Chapter 505: Any Tom Dick or Harry Can Buy Awards

This is all an open secret, so why put on an act in front of everyone?

Chen Man tugged the corner of her mouth disdainfully and suddenly shivered, glancing anxiously at Chu Yao’s expression, but seeing nothing, guiltily diverted her gaze.

“Chu Yao, you as a senior must have heard the news, you’re definitely going to be the Golden Deer Best Actress this year.”

“I need to rig the game to win the Best Actress Award?

Isn’t it inevitable?”

Such a statement, coming from someone else, would have elicited scoffs, but when it came from Chu Yao’s lips, no one dared to question it.

“I’m just speculating, but with that confidence, even if I brashly assumed the award was mine, I wouldn’t release any indicative press releases before the award ceremony.

Shengjing has only promoted the movie from start to finish, not meddling with anything else.

Seems like Shen Shichu really spoils you, willing to spend money to buy an award for you.”

Chen Man looked at Chu Yao with terror, then glanced around.

The pointing and whispering around her were too much to bear.

But Chu Yao couldn’t be bothered to waste words with her and walked straight past.

“Director An, how about shooting my part first?”

The director wasn’t one to gossip, but the two women had been standing just a few steps away from him, and he had heard every word loud and clear.

He didn’t look at the panicked Chen Man, but responded with a smile, “Sure, I’ll have them change the set right away.”

The director quickly gave the instructions.

Chu Yao, arms folded, said casually, “So the Golden Deer Award has started to dilute its prestige.

Any Tom, Dick, or Harry can buy an award now, what are the judges even good for?”

Director An instinctively looked around and chuckled twice, wisely choosing not to respond.

He was just a director; other matters weren’t his to comment on, and he certainly didn’t want to get involved in the disputes of female celebrities.

However, it took a moment for Chen Man to realize that Chu Yao had deliberately made that statement for her to hear.

She hurriedly looked for her agent and called Shen Shichu, exaggerating the intimidation and threats she faced from Chu Yao and even cried a bit until Shen Shichu assured her that nothing would go wrong with the Newcomer Award.

Only then did she hang up the phone.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but when she looked up, she saw a woman sitting on a single-seat couch opposite her.

The woman was wrapped in a down jacket, and although the studio was warm, she had only pulled the zip down below her chest, her hat was still on, a white knitted hat covering her brows.

Nan Jiaojiao lifted her eyes, giving Chen Man a composed glance, showing no expression, then lowered her head to continue playing her game.

Chen Man felt an indescribable anxiety bubble up, stood up, and walked away, still looking back suspiciously a few times.

…

Chu Yao breezed past the tension.

On the spot, Director An invited her for a role.

Chu Yao verbally agreed that as long as the script was right and the schedule fit, she had no problem collaborating once again.

Afterwards, she left with Nan Jiaojiao.

By 5 p.m., they needed to walk the red carpet again.

Chu Yao hadn’t shown up for the morning event, but in the evening, she made her first appearance.

The fans barricaded the scene so tightly that it was irrelevant to other celebrities’ supporters; her entrance was met with thunderous cheers, and the photographers went wild, the flashbulbs incessantly lighting up her face.

She was so professional that she didn’t even flinch.

That night, she was the opening goddess, performing a dance.

Following that was the host’s warm-up act, then Chu Yao went backstage to change costumes.

Then, as the stage lights dimmed and the off-camera announcer introduced what was to come, the lights came back on, revealing a dazzlingly Chinese-themed stage.

Chu Yao, dressed in red, sporting a high ponytail and carrying a blood-stained sword, stood on a battlefield post-combat, with bodies of soldiers and wounded horses from both sides behind her.

Her eyes were bloodshot, her face speckled with blood droplets, her body swaying unsteadily.

She had just survived a brutal fight, dragging a battered body through the endless sands.

At that moment, the sound of a guzheng began to play.