Famous! Ch.241

Chapter 241: The Fans’ Expectations

The crew of The Sovereign Descends the World still occupied the best seats in the guest section. In front of Lu Xu’s seat sat the jury members of this year’s Contention Awards. Lu Xu was familiar with a few of them, so before heading to his seat, he made sure to greet them.

During this process, Lu Xu sensed a gaze directed at him.

“That’s Ni Xiuzhu,” Zheng Xiao noticed and reminded Lu Xu.

Lu Xu nodded slightly.

Their eyes met briefly before Ni Xiuzhu turned away first. However, from Lu Xu’s perspective, the other man’s gaze was far from friendly.

Since Ni Xiuzhu clearly didn’t think much of him, Lu Xu saw no need to be overly polite either. He was no longer the newcomer he had been at the start of his career. At his current level, few people could afford to treat him poorly.

“He’s like that with everyone,” Zheng Xiao said. “Don’t expect him to be particularly courteous to anyone.”

Neither Zheng Xiao nor Lu Xu had ever worked with Ni Xiuzhu. Their respective agencies were strong enough to know that working with Ni Xiuzhu meant putting up with a lot.

Even though Zheng Xiao wasn’t as easygoing as Lu Xu, he was still the top talent in his agency and had some degree of choice in his projects.

In a way, Ni Xiuzhu was indeed skilled at meticulously selecting the most cost-effective scripts, but he couldn’t stop other actors from choosing not to work with him.

After discussing Ni Xiuzhu for only a moment, Lu Xu and Zheng Xiao returned to their seats. However, their brief encounter had already been caught by curious cameras. Marketing accounts later embellished the scene with numerous “details”—all completely fabricated—yet some people still took them as truth.

…

“The atmosphere here is really tense,” Zheng Xiao sighed after sitting down.

He was more accustomed to attending livelier, more energetic events with younger crowds. There, someone might toss out a joke, and Zheng Xiao could easily play along.

Even at the Contention Awards, where some celebrities were known for their comedic personas, the atmosphere inevitably turned serious at this moment.

Lu Xu nodded slightly. “And it’s especially long.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Shuren, the chairman of this year’s jury, turned his head and pointed a finger at Lu Xu.

Lu Xu: “…”

Great. He had been overheard.

He immediately shut his mouth.

Although—he still thought he was just stating a fact.

The Contention Awards ceremony was notoriously long, with additional performance segments in between. Everyone knew that as the awards continued year after year, these performances only grew more tedious, making people wonder if the organizers were secretly using the budget for something else.

Of course, that wasn’t the case. There were simply fewer breakout films nowadays, and even fewer hit movie songs.

Chang Aiwei couldn’t help but signal Lu Xu and Zheng Xiao to stay quiet. Fortunately, since the ceremony had already started, the winners had been decided long ago. Otherwise, what if a jury member, upon hearing Lu Xu’s comment, got so annoyed that they decided not to give The Sovereign Descends the World an award out of spite?

“They wouldn’t be that petty, right?” Zheng Xiao muttered under his breath.

“Who knows?” Lu Xu shrugged.

Naturally, once the ceremony began, the two finally quieted down.

The first awards presented were for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, and The Sovereign Descends the World had two nominees in the Best Supporting Actor category.

Lu Xu noticed that Zheng Xiao wasn’t just speaking less—his muscles seemed tense as well. If one looked closely, even the contours of his face seemed tight, making it clear that he wasn’t relaxed at all.

Realizing that Lu Xu had noticed, Zheng Xiao forced a smile in his direction.

But it wasn’t nearly as natural as when they had been joking around earlier.

Lu Xu gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

In Lu Xu’s view, the acting awards were the most thrilling part of the Contention Awards ceremony. Presenting the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards early in the event immediately heightened the excitement for the audience.

Meanwhile, delaying the Best Actor and Actress awards until later helped build the maximum amount of suspense.

“The winner of this year’s Contention Award for Best Supporting Actor is—”

Lu Xu felt Zheng Xiao straighten in his seat.

“Wang Yu, The Sovereign Descends the World.”

At that moment, Zheng Xiao’s tense posture eased. While there was a trace of regret, it wasn’t overwhelming disappointment.

He had already prepared himself for either outcome—whether he won or Wang Yu did.

Deep down, Zheng Xiao had always thought Wang Yu had a higher chance. After all, Wang Yu had more experience and had delivered a particularly seasoned performance as Ding Fu.

So the result didn’t come as a surprise. But still—there was a sense of loss.

This was the closest he had ever come to winning a Contention Award since entering the film industry. The trophy had felt within reach. Before this, he had never even dared to hope, believing that the Contention Awards were something far beyond his grasp.

“I’ll just have to work harder next time,” Zheng Xiao sighed softly.

Lu Xu nodded.

To him, Zheng Xiao’s performance had been just as strong as Wang Yu’s. Wang Yu had spent years in the industry, gaining a wealth of experience and portraying a wide range of roles—heroes and villains alike. Compared to him, Zheng Xiao’s acting might have lacked the same level of depth, but in terms of dedication to his role, he had put in just as much effort as anyone else.

The jury members were surely aware of this too.

But Zheng Xiao didn’t need Lu Xu to comfort him.

The reason the three of them had become friends was that they each had a clear vision for their careers and constantly sought breakthroughs in their acting. Whether it was Lu Xu, Zheng Xiao, or Shao Yao, none of them were the type to rest on their laurels.

As for the Contention Award they had lost this time—they would fight for it again through their performances.

[But the Mountain Bike Team is already incredible!]

[+1! All three of them have won the Stellar Award and have major works in both television and film. Zheng Xiao and Shao Yao have both been nominated for the Contention Awards too. Sure, they didn’t win this time, but if they’re already being recognized, how far off can that award really be?]

[Zheng Xiao, keep going! Don’t give up!!]

[Following Lu Xu and his friends honestly feels like a character growth game. I know it sounds weird to say this about guys in their thirties, but seriously—stanning them is like leveling up in a game. You actually feel like the characters you’re rooting for are making real progress.]

[I totally get you.]

[Amazing! Keep pushing forward!!]

Without a doubt, both Zheng Xiao and Lu Xu’s nominations had been among the biggest points of suspense at this year’s Contention Awards. When the Best Supporting Actor winner was announced, the live viewership surged. But once it was revealed that Wang Yu had won, the ratings gradually declined, eventually settling at a steady, lower level—never rising again.

For a fan like Tan Qi, though, watching the broadcast had little to do with the awards themselves. She had turned on both her TV and tablet solely to screenshot the best-looking photos of Lu Xu.

The charm of a mature man… G-brand understood it best, and after that, it was definitely him.

For this year’s Contention Awards, Lu Xu’s suit had a vintage style. As people often said, fashion was a cycle—what had once been trendy always found its way back in style.

This suit gave off an air of restraint, yet carried a unique, mature charm. It made Lu Xu stand out—not as a mass-produced, industry-crafted celebrity, but as a real, charismatic individual.

Having followed several of Lu Xu’s appearances at the Contention Awards, Tan Qi ranked this year’s look as her favorite.

Despite its vintage style, Lu Xu’s overall presence still felt fresh to her. The way he looked at the camera, his bright smile, even the casual wave of his hand—none of it felt forced or greasy.

“Have you considered the possibility that you’ve mentally installed a speed boost on Lu Xu?” her friend teased, hinting at how deeply biased she was.

“Not a chance,” Tan Qi denied without hesitation.

And it wasn’t just her. Other fans had already posted inside photos of Lu Xu at this year’s Contention Awards on Weibo. Lu Xu really didn’t give off an overly polished or artificial vibe. He remained effortlessly fresh—just like when she had first become his fan.

Tan Qi never expected to stay a fan of Lu Xu for so long.

She wasn’t the obsessive type. To her, following celebrities was just a way to add a little extra joy to life. Seeing a star she liked made the world feel a little brighter.

She had originally started following Verse, and when the group disbanded, she thought her fangirling days were over. But somehow, she had ended up becoming a fan of Lu Xu again—except this time, the feeling ran deeper than it had during Verse.

That admiration had carried on to this day. Lu Xu had become an irreplaceable part of her life.

She watched as Lu Xu shattered box office records, as he took home trophies that countless others had longed for, as he steadily grew and matured.

And in the process—she was growing too.

To her, Lu Xu felt less like a celebrity and more like family.

For Tan Qi, the time she could dedicate to being a fan had dwindled. She had a new family and had changed jobs twice. But whenever she felt exhausted, watching Lu Xu’s latest work or witnessing his growth reminded her that life could be better.

That was the strength she drew from following someone she admired.

These days, she rarely spent money on Lu Xu. If he had a new movie, she would always buy a ticket to support him. If there wasn’t one, she simply wouldn’t spend—though she had kept up with his mahjong variety show and Light and Shadow Journey.

She had even learned to play mahjong, so now, whenever her friends needed a fourth player, they knew exactly who to call.

As for Light and Shadow Journey, she had watched every film the show recommended. Last year, she had even traveled to one of the filming locations featured in the program.

Lu Xu’s endorsements were another story. Luxury brands were beyond her budget now—when she was younger, she might have splurged on one or two. But at this stage in her life, she valued health and a rich inner world far more than material things.

That said, for everyday necessities and affordable products, she didn’t mind trying them out—just like his movies, Lu Xu’s recommendations rarely disappointed her.

In short, being Lu Xu’s fan had never made her life worse. If anything, it had only gotten better.

That was what he meant to her.

His dedication and perseverance constantly inspired her.

Tan Qi was no longer easily swayed by other things. Lu Xu was one of the few sources of motivation she still believed in.

Whenever she got closer to him, she couldn’t help but like him even more.

[I hope Lu Xu wins another Contention Award this year.]

That was the line she had pinned to her Weibo profile.

Some people mocked her for it, calling her delusional—saying that Lu Xu had already won three Best Actor awards, and expecting him to win another was just unrealistic.

But there were also those who supported her. Some presented data, arguing that among this year’s nominees, Lu Xu had delivered the best performance. Others, like her, placed blind faith in him—no matter the competition, no matter who the other nominees were, in their eyes, there was only one Lu Xu.

Lu Xu deserved every award in the world.

Lu Xu himself was the greatest reward—he was a treasure!

In Tan Qi’s heart, anything was possible.

From the moment she had started following him until now, Lu Xu had always been a miracle in her eyes.

There would never be another Lu Xu in the entertainment industry.

No other idol-turned-actor had ever broken into both the television and film industries, reaching the very top in both.

Even in terms of looks alone, there would never be another Lu Xu.

Silently, Tan Qi continued to pray, hoping that Lu Xu would take home another Best Actor trophy.

Lu Xu could do it.

Lu Xu deserved it!

As the Contention Awards ceremony reached its midpoint, Tan Qi’s mind was already focused on the Best Actor award, which would be announced in about an hour.

She wasn’t alone. The live-stream’s comment section was filled with people eagerly waiting for the result.

If Lu Xu won another trophy, Tan Qi swore she would be moved to tears.

Lu Xu was her pride, the brightest light in her ordinary life. She sincerely wished for him to have everything—to have the entire world.

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