Chapter 135: The Highest Accolade

"Thump, thump, thump!"

"Who is it?"

"Me."

Chen Nuo said irritably, "Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

Qi Yuntian's voice was also helpless: "It really can't."

"Damn it."

Chen Nuo could only lift his head, looking at the delicate neck and perfectly shaped jawline before him; his heart was itching, and he couldn't bear to leave at all.

Wen Yushan blushed and gave him a light push, pulling the quilt over to cover her bare upper body, and said in a sweet, clinging voice: "Qi Da is looking for you for something, go quickly, come back later and... I'll wait for you."

Chen Nuo had no choice but to climb up, put on his bathrobe, and adjust himself below before pulling the door open to go out. "What is it, brother?"

Qi Yuntian seemed to have just finished showering as well, saying helplessly: "I know you're very busy every night. Busy here, then busy there; I don't want to waste your precious time..."

"Alright, alright, stop right there. Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"Leonardo's agent just contacted me. It turns out their premiere for *The 11th Hour* is tomorrow morning. When he asked you to help with promotion and stand on stage before, he actually meant for you to walk the red carpet and watch the movie."

Chen Nuo was stunned: "Huh?"

Qi Yuntian smiled and said: "I was quite surprised at first too, but then I thought about it, walking the red carpet is indeed promotion, and they weren't wrong."

Chen Nuo didn't really want to face the baptism of flashbulbs, but since Leonardo had praised him so much earlier, he felt embarrassed to go back on his word just two hours later, so he nodded and said: "Fine, is that all?"

Qi Yuntian said: "Also, a domestic director contacted me. Their premiere is tomorrow afternoon, and he asked if you have time and if you could go over to take a look."

"Who is it?"

"His name is Li Yang."

"Is he the one who filmed *Blind Shaft*?"

"Yes."

As he spoke, Qi Yuntian sighed, saying with a hint of pity: "He told me a lot on the phone just now... When he was filming this movie, his investors ran off, and he put in 4 million of his own money to finish it; his entire life savings are in it."

"This time it didn't make it into the main competition unit, only the 'Un Certain Regard' side unit. Now he's just hoping to win some kind of award to sell the film and recoup a little bit of his costs. I think it's quite pitiful, so I didn't turn him down and came to ask your opinion."

Chen Nuo thought for a moment. As a former "coal second-generation," he had felt deeply about the movie *Blind Shaft* in his past life, so he nodded immediately: "Then we'll go to Leonardo's environmental film in the morning and go to his side in the afternoon. Walking one red carpet is walking, walking two is also walking; if it's tiring, so be it."

Qi Yuntian laughed: "Li Yang and the others don't have a red carpet for you to walk. They have no money and didn't organize anything; they just want you to go watch the movie tomorrow and give them a few words of recommendation afterward, which they'll use to attract film distributors."

Chen Nuo rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward: "That simple? Alright, nothing else, right?"

"Wait," Qi Yuntian said. "Are you bringing a female companion tomorrow?"

"Bring who?"

Chen Nuo was still in a state of being driven by his lower instincts and didn't react for a moment, then suddenly realized: "You mean... Fan Fan Binbing?"

Qi Yuntian said: "Yes, since she's signed with our studio now, it will have to be made public sooner or later. Why not take advantage of tomorrow's opportunity? You take her to walk the red carpet, and I'll find a few domestic reporters to come over for an interview. When you talk about it then, it will also quell the rumors between you and her back home. The only problem is, I'm a bit worried about Huayi's reaction."

Chen Nuo smiled and said: "Huayi is fine, no need to worry. I spoke a few words with Wang Zhonglei on the phone that day; he probably already knows it was me. However, regardless of whether he knows or not, what you said is right: this matter can't be hidden, and there's no need to hide it. If Huayi really wants to go against us, then let them bring it on."

He really wasn't worried, because he knew quite a lot about the dirty laundry of the two brothers, Wang Zhongjun and Wang Zhonglei, from his past life.

Of course, Chen Nuo wouldn't say any of this.

Qi Yuntian nodded: "Since that's the case, let Fan Fan Binbing accompany you tomorrow."

Chen Nuo thought for a bit and said: "Going is fine, but I think she is still quite suited for the route of scandal-driven hype. The path Huayi originally operated for her was fine, but the previous hype was too low-end. I want her to go a bit more high-end, at least keeping pace with Zhang Ziyi."

Qi Yuntian was stunned: "What do you mean? Don't you want to clarify your relationship with her?"

Chen Nuo said: "It's not that, it's just that I don't think there's a need to clarify it specifically; just explain that she has now jumped ship to my studio. As for what the truth is, there's no need to be particularly clear."

Qi Yuntian looked Chen Nuo up and down, shook his head and said: "Awesome. When did you learn this trick?"

Chen Nuo laughed: "Figured it out so quickly?"

Qi Yuntian rolled his eyes. "How could I not figure this out? You won't be in the country for more than half a year anyway, so the rumors with her won't affect you in the slightest; in fact, it can even maintain your heat back home. For her, it's even more so—letting everyone guess your relationship is beneficial and harmless to her popularity and topic-worthiness. In short, on the surface, you two are just boss and employee, but whether you are or not, hehe, let them guess."

Chen Nuo couldn't help but look at Qi Yuntian with new eyes.

This former novice agent of his in the entertainment industry was truly growing fast. With just a slight nudge, he understood immediately.

It seems signing Fan Fan Binbing really was a good thing.

If the studio only had him as an artist, having Qi Yuntian revolve around him all day would really be a waste of talent.

Now, with Qi Yuntian plus Fan Fan Binbing, these two flamboyant people together, there will surely be plenty of good shows to watch in the domestic entertainment circle during the days he's in America filming.

Chen Nuo shook his head and said: "It's not my heat, it's her heat. Aren't you worried about Huayi? Huayi can't deal with me; the only thing they can deal with is her. As long as she maintains this high-heat state, Huayi won't be able to make a move."

"When I finish filming *Batman 2* and return to the country, I'll bring Wen Yushan out to make an appearance, and naturally, the rumors will be suppressed. At that time, we'll play it by ear and see if we should continue to hype her next scandal. As for who the target is, I already have a candidate in mind."

Qi Yuntian nodded while listening, and finally asked curiously: "Who is it?"

Chen Nuo chuckled: "Secret. Alright, go negotiate with Leonardo's agent now. If we really are walking the red carpet tomorrow, we have no preparations here. I'm easy, but my female companion isn't. Tell them to help out; we want top-tier configuration, we'll pay the costs, whatever it comes to. Don't feel bad about the money. I understand Fan Fan Binbing; give her a little grass, and she'll definitely run fast in the future."

Qi Yuntian didn't question it at all and agreed readily: "Good, I'll go contact them now."

Running back and forth between two rooms at night, busy until very late before sleeping, Chen Nuo still got up very early the next morning.

After the styling team sent by Leonardo finished dressing him, he sat in the stretch Lin Ken sent by *The 11th Hour* crew. Chen Nuo checked the time; it was only 9:30.

Fan Fan Binbing was already waiting on the vertical sofa inside.

She was wearing a sea-blue long dress, looking at a few Polaroid photos in her hand.

As soon as Chen Nuo sat in the car, she handed the photos over. "Do I look good?"

It was her wearing this outfit, taken on the villa balcony. The background was the azure seawater of Cannes, which complemented the clothes she was wearing.

Her snow-white shoulders were half-hidden and half-exposed, and a head of slightly curled long hair draped over one shoulder. Her "cone face," which Yang Mi dreamed of, was fully exposed, because there was truly nothing that needed hiding; there were basically no flaws.

Chen Nuo nodded: "It's alright."

Fan Fan Binbing's body snuggled over.

In any case, there were only the two of them in the large car cabin, and Qi Yuntian was sitting in the front row, with a thick black partition in the middle.

She asked in a sweet voice: "Do you think I should call you Chen Nuo or Boss in the future?"

From last night until now, Fan Fan Binbing hadn't actually slept much.

Because everything happened too suddenly. After falling out with Huayi, she not only lost her styling team, but even the custom-made clothes she had ordered were taken away by them. She had thought she had lost her chance to walk the red carpet in Cannes this time.

But she didn't expect that after 11:00 last night, the situation would change drastically.

Suddenly, she was notified by Qi Yuntian that she would be walking the red carpet the next morning.

Tossing and turning in bed until around 5:00, she was suddenly called up because a top-tier Dior styling team had already moved into the villa. They not only brought 3 finished gowns for her to choose from, but were also responsible for her entire look from head to toe.

By 7:00, her red carpet look was almost finished, and she was thinking about what jewelry to wear.

As a result, people from Van Cleef & Arpels came, and their designer brought a full box of jewelry, finally picking out a pair of earrings and a bracelet for her personally based on her outfit and hairstyle.

Finally, the photographer from the Dior team took her to the balcony to take these headshots.

It was only then that she realized that before walking the red carpet, a truly top-tier styling team would design your poses in advance to show your makeup and outfit in their most beautiful state.

As she looked at the photos just now, she was thinking: if she had stayed at Huayi, to what extent would she have had to mix to get this treatment?

She estimated that even if she mixed until the other Bingbing was 60, it would be impossible.

Chen Nuo found it a bit funny and deliberately straightened his face: "What do you want to call me?"

Fan Fan Binbing was truly a bit scared of him now. Seeing his face straighten, she quickly put on a smile and said: "I think anything is fine. Haven't people called you everything? Oh, don't straighten your face... Do you want me to help you relax?"

Chen Nuo laughed, stroked her head, and said calmly: "Fine, the time on the road is long anyway."

Fan Fan Binbing gave him a charming, sideways glance.

But in her heart, she was thinking: what does "time is long" mean? It doesn't matter if it's not long; you don't need much time anyway.

Just as Chen Nuo was sitting in the stretch Lin Ken heading to the Palais des Festivals, desperately trying to extend the time, reviews about *My Blueberry Nights* were gradually spreading across media outlets worldwide.

*Le Monde* film review: "An unparalleled aesthetic game. Wong Kar-wai has carried through his own style, turning a terrible script into something beautiful. However, he should be even more grateful to his actors."

"Thanks to Natalie Portman for showing her mature charm, thanks to the sexy Rachel Weisz, and thanks to his green yet cute female lead. These women have joined hands to present us with an aesthetic feast."

"Of course, there is also that Chinese boy Chen Nuo. If it weren't for his steady performance that exceeded his age, this feast would be nothing more than a castle in the air. His performance became the ballast for this flamboyant drama, giving this unreal story the texture of life."

*Libération*'s film review was even more long-winded, but it spoke in a different direction: "This film is very shallow, like a person with hair full of grease; his goal is obvious—he wants to attract people's attention."

"Darius Khondji, as a cinematographer who grew up in France, his exploration of the film's colors has extreme tragic expressive power. Especially the final kissing shot; it is said that they filmed for three days and three nights for this shot."

"But it was truly worth it. Everyone who has seen it is amazed, and the philosophical meaning contained within is even more worthy of our applause."

"Men and women, two naturally opposing sides, coexist in this frame. Like Michelangelo's world-famous *The Creation of Adam*. Michelangelo cleverly used diagonal composition, placing Adam and God on the diagonals of the frame, creating a sense of movement and tension."

"Darius Khondji used the same method, dividing Chen Nuo and Emma Stone left and right, shaping two poles that are opposing yet harmonious."

"Thus, the love between men and women, just like God breathing life into Adam, injected a soul into Wong Kar-wai's film."

"Darius Khondji can truly sweep all the cinematography awards this year with this shot! He deserves it! And the performances of the male and female leads are also worthy of praise."

*The Hollywood Reporter*: "All applause goes to Emma Stone, to this native Arizona girl. With a blank resume, she has presented us with an extraordinary performance. In the boiling praise, we must not forget that it was her courage to pursue her dreams at 14 that led her to burst forth with brilliant light today."

"This is a love letter from Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai to Hollywood, and this writer wants to tell Wong Kar-wai that we have received it. From now on, the iron gates of La La Land are open to you; you will be the second Chinese director after Ang Lee qualified to step through these iron gates."

"Poetic, soft, filled with nostalgic yellowish hues and hazy, blurred lights, this is the film's base color. The illusory romance of old Hong Kong finds a foothold in the dazzling lights of New York's skyscrapers in a trance."

"Deliberately slowed-down shots, local close-ups full of movement and sexiness—this time, it didn't stop between the legs and the hem of the skirt, but shifted to the face."

"Close-ups of the face not only test the director, but also test the actors."

"But Emma Stone withstood the test; her performance exceeded everyone's imagination! She contributed an Oscar-level genius performance."

This contributor was undoubtedly writing the draft in a passionate state, and it's unknown why his editor didn't make any modifications but published it as is.

Perhaps they wanted to add some fans for Emma Stone.

*The Hollywood Reporter*'s hype about Emma didn't stop there. In the next paragraph, it exposed its true ambition and intention.

"In this film without a male lead, I don't know if the Cannes jury is still hesitating. But I think only a madman or a fool would ignore the excellence of this young American girl."

"Vote for her!"

"The writer, on the other side of the Atlantic, in the center of the film world, Hollywood, calls out loudly to the Cannes jury: This will be the best time for the Cannes Film Festival to show its authority. Award that damn Best Actress award to her, and you will gain the respect and recognition of Hollywood people."

When Rachel Moore saw these few film reviews, she wasn't surprised at all.

*Le Monde* was still relatively fair; *Libération* was a nest of nationalism.

And *The Hollywood Reporter*...

Hehe, one of the two major American entertainment magazines, has already become a den for white supremacists.

The whole piece was hype and posturing for the female lead, looking like they were determined to make her win the Cannes Best Actress award.

As for the yellow-skinned male protagonist inside?

Everyone up and down seemed to have become blind, to the point where they couldn't even see who was kissing and flirting with Emma Stone.

Truly shameless.

However...

Rachel Moore suddenly laughed.

In this way, wouldn't her film review be exactly unique?

*Time* magazine special contributor, author Rachel Moore: "Actually, I hate Wong Kar-wai. I think *In the Mood for Love* is the most overrated Cannes Best Film, and Tony Leung's Best Actor trophy was won in an incongruous manner."

"Some of the camera work in *My Blueberry Nights*, I also don't understand. I don't know why Wong Kar-wai wanted to strengthen the speed of cars or trains on the road, as well as the background lighting. These things, many years ago, we had already seen in several of his films."

"But *My Blueberry Nights* ultimately became my biggest surprise at this Cannes, for only one reason."

"Its male lead."

"Chen Nuo's performance conquered everyone who loves film. Of course, I'm not saying our female lead Emma Stone is bad, but I have thought in my mind: Emma could be replaced by many excellent actresses, but Chen? I can't think of a single actor who could replace him."

"Especially his eyes; they are simply a fatal weapon that can pierce the heart of everyone who believes in true love. I even believe he could write the most beautiful sonnet with his black eyes."

"When I finished watching this movie and walked out of the theater, the late-night Cannes left me intoxicated."

"For professional film lovers—directors, actors, producers, publicists, film critics—Cannes is always a treasure land with temptation. Every May, we come to this resort on the Riviera, like a group of pilgrims."

"We might watch forty or fifty films from twenty or thirty countries. Every time a screening starts, we hope to see something that can touch our hearts, and when it ends, we often have this expectation—hoping the next film will be even better."

"However, at this moment, I discovered that *My Blueberry Nights* almost destroyed this fantasy of mine on the very first night."

"I almost didn't believe that a better film would appear at this year's Cannes Film Festival, just as before watching the film, I didn't believe I would be moved by it."

"I have to admit, the Chinese compatriot brought by Wong, with his limited screen time, saved the rest of the boring and awkward minutes."

"You brought the right person, Wong Kar-wai."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 136 =====