The Whole World Is Waiting for Me and My Ex-Girlfriend to Remarry (Entertainment Industry) - Chapter 51.2

Afraid of their relationship ending without a result, afraid of their relationship shattering violently. Dong Huaci realized in hindsight that, back then, she might have caused an indelible psychological trauma to Zhong Qing that had not been fully repaired to this day.

How strange; back then, why did she only think Zhong Qing was so scary?

Inside the venue, the actors and the film crew sat separately. Since the outdoor host interview, Dong Huaci had not found a single opportunity to have a private conversation with Zhong Qing.

The program proceeded in order; reality is the greatest stage. In the blink of an eye, the large screen reached the highlight clips before the revelation of the Golden Flower Award for Best Actress.

The clip selected from The Flower Decided to Become a Tree at Thirty was exactly the scene where “Little Flower,” played by Dong Huaci, danced while holding a mirror.

This segment was so classic that it had been made into countless clips and short videos.

There were grey-white floors piled with clothes, curtains that could never be fully drawn, and light that filtered through a gap to creep gloomily inside, coiling around Little Flower’s messy curly hair. Little Flower was wearing a small white floral camisole and a pair of beige bubble shorts that didn’t quite match and had stains on them. She was barefoot, naturally and crazily picking up a full-length mirror while wearing headphones. She played a sentimental song and danced, spun, and occasionally stumbled atop a pile of dirty clothes.

Because she was wearing headphones, the music was only present when she danced. When she nearly tripped, her gaze was panicked and disorganized; her daydream was interrupted, and the music stopped. She returned to her messy life, just like her messy room and her messy hair.

Subsequently, she picked up the mirror again and continued to dance. The music resumed. The face of Little Flower in the mirror was a sickly white, but that sickly white was painted with excessively red rouge. The light would brighten and then dim, and the rouge spread like snow. The camera stopped on the cautious kiss Little Flower planted on her own reflection in the mirror.

It had to be said that in this dream-like, stream-of-consciousness pantomime, Dong Huaci’s performance in this segment was praised as having a staggering spiritual power. Zhong Qing was also brought up in insinuations, with people saying she “wasn’t entirely just looking for a crony; she truly knows when Dong Huaci is at her most beautiful, in which expression and at which angle—as expected of (Censored).”

The latter part carried an unavoidable flavor of “shipping” (CP), but this movie, in essence, rose to fame based on “traffic” (popularity). They couldn’t be ungrateful and apply for so-called reputation rights.

In fact, when they looked at the comments together, it was hard to say they didn’t enjoy it.

The faces of the four nominated female stars, each presenting their own grace, finally settled on Dong Huaci’s face. Even knowing the news in advance, Dong Huaci could not avoid becoming nervous; her breathing quickened, her face flushed, and finally, she stood up, crying and laughing while covering her mouth, giving several hugs to Guan Feili and other actors who came to congratulate her.

After Dong Huaci took the stage, the female host inside the venue asked kindly: “Compared to ‘Teacher Dong,’ I am more willing to call you ‘Little Tree,’ just like your fans do. Little Tree, can you share with us what you are thinking at this very moment?”

“To be honest, I was just thinking that for this award ceremony, I must not trip, and even more so, I must not bump into anyone. Otherwise, I’m terrified I’ll be stuck on the ‘Black Hot Search’ lists for three days and three nights again.” The end of her words even carried a hint of a sob.

Amidst a wave of kind laughter, the host also laughed: “Little Tree, you’ve grown up. Not only did you not trip this time, but you’ve also earned the ‘Aura of the Goddess of Love’—our honorary representative decoration for the Golden Flower Awards. Come, don’t rush, let’s put it on first, okay?”

Dong Huaci appeared even more excited: “Maybe it’s because I didn’t wear high heels this time.”

The entire audience laughed. This had always been Dong Huaci’s style—she would unexpectedly stumble into a certain position when it was clearly a case of the “person being inferior to the position.”

For instance, back then, she—who wasn’t great at dancing—became the top star of the group; and as an actress, her very first film earned her the Golden Flower Award for Best Actress.

Dong Huaci lowered her head to put on the floral wreath, taking the opportunity to compose her expression. Dong Huaci naturally understood that this wreath on her head was definitely not purely an acknowledgment and affirmation of her acting skills, but rather the result of a comprehensive gamble behind the scenes. However, as the host said, Dong Huaci was truly learning to grow up.

She didn’t grow up when she chose to venture to Shanghai at eighteen; she didn’t grow up when her mother passed away; she didn’t grow up when she exchanged everything with Zhong Qing.

When she gave up living in a vacuum, stepped steadily in her high heels toward the grey reality, and began to shoulder the hopes and responsibilities of the collective while empathizing with the difficulties and hidden pains of others, Dong Huaci truly began to grow up.

She had indeed become a tree, as Zhong Qing had wished.

Zhong Qing was below the stage, holding her chin in her characteristic way with her short, translucent, round, and bright fingernails, her eyes fixed intently on Dong Huaci on the large screen. This was her habitual unconscious reaction to tension. Her entire being was almost statically glued to her seat; even her breathing was exceptionally stingy at this moment.

The youth fades as the flower leaves the tree; let us raise the Little Tree together.

We have finally reached the beginning of the end.

Having donned the floral wreath, Dong Huaci gripped the microphone in her hand, adjusted her tone, and looked wide-eyed at the camera: “First of all, I want to thank the crew of The Flower Decided to Become a Tree at Thirty. Thank you. Without them, there is no me.”

After a few short and sincere sentences, she first held the wreath and performed a bow amidst the applause.

The camera was very sensible and cut to Zhong Qing. Zhong Qing was staring blankly at the large screen; her expression at this moment made her solemn and rigorous clothes appear soft and silent, echoing the surrounding flowers.

Next, Dong Huaci let out a long breath: “I also want to thank the company and the staff behind me. It has witnessed my journey from an outsider to an actress, especially my manager, Shi Xiaonan. You don’t know how many messes she has cleaned up for me.”

Shi Xiaonan didn’t think Dong Huaci would mention her name. When the camera cut to her in her professional suit, she couldn’t even manage her expression and just wiped away tears.

Dong Huaci saw Shi Xiaonan and smiled genuinely, feeling relaxed as if she were seeing family. When people are nervous, they only know how to thank; when people are happy, they also only know how to thank: “I also want to thank the fan friends who have supported me all the way. In the beginning, I was a small idol who only had a name because of my fans. Without fans, I am nothing.”

The entire venue screamed.

Dong Huaci paused.

She held the microphone again and adjusted her tone.

Finally. Finally. This “finally,” according to the rehearsal with Zhong Qing, should have been thanking Dong Huaci herself and then giving a “call back” to the movie.

But Dong Huaci’s decision was different.

Facing the camera, she said word by word: “Finally, I want to thank my life partner, Zhong Qing.”

The entire venue fell silent.

Dong Huaci couldn’t see Zhong Qing’s expression, but she knew Zhong Qing could see her. A surge of groundless courage enveloped her. In Dong Huaci’s life, she had taken root and reached upward to touch the blue sky. Even if a tree might never touch the sky in its entire life, the sky was right there! This was her destined direction: “Zhong Qing and I have been best friends and lovers since we were trainees, and up until today, I recognize her as my chosen life partner. In the past, when we were unknown, she was my reliable senior, the guide and responsible person for my life; in my acting career, she gave me a most precious opportunity, allowing me to stand here. The sacrifice she made behind this is far beyond what a few news headlines can represent.”

Her voice grew louder and louder; the idealism and love of her youth were finding their echo at this moment: “My dancing is not good. My past romance was handled terribly. My acting was initially just that of a ‘pretty face’ outsider. My voice couldn’t get out, and my predicament would be silenced. I once was unwilling to accept why—when it seemed I had done nothing wrong—I would be ruined, destroyed, and pointed at by a thousand accusing fingers just because of my gender, because I refused a dinner invitation, because I missed a hot topic, or because I loved someone worth loving. But now I understand: if my naivety and passion have not completely disappeared, it can only be because I was once sincerely protected and loved by a specific person. And I have nothing I can give in return; this award is not so much me bringing glory to the crew as it is the crew making me, and Zhong Qing making me.”

Zhong Qing stood up from below the stage, her expression one of almost blind following.

Their faces appeared simultaneously in a split-screen on the large monitor, but Dong Huaci still had her back to the screen.

She continued, relying on her naivety and intuition:

“…I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m too excited. This might be my only chance. In the end, I still want to say: Zhong Qing, I love you.”

Dong Huaci’s final “I love you” was spoken as plainly as a “Good morning.” However, the enthusiastic applause of the entire venue was like a flood about to submerge them. Humanity cannot dampen the spirits of love, and neither can death. Zhong Qing was being ushered forward by those around her, yet she felt a bit dazed. Her black dress carved a sharp trajectory amidst the riot of colorful gowns.

Dong Huaci saw her.

She smiled sweetly, set down the microphone, took off the floral wreath, and dashed toward the audience seating, just as she had done countless times after performances when she was eighteen.

[THE END]