Have you ever been a celebrity? Why are you writing about entertainment?

Chapter 153 I'm so sad I didn't get the award.
The awards hall at the Louvre International Film Festival is not spacious; in fact, it could be described as rather ordinary.

The velvet curtains were a bit worn, and the stage lighting wasn't particularly dazzling. Compared to the diversity and vibrancy of Brussels, the "crossroads of Europe," the atmosphere here leaned more towards a focused, even somewhat scholarly, tranquility.

But for short film creators from all over the world, the awards at this film festival dedicated to short films are highly prestigious.

Yu Wei and his group sat on the far right of the front row, which was actually a very good position according to the organizer's arrangement.

Many industry leaders, international stars, and renowned directors gathered together; this was the first time they had attended such an event.

"Are you causing trouble again?"

Qi Luo'an looked at Yu Wei with a helpless expression. She had heard that this kid could attract a crowd just by going to the music store to practice the piano...

Is this the legendary case of gold shining wherever it is, or is it simply the awakening of its eye-catching attributes?
"No, I was just practicing the piano."

Yu Wei was also puzzled. Do you know how damaging it is for someone who writes online novels to turn around and find themselves being watched by a group of people?
It was a group of people with different skin colors, which terrified Yu Wei. He had never been surrounded by onlookers when he was writing novels in China.

Writing a novel in front of everyone is tantamount to creating history in public.

"They can't even read Chinese characters, so what's there to be embarrassed about?"

“This is called spiritual streaking.” Yu Wei pointed to the crowded awards hall. “Would you be willing to write a novel on a computer in this place?”

"It does seem a bit like that..."

Even if you don't understand it, this behavior itself is inherently awkward. If an online novelist can create in public and not be afraid of other people's opinions, then he will succeed in whatever he does.

While the two of them still had the leisure to chat, Lu Zhou and the others on the side had already held their breath and adjusted their mindset. Whether or not they could win the award was of paramount importance to them.

Before the awards ceremony even began, the photographer started a live stream. Based on feedback from the audience at the last opening ceremony, the organizing committee specially installed a translation plugin for the live stream.

The translations aren't perfectly accurate; they're just enough to give the audience a general understanding of the situation.

Knowing that tonight was the awards ceremony, there were still more than 10,000 people in the live broadcast room, even though it was already 1 a.m. in China.

It seems there are quite a few night owls...

"Front row, front row, witnessing history."

"Yu Wei looks really handsome today, doesn't he? He didn't embarrass us."

"It's just the average appearance of netizens."

"I'm a Yu Hei (a derogatory term for a critic of Yu), and if I don't win an award, I'll be purged!"

At this moment, Yu Wei and the others naturally had no time to look at the live comments. The event was about to begin, and several people who looked like hosts had already walked onto the stage.

"The new plot you wrote this afternoon, is it a piano piece?"

"Yes."

Thanks to the music store owner for dispersing the onlookers, Yu Weicai was able to write the new plot. The exchange rate for the piece was not high, and he practiced it briefly after exchanging it.

Just as Qi Luoan was about to ask about the details of the piece, the awards ceremony officially began, and the host, as usual, gave the necessary opening remarks.

"Aren't you going to translate it?"

Yu Wei gave her a meaningful look but didn't say anything. He wanted to translate it, but he couldn't understand it. "Malice" didn't have many words and contained very limited sentences.

The first award presented was for "Best Cinematography," and their film "Andhadhun" didn't even receive a nomination, so naturally they didn't pay much attention to it.

The presenter deliberately dragged out his words to create suspense: "The winner of Best Cinematography is 'City Symphony'."

Yu Wei knew about this short film. Unlike "The Tuner," which used music as a secondary element, "City Symphony" was permeated with piano music throughout, creating a very strong artistic atmosphere.

The reason he remembers it so clearly is mainly because this film was the biggest obstacle to the Best Music Award.

After that, the animated short film award had nothing to do with them anymore, but the bald uncle who won the award was very excited and gave an acceptance speech that lasted for more than three minutes.

"The nominees for Best Director are..."

The presenter read out five names in turn, and applause rang out from the audience for each name read out. When Yu Wei heard Lü Zhou's name, he wondered if he had misheard.
How did a director who was still shooting music videos and was struggling to make a living six months ago actually get nominated for Best Director at the Loo Wen Awards?

The nomination itself is an honor, enough for him to boast about when he returns home.

But Lü Zhou was clearly more ambitious. When the camera was pointed at him, Lü Zhou held his breath and did nothing, waiting for a miracle to happen.

However, no miracle occurred, and the Best Director award went to a more experienced European female director.

Lu Zhou was visibly discouraged, but Yu Wei wasn't surprised. To be honest, if Lu Zhou had actually won the award, he would have questioned the prestige of the Lu Wen Award.

This nomination was forced upon us by "Andhadhun"; there's no need to have expectations for things that don't belong to us.

This is a great start for the viewers in the live broadcast room. If Lü Zhou can get a nomination, then Yu Wei, who single-handedly led the whole team to victory, undoubtedly has a chance to win an award.

As if in response to everyone's expectations, Yu Wei was nominated for the next award, Best Screenplay.

"This must be Yu Wei, right? The idea for 'The Tuner' is really good."

"A singer wants to win Best Screenplay? How could I have such a dream?"

"I'm a Yu hater. If I don't win Best Screenplay, I'm going to start settling scores."

The team members' hands clenched involuntarily, their hearts pounding in their throats. However, in the end, the award went to another feature film, the very same slightly scary psychological film that premiered on the opening day.

The spotlight and everyone's eyes were on the excited winners, who were engulfed in enthusiastic applause.

Yu Wei wasn't too disappointed. "Andhadhun" won an award in 12, and the film satirized voyeurism and reflected many social events at the time.

More than a decade has passed, so it's normal that this theme is out of touch with the times. Nowadays, there are probably even people who take pride in prying into other people's secrets...

"Unfortunately, I didn't even get the script, so there's no hope for anything else."

"I was waiting for Yu Wei to deliver an acceptance speech in French that would blow the audience away, damn it!"

"I was wrong, I'm not a Yu hater, please give him an award."

The next awards were for Best Actor and Best Actress. Qi Luoan didn't have much screen time and wasn't nominated, but Yu Wei was.

After all, he is a top-tier blind player in the Chinese server, and his portrayal of the protagonist is incredibly lifelike. His performance of pretending to be blind and desperately playing the piano at the end is also very powerful.

Exciting clips from various films flashed rapidly across the big screen. When a close-up of Yu Wei's blind eyes, filled with fear and struggle, appeared, a slight gasp of surprise rippled through the audience.

"The winner is..." The entire room fell silent. "City Symphony! Hamilton, congratulations!" A huge sense of disappointment instantly enveloped the The Tuner team. Although they still maintained polite smiles, the light in their eyes clearly dimmed.

The fact that the screenwriter didn't get the role could be understood as the plot not conforming to the characteristics of the times, but Yu Wei's acting skills in "The Tuner" are truly beyond reproach.

If you can't win an award with this kind of performance, it's probably going to be difficult to achieve anything today.

Qi Luoan gritted her teeth, wanting to say something, but in the end she sighed. She tentatively and cautiously took Yu Wei's hand, wanting to give him some silent comfort.

Yu Wei was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously began to feel the incredibly clear touch on the back of her hand. Her fingers were slender and smooth, with a reassuring softness.

He wasn't actually that disappointed, but the comfort came at just the right time, and he felt an indescribable warmth and intimacy.

Then I'll just pretend to be sad.

I'm so sad I didn't win the award...

Qi Luoan had actually planned this all along. She had said before that Yu Wei's hands were very beautiful, and today she finally got to play with them.

It feels nice to the touch; I wonder how many trashy novels Yu Wei has written with it.

The next few awards weren't really relevant to them either. Qi Luoan had been shaking hands for so long that his palms were sweating.

Just as she was about to sneakily switch hands to continue holding the film, the Best Short Film Music Award, which Yu Wei was most looking forward to, arrived.

Qi Luoan subconsciously gripped his fist tighter. If he missed out on this award, then this trip to the Lu Wen Award might have been a complete waste.

Of the selected films, only "Andhadhun" and "City Symphony" are directly related to music.

The latter is even mainly about the story of two pianists, and there is a particularly wonderful duet performance.

Most audience members felt that "City Symphony" would win an award because it was more musical and the performance was more magnificent and complete.

"Congratulations! The Tuner!"

At this moment, the "City Symphony" team showed the same expression as Yu Wei and the others earlier: "This can't be taken away?"
They are actually a music short film. Compared to the Best Actor award, the music award is undoubtedly more important. Yu Wei's acting skills also deserve a Best Actor award.

So who stole whom?

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Although she had considered winning awards, Yu Wei still found it hard to believe when she actually heard the film's title.

He didn't realize what was happening until the cheers and applause around him came like a tidal wave.

Yu Wei composed himself and got up to go on stage, but he grabbed Qi Luo'an's arm and the two held hands tightly, which drew strange looks from those who noticed the scene.

In public, this isn't appropriate...

Qi Luoan quickly pulled his hand away. He had been too excited and had forgotten that he was still holding something. Now he was embarrassed.

But then she thought, the award had already been given to Yu Wei, so did that mean she had won the bet?

Yu Wei gained honor and happiness – a win-win situation!

Qi Luoan subconsciously rubbed his palms together. It seems he might have to touch something else next time...

The audience in the live broadcast room was so engrossed in the joy of Chinese people winning awards that they paid little attention to what was happening at the awards ceremony.

By the time they refocused on the live stream, Yu Wei was already on stage.

"You really won an award! Great, great, great!"

"Writing scripts and acting in movies? Music is Yu Wei's specialty, okay?"

"Aren't you writing a novel?"

"Actually, I've been a fan of Yu Wei for a long time. This guy is unbelievably strong. Yu Wei haters, please speak up."

The presenter smiled and handed the trophy to Yu Wei: "Congratulations, your adaptation of 'Poems of Lovers' is very creative. More than your wonderful performance, this concept of reconstructing a classic deserves this award."

Although the Louvre Awards don't receive much attention in China, they are very popular film festivals in Europe.

Especially for the locals of Leuven, this is a cultural extravaganza that belongs to them...

Several people who had seen Yu Wei playing the piano at the music store during the day recognized him at a glance. Chinese people are already rare in this area, and it is even rarer to see a Chinese person playing computer games in the music room.

This kid is actually a musician?

A musician who plays the piano using a computer, right?

The most astonished person was the recording engineer, who had recorded four Chinese songs for Yu Wei just a few days ago and naturally had a deep impression of the kid.

The melodies of those songs were so simple that he almost developed a stereotype that Chinese composers were incapable of making music.

Two days later, this kid actually won the Best Music Award for a short film...

Did the judges' aesthetic sense decline, or did Yu Wei secretly bribe them?

Before he could react, Yu Wei was already delivering his acceptance speech in Chinese on behalf of the team at the awards ceremony.

Yes, use Chinese. It has nothing to do with whether or not he knows other languages. Even if he could cobble together an acceptance speech in French, he should still use his own language on the international stage.

More important than self-expression is cultural confidence.

Yu Wei's acceptance speech was quite formulaic, simply thanking the film festival organizing committee, the team, and everyone behind the scenes.

However, at the end, he didn't forget to thank his readers and fans...

"Congratulations again to Yu Wei. It is worth mentioning that at tomorrow's closing ceremony, we will have the privilege of enjoying a special performance by Mr. Yu Wei, where everyone will see the musical talent hidden behind an excellent actor."

The host concluded by giving a brief plug, urging everyone to pay attention to the film festival's cultural performances and closing ceremony.

This statement surprised not only the other short film teams in the audience, but also the European viewers in front of their screens and those watching the live stream.

How could Yu Wei actually participate in the closing performance of the Louvre International Film Festival?
The trailer elicited a flurry of surprised whispers from the audience, who were eager to see the talent of the short film's Best Music winner.

Many audience members began to look forward to the following night, wondering what kind of musical performance this young man, who had just won the Best Music Award, would bring.

(End of this chapter)