I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

Lu Ban went on stage and accepted the trophy.

"Director Lu Ban, your works are indeed impressive. Could you talk about the motivation behind this script?"

Rather than asking him to give an acceptance speech, it was more like the host was taking the opportunity to interview Lu Ban. Moreover, the way the host spoke made it seem like Lu Ban would be on stage more than once, which is why the host only mentioned the script.

With the help of a translation device, their conversation was transmitted to everyone present in French.

Lu Ban took the microphone.

"I am honored to receive this award. A friend just asked me why I arranged the plot like this, why I couldn't save everyone, and felt that I was deliberately hurting everyone. I would like to clarify this here."

He speaks his mind.

“I’ve tried so hard to make that world a better place, but that’s just how it is. I couldn’t save Amber, and I can’t change what has already happened.”

"I can't do anything."

Lu Ban's words triggered PTSD in the guests, and a mysterious, healing smile began to spread among the audience. The guests, who were originally confused, surprised, and silent in thought, laughed as if they understood everything.

Outside the Lumière Hall, viewers watching the television and online broadcasts were puzzled.

What does this mean? It feels like he really went through all of these things.

Is Lu Ban really too immersed in the role and has become obsessed?

What is he saying? I can't understand a word. Is this some kind of code or coded language?

[I understand now. Director Lu is talking about creation. When a creation resonates deeply with people, the character comes alive; it gains its own life and will, and its future is no longer something the creator can control!]

I've also heard that Flaubert cried for days after killing off one of his characters while writing his book. Lu Ban might have fallen into a similar state while creating his work.

[No, what are you all talking about? Who died?]

[Optimist, pessimist, me.jpg]

The guests at the scene whispered among themselves, and many believed that Lu Ban meant that he was so immersed in the story that he couldn't extricate himself while creating it, and that Amber was given life and soul by Lu Ban during the creation process, possessing its own will.

Amber's death is the inevitable ending of the story, which cannot be changed by Lu Ban's personal will, and it is the final end of her character.

They believe that Lu Ban must have been heartbroken while writing this script, and that he had to suppress his own pain to present these scenes to the audience in the most perfect way.

Thinking about it this way, it turns out that the one who is suffering the most is Lu Ban!

A somber atmosphere filled the scene, mourning the lost amber and respecting Lu Ban's pursuit of art.

After receiving the award, Lu Ban returned to his seat. He had only been sitting down for a short while when he heard his name called again.

Best Director Award.

Immediately afterwards, Lu Ban was also seen in the Best Actor category.

Seeing this, many people began to have doubts.

Is Lu Ban really going to sweep all the Palme d'Or awards and achieve a grand slam?

This is unprecedented in history, no, it's even the only one of its kind.

Amidst everyone's doubts and anticipation, the films nominated for Best Actress began to be played.

Naturally, amber is among them.

The host invited a veteran actress from the film industry, who had won the Palme d'Or for Best Actress, to the stage to present the award.

She glanced at the contents of the envelope, and then a healing yet mysterious smile appeared on her face.

"The winner of this year's Palme d'Or for Best Actress is Amber Heard."

The whole place fell silent.

The spotlight shone on Lu Ban.

That seat was empty.

Chapter 386 Is there something wrong with my brain too?

The scene was a bit embarrassing.

Even the cheerful background music seemed out of place.

All the camera lenses were pointed at the empty space next to Lu Ban.

All eyes were on that spot, waiting for a miracle to happen.

Some people imagined Amber emerging from some dark place to amaze everyone; some imagined Amber descending from the sky, suspended by wires onto the stage; and some imagined a spotlight shining on her, revealing that incredibly beautiful girl already seated in the audience.

But nothing happened.

The band seemed a bit lost, and the host and award presenters looked at Lu Ban with blank expressions.

At this moment, Lu Ban seemed to pat the "person" next to him on the shoulder and said a few words, as if to encourage him.

The music started playing again, and the spotlight inexplicably began to move.

There are generally two modes for spotlights in a venue: manual lighting and automatic tracking. The automatic tracking mode is similar to camera focusing, automatically tracking a person's face. In complex situations, it is usually a combination of automatic tracking and manual adjustment by the lighting technician.

Now that the spotlight is on, it means...

The guests held their breath, watching the spotlight gradually move toward the stage, which, though empty, seemed to have someone inside.

As the lights moved, the scene fell silent.

Many people are thinking, confused, and searching for answers.

Why would Lu Ban do this?

What is the point of doing this?

Why do spotlights move with the void?

Could the amber really be there?

At that moment, a senior figure in the art world, sitting in the front row, suddenly clapped.

Starting with him, the entire venue began to applaud, the thunderous applause drowning out the music and deafeningly loud.

The spotlight came to the stage and to the award presenter.

It was as if there was a person standing there.

The Cannes Best Actress who presented the award hesitated for a moment, but soon she seemed to understand something and revealed that healing and mysterious smile.

She picked up the trophy and handed it to the person next to her, as if there really was someone there.

However, nothing caught it.

The trophy was placed on the ground and in the center of the spotlight.

The applause stopped at that moment.

The audience fell silent, staring at the trophy on the ground as if they were listening to Amber's acceptance speech.

The silence lasted for a while, and after a moment, Lu Ban led the applause.

"Well said!"

He cheered.

Applause spread outwards from Lu Ban.

The guests present seemed to have heard a brilliant and inspiring speech, and displayed a fervent attitude.

Outside the venue, Pang Zhen and Bai Qiquan, who were watching the live broadcast, were completely bewildered.

"What is this, performance art?"

Pang Zhen didn't understand.

"This is it, this is it... I understand!"

Bai Qiquan pondered for a moment and seemed to have found the answer.

"This needs to be considered in conjunction with Director Lu's previous statements. He said that Amber is a real person, her story is beyond his control, and she is a living, breathing person. This means that the character has transcended the actor and is above our understanding!"

“Since the character Amber is dead, the actress who plays her should not appear in front of the audience. If she does, it will ruin the atmosphere of the film.”

"Therefore, it would be perfect if Amber didn't appear at this time!"

"Right now, she may not appear before us, but in reality, it is precisely because of this that she can appear before us; it is precisely because she does not exist that she exists!"

"Her acceptance speech seemed to have nothing at all, but in fact, it was precisely this blank space that filled her with infinite possibilities. Whatever you thought she would say, she said. This is the true essence of art, the best display of human imagination!"

"Director Lu's move was brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"

"?"

Upon hearing her boyfriend's explanation, Pang Zhen's first reaction was that this guy must have something wrong with his brain.

But thinking about it carefully, with so many big names in the film industry present, it's impossible that everyone was out of their minds, right?

Their applause didn't seem like a performance; it seemed more like a genuine expression of their feelings.

So, is this a difference in artistic understanding?

She glanced at the live broadcast on the large screen outside the cinema, at the lone trophy under the spotlight.

As she watched, Pang Zhen suddenly felt as if there really was a person standing there, smiling at the audience.

When the spotlight dimmed and then came back on, the trophy was gone.

"Am I out of my mind?"

Pang Zhen was completely bewildered.

The host calmly continued announcing the next item: the grand prize, the Palme d'Or.

For the audience at the scene, the answer was already self-evident.

If "All Quiet in Spring," which won Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress, fails to win the Palme d'Or and complete its grand slam, it would be an insult to art, a regret for Cannes, and history would remember this shameful moment.

The award presenter, a veteran of the French art film industry and one of the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival, picked up the envelope. Almost without hesitation, as if he knew the answer himself, he opened the envelope and read out the name on it.

"Best Film: 'All Quiet in Spring,' directed by Lu Ban."

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted as Lu Ban arrived at the awards ceremony.

Taking the heavy trophy with its crystal base and pure gold palm leaf decorations, Lu Ban went to the microphone.