Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 474, Section 472: Throwing Himself into Her Arms
The clamor and applause in the Kodak Theatre gradually subsided as the final major award—Best Picture—was unsurprisingly awarded to "Chicago."

The 75th Academy Awards ceremony concluded in an atmosphere deliberately suppressed by the shadow of war, where glamour and extravagance were deliberately stifled.

As the lights came on, the guests rose to their feet, and polite greetings and formulaic congratulations filled the air.

There was none of the jubilant celebration that followed the awards in previous years, nor the forced dejection of those who were disappointed. Everything proceeded at a more restrained, even slightly hurried, pace.

No grand celebration was organized by the authorities; the shadow of war forced even this dream city to curb its excessive merriment.

Wang Sheng and several members of the "Night at the Museum" crew walked slowly out with the flow of people.

Huo Jianqi and Chen Guoxing exchanged their opinions on the various awards tonight in hushed tones, their tone carrying the comments and sentiments of industry insiders.

Li Bingbing quietly followed beside Wang Sheng, one hand unconsciously hooking around his arm, while the other hand tightly gripped the heavy, golden Oscar for Best Visual Effects trophy, her fingertips repeatedly rubbing the cool metal surface and smooth black base, as if to confirm that this was not a dream.

Outside the passageway, the waiting vehicles were arranged in an orderly manner.

Wang Sheng's assistant had already arranged everything and led them to a black luxury car.

The driver respectfully opened the car door, and Wang Sheng gestured for Li Bingbing to get in first, before he himself sat in the spacious back seat.

Huo Jianqi and Chen Guoxing got into another car that followed behind.

The car doors closed, shutting out the remaining noise and faint flashes of light from the outside world.

The car interior fell silent, with only the low hum of the engine starting and the faint sound of the air conditioning system.

The vehicle smoothly drove into the Los Angeles night.

The streetlights outside the window shimmered with colorful lights, outlining the contours of this city that never sleeps, but compared to the hustle and bustle of the past, the streets seemed a bit quieter tonight.

Li Bingbing's attention was almost entirely drawn to the trophy in his hand.

She held the trophy up to her eyes, and with the light streaming in from the window, she carefully examined the familiar knight statue. The words "Best Visual Effects" and "Night at the Museum" engraved on the base seemed to shimmer with an irresistible light in her eyes.

She watched with such focus, her eyes filled with an indescribable mix of excitement, awe, and a hint of disbelief.

Her red lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end it only turned into a very soft, satisfied sigh.

This is the Oscars!
When she was studying at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, her teachers would talk about the Oscars with great enthusiasm, regarding it as one of the highest honors in the art world!

It is the place where those legendary names hanging on the walls and printed in textbooks once stood.

She never imagined that, just a few years after graduating, she would not only star in a movie that achieved amazing box office success worldwide, but also be able to personally touch this golden statuette that symbolizes the highest recognition in the film industry—even though it was not awarded for her personal performance, and even though her role in "Night at the Museum" was indeed small, the strong sense of belonging and accomplishment that she felt "honored" still enveloped her tightly.

Wang Sheng leaned back in the soft leather chair, relaxing after the ceremony.

He turned his head and saw Li Bingbing looking at him with the same love and excitement as a child who had just received a new and exciting toy.

That careful yet cherished demeanor created an interesting contrast with her usual slightly aloof and independent temperament.

He couldn't help but smile, a playful smile curving his lips, and softly broke the silence in the car: "What? You're holding on tight? Look again, it won't turn into real gold."

Hearing the sound, Li Bingbing snapped out of her reverie, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face as if her thoughts had been seen through, but it was quickly replaced by even greater excitement.

Instead of putting down the trophy, she hugged it even tighter, as if afraid it would be snatched away. She turned to look at Wang Sheng, her eyes shining brightly in the dim light of the car.

“Director Wang, please don’t tease me. This is far more precious than gold!” Her voice trembled slightly with excitement. “You have no idea what this means to us acting students. It’s… it’s the embodiment of our dreams.” She paused, her gaze returning to the trophy, her tone becoming wistful and distant: “Back in school, listening to my teachers talk about those international film festivals, the three major European film festivals, the Oscars… they all seemed as far away as stars in the sky. Who would have thought that I would actually be able to touch it now… even if it’s not mine,”

She laughed self-deprecatingly, but her eyes remained burning. "But this feeling is so unreal, like a dream."

She raised her head, her eyes gleaming with undisguised ambition and longing, and said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Director Wang, you know, if one day... I mean if, I could stand up there like those actresses tonight and win Best Actress, whether it's one of the three major European awards, or... even if I were nominated for an Oscar, I think I would be so happy I'd die!"

When the word "death" was mentioned, she seemed to find it unlucky, and winked playfully, but her desire for top performance honors was clearly conveyed.

However, the moment those words left his mouth, it was as if a switch had been flipped, and the hopeful smile on Li Bingbing's face froze slightly.

She seemed to suddenly remember something important, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, then her expression became complicated, showing struggle, determination, and a subtle tension.

The carriage was briefly quiet, with only the noise of the moving vehicle in the background.

Li Bingbing took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

She first glanced quickly at the row in front of her.

The driver was focused on the road ahead, while Wang Sheng's assistant in the passenger seat was looking down at his phone screen, the light and shadow shifting on his face. Neither of them noticed the commotion in the back.

This private space, the well-insulated carriage, seemed to give her a certain courage.

She leaned slightly towards Wang Sheng, closing the distance between them.

A faint scent of her sophisticated perfume, mixed with the subtle aromas lingering in the awards ceremony venue, quietly entered Wang Sheng's nostrils.

Then, she made an extremely bold move—she brought her cheek close to Wang Sheng's ear, her warm breath accompanied by a whispered voice, almost a breath, clearly reaching his ears:

"Director Wang, Xiuxiu told me before I came that if you need me, I can stay with you tonight."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Bingbing quickly withdrew his body and sat up straight again, as if the earth-shattering whisper had never happened.

But her slightly reddened ears and her fingers, which were unconsciously clasped together and whose knuckles were turning white, betrayed that her inner peace was far from what she appeared to be.

She didn't look at Wang Sheng again, her gaze fixed on the neon lights rushing past the window, her chest heaving slightly and almost imperceptibly.

She didn't care whether there were any unknown public relations operations or monetary transactions behind the trophy; that was something Wang Sheng needed to consider.

For her, being able to get in touch with the Oscars was a huge inspiration and an honor in itself.

Her younger sister, Li Xiuxiu, repeatedly reminded her before her departure, and certain unspoken rules within the industry made her realize that hard work and talent alone might not be enough to reach the seemingly unattainable dream of becoming "Best Actress."

The man before her possessed the power to propel her to a higher stage.

This is an opportunity, a chance that could change her career path. Although the way it was presented slightly stung her already fragile self-esteem, it seems to be a kind of...normal occurrence in this industry.
The air inside the carriage seemed to instantly become thick and ambiguous because of this sudden suggestion.

The lights outside the window remained the same, but the tranquility inside the car had taken on a completely different meaning.

Wang Sheng did not respond immediately.

His gaze remained fixed straight ahead, his face expressionless, except for a very light, rhythmic tapping of his fingertips on his knee…

(End of this chapter)