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

Chapter 462 The Spinning Top in the Dream Never Stops (8000 words)
After letting out a hearty laugh, Reed Hastings picked up his phone from the table, found a number, and was about to dial it when he changed his mind. He then typed a text message and clicked send.

The other party replied very quickly.

"Yes, Reed, we're all watching. The producers, directors, and a few screenwriters from Hong Kong."

"Did you know about his advertising time before he did this?"

"I don't know, I think it was a last-minute decision on his part. That's a good thing, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's good. By the way, how's the tent-building progress in Hong Kong lately?"

"Construction has already begun, which is in line with expectations. It should be completed in about March."

"Have the actors and directors been selected?"

"No, the first round of screening has now begun."

"Are you having trouble?"

"No, the actors here are very professional. The Hong Kong actors can also speak English."

Reed Hastings hesitated for a moment, then edited, "You said before, how much would our budget ultimately exceed expectations?"

"800 million to 1000 million."

“Come back to California in a few days and report to the company’s board of directors.”

"OK, thank you."

Reed Hastings placed his phone on the armrest of the sofa, gently rubbed his chin, and returned his gaze to the television.

At this moment, the three-hour Golden Globe Awards have entered their second half.

Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globe Awards hosts don't appear on stage as frequently; many segments are guided to the presenters by backstage announcements. So far, Chen Nuo has only appeared twice, aside from the opening talk show segment.

But in Reed Hastings’ view, each of these appearances was just right to break the gradually dull and tense atmosphere of the event, making the atmosphere relaxed and enthusiastic again.

Compared to Ricky Gervais, this person's scathing remarks, while sharp, were very well-balanced. His jokes generated enough buzz to keep television viewers entertained, effectively maintaining ratings and attracting a constant stream of new viewers.

Although he couldn't see the real-time data received by NBC, Reed Hastings, as the head of a streaming giant, knew very well just from that point of view—

The viewership ratings for this year's Golden Globe Awards will surely make the people at NBC and the veteran reporters at the Foreign Press Association very happy.

In this situation, the fact that his company's name suddenly appeared from the host's mouth was definitely a surprise.

They did it without even asking. If he still holds back on that small portion of the budget and refuses to agree, it would make Reed Hastings seem like a stingy guy.

So, that's it.

Anyway, judging from the current situation, his decision to invest in "Eagle Catches Chickens," temporarily shelving "House of Cards," and persuading the board to sacrifice a large portion of their profits, all aimed at firmly binding the other party to Netflix's cause, was absolutely correct. Even before the project began, some unexpected surprises had already occurred.

Reed Hastings felt even happier thinking about this.

On the 60-inch high-definition television screen in front of him, the glittering Golden Globe Awards continued.

When *Inception* won Best Screenplay, its biggest competitor, *The Artist*, won Best Original Score. Harvey Weinstein's smiling face looked particularly striking on television.

Ultimately, all eyes were on the remaining major awards—Best Actor and Actress in a Drama Film, Best Director, and Best Film.

……

"We're finally entering the second half." Chen Nuo stepped onto the stage again and said into the microphone, "Don't you get the feeling? This show has been way too long."

"Honestly, I've noticed that you Americans have a knack for making things incredibly long and tedious."

"Besides the Golden Globes or the Oscars, there's also war."

"I remember the last time I heard the term 'Iraq War' was when I was in elementary school. Then two months ago, I saw a news report that the last batch of American troops were leaving Iraq, and I thought, 'WTF? What are these Americans up to?'"

This time.

Laughter, applause, and whistles erupted throughout the venue and lasted for quite some time.

Chen Nuo waited a while with a smile, then shrugged and said, "Don't worry about me. I've consulted a lawyer about every joke I tell here. No one can use that to deport me."

"Hahahahahahaha."

Chen Nuo immediately added, "Actually, I'm not afraid, because I only come here for no more than four months each year, and frankly, it's all for making money."

"Okay, stop laughing, I was just joking."

“Every time I take a 15-hour flight, crossing more than a dozen time zones, it’s for the charity work here.”

"Next, let us welcome the Queen of England, who shares my passion for charity—"

"Helen Miller!"

……

After this interlude, Chen Nuo did not go back to the dressing room after leaving the stage, but instead stood with Alison at the entrance to the backstage area.

Although all the staff backstage who had free time came one after another to congratulate him, even though the awards ceremony was not over yet, it already felt like he had returned with honors.

In the end, it was Alison who stepped in and refused those people's disturbances, which allowed Chen Nuo to quietly watch the stage alone.

At this moment, many movie scenes were flashing on the big screen like a slideshow. A black man with a long, narrow face was playing various roles, and his hair visibly changed from black to white, and he slowly aged.

In one scene, a face with clown makeup flashes by.

Finally, after the introductory video finished playing, the image froze on the face of an elderly Black man with freckles.

At this moment, everyone stood up and applauded, and he joined in the applause.

Helen Miller stood on the stage and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome Morgan Freeman, the 69th Golden Globe Lifetime Achievement Award winner."

Then, an elderly Black man with gray hair walked briskly onto the stage amidst applause.

Morgan Freeman stepped in front of the microphone, smiling, and said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone."

After a long while, the applause gradually subsided, and then the old black man smiled and said, "Thank you for the Golden Globe Awards. I originally thought I would hear my name mentioned by Chen..."

"hahahahahahahahahahaha."

Morgan Freeman's witty remark immediately resonated with the celebrities in the audience and all the viewers in front of their televisions, who burst into laughter.

Chen Nuo couldn't help but laugh along.

“I must say, he was a little different tonight than the humble, kind, and amiable young man I remembered. I was a little afraid of him,” Morgan Freeman added with a laugh. “In the end, they let me sit in the audience and hear the praise from the woman I love, and it was an indescribable feeling… OK, I’ll try to keep it short.”

"In my long film career, I have saved the world, solved some cases, committed some crimes, driven Miss Daisy, played Nelson Mandela, played president, and even God."

"Looking at clips from my films over the years, I've come to realize two things: how many outstanding people I've worked with, and how lucky I am."

Morgan Freeman said with deep emotion, "People often say that if you're doing what you love, it doesn't count as work. Well, for the past 45 years, I've never worked because my greatest passion in life is acting."

Chen Nuo was listening intently when a voice suddenly came from beside him: "Chen, one day in the future, you will stand in his position. I have no doubt about it."

He turned his head in surprise and saw an assistant director on set. The man had a large, distinctive beard and was easily recognizable on set. He was blinking his green eyes and looking at him with a friendly expression.

Chen Nuo nodded politely and said, "Thank you."

After Morgan Freeman, Robert Downey Jr. introduced the final Best Picture nominee of the night: Inception.

Backstage, Chen Nuo saw himself appearing on the big screen in various perilous and wondrous places.

Fighting, shooting, speeding, racing, hugging, and crying.

I couldn't help but recall Morgan Freeman's words.

I don't know who wrote the old black man's lines, but they were really well written.

Then came one of the highlights of the evening: Best Director.

Without a doubt, the competition for Best Director this year is the most intense in recent years.

Woody Allen's *Midnight in Paris*, George Clooney's *The Ides of March*, Michel Hazanavicius's *The Artist*, Christopher Nolan's *Inception*, and Martin Scorsese's *Hugo*.

The art films within it reached the pinnacle of artistry, while the commercial films represent the pinnacle since Avatar.

Who the judges of the Foreign Correspondents' Club actually favor are truly anyone's guess.

Everyone pays close attention to the Best Director award, as the Golden Globe is a bellwether for the Oscars. The same applies to the last four awards; each Golden Globe winner gains significant momentum and becomes a strong contender for the Oscars. And as everyone knows, there's no such thing as quietly making a fortune in this regard.

The award was presented by Angelina Jolie.

The woman looked stunning today, wearing a shimmering white satin dress with two bright red accents at the neckline and hem, perfectly complementing her fiery red lips.

"Five top-tier directors are competing for the Best Director award at this year's Golden Globe Awards. They are..."

Following Angelina Jolie's speech, Chen Nuo became a little nervous, even though it didn't concern him personally.

Finally, "Christopher Nolan, Inception" came out of Angelina's red lips.

"Hahaha!"

This time, the laughter that erupted amidst the applause wasn't from the audience, but from Chen Nuo himself.

His feelings were truly inexplicable.

History changed at that moment.

In his memory, Christopher Nolan won his first Golden Globe Award for Best Director in 2024 with "Oppenheimer".

This time, the movie "Inception" in which he starred moved this timeline forward by a full 12 years!
12 years.

In the Chinese mindset, this is exactly a cycle.

He wasn't the only one aware of this.

Nolan became quite knowledgeable about China after collaborating with him twice. He mentioned this in his very first remarks after thanking the Foreign Correspondents' Club.

He first looked at the golden ball in his hand with great affection, his voice trembling involuntarily.

"I never imagined that I would actually be able to stand on this stage."

"Thank you, Foreign Correspondents' Club, thank you."

“There’s something on my mind that I have to say. When we were filming this movie, Chen was 24 years old. He told me that in Chinese culture, this means that he has lived through two complete cycles of life and has fully grown up. However, some bad things might happen in that year.”

"On set, he was just like he was at the Golden Globes today, saying some infuriating nonsense."

A burst of laughter erupted in the room, and Chen Nuo laughed too.

Christopher Nolan, however, didn't laugh. The sentimental blond man continued, "But in fact, he wasn't bothered by these traditional Chinese ideas. Instead, he threw himself into the preparation and production of the film with a passion that left me speechless. I'm the director, but without him, there would be no film. Although Jonathan said it, I have to repeat it."

"He is the soul of this film."

"Thank you, Chen."

"Besides that, I also want to thank my wife, my dear, without you, I absolutely could not..."

“Jonathan, you are my best partner, your talent is unparalleled.”

"And Warner Bros..."

"besides……"

"Thank you, thank you!"

After giving a slight bow, Nolan and Angelina Jolie walked together towards the backstage area on the other side, accompanied by music.

Before they had even finished walking down the stage, Chen Nuo quickly strode onto the stage.

The applause, which hadn't completely stopped, suddenly erupted again.

But Chen Nuo didn't pause. He leaned right into the microphone and said, "A 42-year-old Golden Globe Best Director, can you believe it? Next, please welcome cinematic paragons and superb actors, Sam Hayek and Antonio Banderas. That's all, I have something to do."

After saying that, amidst laughter and music as guests entered, he followed Nolan off the stage.

Nolan didn't go for the interview; instead, he waited for him. As soon as Chen Nuo came down, he hugged the British director tightly, "Congratulations, Christopher!"

The British director was clearly excited, but not as effusively as he was on stage. He smiled shyly and said, "You deserve this award too."

"Haha, come on. Remember to tell Michael Slan to do everything he can to help you get the Oscars, and he can come out of our share of the profits no matter what."

Nolan grinned and said, "Thanks. The competition is fierce this year, and I don't really have high hopes for the Oscars."

"How will you know if you don't try?"

After exchanging a few more words, Nolan took his newly awarded trophy to the press area for photos.

As soon as Chen Nuo turned his head, he saw Angelina Jolie watching him from the side.

"Do you have time to chat for a bit?"

Chen Nuo looked around. "Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Angelina Jolie maintained her smile and said, "Just chatting."

Several years have passed since we first met.

In Chen Nuo's eyes, Julie was becoming more and more like the woman of later generations, with prominent cheekbones, a thinner and thinner body, and shoulders that looked like they were all bones.

The world's most famous female star was unaware that her young lover was starting to look down on her. In a corner backstage, Allison replaced Qi Yuntian and ensured that no one could disturb the two extremely famous male and female stars.

Of course, to passersby, the two of them had always been good friends, and this was just a brief chat during a break in the awards ceremony.

"Congratulations, you did a great job hosting today."

"Thank you." Chen Nuo gestured with his eyes for him to speak quickly, as he had to go on stage one last time in about ten minutes, and time was running out.

Angelina Jolie didn't delay. After a slight hesitation, she said, "I'd like you to pass on a message to Lorraine for me..."

Hearing this, Chen Nuo gestured for a stop. "Wait, did you know that Brad came to see me before? He also asked me to pass on a message to Luo Rui. I want to know if you know about this, and whether you understand what he wanted me to say."

Angelina paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "I know, he told me later. What I want to say is, with Lorraine, yes, I was young then, but now I'm a mother of five, I can't continue..."

“OK, I understand. I’ll tell her,” Chen Nuo interrupted. “Anything else?”

Angelina Jolie took a deep breath and said, "No. Well, I hope we can talk again at the ball later. Chen, I sincerely hope that our relationship won't change because of this."

Chen Nuo said calmly, "I won't be attending the ball. That's all, I'm going on stage now. Bye-bye."

After saying that, he didn't wait for Angelina Jolie to say anything more and strode towards the backstage area.

Seeing his expression, Allison didn't ask any questions and silently followed behind him.

……

Next up are the two major events at the Golden Globe Awards.

Meryl Streep won the Best Actress in a Drama award.

This was Meryl Streep's 13th nomination and 4th win, so the atmosphere in the awards hall was particularly enthusiastic, with applause lasting for more than two minutes, longer than Morgan Freeman's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Chen Nuo saw that Harvey Weinstein had also shaken off his loss as Best Director and was standing there clapping with a big smile.

However, the Best Actor award for a drama film did not follow the script.

George Clooney!
Who could have imagined that this idol actor, who had been a perennial nominee and was considered an older generation Leonardo DiCaprio, would win the Golden Globe for Best Actor after losing Best Director for his own film, The Ides of March, with his starring role in The Descendants.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, and Jean Dujardin of the hit film "The Artist" all became his supporting actors!

While George Clooney was beaming on the awards stage, Chen Nuo saw on the monitor backstage that Leonardo DiCaprio's smile had almost disappeared, and Brad Pitt barely smiled at all.

Of course, Chen Nuo wasn't in the mood for jokes anymore.

He felt like he had just received news of someone's death and needed to inform their family. He didn't know what to say when he saw Luo Rui in Hong Kong.

Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

So when he stepped onto the stage for the last time, he genuinely looked a little relieved.

He just wants to finish quickly so he can catch his flight back home.

He would rather be a mascot at the Spring Festival Gala rehearsal than force a smile here.

"This is the very last one."

"Does anyone want to say thank goodness with me?"

"Many people are satisfied tonight, but many others are disappointed, including Harvey Weinstein."

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."

Everyone laughed. Even at this moment, he couldn't resist cursing his nemesis Harvey; it was truly unspeakable. Just as the legends said, this man's heart wasn't exactly magnanimous.

Chen Nuo smiled and said, "Finally, and most importantly, the award should, of course, be presented by the biggest star."

“When I embarked on my acting career, my teacher asked me if I wanted to be him or Sean Penn. My answer was… I wanted to be both.”

With a broad smile, he said, "Let's welcome Harrison Ford, the idol of every actor in the world and recipient of the Golden Globe Lifetime Achievement Award." He then turned and left the stage. But this time, he stood near the exit, arms crossed, staring intently at the stage just a few feet away.

With his gray hair and sharp spirit, Harrison Ford walked onto the stage, waved to the audience with great poise, and then said, "Don't think that kid was joking just now."

Without pausing, Harrison Ford continued, "Now let's look at the Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture."

The big screen lit up, and films such as "The Descendants," "Hugo," "The Ides of March," "The Artist," "War Horse," and—"Inception" flashed by in turn.

The final shot of the scene from "Inception," featuring Chen Nuo's character falling off a cliff, is captured. The screen goes black, and the scene returns to the actual location.

Harrison Ford steadily tore open the envelope and, without any hesitation, began to read aloud:

"Best Feature Film – Inception!"

"Wow--!"

“OMG——!”

The entire venue erupted in cheers, with applause, screams, and shouts filling the air.

Standing at the backstage entrance, Chen Nuo suddenly jumped up, letting out a series of strange, unintelligible cries. It felt as if a high-voltage current had pierced his entire body, from his scalp to his toes.

The tension, anxiety, and heaviness of the moment before have all transformed into a surge of scalding heat, as if every pore is cheering and every drop of blood is boiling.

He covered his face, but couldn't help bursting into laughter.

He rushed onto the stage in a few steps and performed the moonwalk again, which made the whole audience burst into laughter.

Meanwhile, the cast members of "Inception" who couldn't attend the event celebrated this exciting moment in their own ways around the world:
—In London, Keira Knightley cheered and sprang out of bed;

—In Toronto, Ellen Page suddenly hugged Nina Dobrev, shouting excitedly.

—At the hotel in Hawaii, Deadpool took another swig of whiskey, raised his hand, and muttered to himself with a big smile, whether he was chanting a spell or praying, it was hard to tell.

—Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, and Michael Caine, among others, have also raised their glasses around the world in their own ways to celebrate the film's victory.

Even at the Xu family's ancestral home in Zhejiang, China, the Xu family members, who gathered early in the morning to watch the Golden Globe Awards broadcast, were all smiles in front of the television. As the family's first international film and television project to be funded and operated, winning the Golden Globe title made Xu Yong'an, chairman of Hengdian Group, beam with joy, even more so than when his rare earth permanent magnet company's rare earth refining technology had improved by another generation.

The old master of the Xu family patted his hand and said, "Not bad, you have good taste."

Xu Yong'an chuckled, then asked, "Dad, what do you think about me...?"

"Yes, of course we want to," the old man said firmly. "Let me tell you, you have to do this and that, so outsiders won't say that the Xu family doesn't know the rules. Do you understand?"

"Understood, Dad."

The scene shifts back to Los Angeles, across the ocean, at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.

Christopher Nolan and Michael Slan had already received congratulations from various film crews and colleagues in the audience before walking onto the stage amidst applause from the entire audience.

Seeing Michael Slan, the large, fat man, hobble up the steps, Chen Nuo felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and suddenly all his previous unpleasantness vanished. Grudges and entanglements no longer mattered at that moment.

Warner Bros., hahaha, fuck your mother, you really do have some skills.

"Well done." Chen Nuo hugged Michael Slan tightly and patted him hard on the back.

Michael Slan was beaming with joy: "This is a joint achievement of ours."

Chen Nuo turned around and hugged Nolan again.

"Inception ultimately didn't become the second Dark Knight. We did."

"Yes. Now it's all about the Oscars."

"That's right, alright, go and give your remarks."

Chen Nuo asked in astonishment, "Me?"

"Yes, that's what Michael and I both think."

Chen Nuo turned his head again and saw Michael Slan receiving the Golden Globe Award from Harrison Ford, and nodded to him as well.

Well, time was limited, and the entire audience, even the world, was watching the three of them. This was no time for polite excuses, and besides, he happened to have something to say, so he stood in front of the microphone without hesitation.

Applause erupted again, surging like a tidal wave.

Chen Nuo smiled and said, "Thank you, thank you, everyone can stop now. I can say with certainty that we've already gone over time. I'd like to share some more thoughts, and I don't really want to hear your applause."

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience, who then gradually took their seats.

"First of all, I would like to thank the Golden Globes and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for hosting such a grand ceremony, which allows us to receive the honor we deserve in the spotlight."

He spoke quickly, but the meaning behind his words made Michael Slan and Christopher Nolan, who were standing on either side of him, as well as Harrison Ford, chuckle.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, but Chen Nuo did not pause and continued speaking rapidly: "Thank you to all the staff of our three production companies, including Warner Bros. in the United States, Hengdian in China, and Huanxin in China. Especially Michael Slan standing next to me and my agent Chris Chi, it is your outstanding work that has enabled us to complete such an outstanding work."

"Thank you to director Christopher Nolan. He is the true soul of this film, the key to bringing everything together. Without him and Jonathan, there would be no Inception."

"Thank you to the actors who couldn't be here today. Keira Knightley, I'll always remember the way we walked together in the snow in XJ. You showed me what professionalism is."

"Thank you Ellen Page, you breathed life into this film. Cillian Murphy, you are a genius. Ryan Reynolds, our filming journey would not have been so enjoyable without you. And Ken Kato, your humility and down-to-earth attitude influenced the entire crew."

"If this film has become a timeless classic, it is because each and every one of us poured our lives into it."

"Finally, I would like to thank one person, James Cameron."

Chen Nuo's heart was pounding. This inner demon had been lingering in his heart for many years, and at this moment he was truly excited.

He kept his eyes fixed on camera number one and said earnestly, "I know you're watching TV right now. I believe that what we've accomplished tonight should make you feel that lending us those two cameras wasn't in vain, and that you're very grateful."

As the music gradually rose, Chen Nuo raised his hands and shouted:
"Finally, I want to tell all the fans and viewers who love this film—no matter where you come from, no matter your age or skin color, please remember: each and every one of you is a part of our film."

"As long as you exist, the spinning top in the dream will never stop."

May all of our dreams come true.

"Thank you!"

Finally, the background music started playing. Chen Nuo waved the Golden Globe in the air and subconsciously followed Nolan and the others backstage, but halfway there he realized something was wrong, quickly shoved the Golden Globe into Michael Slan's hand, and went back on stage.

His hurried manner caused another burst of laughter from the audience.

Chen Nuo laughed and said, "Sorry, it's like you're hosting your own wedding. The chances of you getting completely disoriented are 100%."

"This concludes tonight's awards ceremony. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. Thank you for coming, and we hope you enjoyed the small gifts and champagne we provided; may they soothe your wounded hearts."

“Especially you, Harvey Weinstein, I advise you to drink less tonight.”

"Hahahahahahaha—" The entire audience erupted in the loudest laughter and cheers of the night.

"Thank you, good night." Chen Nuo made a salute with his right hand on his forehead, then turned and left.

(End of this chapter)