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

Chapter 479 Kindness and Interlocking Fingers (8300 words)
Chen Nuo smiled even more brightly when he met the red-haired female reporter from ABC TV, clearly very satisfied with his answer that "I think Leo is the best".

He smiled politely.

There was no particular reason; it was simply a matter of being kind to others.

During this time, he had been studying the script for "The Eagle Catches the Chicks". From Xie Jiajun's more than 20 years of hardship, humble circumstances, yet unwavering resilience, the greatest lesson he learned can be summed up in four words: be kind to others.

But this is far removed from his true personality.

So, in order to better immerse himself in the role, he has been practicing what it's like to do this, wanting to experience firsthand what it feels like.

So far, things are going pretty well.

Perhaps sensing his cooperation, the red-haired female reporter's questions became a bit more probing: "The Weinstein Company's 'The Artist' and 'The Iron Lady' have both received multiple nominations this year, and are considered your 'Inception's' strongest contenders for Best Picture and Best Director. What are your thoughts on that?"

“I think all nine nominated works are excellent. As for the biggest competitor, it’s hard to say, but it is definitely 'The Artist'…”

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Nuo suddenly caught a glimpse of a round figure strolling past not far away.

His voice suddenly rose three octaves: "Hey, Harvey!...Harvey! Harvey Weinstein!"

He shouted three times.

The fat man with a large head, big ears, bulging eyes, and a crooked mouth finally had to stop and reluctantly turn around.

It really was Harvey Weinstein.

The CNN reporter was initially stunned, but immediately, her instinct as a journalist kicked in, and she thrust the microphone forward with shining eyes, as if she wanted to press it right next to Chen Nuo's mouth.

At this moment, Harvey Weinstein felt like he was walking down the street and suddenly stepped in a sticky pile of dog poop—and couldn't shake it off.

He pretended not to hear the first two shouts, but the third shout, which included his full name, made it impossible for him to pretend to be stupid.

He could only grit his teeth and turn around, forcing himself to put on a stiff smile.

"Harvey, how are you doing? Come over and chat for a bit," Chen Nuo called out loudly.

Harvey saw that bastard not far away embracing a young and beautiful black-haired woman, waving at him with a smug look on his face, and felt as if he had been slapped in the face in public.

However, he knew that at least dozens of cameras and hundreds of eyes were pointed at this spot. Every micro-expression and every detail would be magnified infinitely.

So he tried his best to control his emotions, forced a smile, and walked over to say, "Hi, Chen, how are you?"

"Great, Harvey, my old friend. It's so nice to see you. Come, let me introduce you, this is my girlfriend, Crystal Liu. Have you met her before?"

“I don’t think so,” Harvey said, struggling to keep his facial muscles still. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Liu.”

He reached out his hand as he spoke—but the man slapped his hand away.

For a moment, Harvey almost lost control of his expression.

Damn it. Chen Nuo cursed himself inwardly. He tried to be kind to everyone, but he still couldn't control himself. It seems his acting skills aren't good enough; he needs to practice more.

Now that's bad, what should we do?

In a flash, he looked apologetic and tried to shift the blame, saying, "I'm sorry, she, my girlfriend has mysophobia."

"Fuck you, you son of a bitch!" Harvey's mind was filled with a thousand curses, but he could only manage a stiff smile: "Chen, you're still as funny as ever. Haha... hahaha."

"Hahahaha." Chen Nuo laughed along.

"Mr. Weinstein," an ABC reporter interjected, "will you bet with Chen again this time?"

"What bet?"

"Just like last time, we all know you lost two million dollars to Chen last time. Do you want to win it back this time?"

"of course yes."

"No……"

Two voices spoke at the same time.

Harvey turned his head in surprise and looked at Chen Nuo.

He said with a sincere expression, "Actually, I was just joking with Harvey last time, but I didn't expect him to take it seriously. Two million dollars is no small amount... I've always wanted to find a chance to pay him back. If Harvey is willing, tonight is a good opportunity."

"Hahaha—" The female reporter was completely excited. She didn't even need the director to remind her through her earpiece. She knew that the ratings were absolutely skyrocketing at this moment, and at the same time, tens of thousands of posts were probably popping up on Twitter.

"So Chen, you want to make another bet?" she asked, suppressing her excitement. "What do you think of Chen's statement, Mr. Weinstein?"

How do I see? I'll look through my asshole.

Harvey looked at the smiling, sunny Chinese face and felt nauseous.

This bastard, here two years ago, with a similar smile and almost the same tone, lured him into making that damn bet—that Avatar wouldn't win Best Picture.

In the end, he lost a full $200 million, becoming a laughing stock in the American media, and from that day on, he also gained the nickname "loser".

This time, he absolutely cannot fall for it again.

This Chinese man is as cunning and treacherous as a venomous snake. The best way to deal with him is to avoid all contact and never agree to any of his bets or agreements. This was the plan he devised with his brother, Bob Weinstein. The only way to deal with him is behind the scenes, quietly and secretly…

Harvey made up his mind and smiled, "Thank you, Chen, but it's alright. I won't bother you any longer. You go ahead with your business. Goodbye."

When Harvey said those words, countless people across America cried out in disappointment in front of their television screens.

"I knew it, Harvey Weinstein is a complete pussy!" The first tweet was posted three seconds later and received thousands of likes.

Then, a tsunami of complaints surged in:

"I believe that William Hill's general manager must be breathing a sigh of relief right now and has told his odds analysts, 'Dismissed.'"

"Fxxk Harvey Weinstein, this guy is a coward even more than I thought."

“Harvey looks like a schoolboy being extorted by street thugs during his lunch break. He’s terrified. Look at the way he walks away, hahaha.”

"I'd pay $50 to see Chen Nuo slap Harvey on the red carpet."

"Did anyone notice that Chen just swatted Harvey's hand away? He was protecting his girlfriend, preventing this notorious habitual sexual harasser from getting close to her. It's a shame he didn't take the opportunity to punch him in the face."

Under this last popular post, a Chinese account replied in English: "Does anyone know? Chen's girlfriend is American."

This comment quickly garnered thousands of likes and hundreds of discussions, prompting a personal reply from the author of the popular post, a blogger whose bio identifies him as a Yale law student.

"Wow, bro, really?"

"Shit! I just Googled it, and it's actually true."

"WTF, such explosive news, how come no one in the American media has reported on it?"

Then came the reply from the law student named JD Hamel: "I love it. A proud American girl, standing firmly by her man's side, believing he will protect her. This is the traditional American woman."

Below that reply, the Chinese account replied again: "She actually only stayed in the United States for five years, so she shouldn't be considered a traditional American woman, right? LOL."

After that, JD Hamel either didn't see it or something, and didn't reply again.

At this point, Liu Yifei was unaware that people were gossiping about her background online. After the interview, she finally calmed down a bit.

That's how people are sometimes. When you know nothing and understand nothing, you're fearless. But as you grow up and know everything, you become timid.

Liu Yifei felt that this was exactly how she was.

Five years ago, when she was 19, she thought the Oscars were nothing special. She didn't think much about it when she came. She just followed him around, chatting and laughing, and felt very relaxed and happy.

However, this time, when the 24-year-old revisited the place, it felt like she was carrying a heavy burden.

It was only at the end of the red carpet that she returned to normal, began to wave left and right, and posed in various ways according to the photographer's request.

After taking pictures for a while, she walked up the steps and breathed a slight sigh of relief, saying, "That was almost a disaster."

Chen Nuo asked curiously, "What's so terrible about it?"

"I don't have any good photos. My mom and Jingjie will say I don't know how to pose. Jingjie even bought me several ad space and prepared a trending topic. Hehe."

Liu Yifei chuckled twice, like she'd stolen a chicken.

Chen Nuo chuckled twice, "How much does Sina charge for a trending topic these days?"

"I don't know. Aren't you a shareholder? You don't know?"

“I didn’t attend the board meeting again this year. However, I looked at last year’s performance, and it was indeed quite good.” Chen Nuo said as he walked, when suddenly he saw a girl in a red dress standing at the entrance of the Kodak Theater, smiling at him. He immediately smiled with delight.

Liu Yifei noticed it immediately and exclaimed in surprise, "She's here too?"

Liu Yifei doesn't know many of Chen Nuo's female friends, especially in Hollywood.

But without a doubt, Emma Stone is a figure known to both herself and all Chinese audiences. Her speech at Cannes, in particular, was legendary, and has been the subject of countless edits and memes on various video websites and Weibo over the years.

"Why are you here?" Chen Nuo, like Liu Yifei, was surprised to see her and went up to greet her with a light hug, giving the strikingly dressed Emma Stone a bright and cheerful hug.

"I'm here to present an award." Emma Stone smiled broadly, her red dress gleaming like a flame under the lights.

The two hadn't seen each other for a while, and their reunion at the Oscars was a special occasion. Chen Nuo, unusually, genuinely revealed his kind and gentle nature without any hint of acting.

"Come on, let me introduce you," he said. "This is my girlfriend..."

“Hello, Emma.” Liu Yifei extended her hand naturally.

“Hello, Crystal.” Emma Stone shook her hand with a big smile. “Your dress is beautiful today, I love it.”

"Thank you, yours too."

Releasing her grip, Emma Stone turned around and asked with a smile, "Were you causing trouble for Harvey on the red carpet again?"

Chen Nuo shook his head and said, "No, I just wanted to return the money I won to him before. But he wouldn't accept it."

Emma laughed and said, "Come on, who would believe that? Harvey isn't an idiot. Okay, we should probably go in now, there are reporters watching this way... Chen, do you know what award I'm presenting today? I have to say, the award I'm presenting is very likely to be won by you guys."

"what?"

"Best visual effect".

"Oh, that's true, we're a big favorite."

"Do you have a chance to win Best Director or Best Film this time?"

"I don't know. I've been in China all this time, and I haven't been involved in Warner's public relations matters."

"Okay, anyway, I hope you win the award. I don't want to see Harvey Weinstein's face on the big screen at all."

"Haha, don't say that. Be more amiable and nice, Emma."

"List."

"what?"

"Did you take drugs before you came here today?"

"Nonsense!"

Sigh, how should I put it? I was clearly trying to be kind to others, but it caused such a big misunderstanding.

He really is prepared to pay back the money, unlike last time when he was trying to set a trap for Harvey.

Because of this year, the 3D version of "Inception" was delayed for a year, and the movie thus wandered into various award ceremonies, becoming a giant butterfly. As a result, tonight's Oscar for Best Picture or other awards is completely unpredictable, unlike two years ago.

But nobody believed it. Look at Harvey, walking so fast, it looked like his pants would fall off if he slowed down even a little. What kind of person did they take him for?

Chen Nuo chatted with Emma Stone as they walked, and soon entered the main hall of the Kodak Theatre.

He and Liu Yifei were seated in the third row from the left, while Emma Stone was behind them on the right. But instead of immediately saying goodbye where they should have parted ways, the woman said seriously again, "Chen, there's one more thing." "What?"

“What should I do when I present the award? Should I tell jokes? Or should I keep it simple? My agent asked me to ask you.” Emma Stone looked very serious. “I’m very nervous right now. This is my first Oscar, and my agent has put in a lot of effort to prepare me for this presentation. I don’t want to mess it up, but I also don’t want to waste this opportunity. My presenting partner is Ben Stiller, you know, he might have some quirky ideas, but I’m not sure if I should go along with him.”

After listening, Chen Nuo said without hesitation, "Emma, ​​my opinion is that you should definitely show yourself."

Emma Stone blinked and said, "Are you sure?"

“Of course, I’m 100% sure,” Chen Nuo said. “Emma, ​​your talent is recognized throughout Hollywood. I don’t understand what there is to worry about. Just do what you want to do, boldly show your talent to the world. It’s just an award ceremony. You’re someone who will win an Oscar for Best Actress someday. What does this mean compared to that?”

Emma laughed, her whole face looking incredibly lively. "OK, Oscar for Best Actress, I'll remember that. If that day ever comes, you'd better sit in the audience, I'll definitely go down and kiss you."

Chen Nuo laughed and said, "No, my girlfriend is here, she'll be angry."

Emma turned around and smiled, saying, "Crystal, will you be angry?"

Liu Yifei smiled and shook her head: "No."

Emma turned around and laughed, "See, your girlfriend is on my side. Okay, I get what you mean. Thanks a lot for the advice, bye, I'm leaving. Crystal, nice to meet you, hope you enjoy the night. Chen, good luck tonight."

"You too, Emma."

……

"Emma is so nice, no wonder you two get along so well."

"Hehe, it's alright, just ordinary friends."

"Is what you said true?"

"what?"

"Do you think she'll win an Oscar for Best Actress?"

"It's true, just like I also think you'll play Mulan someday."

"What?! You..."

After parting ways with Emma Stone, Chen Nuo and Liu Yifei chatted as they walked toward their seats, guided by the concierge.

As a former winner of Best Supporting Actor and a nominee for Best Actor, the Academy gave him a fairly early entry time this time. As he walked through the theater, only a small portion of the seats were occupied.

Leonardo DiCaprio arrived later than them in the order of appearance, which meant Liu Yifei didn't have a chance to ask him if he really wanted to win Best Actor that night.

Of course, there's really no need to ask this question.

I definitely want to, it's just a matter of whether I can.

During those 20-plus days, Alison sent him work emails almost every day, updating him on the progress of Warner's public relations efforts. Chen Nuo knew that, based on the current situation, Leonardo DiCaprio and the lead actor of "The Artist" were almost evenly matched in the race for Best Actor at this year's Oscars.

Although it may sound like nothing was said, in fact, as one of the five nominees, being considered a 50/50 chance of winning already gives one a very high probability of winning.

As he said, Allison also made it clear that there was no chance tonight.

His only chance to get on stage lies in the Best Picture category. Let's see if Inception can beat The Artist and War Horse, allowing him, as one of the producers, to sneak onto the Oscar stage.

Chen Nuo was filled with both anticipation and trepidation about this.

He is clearly not the only one who thinks this way.

Mr. Xu Yong'an, Chairman of Hengdian Group, was clearly even more excited than him.

As soon as Chen Nuo and Liu Yifei sat down, Chairman Xu, who had arrived at the Kodak Theater much earlier and was sitting in the row behind them, leaned over and said, "Little Chen, you've finally arrived?"

Chen Nuo turned around with a friendly smile and said, "Yes, you're here. Mr. Xu, you're here early. Have you been waiting for a while? Haha."

Xu Yong'an shook his head with a sigh and said, "Not long at all. Sitting here, looking at people, and listening to them chat, time seems to fly by. It's just that there are foreigners here, so I feel a little uncomfortable. To be honest, I'm a little nervous, haha."

Chen Nuo laughed and said, "Actually, if you don't have anything to do, you can go to the banquet hall to eat something before the event starts, since you'll be sitting for a long time, more than four hours."

"It's nothing, it's nothing," Xu Yong'an said with a smile. "I'm at the company all year round, and meetings can last all day, so sitting here for a little while is nothing. But I really never thought I'd be sitting here one day. Xiao Chen, I was just thinking about this, and suddenly I broke out in a cold sweat."

"Oh? What's wrong?"

“I was thinking, it’s fortunate that you almost ran out of funding when you were making the 3D version of Inception, and Lao Han…” Xu Yong’an couldn’t help but laugh at this point, “I’m not saying this to be mean, but Lao Han is really smart all his life, but he was foolish for a moment. He was blinded by greed, and thanks to him, I got this huge advantage. Actually, besides you, I really have to thank him. But I can’t say this out loud, otherwise he’ll probably be lying in the hospital for another two months, hahaha.”

Chairman Xu laughed heartily, while Chen Nuo had no choice but to accompany this Zhejiang businessman, whose group of six listed companies had never appeared on the Forbes list because they were collectively owned, but who was actually hiding a net worth of at least several hundred billion yuan. He chuckled dryly.

As Xu, the richest man, spoke with increasing excitement, a touch of wistfulness in his voice: "I heard that Old Han is a lucky man. Despite such a serious illness, he recovered quite well and was discharged from the hospital before the New Year. I heard he can even go back to work after the New Year. I just wonder if he'll be watching TV at home tonight. But really, I almost switched seats with him. I almost became the one watching TV. I'm still shaken. To be honest, when I invested the money, although it was based on my trust in you, I never expected it to be so successful. Not only did I make money, but I also got to sit here at the Oscars."

He looked at Chen Nuo, his tone becoming more serious: "Little Chen, although you don't want my investment or my red envelope, I know it's pointless to talk about money with you. But put everything else aside, remember this: as long as I, Xu Yong'an, still have a say in Hengdian Group, if your Huanxin Company needs anything when you come to Hengdian to film, just say the word, and I, Xu Yong'an, will arrange everything perfectly. If there's even the slightest problem, you can come to my house and slap me in the face."

"Haha, Mr. Xu, if you put it that way, then I'll remember it," Chen Nuo said with a smile.

Xu Yong'an patted his chest and said, "A promise is a promise." After a pause, he added, "By the way, I overheard some foreigners chatting in the back and front. Harvey won Best Film again this time. Xiao Chen, do you think it's true?"

Chen Nuo smiled and said, "It hasn't started yet, so we don't know who will win or lose."

"Oh?" Xu Yong'an hesitated. "But I heard that Harvey was quite capable at the Oscars, wasn't he?"

Chen Nuo glanced at his watch, estimating that it was about to begin, and spoke briefly in language Xu Yong'an could understand: "They are quite capable. However, there are several thousand people; it's not so easy to manage them all. Moreover, no one has ever said that Americans are so trustworthy that they will definitely do things after receiving bribes. Mr. Xu, you should know more about this than I do."

"Oh, I see. Haha." Xu Yong'an laughed as if he had just realized something.

Just as he finished speaking, Nolan arrived.

This time, however, the organizing committee did not arrange the seating according to the film crew. Nolan was assigned to the other side, so after greeting him and Xu Yong'an with Emma Thomas, they went over there.

Next, some people Chen Nuo knew entered the room one after another. George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Martin Scorsese were all sitting on the same side as him. When they passed by, they would stop to greet him and say a few words. So for the next half hour, Chen Nuo hardly sat down again, and naturally had no chance to chat with Xu Yong'an any further.

At 6:55 p.m., the lights in the venue slowly dimmed, and the concierges began to guide the guests who had not yet taken their seats to their places.

Chen Nuo then ended the small talk.

While he was chatting, Liu Yifei stayed by his side, following Chinese etiquette by smiling and nodding as he spoke with others, and occasionally offering a few words of agreement.

Finally sitting down, Xixi couldn't help but let out a soft sigh: "I'm exhausted. You have so many friends, Chen Nuo. Why didn't you mention this before? I thought it was all just gossip, but it turns out you're so close to them all."

"What's so good about it? They're all just fair-weather friends. You're an American yourself, you know that people here are all just pretending to be polite." Chen Nuo said nonchalantly, "Alright, if you're tired, take a rest and don't talk."

“…Hey.” Liu Yifei suddenly leaned closer and whispered, “Could you introduce Woody Allen to me again?”

"Huh? Why?"

"I'm a fan of his! I've loved watching his movies since I was a kid. I was in America when I was little, and the first movie I ever went to see was his 'Everybody Says I Love You.' I saw his 'Midnight in Paris' in China this time, and I loved it too. I didn't even have a chance to say hello to him when you were talking to him just now... Hey, what are you doing? Wait a minute, I didn't say 'now'!"

But it was too late. Chen Nuo ignored her, leaned down slightly, and said to the white-haired old man sitting on her other side, "Woody, I forgot to mention earlier, my girlfriend is a huge fan of yours. She's loved watching your movies since she was little. She wants to get to know you again, is that okay?"

The old man burst into laughter, his wrinkles crinkling into a deep knot, and said, "Of course."

This is just great.

Liu Yifei originally thought that meeting her childhood idol, an internationally renowned director, would be a very formal and grand affair, with everyone standing up to shake hands and exchange pleasantries. However, to her surprise, her boyfriend acted as if he were introducing the fishmonger next door, without even giving her a heads-up, and just barged in without giving her any time to prepare.

Left with no other option, Liu Yifei turned around, blushing, and extended her hand, saying, "Hello, director, I'm Crystal Liu, nice to meet you."

Woody Allen smiled and said, "Hello, Crystal, it's a pleasure to meet you too. It's an honor to sit next to such a young and beautiful lady as you tonight."

"No, no, it's my honor."

After a few brief pleasantries, the countdown timer started playing in the theater.

The red carpet ended, the lights dimmed, and the Oscars ceremony was about to begin.

Liu Yifei quieted down and shut her mouth. But her heart was still racing.

At that moment, she truly had a strange feeling, as if she had become Gilles in "Midnight in Paris," transported to 19th-century Paris through the misty streets. All around her were dazzling stars. Those she had once only been able to look up to were now sitting beside her.

Yes, when we were young we didn't know any better and didn't know how to cherish things, so we were fearless.

As we grow older, we may not be as carefree as before, but that's precisely why we understand the preciousness of this moment even more.

In the darkness, Liu Yifei was overwhelmed with emotions, a complex mix of feelings she couldn't express. She could only place her hand in the man's beside her, turn it over, and interlock their fingers.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1."

The countdown ended.

A solemn and dignified male voice then rang out in the hall—

"This is a live broadcast from the Hollywood Heights Center, where we celebrate the most outstanding achievements in the film industry."

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome Morgan Freeman!"

Then, a tall, elderly Black man walked out from behind the curtain on the left side of the stage. He stood in the center of the red and gold-embellished, dazzling Oscar stage, and a spotlight descended from above, enveloping him in a gentle halo.

Morgan, who had just received the Globe Award for Lifetime Achievement, paused for a moment amidst applause before speaking slowly in his signature deep voice:

“Since the first Academy Awards in 1929, film has undergone tremendous changes. However, no matter how times change, one thing remains the same: our love for film. Whether in black and white or color, live-action or animation, with sound or without sound—we are all captivated by the world constructed by light and shadow.”

He paused slightly, a smile playing on his lips, and raised his voice:
"Tonight is a night for movies. Let's raise a toast to today and to those glorious moments that have illuminated the world. Welcome to the 84th Academy Awards!"

The applause thundered again, and the curtain in the center of the stage slowly opened, revealing the large screen.

On the screen, a silent black-and-white image begins to play, exuding a strong retro vibe.

Billy Crystal, the host of this year's Oscars, is wearing a metal gag and being "electrocuted," his terrified face trembling as he looks at the camera.

The off-screen caption reads: "No, no, I don't want to host the Oscars!"

The audience erupted in laughter, "Hahahaha!"

Liu Yifei laughed along with her.

This is clearly imitating the silent film style of "The Artist".

As the screen continued to move forward, Billy Crystal, after being irresistibly electrified, was "forced" to take on the hosting duties.

The image flashed instantly, and the colors transitioned from black and white to vibrant.

The image gradually became clearer in the blurry vision.

Then, an Asian face appeared in the center of the screen.

Liu Yifei burst into laughter, and immediately gripped her hand even tighter.

Chen Nuo appeared on the screen, wearing a floral shirt, her expression worried yet gentle, and softly said:

"Get out of this dream, Marlene. You know this isn't real... those days we had, those memories—they're just illusions you've created..."

He acted so convincingly that when the scene flashed by, the bed scene on the screen made it seem like a continuation of the main film. However, the next second, the camera zoomed in, and it wasn't Keira Knightley lying on the bed, but Billy Crystal with his shiny bald head.

The room erupted in laughter.

On screen, Chen Nuo stands by the bedside, his face filled with sorrow and deep affection, and continues speaking to Billy Crystal, whose eyes are closed:
“You must wake up, Morin… The children are waiting for you to come home.”

After saying that, he lowered his head, and it was clear that he hesitated at first. But immediately, he closed his eyes and kissed her.

An indescribable burst of screams and laughter erupted in the Kodak Theater.

Liu Yifei also forgot to hold hands with her boyfriend. She covered her mouth with both hands, stared wide-eyed in surprise, and completely forgot about her image.

On the big screen, her boyfriend's mouth was pressed against Billy Crystal's mouth.

ps:
After sleeping all day, I finally feel a bit better.

I started writing at 8 PM and finished at 5 AM, writing 8000 words.

(End of this chapter)