dead dominating the drama market, Lu Xu’s popularity had surpassed Zhang Che.
With his nomination for Best Actor at the Stellar Awards, Lu Xu had now cemented his position as the undisputed top-tier star, with no weaknesses in either popularity or talent.
“Actors who rise to fame through their work are just built different. Lu Xu hardly shows up in public all year, yet he’s still this popular.” A reporter from Fashion adjusted his glasses, which had almost been knocked off in the chaos.
Last year, the reporter had also covered the Stellar Awards red carpet. While Lu Xu had been popular back then, it was nothing compared to his current level of fame.
Lu Xu still wore a G-brand suit, the same as last year. Whether it was because he was too busy filming to bother with styling, or because he had the confidence of a true superstar, his pace as he stepped onto the red carpet was unhurried, exuding a calm, leisurely air.
The suit was a conservative, all-black design, but the tailored fit perfectly highlighted Lu Xu’s physique. The more covered he was, the more his broad shoulders and long legs stood out. Coupled with his inherently striking face, there was no doubt this suit would become G-brand’s next big hit.
No other male celebrity could achieve the same effect wearing it.
The Fashion reporter even suspected that G-brand deliberately gave Lu Xu their duller designs just to clear out their hard-to-sell inventory early.
Then again, with Lu Xu’s face, even a burlap sack would probably look just as stunning.
He didn’t need bold or eccentric outfits to stand out.
As a photographer, the reporter loved taking photos of Lu Xu—his shots didn’t need heavy editing. A casual click of the shutter was enough to produce publish-worthy pictures.
Moreover, both Lu Xu himself and Feiyang Entertainment were easy to work with. They would never send an email in the middle of the night demanding the deletion of 27 out of 35 photos, followed by requiring the remaining 8 to be reviewed and approved by the agency before being uploaded.
Lu Xu had been popular for some time. Fashion had taken hundreds of photos of him, yet he had never once complained about the quality of the images. He also hadn’t asked the magazine editors to rewrite captions five times or overturned their painstakingly crafted concepts the morning after they’d pulled an all-nighter.
For reporters, being trapped in the “photo-editing abyss” was the norm. Stars like Lu Xu, who didn’t make such demands, were rarer than giant pandas.
In the few short minutes Lu Xu walked the red carpet, the screams from his fans were deafening, nearly splitting eardrums. Although other celebrities appeared behind him, there was no question that all eyes in the venue were on Lu Xu.
When Lu Xu was nominated for the Stellar Awards last year, some media outlets said he brought a wave of youthful energy to the event. Looking at the current scene on both sides of the red carpet, the Fashion reporter believed this wave of youthful energy would last even longer.
…
The award ceremony followed a process similar to the previous year.
Last year, Lu Xu had sat with the cast of Son of Heaven and had little interaction with the other four nominees. However, this year, with only two members from Son of Heaven cast attending, Lu Xu and Lei Ai were seated closer to the center. On Lu Xu’s right was Yue Hui, next to Yue Hui was Zheng Yeping, and the other two nominees, Xia Zhengrong and Liu Fang, weren’t seated far from him.
Occasionally, Lu Xu’s gaze would meet Yue Hui’s. Yue Hui would return a smile, and Lu Xu could only respond with an awkward grin.
Everyone knew that Lu Xu had relentlessly dissed Gu Sinian back in the day, and it was widely believed that he had contributed to the failure of The Watchers.
Although Yue Hui wasn’t heavily affected, no one could be certain of his true feelings about the matter.
[Classic Asura Field Series.]
[HAHAHAHA Lu Xu’s awkward smile is killing me LMAO.]
[Restless + awkward + wanting to run—basically sums up Lu Xu’s true feelings.]
[The victim is right in front of him, hahahaha, I’m dying laughing.]
Fortunately, Yue Hui didn’t give Lu Xu any hostile looks or cold shoulders. Instead, he occasionally chatted with other members of the Uncertain Waves cast or exchanged words with Zheng Yeping, who sat next to him.
After a while, Lu Xu felt Yue Hui gently nudge him. When Lu Xu looked up, Yue Hui handed him a piece of gum. “From Mr. Zheng,” Yue Hui said.
Lu Xu accepted it, and Zheng Yeping, seated one spot over, gave him a kindly smile.
“Being nominated for Best Actor for the first time can be nerve-wracking,” Yue Hui said softly. “Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon.”
Although this was also Yue Hui’s first nomination at the Stellar Awards, he was already a seasoned nominee for countless film awards. In this setting, Yue Hui was the calmest person in the room.
Lu Xu noticed that Yue Hui and the other nominees seemed quite familiar with one another—they must have crossed paths many times before. He, however, was the lone newcomer to this scene. Despite this, the others didn’t exclude him. Beyond Zheng Yeping’s offering of gum, Xia Zhengrong even gathered everyone for a quick group selfie.
The award ceremony proceeded swiftly.
After the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards were presented, it was time for the technical categories. Since The Path of Bones had only been nominated for Best Actor, Lu Xu didn’t need to concern himself with anyone else—he just had to focus on his own award.
The cameras frequently panned to their section. Each time they did, the number of live-stream comments spiked dramatically.
[The director seriously does this every year—always cutting to Lu Xu!]
[HAHAHAHA but seriously, he’s so, so, so handsome! I just checked G-brand’s website, and that exact black suit is already sold out. Even the C-brand brooch is gone! The prices are ridiculously high, but they’re selling like crazy!]
[I honestly feel no pressure at all. Judging by the competition this year, winning an award seems really tough.]
[+1+1+1. Anyway, I feel like if Lu Xu keeps going down this path, it’s only a matter of time before he wins.]
As the seconds ticked by, the moment for the announcement of the Best Actor award finally arrived.
At every Stellar Awards ceremony, the Best Actor and Actress awards were unquestionably the most anticipated categories. Although, in terms of prestige, the Best Long-Form Drama and Best Director awards held slightly more weight.
Actors, however, commanded a greater presence.
When the presenters took the stage, the camera panned across the nominees. Zheng Yeping and Yue Hui, both senior actors in the industry, appeared calm and composed, and Lu Xu maintained a similarly serene demeanor.
Clips of the nominees’ performances played on the big screen—
Yue Hui, portraying a ruthless mastermind, exuded an icy coldness after his success, so chilling that one couldn’t meet his gaze.
Zheng Yeping, as an aging martyr, faced death with remarkable composure, driven by his deep love for his country and family.
Lu Xu’s clip featured the scene where Yu Yi gently hugged a little girl, his cautious movements and tears vividly captured on screen.
…
Each nominee’s highlight stood out in its own way. Even competing against far older and more experienced actors, Lu Xu didn’t appear the least bit overshadowed.
“He acted even better than he did in Son of Heaven,” Liu Fang commented to Xia Zhengrong. “I happened to watch Son of Heaven, and his portrayal of the crown prince was already unforgettable.”
Qin Zhao’s performance in Son of Heaven had already left a strong impression, but this year, Yu Yi’s character took things to an even higher level.
“You’re optimistic about him?” Xia Zhengrong glanced at Liu Fang and asked.
“Yes,” Liu Fang nodded, “but it’ll be tough.”
He didn’t see much chance for himself, and Xia Zhengrong was in a similar position. However, since both had already won Stellar Awards before, they didn’t feel any regret about possibly missing out on a trophy this time.
This year, if Zheng Yeping, Yue Hui, or Lu Xu won, the Stellar Awards would break a new record.
For Lu Xu, the odds were even tougher than for the other two.
At that moment, the presenter opened the envelope in their hand—
“The Best Actor for this year’s Stellar Awards is—”
“Yue Hui, Uncertain Waves. Congratulations!”
The camera immediately focused on Yue Hui’s face, capturing Lu Xu beside him as well.
Though he didn’t win, there wasn’t a trace of disappointment on Lu Xu’s face. He clapped softly, stood to shake Yue Hui’s hand as he rose, and maintained his composure throughout.
In his acceptance speech, Yue Hui expressed gratitude to the other nominated actors. He specifically mentioned Lu Xu’s portrayal of Yu Yi, saying that seeing such an outstanding performance gave him hope for the future of young actors. He added that Lu Xu’s talent also motivated him not to grow complacent or remain stagnant, lest he be overtaken someday.
Acting is a profession where stagnation equals regression.
The camera lingered on Lu Xu at that moment.
His eyes curved with a smile, and his lips curled upward.
From start to finish, Lu Xu maintained his poise.
No bitterness.
No inappropriate remarks after the ceremony ended.
A loss was simply a loss. Lu Xu respected the jury’s decision, especially since Yue Hui’s performance in Uncertain Waves was undeniably exceptional.
Yue Hui’s win broke the Stellar Awards’ long-standing tradition of not awarding Best Actor to villains.
Lu Xu’s character Yu Yi wasn’t exactly a protagonist either, and his youth was another disadvantage he faced.
Objectively speaking, Lu Xu’s performance was on par with Yue Hui’s, but he lacked the ability to overwhelm his competitor. Yu Yi was a young man, whereas the villain Yue Hui portrayed carried decades of accumulated ruthlessness and brutality.
The calmness that comes with the passage of time undeniably added a layer of allure on screen.
However, Yue Hui’s words served to motivate Lu Xu. He couldn’t afford to grow complacent. By the time he reached Yue Hui’s age, he still needed to approach acting earnestly and continue earning recognition.
