Chapter 211

Sunday, February 24, 2008.

Outside the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, the giant red carpet laid on the ground looked like glowing red embers after a fire.

It was past five in the afternoon, and the sunset in the City of Angels had not yet fallen; however, a brilliant starlight was already rising on Hollywood Boulevard.

Outside the heavily guarded Kodak Theatre, a huge golden Oscar statue stood in front of the entrance.

Various stars and celebrities on the long red carpet were entering one after another, and the eyes of the whole world were converging here.

This was the scene of the 80th Academy Awards ceremony.

The 80th—this meant that this feast of capital, this vanity fair that countless people yearned for, this most famous film festival in the world, was celebrating its 80th birthday.

In the media interview and photo area, hundreds of photographers and reporters from all over the world had already entered.

Filmmakers from all over the globe, as well as Hollywood superstars, also arrived in black sedans one after another.

They would get out of the cars at the end of the red carpet, walk over fifty meters, and enter the interview area. The shouts from fans were endless, and the flashing magnesium lights were like a snow-white river, continuous and unending.

For this 80th-anniversary celebration, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had put in a lot of effort to overcome the writers' strike and allow the ceremony to be held as scheduled.

This made the broadcasting station ABC breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, for this anniversary celebration, over 140 countries and regions worldwide had signed broadcasting agreements. It was expected that over a billion people globally would watch this grand event via live broadcast, and the broadcasting fees alone were a huge sum of money.

Meanwhile, local US viewership experts predicted that because it was the 80th anniversary, this year's Oscars might be watched by over 40 million people across the US, which was not far from the viewership record of 43 million for the 71st ceremony. The advertising revenue alone was another huge sum of income.

So, how could the many executives at ABC not secretly rejoice?

Especially this time, among the Oscar audience, there were also viewers from the Eastern continent.

That was a vast market of over a billion people; just popularizing the name of the Academy Awards there was an immeasurable wealth for the future.

Indeed, this year's Oscars were truly different from usual.

CCTV-6 not only announced early on that it would rebroadcast it on the afternoon of the 25th, but at the same time, CCTV. com had also posted an announcement on its homepage three days ago.

CCTV. com would provide full text and image live coverage of this year's Oscars starting at 5:00 PM Los Angeles time on the 24th, which was 9:00 AM on the 25th in the mainland.

They also invited well-known director Zhang Yibai, CCTV host Zhu Jun, and senior film critic Bi Chenggong to the live studio to chat about the Oscars.

Starting from 9:00, the number of online users in the live studio began to climb continuously.

100,000, 200,000, 500,000, 1,000,000...

Fortunately, CCTV. com was well-prepared this time. Colleagues in the network technology department even boasted that even with 5 million concurrent users, they wouldn't let the network lag for a single second.

The so-called text and image live coverage meant that several guests sat in the video studio, looking at the text and images sent by reporters at the front, finding highlights among them, providing commentary, and chatting about gossip and daily life.

For example, right now.

Zhu Jun looked at an image and started: "Ah, the viewers in the live studio should be able to see that this black female star wearing a black and gold long dress is the famous American singer Beyoncé. I heard she will perform song and dance tonight with host Hugh Jackman, whom we are familiar with as Wolverine. Director Zhang Yibai, have you heard her songs?"

Zhang Yibai was stunned, cursed internally, and smiled: "I've heard them, I suppose."

Zhu Jun said: "Can you provide some commentary for our viewers?"

He had heard that this guy wasn't very bright, but he didn't expect it to be true. This 10,000-yuan appearance fee was really hard to earn. Zhang Yibai tried hard to maintain a smile: "Quite good."

Zhu Jun turned his head, preparing to continue asking Bi Chenggong, but didn't expect Bi Chenggong to call out one step ahead: "Spielberg has entered..."

Hollywood superstars were pouring into the Kodak Theatre every second on this Sunday afternoon, making film fans all over the world dazzled.

At this moment, the Kodak Theatre was the undisputed center of the film world.

But it wasn't the weekend in China; it was Monday morning.

These CCTV. com viewers who flocked to watch the live broadcast at 9:00 AM on Monday, not going to work or school, were definitely not here to watch any European or American superstars; most of them shared the same attribute.

"Where's Nuo?"

"Who knows when Brother Nuonuo will appear? I have a meeting soon!"

"Why are there so many foreigners? I only want to see Brother Nuonuo."

"To the person above, there are many foreigners because that's in the US."

"Will Brother Nuonuo appear with Wen Yongshan today?"

"Please don't, I beg you."

"I beg you too, I'd rather watch Brother Nuonuo with Fan Bingbing than Wen Yongshan."

"Me too! I'd rather watch Brother Nuonuo with Yuan Shanshan than Wen Yongshan."

"Who is Yuan Shanshan?"

"Mind your own business."

Thus, in the CCTV. com live studio, such a pattern formed: the three hosts were chatting about European and American superstars on the red carpet, while the 'Nuo Rice' (fans) in the chat room were talking about other people. They didn't disturb each other and were exceptionally harmonious.

However, the scene outside the Kodak Theatre wasn't so harmonious.

The arrival of one superstar after another made the fans on the scene fall into a frenzy.

The noise and screams filled ABC's live broadcast with noisy background sound,

but ABC's on-site hosts, fashion and comedy guests Tim Gunn and Robin Roberts, were still working hard to continue introducing this grand event to global viewers and inviting superstars to the interview area.

From Kate Winslet, Amy Adams, Sean Penn, Anne Hathaway, to Anthony Hopkins, and the entire cast of "Slumdog Millionaire," all accepted their interviews.

When Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, this super-celebrity couple, walked onto the red carpet, they were undoubtedly treated with grand respect.

First, Tim Gunn complimented Jolie's evening gown designed by Valentino, and then Robin Roberts asked: "Jolie, you are invited to present the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor this time. I heard you refused when the Academy first invited you. What made you change your mind later?"

Angelina Jolie smiled and said: "When I refused, I didn't know it was the 80th-anniversary Oscar celebration. After someone reminded me later, I immediately changed my mind."

Robin Roberts asked again: "Then in your eyes, who do you think is more likely to win Best Supporting Actor?"

Angelina Jolie said: "Oh, that's a difficult question. I think all five are very likely. Josh Brolin's performance in 'Milk' made me admire him, Luo Bo Downey Jr. seemed like a different person in 'Tropic Thunder,' making a huge sacrifice, while Michael Shannon's 'Revolutionary Road' made me intoxicated, and as for Philip Hoffman in 'Doubt,' that was absolutely a perfect performance."

Tim Gunn saw that she seemed to have finished speaking and was clearly a bit surprised.

He didn't expect Angelina Jolie to leave someone out in her polite remarks.

Just like in the CCTV. com live studio, after everyone saw the text live broadcast on the screen, both the viewers in the live studio and the hosts were shocked.

Zhu Jun frowned and said: "Why would Angelina Jolie leave out Chen Nuo? Was she doing it on purpose, or did she forget?"

Zhang Yibai touched his smooth forehead and said: "I think she might have forgotten. After all, this is a live broadcast, and some nervousness is normal."

Bi Chenggong opposed: "I don't think so. I don't believe she put Josh Brolin first but forgot the Joker. This is absolutely unreasonable."

Bi Chenggong's words resonated in the live chat room, and some hot-tempered 'Nuo Rice' had already started to spray Angelina Jolie.

Similarly, in front of viewers all over the world, this super-star who became famous overnight because of "Tomb Raider" and was now the hottest, seemed to have made a fool of herself. Everyone focused their attention, watching the TV screen, wanting to know what was going on.

Outside the Kodak Theatre, Tim Gunn reminded: "Angie, you seem to have left someone out."

Angelina Jolie was surprised: "Who?"

Tim Gunn maintained a smile: "The actor who played the Joker, Nuo Chen." Angelina Jolie, in front of a billion viewers worldwide, showed a look of sudden realization and said somewhat flustered: "So that's it. I forgot the Joker actor in 'The Dark Knight,' the 21-year-old actor from China, Nuo Chen. Yes, I almost forgot that he set off a Joker whirlwind all over the world this past summer, and also made my children smear my cosmetics on their faces every day. Nuo Chen, but according to Chinese custom, he should be called Chen Nuo. Okay, I've remembered it. Chen Nuo, when I present the award later, I will definitely not forget the name Chen Nuo."

Viewers all over the world were laughing out loud at Angelina Jolie's gaffe, and they also unconsciously started chanting the strange-sounding syllables "Chen Nuo."

In the CCTV. com live studio, Zhu Jun asked somewhat hesitantly: "You two, do you think Angelina Jolie is somewhat advertising for Chen Nuo?"

Zhang Yibai frowned and said: "I think so. How many seconds did she speak just now? 30 seconds? This is 30 seconds in an Oscar live broadcast. What's the value? Over a million, right? And how many times did she repeat the two words Chen Nuo? And she specifically used the Chinese order. If this isn't an advertisement, then I don't know what to say."

Bi Chenggong said: "But I haven't heard that Angelina Jolie and Chen Nuo have a friendship. Director Zhang, are you thinking too much? Just now, Angelina Jolie was clearly a bit flustered, and it's normal to speak without thinking."

Zhu Jun chuckled and said: "I agree with Teacher Bi's opinion. World superstars like Angelina Jolie care very much about their image. She made herself a laughingstock; if it were really an advertisement, it would only be possible if Chen Nuo had a very deep friendship with her. And Chen Nuo... well, to be honest, he might not have reached the level of being on equal footing with Angelina Jolie."

Zhang Yibai shook his head and said: "I still stick to my opinion."

The 'Nuo Rice' in the live chat room were originally swiping the screen in unison: "Angelina, we're sorry."

As a result, upon hearing Zhu Jun's words, they immediately started swiping something else: "Zhu Jun, are you brain-damaged? Who did you say isn't worthy?"

In fact, at this time outside the Kodak Theatre, Brad Pitt was also a bit confused about what was wrong with his wife, just like the Chinese host. However, the Oscar red carpet was clearly not a suitable place to get to the bottom of things.

The couple posed in various ways in front of countless flashes on the red carpet to show that their relationship was as inseparable as glue, for photographers to take pictures, in order to shape a beautiful image of family harmony and husband-and-wife unity for the whole world, so that more advertisers would come to them, making it easier to earn more money.

When Brad Pitt wasn't paying attention, Angelina Jolie's gaze looked toward the other end of the red carpet from time to time, as if waiting for a friend who hadn't arrived yet.

The friend of American women did indeed arrive a bit late.

The reason was that during the final styling process by the Dior makeup team for Miss Liu, they found that the chest of her black off-the-shoulder evening gown was slightly tight, so they made an emergency adjustment, which delayed them by perhaps twenty minutes.

Sitting in the Lincoln welcoming car arranged by the Oscar organizing committee downstairs at the hotel, Chen Nuo couldn't control his mouth again and said in Chinese: "Didn't Ashan say your figure was about the same as hers? Did you get fat?"

Before today, Liu Yifei felt that this time was nothing more than keeping a friend company and walking the red carpet.

If she didn't win an award, she could at least let her good friend have a shoulder to cry on.

However, starting from noon today, after more than 5 hours of makeup, being surrounded by seven or eight Dior makeup artists, and having her whole body, even every single hair, arranged to where it should be,

Liu Yifei suddenly realized in hindsight,

So, I'm going to walk the Oscar red carpet?

A sense of nervousness followed.

Just now, when the driver sent by the Oscar officials, wearing a suit, a bow tie, and white gloves, helped open the car door and let her sit in,

this sense of nervousness reached its peak. It made her body feel a bit tense.

But, just after sitting in the car, suddenly hearing Chen Nuo say this,

Liu Yifei's nervousness disappeared by more than half. She subconsciously lifted the V-neck of her chest, gave a small "humph" through her nose, and said: "You're the one who's fat. I've always been 98 jin, okay?"

Chen Nuo chuckled and looked her up and down. "You? 98?"

Liu Yifei kept a straight face and said: "Yeah, good women don't exceed a hundred, haven't you heard?"

Chen Nuo laughed out loud: "Xixi, I remember the time you were drunk the year before last, also in LA. I helped you into the car with your mother, and it almost exhausted me to death. If you aren't 110 jin, I'll write my surname Chen backward."

Chen Nuo's words were truly too much. As a scumbag, knowing full well that a woman's age and weight were secrets that couldn't be touched, he insisted on slandering Liu Yifei.

It was no wonder Xixi was very angry and didn't say a word to him for the next ten minutes.

But when the car was about to reach the Kodak Theatre, Liu Yifei couldn't hold it in anymore and asked: "What should we do in a bit?"

Chen Nuo asked curiously: "What do you mean what should we do? Walk the red carpet, you don't know how?"

"You!" Liu Yifei, such a gentle girl, couldn't help but take action, hitting Chen Nuo on the shoulder not too lightly or too heavily. "I mean, will there be interviews? But I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing, what should I do?"

Chen Nuo smiled: "You need to practice in the future, Xixi. Forget it, just smile this time, I'll handle the rest."

Smile.

Liu Yifei should be one of the female artists in all of China most suited to smiling, right?

So, when the greeter on the red carpet opened the car door for her, and she walked onto the flame-like red carpet wearing a black Dior haute couture gown, trailing a long skirt and smiling, even the many foreign fans who didn't know her couldn't help but shout and scream under her radiance.

Although they didn't even know Liu Yifei's name, it didn't hinder the screams from being as loud as if they had seen Audrey Hepburn in her youth.

Besides the fans on the scene, the most surprised people in the world were definitely the Chinese netizens, such as the viewers in the CCTV. com live studio who were watching the text and image live broadcast.

It can only be said that Chen Nuo and his team did their confidentiality work too well; they truly wanted to take this opportunity to stir up some heat and pave the way for the release of their "The Message" later.

As a backup plan in case he didn't win the Best Supporting Actor award.

Therefore, from hosts like Zhu Jun to the viewers in the live studio, no one knew that Liu Yifei would accompany Chen Nuo to the Oscar scene.

Even when seeing the high-definition large images sent back by the reporters on the scene, Zhu Jun couldn't help but ask three times: "Is this Liu Yifei? Is it Liu Yifei? Why did Liu Yifei become Chen Nuo's partner?"

His question was exactly what the 'Nuo Rice' watching the live broadcast wanted to know.

"F***!!!! Is this Liu Yifei???!!!!"

"It's not Wen Yongshan, it's actually Liu Yifei!!!"

"I'm done for, I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead. Am I dreaming?"

"Yang Guo and Li Xiaolong Maiden, going to the Oscars together? I'm already crying, sisters!"

"Oh my god! What kind of fairy plot is this? Is this a late New Year's gift from Brother Nuonuo to us?"

"Being able to see Auntie and Guo'er walk the Oscar red carpet together in this lifetime, I'd die happy, ah ah ah ah!!"

"Why is it Liu Yifei? Are Brother Nuonuo and Liu Yifei together?"

"If it's true, this believer is willing to be single for three years!"

The entire comment section had already been swiping the screen with 'Brother Nuonuo' when Chen Nuo got out of the car, and the number of online viewers had also started to slowly move up from 1.02 million.

However, when Liu Yifei's beautifully lined calves stretched out from the car, and her right foot, wearing an 8cm diamond-encrusted black stiletto, stepped onto the red carpet,

then she held the waiter's hand and stood out from the back seat,

and finally, wearing that low-key yet luxurious Dior off-the-shoulder black evening gown, with a faint smile, and using her fair and soft arms to link Chen Nuo's arm,

the two of them walked together on that giant red carpet that was over fifty meters long.

Just one minute later.

I don't know why the news spread so fast, but in short, one minute later, the number of online viewers in the CCTV. com live studio directly broke through 2.7 million.

And this number was still rising rapidly by hundreds every second.

Don't forget how Chen Nuo became famous.

It can be said that over 90% of his old fans and die-hard fans were fans of "The Return of the Condor Heroes."

They were all female fans who felt it was sweet to death watching Guo'er and Li Xiaolong Maiden, wishing they could replace them.

Seeing Liu Yifei and Chen Nuo strolling at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre at the Oscar ceremony, that feeling was truly like seeing Chang'e flying to the moon from mythology happening in the 21st century.

Looking at the photos on the computer screen, there were quite a few girls with pearly tears in their eyes.

However, separated by the ocean, Chen Nuo didn't know that the effect of him appearing and walking the red carpet with Liu Yifei would actually exceed expectations so much, setting off a viewership storm in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Although it was his first time at the Oscars, he had seen similar scenes in Cannes.

So, when he and Liu Yifei walked onto the red carpet behind Ryoko Hirosue, who was invited by virtue of "Departures," and were met with a wave of sound that instantly rose, he wasn't too overwhelmed.

Instead, he didn't forget to joke with Liu Yifei: "Why so serious? Smile."

Lu Li traveled to the world of Uncle Jiu's movies, where evil spirits were everywhere. Fortunately, he awakened the deep blue point-adding system, smashing the heads of evil spirits all the way and harvesting the fruit of longevity!

(End of chapter)