Chapter 43: 243. Reach The Apogee(The End)

In Hong Kong in June.

This year’s Hong Kong Film Awards was a little later than those held in previous years. This award, which also had the golden statuettes like the Oscar, represented the annual movie festival in Chinese film circle.

Looking back on the last year, the best movies in the film industry were emerging in an endless stream and the annual box office was 45.7 billion in total. The film industry was thriving, and people’s spiritual lives were getting more and more fulfilling.

The Hong Kong Film Awards was also a gathering of good films. There were some of them made by famous directors for years, and also greatest famous works of young actors. All kinds of art-house films and commercial movies converged at the ceremony, but the most eye-catching one was a movie released last month.

That was Abduction of Children, the box office legend in Chinese film circle.

This movie was a production of China Entertainment, directed by the Award-winning actor Wei Changfeng. And it was a movie in which Qi Le’an, who was nominated for an Oscar for best actor, co-starred with two Award-winning actors. The movie was nominated for seven awards in the Hong Kong Film Awards, including the valuable awards for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.

Some netizens joked that if it wasn’t for the lack of female roles in Abduction of Children, it might have won all the important awards.

A year later, Wei Changfeng and Qi Le’an moved into Sheng Chang’an’s villa of Hong Kong island again. However, this time, there were two little followers behind them. One was An Cheng who had grown almost several inches in half an year, and another was Little Orange who was still bashful.

An Cheng dressed in a small suit looked very nervous.

Qi Le’an was still joking, “Our Little An Cheng will be the youngest actor to walk down the red carpet in history!”

After Abduction of Children caused a sensation, several under-age actors were also idolized by people, and the most popular one among them was An Cheng. This time, An Cheng also received an invitation.

An Cheng was even more nervous by Qi Le’an’s words. He couldn’t help but go to the toilet.

Little Orange looked at her brother in confusion, then turned to look at her two fathers, feeling that they were really handsome.

Wei Changfeng and Qi Le’an were dressed in suits. When the two of them stood together, they really looked like a couple. What An Cheng wore was a scaled-down version in the same style like theirs, which made them look more like a family.

Little Orange was wearing a pink princess dress, hugging a doll of Peppa Pig with a small princess hairpin on her head.

Wei Changfeng smiled and said, “You tease him again. Be careful not to make him cop out.”

Qi Le’an shrugged and said, “With you here, how could he cop out?”

After he finished, he couldn’t help but smile too.

A while ago, the three of them appeared on a variety show. The host asked who was the idol of An Cheng. An Cheng thought about it for a while and said, “It’s Fynn.”

Now he didn’t call Wei Changfeng and Qi Le’an ‘Bro’ or ‘Papa’, but call them ‘Fynn’ and ‘An’, inspired by his sister.

Qi Le’an thought it was not bad. If An Cheng called them ‘Papa’ every day, he would even feel a little awkward.

Seeing that it was close to the start of the ceremony, Qi Le’an shouted in the direction of the bathroom, “The driver is waiting at the door!”

After a few seconds, An Cheng ran over with a long face.

The assistant brought the driver to pick up the four of them. Little Orange reached out to ask Wei Changfeng for a hug as though she had sensed something. Wei Changfeng doted on his little daughter and he would almost satisfy all her demands. So he stretched out his hand to pick Little Orange up.

Qi Le’an held the hand of An Cheng and followed Wei Changfeng to make for the door.

It was no exaggeration to say that it was a star-studded award ceremony. However, Qi Le’an had already seen life before, and now he would not get stage fright because of this. He got in the car, and then was set down in the light of the camera flashes. He and Wei Changfeng stayed together all the way with two children.

An Cheng seemed to be a little nervous. He held Qi Le’an’s hand tightly. Little Orange who was usually shy looked a little ignorant. She seemed to have not yet found out what the adults were doing. She was only enjoying her papa’s embrace.

Since the two of them walked down the red carpet with two children so aboveboard, the media reporters were so excited that they almost fainted. All of them wished that they could interview the biggest dark horse of the Hong Kong Film Awards. However, the two of them rejected all the interviews and entered the venue.

Sis Ya Ting didn’t act as the host this year. She wore a white gown and covered her mouth, laughing. She looked at Little Orange and asked, “Oh my God, whose angel is this? How cute you are!”

Little Orange hid her head shyly in Wei Changfeng’s arms, which got a big laugh from the adults.

Ya Ting looked at Mang City again and asked, “Is this Mang City?” It’s really Brother Xiao.

An Cheng, who was praised by her, felt stiff all over his body.

After everyone greeted, everyone took their seats in proper order. Little Orange sat on Wei Changfeng’s lap while An Cheng sat between the two adults. Brother Zhi also arrived early and his face suddenly became animated when he saw the two of them.

Perhaps it was because he met an acquaintance, An Cheng was not so nervous, but he still stiffened his back and did not completely relax.

The two of them arrived a little later and they only sat for about twenty minutes before the ceremony started. The current host was a famous actor in Hong Kong, and his image as a punk had been imitated by a generation of youngsters.

As the light darkened, the host said on the stage, “Last year, the Chinese films have been thriving. Today, I have to thank all the staff here.”

The hostess also walked in from behind and smiled. “No matter what jobs you are in, no matter what you do, you are dedicating yourselves to the film industry. Today, we will congratulate the excellent works and staff of the last year.”

Little Orange felt a little awkward and wiggled her body. Qi Le’an took out a lollipop from his pocket and the little girl’s eyes lit up.

Wei Changfeng helped remove the  sweet wrapper and Little Orange smiled sweetly as she was eating the lollipop.

The hosts on the stage started to look back at the excellent movies of the last year. Qi Le’an looked up and watched it seriously. As time passed, the awards were presented one by one on stage. Brother Zhi began to perspire heavily and looked nervous.

“The creation of every great work couldn’t be separated from its soul. A good script lays the foundation of an excellent movie,” the hostess smiled, “Now, we’ll present the award for best screenplay of the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards! Please look at the big screen!”

“Fynn…” An Cheng whispered beside him.

There were five nominations for best screenplay, and Abduction of Children was one of them. Qi Le’an’s heart started to beat more quickly again, while Wei Changfeng, who was beside him, looked completely calm.

“Long Wenkang, Wu Qiwei, and Mai Tianqu, the scriptwriters of Trivisa!”

Qi Le’an clapped and saw the crew in the distance burst into cheers. The three scriptwriters went on stage. The sadness flashed across An Cheng’s face and he also lowered his head.

Wei Changfeng looked at An Cheng and said gently, “An Cheng.”

An Cheng looked up at Wei Changfeng.

“When we go home tonight, let’s watch this movie together. This is a very cool cops-and-robbers movie.”

“A cops-and-robbers movie?” An Cheng asked.

“It’s a story involving the police trying to catch criminals,” Wei Changfeng smiled and said, “It’s really great. By the way, do you want to be a policeman in the future?”

An Cheng shook his head.

Qi Le’an asked, “Then what do you want to be in the future?”

An Cheng didn’t say anything for a while. Qi Le’an thought that the child hadn’t thought about his dreams yet, but An Cheng suddenly said, “I want to be a man like Fynn.”

Qi Le’an could not help but smile, ‘Well, Wei Sama is really a national idol.’

“My dream when I was a child was also to become a person like Fynn,” Qi Le’an said in a low voice, “So we have to recognize other people’s advantages like Fynn.”

An Cheng seemed to understand something.

After the three scriptwriters of Trivisa finished speaking, the hosts went on stage again. Qi Le’an blinked and said, “Of course, I also think that Fynn is the best.”

An Cheng’s little face creased into a smile.

“If the script is the soul of an excellent movie, then the director is the shape of the movie’s body. He creates every movie like God creates lives, with the greatest love and enthusiasm,” the host laughed, “Next, let’s see the five movies nominated for best director.”

“Mad World directed by Huang Jin!”

“Empty directed by Ge Yulu!”

“…”

“…”

“Abduction of Children directed by Wei Changfeng!”

The short video flashed across the screen. The image of Abduction of Children showed that An Cheng was leading his sister to flee all the way. When Little Orange saw that, she stopped eating the lollipop and called An Cheng in a low voice, “Brother…”

The hostess said, “The best director is… Wei Changfeng of Abduction of Children!”

The whole venue burst into applause. Qi Le’an had gotten himself all psyched up for that, but he could not help but be happy for Wei Changfeng. He took Little Orange from Wei Changfeng’s arms and the two of them hugged. Then Wei Changfeng went on stage.

The hostess said, “Fynn won the award for best actor last year and is now on stage again.”

Wei Changfeng nodded and smiled, “Thank the organizing committee for giving me this award.”

“Abduction of Children has created a box office legend. As the youngest best director in history, what do you feel about it, Fynn?”

Wei Changfeng looked below the stage and said, “The success of Abduction of Children is not only credited to me. Everyone in the team has worked hard for it. Thank you!”

The hostess said, “Let the guest present the award to Wei Changfeng!”

The elder who had won the Lifetime Achievement Award appeared and gave the trophy to Wei Changfeng. Wei Changfeng bowed to him and received it with a smile.

Amidst the passionate music, the host joked, “Fynn, you have shared the feeling for getting a trophy here last year. What do you want to share with us this year?”

Wei Changfeng, who was about to leave the stage, stopped and the music gradually stopped.

All the audience and cameras were focused on him.

Wei Changfeng shrugged, “This year… There’s nothing to share with you this year. Everything I have belongs to his.”

Then he kissed his ring.

The whole audience burst into screams! The venue went out of control for several times!

Qi Le’an, who was sitting under the stage, smiled hard and suppressed his tears because of being touched by it.

He remembered that before he went out, he wanted to take off the ring but was stopped by Wei Changfeng.

“I want to thank one for accompanying me when I was in the most difficult times. Yes… I owe him a wedding. I wonder if he is willing to make it up with me after the award ceremony.”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Qi Le’an. Qi Le’an hugged Little Orange and smiled.

Wei Changfeng came down from the stage, put the trophy in Qi Le’an’s hands and held the child in his arms.

The host said on stage, “The next award is also the focus of the public. Please see the nominations for best actor!”

There were another five short videos. The scene excerpted from Abduction of Children was the one when Chen Guai, played by Qi Le’an, was speaking in front of his adoptive father on the bed. The young man looked indifferent, and his words were filled with hatred and relief.

“If I have to say which one of the movies last year is the most moving, then it will undoubtedly be the one he is starred in. Every look in his eyes shows his inner heart. He is given a new lease of life in extremis, and he is… Qi Le’an, the leading player in Abduction of Children!”

The moment the host read his name, Qi Le’an felt a little calm inside. He had participated in many awards ceremonies, but this was his first time winning the award.

He gave the trophy belonging to Wei Changfeng to An Cheng, stood up, touched An Cheng’s head, looked at Wei Changfeng and walked up to the stage.

Only by walking in person would he know how long the road was.

On the big screen, the mash-up of the film and TV works that he had participated in since he started out was played. Together with La La Land, he had only appeared in four films.

Qi Le’an went on stage and stood on it.

“You, at the age of 22, are the youngest Award-winning actor in the history of Hong Kong Film Awards.” The hostess smiled, “Congratulations, Le’an.”

“Let’s invite Elder Ge to present the award to Le’an!”

Qi Le’an didn’t expect the one who presented the trophy to him to be Elder Ge, which made him a little surprised. He watched Elder Ge walk out of the backstage with the trophy in his hand.

Then Elder Ge handed him the trophy.

Qi Le’an took it with both hands. He thought to himself, ‘Oh, I’m the Award-winning actor now. That’s really fascinating.’

“Elder Ge, I heard that you volunteered to present the trophy to Le’an. Is there any story?” The host stood aside and asked with a smile.

Qi Le’an didn’t expect him to say like this and looked at Elder Ge with surprise.

Elder Ge smiled and said, “Because he is the young actor I think the most highly of.”

No one expected Elder Ge to have such a high opinion of Qi Le’an, and even Qi Le’an himself hadn’t imagined it before.

“About this time last year… I thought his performance was excellent but lacked something.” Elder Ge seemed to be reminiscing, “Then I told him that he could go look for it.”

“Later, he really found it.”

Elder Ge looked at Qi Le’an and smiled. “You deserve to be the youngest Award-winning actor.”

The hostess looked at Qi Le’an and asked, “Then, Le’an, since you won the award. Is there anything you want to say?”

Qi Le’an suddenly remembered the small note he had prepared before the Academy Awards. He thanked many people and also told his excitement on it. He thought about it. Although he wanted to say a lot, finally he only said, “I do.”

Everyone was stunned.

Then they reacted quickly! It was Qi Le’an’s reply to what Wei Changfeng had just said!

‘Wei Sama, I do.

Even if we don’t hold the wedding, I’m willing to marry you, let alone make it up.’

Among the crowd, his gaze met Wei Changfeng’s. Wei Changfeng hugged his daughter and smiled happily.

Qi Le’an bowed and stepped down from the stage. Finally he almost trotted towards them.

All the cameras followed Qi Le’an’s footsteps and all eyes were focused on him.

Then Qi Le’an stopped in front of Wei Changfeng.

He gasped and said again, “I do.”

The joy on the young man’s face couldn’t be held back. As a guy who proposed to someone for the first time, Qi Le’an’s heart was deeply anxious.

Wei Changfeng placed Little Orange on the ground while An Cheng held his sister’s hand.

The audience was on the edge of its seat while Wei Changfeng put his arm around Qi Le’an’s waist.

No one else cared about the presentation on the stage and everyone looked at their actions.

When the crowd screamed and clapped wildly, Wei Changfeng lowered his head slowly and kissed Qi Le’an.

——The End. (The Extra Chapters are coming! Please stay tuned!)