Chapter 542: No Contrast, No Harm

In the afternoon, the Macau Film Festival welcomed many celebrities, including authoritative figures like Zhang Hongsen and Zhang Huijun.

Even Donna, the Universal General Manager, arrived.

It was said that veteran actors like Chen Daoming and Liang Jiahui also came, drawing attention to the Macau Film Festival, which had never been prominent.

It also made those who previously ignored this film festival take it more seriously.

Real-time photo and text reports on internet media allowed people to see the elevated stature of this Macau Film Festival.

Previously seen as a watered-down award, now it seemed somewhat distinctive.

But the final outcome still depended on the red carpet and the award ceremony's impact—everything before was just hype, meant to give people a different impression of this Macau Film Festival.

After this, Fang Hong and Liu Tianxian did not greet anyone else; few were worthy of their reception.

Having cars constantly driving down this road wasn't right—it needed rarity.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was 5:30 p. m.; a long red carpet was laid out on the steps of the Galaxy International Building, extending thirty meters down to the bottom.

Thirty meters equaled about sixty steps—not long, but not short either.

Movie stars would arrive in business cars arranged by the festival, walk the thirty-meter red carpet up the steps, and enter the award venue.

On both sides of the red carpet, areas were clearly separated for journalists and fans.

At six p. m., though daylight had not yet faded, journalists on both sides had already set up their cameras and lenses, waiting for the stars to walk the red carpet.

The audience and fans also waited eagerly, wondering who would be the first to arrive.

Just as everyone was looking around, a black sedan stopped at the end of the red carpet; black-clad security opened one door, revealing a pair of long, beautiful legs.

It was sunset, but not yet dark; the audience could clearly see the person stepping out—a tall, sharply featured goddess.

Dressed in a silver long dress, she looked dazzlingly beautiful; the deep V-neck revealed a chest that was profoundly alluring—it was Nazha.

She was at the peak of her fame; as soon as she appeared, flashbulbs erupted, fans screamed "Ah! Ah! Ah!" and the scene became noisy and chaotic.

From the other side of the car stepped out another person—Xie Miao, dressed in a sharp suit.

They played the male and female leads in Xiu Chun Dao, with romantic scenes between them, so their joint appearance carried symbolic weight.

Amid cheers from the sides and flashing lights, the two walked side by side to the center of the red carpet; Nazha placed one hand on her hip, tilted her chin slightly upward, displaying a haughty posture for the photographers.

Xie Miao stood silently beside her as a foil.

That's how red carpets work—attention usually focuses on female stars because of their varied, beautiful, and revealing outfits; male stars' attire is largely uniform.

Soon they reached the end of the red carpet and ascended the steps, where two hosts already waited.

The red carpet hosts were from Macau Television: one named Zhou Qiyang, the other Li Ruoying.

"Wow, Nazha, you're so beautiful today! Please come over here," the host exclaimed dramatically, gesturing for them to join him.

Nazha smiled shyly and stood between the hosts, facing the cameras and audience; meanwhile, another pair arrived on the red carpet—Cai Wenzheng and Zhu Yilong.

Zhu Yilong still had some fame; Cai Wenzheng had little.

Yet their appearance still triggered continuous flashes and enthusiastic cheers.

Fans are herd animals—they don't care if they recognize the stars on the red carpet; as long as someone's a celebrity and others are cheering, they cheer too.

"Is this your first time attending the Macau Film Festival?" the host asked Nazha first.

"Yes, it's my first time," Nazha replied.

"How do you feel about coming to the Macau Film Festival? Do you have anything you'd like to say?" the host asked.

"I'm excited, because I've always admired this beautiful city of Macau, and today I've finally fulfilled my wish to be here—I hope the film festival continues to improve," Nazha spoke in a soft, delicate tone.

"What about you, Xie Miao?" the host turned to him.

"I feel deeply honored to attend such a grand ceremony—I hope I can win an award," Xie Miao joked lightly, subtly elevating the prestige of the award ceremony.

After all, this award ceremony was organized by the Principal.

"Your wish will surely come true," the host replied, then gestured for them to proceed inside.

At that moment, two more stars arrived below and began their interview.

That's how red carpets work—sometimes two stars walk together, sometimes one alone; Huang Jiaozhu and Guoji Zhang can carry the entire scene by themselves.

Their aura and influence are no less than those of couples or lesser-known stars.

Of course, they arrived later—higher status means later arrival.

But there are also groups who walk the red carpet together—these are entire film crews, bringing directors, producers, cinematographers, and others.

For example, films like My Early Menopause Girlfriend and BFFs brought entire teams onto the red carpet.

Both these films were distributed by Tu Piaopiao.

Also, Xinurufang was walked by Zhang Songwen, Shen Teng, and Wen Muye together.

Three large men standing together added a touch of male steadiness and seriousness to the red carpet, which had previously been dominated by female stars' revealing outfits.

Zhang Songwen's online backlash and scandals had long passed; his popularity wasn't affected—fans still flocked to him, non-fans still didn't care.

His mindset had also adjusted; he wasn't affected at all.

"This is the first time three men have walked the red carpet together—it gives the Macau Film Festival a different feel. After all, Xinurufang this year ranked second in domestic box office," the host flattered.

The champion was actually Transformers 4, but that wasn't a domestic film; the domestic champion was Shu.

The three men stood with their hands behind their backs, smiling.

The host asked them: "This is your first time at the Macau Film Festival—what would you like to say?"

"I said I could come alone, but they dragged me here—what kind of thing is this?" Shen Teng slapped his thigh, looking as if he regretted it.

Everyone around him laughed "hehe" at his gesture and words.

"Just kidding."

Shen Teng regained his serious expression and said again: "I'm deeply gratified to be invited and to reunite with the crew here."

"What about Song Wen? I heard you're a judge for this festival—do you feel pressure?" the host asked.

"There's definitely pressure—I've never judged so many films before; the responsibility on my shoulders is immense. I dare not slack off for a moment. All I hope is that I don't get criticized later," Zhang Songwen smiled.

"We believe the judges are certainly upholding fairness and will deliver a result that satisfies the public."

The host turned to Wen Muye and asked, "Director Wen, are you currently shooting a new project?"

"Not yet. If I start a new project, I'll let everyone know," said Wen Muye.

After the interviews, they entered the venue, where staff had already arranged their seats—seats determined strictly by status and clout.

Most of those present were actors, directors, or crew from Yutu, or celebrities connected to Yutu.

A small fraction came because of the Principal's influence.

After all, Huayi and Bona had issued strict orders prohibiting any of their invested films or contracted actors from attending this awards ceremony.

Like Duan Yihong, who once starred in Now You See Me, he couldn't come due to Huayi's restrictions.

One could only say Huayi and Bona were being stingy in this regard.

Meanwhile, photos and text of the Macau Film Festival red carpet were being uploaded in real time online, unintentionally drawing more attention to the ceremony.

"Wow, Nazha is so beautiful!"

"Shen Teng is so funny."

"Zhao Xiaodao? She's here too." "Deng Chao was hilarious on the red carpet."

"Li Bailian is here too—this year's Macau Film Festival really has a lot of big names."

"Looking at the scene, this is bigger than the Golden Horse Awards."

"The Golden Horse Awards are propped up by Hong Kong and Taiwan stars; many you don't even recognize. At least the stars here are familiar to you."

"Exactly—take this year's Golden Horse Best Actress, Chen Xiangqi, the one who beat Gong Huang. Have you even heard of her? Seen any of her films?"

"Never heard of her. Never seen any of her movies."

"It's our own film festival's fault for not being up to par—otherwise the Golden Horse Awards wouldn't even matter."

"Support the Principal! Hope the Principal knocks out the Golden Horse Awards."

"."

Online netizens were buzzing with comments about the red carpet stars, and discussions about the Macau Film Festival were also lively, with comparisons drawn between several film festivals.

But since the awards hadn't started yet, it was too early to judge how this ceremony would turn out—what if it turned out to be a total mess?

Bilibili and Toutiao's subsidiary apps had launched live streams; several sections used the same live room, just with different traffic drivers.

There was a direct primary channel linking straight to the Macau Awards live stream.

The live room already had over two million viewers online simultaneously, and right then, Fan Xiaopang appeared on the red carpet in an elegant gown, waving to the crowds on both sides like a dignified noblewoman.

The viewer count in the live room instantly jumped to over three million, and popularity exploded.

Fan Xiaopang was still very popular—this was precisely when The Empress of China was airing, and though she'd become a big-headed doll, it didn't dampen the drama's explosive popularity.

She even coined a new term: "Ma Zhen."

"Bingbing, Bingbing, so beautiful!"

Most fans in the live room shouted this, while others flooded the screen with "Fan Xiaopang"—her popularity was extremely high.

She was currently the top streamer of this era.

But what was noteworthy was that in the lower-right corner of the live stream, a "Douyin" logo kept flickering.

Viewers didn't know what it was for, and had no impression of it.

Unknown to them, Chang'e Technology was already promoting this app, making people aware of its existence.

The red carpet continued—black sedans arrived and departed, one celebrity after another stepped out and walked the carpet, reporters snapped photos nonstop, and fans on both sides cheered endlessly, overwhelmed by the spectacle.

The finale usually featured the biggest stars—like Guoji Zhang and Huang Jiaozhu—who posed dramatically or waved to the crowd, sending the red carpet's energy soaring and fans into a frenzy.

The red carpet lasted nearly two hours; the film festival didn't announce who closed it, as if there had been no closing act at all.

But insiders and fans alike cared deeply about this— if the closing star wasn't bigger or more prestigious than their idol, they'd inevitably vent their frustration at the festival.

Not to mention if the final appearance wasn't even as impressive as our idol—what a garbage awards ceremony.

Time flew by, and soon it was time for the grand finale—a black sedan pulled up at the end of the red carpet, and fans on-site strained their necks to see who it was.

Whoever it was, it would be a huge talking point.

Chen Daoming stepped out wearing a black suit—he was respected in the industry.

But Chen Daoming didn't walk away; instead, he reached back into the car and pulled out Gong Huang. As soon as Gong Huang appeared, her confident, calm smile radiated an entirely different aura.

Her sense of high-end elegance was instantly apparent.

Her arrival stunned the reporters, who exchanged glances—no one had leaked a whisper she'd come; the secrecy had been impeccable.

Her sudden appearance surprised journalists, for her influence wasn't just domestic—it was formidable internationally.

She wasn't popular among the public; she commanded authority within the industry.

Upon seeing Gong Huang, reporters immediately swung their cameras toward her, snapping away eagerly.

The audience and fans didn't fully grasp her weight, but they'd heard of her—their cheers remained enthusiastic.

Online, a hashtag had already surged to trending.

#Gong Huang Appears at Macau Film Festival! #

Clicking the hashtag revealed Gong Huang in a long blue gown, walking the red carpet with calm confidence.

In truth, she was quite plump now—on camera she looked like a fat woman—but no one said a word.

She relied on her works, on her authority.

Gong Huang's arrival overshadowed every other star present—no matter how big your clout, how powerful you were, you bowed before her.

There was no way around it—she carried that weight, not through fan popularity, but through global industry recognition.

Fans who had planned to defend their idols fell silent—they dared not claim Gong Huang was less impressive than their idol.

Claiming their idol was greater than Gong Huang? They'd be laughed at.

On the red carpet, Gong Huang faced the lights with grace and confidence; Chen Daoming stood beside her like an attendant—they represented the Return cast.

The two walked to the end of the red carpet, and the two hosts were visibly excited when they saw them.

"Hello, Sister Gong Li, hello, Uncle Daoming," the host greeted first.

The male host said excitedly, "Sister Gong Li, we had absolutely no idea you were coming, and we didn't receive any information at all — it really caught us by surprise."

"I think a professional awards ceremony must, first and foremost, be sincere. As long as that point is met, if I'm invited, I'll definitely come." Gong Huang praised the Principal's sincerity, without revealing any hint that she would be attending.

It was also an undisguised jab at the Golden Horse Awards. Just last month, she had said the Golden Horse Awards were an unprofessional film festival; now, conversely, she was saying the Macau Film Festival was professional.

And the moment those words left her mouth, a new trending topic appeared on the hot search.

#Gong Huang shades Golden Horse Awards as unprofessional! #

Real-time photo-and-text sharing, plus livestreams — that's how fast hot search moves, and that's how influential this woman's words are.

Gong Huang seemed quite eager to speak, adding: "Some people may not like hearing what I say, but I still have to say it. As an actress, professionally speaking, being invited doesn't mean I must win an award — I don't care whether I win or not — but there must be at least a minimum of respect. Not even a shred of respect — that is the mark of unprofessionalism."

This was referring to how the Golden Horse Awards had previously used her fame as a publicity gimmick, claiming she would win Best Actress, yet didn't give it to her.

She was willing to attend, and winning or not winning didn't matter — but they couldn't play it that way, making it so that whether she won or not, she was in the wrong.

Wasn't that just deceiving her, making her play second fiddle to Baodao artists?

Although Gong Huang never once mentioned the Golden Horse Awards by name, every word she said was subtly shading them.

This was nailing the Golden Horse Awards to the pillar of shame and rubbing it in — without comparison, there's no harm done.

"When you say a sincere invitation, do you mean the Principal?" a reporter asked.

"Yes, he's done very well in that regard — he's a man of honesty and integrity." Gong Huang nodded.

This time the Principal hadn't leaked a single hint that she was coming, nor had he publicized who would or wouldn't win an award — that was handled very well.

Her words were rather controversial, and another trending topic climbed the hot search.

#Gong Huang says the Principal is a sincere person! #

A topic like this didn't quite match the usual perception. In the past, people were always saying bad things about the Principal, yet now quite a few people were saying good things about him.

That's normal. Before, Fang Hong hadn't risen to prominence and was being targeted; combined with the fact that many people didn't know him well, when someone spoke ill of him, no one stepped up to refute it.

Now, after many people had deeper contact with Fang Hong, their understanding of him deepened as well.

Even Chen Daoming told the hosts: "The Principal invited me, and I agreed without hesitation, because I think the Principal is generous and doesn't fuss over such things."

Everyone knew the Principal didn't get along with the Beijing Circle, but the Principal knew he belonged to the Beijing Circle and still cast him — that alone is something many people couldn't match.

Duan Yihong was the same — he knew he was a Huayi artist, and the Principal still cast him.

But the Principal never refused to use someone just because of which agency they belonged to — as long as they were the right fit. That was also why Chen Daoming was willing to show up.

(End of chapter)