Chapter 98: Going Public

After the opening ceremony.

Every day, a massive amount of film copyrights are bought, sold, and traded here.

Quite a few film distributors who were making contact with Lin Nan for the first time quoted prices, only to receive the reply that they should talk again after the closing ceremony.

Liu Yifei followed Lin Nan and began binge-watching films.

"Don't just stare at art-house films; if you want to improve your acting, you have to dabble in all kinds of movies."

"Then what are we watching today?" Liu Yifei asked.

"Watching Huang Bo's *Cow*. A tragic comedy."

The two entered the screening hall; there were very few people inside, fewer than ten foreigners.

Liu Yifei is a bit of a ditz; sometimes her threshold for humor is very high, sometimes it's very low, and from time to time, she is overly sentimental.

After laughing for a long time, the tragic side emerged.

Especially when Huang Bo dug out the token bracelet he had given to Yan Ni from a pile of corpses.

A romance that hadn't even begun had ended just like that.

Lin Nan swore that he really had brought Liu Yifei here to study acting.

But it was bizarre; whenever this girl watched a movie with him, she was particularly prone to having her emotions swayed by the romantic subplots in the film...

In the end, it was always the soft flesh at Lin Nan's waist that suffered.

What a disaster!

The buzzing sound was almost inaudible, but Lin Nan could feel the vibration.

"I'm going out to take a call."

After speaking, Lin Nan stood up and walked out, and Liu Yifei grabbed her bag and followed him out.

"Hello, who is this?"

Lin Nan felt a bit uneasy inside, because it was the number from this side.

"What's wrong?" Liu Yifei asked with confusion.

A voice of inquiry came from the other end of the phone.

"It's me."

"Mm, I know, thank you."

Lin Nan hung up the phone and took a deep breath to calm his mood.

"What's wrong?" the girl was still asking.

Lin Nan looked at Liu Yifei and pulled her into his arms; it was a very steady feeling.

"Good news. We can take a guess at what award we might get."

"Really? Then let's hurry back, I need to prepare my clothes..."

Liu Yifei broke free from Lin Nan's embrace and said excitedly.

"How about you just wear something casual? The more carefully you pick, the more worried I get. How about letting your mother or your assistant help you choose?"

Lin Nan advised with a guilty conscience.

Liu Yifei first frowned slightly, glaring at Lin Nan, then slowly relaxed, as if she had recognized the reality of the situation.

"Hmph, fine, I'll listen to you this time and let Mom help me choose."

"Let's go, let's head back first." Lin Nan held Liu Yifei's hand, and the two walked toward the hotel.

Someone was watching them from afar.

"Is that Director Lin?" Mei Ting asked her assistant.

"It looks like Director Lin Nan."

The assistant said it very affirmatively. They were all very familiar with each other from the *Painted Skin* crew.

"Sister, is that girl Liu Yifei?"

Mei Ting instantly remembered that when they were on the *Painted Skin* crew, Huang Xiaoming and Shu Chang always had an air of knowing something but not saying it.

Now, she understood. So that time Lin Nan and Shu Chang went out to visit the set, it was for Liu Yifei on the *The Forbidden Kingdom* crew!

"This is big news. Poor those young actresses, there's one less target they can set their sights on, haha..."

Mei Ting thought it was interesting just thinking about it.

"Let's go, our film is in the Horizons section; we'll greet Director Lin at the awards ceremony later."

…………

Lin Nan was going to take Liu Yifei to the closing ceremony red carpet and the awards gala.

This caught Liu Xiaoli a bit off guard, but after she realized what was happening, she felt gratified.

It had been several years; it was time to go public...

Liu Yifei sat on the sofa, fiddling with the jewelry she had brought, the smile on her face overflowing, "Mm, I'll wear this one!"

……

From the day of the opening ceremony, what everyone was waiting for was the closing ceremony.

Matt Damon, in a high-end custom suit, was in high spirits.

"Lin, thank you so much. We really made it this far, the award is right before our eyes..."

Matt was very excited; like Leonardo, he was actively transitioning his career.

But in terms of awards, the latter had won the Silver Bear for Best Actor a long time ago, while he didn't have any awards worth showing off.

Perhaps this time, he could get what he wished for.

"Matt, don't be so excited, control your emotions. Ryan was like you back then, but look at the result..."

Lin Nan poured a bucket of cold water without mercy; it was better than being devastated at the scene.

Hearing this, Matt instantly calmed down.

"He was too unlucky; I hope I'm not like him."

……

Tom also got himself a new outfit, but Lin Nan's words made his heart go cold.

"This time, you don't need to go on the red carpet."

"Why?"

"I plan to take Xixi with me."

"Oh, Crystal..."

Tom rested his forehead on one hand, "But that doesn't affect me, does it?"

"You need to stay outside; in case your mother needs anything, there should be someone to run errands."

Lin Nan said with a smile.

Tom looked helpless, "Alright, the boss's lady's mother is also the boss..."

……

After waiting for nearly ten days, the 66th Venice International Film Festival closing ceremony had finally arrived.

Lin Nan was in a suit, already prepared.

Matt Damon had arrived even earlier and had spent a long time on the phone with his wife and children.

"Mom, are you really not coming with us?"

Wearing a sky-blue strapless long dress with her hair tied up, Liu Yifei looked ethereal.

"No, you and Lin Nan go ahead; I'll watch the live broadcast of the awards ceremony at the hotel."

Liu Xiaoli said gently, filled with maternal love, and then put the pink crystal lantern necklace on her daughter.

On her fair neck, the pink crystal necklace complemented her perfectly, looking magnificent.

"Go on."

"Mm."

Lin Nan took Liu Yifei's hand, and the three of them left the hotel.

"Crystal, I feel like I'm a bit redundant."

Matt Damon joked at the right moment.

"Then for a while, just pretend you're a puff of air, haha..."

……

The closing ceremony red carpet is always the most dazzling segment besides the awards ceremony itself.

Several domestic news websites and official media outlets were doing text and photo live streams.

Tourists, media, fans, and movie buffs from all over the world were guarding the perimeter of the red carpet, with cameras and lenses everywhere, exceptionally lively...

Many netizens were paying attention to Venice; after all, Lin Nan's track record at international film festivals was very spectacular.

With a six-hour time difference, it was already night in China.

"Xixi, are you ready?" Lin Nan asked softly.

Liu Yifei understood and nodded, "Mm."

The car door opened, and Lin Nan stepped out first; it was already dusk outside, a sea of people, and brilliant lights.

At a glance, Lin Nan saw the logos of several domestic media outlets, and he waved his hand.

"Quick, it's Director Lin Nan."

In the lens, one could see Lin Nan lowering his body, a soft hand reaching out from the car and resting on Lin Nan's hand, and just like that, she stepped out...

It was a very beautiful girl, familiar?

"Holy crap! Liu Yifei!"

Most of the domestic reporters were stunned.

"What's going on?"

"Why is she here? Isn't she filming *Lucy*?"

"Them?"

"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and shoot..."

"Good heavens, big news!"

Lin Nan held Liu Yifei's hand and, guided by the staff, went to the waiting area with Matt Damon.

Quite a few domestic film crews noticed Lin Nan's group.

Liu Yifei's appearance was something almost no one had expected.

Huang Bo took a look and smiled, "The circle is going to explode now..."

"How long have they been together?" Yan Ni felt Huang Bo should know.

Huang Bo shook his head; he wouldn't touch that topic.

Back home, a series of photos were updated.

Especially the photos of Lin Nan holding Liu Yifei's hand as they walked toward the waiting area.

The internet really started to erupt.

"This, this..."

"Are they together?"

"They must be together. My Little Dragon Maiden..."

"Director Lin Nan! If it's him, I have no objections."

"Are they necessarily together? Well, it's highly probable..."

"Is she crazy? Dating so young, does she not want to develop her career in the film and television industry anymore?"

"It hurts, Zhao Linger belongs to someone else now..."

Liu Yifei gripped Lin Nan's hand very tightly.

"Xixi, don't be nervous."

After Lin Nan said this, he saw the girl staring at him, "Lin Nan, will you always be this good to me?"

"I will, always."

Lin Nan tightened his grip on Liu Yifei's hand.

The staff was calling them.

"It's our turn."

The three of them walked toward the red carpet.

A large number of domestic media were incredibly excited.

"Director Lin, Yifei, look over here..."

Girls are naturally suited for the red carpet.

Liu Yifei's previous sentimentality vanished instantly; a confident smile appeared on her face, and she held Lin Nan's hand without letting go.

"Look, look at this necklace on Liu Yifei!"

After the *The Hunt* crew walked across the red carpet and entered the awards ceremony venue.

A reporter looked at the photos in their camera and exclaimed.

"What's wrong?"

"This pink crystal necklace from Tiffany is the one Director Lin bought at the Bazaar Charity Night last year!"

"This, does this count as solid proof?"

At the awards ceremony venue.

The seats for *The Hunt* were quite good, in the middle of the third row.

Liu Yifei sat down next to Lin Nan, and Matt Damon sat on Lin Nan's right side.

"Lin, is this your first time going public?"

"Actually, quite a few friends know, but in front of the media, this is the first time."

Lin Nan replied with a smile; he could feel his left hand being squeezed tightly by Liu Yifei, as the girl was also very nervous.

"I heard from Tang Mu that you two were classmates?"

"Yes, we were classmates, but eventually I transferred to study directing."

"Coming out of campus together, that's very enviable." Matt Damon reminisced about his own first love.

At this moment, the jury took the stage.

Li An, as the president of this year's Venice Film Festival, began to speak.

"Welcome to all the filmmakers from around the world who have gathered in Venice.

After nearly half a month of selection, tonight we will announce the list of winners for this year's Venice Film Festival..."

Everyone perked up; it had begun.

Starting from the non-competition screening section.

Then to the International Film Critics' Week section, the Venice Days section...

"Orizzonti section, Best Documentary Award, Du Haibin, *1428*, congratulations."

Lin Nan and Liu Yifei were the first to applaud; this was a documentary from their home country about last year's great earthquake.

In the distance, Huang Bo, Yan Ni, Mei Ting, Guan Hu, Gu Tianle, and others also wore solemn expressions and gave their applause.

Out of the four films shortlisted for the Orizzonti section, only this one won an award.

It reached the final competition section.

"Lin Nan?" Liu Yifei called out softly.

"Relax..."

"Best Screenplay Award: *Life During Wartime*, congratulations!"

"Volpi Cup for Best Actress, the winner: *The Double Hour*, Kseniya..."

Now it was Matt Damon's turn; Lin Nan clearly felt his body go rigid.

If Matt won Best Actor, then the worst-case scenario for Lin Nan later would be going home empty-handed.

If Matt didn't win Best Actor, then Lin Nan would likely win one of the two major awards...

"Volpi Cup for Best Actor, the winner..."