Chapter One: Unfulfilled Ambition

  "Has Wen Dao already started contacting mainland film and television companies?" Lin Xiao heard this news and was surprised.

  "Not bad." CAMI nodded and said seriously, "And our Huaxia has also been eyed by him. The requirements he put forward can be solved by Director Chu. The condition is that a major role in this film must be given to us."

  "In the entertainment industry, it's inseparable from other circles. Whoever has money is the boss. When he first came to mainland China, he wanted to make a big splash and needed a lot of connections and financial resources. If Huaxia didn't have Yongle backing him up, he probably wouldn't even be on his radar. Even so, after knowing about Huaxia's situation, he still wasn't willing to budge. If Chu hadn't agreed to all his conditions, it would've been useless, not just today, but even if they had scheduled a meeting in advance."

  "No wonder he looked so unwilling. Lin Xiao thought for a moment and said, 'His movie was a huge hit in Hong Kong, but suddenly they want to use a new mainland artist, no wonder he's not willing.'"

  "It's settled, don't worry about it anymore. By the way, this matter can't be told to anyone." CAMI reminded "Not until the last moment before the announcement comes out, not only is it related to Huaxia, but also to Wen Jun."

  After Lin Xiao answered, CAMI smiled and said "Go take a look at the Golden Horse Awards quickly, I'm looking forward to standing on this stage in a few years."

  Lin Xiao walked back to his own position after the award ceremony had already begun, and this year's host was surprisingly Feng Delun, Tao Jingying, and Wu Qilong.

  The awards were presented one by one, with applause and camera flashes that didn't fade. When each face and movie appeared on the big screen, even long-established stars couldn't help but feel a little nervous, and when the envelope was finally opened, it brought joy to some families and sorrow to others.

  The 37th Golden Horse Awards, the biggest winner was Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which swept seven major awards. However, Best Director went to Du Ji Feng, who had not been expected to win. When his name was announced, he jumped up from his seat and gave a big hug to the person next to him. Ang Lee, director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, let out a deep sigh.

  Then, several black horses rushed out. Best Actor, Wu Chengyu narrowly defeated Zhang Guorong. Best Original Screenplay, Xi Road unexpectedly defeated Wang Jiawei's "Flowers of Youth", stunning the entire venue. Every Golden Horse Awards has a few unexpected results, and this one is too unexpected.

  The sound of the shutter is endless. The newcomers on this side were completely infected by the entire venue. Even Lin Xiao, when he saw a nomination for an award, couldn't help but feel his blood boiling.

  "Golden Horse Awards, wait and see, I will make you recognize me sooner or later! This year may not have me, but next year, the year after next, I will definitely get my own award on this stage!"

  At 10 o'clock sharp, the Golden Horse Awards ceremony came to an end, followed by the Golden Horse dinner party, of course, they didn't receive any invitations.

  "Let's stop here." CAMI looked at the few people with excited red faces and smiled, saying "How does it feel?"

  "I'm so envious!" He Lan Yun was still immersed in the scene of thousands of cameras taking pictures, countless audiences cheering, her eyes were a bit distracted. "One day, I will stand on this stage! Receive the Best Actress award!"

  "Hehe, look at the newcomers around you, they all have this idea." CAMI said with a smile "You may be new, but you absolutely cannot die on the newcomer wall. Those movie queens and kings, which one didn't step up? As long as you work hard, you will definitely have this opportunity."

  "Hmm!" The three of them nodded heavily in unison.

  As people walked out of the memorial hall, the evening breeze felt especially comfortable on their faces. Groups of people were already streaming home, and after a lively day, Mr. Sun Yat-sen had finally returned to his usual tranquility.

  "Let's go back tomorrow." CAMI took out a small notebook and looked at it "He Lanyun, you have an advertisement this week, next week at this time must be finished. Lin Xiao, you still have the last few shots in Kangxi Dynasty, of course, I will communicate with Chen Jialin and others to see if we can bring you along during promotion..."

  She walked with a few people towards the parking lot. Now everywhere is crowded with people moving out slowly, congestion is inevitable.

  "Ah yo." He Lan Yun exclaimed and her hand naturally landed on Lin Xiao's shoulder.

  "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing... nothing. There are too many people, I just got stepped on... it hurts." She said, gasping for air.

  As soon as she said this, the people in front immediately turned their heads around, and the words "I'm sorry" were all spoken out loud. Unexpectedly, all three of them were stunned.

  Li Hao was stunned, Lin Xiao frowned, and Song Qingming curled up his lips in disgust.

  "Come on, brother!" The person behind shouted out in dissatisfaction as he looked at the three people frozen in front of him.

  However, none of the three people moved, and the person in the back cursed and passed by.

  A boisterous hall like the sea, everywhere was filled with excitement and fervor, only this side was quiet to an abnormal degree.

  "Never thought it would be like this when we meet again."

  Cami's eyes flashed, but she didn't say a word, and pulled He Lan Yun to continue walking out of the hall.

  "I heard you've been doing well lately?" Seeing CAMI walking away, Song Qingming sneered and said "I really didn't think that two abandoned sons could still jump around. However, you won't be able to gloat for much longer."

  "Do you know who the director of my next play is? Tang Jili. Lin Xiao, I told you a long time ago, having a solid background is what matters most. Unfortunately, you guys switched to another company, do you have any other projects lined up after finishing the current one?"

  He glanced at the two of them with the corner of his eye "And I, at least have two plays to film. Oh, right. Didn't you say you wanted to participate in the filming of Never Give Up? What a pity..."

  He leaned in close to Lin Xiao and said "What a pity...the crew doesn't want you at all!"

  "You want to know? This play is a heavenly script! Do you still want to come in? You're delusional!"

  "Have you had enough? If so, then shut up." Unexpectedly, Li Hao was the first to speak. "In the past when we were in a group, I couldn't stand you. You acted as if you understood everything, and asking you something was like asking an emperor, what virtue."

  "Get it straight, you're asking me, do I still need to be polite? If I'm in a good mood, I'll give you some advice. If I'm not, then just get out of here!" Song Qingming coldly snorted.

  "No wonder you're like a dog every time you're in front of Zhao Qingya. It turns out you've been begging her all along, wagging your tail and acting pitiful." Lin Xiao laughed and said "And now, are you thinking of bursting into a loud scolding? But instead, you want to pretend to be a gentleman who doesn't use his fists, come on, what's your personality like? We've been together for a year, don't I know?"

  "You!" Song Qingming glared at Lin Xiao, Zhao Qingya was his Achilles' heel, everyone knew he was the one who had been propped up by him.

  But he immediately calmed down and sneered, "Not seen for a few months, you've become sharp-tongued. Alright, I won't bother with you two either, dragging me down for a year, it's not easy to get rid of the two of you."

  "Exactly, I think so too." Lin Xiao said "As for being a burden, let's wait a few more years and see who is the real burden."

  "How many years?" Song Qingming sneered "Just wait and get yourself killed on the wall of Xinxiu."

  The eyes of three people intersected in mid-air, Song Qingming hummed and turned around to leave.

  The crowd has thinned out, and many artists who didn't want to come out together are now emerging from the hall.

  "Click!" The sound of the shutter rang out suddenly in the great hall, accompanied by a multitude of questioning voices.

  More than a dozen reporters surrounded three people and walked out of the hall.

  In the end, they are all big shots and don't want to squeeze with newcomers.

  The loud noise also made Song Qingming turn his head around.

  The man in the middle had no expression on his face, while the two agents or bodyguards on either side were maintaining a "safe distance" from him. Surrounded by reporters, none of them could see who the person in the middle was.

  "Mr. Zhou, could you reveal what your latest movie is about?"

  "Mr. Zhou, this is your first film as a writer, director and actor. Can you reveal some information?"

  The person in the middle didn't say a word, but the people on both sides kept saying "no comment" while pushing the reporter away.

  "This is a big shot, compared to Zhao Qingya, what's the point?" Song Qingming suddenly sighed and spoke up.

  "You're still making some sense." Lin Xiao said, "However, your two-faced skills are getting more and more sophisticated. I don't know what Zhao Qingya would think if she heard that the person she's been supporting has this kind of attitude."

  Song Qingming jumped his eyebrows and swept a glance at Lin Xiao, but said nothing.

  In less than a minute, the group finally got rid of the reporter and walked towards the gate.

  "Mr. Lam?" Just then, a voice speaking authentic "Hong Kong Cantonese" came out from the crowd.

  Three people looked over in the direction of the sound, and for a moment, none of them dared to believe their eyes.

  "Zhou... Zhou Xingchi?!" Li Hao was the first to shout, fortunately those around them were all artists and reporters, otherwise they would have been surrounded by onlookers in no time.

  Lin Xiao's eyes lit up in front of him, and he hastily asked "Do you know me?"

  "It's really you." Zhou Xingchi didn't deny his identity at all, and burst out laughing "I've only seen a few of your photos, I thought I was mistaken."

  "Ka-cha!" The shutter clicks in a timely manner, and the reporters all catch a whiff of something called "sensitivity".

  A reporter wrote "brushing" that Zhou Xingchi met with an unknown artist, suspected to be a new film role.

  Seeing the reporters around him, Zhou Xing suddenly understood what was going on and immediately whispered a few words to the other two people.

  A gaze full of jealousy and hatred was nailed to Lin Xiao's back, he didn't even need to turn his head to know it came from Song Qingming.

  "How is that possible!" Song Qingming gritted his teeth and thought, "He just participated in Chen Jialin's play, where did he get to know the Hong Kong and Taiwan superstar?!"

  He had just said that Zhao Qingya was no match for Zhou Xingchi, and then he turned around and greeted Lin Xiao. Isn't this a slap in the face?

  "A discarded son of heaven! He can actually recognize such a high-spec movie star!" His gaze was fixed on the other person like a knife, as if he wanted to pierce through him. After a long time, he finally withdrew his gaze and became gentle again, humming a sound, then turned around and walked out the door without looking back.