The Columbia Film Festival could be said to be the most prestigious award in all of Terra, perhaps without exception. Even Victoria's Golden Lion Award couldn't compare to the prestige of the Columbia Film Festival's little golden man statuette.
Night fell, and the stars hung high in the sky.
The entrance to the largest and most famous theater in the Columbian capital, and indeed all of Terra, had been lavishly decorated by the staff working through the night. Countless reporters from all over the world, like fish swimming upstream, constantly pushed forward, trying to find the best angle to capture this annual cinematic spectacle.
"I'm so nervous, I can't believe I'm actually going to walk the red carpet!!"
Franka was a nervous wreck in the car. For someone who had once been passionate about becoming a star but lacked the talent, walking the red carpet was nothing short of a pipe dream.
Liskarm silently retorted from the side, "Haven't you walked it before? More than once, even."
"That was in my dreams!!"
Franka pouted.
According to the rules,
not everyone had the opportunity to walk the red carpet. Only the directors, screenwriters, and actors from the works nominated for this year's Columbia Film Festival could walk this carpet. And every year on the red carpet, many actresses, in order to attract the flashes of the surrounding reporters' cameras, would dress in all sorts of bizarre outfits, constantly showing off their figures and looks.
As a shut-in, Dusk thoroughly disliked this kind of occasion.
To be honest,
she didn't want to come. According to Dusk, the film festival was being live-streamed, so she could just watch the broadcast. But she was forcibly dragged here by Nian, who even made her wear a celadon qipao that she had personally chosen for her.
"Boring... I want to go back and play games... I still haven't beaten Elden Ring..."
Dusk wasn't very interested. Even in the car, she was looking up boss cheese-strat guides on her phone.
Previously, Dusk had liked movies because she felt they were works of art that combined form and spirit, on a much higher level than paintings. But over the past month, Dusk had been introduced to video games... especially some award-winning AAA titles. Suddenly, her interest in movies wasn't as high as it had been back in Yan.
Tsk...
Boring.
Video games are the modern art of today. Of course, reskinned cash-grab browser games and heavily monetized gacha games don't count... That was what Dusk believed.
When the custom-made stretch limousine came to a precise stop in the middle of the red carpet,
the media, who had been photographing various superstars, all shifted their gazes. Even many of the actresses looked on in confusion at this extended car. It had no license plate, and its design was somewhat unique, seemingly not a Victorian Rolls-Royce. Typically, those attending the red carpet event would almost exclusively arrive in specially customized Rolls-Royces, with prices starting in the tens of millions, something ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of.
And this unlicensed stretch car, among the sea of Rolls-Royces, was incredibly eye-catching.
The car door opened.
Many reporters immediately aimed their flashes at the door.
Then,
a stunningly beautiful woman slowly stepped out of the car.
Nian was dressed in a pure white, elegant qipao that fit her graceful figure perfectly, accentuating her curves to the fullest. The edges of the qipao were adorned with a crimson dragon pattern, showcasing Nian's identity. From beneath the high slit of the qipao, a pair of fair, jade-like legs slowly emerged, as if capable of stealing one's soul. Many of the Columbian and Victorian reporters present were left speechless. They knew of a Yanese garment called the qipao.
However, Yan had never had much interaction with the West, so even if they knew of it, they had never seen it in person. They never expected the qipao to be so beautiful.
Many reporters who had been photographing the superstar in front of them immediately turned their lenses towards Nian. *Click, click, click*—the flashes went off incessantly. Even though it was night, the area was as bright as day under the flashing lights. Nian, with her outgoing personality, thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being the center of attention. With a flick of her wrist, she opened a fan in her hand, covering half of her face, and then took the hand of her sister, Dusk, who was beside her.
Dusk's qipao was equally stunning.
Compared to Nian's simple elegance, Dusk's qipao was more magnificent. A golden dragon coiled around the celadon dress. On the celadon fabric, there was a faint landscape painting, resembling a Yanese ink wash scroll.
The satin was smooth and delicate, perfectly fitting Dusk's figure.
Clad in azure, her ancient aura permeated the air.
The primordial feeling of a deity, like ink dropping onto rice paper, instantly spread throughout the entire red carpet area.
Perfect!!
Absolutely perfect!!
The two sisters, Nian and Dusk, holding hands, left nearly all the reporters and even the male stars rooted to the spot. In their eyes, these two didn't seem like people, but rather figures who had stepped out of a painting, or celestial beings who had descended from the heavens, untainted by the mortal world, making it impossible to look away.
However,
many of the popular actresses were getting annoyed.
Dusk really disliked this kind of occasion.
Being bathed in the spotlight was the greatest form of torture for a shut-in.
As for Lucas Reeve and the others getting out of the car, few paid them any attention, at most taking a few token photos before being done with it.
After all, Nian and Dusk were far too dazzling.
Lucas Reeve didn't mind.
But Franka had a long face.
"Waaah!! My red carpet moment!! The one and only red carpet I might ever walk in my life is gone just like that....."
Due to Nian and Dusk's unexpected appearance,
they naturally attracted the attention of many powerful figures and investors outside.
To outsiders, it seemed that those walking the red carpet at this film festival were the most glamorous. In reality, the powerful investors sitting inside were the ones who truly held the power. Among them, many entertainment company bosses, upon seeing Nian and Dusk, were already planning how to poach these two unknown sister-actresses. Then, hehehe...
What are stars...
To these corporations, stars were disposable. They could make anyone famous if they wanted to.
After sending their subordinates to investigate the background of this beautiful pair of sisters, the result was a big fat zero. They couldn't find anything. This left these powerful figures somewhat puzzled. Just as they were about to investigate those around them, they happened to see Jessica.
These big shots all thought this young lady looked a bit familiar, as if they had seen her somewhere before, but they couldn't place her among the directors and actors they knew.
However,
when they noticed the unlicensed stretch limousine, these powerful figures seemed to remember something.
Raythean...
Fuck!!
The powerful investors who had been thinking about how to poach the sisters just a second ago now looked like mice that had seen a cat. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads, and they couldn't help but slap themselves, thankful that they had been clever enough to hesitate for a moment. Otherwise, they could have basically considered themselves finished.
Everyone walked into the grand theater together and, according to the seating on their invitations, sat down in the front row.
"Dusk, Dusk! Look~ Over there is the director of your favorite movie."
Nian pulled Dusk's hand and said excitedly.
"Oh..."
However, Dusk's reply was extremely cold.
"Just a mere mortal. Even if he has made some decent movies, it doesn't change the fact that he is a mortal. Uninteresting... On some things, I think that idiot Second Brother is right. Nian, you're too much like a human, placing yourself on the same level as them. How ridiculous."
However,
after saying this, Dusk couldn't help but sneak a few glances over at the famous old director, afraid Nian would notice.
With the host's appearance on stage,
the annual spectacle of the film world was about to begin.
One by one, the awards were presented. Nian waited in anticipation for her name to be called to go up and receive her award, while Dusk was dozing off from drowsiness, even boredly taking out her phone to play a pay-to-win gacha mobile game she despised.
"Strange? Why didn't I win the Best Original Screenplay award?"
Nian asked Lucas Reeve beside her, puzzled.
"I wasn't even among the five nominees..."
Nian clicked her tongue.
"Could there be some foul play? I felt like I should have won the Best Screenplay award. I've heard that some super-large companies will forcibly remove works that could have won to let the works they want to promote win instead."
"Did I run into some conspiracy? After all, I don't have any background."
Nian tugged on Lucas Reeve's sleeve.
"I feel like after the awards ceremony, I need to go demand an explanation from the organizers. Isn't this just blatant bullying?"
Dusk scoffed in disdain.
"Give it a rest, Nian. You think that movie of yours could win the Best Screenplay award?"
Before coming, Dusk had watched Nian's movie. Overall, it was okay, a bit better than her previous terrible works, but to summarize: it was still bad.
"It's coming up later,"
Lucas Reeve said in a low voice.
Then, he turned his head and asked Jessica in a whisper.
"Jessica, what award did you arrange for Nian?"
Jessica shook her head. "I don't know either. I just told the organizers to arrange one for her randomly. It should be coming up soon."
Just as Nian was waiting anxiously,
the host on stage slowly said,
"And now, for the Best New Director Award!"
As soon as these words were spoken, almost everyone in the audience started whispering to each other.
"Has there ever been a New Director Award before?"
"I don't think so."
"Was it added this year? How come there was no news about it?"
"The winner of the Columbia Film Festival's Best New Director Award is!!!"
As the big screen scrolled,
a beautiful figure appeared on the screen.
"The renowned director from Yan, Miss Nian!!!"
"Phew...."
Lucas Reeve and Jessica both let out a sigh of relief.
Nian, on the other hand, walked onto the stage excitedly to receive her award.
Meanwhile, Dusk leaned over slightly and asked Lucas Reeve.
"Mr. Reeve, how much money did Miss Jessica spend to buy this award for my sister? I don't remember the Columbia Film Festival ever having a 'New Director' award."
"Sigh..."
Lucas Reeve whispered, "Just let your sister be happy. See through it, but don't say it. Miss Dusk, after your sister receives her award, with her personality, she will definitely show it off to you. You should... uh... just give her a few token compliments to make her happy."
Dusk had already anticipated this and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Reeve, I don't like to lie. As a god, I will not act against my conscience. If it's good, it's good. If it's not, it's not. That is my way..."
"After this is over, I'll give you a level 160 no-level-requirement weapon, the kind with a level 20 gem socketed."
"....."
Dusk fell silent for a moment.
"I think... my sister's movie is actually pretty good. It's a huge improvement over her previous films. Her future is promising."
Lucas Reeve gave Dusk a thumbs-up.
"Ahem-hem~"
After receiving the little golden man, Nian took the microphone from the host and began to deliver the speech she had prepared for a long time.
"Could I have your attention, please."
"?????"
A million question marks appeared over Lucas Reeve's and Jessica's heads.
That was a bold opening.
Lucas Reeve suddenly remembered Nian boasting that her speech would definitely silence the entire audience.
He hadn't expected...
Indeed.
A thunderclap to start things off.
"Ahem.... Good evening, everyone. I am Nian, a renowned director from both Yan and Lungmen. The theme of my speech today is... persistence."
"???"
Dusk's eyes widened. She turned to Lucas Reeve to complain.
"Mr. Reeve, have you read my sister's speech?"
"No, I haven't."
*Hiss...*
That opening made Lucas Reeve think that what Nian had prepared wasn't an acceptance speech, but... a lecture!!
It wasn't just Lucas Reeve and Dusk who were baffled.
Everyone in the entire grand theater was frozen in place. The massive theater was utterly petrified.
They had never in their lives seen an acceptance speech start like this...
"I have been immersed in the film industry for over a hundred years. In these hundred-plus years, I have filmed at least a thousand movies."
"....."
The entire venue was completely silent. Even the host's jaw dropped.
*Over a hundred years?*
*Over a hundred years?*
*Little girl, how old are you?*
The host knew something might have gone wrong and immediately asked her superior through her earpiece. However, she received an affirmative reply from her superior, telling her to let Nian finish, no matter how long she spoke, even if it was an hour.
"I have a younger sister named Dusk. Every time I finish filming a movie, she will mock me, saying, 'What kind of garbage did you film? Are you trying to insult the art of cinema?' I know I'm bad at it, so I never refuted her. That's why I studied hard for over a hundred years!! And today, I have achieved this. I have succeeded....."
At this moment,
Dusk, in the audience, was gritting her teeth in anger. She was already prepared to summon her divine weapon and fight Nian.
"I have a second brother. Among us twelve siblings, my second brother is universally acknowledged as an idiot. But there's one thing I admire about my second brother: he knows how to persist. My second brother is a terrible Go player. Two hundred years ago, he made a bet with someone that if he could win just one game of Go against him, he would obediently stay put and not go out. So, he lost continuously for over a hundred years, right up until now. It's been one hundred and eighty years, and now, his skill in Go can be described as invincible. So, I'm using this analogy to advise all of you."
"Only with persistence can one succeed."
"You only need to persist for one hundred and eighty years, and you will become the strongest."
"Is one hundred and eighty years a long time? It is indeed a bit long."
"However, as long as you can endure these one hundred and eighty years, even the most idiotic person can become number one in the world!"
Under Nian's eloquent and unending speech,
the grand Columbia theater seemed to have transformed into the Columbia library. It was completely silent; even the sound engineer had stopped playing music.
Is there a possibility that...
ordinary people can't even live to be one hundred and eighty years old...
Nian's 'acceptance speech' lasted for a full forty-five minutes, exactly the length of a class period. Lucas Reeve even suspected she was deliberately controlling the time.
Finally,
Nian finished her speech and happily walked off the stage.
After a brief silence of a few seconds, thunderous applause erupted.
Many people were crying with joy.
*She's finally done!!!*
"So, Dusk, what did you think of your sister's speech?"
Nian looked hopefully at her younger sister. However, Dusk just rolled her eyes at her and let out a string of profanities.
"Dumbass."
She had learned these words from her video games.
Lucas Reeve yawned out of boredom and asked Jessica.
"Are there still two more? I want to go to sleep..."
Jessica, also sleepy, nodded.
"There should be two more..."
The rest of the award presentations finally returned to normal, with each person keeping their acceptance speech within three minutes. Then, when the next award was announced, the host's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"Next up is the [Best Special Effects Award]."
As the screen scrolled, Nian's photo was frozen on it.
"Ahhhh!!"
A chorus of wails filled the grand theater, but Nian mistook it for a welcome and happily rushed onto the stage.
Fortunately, her second speech wasn't forty-five minutes long; she only spoke for ten minutes.
After that award was presented, it was time for the final award.
[Best Artistic Plot Award]
The second award no one had ever heard of made everyone freeze for a moment. Then, when Nian's photo appeared on the big screen, many people wailed again, instinctively leaning back in their chairs to prepare for a nap.
Finally,
the Columbia Film Festival, originally scheduled to end in two and a half hours, had been stretched to nearly four hours thanks to Nian's efforts. When Nian walked out of the theater clutching her three little golden men, she was ecstatic, constantly showing them off to Dusk. Every time Dusk wanted to retort, she would glance at Lucas Reeve. Under Lucas Reeve's expectant gaze, Dusk forced herself to suppress her discomfort and choked out a single phrase.
"It was okay..."
Originally, Jessica had also invited Nine-Colored Deer to come along.
But Nine-Colored Deer had little interest in such occasions and chose to stay at home to help take care of the kids. After all, the number of children in Jessica's house was growing. Over the past month, Nine-Colored Deer had voluntarily taken on the duties of babysitting and cooking. Having a god cook... Jessica had initially disagreed, but Miss Nine-Colored Deer insisted, so Jessica had no choice.
"Thanks a lot, Mr. Reeve. You truly are my best friend and confidant!! I look forward to our next collaboration."
Nian's gratitude towards Lucas Reeve was from the bottom of her heart. She wasn't stupid; of course, she knew that she had won the awards thanks to Lucas Reeve's and Jessica's efforts. And, of course, her own genius-level talent for filmmaking.
+80000
A large amount of Prayer Power flowed into Lucas Reeve's soul.
"It was nothing. We're friends, after all."
Lucas Reeve smiled faintly.
Originally, Lucas Reeve thought that Dusk would return to Yan after the film festival.
Unexpectedly, Dusk had no intention of returning to Yan at all.
After the film festival ended,
Dusk returned to her original state, spending her days holed up in her room playing games. Nian, on the other hand, was planning her second movie and searching for her sister Ling, all while scheming.
Meanwhile, things back in Yan were in a state of chaos.
Two Sui Beast fragments had left Yan at the same time!!
And...
they even gave a speech at a film festival!!
There was another very crucial point.
Lucas Reeve was about to reach 1.8 million Prayer Power.