Chapter 477: This is a Dirty World (8,600 words, seeking monthly votes)

Chen Nuo forgot where he had seen a sentence in his previous life; it might have been *Yi Lin*, *Zhiyin*, or perhaps Hu Xijin's Weibo.

After all, he was unlearned and unskilled back then, and his cultural level wasn't high, so he was only fit to pick up these stale things to eat.

He couldn't remember the source, but at this moment, when the image of himself kissing an ugly man appeared on the big screen and the entire audience burst into laughter, he inexplicably remembered that sentence—

"The scarcest thing in the world is not money, but the resources to make money."

His eyes were fixed on the big screen, but Chen Nuo's thoughts had long since drifted far away.

When he first saw this sentence, he didn't actually have a deep understanding of it. It wasn't until later, when he became a somewhat famous short-video influencer by posting on Douyin and MCN agencies came knocking one after another, pulling out eight-figure or even nine-figure signing bonuses, desperately trying to sign him, that he began to understand.

And in this life, having become an actor and then a boss, switching identities back and forth, his understanding of this sentence had gone a level deeper.

The profession of an actor is actually like a character in certain online games known as a "late-game class."

You are very weak in the early game; everyone can step on you, and you have to accept all kinds of unspoken and spoken rules. A small actor who hasn't made a name for themselves can even be given a hard time by the auntie handing out lunch boxes on set.

But once you survive the early game and reach the late game, as long as you haven't deleted your account or quit the game, you can become the strongest existence among all classes.

Because you have become a resource for making money.

Or rather, an amplifier for capital.

If you can amplify it by 50%, then most directors will come to kiss your ass and try to get close to you.

If you can amplify it by double, then over 80% of capital will treat you like a father.

If you can amplify it by triple, then little Boss Chen can go lick Dilraba.

And if you aim for the ultimate goal of amplifying it by three to five times...

What's the big deal about kissing a man!?

100 actors, all 100 would smile faintly, without a moment's hesitation, and go for it immediately.

Once a top actor enters a performance state, under that incredibly strong self-persuasion, this is simply not a big deal.

However, actually, when filming this scene, Chen Nuo had originally intended to fake it.

Because he wasn't getting paid.

Receiving notice from the Oscar organizing committee to arrive in America a few days early to film an opening segment for this year's Oscars was volunteer work without pay.

He came and cooperated with Billy Crystal to act; that was already decent enough. If he had really started filming, he would have been unable to wrap his head around it; there was no reason for him to run to America for volunteer work.

However, at this time, Alison, who had always been very concerned about his public image, stood up and expressed a different opinion. This ultimately led him to choose to perform a breakthrough act on the Oscar stage in front of the whole world.

Hearing Liu Yifei beside him and the entire audience laughing their heads off, Chen Nuo sighed—

Hopefully, it was all worth it.

"Is this the one you went to film when you first arrived in America a few days ago?" Liu Yifei asked with her eyes narrowed in laughter, turning her head to ask.

Chen Nuo nodded, said "Mm," and kept an eye on the camera's position, ready to laugh along at any moment.

"Was this required by the screenwriter?"

"Otherwise? No choice, had to sacrifice for art."

"Hahaha, I think it's so interesting, haha. But it's just too unfair to you."

"An actor, it's normal. The camera is coming over, watch your expression, smile."

At this moment, Billy Crystal continued to imitate and pay tribute to the other seven Best Picture nominees in the opening short film.

Afterward, after completely igniting the atmosphere on site and in front of TV screens, amidst the announcer's introduction, he finally walked out from behind a curtain shimmering with white light in the middle of the stage.

Enthusiastic applause erupted throughout the hall.

At this time, the theater's big screen began scanning for shots, first giving a shot of Meryl Streep's row, then the image shifted to Chen Nuo's face. The image of him smiling and clapping appeared on the big screen.

But unfortunately, Liu Yifei was laughing in vain; only one of her arms appeared in the frame.

Soon, the camera cut to the area where George Clooney was, and finally returned to the center of the stage.

Billy Crystal was wearing a retro tuxedo, looking exactly like a mad scientist from a 1960s black-and-white sci-fi film.

He gestured to the audience on all sides, "Thank you, thank you."

Then he walked to the center of the stage, bowed with a full face of smiles, and opened his mouth: "Thank you all, this applause is truly—'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.' Today is my ninth time hosting the Oscars, so... please call me 'War Horse'."

A short sentence, responding to the applause on site while also throwing out the names of two Best Picture nominees—*Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close* and *War Horse*—immediately drawing a burst of light laughter and applause.

Next was a series of customary opening remarks, teasing, blessings, tributes, plus a few rhyming jokes, which could be called textbook-level old-school host rhythm.

However, Chen Nuo had no interest in listening.

Having hosted the Oscars twice and attending for the fourth time, he had long since lost his initial enthusiasm. Liu Yifei was listening with great interest on the side, laughing out loud while watching the stage, but he felt somewhat listless. Seeing that the camera didn't scan over again, he simply lowered his head and took out his phone to see if there were any unread messages.

It turned out there were quite a few.

Over 50 unread WeChat messages, and more than a dozen text messages.

He didn't dare to click on WeChat now; after all, if some pictures popped up, it would be embarrassing if someone saw them.

Text messages were relatively safer.

He clicked on the text messages, and sure enough, these were all sent by "old" friends over 40.

The one at the very top was from Jiang Wen:

【I often chat with Wang Shuo, Old Ma, and the others, saying don't think you have any idol baggage; in fact, your Brother Nuo is absolutely the one who is most willing to let go when filming. Those two grandsons didn't believe it. After today, there will definitely be no more controversy. Destroying your image just to win an award, I bow down to you, admire, admire.】

Chen Nuo smiled, feeling a little smug inside, and replied: "I yield, I yield."

He could fool Liu Yifei, but he couldn't fool those with a sharp eye.

This really had nothing to do with sacrificing for art; it only had to do with winning an award later.

Letting go and kissing a man was to deepen the impression of him being "able to act" and "daring to act" in the eyes of those Academy members once again.

One must know that the so-called "acting powerhouse label," even with innate talent, is fed to the judges through one desperate work after another. Just like Leonardo, going to film *J. Edgar* to play a homosexual, going to *Django Unchained* to play a villain, going to *The Revenant* to roll in mud and eat raw meat.

And it's not just actors; directors are the same.

Like Director Lou Ye, going to film all kinds of scars and natural disasters, all just to exchange for a little smile in front of those cold and arrogant faces at Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.

Two words can summarize it: fawning. That's all.

However, in Alison's words, he was a bit better than Director Lou; it couldn't be called fawning, at most it was just throwing a wink. It was also easier than Leonardo, not needing to be so desperate, just using such a short segment of a few seconds to achieve the goal with four ounces of force against a thousand pounds.

Because, if just attending the Oscars wasn't impressive enough, then once this short film was shot, it was estimated that for five or ten years, these Academy members would have an extremely deep impression of his Oscar nomination and his courage to break through his own acting.

So, one day in the future, when he truly carries a blockbuster film and impacts the Oscar Best Actor as a foreigner and a person of color, perhaps it will allow the scales in those people's hearts to tilt toward him a little.

This was the reason Alison used to persuade him.

It was all interests, all calculations.

This world is inherently this dirty, and this is how it operates.

For this advice, Chen Nuo felt that the $300,000 bonus given to the woman was not wasted.

After replying to Jiang Wen's text, he put his phone back in his pocket.

At this time, Billy Crystal on stage changed the subject and began the customary opening song and dance show as before. At the same time, the cameraman began to wander near him, indicating that there would soon be shots of him.

"#Oscars on this wonderful night #Oscar Oscar who will win? #"

After singing two lines, Billy Crystal looked around the audience with a smile: "You didn't think I wouldn't sing tonight, did you?"

Laughter erupted on site, and he added another sentence: "However—we have to hurry tonight. There are nine Best Picture nominees this year!"

The music started, and Billy began to sing jokes about each Best Picture nominee in a teasing manner.

"He doesn't want to talk, don't ask him to talk,

But if *The Artist* wins an Oscar,

He will say—merci beaucoup~ (French: Thank you very much)"

The camera then cut to the French male lead of *The Artist*—Jean Dujardin, who smiled shyly and nodded in acknowledgment.

Then the rhythm of the music shifted, and Billy sang again:

"This horse is your horse,

This horse is the horse Spielberg filmed in *War Horse*,

Now the Oscars might favor this horse,

And Tom Hanks has long since become the past."

The screen shifted, and the image froze on the smiles of Mr. and Mrs. Spielberg.

After singing, the rhythm of the music suddenly became cheerful, and the atmosphere heated up.

"Leonardo plays the most vicious FBI director in history,

He used to be handsome, now he has a lot of meat on his belly.

But kid, if you lose tonight,

Don't be sad, there's cake waiting for you after the ceremony—"

Billy dragged out a long and exaggerated tail note, and the laughter on site was thunderous. The camera gave a shot to Leonardo, who pursed his lips with a smile amidst his helplessness.

Subsequently, Billy walked quickly to the other side of the stage, and the style changed again.

"Is this a dream?

Yes, dear,

Nolan's dream is always limitless,

A thought, a layer of reality,

Sinking deeper than love."

Saying this, he stepped down the steps and walked into the aisle.

The camera gave a shot to Chen Nuo this time; his slightly shy smile appeared on the big screen.

This time Liu Yifei finally succeeded in showing her face; the camera followed Billy as he scanned over, and the smile the woman had long prepared was finally able to be frozen in time.

Billy reached out his hand slightly and sang with a smile:

"Chen, he dances in a spin in a suit,

Like a hybrid of Bond and Jackie Chan,

He is the new darling of the global box office."

One sentence was more exaggerated than the next, and the laughter on site rose wave after wave.

Just at this moment, Billy walked in front of him with a funny yet dashing gait, and Chen Nuo also looked at this big-foreheaded man performing with a smile.

Billy looked into his eyes and sang:

"Nolan says he is the embodiment of inspiration,

Will the Oscars wake up from the dream and give him a little golden man?"

Then he suddenly restrained his smile, straightened his face, and his tone sank:

"But to be honest,

If there's a sequel,

I hope you don't act like this—

Mess up your hair,

Dirty your face,

Better yet, be a homosexual.

So you can share some money with other film companies!"

"Hahahahaha!"

The entire audience burst into laughter.

Chen Nuo was also laughing.

Afterward, Billy Crystal also sang the last line of this small segment with a smile: "At least don't go to talk shows or host again, leave some food for us~"

"Another boring Oscar, damn, is there anyone who feels the same as me? I can say that apart from the opening, this entire award ceremony is worthless. Although Billy is also a host I like, he is really old; I can guess what he's going to say next as soon as he says the previous sentence. Goodbye, ABC, I'd rather watch the Golden Globe rerun than waste time here. Perhaps, I'll come back at the end to see if *Inception* actually won Best Picture."

When the time reached 8:00 PM LA time, which was about 11:00 AM Beijing time, halfway through the 84th Oscar ceremony, such a post appeared on Twitter, immediately attracting comments and attention from many people.

"This is a fact. The Oscars are getting old, and the only person who can bring back its youth is sitting in the audience."

"Dull and boring jokes, long and uninteresting rhythm. When Chen and Billy kissed at the beginning, I thought this year would be crazy; I didn't expect its brilliance to only be at the beginning."

"Boring show, I went to play LOL after watching the first award. Is there anyone here playing this game?"

"I'm already at a bar now, just picked up a beauty. Let me tell you a trick; I found that over 50% of the young chicks in this country are interested in Nuo Chen now. You just need to brag to her that you have his autograph or phone number, and she has a 70% chance of going home with you tonight. If Chen doesn't work, then switch to Leo. The combined success rate will be 100%!"

"Billy can retire, I'm serious, still the same old stuff from the 90s; it's already been 10 years into the 21st century!"

"Only Leonardo and George Clooney can make me perk up."

"OMG, Emma Stone is out to present an award; she's like a lunatic tonight, haha!" ===== CHAPTER 478 =====