Chapter 516: Auntie Pot and Old Jiao

After the seventh episode of *Reset* finished updating, its popularity rose by another notch.

From the sixth episode onward, the entire story entered Luo Mo's "Group Portrait Flex Mode."

The passengers on the bus were no longer just background boards for the bus explosion, no longer just a death toll, and no longer just lives that the male and female leads needed to save like they were completing a mission.

They began to become vivid, to become three-dimensional.

The more you are made to feel and observe their lives, the more you will want to get an answer and find the real culprit!

At the same time, the entire drama does not just follow a Suspense route, creating suspense and playing with the relatively trendy "Loop" mode.

It also involves complex human nature, various social problems existing in society, people from different social strata... and so much more.

A topic surged to the number one spot on the Hot Search that night: "Reset, Group Portrait."

From the *Paladin* series, to *Nirvana in Fire*, and now to *Reset*.

In terms of group portraits, Luo Mo has always done an excellent job.

This is also why his dramas are very popular, and why these Actors can become popular along with them!

An audience member like Xiao Cai has already started looking forward to the "Anti-Bomb CP" continuing to investigate the suspicions of the other passengers on the bus.

Xiao Cai recalled for a moment and thought to herself: "That middle-aged woman's bag is full of Medicine, and the muscular man has nowhere to carry a bomb."

"In other words, what remains is the other middle-aged man's suitcase, and the plastic bag at the feet of another auntie."

"The plastic bag is easy to check, but this suitcase... how is one supposed to check it!" Xiao Cai felt the difficulty had escalated.

As for the drama review she uploaded today, it unfolded around the two points of human nature and group portraits.

In the review, she focused on writing about the uncle who had been released from prison, the uncle who had made mistakes in the past, and his words while handing out pieces of watermelon to everyone on the bus after his watermelon had been trampled to mush:

"Although this watermelon is broken, the flesh inside is clean."

—Brilliant!

…….

…….

The next day, *Reset* would air another episode in the evening.

Yet Luo Mo, because of a matter unrelated to *Reset*, surged to the number one spot on the Hot Search.

Good grief, he pushed the Hot Search for his own drama down to second place...

The reason is simple: the "White Rose Award" announced the list of tentatively invited guests, and Luo Mo was prominently included.

That he received an invitation was a certainty.

If he hadn't received an invitation, netizens would be Afraid they would curse the "White Rose Award" into oblivion; if this isn't a dark operation, what is?

But the problem is, Luo Mo doesn't act like a normal person!

After he reposted the "White Rose Award" Weibo, he added the caption: "Is there anyone who still dares to set a Flag this year?"

Last year, the bloody lessons of the silly netizens were still fresh in their minds.

Who could have imagined that everyone was just talking big, and he actually ended up taking all the awards!

The comments under Luo Mo's personal Weibo were divided into two camps.

One camp was cursing him, while the other was frantically clamoring.

The former mostly said: "Yo, you think you're amazing just because you won once!"

The latter mostly said: "I was wrong, I dare to do it again this time!"

However, it can be seen from this witty Weibo post by Luo Mo that he is very confident about the performance of *Nirvana in Fire* at the "White Rose" Ceremony.

In reality, the entire internet and the industry also feel that *Nirvana in Fire* will dominate this time.

If nothing unexpected happens, this drama will take home multiple major awards.

After all, it is too explosive, its word-of-mouth is too good, and its overseas sales performance is also impressive, several times higher than most domestic hits.

If the "Best Television Series" award is not given to *Nirvana in Fire*, it would truly be unjustifiable.

But don't forget, among the three major television awards, what also catches people's attention is who will ultimately win "Best Actor" and "Best Actress."

These two awards consider more than just the popularity and word-of-mouth of the drama. These data points are indeed reference factors, but they are not everything.

Luo Mo's acting in *Nirvana in Fire* is there for all to see.

Compared to the *Paladin* period, his progress is truly too great.

In a drama crowded with veteran actors, not making people feel a sense of disharmony is already considered very strong.

Not to mention that he also left behind many famous scenes of intense acting.

Therefore, many people believe that even if Luo Mo cannot win "Best Actor" this time, he can at least get a "Best Actor" Nomination.

You have to know, with the prestige of the "White Rose," being able to get a Nomination is already an extraordinary honor.

Some netizens even specifically tallied how many Actors had received a White Rose Best Actor Nomination before the age of 30.

The final statistical result was that there were only six people.

The "White Rose Ceremony" has been held since '86; at first, it was once every two years, and it wasn't until '04 that it changed to once a year.

It has been held for so many editions to date, but those who are "Young and Promising" are, after all, a minority.

As for male Actors who have received the White Rose "Best Actor" honor before the age of thirty, it is just like the "Magnolia Award" on Earth: it is... zero!

—None!

The White Rose Ceremony will be held next Saturday.

In a few more days, the internal jury will likely have a result.

………

………

As night fell, the eighth episode of *Reset* updated on Penguin Video right on time.

Drama Critic Xiao Cai watched it at the first opportunity.

Like the previous episode, this episode did not jump directly into the main content at the start, but instead began by playing the story of a character on another bus—Lao Jiao.

A migrant worker at the bottom of society, living in poverty.

Lao Jiao is that person who boarded the bus with a suitcase.

His daughter is about to take the high school entrance exam, and he must find a way to earn her tuition and living expenses.

To save money, he lives in someone else's garage.

No windows, no water.

At this very moment, Lao Jiao's past is being shown; he is eating outside a small restaurant with his fellow workers.

"Old Jiang, how much money did you get for that 'Righteousness Award' last time?" Lao Jiao asked.

"Twenty thousand."

Upon hearing this, Lao Jiao's expression changed slightly.

Twenty thousand, that's so much.

Watching this scene, Xiao Cai projected herself into the role of a "Prophet."

"Righteousness Award? I feel like they wouldn't just mention it casually; this must be foreshadowing!" she guessed.

The scene shifted, and Lao Jiao returned to the garage where he lived.

But the landlord wanted to kick him out and wouldn't let him stay there anymore.

Because the neighborhood committee issued a notice that all garages in the residential area are no longer allowed to be rented out, and people are coming today to inspect all the garages.

This is actually also a piece of foreshadowing that can be connected to the subsequent content.

The reason it suddenly became strict is because there was a fire a few days ago.

This allows the logic of the subsequent Drama to become smooth and natural.

The camera swept into the garage, showing everyone Lao Jiao's living environment.

On the table sat white steamed buns and a large bucket of water.

A netizen joked in the bullet comments: "This water didn't pay for a sponsorship, the label was even ripped off, haha!"

Seeing this, Xiao Cai couldn't help but retort: "What are you talking about? It Is Clearly an empty bottle being reused; such a large bucket of water is definitely not new water bought from a supermarket! Such detail, what do you know!"

Watching Lao Jiao's distress in the Drama, and seeing the kindness of the sleazy-looking landlord, many viewers felt a bit uncomfortable.

In this garage without even a window or water, as Lao Jiao tidied up his tattered luggage, the camera focused on the wall.

On it were all his daughter's certificates of merit.

They were sent by his daughter to her father who was working away from home.

Perhaps for a bottom-tier laborer working hard away from home, these certificates are the greatest pillar in his heart when he returns to the garage every night, lying on the bed exhausted!

After this content finished playing, the subtitle "Episode 8" appeared, signifying that the main content connecting to the previous episode was about to begin.

Only this time, the symbol representing the infinite Loop had turned red!

A glaring red!

"Huh? Why did it change?"

"It definitely wasn't red before!"

The color was too striking; it was hard for Xiao Cai not to notice.

As the main content began, Xiao Heyun and Li Shiqing on the bus discussed whether to investigate the aunt with the plastic bag by the window first, or Lao Jiao with the suitcase.

Undoubtedly, the suitcase would definitely be harder to open.

They decided to check the plastic bag first.

Li Shiqing was responsible for investigating the aunt with the plastic bag sitting by the window; she pretended that her period had started to borrow a sanitary pad from her, and then took the opportunity to see what was in the plastic bag.

This aunt, who had always seemed a bit cold, said directly: "No."

"But I borrowed it because I saw you had one in your bag, you..." Li Shiqing reached out and opened the plastic bag, only to find a pressure cooker inside.

—"Pot Aunt."

Li Shiqing and Xiao Heyun felt it was unlikely to be this aunt, which meant the bomb must be in Lao Jiao's suitcase!

Xiao Heyun suggested that when the bus reached the next stop, they should just throw the suitcase out!

"Haha, gradually becoming rampant in the infinite Loop!" Xiao Cai couldn't help but comment.

"They even dare to throw someone else's suitcase!"

The bus arrived at Yanjiang East Road Station, and the two waited by the back door, ready to turn into bandits at any moment to snatch the suitcase.

Just before the bus doors opened, Lao Jiao suddenly stood up and gently tugged on the strap of Li Shiqing's small backpack.

Xiao Heyun was startled and immediately protected her.

Li Shiqing was also scared and clutched the hem of Xiao Heyun's shirt.

Lao Jiao stood up, placed his suitcase on the floor, and actually... voluntarily opened the suitcase!

This suitcase was tattered, and after opening it, the top layer was carefully arranged certificates of merit.

Amidst the incredibly tense soundtrack, Lao Jiao rummaged through the suitcase, finally pulled out a sanitary pad, and without a word, stuffed it into Li Shiqing's hand.

It was obvious that he had heard the conversation between Li Shiqing and Pot Aunt, heard her asking Pot Aunt for a sanitary pad, which led to this act of Kindness.

Seeing this, Xiao Cai didn't know why, but she felt it was quite moving.

"He is clearly in such difficulty, life is so tiring every day, and he's likely homeless right now, sigh."

"However, Lao Jiao is no longer a suspect."

This suitcase, which was the hardest to open, had opened itself just like that.

It was tattered, yet clean and innocent.

(PS: Second update, asking for monthly votes!)

(End of chapter)