Chapter 61

During the month of December, inside the Qingcheng International Grand Theatre at eight o’clock in the evening.

The highly anticipated Golden Fountain Awards ceremony was about to commence. Among the various awards, discussions among netizens were most intense regarding who would take home the title of Best Actress. The nominee bearing the highest expectations was Lu Youqing, who had recently been a mainstay on the trending search lists.

Lu Youqing had previously won Best Actress at the Golden Fir Awards, and merely half a year later, she was nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Fountain Awards. Netizens were eagerly watching to see whether Lu Youqing would press her advantage to claim this award and subsequently secure a nomination for Best Actress at the upcoming Golden Phoenix Awards, thereby becoming the youngest “Three Gold” Film Queen in cinematic history.

However, discussions surrounding Lu Youqing extended far beyond her award prospects. Many were even more keenly focused on whether Lu Youqing would attend today’s ceremony accompanied by Miss Yan. Compared to the star’s professional career, the public often preferred to shine a spotlight on her personal affairs.

[Gossip rumor: When Lu Youqing attended a private dinner previously, paparazzi caught some photos of her. The outfit she was wearing formed a matching couple’s look with the outfit worn by the woman beside her! I wonder if that person is that Miss Yan?]

[Got pictures? No pic, didn’t happen. Otherwise, a single mouth spreads rumors while everyone else runs themselves ragged debunking them.]

[The photos were bought out by her studio. I only managed to find out after begging back and forth for information.]

[No way, are you guys actually shipping them for real? There isn’t even a single photo, yet Lu Youqing’s CP fan super topic member count keeps exploding. These rumors are completely baseless with zero solid evidence. You guys aren’t actually taking it seriously, are you? If you ask me, this is all hype for today’s awards ceremony. Lu Youqing has been on the trending list every single day lately, saving the ceremony from having to pay for trending topics.]

[Isn’t Miss Yan just her assistant? As an assistant, she would naturally tag along, but besides accompanying her, there probably isn’t anything else to it.]

[I can’t explain it clearly to you all. Given Lu Youqing’s usual speed at shutting down rumors, any scandal would be immediately clarified the very second it appears, let alone tolerating her CP fan super topic continuously surging like this. The studio’s ambiguous stance—neither confirming nor clarifying—is just extremely strange. Also, I’m just sharing the situation; of course, I personally hope it’s real.]

Naturally, Lu Youqing and Miss Yan—the very focal points of the netizens’ chatter—were entirely unaware of these discussions. It was December, and the cold wind blew bitterly. Attending the ceremony required Lu Youqing to wear an evening gown that left her arms and legs exposed. No matter how elegant the gown was, it offered zero protection against the chill. Moreover, having fallen into the water not long ago, she had not yet fully recovered from the underlying health effects, so Yan He was constantly trying to keep her warm.

Yan He gathered several disposable heating pads, shaking them in her hands read the original at bailiantales.comuntil they warmed up before handing them to Lu Youqing. She then draped a long down jacket over Lu Youqing’s shoulders and poured her a cup of hot water.

Holding the heating pad, Lu Youqing took the hot water from her hands and took a gentle sip. Warmth immediately spread through her chest and internal organs, chasing away the chill in her body. Steaming mist rose, softening her exquisitely beautiful eyes and eyebrows. She let out a soft laugh as she watched Yan He bustling back and forth opposite her.

“I’m the one going to accept an award, so why is A-He even more nervous than I am? It’s fine; the heating will be turned on inside the theatre, so it won’t be as cold as it is out here.” She used her newly warmed hands to clasp Yan He’s palms. The icy temperature on the back of Yan He’s hand quickly drew away the warmth she had painstakingly gathered, bringing their body temperatures back to a shared balance.

“Is that really true?” Yan He had no way of going inside with her, yet she worried whether Lu Youqing might fall ill. Busy as she was, all she could do was these small gestures to temporarily keep Lu Youqing a bit warmer.

“Really, I’ve been there so many times, I wouldn’t lie to you.” Lu Youqing smiled, lifting her hand to lightly tap Yan He’s nose. She wanted to kiss her, but realizing her freshly applied makeup would get ruined and take time to touch up, she refrained. Instead, she gently stroked Yan He’s hand with her palm to ease her surging affection.

Just then, it was almost Lu Youqing’s turn on the red carpet. She slipped off the down jacket draped over her, opened the car door, and stepped outside with Yan He’s support.

While the host was still interviewing the celebrity who had just walked by, the two stood quietly beside the car waiting. Momentarily, the floor director’s voice sounded. Just as Yan He was about to let go of her hand, a rich, delicate fragrance suddenly enveloped her nose in the very next second, followed by a fleeting touch of softness against her lips. The sensation vanished in an instant, departing before she even had time to react.

By the time Yan He snapped out of it, Lu Youqing had already walked onto the red carpet to meet up with the cast and crew of An Shan. She wore a composed and elegant smile, so perfectly calm that it seemed as though the prominent star stealing a kiss in front of the cameras was someone else entirely. Yan He couldn’t help but raise her hand to gently touch her lips, where the soft warmth of Lu Youqing’s breath seemed to linger. The tips of her ears, hidden beneath her hair, quickly turned flushed red.

Standing by the car, she watched Lu Youqing’s receding figure. Under the spotlights, Lu Youqing walked down the red carpet with a subtle curve to her lips, waving to the cameras. Her soft, wavy long hair fell across her back, concealing the butterfly-wing shoulder blades beneath. Even high-speed cameras failed to capture a single flaw on her. Her heavenly, transcendent elegance was inherently born for the lens and the big screen.

Lu Youqing was no longer visible, seemingly chatting with the host. Yan He was just about to pull out her phone to watch the live stream when her hand reached into her pocket and suddenly brushed against a hard, square object. She froze, her heart fluttering rapidly.

It was the proposal ring she had custom-ordered two weeks ago in Haicheng, which she intended to use to propose to Lu Youqing today.

Naturally, not in public view. Her plan was to return home with Lu Youqing, light candles in their cozy room, and drop to one knee amid the intimate interplay of light and shadow.

Having forgotten her previous proposal, she naturally wanted to make it up by offering a proper proposal to Lu Youqing. This was a moment worthy of eternal remembrance. Yan He feared that she might never regain those lost memories, and her heart ached knowing Lu Youqing carried them all alone. Thus, she wanted to rebuild [unauthorized copy]their shared memories anew, ensuring that when Lu Youqing looked back on their proposal in the future, she would remember today rather than a date held only in her isolated memory.

Although it was simple and lacked novelty, it represented the most enduring commitment from an insecure Yan He to an insecure Lu Youqing.

In our warm home, loving each other until death do us part.

Therefore, regardless of whether Lu Youqing won the award today, Yan He was going to express her love to her. Besides, she had absolute confidence in Lu Youqing—her Lu Youqing would definitely win the award.

Just running through these plans and words in her mind was enough to make half of Yan He’s body feel numb with tension and her chest flutter with emotion. It wasn’t until Lin Le called out to her that she snapped back to reality, following Lin Le into the backstage area.

The awards ceremony would only officially begin after all guests had entered. Consequently, those who entered early were either chatting with acquaintances in the auditorium or playing on their phones. The moment Yan He walked backstage with Lin Le, she received a message from Lu Youqing.

[I’ve taken my seat.]

Yan He paused her steps and walked over to the emergency exit. Looking out from there, she could see Lu Youqing sitting in her chair with her head lowered, looking at her phone. Yan He smiled softly, her fingers typing on the screen.

[Are you cold?]

[It’s okay. The heating is on here, so it’s warmer than outside. Plus, I still have the heating pad you gave me in my hands. Just thinking about how you gave it to me makes me not feel cold at all.] Her text messages were filled with sentiment; Yan He could almost hear Lu Youqing speaking these words in her ear in that lingering, soft tone, making her smile uncontrollably.

She looked up at Lu Youqing once more, only to realize that Lu Youqing had somehow noticed her and was looking right in her direction. Their eyes unexpectedly met in midair, sparking a surge of deep affection between them.

Yan He saw Lu Youqing smiling—a smile of profound tenderness. She sat in her seat, wearing a bright red dress that seemed to blaze like fire straight into Yan He’s heart.

Ding-dong— Yan He’s phone rang again. She lowered her eyes to look.

[My lipstick is smudged. It’s all A-He’s fault.]

Yan He found it amusing: [How is it my fault? Didn’t you sneak a kiss on me when I wasn’t looking?]

[I don’t care, it’s still A-He’s fault.]

[Okay, it’s my fault.] Unable to contain the sweetness in her heart, Yan He went along with Lu Youqing’s words.

[Is the color fading that badly? Do you need a touch-up? But when I touched my lips with my fingertips just now, I didn’t see any lipstick.]

The reply didn’t come right away, so Yan He looked toward the auditorium, only to meet Lu Youqing’s playful, mischievous gaze filled with laughter.

Yan He: “…” She let out a soft sigh, shaking her head helplessly.

Out of boredom, the two continued to text back and forth on their phones for a long while. Leaning against the wall of the emergency exit, Yan He didn’t feel tired at all. However, as they frequently exchanged glances and smiled at each other, they eventually caught the attention of passing staff members.

“Is that girl over there Lu Youqing’s assistant? That Miss Yan from the internet? She’s so pretty!”

“Looks like it. Wasn’t she looking at Lu Youqing just now? The way Lu Youqing looks at her is definitely not purely platonic. Did you watch the live stream earlier? Who looks at their phone with such a tender expression while texting? She’s obviously messaging Miss Yan. Looks like what the netizens said is all true.”

“What’s true?”

“Oh, you know, it’s…”

Two people dressed as staff members walked past Yan He, speaking in hushed voices. Thinking their voices were low enough, they walked a few meters past Yan He before secretly turning back to take a glance at Yan He and Lu Youqing before finally leaving.

Yan He, who had actually heard everything clearly: “…”

She sent a message to Lu Youqing: [We seem to have been noticed by others.]

Lu Youqing replied quickly: [Noticed that I’m stealing a… moment with my fiancée?]

Yan He couldn’t help but burst into a laugh. Just as she was about to send another message to Lu Youqing, she realized the awards ceremony was about to begin.

Lu Youqing: [It’s starting. Wait for me to finish.]

Yan He stopped typing and remained standing by the wall next to the emergency exit, where she could see both Lu Youqing and the ceremony.

Yan He didn’t pay much attention to the earlier award presentations. Outside of Lu Youqing, she didn’t know anyone in the entertainment industry, so naturally, her interest was minimal. On the contrary, because they would be heading home as soon as the ceremony ended, Yan He was constantly nervous about how she was going to propose to Lu Youqing once they got back. Lost in thought like this, the first hour passed remarkably fast.

As the ceremony approached its conclusion, Yan He didn’t dare let her mind wander anymore. Although she had absolute confidence in Lu Youqing’s acting skills, it was inevitable to feel nervous at a moment like this—especially when it came to the Best Actress award presentation. She even felt as though she couldn’t breathe.

Amidst the hosts’ playful bantering, clip montages from the nominated films featuring Lu Youqing and several other actresses slowly appeared on the big screen. Lu Youqing’s clip was from her previously released film, An Shan, in which she played the title character, An Shan. An Shan was a tenacious individual who could live resiliently even when mired in mud, remaining pure and unsullied despite her surroundings—like a blade of grass growing from the crevice of a cliff, clutching fiercely at even a single thread of life without ever letting go.

After watching Lu Youqing’s clip, Yan He’s nervousness suddenly vanished. She knew that this award undeniably belonged to Lu Youqing. Throughout that short twenty-second video, she felt as though she had lived through An Shan’s entire life alongside her; Lu Youqing’s acting prowess was truly well-deserved.

As the video concluded, live camera feeds of all the nominated actresses alongside Lu Youqing appeared on the big screen. Yan He saw that Lu Youqing maintained a composed smile, yet her hands resting at her side were tightly clenched, her knuckles turning [unauthorized copy]white. Yan He’s heart couldn’t help but tighten as well.

To make matters worse, the host and presenting guest insisted on chatting about unrelated topics on stage, keeping everyone in suspense before finally opening the envelope in hand.

“I announce that the winner of the Best Actress at the 47th Golden Fountain Awards is—”

“Lu Youqing!”

Thunderous, prolonged applause erupted across the venue. Like a drowning person finally getting a chance to draw air, Yan He gasped loudly; only then did she realize she had been so nervous earlier that she had stopped breathing.

Finally, only Lu Youqing’s image appeared on the big screen. A smile curved on her lips as she stood up amid the applause, bowing slowly before hugging the crew members beside her to express her gratitude. Finally, lifting the hem of her dress, she walked onto the stage like a fluttering flame.

The presenting guest handed the trophy to Lu Youqing, smiling as they offered their congratulations. Afterward, the crowd stepped back, allowing all focus and spotlights to center on her. The lights throughout the venue gathered upon her alone.

“Thank you, everyone.” Lu Youqing stood before the microphone. The lights illuminated her fair skin so bright it seemed to glow, her red dress and fair complexion making her look all the more stunning. Her voice trembled slightly—whether from sheer excitement or intense joy, it was hard to tell.

Watching her stand on the stage, tears nearly welled in Yan He’s eyes. She finally understood the meaning of weeping for joy, helplessly covering her face as tears fell freely.

“This is my second Best Actress award. Thank you to the director, and thank you to the cast and crew.” After expressing her thanks to everyone, Lu Youqing lowered her eyes, revealing a smile from the bottom of her heart.

“I once said in an interview that entering the entertainment industry was not a mere coincidence. Many people have guessed various reasons, but in reality, it’s very simple: I did it for one person. I wanted to use the attention under the spotlight to attract her notice, simply hoping she would pay a little more attention to me, nothing more. She brought me out of a dark, sunless abyss, becoming a star and a sun for me alone. She said she would never leave me.”

Listening to her speech, Yan He’s heart suddenly began to beat furiously. She could hardly hear what Lu Youqing was saying clearly anymore; an intensely powerful surge of emotion filled her heart—so overwhelming that she stood frozen in place, unsure of how to react.

Just as she raised her head in fluster, her eyes met Lu Youqing’s gaze, ​unauthorized copy​which was as gentle as water.

The focus and gaze of the entire venue rested on Lu Youqing, yet Lu Youqing’s eyes were fixed solely on her—like clouds, like rain, like wind, like mist, gently enveloping her, never changing.

“I want to say: My wife, my love, I will love you forever.”

It was you who gave me complete emotion, you who reshaped my personality. On that bridge where dark clouds churned, after that night, I no longer lived for myself.