In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

The Cannes Film Festival activities unfolded intensively over the next few days.

Sunshine Ming and his team members participated in numerous official events and media interviews. As the top-rated film in the festival's daily publication, "Love" became the focus of media attention.

The interview with the French newspaper Le Monde was scheduled for the morning. The reporter was a woman in her forties with a profound understanding of film.

"Director Yang, both of your films deal with moral dilemmas. 'A Separation' explores religion, responsibility, and choice, while 'Love' explores aging, death, and the nature of love. Why are you interested in these weighty themes?"

Yang Guangming thought for a moment and said, "Because I feel that movies shouldn't just be entertainment. They can be a platform for reflection, a source of emotional resonance, and a bridge for understanding. Those heavy themes are precisely the ones that touch people's hearts the most."

The BBC interview was scheduled for the afternoon. The reporter was a young man, and his questions were more pointed.

"Director Yang, some critics think that as an 18-year-old director, making a film about aging and death is too 'mature for his age'. How do you respond?"

Yang Guangming smiled: "Age and experience are certainly related, but not absolutely. I haven't experienced aging and death, but I have observed, thought about, and felt them. Moreover, I have the best actors—Teacher Lan and Teacher Qin. They gave the characters life through their performances, and they made this story real and believable."

In an interview with The New York Times, the reporter, a seasoned film critic, gave the film extremely high praise.

"Director Yang, which do you think is better, 'Love' or 'A Separation'?"

Yang Guangming thought for a moment and said, "Each has its own merits. 'A Separation' focuses more on plot and suspense, and is more dramatic. 'Love' focuses more on emotions and atmosphere, and is more serene. If I had to compare them, I think 'Love' is more mature, after all, I have a year more experience and reflection."

In addition to media interviews, Yang Guangming also participated in several film forums and dialogue events.

At a forum on "Film and Humanity," Yang Guangming shared the stage with several internationally renowned directors. His speech was composed and insightful, earning him considerable applause.

An elderly French director asked him, "Yang, how can you, at such a young age, have such a profound understanding of human nature?"

Yang Guangming replied, "Because I like to observe. I observe the people around me, their words and actions, and their emotions. Film is a human art; you can't make a good film if you don't understand human nature."

The veteran director nodded, his eyes full of admiration.

Lan Tianye, Xi Meijuan, and others were also busy with their own affairs. As well-known actors, they have their own social circles and event schedules. Although it was Lan Tianye and Qin Yi's first time in Cannes, their charisma and demeanor attracted many people. With the help of translators, they were also able to have simple conversations with their foreign counterparts.

Yang Guangming also took the time to watch the other nominated films.

Chen Kaige's film "Temptress Moon" premiered on the afternoon of the 12th. Yang Guangming arrived at the cinema early and found that the attendance was good, but the atmosphere was not very lively.

The film tells the story of love, hate, and family feuds within a prominent family in Jiangnan during the Republican era. Leslie Cheung plays the young master, and Gong Li plays the young mistress; both deliver excellent performances. However, the overall style is overly dramatic, and the narrative pacing is somewhat problematic.

After the screening, the applause was polite but not enthusiastic. Yang Guangming noticed that some international film critics did not look particularly warm.

At the subsequent press conference, the reporters' questions were rather bland. No one questioned the film's quality, but no one showed particular enthusiasm either.

Yang Guangming felt a pang of emotion. He knew that Chen Kaige might return empty-handed this time.

In the original timeline, "Temptress Moon" won nothing at Cannes. Now, it seems that this outcome is still difficult to change.

But he didn't say anything. He just approached Chen Kaige after the meet-and-greet and politely said, "Senior, the movie was great. Leslie Cheung and Gong Li's performances were wonderful."

Chen Kaige looked at him with a complicated expression: "Thank you. I watched your movie, it was very good, really good."

The two shook hands but said nothing more.

Hou Hsiao-hsien's "Goodbye South, Goodbye" premiered on the morning of the 13th. The film continues Hou Hsiao-hsien's signature profound style, featuring long takes, natural lighting, and deep reflections on social change. While artistically high, the slow narrative pace makes it less accessible to the average viewer.

After the screening, the applause was polite but not enthusiastic.

After watching the film, Yang Guangming was also pessimistic about its chances of winning awards.

Time passed day by day.

The popularity of "Amour" continues to rise. It has consistently maintained the top score in the festival's daily publication, received high praise from the media, and sparked increasingly heated discussions among film critics.

Charles's public relations efforts were highly effective. Major media outlets gave positive coverage, and many film critics publicly called for the Palme d'Or to be awarded to *Amour*.

The French film magazine Cahiers du Cinéma published a lengthy article entitled: "Love: A Masterpiece, A Phenomenon."

The article states: "With his second film, Yang Guangming proved that he is not a fleeting genius, but a true master. 'Amour' is more mature, more profound, and more brutal than 'A Separation.' It touches on the deepest aspects of human emotion—love, responsibility, dignity, and death. It makes us think: when the people we love no longer recognize us, when the people we care for become a burden, is it still love? The film doesn't provide an answer, but it forces us to confront this question."

The British magazine *Sight & Sound* also published a review: "Yang Guangming is the Mozart of the film industry. At the age of eighteen, he made a film that many directors could never make in their entire lives. The performances of Lan Tianye and Qin Yi are the most memorable moments at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Every look in their eyes, every subtle expression, tells a story. This is the pinnacle of acting, and also the pinnacle of art."

Variety's headline was even more direct: "Amour: The Biggest Favorite for the Palme d'Or!"

The article states, "From festival publication ratings to media reviews, from critics' feedback to industry discussions, *Amour* is the most acclaimed film at this year's Cannes. If nothing unexpected happens, it should win the Palme d'Or. But Cannes is never short of surprises; we can only wait for the final result."

The domestic media was in an uproar.

CCTV Movie Channel, Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily, China Youth Daily... almost all mainstream media reported on the enthusiastic response to "Amour" in Cannes.

"Amour is ranked number one in the Cannes Film Festival's official publication ratings, greatly increasing its chances of winning the Palme d'Or!"

"Sunshine Ming's new film has stunned Cannes, with foreign media praising it as a 'masterpiece'!"

"Lan Tianye and Qin Yi's performances have captivated international film critics; they are the pride of Chinese actors!"

The reports were overwhelming, and the buzz continued to rise.

Han Sanping would repeat this to Yang Guangming several times a day, reporting on the domestic reaction.

"Guangming, you have no idea how exciting things are back home right now!" Han Sanping's voice was full of excitement. "All the media outlets are reporting on it, and everyone is talking about 'Amour.' Even the leaders called to offer their congratulations, saying that if we win the Palme d'Or again this time, it will be a historic breakthrough for Chinese cinema!"

Yang Guangming remained calm: "Director Han, the awards ceremony hasn't been held yet, don't be too optimistic."

“I know, I know,” Han Sanping laughed, “but I just can’t help it. You haven’t seen those reports, haven’t heard those discussions. This isn’t just about the movie; it’s about the pride of all Chinese culture!”

Yang Guangming could understand Han Sanping's excitement. For Chinese cinema, winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes for the second consecutive year is indeed a historic event.

But he knew that anything was possible. Before the final result was revealed, any optimism could turn into disappointment.

So he simply said, "Director Han, whatever the outcome, we have done our best. Let the judges handle the rest."

On the afternoon of May 18th, the core members of the "Love" crew gathered again in Yang Guangming's suite, all waiting for that crucial phone call.

Lan Tianye sat beside Yang Guangming, his expression calm, but his fingers tapped lightly on the sofa armrest. Qin Yi had her eyes closed, as if resting or praying.

Xi Meijuan and Gu Changwei sat on the other side, chatting quietly, but they were clearly distracted.

Han Sanping was restless, sometimes standing up and pacing, sometimes sitting down again.

Only the sunshine remains, as serene as ever.

He leaned back on the sofa, a book in his hand, flipping through it. It was Camus's *The Myth of Sisyphus*, the original French edition.

Xi Meijuan couldn't help but ask, "Director, how can you still concentrate on reading?"

Yang Guangming looked up and smiled: "Because I knew the call would come. Since it was bound to come, why the rush?"

Are you so sure?

“Yes.” Yang Guangming nodded. “At least one award will be given. Our film has received such good reviews from the media that the jury will definitely not let us go home empty-handed. Best screenplay, best director, best actor, best actress, the Jury Prize, the Palme d'Or… one of them will be ours.”

Xi Meijuan looked at him with admiration in her eyes.

Time passed by, second by second.

The phone rang at 2 p.m.

Everyone sat up straight, their eyes fixed on the black telephone.

Duan Yunfeng walked over, took a deep breath, and picked up the receiver.

"Hello, this is Director Yang Guangming's room."

As he listened to the phone call, his expression shifted from tense to relaxed, and then to an overwhelming sense of joy.

"Okay, I understand. Yes, we will be there on time. Thank you, thank you very much!"

After hanging up the phone, Duan Yunfeng turned around with a bright smile on his face.

"The film festival organizing committee has officially notified us that the cast and crew of the film 'Love' have been invited to attend the closing ceremony and awards ceremony tomorrow night!"

After a brief silence, cheers erupted in the room.

Han Sanping was the first to stand up and clapped enthusiastically: "Great! Excellent!"

Lan Tianye took a deep breath, a smile appearing on his lips. Qin Yi opened her eyes, her eyes slightly red.

Xi Meijuan and Gu Changwei looked at each other and smiled, their smiles full of relief.

Yang Guangming put down his book, a calm and contented smile on his face.

He had long anticipated this outcome, but when it actually happened, he couldn't help but feel happy.

“Quiet down.” He raised his hand, waiting for everyone to calm down a bit before continuing, “Receiving the notification is only the first step. Now, what we need to do is prepare for tomorrow’s awards ceremony.”

He looked at Duan Yunfeng: "Old Duan, notify the other staff and tell them to get ready. Dresses, makeup, vehicle arrangements—every detail must be perfect."

"Understood," Duan Yunfeng replied immediately.

"Everyone, go back to your rooms and get ready," Yang Guangming instructed everyone. "We'll meet in the hotel lobby at 6 p.m. tomorrow. No matter what award we win, we need to walk the red carpet and enter the Palais des Festivals in our best condition."

Everyone nodded and left the room with excitement and anticipation.

At 6 p.m. on May 19, the crew of the TV series "Love" gathered in the hotel lobby on time.

Everyone changed into their most formal attire.

"Is everyone ready?" Yang Guangming looked around at everyone.

Everyone nodded, their eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness.

"Let's go then."

Three Mercedes-Benz cars were parked in front of the hotel, and everyone got into the cars one by one, filled with anticipation.

By this time, everyone knew that of the three Chinese films shortlisted, only the crew of "Love" received a phone call. The crews of Hou Hsiao-hsien and Chen Kaige did not receive any calls to persuade them to stay and had already left Cannes in disappointment, returning home by plane.

The media originally had high expectations for the renowned director Chen Kaige, believing that even if he didn't win the top prize, he would at least win a major award.

Originally, major domestic media outlets were hoping that the two major directors of the country could shine together at the closing ceremony. Unexpectedly, the great director Chen Kaige did not even have the qualification to participate in the closing ceremony and returned empty-handed, which is really regrettable.

Yang Guangming knew that Chen Kaige was unlikely to attend the closing ceremony, but he was still somewhat disappointed by his demeanor.

The two had gotten along fairly well in private, but when Senior Chen went home, he didn't even say goodbye, which was really ungentlemanly.

The car slowly drove towards the Palais des Festivals. The closer they got, the denser the crowd became. Although the closing ceremony's red carpet wasn't as grand as the opening ceremony's, the atmosphere was even more solemn. Everyone knew that this wasn't just a red carpet show, but the prelude to a battle for honor.

Upon arriving at the entrance to the red carpet, many filmmakers were already waiting to enter.

Yang Guangming spotted the jury chairman, Coppola, who was talking with several judges. Coppola nodded slightly upon seeing Yang Guangming, and Yang Guangming nodded in return.

Staff began guiding the film crews of the nominated films onto the red carpet.

The crew of "Love" was among the first.

The moment I stepped onto the red carpet, a flood of flashbulbs came my way.

"Director Yang! Look this way!"

"Teacher Lan! Teacher Qin! Over here!"

The shouts of the reporters rose and fell.

Yang Guangming walked at the front with a composed gait. He nodded to the reporters and audience on both sides, a faint smile on his face. Lan Tianye and Qin Yi walked on either side of him, with Xi Meijuan, Gu Changwei, and Han Sanping following behind.

The red carpet wasn't long, but they walked very slowly. Reporters kept asking them to stop for photos and pose.

In the center of the red carpet, Yang Guangming stopped and had his team members line up for reporters to take photos.

The flashes were so intense it was almost blinding, but everyone was looking their best.

After taking the photos, they continued walking towards the entrance of the Palais des Festivals.

Stepping into the Lumière Hall, it was already packed. The front row held jury members, festival committee members, and filmmakers from various countries. The back row consisted of media and audience members.

The cast and crew of "Love" were seated in the middle of the third row, a very good location.

The awards ceremony began promptly at 7 p.m.

The festival president delivered a speech, thanking all participants for their contributions and reviewing the highlights of the past ten days. Then, jury president Francis Ford Coppola led the nine jury members onto the stage.

Coppola delivered a brief speech: "Every film in the competition has its own unique value and brilliance. Our job is not to judge which is better or worse, but to discover and pay tribute to those works that touch the heart and provoke thought. This process is challenging, but also full of surprises."

The speech ended, and applause followed.

The awards ceremony officially began.

The first award presented was for Best Short Film.

Yang Guangming watched quietly, soaking in the atmosphere of the awards ceremony. Applause, cheers, the winners' impassioned speeches... all of this created a vivid picture of the world of film.

One award after another was announced.

Best Screenplay Award.

When the presenter announced the winner's name, Yang Guangming was stunned.

"Love, written by Yang Guangming!"

applause.

Xi Meijuan suddenly grabbed Yang Guangming's arm: "Director Yang! It's you! You won an award!"

Yang Guangming took a deep breath and stood up. He straightened his suit, nodded to his team members, and then strode towards the stage.

This is his first time standing on the Cannes podium tonight.

He accepted the trophy from the presenter, stood in front of the microphone, and looked at the audience.

"Thank you Cannes, thank you to the jury," he said in French. "This award is the greatest affirmation of my work. I want to thank Teacher Lan and Teacher Qin; your performances elevated my script. Thank you to the entire crew for their hard work. Thank you to my teacher Xie Fei, and thank you to producer Han Sanping. This award belongs to each and every one of you."

Applause erupted again.

Yang Guangming bowed in thanks, then took the trophy and walked off the stage.

When he returned to his seat, his team members hugged and congratulated him.

Lan Tianye patted him on the shoulder: "Good lad, a great start!"

Qin Yi smiled and said, "This award is well-deserved."

Although everyone offered their congratulations, they all felt a bit heavy-hearted. Everyone knew that after winning one major award at Cannes, the odds of winning a second were extremely low.

While the Best Screenplay award was decent, it fell far short of everyone's expectations.

Yang Guangming sat down and continued watching the awards ceremony.

But my heart was already stirred.

Winning the Best Screenplay award was a pleasant surprise. He had originally thought that the film's biggest hopes were for an acting award or a directing award, but he didn't expect to win the screenplay award first.

The awards ceremony continued.

Best Actress Award.

The audience erupted in cheers when the presenter announced the winner's name.

"Qin Yi, Love!"

Qin Yi was stunned and sat there motionless.

Yang Guangming gently nudged her: "Teacher Qin, it's you!" Qin Yi then realized who it was, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears. She stood up, hugged Lan Tianye beside her, hugged Yang Guangming, and then walked towards the stage.

Her steps trembled slightly, but she remained graceful.

After receiving the trophy from the presenter, Qin Yi stood in front of the microphone and remained silent for a few seconds.

Then she spoke, her voice gentle and trembling:
"Thank you. Thank you Cannes, thank you to the jury. I am seventy-four years old this year and have been acting my whole life. But this is the first time I have stood on the podium of an international film festival. This award means a lot to me."

She paused, looking towards the audience:

“I want to thank Director Yang for giving me this opportunity. This role is very difficult to play because you can't use words, you can only use your eyes and subtle expressions. But Director Yang always believed in me and encouraged me. He said, ‘Teacher Qin, you can definitely do it.’ Thank you for your trust.”

She then looked at Lan Tianye and said, "Thank you, Teacher Lan. It's an honor to work with you. Your performance moved me and I learned a lot from you."

Finally, she looked at the audience and said, "Thank you to everyone who loved this film. You've shown me that at my age, I can still move people with my acting. This is the greatest happiness for me as an actress."

Thunderous applause erupted.

Qin Yi bowed in thanks and walked off the stage with the trophy.

When she returned to her seat, tears were streaming down her face. Lan Tianye took her hand and patted it gently.

No one expected that after winning the Best Screenplay award, she would also win the Cannes Best Actress award, and everyone was extremely excited.

Next up is the Best Actor award.

The award presenter opened the envelope and read out the names:
"Lan Tianye, Love!"

The entire venue erupted in cheers once again.

Lan Tianye sat there, his expression calm, but his hands were trembling slightly.

After two big prizes, there was even a third big prize. This unexpected event was a bit sudden and a bit too surprising.

Qin Yi grasped his hand: "Old Lan, it's you!"

Lan Tianye nodded and stood up. He hugged Qin Yi and Yang Guangming, then strode towards the stage.

His steps were steady and powerful, not at all like those of a man in his seventies.

After receiving the trophy from the presenter, Lan Tianye stood in front of the microphone and remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he spoke, his voice steady and powerful:
"Thank you. Thank you Cannes, thank you to the jury. I've lived for almost seventy years and acted my whole life. But today is the most glorious day of my life."

He paused, then looked towards the audience:

"I want to thank Director Yang for giving me this opportunity. You are a genius and a great director. You have taught me a lot, allowing this old man to still make breakthroughs in art."

He then looked at Qin Yi: "Thank you, Teacher Qin. It's an honor to work with you. Your performance moved me and I learned a lot from you."

Finally, he looked at the audience and said, "Thank you to everyone who liked this film. You've shown me that at my age, I can still move people with my acting. This is the greatest happiness for me as an actor."

Thunderous applause erupted.

Lan Tianye bowed in gratitude and walked off the stage with the trophy.

When he returned to his seat, his eyes were red. Qin Yi took his hand, and the two smiled at each other.

As Yang Guangming watched this scene, an indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.

Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay.

Three awards now.

But this is not the end.

The Jury Prize was awarded to "Secrets and Lies".

This film should have won the Palme d'Or in its original timeline, but in this case, it only won the Grand Jury Prize.

The sun knows perfectly well what this means.

Best Director Award.

When the presenter announced the winner's name, the entire venue erupted in cheers.

"Sunshine, Love!"

Yang Guangming took a deep breath and stood up.

This is his second time stepping onto the podium tonight.

He accepted the trophy from the presenter, stood in front of the microphone, and looked at the audience.

"Thank you. Thank you Cannes, thank you to the jury." He still spoke in French. "This award is the greatest affirmation for me as a director. I want to thank Ms. Lan and Ms. Qin again; it is your performances that made this film possible. Thank you to the entire crew for their hard work; this award belongs to every one of you!"

Applause erupted again.

Yang Guangming bowed in thanks, then took the trophy and walked off the stage.

When they returned to their seats, the team members were too excited to speak.

Four awards now.

Best screenplay, best actress, best actor, best director.

This is already an incredible achievement.

But there is another award.

The last award.

The Palme d'Or.

The film festival chairman personally went on stage to present the awards.

He looked around the audience and slowly opened the golden envelope in his hand.

The entire place was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.

Yang Guangming could feel his heart racing and felt Teacher Qin Yi gripping his arm tightly.

The film festival chairman took out the card, glanced at it, and smiled.

He raised his head and looked in the direction of the "Love" film crew.

The winner of the Palme d'Or at the 49th Cannes Film Festival is—

He read it clearly:

"Love, directed by Yang Guangming!"

The moment the words were spoken, deafening applause and cheers erupted from the audience.

Xi Meijuan cried out, tears welling up instantly. Han Sanping stood up abruptly, clapping loudly and shouting, "Great! Excellent!" Teacher Qin Yi covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. Lan Tianye and Duan Yunfeng exchanged a smile, their eyes both red.

Gu Changwei was also very excited and clapped vigorously.

The spotlight shone on Yang Guangming.

He sat there, momentarily lost in thought.

The Golden Palm.

He actually won the Palme d'Or again.

At eighteen, with his second film, he won the highest honor at Cannes for the second consecutive time.

This is not just a legend, this is history.

He stood up, and his team members rushed to hug him. Lan Tianye patted him hard on the back: "Good lad, go for it, this is your moment."

Yang Guangming straightened his suit, took a deep breath, and strode towards the stage.

The road wasn't long, but he walked exceptionally slowly. He could feel countless eyes watching him, and the flashes of camera lights.

As he stepped onto the stage, the film festival chairman handed him the golden palm leaf trophy. The trophy was heavy, not only because of the weight of the metal, but also because of the weight of honor.

“Congratulations, young man,” the film festival chairman said. “You have made history.”

"Thank you," Yang Guangming replied in English.

He walked to the microphone and looked down at the audience. The Lumière Hall was packed, and everyone was watching him—the young Chinese man who had made Cannes history.

He raised the trophy and began his speech in clear and firm French:

"At this moment, I am very excited. Thank you Cannes, thank you to the jury. This honor has exceeded all my expectations."

His voice echoed in the quiet hall.

“Last year, I stood on this stage and won the Palme d'Or. At that moment, I thought it was the most glorious moment of my life. But today, as I stand here again, I know that glory can be repeated and miracles can happen.”

He paused, his gaze drifting towards the direction of the "Love" film crew:

"This award belongs to the entire team. Without teachers Lan Tianye and Qin Yi, this film would not have its soul. Their performances have shown the world the depth and power of Chinese actors. Without teachers Xi Meijuan and Gu Changwei, and without the hard work of all the behind-the-scenes staff, this film would not have its flesh and blood."

He switched back to Chinese, his tone becoming even more affectionate:
"I want to especially thank my mentor, Professor Xie Fei of the Beijing Film Academy. He taught me that film is not only a technique, but also an art and a philosophy. Teacher, this trophy is half yours."

The Chinese media section in the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Sunshine continues:
"I want to thank Beijing Film Studio and producer Han Sanping. It is your continued support that has allowed me to focus on my creative work without distractions. Chinese cinema needs such supporters and promoters."

I want to thank my family for their understanding and support of my choices. Although they initially hoped I would take a more conventional path, they chose to let go and trust me when I decided to pursue my dream of making movies.

Finally, he looked at the camera, as if addressing the entire world:
"This award is an encouragement to all filmmakers who persist in creating and expressing themselves. Film should not be an appendage to entertainment, nor a tool for preaching. Film should be a platform for reflection, a resonance of emotions, a bridge of understanding, and a beacon of hope."

He raised the Palme d'Or trophy:

"We will continue our efforts to tell Chinese stories through film and to explore common human themes through film. Through film, the world sees China; and through film, China sees the world. Thank you!"

After the speech, thunderous applause erupted and lasted for a long time.

Yang Guangming bowed in thanks, then took the trophy and walked off the stage.

When he returned to his seat, he was surrounded by his team members. Everyone wanted to touch the Palme d'Or trophy, and everyone wanted to say a word to him.

Xi Meijuan was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes. "Director, we did it! We really did it... I'm so lucky! Last year I came to Cannes and witnessed the birth of the Palme d'Or. This year I came to Cannes again and won the Palme d'Or! It's amazing! I'm so excited!"

Lan Tianye gripped his hand tightly: "Guangming, well done! You are the pride of Chinese cinema!"

Qin Yi's eyes also reddened: "This award is rightfully yours, our film deserves it!"

Han Sanping was so excited he was incoherent: "Guangming, five awards! Five awards! This is history, this is a miracle!"
Yang Guangming was also very excited. He knew that this night was destined to be recorded in history.

The awards ceremony concluded with solemn music.

But for the crew of "Love", this night was just beginning.

As is customary, the creative team of the Palme d'Or-winning film is required to give a group interview to the media. Duan Yunfeng had already arranged an interview room, which was already packed with reporters from all over the world.

When Yang Guangming and his team entered the interview room, the flashbulbs were as bright as day.

Questions came flooding in, a mix of languages.

"Director Yang, you've won the Palme d'Or for the second consecutive time. How are you feeling now?"

"Mr. Lan Tianye, what are your thoughts on winning the Best Actor award?"

"Ms. Qin Yi, you are one of the oldest recipients of this award. Is there anything you would like to say?"

As the director, Yang Guangming naturally became the focus of attention. He answered every question calmly, switching between English, French, and Chinese, demonstrating a maturity and wisdom beyond his years.

“This award is an affirmation of our entire team,” he said. “For me, it is more of a responsibility. As a director, I must live up to this honor and continue to make powerful and heartwarming films.”

Lan Tianye's answer was calm and powerful: "I have lived for nearly seventy years and acted my whole life. But today is the most glorious day of my life. The Cannes Best Actor award is not just mine; it is a recognition of all outstanding Chinese actors."

Qin Yi's reply was gentle and heartfelt: "At my age, to still be able to move people with my acting and win international awards is the greatest happiness for me as an actress. Thank you, Director Yang, and thank you to everyone who loves this film."

Xi Meijuan and Gu Changwei also answered the reporters' questions.

The interview lasted for more than an hour. Afterwards, Yang Guangming and his team members attended the Palme d'Or celebration dinner hosted by the film festival.

The gala dinner was held at a five-star hotel next to the Palais des Festivals. It brought together all the award winners, jury members, festival committee members, and celebrities from various sectors.

When Yang Guangming walked into the banquet hall with the Palme d'Or trophy, everyone stared at him. This eighteen-year-old Chinese director became the focus of the world film industry overnight.

People kept coming over to offer their congratulations.

Jury president Coppola came over and shook his hand: "Yang, your film moved us all. The power within restraint, the undercurrent beneath the calm, is very special and very sophisticated."

"Thank you, Chairman." Yang Guangming smiled brightly. "It was the jury's affirmation that gave us this opportunity."

“No, you earned this opportunity with your work,” Coppola said earnestly. “Keep making movies; the world needs films like this.”

Other judges also came over to exchange ideas. Yang Guangming noticed that they praised Lan Tianye and Qin Yi's performances highly, and also gave high marks to the film's narrative and pacing.

Halfway through the dinner, Charles came over and pulled Yang Guangming aside.

“Yang, good news.” Charles lowered his voice, but couldn’t hide his excitement. “I’ve already spoken with several mainstream media outlets, and tomorrow’s reports will all be positive. The French newspaper Le Monde’s headline is ‘Yang Ming wins Palme d’Or for the second consecutive year, making Cannes history,’ the British newspaper The Guardian’s headline is ‘18-year-old director creates another miracle,’ and the American newspaper The New York Times’ headline is ‘Chinese teenager conquers Cannes.’”

Yang Guangming nodded: "Thank you for your hard work, Chuck."

“It’s not hard work,” Charles shook his head. “Besides, this is just the beginning. There’s the Oscars coming up. I’m confident I can make ‘Amour’ a big contender for next year’s Oscars.”

Yang Guangming smiled: "Then it's up to you."

The dinner lasted until the early hours of the morning.

It was nearly 2 a.m. when we got back to the hotel.

But no one on the team felt tired. They gathered in the brightly lit suite, looking at the five trophies on the coffee table—the Palme d'Or, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay—shining under the lights.

“It feels like a dream,” Xi Meijuan murmured. “Five awards, we really won five awards…”

Han Sanping poured himself a glass of red wine, raised his glass heartily, and said, "Come on, to this historic moment, cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses.

"cheers!"

The clinking of glasses echoed through the room.

Lan Tianye put down his wine glass, looked at Yang Guangming, and said earnestly, "Guangming, this trip to Cannes was worth it. My life has been worth it."

Qin Yi nodded, "Me too. At this age, to have such an experience is truly worthwhile; I have no regrets in life."

Looking at the two veteran artists, Yang Guangming felt an overwhelming sense of respect and emotion.

"Teacher Lan, Teacher Qin, it is your performances that made this movie possible. Without you, none of this would have happened tonight."

Lan Tianye waved his hand: "Don't say that. You gave us this opportunity. You are a genius, but more importantly, you know how to respect actors and how to tap into their potential. It's a pleasure to work with you."

Qin Yi smiled and said, "Yes, you're a good director. If you have any suitable roles in the future, come to us again."

"Definitely." Yang Guangming nodded solemnly.

They chatted for a while longer, until 3 a.m., before finally going to their rooms to rest. (End of Chapter)