Chapter 350: That Which Cannot Be Spoken (Monthly Ticket Addition)

June 18, Beijing Starlight Media Center, the premiere of *Ocean Heaven* was very lively.

The red carpet was shining with stars, flashlights were flashing one after another, and the air seemed to be filled with the enthusiastic atmosphere of the grand event.

Starring Li Lianjie and "godson" Wen Zhang appeared, Gui Lunmei was in a simple and elegant long dress, fresh and refined, in addition, big stars like Zhang Ziyi, Ma Yili, Shi Xiaolong also appeared to help out.

And in this star-studded lineup, Gao Yuanyuan, who made a cameo appearance as the protagonist's mother in her childhood, also appeared on the red carpet.

Gao Yuanyuan was not dressed gorgeously today, but a white dress set off her gentle and beautiful temperament just right. A head of black long hair draped over her shoulders, slightly shining, exuding a unique charm of a light mature woman in her early 30s, both youthful agility and a bit of mature calmness.

When she walked on the red carpet, it did attract the attention of many flashlights for a while,

But unfortunately, this attention did not last long.

Only ten seconds later, there was a commotion behind her, and then, all the lenses in front of her shifted direction at the same time.

Gao Yuanyuan looked back subconsciously.

She saw the beautiful international Zhang slowly walking onto the red carpet. A Dior high-definition diamond black dress, the skirt shining under the lights. Instantly attracted everyone's attention, the flashlights on the side of the red carpet flashed non-stop, and the cheers of the surrounding fans also sounded.

The shouting of fans, the brightness of the flashlights, were not at the same level as hers just now.

Gao Yuanyuan stood in place, no matter how uncompetitive her personality was, it was really embarrassing to the extreme for a while.

She hurriedly turned around and continued to walk forward as if nothing had happened.

After entering the screening hall, the situation did not improve, but became more embarrassing.

The interview session before watching the movie, the host's questions were enthusiastic, but none were given to her.

"Teacher Li Lianjie, what is your special feeling about this cooperation?"

"I like the atmosphere of this crew very much, especially Wen Zhang, who is a very, very good actor. I think everyone will know his name in the future."

The host smiled and said: "Mr. Wen Zhang, what do you have to say about Mr. Li Lianjie's evaluation?"

Wen Zhang smiled and said: "Thank you very much for his praise, I will work hard."

The host said again: "I heard that you have recognized Mr. Li Lianjie as your godfather, right?"

"Yes, I am very happy that godfather is willing to accept me."

"Then how do you feel about walking the red carpet with godfather today?"

Wen Zhang smiled and said: "Of course I am happy. I am very honored, and I am also very grateful to godfather for his love for me..."

"Mr. Li Lianjie, what about you, what is your feeling?"

Subsequently, under the host's rotating questions, the two fathers and sons revealed a deep father-son relationship, first blowing and praising each other, and then chatting about filming anecdotes, causing bursts of laughter at the scene.

The director and Gui Lunmei, who was the heroine, were also named and shared various insights in filming, and even Zhang Ziyi, who didn't participate, was cued, asking her: "What expectations do you have for this movie?"

International Zhang really stood up, talked and laughed with the microphone, showing her international style, attracting full applause.

And what about her?

As an actor who actually played a role in the film, she was only perfunctorily mentioned by the host at the beginning: "Ms. Gao Yuanyuan also made a friendly appearance in the film, everyone welcome!"

Subsequently, the topic quickly turned back to Li Lianjie, leaving her with only sparse applause, and not even a serious question.

This is undoubtedly a humiliation.

However, no matter how uncomfortable Gao Yuanyuan was in her heart, the smile on her face still did not decrease.

However, Gui Lunmei next to her noticed something wrong and asked her in a low voice: "What's wrong?"

Gao Yuanyuan smiled at her and said in a low voice: "It's okay."

It's not okay.

Gui Lunmei joined the crew late and didn't know the cause and effect. But she understood very well where the problem was.

At Cannes last year, she said a few words and didn't stand on the same position as Li Lianjie and Wen Zhang, which probably made this international superstar unhappy.

Later, Mr. Li entered Sina Weibo with a signing fee of tens of millions and publicly competed with a certain big V on Sina, and both sides fought a boxing match for their own masters.

The key is that Mr. Li, as a senior and a generation of Chinese martial arts stars in Hollywood, actually fell into the disadvantage.

In this way, hating the house and the crow, he might look at her even more unpleasantly.

As the absolute core of this play, Li Lianjie didn't need to say much, just casually hinted to the people in the foundation and the event company, and the order of the red carpet and the arrangement of the host were naturally "taken care of."

Gao Yuanyuan and her agent had guessed that they might encounter some means, but they didn't expect it to be so thorough.

She sighed in her heart, regretting listening to the company's suggestion and running to rub heat for herself who hadn't appeared for a long time; if she had known, she might as well have accompanied her mother

The film began playing, and she endured the 100-plus minutes like she was sitting on pins and needles.

Worse yet, Li Lianjie was sitting right next to her, and she kept feeling his peripheral vision darting over, staring at her until she felt completely uncomfortable.

Finally, she couldn't help but go to the lounge halfway through to change into a simple T-shirt and jeans. Anyway, no one was filming her; who was she dressing up so nicely for?

When the movie finished, the applause from the audience was like thunder.

The creators went on stage for the curtain call; Gao Yuanyuan stood on the edge, waving politely, and then zoned out.

She thought that even if the mainstream media wouldn't make a big deal out of this tomorrow, those entertainment gossip bloggers on Weibo probably wouldn't let her off the hook. The key was that scene on the red carpet; it must have been seen by many people, and there would undoubtedly be no shortage of mockery and sarcasm later.

At this moment, Li Lianjie's voice came from beside her: "... I am very satisfied with this film; I feel it is the best film I have ever made in my life. I hope everyone will support it, and I hope theater managers will schedule more screenings, otherwise, be careful, or I'll go complain to your wives and sons, haha!"

The audience burst into laughter.

Gao Yuanyuan, however, got goosebumps all over.

Come to think of it, Li Lianjie's public image was that of a philanthropist; he only took 1 yuan in salary for this film and even ran a foundation focusing on autism. But to treat her like this in private, just because of a small matter?

Was he good or evil? Which side was real?

Gao Yuanyuan couldn't figure it out, and she didn't intend to think about it anymore. Anyway, with her status, she probably wouldn't have the chance to work with him a second time in her life.

Now, she just hoped the audience below would ask fewer questions and let her leave this nightmare-like place sooner.

The host first picked an audience member to ask a question.

The audience member naturally threw the question to Mr. Li.

After Li Lianjie answered,

The host immediately laughed loudly, clapping his hands and saying, "Teacher Li Lianjie is truly humorous. Everyone, let's applaud and thank Teacher Li for sharing his filming experience!"

Gao Yuanyuan turned her head to look and saw Li Lianjie wearing a smile on his face, clearly prepared to welcome the audience's enthusiastic cheers,

even though his words just now sounded simply awkward, cheesy, and boring to Gao Yuanyuan.

But it wasn't surprising either.

Who told him to be Li Lianjie?

With the halo of an international superstar, how many domestic stars could compare to him?

All night long, no matter what he said, the audience would naturally buy it.

But this time, the expected thunderous applause did not ring out; instead, it was replaced by a smattering of clapping, like wind blowing through leaves—scattered and perfunctory.

The audience member who asked the question was standing in the middle-back section, about the middle of the fifth row from the back.

Just then, the theater suddenly changed.

At first, when he stood up, the people in the row or two in front of him turned their heads to look, and then, as if attracted by something, they never turned their heads back.

Immediately after, following a bit of commotion and discussion, and gasps, the audience in the third row and those further away couldn't sit still either.

One after another, they stood up, stretching their necks to look in that direction.

The rustling movement gradually amplified, the entire theater began to buzz, and the discussions became more and more intense, surging toward the stage like a tide from the back rows.

"No way, right?"

"But it's true, it seems to be him."

"Look, that person wearing a mask is sitting right next to him."

"Damn, it really looks a bit like him!"

"Who are you guys talking about?"

"Chen Nuo, they say that person looks like Chen Nuo."

"Who? Chen Nuo?"

"Chen Nuo?"

"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, Chen Nuo!?"

Voices rose one after another, turning from whispers into a roar.

Gao Yuanyuan stood on stage, stunned for a moment, then followed the audience's gaze.

Li Lianjie's smile froze on his face.

The host was even more caught off guard, his mouth wide open, standing there holding the microphone, also looking over there along with everyone else in the theater. He saw a figure wearing a mask and a baseball cap sitting in a chair, originally keeping his head down and not moving, but when more than half the theater was calling out, he finally stood up slowly.

He didn't stand up completely straight either, but slightly hunched over, stooping, and waved to the audience in the theater with a somewhat helpless posture.

This action seemed casual, but it was like pulling the fuse of a bomb and then throwing it straight into the crowd.

In an instant, this entire thousand-person theater completely exploded.

"Chen Nuo!!"

"It really is Chen Nuo!"

"Oh my god, it really is him!"

"How could he be there!"

"Damn!! Brother Nuonuo!!"

"God, Brother Nuonuo, ahhhhh!!"

Shouts rose one after another, screams and gasps mixed together, shaking the very air of the theater.

For a moment, even though they were holding Nokia N97s, the audience didn't hesitate to raise them, frantically snapping photos of that figure. Flashes went off one after another, and even though the photos taken by those small screens were mostly blurry, everyone kept pressing the buttons without stopping.

Some people even stood directly on their chairs, standing on tiptoes and stretching their arms, just to get one more look, one more photo.

On stage, Li Lianjie's smile was completely frozen. Zhang Ziyi, Ma Yili, Shi Xiaolong, and others in the front row clearly hadn't expected this sudden turn of events, and they all turned their heads in unison to look at the back rows, their eyes full of surprise and curiosity.

The entire theater seemed to have been pressed on fast-forward; the noise and screams intertwined, and all focus was concentrated on that figure who had slowly stood up.

In Gao Yuanyuan's eyes, the world seemed to dim in an instant, turning black and white.

The flashing of magnesium lights, the cheers of the audience, and the noise on stage all blurred into a silent background.

Only one place was overflowing with light, like the only color in a black-and-white picture. That was the familiar face revealed under the baseball cap.

He had already pulled his mask down to his chin, a somewhat helpless smile on his face.

At this moment, his appearance was blindingly clear in her eyes.

However, the next second, everything in front of Gao Yuanyuan became blurry again.

When she was upstaged by Zhang Ziyi on the red carpet and hours of careful preparation went to waste, she didn't want to cry.

Standing on stage, treated like air by the host, not even getting a proper question, she didn't want to cry either.

Even when she endured those 100-plus minutes in the theater like she was on pins and needles, feeling Li Lianjie's lingering gaze, she just gritted her teeth and told herself to endure it and it would pass.

But now, looking at the way Chen Nuo stood there, her heart felt like it had been lightly bumped by something, and her defenses collapsed instantly.

She lowered her head and blinked, trying to hold back the tears, but the wetness in her eyes couldn't be hidden no matter what.

The audience below was still fanatically shouting "Chen Nuo! Chen Nuo!" and mobile phone flashes were blinking everywhere, but she felt like she had been isolated in another world, with only the sound of her own heartbeat left in her ears.

"It seems the biggest surprise of the night has appeared! Let us welcome with applause—Chen Nuo!!!" On stage, the host finally came back to his senses from the shock and roared at the top of his lungs.

His voice was drowned out by the subsequent explosion of crazy applause; the theater felt like a powder keg had been ignited, screams and cheers mixed together, shaking people's eardrums until they were numb.

On-site staff scrambled through the crowd and quickly handed a microphone to Chen Nuo in the back row.

Seeing this, the host hurriedly took over: "Everyone, be quiet for a moment, let Chen Nuo say a few words, shall we?"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was as if a magical switch had been pressed; the entire theater went from boiling noise to dead silence in just three seconds.

All eyes were focused on that figure.

Gao Yuanyuan stood on stage, blinking her eyes; her long eyelashes were matted by tears, sticking together, covering everything in front of her with a thin mist.

But she still tried hard to open her eyes wide, her gaze firmly locked on the man.

She wanted to hear what he would say, and even more, she wanted to know why he appeared here.

At this time, Chen Nuo also knew that the first goal of his original plan couldn't be achieved. Who knew it would be such a coincidence; he was originally hiding well, but as a result, by some twist of fate, the person beside him actually became a lucky audience member.

He couldn't hide anymore, so he could only go to Plan B.

He took the microphone, didn't take off his hat, and didn't completely take off his mask, still just hanging the mask on his chin, and said in a relatively casual tone: "Um, hello everyone, I am Chen Nuo."

Alright, at this point, no matter what the host said, there was no way to make the scene quiet again.

After more than ten seconds, finally waiting for the applause and screams to die down, the host asked: "Teacher Chen Nuo, hello! Every audience member on site, including me, is too surprised by your arrival. How did you think of coming to the scene today to watch our *Ocean Heaven*?"

"Um, I came to see a friend."

As soon as the words fell, Gao Yuanyuan noticed that the figure in the distance looked toward the stage.

Other people didn't know how to look,

but Gao Yuanyuan could feel those eyes falling straight on her across the crowd.

Her heart trembled, and the tears in her eyes could no longer be held back, sliding down her cheeks.

Fortunately, no one noticed her at this time. Gao Yuanyuan hurriedly turned around and wiped away the tear stains with her fingers in a hurry.

The host replied with a beaming smile: "A friend? Let me guess, oh, is it Teacher Li Lianjie?"

Li Lianjie looked at this host calmly.

His godson, Wen Zhang, who was beside him, noticed Mr. Li's gaze and hurriedly lowered his head, pretending not to see, and didn't say a word.

Although Chen Nuo could have gone along with it and been polite at this time, he had watched all night in the audience, and at this moment, he didn't really want to do that.

He chuckled and said: "No, I don't know Teacher Li Lianjie. My friend, hehe, is the one you didn't let speak all night today."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole audience was stunned for a moment, and then a bigger roar erupted, and the discussions instantly filled every corner.

Even if the host on stage was experienced, the expression on his face froze instantly, and he stood there holding the microphone, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

Gao Yuanyuan stood there, her whole person as if frozen.

She met Chen Nuo's gaze, her heart beating so fast it was almost about to rush out of her chest, and it felt like a hot current was running through her body, making her whole person tremble slightly.

Someone below had already reacted, and whispers rose one after another:

"He's talking about Gao Yuanyuan, right?"

"Yeah, no one asked her a question all night!"

"It's true, she's been like an invisible person tonight!"

The host was stunned for a few seconds, finally came back to his senses, laughed dryly twice and said: "Haha, Teacher Chen Nuo, you really know how to joke! Then... shall we invite Miss Gao Yuanyuan to say a few words?"

He turned his head to look at Gao Yuanyuan, completely losing the look of ignoring her before, his tone carrying a bit of obvious fawning, but the transition was too sudden, and the restlessness and embarrassment on his face couldn't be hidden no matter what.

But Gao Yuanyuan didn't have the slightest intention of arguing with him.

She took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, took the microphone, and said in a soft voice: "Thank you everyone, and thank you to my good friend Chen Nuo."

She paused, looked up at Chen Nuo: "I didn't expect you to come, it's really quite a surprise, thank you."

After speaking, applause immediately rang out below, and someone even shouted: "Gao Yuanyuan, you are the most beautiful tonight!"

Chen Nuo felt it was about enough, and didn't care that everyone was still looking at him, as if they were still waiting for him to say something, and sat down on his own.

The host hurriedly took the opportunity to follow up: "Good! It seems that tonight is not only the premiere of our *Ocean Heaven* movie, but also let us see a sincere friendship. Let us thank Chen Nuo again, and also thank Gao Yuanyuan!"

At this moment, there was no doubt that even though Gao Yuanyuan was still standing on the edge of the stage, her position had become the focus of the entire audience's attention. Everyone else on stage became her supporting roles.

International superstar Mr. Li Lianjie, no matter what he was thinking in his heart, as an actor, it was no problem to force out a smile and applaud at this time.

Wen Zhang beside him couldn't do it; he had been smug all night following his godfather, and now the smile at the corner of his mouth was like it had been carved out, a bit fake.

Zhang Ziyi below looked at Li Lianjie, chuckled, and whispered something to Ma Yili beside her.

Gao Yuanyuan stood on stage, the hand holding the microphone slowly relaxed, and the smile she had forced out at the corner of her mouth slowly turned into a natural and gentle expression.

At this moment, all the grievances and embarrassment she had suffered tonight in her heart seemed to have been smoothed out.

She looked up at him from afar.

A thousand words gathered in her heart, leaving only one sentence.

But this sentence, she might never be able to say out loud.

PS:

A reminder,

the thread of Gao Yuanyuan's storyline:

Chapters 134, 161, 162, 186, 207, and 292.

Review if you've forgotten.

(End of this chapter)