Chapter 214: The Trap Yun Xiangxiang Dug
“Xiangxiang, you seem surprised. Weren’t you expecting to be the best actress in a leading role?” the host came over and teased her.
Yun Xiangxiang shook her head honestly, “I didn’t. I have always thought of myself as a newbie who still had a long way to go before getting this award.”
“You’re too modest, Xiangxiang. We have seen all your works. There might not be many of them, but they are all quality films,” the host smiled. “I trust that Xiangxiang must be nervous and excited now. Do you have anything to say to the audience?”
Yun Xiangxiang walked to the mic. She took a deep breath and started, “I do feel surprised about this. Touched too. I nearly cried back there. It’s easy to cry with joy when your hard work is recognized. But I won’t cry. Being awarded is a happy event. I believe the people who love me will want to always see me smile brightly.”
“There’s still a long road ahead of me. I don’t know how long or how far I can go. But I will do my best, so everything you see is nothing but a smile as bright as the sun.”
Yun Xiangxiang bowed deeply after finishing her speech. She didn’t utter any thanks, but the sincerity in her speech touched everyone.
The film festival ended on a good note. Yun Xiangxiang was undoubtedly the biggest winner in this event. She was a student of Qingdao University, the place where the film festival this time was held. On top of that, she broke the record by taking the awards for “Best Actress” and “Most popular actress,” making her the first “Double Best Actress” in a film festival.
As soon as she exited the venue, she was surrounded by all the media outlets. Everyone was vying to be the first to interview her.
He Wei and Xue Yu protected Yun Xiangxiang. He Wei said sternly, “We do accept interviews, but please be civilized and disciplined, or else you’ll be thrown out by security.
The reporters only remembered that Yun Xiangxiang had the home advantage, being a student of Qingdao University. If they annoyed her and made her refuse an interview, they would probably fail to find her. With that in mind, they calmed down and stopped jostling.
“It’s late. Let’s keep it simple. You have ten minutes, ask away,” Yun Xiangxiang smiled.
“Yun Xiangxiang, congratulations on netting two awards and becoming the first double best actress in the graduates’ film festival. Do you mind saying how you feel now?
“Thank you. I am both excited and elated. And I also feel like I am dreaming,” Yun Xiangxiang answered earnestly.
“Yun Xiangxiang, what advantage do you think you have?”
“Maybe I’m naturally lucky?” Yun Xiangxiang answered humorously.
“So you don’t think it’s thanks to your own merit?”
“Everyone has their own merits. If I won, doesn’t that mean I am luckier than they were?” Yun Xiangxiang answered with a question.
“Yun Xiangxiang, “Justice and Selflessness,” your last film, barely had five hundred million in box office. What do you think about that?”
Yun Xiangxiang kept up her smile at the reporter who asked it, “Just five hundred million? Can I think of it as you saying five hundred million in box office is too little, and is a failure to you?”
This was a big trap. The box office for many films was within five hundred million yuan. If the reporter said yes, he would offend half the entertainment industry.
“I wasn’t saying that. I meant both of your previous films recorded a high box office, so “Justice and Selflessness” is relatively bad,” the reporter had a sharp mind and reacted quickly.
“If we go by that logic, every film I star in must break my previous record for it to be successful?” Yun Xiangxiang looked at him innocently.
The reporter went silent and backed off, leaving the spot for others.
It was an impossible question to answer. Nobody could star in film after film that recorded a higher box office than their last.
If he said yes, he would offend not only half the entertainment industry, but all of it.
“Yun Xiangxiang, you looked so sure when you got the award for “Most Popular Actress.” What makes you so sure about yourself?” another reporter asked.
“My confidence,” Yun Xiangxiang answered.
“You said you have home advantage, aren’t there any biases in this?” the reporter continued.
“What is inequality? Is me being prettier than someone inequality? I am a student of Qingdao University. If my family dotes on me because of that, is that inequality? Or did you think I wasn’t qualified for this award?” after answering with a question, Yun Xiangxiang mulled over something. “Or were you suspecting the impartiality of various universities and State Admin of Radio, Film, and Television?”
The other reporters mourned silently for this reporter. The one before him offended the entertainment industry. Now the State Admin for Radio, Film, and Television was brought into this. As an entertainment reporter, accusing the State Admin for Radio, Film, and Television as corrupt without evidence was basically suicide as a reporter.
Absolute equality didn’t exist in this world. Some were born rich. Some were born pretty.
Yun Xiangxiang would admit she owed it having home advantage. As Qingdao University’s students were supporting her, she had more fans among the students. Thanks to that, she was awarded. In a way, that was modesty. She couldn’t say she was the better actress.
But the advantage didn’t fall from the sky. She worked hard for it. If you are going to complain, try getting into Qingdao University as the nation’s number one. And then try starring in a presentable film. You’ll end up with so many student fans like me, probably.
Don’t complain if you can’t do it. Can’t bear to see the better person being treated in a way you would never be?
Yun Xiangxiang spoke calmly, her polite smile unchanging. But her sharp answers made even the harsh reporters retreat.
“Yun Xiangxiang, can you talk about your plans after this?” another reporter stood up to clear the tension. They were in the same industry, everyone had to take a step back.
Reporters who interviewed Yun Xiangxiang knew how terrifying this little girl’s tongue could be. Only those who never came into contact with her and wanted to bully her because she looked young would stupidly provoke her.
“Studying and filming. I am recently filming “Jiu Se,” a film set in vintage China,” Yun Xiangxiang’s habit of promoting her films struck again.
She was a sharp lady in the previous moment, but now she looked adorable. They couldn’t dislike her like this.
After Yun Xiangxiang laid the traps starting with half the entertainment industry, then the whole of it, and finally bringing in the State Admin, no reporter dared to provoke Yun Xiangxiang.
Not all of their questions were pretty. Some were sharp and specific. But as long as they didn’t doubt her as a person, Yun Xiangxiang would answer them politely. With that, she won the acknowledgment of most reporters.
The most important part was Yun Xiangxiang’s answers were never too formal. She would still leave something for the reporters’ imagination, giving them something to write.
It was already sometime after ten o’clock after the interview was finished. Under Xue Yu and He Wei’s escort, Yun Xiangxiang quickly found her parents.
Yun Xiangxiang would have gone back to her bedroom and slept if they were not here.