Chapter 3: The World of Vanity

Xie Minglang was taken aback and quickly thought about whether he should take the opportunity to slip away before Yan Cai spoke up.

At this point, Xie Minglang actually sat down and casually took the beer that was handed to him, waiting for Yan Cai to speak.

Xie Minglang could not help but feel an itch in his hands

After speaking, he patted the empty half of the chair beside him, indicating for him to sit down

To be precise, it is seeing his photograph

At that moment, the man suddenly stood up, took out his phone, glanced at it, and decisively ended the call. Then, without any warning, he forcefully threw it away.

Thank you for not quietly calling the gossip reporters and bribing me to keep tonight's conversation a secret the moment I saw you

Yan Cai instead laughed even more joyfully and reached out to pat his shoulder, saying, "No, you are absolutely right. Next time there is an opportunity, I will give you two more tickets to the show."

Xie Minglang, who was originally feeling drowsy, suddenly perked up upon hearing this name. He first told himself that it couldn't be such a coincidence, but the impression that face left on him was too profound. Driven by half professional habit and half curiosity, he stood up to take a look. The model in the magazine was wearing a dark coat, standing in the vast wilderness, captured in profile, yet it was enough for him to recognize her.

Finally, one afternoon, the team leader Meng Yu showed compassion and said in front of other colleagues: "Minglang, you are the only one who hasn't had a day off these days, so I will give you a night off tonight"

The sea at night is black, the tide rises, accompanied by a damp cold wind that sweeps over, and there is a faint taste of brine in the air. Xie Minglang feels a bit cold and begins to drink heavily. As he drinks, he suddenly chokes for no apparent reason, and while coughing in pain, he slightly turns his head and is startled to realize that there is another person sitting on a nearby bench, just one meter away.

This relaxed atmosphere lasted only for a moment, interrupted by Ge Huai, who rushed in with a pale face. He was still wearing a formal evening suit, but his bow tie was clenched in his hand, and he was sweating profusely. Yan Cai caught sight of him, her expression also darkening; she turned her face away, pretending not to see him. Ge Huai did not rush to approach; instead, he first greeted Xie Minglang: "So, Reporter Xie is here as well. Hello."

The other party remained silent, their gaze slowly shifting to Yan Cai, who was sitting still. Xie Minglang understood and said, "I have a report to catch up on tomorrow, so I will head back today. You all take your time chatting."

Xie Minglang shook his head: "No gambling"

Ah, just joining in the fun. It's merely the cost of a meal

Hearing him speak a long string of words without taking a breath, Yan Cai couldn't help but laugh, while Xie Minglang was momentarily taken aback, but upon realizing it, he finally laughed as well

The results will be out within half an hour, and the winner is truly Lu Kai

What are you afraid of

In fact, Xie Minglang felt a bit dizzy and was still carefully considering his words, "I also watched that play, and you performed very well, leaving a deep impression. Perhaps a week of understudy would make the audience remember you even more. As for coming here, it is not a matter of whether or not you can win an award. You should be present; it is just like playing chess or cards, it is the rule.

Yan Cai turned her head, smiled slightly, and her gaze drifted towards the brightly lit cruise ship in the distance. Casually, she said: "Oh, are you referring to that? I slipped away."

... ...

To his surprise, Yan Cai was able to spot him several times among the crowd of reporters. Xie Minglang was contemplating whether he should appropriately express an attitude of "being honored," but then he thought that it was quite unnecessary given how dark it was. From Yan Cai's words, Xie Minglang could tell that he was somewhat intoxicated. After hesitating for a moment, he approached him: "I should take you back. I remember there is a big party for 'Beyond Blue' tonight."

Feifei, you neither crazily demanded an autograph nor rushed to cling to his thigh drooling, I have a newfound respect for you

Ah, this is indeed a novel approach

This sentence does not convey any tone, and a sudden jolt ran through Xie Minglang's heart as he contemplated an excuse, while Yan Cai had already begun to speak for herself: "I have been seeing you quite often these past few days"

If I had known earlier, I would definitely have gone to gamble, instead of sitting here playing cards with you all said Xie Minglang with a smile

The following days continued to be spent in busyness. At the awards ceremony, Xie Minglang did not receive an entry ticket, so he gathered with several other journalists who also lacked entry permits in the hotel, playing cards while watching the live broadcast. As the awards were announced one by one, there was only joy and no sorrow; whether the winners or the losers, everyone smiled brightly, with hugs and kisses in abundance.

Yet he still swallowed his words. The experience of dealing with various individuals over the past few months ultimately saved him. He forced a somewhat stiff smile and said, "I didn't expect to see you here. What a coincidence"

His opponent Wang Tao occasionally glanced at the television and said, "We made a bet on who the best actor and actress of the year will be. Minglang, are you in?"

Is it still clear to you whether you have any insider information? Or do you simply feel that the outcome this time is too obvious, to the point that you are too lazy to guess?

Xie Minglang was well aware of her level of stubbornness, and upon reflection, it was somewhat of a headache. He made a compromise: "How about this? I will take you to greet him and express our thanks, and then you will obediently leave with me, alright?"

This proposal is evidently very tempting. Pan Feifei considered it carefully and asked, "After greeting him, can I still ask for his autograph?"

Pan Feifei sprang up from her seat with a loud "What did you say?" The volume of her voice was so great that it attracted the attention of the waiter, who came over to inquire about the matter.

Although there was a seemingly familiar smile earlier, Xie Minglang was not entirely sure if Yan Cai still remembered him after several months. He walked towards Yan Cai's table with the noticeably unsteady Pan Feifei, feeling somewhat apprehensive. However, to his surprise, it was Yan Cai who greeted him first: "Isn't this Journalist Xie? Are you having a pleasant evening?"

Do not recite the fan scriptures to me. It is getting late, and you have classes tomorrow. Let us leave first

The room erupted as if in an explosion, with everyone pointing fingers at Xie Minglang, certain that he must have some insider information. Otherwise, how could he possibly give up a promising candidate to choose the least conspicuous one among the nominees, Lu Kai? Xie Minglang did not defend himself; he saw on the television Yan Cai standing up with an unchanging smile to shake hands with Lu Kai and congratulate him. What crossed his mind was a phrase he had heard from someone: during the three minutes after the award results are announced, every nominee exhibits an Oscar-worthy performance.

Pan Feifei sighed at the sky, wanting to cry but with no tears, regretting her past decisions, while Xie Minglang smiled happily.

As the award for Best Actress was about to be announced, they urged him to hurry up. The actress he was supporting was just as everyone had guessed, and the crowd began to jeer, saying it was boring and asking who the Best Actor would be. He looked at the screen, just in time to catch a glimpse of Yan Cai's shot, smiling and focused as he gazed ahead. The Best Actress of "Beyond Blue," Xu Yawei, said something to him, and his smile deepened, reflecting in the depths of his eyes. The photographer clearly favored him, as the camera slowly zoomed in, capturing the brilliance radiating from his face, leaving the audience momentarily breathless. He looked at the screen, just in time to catch a glimpse of Yan Cai's shot, smiling and focused as he gazed ahead. The Best Actress of "Beyond Blue," Xu Yawei, said something to him, and his smile deepened, reflecting in the depths of his eyes. The photographer clearly favored him, as the camera slowly zoomed in, capturing the brilliance radiating from his face, leaving the audience momentarily breathless.

There was more than just Yan Cai among those who entered. After he stepped through the door, he first glanced around the restaurant, raising his hand to the only other table of guests besides Xie Minglang, indicating that he seemed to recognize them. Next, his gaze met that of Xie Minglang, who was also looking in his direction, and surprisingly, he smiled and nodded, as a form of greeting, before he and his female companion chose a table in the corner to sit down.

Yan Cai did not speak, her lips curled slightly, and that faint, ambiguous smile suddenly made Xie Minglang, who had been talking non-stop, realize that the person in front of him was not some inexperienced novice, nor a washed-up failure, but Yan Cai. At this thought, Xie Minglang's face instantly flushed, and he no longer knew how to respond, barely maintaining his composure: "I apologize... I drank too much and was talking nonsense..."

The more he laughed, the more Xie Minglang could hear the gritted teeth behind it. Reflecting on that performance from the other day, Xie Minglang vaguely sensed the mood of Yan Cai at this moment— even an outsider like him could guess what the scene would be like if a theater review were to come out next week

The name lingered on the tip of his tongue, yet he suppressed it. Noticing the sound, Yan Cai instinctively turned around, slightly squinting his eyes. He clearly saw Xie Minglang's face, slightly blurred under the same dim light. He observed the latter approaching unsteadily, holding a can of beer in his hand, seemingly a bit awkward and at a loss.

After a long time of silence from Yan Cai, under the influence of alcohol, Xie Minglang gradually began to feel drowsy. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Yan Cai finally started to speak

Unfortunately, the tickets for this movie were sold out long ago. Even though Xie Minglang was persistent and waited until the show started, he still did not see anyone come to return tickets. On the way back to the hotel, he bought two bottles of beer and drank them along the way. By the time he regained his senses, he had unknowingly walked quite a distance along the seaside avenue.

At that moment, the sound of a mobile phone ringing came from behind him

He was so busy that he regretted not being able to clone himself, and the film festival was only halfway through. The idea he had secretly envisioned of occasionally taking time to watch a film in the exhibition had completely turned into a daydream. "Silver Screen" had also arranged for reporters to watch the exhibition films and write reviews. When some of them returned after seeing a few films, they were asked for details by the envious Xie Minglang, who received the reply: "They were all quite good, but the air conditioning in the cinema was too strong, and it was too cold to stay awake. "Silver Screen" had also arranged for reporters to watch the exhibition films and write reviews. When some of them returned after seeing a few films, they were asked for details by the envious Xie Minglang, who received the reply: "They were all quite good, but the air conditioning in the cinema was too strong, and it was too cold to stay awake.

Pan Feifei was so excited that her ears turned red, yet she still tried to maintain her composure. When she saw Yan Cai looking at her with a smile, she felt as if her soul had left her body in an instant, and she didn't even dare to meet his gaze. She whispered, "I, I have always really liked your performances. Tonight's show was so moving... I was crying the whole time... It was wonderful, and I am very happy that I could see you act in person..."

Her hand trembled violently as she held the teacup, her face filled with disbelief. In a mysterious tone, she lowered her voice and said, "Was the person who just came in really Yan Cai? He was greeting you."

Did you not bring lipstick? Let him sign on a handkerchief or simply on your skirt

He was so exhausted that he could hardly muster any excitement, returning to the hotel with a heavy head and light feet, and easily collapsing onto the bed, falling asleep almost immediately

Once the waiter walked away, Xie Minglang suppressed a laugh and said: "I knew you would be like this. Look, isn't it worth it for you to treat me to this meal?"

During the upcoming opening ceremony, press conference, and various premieres, Xie Minglang is so busy that he wishes he could split himself in two. It is said that his fellow residents make a tremendous noise every night, yet he hears nothing at all; as soon as his head hits the pillow, he falls into a deep sleep.

Finding it somewhat amusing, Xie Minglang said: "What else could it be, a zombie?"

Left with no choice after being told so, Xie Minglang could only say: "Alright, I will take a guess"

He found the photographer's name, and upon seeing it, he laughed out loud, finally admitting that sometimes this circle is just that small

Many media outlets are optimistic about your nomination this time. I originally intended to watch "Beyond Blue" today, but I arrived too late and all the tickets were sold out

There is a substitute role. Interestingly, when mentioning this, Yan Cai curved his lips, as if he were truly discussing something very interesting. My substitute is Zheng Xiao. This week, Zheng Xiao will play my role and then assign his role to others. I have a very good agent, so he has handled everything for this week very well.

However, after she turned to a certain page, she suddenly gazed at it for a long time: "Yet there are still talents worth cultivating."

Pan Feifei awoke from her deep slumber, and upon observing her expression, it seemed as though she would rather remain in her long dream. In her words, there was a palpable affection: "I never expected that upon getting closer, he would look like this. His name was indeed aptly chosen."

The cough was not completely drowned out by the sound of the waves, yet the person remained indifferent, holding a bottle of wine in one hand, while the other hand flickered with a faint red light, which was from a cigarette

He did not expect to see Wei Ke so soon

Xie Minglang was momentarily at a loss for words. However, he quickly recalled another matter and took the opportunity to change the subject: "Uh, what about the play while you are here for the film festival this week? I mean 'Kiss of the Spider Woman.'"

He deliberately spoke in a slow and leisurely manner, ignoring Pan Feifei's eager gaze. After a long while, she finally realized that Xie Minglang was teasing her, and she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows in anger: "Are you going to say it or not!"

Xie Minglang fulfilled Pan Feifei's wish and politely bid farewell with great tact. Once they exited the restaurant, Pan Feifei suddenly seemed to awaken, tightly grasping Xie Minglang's arm and repeatedly asking, "Is that really Yan Cai?"

He took out the schedule for the film festival and flipped through it, glancing at his watch. He found that the last screening of a certain film he wanted to see was set to start in half an hour. He really did not want to miss this opportunity, so he changed his clothes and headed to the cinema

Xie Minglang shook his head: "I came out empty-handed, where would I have these things? However, if you want a signature, there is still a way..."

This area is quite a distance from the luxury hotel where the stars are staying, resulting in fewer people around, and even the streetlights seem to have dimmed a bit. After realizing he had walked far, Xie Minglang suddenly felt fatigued and quickly walked towards the bench at the end of his line of sight, hoping to catch a moment's breath

Then we wouldn't know if you had bought it in advance

The host announced Xu Yawei's name. The camera immediately shifted to her, meticulously capturing her overwhelming joy, followed by her emotional embrace with the director beside her and Yan Cai on the other side, tears of excitement welling in her eyes

That night, the moon was bright and the stars sparse, a warm breeze brushed against my face, resembling the beginning of many lengthy tales, with calm winds and undisturbed waves

When he woke up again, it was already completely dark. Xie Minglang had a severe headache but could not fall asleep. He got up and took a shower, which only made him feel more awake. Looking out from the hotel window, the film festival had turned this coastal town into a city that never sleeps. Various colorful lights hung from the palm trees, casting strange hues on the large posters suspended on both sides of the road. It seemed that there were still quite a few people gathered on the beach, though he did not know what they were doing; faint sounds of music drifted from the luxurious cruise ship docked in the harbor, and he wondered which party was being hosted, likely filled with glamorous figures and a dazzling array of colors.

Upon seeing this, Xie Minglang said: "I will take the lead."

Although there was no conversation, Xie Minglang suddenly felt a sense of personal space being invaded—of course, if one were to seriously investigate, it remains uncertain who the intruder was. Thus, he opened another can of alcohol and drank it down as quickly as possible, his body warming up rapidly. He then staggered away from his seat, preparing to return home, cover himself with a blanket, and get a good night's sleep, so that he could start working hard again the next day

"Um, this is my sister Feifei, she has always liked you." After saying this, she stepped back calmly and pushed Pan Feifei forward.

"Why isn't it him? Oh, I forgot to tell you, the tickets for tonight were also given by him."

Facing Yan Cai, Xie Minglang always felt an indescribable sense of awkwardness, as if he had stepped into a realm unknown to him, making him feel a chill down his back even at the thought of taking a step closer. This feeling was particularly pronounced at this moment; hearing Yan Cai's voice left him feeling numb on one side, and he instinctively wanted to say: "I don't want to disturb you... I didn't see it in advance..."

Yan Cai smiled and greeted Xie Minglang, saying, "Xie Minglang, it's you."

Before the opening ceremony, Xie Minglang had already arrived at the venue of the film festival with a few colleagues. By this time, several film crews had gradually arrived, engaging in promotional activities and interviews. Some of the more prominent ones even hosted outdoor cocktail parties against the backdrop of the local scenic beauty, exuding an air of determination to succeed. However, Xie Minglang could not enjoy such leisure. He spent each day stationed at the photography area, alongside other photographers who had also arrived early, capturing every smile and frown of the stars as they walked the red carpet.

Yan Cai turned her head to look at Xie Minglang. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, she smiled instead: "So, it seems you haven't watched. How well I performed, and how others did, let's not even mention the judges; I know better than you all."

Ah! How could I forget to sign! Diming, you didn't remind me either

The colleague was still rambling on about some matters concerning Wei Ke, but Xie Minglang did not listen and kept looking at that advertisement photo. Wei Ke himself had an impressive face, and the photographer of this photo clearly understood his charm; the face in the black-and-white photograph was strikingly prominent, making it impossible to look away.

His tone was inevitably somewhat stiff, but the other party did not take it to heart. Yan Cai remained silent, while Ge Huai was slightly better, shaking hands with him, though his mind was elsewhere. Xie Minglang walked far away before he could not help but turn back. The two of them still maintained their positions, one standing and the other sitting, as if neither would show the slightest change or concession.

Since one is a fan, how can one possibly know when to stop? Clearly ... ...

The people around her listened to her words, leaned in to take a glance, and responded, "Oh, Wei Ke. He has good qualifications, the company supports him, and his recent hard photos are quite impressive."

The crew of "Beyond Blue," where Yan Cai is located, arrived the day before the opening ceremony. It has been four years since his last nomination, and this film is a strong contender for awards. Therefore, when Yan Cai appeared, the photographers on both sides erupted in excitement, continuously calling out his name, hoping to capture a photo of him looking directly at the camera. Yan Cai is very familiar with this venue and handles it with ease. What is rare is that he appeared to be in an exceptionally good mood today. He complied with the reporters' requests, such as "Change your pose" and "Take a photo with the director," without any stiffness or impatience, which further delighted the reporters, leading to a flurry of enthusiastic shots.

Although Pan Feifei knew he was just joking, she couldn't help but let her imagination run wild because of this suggestion. In this way, Xie Minglang quickly changed the subject: "I was just saying it casually. As a young girl, you should maintain some modesty; even as a fan, you need to know where to draw the line"

The alcohol dulled his mind, and upon hearing a sound, he unexpectedly turned his body away without any further action. This was no longer a normal response for him when he was sober, yet at least for now, Xie Minglang had not realized the abnormality of his behavior. Instead, he began to concentrate, trying to see the appearance of another person sitting on a chair not far away

It is truly meaningless to create a spectacle for nominations that have no chance of winning

Pan Feifei inexplicably blushed, raising her eyes to ask: "Minglang, did you bring paper and pen..."

After finishing the promotional photoshoot, he stepped aside to accept an interview from a radio reporter. Following a few inconsequential questions, the topic naturally shifted to his confidence in winning an award. Although Yan Cai was a strong contender for the award this time, he did not follow the reporter's lead. Instead, he skillfully deflected the questions, generously praising his colleagues in the production team and the other nominated actors. He concluded the interview with a smiling "Thank you all for your support," before sidestepping the other microphones offered to him and returning to the members of the production team.

Startled by the sudden sound, Xie Minglang was first taken aback, but strangely calmed down. He walked over to Yan Cai and said, "That is not the case. At this time, there are certainly more reporters wandering around than just me, and not all magazines focus solely on film reporting like 'Silver Screen.' Why must you wait for others to come looking for you?"

I will not leave. I will go borrow some paper and a pen shortly, at least I need one signature before I leave

Yan Cai first glanced at his female companion and quickly smiled, saying, "As long as you are happy"

Wei Ke received his change and left with a casual farewell. Xie Minglang stood up to see him off, and upon returning to his seat, he noticed a flush on Pan Feifei's face and asked, "What’s wrong with you?"

The phone fell into the sea, emitting a faint sound, and then everything returned to the rhythmic sound of the tides. However, this action made Xie Minglang feel inexplicably familiar. He frowned and took a couple of steps closer; the distant streetlight cast a faint trace on that person's face, but it was enough for Xie Minglang to recognize him at that moment

Xie Minglang stood up and said, "Hello, Mr. Ge."

This is the disadvantage of a small place; one does not even need a vehicle, just a few steps and one can encounter a crowd of people

Xie Minglang does not have a hobby of reading entertainment magazines; in fact, he only buys one copy of National Geographic each month and does not purchase specialized portrait photography magazines. However, that day, when he went out for lunch with a few colleagues, one of the interns in graphic design, who was of a similar age, after a hearty meal, picked up his favorite fashion magazine and remarked, "There are fewer and fewer flat models with beautiful faces who are not stiff nowadays. Everyone looks so dull; it's really uninteresting."

Xie Minglang quickened his pace slightly, leading Pan Feifei over while smiling: "Thank you for your ticket. My sister and I had a wonderful time today. It was a great show, and your performance was outstanding. In short, thank you very much"

Yancai smiled without changing her expression: "Thank you"

Yan Cai heard this sentence and glanced at him again. For some reason, that day, Fei Fei's words "His name was indeed well chosen" exploded in Xie Minglang's ears. He dared not think too much, but that sentence lingered in his mind. Just as he was feeling troubled, Yan Cai continued, "Everyone is busy tonight; the only reporter who is likely to have some free time is you. Please, have a seat."

However, it is not yet his turn to reminisce with old friends, as the film festival has arrived first. This is the annual grand event in the entertainment industry, and "Silver Screen" is primarily focused on film reporting, fully committing to it in order to secure the best and most extensive coverage.