Chapter 474: Encouragement and Companionship

There was a translator on stage, so everyone in the audience who didn't understand English could still understand.

After speaking, they moved to announce the winner; the Danish woman opened the card in her hand and glanced at the audience: "The winner of Best Actress is…"

In the audience, Liu Tianxian's hand on her lap involuntarily gripped the man beside her tightly, clearly nervous and eager.

Fang Hong could feel the fine beads of sweat on her palm, and he patted her back gently to comfort her.

But Liu Tianxian seemed not to notice; her eyes remained fixed on the presenter on stage announcing the name.

When the Danish woman announced the winner in her own language, the audience paused for a moment in confusion, but Fang Hong suddenly felt Liu Tianxian beside him trembling with excitement.

Like the peak sensation of an orgasm.

Fang Hong knew this feeling well—it was the same as when they were in bed at the climax, and he could feel her body trembling slightly.

After all, they were holding hands; the sensation was unmistakable.

"'Flower Bouquet,' Liu Tianxian."

Quickly, host Chen Chen translated the Danish woman's words, and the large screen immediately showed clips from the film "Flower Bouquet."

The audience burst into loud, uneven applause.

Everyone turned toward one direction, because the lights were focused there, and the cameras were trained on it.

Perhaps the brief pause earlier was due to not understanding; once they understood, the applause came.

Fang Hong hadn't understood either, but sensing Liu Tianxian's reaction, he guessed the result—she really had won it.

Of course, he was happy for her, moved by it—how hard-won it was! And Liu Tianxian had known the moment the Danish woman spoke, since she was fluent in multiple languages, which explained her excitement.

Liu Tianxian rose from her seat; her friends nearby—Xue Xiaolu, Bai Yu, Gong Huang, and others, known or unknown—all turned to congratulate her.

But Gong Huang likely already knew the result; his face held only a faint smile.

Liu Tianxian embraced Xue Xiaolu, shook hands with Bai Yu, and thanked Gong Huang: "Thank you!"

"You're welcome. You earned it. You performed beautifully," Gong Huang replied, giving her an encouraging look.

Liu Tianxian felt strengthened—after all, recognition from such a professional meant something deeply comforting and moving.

She turned to the man beside her, opened her arms, and hugged him tightly, pressing her face against his, first left cheek, then right, her skin smooth and warm to the touch.

Fang Hong could still feel her body trembling with excitement!

It was natural—five years had passed; she had endured five years to win such a prestigious award.

This feeling was different.

The audience watching this scene wore expressions of envy, jealousy, indifference, and disappointment—all varied.

Those who envied were the men; those who were jealous were the younger actresses; those who were indifferent were officials, artists, scholars, and those who didn't care about Liu Tianxian; those who were disappointed were the nominees who didn't win.

After parting from her man, Liu Tianxian thanked others, then lifted her skirt and stepped onto the stage.

Throughout this, the stage lights followed her, the music swelled, and the applause never ceased—people still clapped.

"Let us welcome the new Golden Goblet Award winner, Liu Tianxian, ladies and gentlemen," host Chen Chen switched seamlessly between Chinese and English.

When she finished, Zhang Guoli read the judges' comments: "Liu Tianxian's subtle, nuanced emotional expression gave this film a soul from beginning to end. She masterfully conveyed the character's inner world, guiding her step by step from fantasy to reality."

As he spoke, Liu Tianxian stood at the center of the stage, receiving the Golden Goblet Trophy from the two foreign presenters.

Bathed in the soft stage lights, her white dress gleamed like snow, radiant and dazzling.

Host Chen Chen, also dressed in white, stepped beside Liu Tianxian: "You may now share your acceptance speech."

"Mm."

Liu Tianxian was still overwhelmed, unable to calm down—everything felt unreal.

She looked at the trophy in her hands, gripping it tightly, then looked out at the sea of guests and audience members watching her—now it all felt real.

"Our Best Actress seems too overcome with emotion—let's give her some applause to give her a moment, shall we?" Chen Chen smiled into the microphone.

The audience erupted into applause again, offering encouragement.

"No need to wait—I can speak now," Liu Tianxian spoke with genuine sincerity.

The host smiled; some guests curled their lips into smiles.

Liu Tianxian glanced at the man in the audience—he was gazing at her with admiration, giving her strength.

She steadied herself, then spoke: "Good evening. Winning this award has truly surprised me. First, thank you to the organizing committee and the judges for your recognition. Thank you to every behind-the-scenes creator and actor of 'Flower Bouquet'—without your dedication and commitment to art, this film would not exist."

"Special thanks to the director, who patiently guided me again and again, teaching me every detail of performance with endless patience—I'm truly grateful."

"I have no natural acting talent, and over these years, I'm grateful to every director who patiently taught me."

The audience applauded again; Xue Xiaolu clapped with satisfaction.

What followed were thanks to the directors from Yutu—each one had shown her extraordinary patience in guiding her.

And the actors who had guided her too, like Zhang Songwen.

Among the Yutu directors, only Lu Yang was present—he too had guided Liu Tianxian, and still remembered her early, unpolished performances.

Lack of talent doesn't prevent someone from becoming a good actor; good actors aren't born—they're forged through practice and guidance.

Liu Tianxian is the hardworking type; she dedicates herself fully to studying and refining her craft.

"And here, I must specially thank one person—he has persistently encouraged and stood by me for five years, giving me the courage to reach today."

"Without him, I wouldn't be standing here. Thank you—I hope you'll be with me in all the days to come."

As she spoke these words, Liu Tianxian raised the Trophy high and shouted: "Mom, I won!"

Then she bowed deeply to the audience and guests; the hall erupted once more in loud, chaotic applause.

That final cry didn't sound like a goddess—it sounded like a child seeking her mother's praise.

No one knew if Liu Xiaoli could see or hear her daughter's call.

At that moment, Liu Xiaoli was watching TV at home in Beijing; the ceremony was broadcast live. When she heard her daughter's shout, her heart was moved.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she pulled out a tissue to wipe them away.

She knew how fiercely her daughter clung to acting, how desperately she longed for recognition and to win an award.

All along she kept saying she didn't care, that it didn't matter, but in her heart she really hoped to win the award.

Everyone wants their career to be recognized, to have honors! And today she finally got her wish and won the award—this feeling, many people cannot understand, nor empathize with.

But Liu Xiaoli knew deeply how much her daughter had been looking forward to it, after all those years of being together day and night.

Since it was a live broadcast, Liu Tianxian's fans could also watch, and their feelings were the same as Liu Xiaoli's—moved.

"Next, please welcome Mr. Ma Side, Chief Executive Officer of Jaeger-LeCoultre North Asia, to present the watch to the new Golden Goblet Best Actress." Zhang Guoli said.

The scene continued. Along with the music, a bald Western man walked up onto the stage from backstage, accompanied by a beautiful female server holding an exquisite watch gift box.

The bald CEO presented that watch to Liu Tianxian; the watch looked very high-end, gleaming with golden light.

Afterwards, Liu Tianxian went to the backstage to be interviewed by reporters—every award winner had to be interviewed by reporters.

In the backstage, Liu Tianxian was surrounded by all kinds of reporters, who thrust their microphones forward in a frantic rush, asking Liu Tianxian: "What are your thoughts on winning this award?"

"Of course I'm very happy." Liu Tianxian didn't put on an act.

"The person you mentioned at the end on stage, the one who has been with you for five years—is that the Principal?" the reporter asked.

"Yes." Liu Tianxian admitted openly.

This stirred the reporters up a bit—this was basically solid proof of the two's romance, quite a big scoop, though they had never denied it either.

And had been sending out this kind of signal to the outside world all along.

"Then do you feel that winning this award, beating out so many outstanding international filmmakers, is an unfair victory?" the reporter asked.

"What? An unfair victory?" Liu Tianxian didn't understand how the reporter could suddenly come up with such a phrase.

"Right, winning this award will surely face a lot of doubt, after all you hadn't won before." What the reporter probably meant to express was that your acting used to be terrible, and you don't deserve this award.

"Just because I hadn't won before, does that mean I can never win in the future?" Liu Tianxian didn't give a pleasant face.

What logic—so what if she was terrible before, does that mean she's always been terrible? "Then do you feel that winning this award was based on your own strength?" the reporter pressed the attack, loving to stir up trouble.

"That's something you should ask the Judges, not me." Liu Tianxian was very direct.

"Then do you have anything you want to say about the film festival Judges giving you this award?" the reporter asked again.

"I'm very grateful to them for their recognition of me." Liu Tianxian was brief and to the point.

Press conferences are like this—the questions asked are all nonsensical; no wonder celebrities dislike them and don't give pleasant faces.

(End of this chapter)