Mad Dog

Chapter 27: The Correct Way To Be Recognized As A Show-Off

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Celebrities who haven’t attended the Golden Tree Awards often long for it, but those who have know that the process is actually long and boring, with only a brief moment of excitement when each award is announced, like brilliant fireworks after a long wait.

But most people are willing to wait for that moment, over and over again.

Because they are all “insiders.”

Jiang Qi thought he was an outsider, watching as winners rejoiced and losers disappointed with icy stares—until he absentmindedly glanced at his phone and saw a message from Zhi Qi.

The girl said she was waiting for him to win an award.

This single-minded trust made Jiang Qi also become an “insider.”

What was originally considered an optional award suddenly became something he really wanted to win. Jiang Qi pursed his lips, replied to Zhi Qi’s message, and then, for the first time, turned to Shen Lei sitting beside him and asked, “What’s the probability of me winning the award?”

Shen Lei seemed to have talked to him about a lot of these things before, but unfortunately, he didn’t pay much attention.

“It’s about eighty percent.” Shen Lei smiled confidently when he mentioned this, almost as if he had everything under control. “There are eight indicators before the Golden Tree Awards. If you’ve won six of them, unless someone with backstage connections buys the award, it’s almost certain you’ll win.”

But the only uncontrollable factor in this year’s Golden Tree Awards is having a “backstage connection.”

Among the five nominees, one has been nominated five times for the Golden Tree Awards but has always “missed out” – Jing Yingxi. He’s only in his thirties, his acting skills are nothing special, but he’s been nominated five times for the Golden Tree Awards, mainly because he’s highly supported in Taiwan.

Over there, things are declining. In recent years, a young actor with an acceptable appearance and acting skills has emerged. Naturally, there’s a concerted effort to promote Jing Yingxi as a “master of acting” with all the resources at hand.

First, they won awards, then used internet armies for publicity. In a few years, they’ll naturally brainwash people into seeing him as a true movie emperor. Unfortunately, although Taiwan’s new media plan is excellent, Jing Yingxi is like mud that can’t be propped up. While the Golden Tree Awards can manipulate nominations, they can’t manipulate the actual awards during the ceremony.

Over time, Jing Yingxi has almost become a “best supporting actor” in the eyes of many.

This isn’t a good reputation, so people online have been speculating whether the industry will just buy him an award directly.

After all, this year, Jing Yingxi’s performance in this artistic film is considered delicate enough to not be mocked too much if he wins an award. Plus, this year isn’t a big year for competition… But who knew that Jiang Qi would suddenly emerge?

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Anyone with eyes can see the difference in performance between Jiang Qi and Jing Yingxi—one is frivolous, the other, calm.

Who this Best Actor award should go to is actually clear to everyone. But the difference lies in Jiang Qi’s shady past, and with Jing Yingxi being supported by certain forces, under various external pressures, the purity of the awards is no longer certain.

Listening to Shen Lei’s explanation of these intricate details, Jiang Qi couldn’t help but glance at Jing Yingxi’s direction—actually, he didn’t know this legendary “competitor”, but the seating arrangement at the Golden Tree Awards placed all Best Actor nominees in one area, and the chairs had names, so it was easy to see.

Perhaps because the award for “Best Actor” was about to be announced, coincidentally, Jing Yingxi also looked over, and their gazes met.

Jing Yingxi is over ten years older than Jiang Qi, but having been immersed in the entertainment industry for years, he naturally exudes a slick demeanor and a casual humility. Men naturally don’t show their age, and coupled with Jing Yingxi’s excellent maintenance, there’s not a single wrinkle on his face.

He met Jiang Qi’s gaze and smiled meaningfully… but no matter how you look at that smile, it’s far from being benign.

Shen Lei, watching from the side, couldn’t help but click his tongue.

“No need to look at him,” the man turned Jiang Qi’s head, his voice calm, “What mind games is he playing? If it weren’t for some people’s support, his acting wouldn’t even qualify for a nomination.”

Shen Lei is straightforward, but when he said this, he also lowered his voice in Jiang Qi’s ear.

After all, walls have ears, and who knows how many eyes are watching here.

Soon, it was time to present the “Best Director” award.

Jiang Qi, who had been nonchalant all along, straightened up slightly at this moment, looking somewhat expectantly at Shen Lei beside him—Shen Lei was also nominated for Best Director.

On stage, the award was presented by the winner of the previous year’s Best Director. He first rambled on for a while before announcing the nominations, which everyone already knew. Then, he pretended to be mysterious before slowly saying, “The winner of the 62nd Golden Tree Award for Best Director is…”

“Wei Yunti!”

As this name was called out, amidst the applause, Jiang Qi suddenly turned his head to look at Shen Lei.

The latter had a faint smile on his face, and he was clapping along with the crowd, seeming not at all disappointed.

“Silly child, I won it just two years ago,” Shen Lei clapped and smiled as he spoke to Jiang Qi, “Do you think the Golden Tree Awards are so easily won?”

Besides, in the movie “Gazing at the Sky,” the most eye-catching aspect isn’t the story itself or his atmospheric construction of the film, but simply “Jiang Qi.”

If he couldn’t win Best Director, Shen Lei didn’t feel regretful, because Wei Yunti’s directing was also outstanding. But if Jiang Qi couldn’t win the Best Actor, Shen Lei would have the urge to “anonymously report the Film Association.”

The Golden Tree Awards’ Best Actor category has always been the most anticipated.

Because everyone loves drama and wants to see if Jiang Qi, the notorious actor, can “show his true colors.”

Finally, under the spotlight, it was time for the “Best Actor” award.

Presenting the award was last year’s Best Actor, Xin Wei, a veteran in the entertainment industry. With his steady tone, everyone, including Zhi Qi watching in front of the TV, held their breath. The young girl stared at the old man on the TV screen without blinking, listening as he announced the nominees and praised them one by one.

“This year’s most recognized gentlemen have all delivered exceptional performances, moving me deeply. Especially the younger ones, injecting fresh blood into the art world…”

Zhi Qi’s nails almost turned white as she clenched them, biting her lip deeply.

“Finally, I announce this year’s Best Actor is…” Xin Wei pulled out the card from the envelope, his smile seeming unsurprised. He announced loudly, “Jiang Qi!”

!

!!

Zhi Qi jumped out of bed again, fortunately her roommate wasn’t in the room this time.

For the first time, the girl realized that people really could be “moved to tears.”

Zhi Qi tearfully watched as almost all the cameras focused on Jiang Qi.

The indifferent handsome face of the young man seemed a bit dazed. He stood up surrounded by others, amidst the deafening applause, Zhi Qi saw Jiang Qi hug Shen Lei beside him, then calmly walk up to the stage.

Step by step, he ascended the stage, with the official script playing in the background—

“Emerging newcomer Jiang Qi, with his role as Mu Xi in the suspense thriller ‘Gazing at the Sky,’ successfully interpreted the seven-layered personality of a twisted young man, presenting the audience with an ultimate visual impact…”

Amidst the praise and applause, Jiang Qi ascended the stage and received the heavy trophy from veteran Xin Wei, the trophy belonging to the Best Actor.

Although the young man was calm, he lacked the experience to handle such occasions. Under the scrutiny of everyone, he could only flatly say the words that Xiao Yongfei had taught him to say if he won: “Thanks to Director Shen Lei, thanks to the production team, thanks… Qiqi.”

The last two words he said were barely audible, and no one knew who “Qiqi” was, and few people even heard it clearly. But only a few people knew that Jiang Qi, under the gaze of the crowd, called out the name of his beloved girl.

This kind of behavior was bold beyond imagination, leaving Zhi Qi stunned in front of the television.

Then, her face turned pink, as she certainly knew that when Jiang Qi said “Qiqi,” he was referring to her.

Jiang Qi quickly finished speaking and stepped down from the stage. With only three sentences, it could be considered the shortest acceptance speech in history for a Best Actor award. Since the day he appeared in the public eye, this man had always been extremely individualistic, leaving the onlookers amazed time and time again.

In just a few minutes, hashtags like #JiangQiGoldTreeAwardBestActor#, #WhoIsQiqi#, #JiangQiShortestAcceptanceSpeechInHistory#, and so on, flooded Weibo.

A bunch of trending topics, whether related or not, soared to the top of the trending list at rocket speed.

It’s unclear whether it was planned by Chen Ding Entertainment or if it happened naturally.

But regardless, the fact that Jiang Qi, an oddball who had served time in prison before becoming an actor, won the Best Actor award had caused a sensation across the entire internet—so much so that no one even cared about the subsequent awards for Best Actress and Best Picture.

For a while, all forums were dominated by keywords such as Jiang Qi, Gold Tree Award, Best Actor, Shen Lei, Qiqi… These terms were flooding the screens.

Even the stock of Chen Ding Entertainment soared to a new high.

*

Yet Jiang Qi was oblivious to all the attention he was receiving. He looked at the golden trophy in his hand and couldn’t help but wish he could give it to Zhi Qi.

To him, it was just a trinket.

The Best Actor award, which everyone coveted, was honestly just decided by a few judges, right? Jiang Qi didn’t really think he was that amazing. He was a little happy to receive the award, but only because Zhi Qi wanted him to have it.

He would just give it to her when his girl came back.

He wasn’t going to be overly concerned about it.

After the Gold Tree Awards ceremony, there was a party, but Jiang Qi didn’t attend. He told Xiao Yongfei that he wanted to go home. He was like a treasure now, whatever he said goes. Xiao Yongfei naturally arranged for a nanny car to wait at the back door, but the paparazzi were everywhere. When Jiang Qi went out, he was surrounded by cameras from all directions.

Amidst the flashing lights, the media captured a “divine picture” of tonight.

The young man in a black shawl suit slightly lowered his head, with a cigarette between his lips, holding the trophy carelessly in his hand, as if it were just a “plaything.” Jiang Qi’s fierce and disdainful eyes were slightly narrowed, with a lazy and contemptuous expression.

It was full of an undeniable aura of a “big shot”.

Darkness, light, just after winning the Best Actor award but acting indifferent and powerful.

This picture would still be widely circulated as an “out-of-the-box” divine picture for many years to come—recognized as the correct way to portray a pretentious demon.