Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 454 The Golden Globe Award Invitation

Philip Gabriel was British, and a typical Western journalist. He wore a grey-blue suit, a white shirt, and a dark tie, with delicate French cufflinks peeking out from his cuffs. His hair was gray but meticulously styled.

Chen Nuo and he walked out of the dining area one after the other and headed to a quiet corner on the side of the hall near the floor-to-ceiling windows.

However, there were already people there, one of whom was facing him directly and was an acquaintance of Chen Nuo.

Charlize Theron paused for a moment when she saw him and Philip walking towards her, and whispered a few words to a gray-haired man in front of her.

The man then turned around, gave Chen Nuo and Charlize Theron a polite smile, and then left in another direction.

Philippe Gabriel stood by the window and smiled. "Have you read 'The Descendants'?"

Chen Nuo shrugged and said, "No."

“Georges may have given the best performance of his career, I loved it, and from what I understand, he has a good chance of winning this time,” Philippe Gabriel said in a low voice. “Don’t tell anyone.”

Chen Nuo laughed and said, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I'll definitely buy a DVD to watch when I have time."

"I also loved your performance in Inception. It's a great film, created by you and director Nolan. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Philip. I'm glad you said that."

“In fact, your failure to be elected was just an accident. After it happened, I spoke with several association members, and I don’t think any of them intended to discriminate based on skin color or nationality,” Philip said seriously. “The media reports are all absurd lies, and I hope you understand that.”

"Yes, I know."

Philip glanced at his face and said, “I can say this privately, at least,” he lowered his voice again, “that will absolutely not happen to you.”

Chen Nuo paused for a moment, then took a second look at the president of the Foreign Correspondents' Club, whom he was meeting for the first time. The Englishman maintained a gentle smile and looked at him calmly.

Chen Nuo smiled and said, "Philip, I have to say I'm very surprised."

“It’s true. I don’t know what those journalists are thinking.” Philip spread his hands. “I used to be a journalist too, I worked for The Daily Telegraph for many years. But I could never have made up such outrageous news. I never imagined that these Americans would actually believe it. Of course there is racial discrimination in Hollywood, against African Americans and against Chinese Americans, but isn’t it hard to imagine that such racial discrimination happened to you? Seriously, if I were an ordinary reader, I would rather believe that Will Smith was discriminated against than think that this was possible for you. But now that things have blown up like this, I really can’t believe it.”

Chen Nuo coughed.

He certainly couldn't openly admit that Warner and Allison were behind this, but he also knew that this person might know as well. Saying this might be an implication of something.

He immediately chimed in, "I find it hard to understand either. I still remember how excited I was four years ago when I learned in China that I had won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. I have an unforgettable connection with the Golden Globes, and I absolutely respect the Foreign Press Association's vote."

Philip asked, "Really? Chen, do you really think so?"

Chen Nuo nodded seriously and said, "Of course."

Philip nodded and said, "How about you host this year's Golden Globe Awards?"

The old man's words came out of nowhere, and Chen Nuo couldn't believe his ears. He blinked and asked, "What?"

Philip smiled and said, "Chen, you should have seen it in the media. We haven't decided on a host yet. Ricky has hosted for two consecutive years, but his remarks last year caused a lot of dissatisfaction, so he doesn't want to host for a third time. When we contacted him this time, he recommended you to us. That was in November, and we didn't know if you would be shortlisted, so we decided to wait and see. As a result, it has been delayed until today."

Chen Nuo knew that the Ricky that Philip mentioned was Ricky Gervais, the most famous British comedian and stand-up comedian, who has won multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Awards, and was voted the third greatest stand-up comedian last year.

This person's jokes have always been sharp and dark, and last year, when he hosted the Golden Globe Awards for the second time, he made a huge fuss.

He said Mel Gibson was anti-Semitic, that Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie had an affair, that Robert Downey Jr. had used drugs, and that Bruce Willis only made bad movies. It's fair to say that he offended all of these top stars who were nominated.

Most importantly, this person brazenly and half-jokingly claimed at the Golden Globe Awards that the Foreign Press Association had been paid to get Depp and Jolie's "The Tourist" nominated for Best Picture.

Rumors circulated afterward that Philippe Gabriel harbored resentment towards him. Now it seems all rumors in this world have a reason.

Outside the window, the sun blazed down on Beverly Hills, while inside, the atmosphere remained bustling. Under the crystal chandeliers, actresses swayed in elegant gowns, while actors in suits gleamed in their finest attire; the entire banquet hall exuded an air of refined yet restrained extravagance.

Chen Nuo was unsure whether the sudden invitation was beneficial or detrimental to him, so he remained silent.

Philippe continued, "There are still 25 days until the Golden Globes, which is short for the Oscars, but you know, we have a different style from the Oscars. In previous years, it was only a month in advance. 25 days, I think that's enough for you."

"Here, I would like to reiterate that as the president of the HFPA (Foreign Press Association), I sincerely invite you to host the 69th Golden Globe Awards ceremony. Chen, I believe this would be an extraordinary event for both you and us."

Chen Nuo met his gaze, then slowly nodded and said, "I understand, Philip. Thank you very much for your invitation; it is my honor. However, I need to consider it, Philip. This is a big matter; I hadn't thought about it at all before. I must discuss it with my team."

Philip laughed and said, “Of course, you should think it over carefully. This is my business card with my personal phone number on it. It’s open 24/2 for you. Feel free to ask me any questions. I’m really, really looking forward to you hosting the Golden Globe Awards. This idea started on February 27th last year.”

February 27, 2011, was the day of the Oscars ceremony. The fact that this old man remembered it so clearly shows that he came prepared.

After Philip handed him his gold-embossed business card, he shook hands and hugged him goodbye. Chen Nuo was about to return to his seat to continue eating when suddenly, a tall, handsome male celebrity walked straight towards him.

This action immediately drew the attention of almost everyone in that corner of the restaurant.

Chen Nuo stood still. He had actually noticed Brad Pitt a long time ago. When he saw that the other party walked up to him without saying a word and extended his hand, he had no choice but to shake his hand as well.

Fortunately, Pete didn't have any deadly poison needles hidden on him to deal with his lover.

Mr. Pete glanced around, turned his back to the crowd, and said in a low voice, "Chen, I've wanted to talk to you for a long time, but I haven't had the right opportunity. Now may not be the perfect time, but I don't think there's a better chance than this."

Chen Nuo's face didn't show much expression. He said, "Actually, I'd be happy to chat with you anytime, anywhere, with just one phone call."

"Thank you. But I think this is enough. What I really want to say is very simple: Julie and I are planning to announce our engagement next April... Did you know that?"

"I don't know. Congratulations. What are you trying to say?"

"Excuse me, but I want to ask you to keep a proper distance from my fiancée from now on. Also, please tell Rory Eisner to stop contacting Angie. I know she's still texting her, and I know what their relationship was like before, which makes me very uncomfortable. I understand that Angie may have had some vulnerable moments in the past that led her astray, but I'm helping her get back on track, and I don't want anyone interfering in that process. You know you and Rory Eisner are good friends, so please make things clear with her. Let her let go."

Chen Nuo said, "Let me be clear, is this your idea, or Anji's idea?"

Brad Pitt said, “Does it make a difference? Hey, listen, I’m not discussing this with you, I’m informing you. I’m about to be Angie’s fiancé, and I’m helping her deal with some of her past troubles, like with Lorraine Eisner. To be honest, I didn’t want to be so blunt, but you forced me to.”

Chen Nuo looked into Mr. Pete's eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips, and said softly, "Brad, thank you for your honesty. Regarding this matter, I can answer you on behalf of Luo Rui. If what you just said was Angie's intention, then please have her tell Luo Rui herself. But if it was your intention..."

"I have something to say to you: fuck yourself."

Mr. Pete was clearly taken aback by his sudden, rude outburst. He paused for a moment, then his face turned bright red, and a thick vein bulged on his neck.

Chen Nuo glanced at the bulging vein under Mr. Pete's blond hair, then looked down at his clenched fist, chuckled, and said, "That's how it is. Let me give you a piece of advice: if I were you, I definitely wouldn't even think about taking action."

Then, he took a step back, but moved his upper body closer to Mr. Pete, and said in a low, slow and clear voice, "Otherwise, I assure you, if there is a second Fight Club movie, you will never play a boxer again. The only role that would suit you would be the punching bag."

After saying that, Chen Nuo was truly ready to fight.

The main issue is this person. It's one thing to talk about him, after all, it was wrong of him to cheat on someone. If real evidence comes knocking, he'll accept it. But Mr. Pete's biggest mistake was mentioning Rory Eisner.

What's his relationship with Luo Rui?
While filming Inception, he spent his days sparring with the stuntmen and learned a few basic modern fighting techniques. Now, the moment Pete's shoulder twitched, he was ready to strike, even if it meant making headlines worldwide the next day. He was determined to use the same groin kick he used against Zhang Yiyi to gain the upper hand. But in the end, Chen Nuo couldn't pinpoint what made Mr. Pete hesitate. Was it the illustrious reputation of Chinese Kung Fu? The latest label for action stars? The perceived threat to his groin? Or was he simply a coward outwardly strong but inwardly weak?

In short, Mr. Brad Pitt was angry for a long time, but did nothing and turned away.

"What did he say to you?" Just as Brad Pitt left, Charlize Theron appeared out of nowhere, holding a cocktail, and casually walked up to him, asking with a hint of curiosity.

"What's it to you?" Chen Nuo said irritably.

It's no wonder that the fastest and most direct way to get closer to someone is through sex. After filming for months, it's not as effective as having sex twice to quickly get to know each other.

Charlize Theron completely ignored Chen Nuo's tone, or perhaps she was just used to it, and exclaimed to herself, "I just didn't expect you to be so close to both of them... Damn, can you believe it? I've been nominated for a Golden Globe? I only filmed for 30 days! Good heavens, it feels like I've vanished after filming for over three months. And after just 30 days, I get a Golden Globe nomination. God really knows how to play jokes."

That's right. Like Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron also filmed a low-budget comedy called "Teenager" in May of this year because she was really short of money after finishing "Drop".

When the film was released on December 9th, not only had she lost all of her millions in salary, but it also only grossed $3 million in its opening week. Experts predicted that the North American box office would only be between $10 million and $12 million, making it a complete flop. When she came to see him that night, she seemed to have a sense of self-abandonment.

But no one could have predicted that such a terrible movie would actually earn her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy the very next day after she used it to drown her sorrows!
Chen Nuo watched Brad Pitt's retreating figure, observing him gracefully greeting people along the way, finally grabbing a drink at the far end of the restaurant and joining a group of people in conversation. Chen Nuo couldn't help but feel relieved for Luo Rui. This man had indeed come alone, and what he said earlier probably truly reflected his own opinion.

He casually remarked, "Congratulations. How do you feel about winning an award?"

“How could that be! Paramount isn’t that generous. I’d be lucky to get even one nomination. I think Kate and Jodie Foster have a good chance, but Michelle might not be either.” Theron took a sip of her drink and continued, “Do you know when our movie is actually coming out? Why haven’t we heard anything? What is the director doing?”

Chen Nuo said, "Attending the funeral."

Charlize Theron's mouth dropped open: "Huh?"

Chen Nuo said calmly, "Go back and check the news, it's from last week. Okay, if there's nothing else, I'm going."

"You...shit, aren't you going to say anything more?"

"With so many people, what do you want me to say?"

Are you free tonight?

"No, I have a meeting."

"Fuck, how about another time? I really want to celebrate."

"We'll talk about it later, we'll contact you by phone. I'm coming over."

After saying goodbye to Theron, Chen Nuo looked around the room on his way back to the table, but the Asian girl he had seen earlier was nowhere to be found.

After that, the luncheon officially transitioned into free social time.

Besides familiar faces like Martin Scorsese and Kate Winslet, Chen Nuo also met several new faces over the next two hours, such as Jodie Foster, Ryan Gosling, and Woody Allen—some seasoned veterans, others rising stars. Although it was just a few pleasantries, in Hollywood, such "nodding acquaintances" are enough to be considered the starting point of a relationship.

Meryl Streep is making a strong comeback this awards season with her new film – a biopic about Margaret Thatcher, "The Iron Lady." She was absent from the entire awards season last year, but this year she's making a strong showing, especially in the Best Actress in a Drama category.

This was also the first time Chen Nuo had a long, face-to-face conversation with Theresa May in a public social setting. The two chatted for half an hour and got along very well. If Theresa May's husband hadn't been waiting by her, they probably would have talked for even longer.

Chen Nuo initially approached her out of politeness to offer a few compliments, but to his surprise, Aunt Mei took a keen interest in him and they began to chat. They exchanged ideas about acting, and in the end, both seemed to have gained something. Although he was far less technically skilled than her, Aunt Mei nodded in agreement with his understanding and intuition regarding acting.

When he asked, half-flatteringly and half-seriously, "How to become a mainstay in the film industry," Meryl Streep's answer was almost identical to what Quentin Tarantino and Jonathan Lee had once said—for an actor, the most important thing is to quietly immerse oneself in life, remaining anonymous. Spending too much time in the spotlight can really dazzle your eyes, making it difficult to see the real world, and thus, to act well.

As the event drew to a close, Chen Nuo did not give any interviews to reporters, nor did he stop to allow anyone to take photos. He avoided the media cameras the entire way, and before the nominees' group photo began at 2 p.m., he quietly said goodbye to Nolan and Leonardo DiCaprio, and then slipped out of the venue.

This action surprised Allison when she met him, as it completely deviated from their original publicity plan.

But when Chen Nuo mentioned Philippe Gabriel's sudden invitation, she suddenly realized: "Oh, I see. So what do you think?"

Chen Nuo said calmly, "I'd like to hear your opinion."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Gulnazar, who was sitting to the side with a hesitant expression, and said, "You can also say something."

Gulnazar looked surprised, "Me?"

"Hmm, I see you want to say something, right? Go ahead and say it."

Gulnazar didn't hesitate at all and said directly, "I think we should go."

"Oh? Why?"

"Because he's handsome."

"Ok?"

Gulnazar genuinely enjoys watching Chen Nuo as a host, finding a charm different from reality and beyond the movies. However, feeling a bit embarrassed for blurting out her true feelings, she quickly added, "Many people online say the same thing."

Chen Nuo was truly immune to these kinds of comments about looks. Take Mr. Pitt, who almost got into a fight with him before, for example; that square face of his was always being praised like crazy by the Western media. And then there's Leonardo DiCaprio and others. Looks are important in Hollywood, or rather, in the fame-driven world of Chinese entertainment, but they're also not important. Because once you reach a certain level, you'll find that everyone is the same; the only difference is between a 100 and a 95.

So he didn't take Gulnazar's words to heart and turned to ask, "Alison, what's your opinion?"

Gulnazar subtly pursed her lips, thinking to herself, "I asked them to speak, but they wouldn't listen. What's the point of me speaking then?"

Allison pondered for a moment and said, "That would contradict our original plan. We were originally going to incite the media, hype up the unfairness of the Golden Globes, and put pressure on the Academy. If you agree to Philippe's offer, then that path is no longer viable. In that case, your Oscar nomination might be left to chance. None of us can guarantee that every film you make will be an Oscar-worthy film. If you miss this opportunity, your next nomination might not come for another 3 or 5 years, which could delay your chances of winning an Oscar for Best Actor and negatively impact your acting career."

"However, on the other hand, hosting both the Oscars and the Golden Globes will undoubtedly elevate your standing within the industry. While the Golden Globes may not have the global reach of the Oscars, their viewership in North America typically ranges from 1800 to 2000 million. This level of exposure is extremely beneficial to your image in the United States. It can help you move from being a 'star' to an 'icon,' bringing you closer to becoming a household name in North America and a superstar who is influential in every aspect."

After a long speech, Alison didn't stop there, or give an answer like "either is fine, it's up to you to decide in the end," which made Chen Nuo feel that the decision to give her a raise was indeed the right one.

Allison continued, "But personally, I would prefer you to choose the second option."

Chen Nuo asked with great interest, "Why?"

Allison smiled and said, "Because he's handsome."

"Haha." Gulnazar burst out laughing.

Chen Nuo shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Don't joke around."

Alison became serious and said, "As a public relations professional, I believe that the most important thing in all publicity and public relations activities is always image. Having a good, widely disseminated public image makes it easier to be accepted and liked by the media, brands, the public, and even the judges of various awards."

"It can be said that the establishment of this image is the foundation of all success."

"It can give a person influence across the entire industry beyond their professional scope, and it can also make a person face any project or opportunity more smoothly and effortlessly."

“Chen, you’re on the right track now, so why not keep going? I think that might be more important than a nomination.”

(End of this chapter)