CHAPTER 776: CHAPTER 766: BEST NEWCOMER AWARD

"Jiang, it’s time to go."

The staff member stepped forward to remind her, and Jiang Lingxi handed her phone to Lu Zhengzheng, stood up, and walked towards the red carpet ahead.

Zhou Lingyue, who was in front, had just slowly made her way to the middle of the red carpet. As she was about to turn back with a smile at the steps, she saw the cameras that had been focused on her shift backward, and a chorus of calls came from behind.

"Jiang Lingxi, look here!"

"Jiang Lingxi!"

"Your Majesty!"

The smile that had just curved on her lips suddenly froze.

Couldn’t she have come out a bit later?

Though she was reluctant to admit it, with the hot airing of "The Empress of Yuan Zhao," the hottest actress this year was indeed the one behind her.

Seeing that the cameras on her side were about to leave for good, Zhou Lingyue forcibly turned her half-turned face back, lifted the hem of her dress, and quickly walked to the signing area, where she took the pen handed to her by the emcee with a hint of frustration and heavily signed her name on the board.

She had just posed a few times when a male and a female host, wearing professional smiles, stepped forward for the routine interview.

Even though Zhou Lingyue was displeased, facing the cameras in the audience, she could only smile and answer a few questions before being escorted to take her seat.

Looking up, she saw on the big screen to the upper right, Jiang Lingxi stopping frequently to be photographed and interviewed by the media lined up on both sides of the red carpet, moving with a snail’s pace.

She took one glance and quickly looked away, then, unable to resist, pursed her lips and glanced back.

At the same time, she cursed inwardly: Reality!

Wasn’t it just because she didn’t have a hit show last year? But that was because she ventured into the film industry and couldn’t focus on television. Speaking of past achievements, how could Jiang Lingxi compare with her? The only thing she could boast about was this "The Empress of Yuan Zhao," truly opportunistic!

Finally breaking through the siege to reach the signing area, even Jiang Lingxi couldn’t help but breathe a small sigh of relief. After signing her name, she was about to take her seat.

Just as she lifted her foot, the host called out, "Jiang Lingxi, please wait a moment."

Zhou Lingyue, watching the screen, saw the hosts’ smiles beaming warmly at Jiang Lingxi, more warmly than they had been with her, and tightened her grip on the mineral water bottle.

Such sycophants!

Noticing the cameras scanning to her side again, she quickly flashed a smile.

Under the guidance of the emcee, Jiang Lingxi walked to her assigned seat.

In the third row, near the aisle.

The first and second rows were still empty, and even the third row, at a glance, had fewer than five people.

"Lingxi!"

Just as Jiang Lingxi was adjusting the somewhat cumbersome hem of her gown, she heard a voice and looked back to see Pei Xinyuan in the fifth row waving at her. She raised her hand in acknowledgment.

Although Lu Zhengzheng and the others had entered the venue, they had to wait in the back corner.

Watching the big screen as Jiang Lingxi took her seat, she tiptoed quietly and quickly avoided the cameras to hand over the phone, "Lingxi, your phone."

Jiang Lingxi took the phone.

Although the seats behind her were nearly full, the first two rows were still empty, so she shouldn’t just sit idly by.

Once Lu Zhengzheng returned to her original spot, she opened her phone and clicked on a pinned avatar.

[Where are you sitting?]

At this moment, the lights were not fully turned on in the venue, so it was a bit dark. She had scanned the area earlier but hadn’t spotted Shen Yunqing.

After sending the message, it took nearly a minute to get a reply.

[In the backstage.]

[What are you doing backstage?]

[Ran into Shao Jingheng when I came in.]

Jiang Lingxi immediately thought of the name she saw pasted on the seats in the first row as she passed by just now.

A seat near the center seemed to have this name on it.

She quickly searched for it on her phone.

The search results came up quickly.

Shao Jingheng, Honorary Vice President of the Global Film Association, President of the Hua State Film Association, Founder of Jingheng Media...

A string of titles followed.

No wonder they could sit right in the middle of the first row.

Backstage.

Shao Jingheng patiently waited for the young man in front of him to finish messaging before he smiled and spoke, "It seems Miss Jiang has already entered and didn’t see you, so I won’t keep you any longer."

Shen Yunqing stood up accordingly, "We’ll catch up some other time."

Upon receiving the next message from Shen Yunqing, Jiang Lingxi glanced at the special guest section to the left front.

Her gaze fell on a figure just seating himself.

[I see you. How do you know Shao Jingheng?]

[Some work dealings. Also, he’s Shao Yifeng’s father.]

Jiang Lingxi: "..."

She reopened the search results she had just closed, skimmed past the string of titles, and scrolled further.

Sure enough, under the children section, she saw the name ’Shao Yifeng.’

Turns out the son inherited his father’s business!

Shen Yunqing: [He’s also one of the award presenters tonight.]

He actually had a hunch.

Given Shao Jingheng’s status, if he were presenting an award, it would likely be a significant one.

Possibly one given to his own Majesty.

The two of them continued to exchange messages from less than ten meters apart without realizing that the first two rows had gradually filled up.

The first row naturally seated industry bigwigs like Shao Jingheng and several renowned veteran artists.

The second row had some prominent directors and past award-winning Best Actors and Actresses.

The third row, where Jiang Lingxi sat, and the fourth row were filled with currently popular stars and top trending personalities.

Such arrangements were customary, which is why everyone in the industry was fixated on climbing to the top of the pyramid.

Otherwise, those with little fame would have to sit in the later rows, where there were few cameras and the area was crowded and noisy.

At 6:30, the Mulan Award Ceremony began punctually.

After the opening performance, it was time for the awards segment.

As per tradition, the smaller awards were given out first, gradually leading up to the more prestigious ones.

The Best Actor and Actress awards were saved for last, alternating with each other.

Last year, they concluded with the Best Actor award, so this year it would be the Best Actress.

This meant that while others could leave early if needed, those nominated for Best Actress were required to stay until the end.

After two art and editing awards were presented in succession, the first big moment finally arrived.

The host announced from the stage, "Now, we will present this year’s Best Newcomer Award. The nominees are... Pei Xinyuan from ’The Empress of Yuan Zhao.’ Please watch the exciting clips on the big screen."

All the nominees were quite talented, and Pei Xinyuan maintained a calm smile on the surface, but beneath the table, her hands were unknowingly wrinkling her gown.

Watching the clips of the others made her heartbeat so loud it felt like it could break her eardrums, and when it was her turn on the big screen, her heart practically jumped into her throat.

"Now, to present the Mulan Best Newcomer Award, we invite the renowned veteran artist, Ms. Li Xuejun."

The elderly lady, dressed in a graceful and subtly patterned qipao, walked onto the stage, accepted the red envelope handed to her by the host, and after a quick glance, said, "Well, well, well, I announce that the winner of this year’s Best Newcomer Award is Pei Xinyuan, who played Qing Yuan in ’The Empress of Yuan Zhao.’ Congratulations to her!"

Jiang Lingxi was the first to clap.

Pei Xinyuan took a deep breath, stood up, and paused as she reached Jiang Lingxi’s side, "Your Majesty, I want a hug!"

Let her be willful for once!