I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

If he wins the award tonight, he will have to personally receive the highest trophy from Zhang Guoshi, which would make him feel inferior to the other party. This made him, who was always proud, feel particularly bad.

Despite his unease, he still desperately wanted the Golden Lion trophy.

This is a top international honor, enough to solidify his status in film history, and he would never give it up easily.

"Director, you will definitely win the award." Gillian Chung, who was standing next to him, noticed his nervousness and encouraged him softly, her eyes full of confidence.

“That’s right, Director, we all believe in you!” Chef Xie quickly chimed in.

He was even more eager than Chen Kaige for the film to win an award.

This trip to Venice has been exhausting and tiring; if we end up with nothing, it will have been a complete waste of time.

However, once "Blue Is the Warmest Color" wins the Golden Lion for Best Film, he, as the male lead, can naturally be labeled as the "Best Actor in Venice Film Festival." This international honor is enough to make his value skyrocket in Hong Kong and even the entire mainland entertainment industry. In the future, both his resources and reputation will reach a new level, and he will have enough capital to boast about.

On stage, Zhang Guoshi displayed a calm and composed demeanor, completely devoid of the humorous routines typical of Western award presenters. He didn't try to create an atmosphere or keep people in suspense; instead, he was dignified and composed, getting straight to the point.

Under the tense gaze of everyone present, he slowly read out the final answer in steady and clear Chinese:
"Congratulations to Chen Kaige on 'Blue Is the Warmest Color'."

The moment the words were spoken, the entire room fell silent, then erupted in thunderous applause.

The entire cast and crew of "Blue Is the Warmest Color" erupted in cheers. Everyone jumped to their feet, raised their hands, and cheered with joy on their faces.

A fleeting look of extreme excitement and exhilaration flashed across Chen Kai's eyes. He clenched his fists tightly, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.

All the frustration, anxiety, and resentment vanished at that moment.

"Congratulations, Director!" Gillian Chung stepped forward and gave him a light hug before quickly separating.

At public award ceremonies, with cameras everywhere, she maintained a proper balance, daring not to overstep any boundaries and avoiding any scandals or controversies.

Following that, Cai Zhuoyan, Chef Xie, Huo Wenxi, and others stepped forward to hug Chen Kaige and congratulate him, sharing this ultimate honor.

Amidst thunderous applause, Chen Kaige straightened his clothes, suppressed his emotions, and with a composed and appropriate smile, stepped onto the award stage. The rest of the crew followed him up to the stage.

At the same time, the entire Chinese internet was instantly abuzz with excitement.

Countless viewers who were watching the live stream went wild the moment they heard Chen Kaige win the Venice Golden Lion, and the entire internet erupted in celebration.

This is not only an honor for Chen Kaige personally, but also the most prestigious international honor in the Chinese film industry this year, and a glory for the entire Chinese film industry.

[Amazing! Director Chen Kaige is awesome! Well deserved!]

This completely silences those critics! No one will dare say that "Farewell My Concubine" relied on his deceased father's fame anymore. This Golden Lion award is a testament to his own talent!

[Don't forget that the biggest contributor is Cheng Sheng! He wrote the script for this show himself!]

Cheng Sheng has truly become a legend! Every piece he writes is a masterpiece. He's only ever written two screenplays for others, and both "Buried" and "Blue Is the Warmest Color" won international awards!

[Buried is a film that achieves great results with a small budget and wins with its ingenuity; Blues of Adele is moving and touches the heart. Both are timeless classics. I'm begging for sequels!]

[Hey bro, have you seen the full movie? Were you there in Venice? Tell me more!]

[I was there in Venice, and all I can say is that Twins are absolutely amazing! Their figures and looks are both top-notch; even close-up shots are incredible.] [Slurp! Let's get to the details! Any candid shots? Post them here!]

[You're overthinking it. There's a crackdown across the entire internet; it's impossible to post that. The masters of censorship are everywhere.]

[A bunch of people with lewd thoughts, I have absolutely no interest in any of that...]

This has changed the landscape of Chinese directors! The most awkward position is for Feng Xiaogang; among the three top directors, he's the only one who hasn't won a Best Film award from the three major European film festivals, making his title undeserved.

Forget about the "three great directors," Cheng Sheng is in a league of his own! He achieved legendary status at such a young age; he doesn't even belong to the fifth generation of directors, he's in a class of his own!

It's strange, Chen Kai's concert is tonight, the night of the Investiture of the Gods, such an important occasion, why didn't producer Chen Hong show up?

[In previous years, Chen Hong always accompanied her to important events, but this time she was absent throughout. Could it be a sign of marital discord?]

[This is indeed unusual. The entire film was shot on Hong Kong Island. Chen Hong was listed as the producer, but she neither visited the set nor accompanied the crew, and she didn't even attend the awards ceremony.]

[You're overthinking it. They're busy with domestic affairs; there's no need for them to travel with you every time.]

[I photographed Chen Hong and Xu Fan attending a cocktail party together a few days ago! Could it be that Chen Kaige is going to collaborate with Feng Xiaogang on a new film?]

[Really? Two renowned directors teaming up? I'm absolutely thrilled with this lineup!]

The internet is abuzz with discussion, and the trending topic is rapidly appearing on social media.

A host of celebrities, artists, and industry professionals immediately went online to post their congratulations.

Those who navigate the entertainment industry are all shrewd individuals. Everyone knows that Chen Kaige's status in the industry will undoubtedly reach new heights after winning the Venice Golden Lion Award, and his resources and influence will increase significantly. Making good relations with him in advance is the safest option.

Meanwhile, at a private club in Kyoto.

Chen Hong and Xu Fan sat side by side in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, with red wine and an exquisite fruit platter on the table, watching the live broadcast together.

On the screen, Chen Kai stood on a top international stage, bathed in glory, receiving applause and praise. But Chen Hong showed no joy or excitement on her face. Her expression was calm and indifferent, as if the person on stage who won the award was not her husband, but an insignificant stranger.

"Ah Hong, Director Chen Kaige has won an award. Aren't you going to send him a message to congratulate him?" Xu Fan took a sip of red wine and asked softly, turning his head to the side.

Upon hearing this, Chen Hong rolled her eyes indifferently, her tone carrying a hint of clarity and indifference: "Why congratulate him? Others may not know how he got this trophy, but don't you know?"

She understood everything perfectly.

Chen Kaige's ability to win this Golden Lion Award was never due to his own efforts alone; it was entirely thanks to Cheng Sheng.

The excellent script was tailor-made by Cheng Sheng, who strictly required Chen Kai to film according to the script 100% throughout the process, without allowing any major changes or arbitrary alterations, thus preserving the quality and core of the film, which led to tonight's legendary moment.

To put it bluntly, any skilled director with Cheng Sheng's excellent script would have the potential to compete for the Golden Lion Award.

From beginning to end, Chen Kaige was just a tool in Cheng Sheng's hands, a sure way to win awards.

Xu Fan chuckled softly upon hearing this, gently advising, "I understand the reasoning, but you still need to maintain appearances. If you don't even offer a public congratulation and remain silent and absent throughout, reporters will dig into the details afterward and definitely fabricate stories about your marital relationship. The rumors will only increase." (End of Chapter)