Chapter 42: Music Awards Ceremony

"Click! Click! Click!"

Flashbulbs rained down like a storm as reporters on both sides of the red carpet madly pressed their shutters.

"Ah-Man! Look this way!"

"Ah-Man! Strike a pose!"

Zhou Huimin wore a silver sequined mermaid-tail gown, looking like a mermaid surfacing under the flashbulbs; she looped her arm through Xiang Qian's, a sweet smile on her face.

Xiang Qian, meanwhile, was in a sharply tailored black suit, a dark-red tie pin at his collar, understated yet edged with sharpness.

"Qian-Zai!" a reporter shouted, "Parasite got into Cannes—aren't you stealing the spotlight from the musicians tonight?"

Xiang Qian laughed lightly: "Tonight's stars are the musicians; I'm just here as an audience member."

Zhou Huimin gave his arm a quiet pinch and whispered: "Liar, you're clearly nervous to death."

Xiang Qian raised an eyebrow: "What would I be nervous about?"

"Afraid you won't win an award, duh." Zhou Huimin blinked.

"Welcome to the 15th Xiangjiang Music Awards Ceremony!"

Host Zeng Zhiwei's voice rang through the hall, and thunderous applause erupted.

"Our first award, Best Composer..."

The big screen began playing the nomination clips, and the melody of Xiang Qian's "Huo Yuanjia" rang out.

"The winner is... Xiang Qian! 'Huo Yuanjia'!"

The whole hall erupted.

Xiang Qian froze for a beat; Zhou Huimin excitedly pushed him: "Go on, quick!"

On stage, Xiang Qian gripped the trophy, uncharacteristically a little flustered: "Thank you to the judges,..."

The camera immediately cut to Zhou Huimin in the audience, covering her mouth and laughing.

"Next up, Best Lyricist..."

"The winner is... Xiang Qian! 'A Love for a Lifetime'!"

"Best Arranger..."

"The winner is... Xiang Qian! 'The Rogue'!"

Going up on stage three times in a row, Xiang Qian was starting to feel a bit embarrassed.

Cheng Long shouted from the audience: "Qian-Zai! Want me to carry your trophies for you!"

The whole hall burst into laughter.

"Best Female Singer..."

"The winner is... Zhou Huimin! 'Love Like the Tide'!"

Zhou Huimin's eyes instantly reddened; Xiang Qian gave her a gentle push: "Go on."

On stage, Zhou Huimin cradled the trophy, her voice trembling slightly: "Thank you to everyone who supports me, and especially I want to thank..." her gaze fell on Xiang Qian, "thank that person who always says I don't sing well enough."

The whole hall burst into laughter.

The camera cut to Xiang Qian, who shook his head helplessly, though a smile tugged at his lips.

"Song of the Year..."

"The winner is... 'A Love for a Lifetime'! Zhou Huimin, Xiang Qian!"

The two went up on stage together; Zhou Huimin excitedly hugged the trophy, while Xiang Qian gentlemanly let her speak first.

"This song is very special to both of us..." Zhou Huimin said softly.

Xiang Qian took the microphone: "Just as the lyrics say, 'lovers find they cannot draw close,'."

A wave of heckling and teasing immediately rose from the audience.

At the victory banquet, five trophies gleamed on the table.

Cheng Long raised his champagne: "Tonight's biggest winner!"

Lin Qingxia laughed: "The two of them sweeping five major awards—has that ever happened before in the Xiangjiang music scene?"

Zhou Huimin's little face flushed red: "It's all because Qian-Zai writes so well..."

Xiang Qian poured her a cup of warm water: "Your throat matters; talk less."

Late at night, the two stood on the hotel rooftop.

"Qian-Zai..." Zhou Huimin looked at the trophy, "thank you for the songs you wrote."

Xiang Qian gazed at the neon lights in the distance: "I'll write plenty more in the future."

The night breeze swept past, carrying the scent of the sea.

On this night, the starlight was especially brilliant.