Chapter 001: The Golden Raspberries Award
Hugo had imagined countless times how he would react when this moment arrived, but the truth was that all his expectations were wrong. He cried uncontrollably like a teenage girl deceived by a melodramatic romance, tears streaming down his face. Hugo knew that his current situation was certainly dire, but he could not control his tears, which flowed down like a torrential downpour.
Hugo tightly held the trophy in his hands, as if embracing the most precious treasure of his life, feeling the speed of his heartbeat against his chest; he reluctantly basked in the spotlight, wanting to deeply engrave the beauty of this moment in his memory, perhaps this was the most wonderful moment of his life so far
Just at that moment, a sharp "slap" echoed, accompanied by a stinging sensation on his right cheek, and Hugo instantly became alert. His blurred vision finally cleared, revealing the face of a Western man before him. The man's icy blue eyes startled Hugo—who was this person? However, there was no more time for Hugo to react, as a tremendous force yanked him up, and only then did he realize he was lying on the ground.
Let us welcome Hugo Lancaster! The sound system echoed with a teasing introduction, and the applause, whistling, and cheers mingled with the golden light, pouring down like a torrential rain, instantly disorienting Hugo.
Hugo had completely cast aside the dizziness he had just experienced. Although his body still felt somewhat heavy and his steps were a bit unsteady, he paid no attention to these sensations. He simply charged forward, swiftly surpassing the man who had originally been pulling him along.
Before him was a luxurious and elegant banquet hall, the dazzling lights rendering Hugo unable to discern the arrangement of the room. He could only see the omnipresent glow from all directions, with golden and red hues casting a dreamlike, colorful halo over everything. Although the crowd before him numbered less than fifty, Hugo felt an overwhelming illusion of a sea of people.
If all of this were to happen at a concert, it would be a truly wonderful experience; however, when it all explodes completely in the mind, it is not so delightful. The sense of brutality released from deep within the soul makes Hugo feel as if he is about to be torn apart, with waves of acidic liquid surging from his churning stomach, as if all his internal organs were about to be expelled.
Could it be that my fainting just now caused the performance to be delayed? This absolutely cannot happen; this is the opportunity they have longed for, and it must not be missed! Hugo immediately perked up, following closely behind the tall and robust man in front of him, stumbling and almost running towards the direction where the light was gathering.
Hugo lowered his head to look at the trophy in his hand, gazing at the golden Raspberry trophy, and in an instant, his tears froze. Not just his tears, even his blood and brain seemed to freeze. How could he have won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor? What on earth is going on! Hugo was suddenly at a loss in the wind.
The man slowed his pace, staring in astonishment at Hugo, who eagerly ran towards the halo, and finally stood in place with his mouth agape in disbelief, his face filled with surprise and helplessness, which ultimately transformed into a look of bewildered and absurd laughter.
However, just before he was about to take the stage for the performance, the glaring lights caused Hugo to feel dizzy. Initially, he thought it was merely a result of not having eaten for a day, leading to some low blood sugar. But who would have known that shortly after, his head began to throb as if it were about to explode. The scorching lights seemed to be roasting him, and then he fell into a darkness, as if the entire world had collapsed. After that, he felt nothing at all. When he regained consciousness, he experienced that sharp sensation once again. But who would have known that shortly after, his head began to throb as if it were about to explode. The scorching lights seemed to be roasting him, and then he fell into a darkness, as if the entire world had collapsed. After that, he felt nothing at all. When he regained consciousness, he experienced that sharp sensation once again.
A tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed female host gestured for him to move to the left. At that moment, Hugo had no time to think further; everything was happening too quickly and forcefully. He could only passively follow the host forward. In just ten paces, Hugo stepped onto a small stage, where he saw an elderly man standing at the podium, looking at him with a beaming smile. His feet moved uncontrollably towards the old man.
Hugo paused, took two deep breaths, and ultimately gave up on saying anything further, as the overwhelming mix of distress and immense joy had rendered his mind completely inoperative. He could only express the tumult within him using the simplest of words, "Thank you... thank you!"
Hugo took a few steps forward, weaving through the elegantly retro and lavishly decorated corridor. The thick carpet on the floor absorbed the heavy sound of his footsteps as he ran. He saw the dark golden carved solid wood door at the end of the corridor and instinctively glanced back at the man behind him, as if to inquire, "Is the performance stage behind this door?" However, he noticed that the man had already distanced himself by more than ten yards, his head obscured by a halo of light, making it impossible to see clearly. Hugo felt an unsettling sense that something was amiss, and it was not just a trivial matter. Yet, due to the chaotic situation at that moment, he simply did not have enough time or energy to sort through his thoughts.
What? The Golden Raspberries? Or the Worst Actor of the 12th edition in the early 1990s? Isn't it the Midem Rock Awards?
At that moment, the voice of the host once again came through the speakers, "Let us once again express our congratulations with applause for the winner of the Worst Actor award at the 12th Golden Razzie Awards, Hugo Lancaster"
"Hugo! Damn it, wake up! I told you not to... to mess around! Be careful, be careful! I have warned you hundreds of times not to let yourself go, and yet... Hugo!" A calm yet anxious voice quickly poured a stream of words into Hugo's ears, but he was unable to react immediately. He felt as if his brain was in a fog, a complete muddle, and even his perception of the surrounding light was incredibly sluggish, let alone responding to the words of others. But Hugo was unable to react immediately. He felt as if his brain was in a fog, a complete muddle, and even his perception of the surrounding light was incredibly sluggish, let alone responding to the words of others.
Hugo felt that the band AC/DC was playing "Back in Black" in his mind, with powerful drumbeats and sharp metallic sounds shaking his eardrums, as if heavy hammers were striking directly on his heart without any obstruction. The electric energy coursing through his body caused his muscles to contract violently, stimulating his heart to clench tightly, while his brain turned into a chaotic state due to lack of oxygen
The old man extended a trophy in his hand forward, and Hugo's eyes involuntarily widened. Could it be that he had won an award? Could it be that their band, Glory Until Death, had won an award? After ten years since its establishment, Glory Until Death had finally carved out a niche for itself in the rock music scene, winning the Best Live Rock Performance Award at the Midi Music Awards.
Hugo had not yet decided whether to stop and inquire or to continue moving forward, but his body made the decision for him. His right shoulder collided directly with the ornate door, and he was immediately thrust into a dazzling halo of light, as if he had stumbled into the dreamlike world of Alice, captivated by the bizarre and fantastical sights before him.
What on earth is going on? Hugo clearly remembers that today his band "Death.Or.Glory" received an invitation to attend the Midi Rock Awards, allowing them to participate in this rock gala. This is not only their first major stage performance opportunity in the ten years since the band's formation, but they have also been nominated for the Best Live Rock Performance Award. The 2014 Sixth Midi Rock Awards also marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Midi Festival, which is the most professional and authoritative rock stage in the country. For "Death.Or.Glory," which has been struggling in the underground rock scene for ten years, winning a nomination and securing a performance opportunity can undoubtedly be considered a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
A violent impact surged through his chest, forcing all the bubbles in his lungs out in one go. The surrounding darkness was instantly torn apart, and countless bright points rushed in, the blinding light quickly occupying Hugo's slightly opened eyes. "Roar," Hugo suddenly gasped, his mouth wide open as he breathed in fresh air.
"Are you awake now? Or do you need cold water to regain your senses?" The man's nagging voice fired off in Hugo's ears like a machine gun, "But what about the makeup... Forget it, there's no time, hurry up, let's go outside first." The man pulled Hugo along as they headed out, and Hugo had just enough time to glance at the surroundings—it was a bathroom—before he was forced to follow him out.
Hugo, in a daze, received the trophy from the old man's hands. The trophy was handed to him without any hindrance, indicating that glory had indeed been achieved until death. The sudden surprise left Hugo at a loss for words; he didn't even have time to carefully examine the appearance of the trophy in his hands. The heavy weight pressed upon his heart, and inexplicably, tears broke free from the confines of his eyes and began to pour down.
The so-called myriad flavors of life can be described by such feelings. At the age of fifteen, he left home in pursuit of his musical dreams, stepping away from the protection of his family to become part of an underground band, all merely to chase his aspirations. Ten years have passed since that day he left home to join the band Glory to Death, enduring countless hardships and navigating the chaotic underground rock music scene for a decade, until today when they finally received recognition. Ten years have passed since that day he left home to join the band Glory to Death, enduring countless hardships and navigating the chaotic underground rock music scene for a decade, until today when they finally received recognition
But what about the band members? What about the other four members who died in glory? Why is only one standing on the stage?
Hugo's mind, almost completely blocked by cotton, could hardly function. Countless questions went unanswered as he was pushed to the microphone by the elderly presenter. Looking at the microphone just beneath his nose, he could distinctly feel the slight warmth of the lights casting down on his skin, and he could genuinely sense the temperature of all the audience members' gazes focused on him. The intense rhythm of his heartbeat nearly rendered Hugo's ears deaf, and he found himself unable to effectively organize his thoughts before the microphone.
Thank you... thank you... Hugo struggled to find a shred of language from his blank mind, squeezing it out from the sobs that emerged from his throat. "I am truly grateful, this, this award I must share with our entire band, it is the result of our collective efforts. We have been striving and working hard, and we have finally made our dreams come true." Once the first sentence was spoken, the subsequent words poured out in a rush, but halfway through, his not yet completely dried eyes were once again filled with tears. "I am truly grateful, this, this award I must share with our entire band, it is the result of our collective efforts. We have been striving and working hard, and we have finally made our dreams come true." Once the first sentence was spoken, the subsequent words poured out in a rush, but halfway through, his not yet completely dried eyes were once again filled with tears