Chapter 153: Shortlisted

At home, Xiang Fei was packing his luggage when his phone suddenly rang.

"Hello, Uncle Han?" Xiang Fei held the phone between his shoulder and ear while still folding a shirt.

On the other end, Han Shanping's voice carried unmistakable excitement: "Ah Fei, we just received official notification from the Venice Film Festival organizing committee; The Coffin Maker has been shortlisted for the main competition!"

The shirt in Xiang Fei's hand dropped to the floor with a "clap": "Huh!"

"Shortlisted! The main competition!" Han Shanping raised his voice, "The jury specifically praised Leslie Cheung's performance!"

Xiang Fei sat down heavily on the bed, his head buzzing: "This... this is too sudden..."

"Get ready quickly; we're flying to Venice next month." Han Shanping instructed, "By the way, don't leak the news to the outside world for now; wait for the official announcement."

After hanging up, Xiang Fei was still in shock when the door suddenly opened.

"Ah Fei, guess who I met downstairs just now?" Leslie Cheung walked in carrying two cups of milk tea, froze upon seeing Xiang Fei's expression, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Xiang Fei slowly raised his head, his lips slowly curving upward: "Brother Rong... we've been shortlisted for Venice."

The milk tea in Leslie Cheung's hand dropped to the floor with a "clap": "Say that again?"

Three hours later, Capital Airport.

Wearing sunglasses, Xiang Fei lowered his voice and said to Leslie Cheung: "Uncle Han specifically instructed us not to make a scene yet; wait for the official..."

Before he finished speaking, the airport terminal suddenly erupted in commotion. More than a dozen reporters rushed toward them with long lenses and cameras.

"Director Xiang! Is it true that The Coffin Maker has been shortlisted for Venice?"

"Mr. Leslie Cheung, we heard you are in contention for Best Actor?"

Xiang Fei and Leslie Cheung looked at each other in silence.

"Damn, how did the news leak?" Xiang Fei muttered under his breath.

Leslie Cheung smiled bitterly and adjusted his collar: "Looks like we can't hide it anymore."

Xiang Fei took a deep breath and put on a professional smile: "At present, we have indeed received preliminary notification from the organizing committee, but specific details still await the official announcement."

"Mr. Leslie Cheung, this is your first attempt at an international Best Actor award; how do you feel?" another reporter pressed.

Leslie Cheung smiled gently: "Being able to participate in such an excellent masterpiece is already my honor; the rest will take its natural course."

After finally shaking off the reporters and boarding the plane, Xiang Fei immediately took out his phone: "Uncle Han, how did the media find out?"

On the other end, Han Shanping was also helpless: "Someone on the festival side must have leaked the news. The editor-in-chief of Film Newspaper just called to apologize, saying they got the news from Italy."

Xiang Fei rubbed his temples: "What do we do now?"

"Since we can't hide it, let's just admit it openly." Han Shanping decided firmly, "Beijing Film Studio will hold a press conference this afternoon; you and Guorong should prepare in Xiangjiang as well."

After hanging up, Leslie Cheung handed him a glass of champagne: "Don't look so glum; this is good news."

Xiang Fei took the glass and smiled bitterly: "I'm just worried that revealing it too early will affect the awards."

"You're overthinking it." Leslie Cheung clinked his glass against his, "Come on, cheers to Venice."

After the plane landed, Xiang Fei had just turned on his phone when he received more than a dozen text messages. The top one was from Zhou Huimin: "I'm waiting for you at the VIP channel; don't take the regular exit!"

Xiang Fei quickly grabbed Leslie Cheung: "Take the VIP route; there must be paparazzi outside."

Sure enough, as soon as they stepped out of the channel, they saw Zhou Huimin wearing a baseball cap and a mask, holding Yangyang in her arms and waiting for them.

"Mama!" Yangyang saw Xiang Fei, opened his small hands, and asked for a hug.

Xiang Fei immediately took his son, kissed his little face, and asked: "Missed Daddy?"

Zhou Huimin's eyes turned red: "I saw the news on TV... congratulations to you both."

Leslie Cheung tactfully said: "You two talk first; I'll go get the luggage."

After Leslie Cheung walked far away, Zhou Huimin suddenly threw herself into Xiang Fei's arms: "I knew you would succeed!"

Xiang Fei held his son in one arm and embraced his wife with the other.

Xiang Fei's family and Leslie Cheung arrived at the rooftop restaurant of the hotel.

Yangyang babbled in his high chair while Zhou Huimin carefully fed him fruit.

"Huimin, next month I have to take the crew to Venice..." Xiang Fei said somewhat apologetically.

Zhou Huimin interrupted him: "I and Yangyang will go with you."

Xiang Fei looked up in surprise: "Really? But Yangyang is still young..."

"It's okay." Zhou Huimin said gently but firmly, "At such an important moment, our family should be together."

Leslie Cheung raised his glass with a smile: "Then let's wish our Venice trip for The Coffin Maker a complete success in advance!"

Touched, Xiang Fei put his arm around his wife's shoulder and raised his glass with the other hand: "For art, for family, cheers!"