Chapter 471: Dear Leo

January 24, 2012, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

99% of Chinese people will not go far on this day.

But just after noon, someone went out surrounded by a group of people.

After the luggage was moved to the car, Chen Nuo turned back and smiled: "Okay, don't send me off, it's cold outside, go back."

Pan Chengrong urged: "Come back early after finishing things, let's spend the Lantern Festival together."

"Okay, I'll try my best." Chen Nuo nodded.

Hearing Li Er also spoke: "It doesn't matter if the Oscars don't nominate you, anyway, you are just a spectator, your life is still long, not bad for this one or two times."

"Know."

"Have a safe trip."

"Okay, thank you Uncle Qi."

"Next time you come back, you accompany me to Vietnam."

"Hehe, we'll see."

After Chen Bicheng finished speaking, Cui Xueli opened her mouth at this time: "Brother, I wish you a smooth trip and a safe journey."

She was wearing an off-white cashmere coat today, wrapped in a navy blue scarf, her eyebrows were like paintings, and her smile was gentle. Compared to four years ago, she had really grown up a lot, opened up, and the somewhat immature girl from before had now become graceful.

The girl took the initiative to take two steps forward and opened her arms.

He opened his hands and hugged her.

Then he was slightly stunned.

"What note did she pass to you?"

After getting in the car, Qi Yuntian sat in the back with him.

This time Qi Da still wouldn't accompany him to the United States, but would send him to the airport and drive back. But it wouldn't be very idle. The things in Hong Kong were all in charge of Qi Yuntian, and he would go over to distribute the start-of-work red envelopes and build the work there after the New Year.

The two chatted about the work in Hong Kong for a while, and then Qi Yuntian asked curiously.

Chen Nuo took out a neatly folded note from his pocket, on which was written "To Chen Nuo brother" in Chinese, with a cute cartoon girl head with long hair drawn on the side.

The words were written squarely and were quite good. The drawing was even better than the words.

Cui Xueli, this girl, although she was scum in reading, she indeed had artistic talent. Maybe the girl thought she was doing the note-passing action quite covertly by hugging, but in fact, Chen Nuo estimated that only Pan Chengrong couldn't see her little movements at the scene.

"You don't look?"

"Wait a minute. Continue to talk about the casting over there."

"Okay, then what do you think about Ah Sa..."

"Ah Sa, what Ah Sa? What do I think?"

"Ah? No, Brother Nuo, I saw you chatting happily with her and her manager last night."

Chen Nuo said naturally: "Yes, two beauties, is there any problem with me being a little happy when they chat with me?"

Qi Yuntian shook his head and said in an extremely low voice: "Cheat..."

"What did you say? Speak louder?"

"I said President Chen is really clear about public and private affairs. Okay, continue..."

At 4 PM, the Gulfstream GS450 that came to pick up people from the United States flew into the blue sky again after refueling and a short rest.

For this reason, Chen Nuo specifically went to the cockpit to express his gratitude to the captain who had traveled around the world with him several times.

This Gulfstream GS450 belonged to a high-end private jet rental company in the United States called Aven Private Aviation. The aircraft was more than ten years old, but this was still not half the length of the career of the captain named Brian Douglas in front of him.

"Mr. Brian, have you been flying for more than thirty years?" Chen Nuo asked in surprise.

The white captain, who was about fifty years old, nodded proudly: "From the time I got my pilot's license at twenty-two, it has been thirty-one years and six months exactly. But Mr. Chen, please rest assured, I am still very young and energetic."

"This is truly an amazing career, Mr. Brian, I sincerely admire it." Chen Nuo said sincerely.

Brian smiled and seemed quite satisfied: "Thank you, Mr. Chen. I have flown many guests, but there are not many who are as polite and respectful as you."

Chen Nuo waved his hand with a smile: "Thank you, I am actually a bit suspicious, but now, I trust you and your team 100%. Okay, I won't delay your continued flight. Although the weather looks good ahead, I'll be conscious and go back to the cabin."

Brian's expression seemed to become gentler, and he seemed to appreciate his caution and sense of proportion even more, taking the initiative to say: "Do you want to try the cockpit? I can teach you the basic operations."

Chen Nuo laughed: "Thank you for your kindness, Brian, but I'm afraid if I sit up, the plane will have to make an emergency landing. I'd better not add to the chaos. Okay, I'm going out, thank you again, wish you a smooth flight."

"You're welcome, Chen, this is my duty and my honor." Brian smiled and stood up, bowed slightly, and then focused on checking the instruments again.

After coming out of the cockpit, Chen Nuo said to Linghu beside him in a low voice: "It doesn't look like he will fall asleep for now, but we still can't take it lightly. You come over every few hours to check."

After speaking, he thought for a while and added: "You can chat with him more when the time comes, and see if those experiences he said are true or false. If confirmed to be true, keep his private contact information."

Linghu nodded: "Understood."

Chen Nuo returned to the cabin and saw that Guli Nazha had fallen asleep on the blanket. The girl should have stayed up late last night and got up very early today. She was lying on her side, her cheeks against the edge of the blanket, her eyelashes trembling slightly, as if she had entered a dream.

He sat back in his chair lightly, pulled the window shade down halfway, revealing only a little of the flawless blue sky outside the window and the clouds rolling like snow.

With the help of the sunlight slanting through the porthole, he took out the note that Cui Xueli handed him before leaving and unfolded it to look.

I saw it written in neat handwriting:

"Brother.

Cui Xueli four years ago never dreamed that one day she would be able to call you by such a title.

Cui Xueli four years later, also couldn't imagine what she would have become four years ago without you and without Mom.

My gratitude to you, Mom, and Dad is deeper than the Yellow River and longer than the Great Wall. It was your meticulous care and concern that pulled me out of the abyss and turned me from a girl who thought life had no hope into a person who wanted to pursue her dreams.

Brother, I have made a decision.

The timid and weak me has finally made up my mind and taken this step. Although every time I think about the future, I am still afraid; in the darkest corner of my heart, there is still a Cui Xueli, curled up, trembling, trying to pull me back.

But I still insisted on making a choice.

Will you be happy for me?

In many nights now, I always cry secretly, worried that I have embarrassed you, worried that you regret picking me up from Korea, thinking that I am a waste who can do nothing.

I have really tried my best to learn.

I have tried chemistry, physics, biology, trying to understand the future you planned for me. But every time the report card was issued, I was too ashamed to look into your eyes.

Forgive me, Brother.

I really tried my best, but I am not the child who can become a scientist after all.

So, I am going to Korea to embark on that path. If I want to be a Cui Xueli who can make you and Mom proud, then this is the only way I can think of.

Because singing, dancing, and acting—seems to be the only thing I have been good at since I was a child.

This path is also the only path where I will not feel ashamed and inferior as your sister and Mom's daughter. Instead of hiding under Mom's wings like now, shamefully enjoying everything that shouldn't belong to me...

Brother, when I first came to China, you told me that you hoped I would learn the four words self-respect, self-love, self-improvement, and self-reliance in four years.

Now, I have understood your deep meaning. I won't let you down in the future.

I hope that one day, I can stand in front of Mom and tell her that the Cui Xueli who was taken care of by her back then has grown up and can repay her kindness.

I also hope that one day, I can stand on the stage of a ten-thousand-person concert, hold my head high, and proudly and proudly tell everyone: "Chen Nuo is my brother."

By then, I hope you can applaud for me in the audience, okay?

Always love you,

Xueli.

PS:

Brother, please don't tell Mom after you finish reading, I want to tell her myself."

The letter was quite long, and both the front and back were full. It took Chen Nuo about five minutes to finish reading it. He noticed that there were some water marks on the last few lines.

Afterwards, he folded the paper back, put it in his pants pocket, then pulled down the window shade, let the plane cabin fall into darkness, covered himself with a blanket, and fell into a deep sleep.

Finally, after 14 hours of flight, the GS450 stopped to refuel in Anchorage, Alaska, and landed smoothly at Van Nuys Private Airport in Los Angeles at 10:36 PM Pacific Time on January 24, USA.

This airport, located in the suburbs of Los Angeles and serving business and private flights, looked particularly quiet under the night lights.

Unlike ordinary commercial flight passengers who need to queue for entry at the terminal, as soon as Chen Nuo walked out of the cabin door, he saw the black Toyota Alphard with thick black film parked on the tarmac not far away. Beside the car, Allison was leaning against the car door.

Seeing him come out, she smiled and raised her hand to wave.

Beside the woman were two US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in dark suits and wearing ID cards.

Before this, the information submitted by Aven Company in advance was received here, so the process after getting off the plane was surprisingly fast. The two men in sunglasses took out a portable fingerprint machine and let him press it for a few seconds, took the passport and opened it to scan it, and didn't even ask routine questions like "Why come to the United States," directly saying with a full face of smiles: "welcome back to the united states, mr. chen."

From walking out of the cabin door to completing all procedures, it took less than ten minutes. This kind of silky entry experience into the United States would make many people who know it angry.

Chen Nuo pulled the sliding door of the Alphard and sat in the car, and Allison followed in and sat beside him. Guli Nazha sat in the passenger seat, the driver's seat was taken over by Linghu, and the car then drove steadily out of Van Nuys Airport and merged into the highway leading to Beverly Hills.

Chen Nuo saw that Allison's complexion was good, and asked casually: "Surgery went well?"

Allison laughed and nodded: "Yes, very good. The doctor said Zoe's surgical recovery was even more ideal than expected, and all indicators were in the best state. Really thank you very much, letting her watch the Golden Globes is simply the most correct decision I have made."

Chen Nuo laughed: "Don't be so superstitious, Allison."

"No, no, this is not superstition, this is experience." Allison said seriously, "There are really people in this world who are born to bring good luck to others. You are."

"Okay, let's talk about business." Chen Nuo adjusted his sitting posture, and his tone became slightly more formal, "How about the Oscars? Have you heard any rumors here? What does Warner say, do I have a play this time?"

Allison spread her hands and answered frankly: "I don't know."

Chen Nuo was stunned: "What did you say?"

"I really don't know." She repeated.

Guli Nazha in the passenger seat couldn't help but laugh, and immediately turned her head and said seriously: "Sorry." Then she quickly turned back.

Allison continued: "Of course, Chen, if you hope to hear some encouraging words, I can completely recite a set of high-sounding analysis, say who I have talked to, and what positive signals I have received... But I don't want to use that set to fool you. Chen, all the information is not final yet, everything is an unknown. In tomorrow's nominations, you have a 50% chance of being shortlisted, and a 50% chance of being eliminated."

Chen Nuo laughed: "In Chinese, there is a saying called 'like reading,' which means reading a chapter of a novel, and finishing it is equal to reading nothing. I feel like I have the same feeling now."

Allison smiled and said: "The fact is like this. In the nominations for Best Actor at this year's Oscars, only two people are sure: one is Jean Dujardin of "The Artist," who has Harvey Weinstein's strong push and the halo of Cannes Best Actor. The second is George Clooney, who won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, and the Academy cannot even give a nomination."

"What about the remaining three spots?" Chen Nuo asked. "You, Demián Bichir, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio—each of you five has a possibility." Allison said, and then emphasized her tone, "Everyone is 50 to 50."

"Like listening" and "like reading" are both experiences that make people itch.

But after listening to Allison's words, Chen Nuo could only admit that it seemed that what she said was indeed the reality now.

Who let him choose to stand on the stage of the Golden Globes at the beginning, focusing on expanding international influence and public awareness, rather than continuing to use the racial discrimination topic hinted at in the previous media storm to put pressure on Academy members?

There are gains and losses, it is impossible for him to occupy all the good things in the world, right.

So, he could only turn on the TV at 5 PM the next day, January 25, tune to the ABC channel, wait for the live broadcast to start with a somewhat uneasy mood, and wait for the judgment of fate.

But fortunately, one person's situation was not only the same as his, but also called to say that he was ready to come to his house and watch the live broadcast with him, so that the two of them watched together, and if they finished together, it wouldn't be too lonely.

"This is Katie, this is Lola, this is Jessica, and her sister Berry." Leonardo DiCaprio introduced politely.

Although he was taken aback, Chen Nuo naturally couldn't keep a straight face when facing four sexy beauties, smiled, and said: "Hi, hello, welcome to be a guest."

"Hi, hello Chen."

"Your house is very beautiful, it is an honor to be a guest."

"Hello, I like your decoration style, it is the type I like."

"Chen, nice to meet you."

Chen Nuo smiled: "Thank you, I am also very happy to meet you, please come in."

Waiting for these beauties with different hair colors, each over 170 in height, and dressed in fashionable clothes to go in, Chen Nuo pulled Little Li to the side and said speechlessly: "What's going on?? What are you doing with so many people?"

Little Li was surprised: "What do you mean? Do you want to be alone with me?"

Chen Nuo was choked.

Then he reacted, others bringing four women to a friend's house as a guest definitely belongs to showing off, and even has the suspicion of showing off, but for this person, it seems to be a normal operation.

After getting along for a long time, he also knew that Leonardo DiCaprio had two indispensable things in his life.

The first is movies, the second is women.

Usually, there are basically only these two entertainment activities at home.

Chen Nuo has been to his luxurious private cinema, and the number of movies collected in it can be described as sweating and filling the house. The key is that Little Li has watched almost all those thousands of tapes or DVDs. In terms of reading volume, he is really not as good as him, it is estimated that only Tarantino can compare with him.

Besides watching movies, the thing he loves most is to engage in activities with all kinds of beauties, and beauties are almost indispensable by his side at all times. Bringing four beauties to his house? What is there to make a fuss about.

He sighed and said: "Forget it, pretend I didn't say it."

Facts have proved that Little Li's bringing beauties is really just a habit. When those beauties put on sexy bikinis and took advantage of the sun not setting to play by the swimming pool outside Chen Nuo's house, this person sat on the sofa in the living room, guarded the TV with Chen Nuo, and said with an unusually solemn expression: "I don't think I have a nomination this time."

Chen Nuo was surprised: "Why?"

"Because those motherfucker Academy members don't like me, and, as far as I know, Warner Bros. spent all their energy on your 'Inception'."

Chen Nuo handed a glass of champagne sent by Guli Nazha to him and said: "Are you sure?"

Little Li looked melancholy, with a faint sadness, and said: "Yes, I am sure. Since Titanic, they haven't liked me..."

Chen Nuo interrupted: "Wait, I'm not asking this, I know this. I'm asking if you really spent all the PR energy on 'Inception'? Where did you hear it? Warner's internal news?"

"You!" Little Li glared at him, "Where is your sympathy? Chen?!"

Chen Nuo shrugged and said: "Everyone in the world knows it, I really can't pretend, sorry, Leo."

Little Li gritted his teeth and said angrily: "Yes, everyone in the world knows it, so you can be so mean? Is this your attitude towards friends?"

"Okay, okay, I don't have a play either, you know. Even if what you said is true, Warner Bros. will only PR for Best Picture or Best Director." Everyone is an actor, and they know each other a little bit. Chen Nuo didn't take this person's angry expression to heart at all, and comforted him in a fake way, "I can't even get into the Golden Globes, let alone the Oscars. I think you have more hope than me."

Sure enough, Little Li changed his face instantly, sighed again, made a sad look, and said: "Hope so. But I really don't have confidence."

Chen Nuo tilted his head, feeling that this person was a bit strange today.

But he didn't think much about it. He touched glasses with Little Li, took a sip of champagne, and then both of them cast their eyes on the TV screen.

Even though a few steps away, behind the glass wall, were pairs of smooth and slender long legs and waves of breasts and buttocks, they didn't look at them at all.

5:30 PM, the Oscar nomination ceremony started on time.

On the stage of the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in LA, besides the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Tang Mu Sherak, there was also the young actress who had been to Chen Nuo's house as a guest, Jennifer Lawrence.

The two didn't have extra greetings, and after a brief introduction of the Oscar schedule and voting mechanism, they went directly to the nomination announcement session.

The first announced was Best Cinematography, then Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Original Score... And in almost every technical category, you could hear the name of "Inception."

Before Best Actress, Little Li, who had been silent, finally couldn't help it and said: "If you add the Best Picture and Best Director later, you have already surpassed 'Avatar'."

Chen Nuo said: "How many? Did you count?"

Little Li said: "It's already 9 now. Avatar only has 9 nominations in total."

Chen Nuo nodded.

Next, the nomination for Best Actress was announced by Jennifer Lawrence.

Meryl Streep "The Iron Lady" will compete with Michelle Williams "My Week with Marilyn," Rooney Mara "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," Viola Davis "The Help," and Glenn Close "Albert Nobbs" for the Best Actress of this year's Oscars.

"Glenn Close has been nominated for the sixth time this time." Little Li said with a feeling of rabbit dying and fox grieving, "But she has never won an award."

Chen Nuo exhaled and said: "Do you think she has hope this time?"

"Very difficult. Harvey is too strong in winning awards, and Meryl's performance this time is also too perfect, especially the part I like the most..."

"Don't tell me, I haven't seen it."

"Ah?" Little Li was surprised, "You haven't seen it? You must be joking."

"I didn't."

"How is it possible, my God."

"Hehe, if I say I haven't even seen 'Gone with the Wind,' what would you say?"

"Impossible!" Little Li shouted, "Then how on earth do you act..."

"Shh." Chen Nuo made a gesture to shut up, and at the same time turned up the volume of the TV.

He looked back and saw that Allison was standing by the wall behind, and Guli Nazha was sitting behind the bar, both looking very nervous.

Tang Mu Sherak on TV said: "Okay, next is the nomination for Best Actor at this year's Oscars—this is a group with extremely fierce competition. We are fortunate to witness the performances of this year's five most outstanding male actors. Jennifer, you announce it."

Jennifer Lawrence said with a smile: "Okay."

"Why smile, why is she smiling?" Little Li muttered, "I have a good friendship with her, do you know?"

Chen Nuo's palms were sweating a little at this time, and he said: "Shut up Leo, I have a better relationship with her!"

Little Li didn't refute, maintaining the same posture as Chen Nuo, holding the wine glass with both hands, as if wanting to use the cold champagne to calm the hot blood.

The living room quieted down, and only the sound of water from the swimming pool separated by a glass wall and the sound of women talking came.

Jennifer Lawrence looked at the camera and said in her slightly hoarse voice: "The nominees for Best Actor at the 84th Academy Awards are—"

"George Clooney, 'The Descendants'."

As soon as the voice fell, the name of Clooney and the film clip appeared on the LCD screen beside him.

"Jean Dujardin, 'The Artist'."

Chen Nuo couldn't help but glance back at Allison—sure enough, she was right. These two were nailed down, and they had already locked two nomination seats.

Then, the voice on TV didn't stop. Continued to say:

"Leonardo DiCaprio, 'J. Edgar'."

What?! Chen Nuo turned his head suddenly, simply couldn't believe his ears.

"Ah?!" Seeing Little Li's expression first surprised, then stunned, and finally jumped up, waved his fist on the spot, and shouted wildly: "holyshit! My two million dollars were not spent in vain!"

Two million?

Chen Nuo's heart shook, and he looked at him.

I saw Little Li dancing with excitement, speaking fast: "Didn't I tell you? Actually, I hired a private PR team. Don't be so surprised, my friend. You know Warner doesn't care about me at all, I can only rely on myself... Hahahahaha!"

"Gary Oldman, 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'." On TV, Jennifer Lawrence continued to announce.

Little Li said proudly: "Look, this world is like this, there will always be some rewards for some payment, right?!"

Chen Nuo felt a mix of five flavors in his heart.

Damn, this guy actually moved secretly,

No wonder I always felt something was wrong before, damn, it turned out to be acting.

Despicable!

"Hahahahahaha." Little Li looked at his expression and continued to laugh, feeling that his face was about to rot.

But the next second—

"Nuo Chen, 'Inception'." Jennifer Lawrence announced with a smile on her lips and a brisk tone, "Congratulations."

The laughter stopped abruptly.

"Ah!!!!!" That was the scream Guli Nazha made on the other side of the living room.

And Allison also shouted a wow.

Chen Nuo felt a buzz in his ears.

He turned his head slowly, his eyes falling on the TV screen.

At this time, beside Jennifer Lawrence in a red long dress, the TV screen that had been showing nominations summarized the five Best Actor nominations she had just read.

No mistake.

He didn't hear it wrong.

Jennifer Lawrence also definitely didn't say it wrong.

One name, one movie, five people plus five movies, clearly written on the TV screen there.

"George Clooney, 'The Descendants'"

"Jean Dujardin, 'The Artist'"

"Leonardo DiCaprio, 'J. Edgar'"

"Gary Oldman, 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'"

"Nuo Chen, 'Inception'"

Chen Nuo looked at the name in the lower right corner twice, then calmed down his mood, resisted the urge to raise the corners of his mouth, turned his head and said seriously: "It seems that sometimes you don't need to pay, you will have some small gains, right? Dear Leo."

(End of this chapter) **CHAPTER 472**

"Gary Oldman, *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*"

"Nuo Chen, *Inception*"

Chen Nuo looked at the name listed in the bottom right corner twice, then calmed his mood. Suppressing the urge to let his lips curl upward, he turned his head and said with a serious expression, "It seems that sometimes you don't need to put in the effort to get a little harvest, right? My dear Leo."

(End of chapter)