Chapter 523

The award being presented now is Best Actor; the nominees are Chen Jianbing for A Spoon, Xie Miao for Xiu Chun Dao, Liu Qingyun for Drug War, Liao Fan for Black Coal, Thin Ice, and Nagase Masatoshi for Kano.

Liu Qingyun is nominated for the Golden Horse Awards almost every year, but he's only won once—back at the 49th Golden Horse, which was the year before last.

The presenters are Guoji Zhang and Guo Fucheng, who joked around on stage before announcing the winner.

During this process, Xie Miao suddenly grew nervous, staring intently at the stage.

The other nominees also wore serious expressions.

When "Chen Jianbin" was announced as the winner, the audience erupted in loud applause, while the nominees wore disappointed faces.

This man has already won three Golden Horse Trophies.

One for Best Supporting Actor, one for Best New Director, and now Best Actor—he's truly a life winner.

On stage, as he accepted his award and gave his acceptance speech, Jiang Qinqin came up and kissed him.

This couple appears affectionate in public; whether they're truly affectionate behind closed doors is unknown—Jiang Qinqin's romantic history is quite extensive.

She once damaged her "pure girl" image due to involvement in an affair.

After this award, the Best Actress award will be presented.

The presenters are Xu Anhua and last year's Best Actor, Li Kangsheng; just Xu Anhua alone carries tremendous weight.

Seeing the two take the stage to present, Liu Tianxian, Chen Xiangqi, Gong Huang, and Tang Wei straightened their postures, watching the stage with solemn focus.

Yan Zi was also nominated, for the film Dear, but she didn't attend.

Liu Tianxian remained calm; she knew she wouldn't win and believed the award would go to Gong Huang, yet she still held a faint hope—after all, everyone wants to win.

Not just her—at least half the audience in the hall believed the award should go to Gong Huang.

Of course, except Fang Hong—he didn't even know who would win, nor whether he'd altered anything.

He supposed nothing had changed; he'd always avoided altering major figures' destinies.

Actually, he privately hoped the award wouldn't go to Gong Huang—this would severely damage the Golden Horse's prestige, and if handled well, the Macau Film Festival's visibility could surge.

But he wasn't sure whether events from his past life would still occur.

At this moment, Gong Huang maintained her signature smile.

As the hall fell silent, tension spreading, the two presenters finally finished their banter and began the announcement.

"Chen Xiangqi for Return to the Light Sonata!"

Upon hearing the film title and name, some audience members were momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered and began applauding.

Everyone assumed the award would go to Gong Huang—no suspense at all. One could only say the Golden Horse knew how to play, and the judges knew how to play.

To treat Gong Huang like this, will she come back next time?

Liu Tianxian also looked astonished, her phoenix eyes wide open, mouth agape—she'd been certain the award would go to Gong Huang.

Even if not Gong Huang's, shouldn't it have been hers by now? She never expected such a shock.

She couldn't help glancing at Gong Huang, who remained unchanged—tousling her hair, smiling, clapping, revealing no emotion.

Of course, she didn't know that Gong Huang was already furious, merely maintaining her composure.

After all, there were so many people watching—she couldn't afford to lose face.

Liu Tianxian nudged the man beside her with her elbow, displeased.

"What's wrong?" Fang Hong asked.

"Don't you think this is unfair?" Liu Tianxian whispered, tilting her head.

"It's normal—either political factors, or someone has personal motives," Fang Hong whispered back.

This result matches his past life—it changed nothing; in his past life, this person also won.

He hadn't altered anything—not the Golden Horse, not Gong Huang's fate, nor anyone else's; he'd only changed some people and events around him.

Even though Liu Tianxian had been nominated multiple times, this minor change didn't affect the outcome.

"Who has personal motives?" Liu Tianxian asked, puzzled.

"Chen Chong."

"Huh?"

Hearing the name, Liu Tianxian was startled.

Chen Chong was the chair of this year's judging panel, with decisive power over who won—he could sway the outcome.

Just like that guy who served as chair of a music award panel and dismissed Dao Ge's song by saying it lacked aesthetic value—he had that much authority.

"There's a grudge between them. Supposedly, the lead role in The Soul Painter was originally Chen Chong's, but later ended up in Gong Huang's hands."

"There's also a rumor that Chen Chong won the Golden Horse Best Actress for Red Rose, White Rose—the role of the Red Rose was originally meant for Gong Huang. Chen Chong probably gave her a hard time. Of course, that's just my guess, but their relationship is clearly bad," Fang Hong explained.

Liu Tianxian nodded, understanding.

Before the ceremony even began, they used Gong Huang as a marketing gimmick to hype the Golden Horse, openly "riding the trend" to lure her here—then slapped her in the face.

This move was somewhat dishonorable; if it were her, she'd be furious too.

Even online Wangyi were stunned by the result, with some asking: "Who is this woman? I've never heard of her."

"Gong Huang lost to someone unknown—even Liu Tianxian lost. Has anyone even seen this person's films?"

"I don't understand how this award was judged."

"There's definitely corruption, insider dealings."

"This cold shock is too unprofessional—how can anyone believe it?"

"."

Online, a storm erupted, with countless Wangyi questioning this year's Golden Horse Best Actress.

Gong Huang's stature—she lost to an actress no one had heard of, and not only her, but Yan Zi and Liu Tianxian lost too.

Even self-media outlets rushed to report on it.

"Gong Huang, Yan Zi, Liu Tianxian Miss Golden Horse!"

Outside, chaos had already erupted; Chen Chong had heard of it and knew some questioned the fairness of her judging. Yet she chose to remain composed and finish the award ceremony.

After the woman delivered her acceptance speech, the final major award—Best Picture—was presented by Chen Chong and Zhang Aijia.

Chen Chong went on stage to explain how rigorously and fairly their judging process had been, from film evaluation to final deliberation.

No external forces had interfered with their judging.

The audience below chuckled "hehehe"; beside her, Zhang Aijia wanted to laugh but pressed her lips shut.

Whatever you say is fine.

After speaking at length, Chen Chong finally announced the award—it went to "The Massage," no surprise.

With the Jin Ma Awards now fully presented, Gong Huang left with a dark face, saying nothing.

Liu Tianxian and Fang Hong exchanged a glance.

The Jin Ma Organizing Committee invited Gong Huang to the banquet, but she refused on the spot, dropping all pretense, returning directly to her hotel to pack and prepare to leave.

Neither Liu Tianxian nor Fang Hong attended the banquet; as they exited Zhongshan Hall, reporters blocked them.

A reporter asked: "Tianxian, you didn't win Best Actress this year—do you have any regrets?"

"No regrets or not—I'm used to it," Liu Tianxian said calmly; she had been disappointed countless times, so one or two more disappointments hardly mattered.

She was merely dissatisfied with this result, deeply disappointed.

The reporter asked: "Do you have anything to say about this year's Best Actress outcome?"

"Hehe!" Liu Tianxian suddenly let out two dry laughs.

The laugh was strange, leaving reporters baffled; Fang Hong glanced at her—he knew this meant Liu Tianxian was also deeply dissatisfied.

How could she be satisfied? She had long awaited the Jin Ma Awards, an award she considered authoritative—unattainable, yet one she attended every year, only for this?

The reporter asked: "Are you dissatisfied with the Jin Ma's selection of Best Actress?"

"Hehe!" Liu Tianxian let out two more dry laughs.

She gave no answer—her attitude made everything clear: she would not comment, but she would not accept the Jin Ma either.

But when reporters tried to ask again, Liu Tianxian refused further interviews, pushed past them, and walked away.

Reporters tried to interview Principal, but Fang Hong refused, claiming he "knew nothing."

This had nothing to do with him; those upset with the Jin Ma were Gong Huang and Liu Tianxian.

Just as Liu Tianxian responded with "hehe."

As soon as Gong Huang boarded the plane, she issued multiple statements: "I am deeply grateful to the Jin Ma Awards for giving me this opportunity to witness how an unprofessional film festival operates—and how an unjust festival makes all artists look down on it!"

She also stated: "I will never return to this amateur film festival—it has no meaning whatsoever."

Still angry, she added another statement: "This is my first time attending the Jin Ma Awards—and my last!"

This was an unambiguous condemnation of the Jin Ma as unprofessional and amateurish—and she launched it immediately after boarding, with no concealment, fearing the Jin Ma Organizing Committee might send someone to stop her.

She spoke and left without pause, giving the Jin Ma not a shred of face—Gong Huang remained resolute, as expected; at her status, she had no need to pretend.

Her remarks instantly sparked public uproar.

"Gong Huang is too powerful—this is exactly how it should be! They hyped up the awards beforehand, then deliberately denied her the prize."

"Strength speaks for itself—awards mean nothing to her."

"Thank goodness it's Gong Huang—if it were some ordinary little star, people would call it a stunt. Look at her status in China and internationally—just see how the Jin Ma and media reacted."

"Liu Tianxian's 'hehe' is deeply telling—she's clearly dissatisfied too."

"My Xixi is powerful—she's openly tearing into the Jin Ma."

"Support Gong Huang! Support Liu Tianxian!"

"."

Netizens overwhelmingly supported Gong Huang and Liu Tianxian; they were also dissatisfied with this year's Best Actress winner.

No one expected Gong Huang to lose.

The more hype there had been beforehand, the greater the disappointment now.

Some media sought confirmation from Baodao sources that leaked the statement; the response was: "This statement was sent by Gong Huang's agent, and the agent confirmed they speak for her."

Even Hong Kong's Xiang Tai stood by Gong Huang: "I believe the Jin Ma Film Festival's executive committee deceived Gong Huang! Otherwise, why would jewelry sponsors and their executives arrange a victory banquet—humiliating her so thoroughly that she spoke out like this?"

Otherwise, why do major film festivals worldwide revere her? Why has she never cared about winning awards? But she cannot tolerate deception or insults to her intelligence—that's why she could no longer hold back and openly criticized the Jin Ma Awards!"

Liu Jialing also spoke out: "What has Gong Huang not seen? She can win, she can lose—she is my eternal Best Actress, regardless of awards."

This move stirred up the entire film industry.

The scandal was massive; some judges could not withstand the pressure and spoke out. Feng Delun said: "I voted for Gong Huang."

He meant he had no guilt—but the outcome was beyond his control.

Yet the blame was directly aimed at Judge Chen Chong, accusing her of giving Gong Huang "the cold shoulder."

They also accused her of deliberately "blackening" Gong Huang.

Chen Chong was forced to respond: "How boring! Spreading baseless rumors. Though I have no obligation, I'll clarify: I have always admired and respected Gong Huang's acting, and I believe her performance in 'Coming Home' was precise and moving."

"In all three rounds of my voting for this Jin Ma Award, I cast my ballot for Gong Huang. Some media writers, please do your homework and respect your profession and the facts. To other media friends—thank you for your support."

This was a direct blame-shifting, accusing the media of causing trouble.

Later, reporters asked Guo Fucheng; he said he couldn't comment—this sounded suspicious.

Reporters approached members of the Jin Ma Executive Committee; their answer was also "inconvenient to disclose."

The scandal was severe, damaging the Jin Ma Awards' reputation; under immense pressure, the Jin Ma Organizing Committee issued an emergency statement: "The judging process and outcome have always been independent and fair, unaffected by any external force."

After issuing several statements, Gong Huang went silent. Netizens asked what Liu Tianxian thought.

Liu Tianxian posted on Weibo: "Hehe da!"

(End of Chapter)