CHAPTER 128
From early September to late October, for over a month, search terms like "The Long Night," "Xiang Xiaoyuan," "Zeng Li," "the reality of women's lives," "Meng Xiaozhou cutting flowers," and other phrases related to "The Long Night" dominated the top spots online.
The box office had surpassed 2.5 billion, and though it couldn't compete with two of the comedy films released during the National Day holiday, it showed signs of outperforming the first two installments of its series. Its popularity overshadowed not only the National Day releases but also films that came afterward. Discussions among fans and casual viewers could be seen everywhere across major social platforms.
[Teacher Zeng Li is truly amazing. I cry every time I watch it!]
[Wow, the person above actually watched it a second time? Me too! The beginning was so suffocating. It's so sad to see news about m!sogyny and v!olence against women every day in reality. Fortunately, the ending is so satisfying and exhilarating!]
[The director is quite a feminist, huh? I love these revenge movies! So satisfying!]
[It's really satisfying, but can Xiang Xiaoyuan play some more 'normal' roles? This village girl, the gloomy daughter, the teddy bear, the Taoist nun, and then Meng Xiaozhou, this dark, bitter, deeply vengeful female lead – none of them have a romantic storyline. I want to see her in a romance film...]
[Same here. I hope Xiang Xiaoyuan can have a sweet romance, just so I can admire her beauty.]
[Her visuals are absolutely stunning. For over an hour she plays this pitiful, fragile soft girl, then in the last ten minutes transforms into a scheming, ruthless queen. That smoking scene k!lled me a thousand times over!]
[Sister Yuan has such a promising future! She's bound to win Best Actress soon!]
[The Feiyan Awards in Taiwan will announce nominations soon. I can already guess Xiang Xiaoyuan will be nominated for Best Actress.]
[Not so sure about that. Taiwan has produced some high-quality films this year, and the competition for Best Actress is intense.]
[By the way, isn't 'Deep in the Palace' about to premiere? I heard the first trailer is coming soon.]
[I've never seen such a big-name, arrogant production team. Promoting on their official Weibo is like asking for their lives! Seriously! And yet, I fall for it every time!]
[I'm super excited! All of Xiang Xiaoyuan's projects are coming out at once. Her resources are incredible!]
"..."
In the office, the front row seated Tonghua's vice president, distribution director, and publicity director. Beside them sat Huo Bijun, the producer of "The Long Night" and director of Yaowei Media. Across the table were Ruan Qing, president of Feiyi Entertainment, and next to her, Xiaoyuan.
Everyone was flipping through documents in their hands or on the desk, except Xiaoyuan, who was quietly observing the meeting room.
Her last visit to Tonghua was two and a half years ago—back then, it was to sign the contract with Wei Zhuang. She couldn't even remember which floor it was on. This time, her mindset was completely different.
Life truly is unpredictable in the most fascinating ways.
Suppressing a smile, Xiaoyuan pulled out her phone under the table and texted Wei Zhuang: [Guess where I am?]
"We're submitting for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Cinematography..." Tonghua's distribution director was speaking.
"And Teacher Zeng Li for Best Supporting Actor, Director Huo for..."
Huo Bijun waved his hand with a chuckle. "Forget about me for Best Actor. There's no chance of a nomination."
—[At Tonghua?]
Xiaoyuan smiled at Wei Zhuang's private message. [Yep! Are you here? Can I come up to see you?]
Before she could get a reply, Ruan Qing nudged her arm and whispered, "They're asking for your opinion."
Snapping back to attention, Xiaoyuan found everyone at the table looking at her. She blinked and offered a faint smile. "Hmm?"
"Teacher Xiang, we currently have two options for you. One is to submit you for the Best Actress category. From what we know, the competition this year is extremely fierce. There are two or three highly skilled actresses from Taiwan with home-field advantage, plus two veteran actresses from our side—one of whom has been nominated twice for the Feiyan Award..."
Xiaoyuan quickly understood, "So the other option is Best Supporting Actress?"
"If we submit for Best Actress, there's an 80% chance of getting nominated, but the likelihood of actually winning is quite slim," said the vice president, reportedly surnamed Shen. Xiaoyuan noticed he spoke to her quite amiably, without any airs, and was genuinely analyzing the situation. "But if we go for Best Supporting Actress, I believe you have an 80% chance of winning."
Winning awards is actually a very complex and metaphysical field.
Beyond one's own talent and the networking efforts of the backing company, there's that elusive element called "luck."
Being nominated and actually winning the award are incomparable in weight. For a young actor, winning the "Feiyan Award" would be nothing but beneficial for their career.
The entertainment industry is such a snobbish place. With a major award in hand, the questioning voices diminish, and the smiling faces you encounter increase.
Xiaoyuan glanced at Ruan Qing, who nodded to her. "The female roles in this film are relatively few, and your screen time could also pass as a supporting role. I also think nominating you for a supporting role is the better choice."
"This would be an excellent stepping stone."
"Ahem, Teacher Xiang," Vice President Shen spoke up again, "of course, we respect your opinion. If you'd prefer to submit for Best Actress, Tonghua will support you all the way."
Xiaoyuan blinked.
"Sorry, but I really have to interject here. Tonghua has been so incredibly supportive of 'The Long Night'—I'm truly grateful!" Huo Bijun said with a smile to Vice President Shen.
Ruan Qing stared at Huo Bijun, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
'This guy is truly consistent after ten years, thinking he's the center of the universe.'
Vice President Shen smiled politely and nodded at Huo Bijun, though to others, it seemed perfunctory at best. Only Huo Bijun remained oblivious.
Turning back to Xiaoyuan, Vice President Shen said kindly, "Our President places great importance on this project. Tonghua will support whatever decision you make and spare no effort to advocate for you."
Xiaoyuan blinked, about to speak, when Huo Bijun cut in again, "Ah, President Wei is really going above and beyond for 'The Long Night'..."
The investor and producer from Yaowei nodded enthusiastically, chiming in, "Our President has also been looking forward to meeting President Wei..."
Ruan Qing, observing from the sidelines, sighed inwardly. These people really have no sense of tact. Couldn't they see how reluctant the Tonghua executives looked?
And they still want to meet the President? How shameless!
Shaking her head, Ruan Qing picked up her cup and took a quiet sip of coffee.
After the meeting, Xiaoyuan finally had a moment to check her WeChat.
[Yep! Are you here? Can I come up to see you?]
The woman still hadn't replied.
Ever since National Day, ever since Xiaoyuan had said "I love you," the atmosphere between them had felt off. Xiaoyuan sensed her acting strangely. After the holiday, they'd both been too busy to meet, relying solely on WeChat to communicate. Even then, she remained as evasive as ever—still refusing video calls.
[Don't you want to see me?] Xiaoyuan sent another message.
"Xiaoyuan, we can leave now. Are you coming?" Ruan Qing asked softly.
"Oh, I need to use the restroom first." Xiaoyuan made an excuse, then turned back to say, "Sister, why don't you go ahead first? I'll... make my own way back later."
The two deputy directors emerged from the CEO's office after their meeting, and only then was Assistant Gao summoned inside.
Upon entering, she found the President seated on the spacious sofa, intently staring at her phone with slightly furrowed brows—as if dealing with something particularly challenging. Assistant Gao rarely saw this expression on her face—neither exactly troubled nor untroubled, it was truly perplexing.
"Alex, go pick her up." the President finally spoke after a while.
Assistant Gao had long known Xiaoyuan was coming to Tonghua for a meeting today and had already checked which conference room she'd be in, waiting for the President's instructions. With a smile, she acknowledged the order and turned to leave.
"Wait—" the President uttered another syllable.
Assistant Gao turned back to see the President slightly lowering her head, brows still knitted. "She says she's not coming up. Never mind." She set down her phone and leaned back.
Assistant Gao responded slowly, observing her boss's expression. Unlike before, it was now clearly discernible—she was obviously unhappy.
Knowing better than to linger, she exited the office when her phone vibrated in her pocket. Pulling it out, she smiled at the message from the President's contact labeled "Baby 0": [Alex, I'm on the 2nd floor. Come get me, but don't tell her—I want to surprise her.]
'Young people and their ideas, hahaha.'
Assistant Gao took the President's private elevator down to the second floor, picked up Xiaoyuan, and brought her back up.
"So? Is she angry?" Xiaoyuan whispered.
"Ahem," Assistant Gao cleared her throat, "hard to say."
Xiaoyuan giggled.
Upon reaching the top floor, Assistant Gao led her to the door, gesturing silently whether to open it. At Xiaoyuan's nod, she pulled the door open just enough for Xiaoyuan to slip through, then carefully let it close until only a sliver remained.
'Ah, I'm just keeping watch—definitely not eavesdropping or peeking!'
The President's office was too large and soundproofed, but through that tiny gap, she caught sight of her young idol wrapping her arms around the President's neck and plopping straight onto her lap.
'Youthful passion knows no bounds!'
'Go get her, Xiaoyuan!'
Reluctantly, Assistant Gao released the door handle, letting it click shut.
"Frances?" Xiaoyuan looped her arms around the woman's neck and effortlessly settled onto her lap. Wei Zhuang wore a deep brown formal suit today, her faint, elegant fragrance wafting from the V-neck of her vest, making Xiaoyuan instinctively lean closer.
"Didn't you say you weren't coming up?" Wei Zhuang asked flatly.
"Surprise! Did it work?" Xiaoyuan gazed at her.
"Get down." Wei Zhuang patted her shoulder. "This isn't home."
"Huh?" Xiaoyuan was put down, still a little confused. "...There's no one else here."
Wei Zhuang gave her a look.
Pouting slightly in disappointment, Xiaoyuan obediently sat properly. "Fine, let's talk business then. Do you think I should go for the Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress?"
"Your Vice President Shen said everything would be left to my discretion, and that Tonghua would support me no matter what." Her moist, dark eyes sparkled as she leaned in with a playful smile. "But I want to hear your opinion!"
"You should decide for yourself." Wei Zhuang replied in her usual flat tone.
Xiaoyuan felt an even deeper sense of grievance, finding her too cold.
An awkward silence instantly descended between them.
Xiaoyuan studied her face—Wei Zhuang's eyes held no warmth, her profile as flawlessly carved as a sculpture, exquisite yet devoid of emotion.
Suddenly unable to bear it, Xiaoyuan stood up. "Then I won't disturb your work. I'm leaving." True to her word, she headed for the door, deliberately slowing her steps halfway—yet no voice called her back. Her anger flared, and she yanked the door open to leave.
Behind her, Wei Zhuang narrowed her eyes slightly, a complex, inscrutable emotion flickering in her gaze.
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