Chapter 116: Departing for Berlin

"Ring ring ring—" At six in the morning, the phone in the Repulse Bay villa pierced the silence.

Xiang Fei fumbled for the receiver with his eyes closed: "Hello?"

"Ah Fei!" Xiang Qiang's booming voice made the receiver tremble. "Today is the 38th shoot of God of Gamblers. If you're not here, how are we supposed to manage?"

Xiang Fei sat up abruptly: "Uncle Qiang, go find Xu Ke to hold down the fort and shoot according to the storyboards we discussed." He glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand. "I have to go abroad for a week."

"I know!" Xiang Qiang complained. "The Berlin Film Festival, the whole Hong Kong knows! Don't forget to bring back some German sausages!"

Zhou Huimin rubbed her eyes as she got up: "This early?"

Xiang Fei hung up the phone and kissed her forehead: "Hurry and pack, we take off in two hours."

Nine in the morning, Kai Tak Airport. Anita Mui, wearing big sunglasses, walked over briskly dragging a suitcase.

"Ah Fei! Ah Min!" She waved and called out, "Over here!"

Zhou Huimin jogged over and hugged her: "Sister Anita! You're going too?"

Anita Mui raised an eyebrow: "Of course! I'm the female lead of Shoplifters, after all!"

Xiang Fei smiled and handed over the boarding passes: "Ladies, time to go through security."

Three in the afternoon, Beijing Fei Min Entertainment office. Chen Daoming was reading a script in the conference room and immediately stood up when he saw Xiang Fei come in.

Xiang Fei patted his shoulder: "Daoming, relax, we're going to collect an award, not to fight a war."

Zhou Xun bounced in: "Xiang Shao! I was so nervous I couldn't sleep last night!" She pointed at her dark circles. "Look!"

"Zhou Xun," Li Youbin said in a gruff voice, "what's that compared to my wife stuffing ten packs of Suxiao Jiuxin Wan into my bag!"

As everyone burst into laughter, Wang Zhiwen stood quietly in a corner wiping his glasses. Xiang Fei walked over: "Zhiwen, are you ready?"

Wang Zhiwen's hand trembled and his glasses dropped to the floor: "Xiang Shao, the only English I know is Thank you..."

"What's there to be afraid of," Anita Mui threw an arm around his shoulder, "sister's got you covered!"

"Oh dear, so many people waiting for an old lady like me..." she said sheepishly.

Zhou Huimin hurried forward to support her: "Teacher Li, you're the backbone of our crew."

Li Qiming patted her hand: "Sweet-talking girl." Turning to Xiang Fei, he said, "Xiao Xiang, if these old bones of mine embarrass you..."

"Whatever are you saying," Xiang Fei took the luggage respectfully, "the jury specially named your performance for commendation."

As the lights first came on at dusk, the motorcade arrived at the gate of the Beijing Film Studio. Han Shanping had been waiting for a long time, a minibus parked beside him.

"Uncle Han!" Xiang Fei got out and shook his hand.

Han Shanping looked around at everyone: "Everyone here?" He counted heads. "Good, get on the bus! Straight to the airport!"

Anita Mui leaned over to the bus window: "Uncle Han, which hotel are we staying at in Berlin?"

"Right by Potsdamer Platz," Han Shanping said with a mysterious smile,

"Oh my god!" Zhou Xun covered her mouth, "The Coppola from The Godfather?"

Chen Daoming suddenly broke into a sweat: "If I run into him, what should I say..."

Li Youbin pulled out a pack of cigarettes: "Calm down, have a smoke first."

After the flight took off, the cabin was filled with tension and excitement.

"Everyone," Xiang Fei stood up and raised his glass, "a toast to our Chinese-language film going for the Golden Bear—cheers!"

"Cheers!" everyone responded, even the flight attendants joined in the applause.

Wang Zhiwen asked Zhou Huimin in a low voice: "Miss Zhou, do you think we can really win an award?"

Zhou Huimin smiled gently: "Being nominated is already a victory."

"No way!" Anita Mui suddenly cut in, "Either we don't do it, or we go for the biggest! We must take the Golden Bear!"

Li Qiming shook his head and laughed: "Young people really have drive."

When the plane hit turbulence, Zhou Xun grabbed Li Youbin's arm.

"Ah! We're crashing!"

Li Youbin pretended to stay calm: "W-what's there to be afraid of!"

Wang Zhiwen went pale: "E-everyone, I've written my last will..."

"Pah pah pah!" Anita Mui patted his head, "Great luck! We still have a red carpet to walk!"

Xiang Fei and Zhou Huimin exchanged a smile and locked fingers.

At four in the morning local time, the flight landed at Tegel Airport.

"We're here!" Han Shanping was the first to stand up, "Look alive! There might be reporters outside!"

Anita Mui put on her sunglasses with commanding flair: "Stick close to me, don't get separated!"

When they went through customs, sure enough, foreign reporters were holding up cameras. Seeing the Chinese film delegation, they immediately pressed the shutters.

"Aven! Over here!" a reporter called out in broken Chinese, "Can Shoplifters win an award?"

Xiang Fei smiled and waved: "We'll see."

At six in the morning, everyone was drowsy in the hotel lobby.

The receptionist handed over the room cards: "Mr. Xiang, 7 suites at 5th floor."

Zhou Xun counted: "Huh? Why is there one short?"

Han Shanping explained: "I'm staying at the hotel next door with the committee people." He patted Xiang Fei. "Tomorrow at ten in the morning, press conference."

When the elevator doors closed, Li Qiming suddenly said: "Children, whether we win an award or not, we've already made history."

Chen Daoming nodded solemnly: "Teacher Li is right."

Anita Mui yawned: "Right now I just want to sleep..."

Xiang Fei quietly closed the door to the room and found Zhou Huimin already asleep on the sofa. He tiptoed over to cover her with a blanket, then walked to the window.

In Berlin's dawn light, the red-and-white festival flags fluttered in the gentle breeze. In the distance, the silhouette of the Brandenburg Gate was faintly visible.