Chapter 83: Not Everyone Is Meant to Flaunt Their Love

Chapter Eighty-Three: Not Everyone Can Flaunt Their Love

Both Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er won awards, though Yang Xin’er’s Best Actress accolade garnered far more attention. Becoming queen of the awards, with the added drama of setting the record for the youngest Best Actress in Golden Dragon history, easily made her the most dazzling winner of this year’s ceremony. It was only natural that the media coverage was extensive.

Zhang Le’s award for Best Original Movie Song, on the other hand, was typically overlooked at the Golden Dragon Awards. Yet this time, the spotlight on him surpassed even those who received the major honors. Media reports and public discussion on his win exceeded even the coverage for this year’s Best Actor, whose stardom seemed dimmed in comparison. This year’s leading man, without a doubt, was left in the shadows.

Once again, the “Starlight Sniper” had displayed his influence.

Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er were regarded as the most capricious celebrity couple; ever since their relationship became public, peace had eluded them. News about them never disappeared from the media, and quiet was simply out of reach.

In the world of celebrity romance, the way Yang Xin’er and Zhang Le handled their relationship stood in stark contrast to other couples. They were bold and unapologetic, even repeatedly raising the bar on how affection could be publicly displayed.

They announced their relationship without reservation, flaunting their love on variety shows despite a tidal wave of opposition. From then on, their journey of showcasing affection began.

They flaunted their love at the Golden Melody Awards, on the stage of the Spring Festival Gala, and now at the Golden Dragon Awards. Their display of affection during the ceremony drew all the media’s attention. Regardless of how the press covered it, their exposure soared.

Whether criticized or praised, the importance of visibility for celebrities was self-evident.

In the entertainment industry, those striving for prominence will stop at nothing—self-deprecation and scandal are commonplace. The saga of Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er was a lesson for all.

It turned out that, aside from rumors, romance could also be used for hype.

After their relationship was revealed, Zhang Le bore the brunt of the scorn—countless insiders reveled in schadenfreude while others sighed in disappointment. Yet, no matter the sentiment, attention on the couple surged, with Zhang Le’s popularity exploding overnight.

After their recognition from “Always With You,” they gained widespread approval, and their romance only fueled continued media pursuit and soaring popularity.

In the entertainment world, obscurity is tantamount to death.

Thus, many overlooked celebrities began to publicize their relationships, seizing the opportunity to attract media and boost their fame. Especially after “Always With You” aired, couples emerged one after another, overwhelming the public.

Some may have drawn courage from Yang Xin’er and Zhang Le, deciding to stop hiding and sneaking around. But most were mere publicity stunts, some couples not even real, just company-arranged ploys.

These couples, too, flaunted their affection—more frequently and with greater variety than Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er. Yet their displays lacked the naturalness of Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er.

Their affection was for show, not the show arising from genuine love.

Previously, many couldn’t grasp why so many couples’ displays of affection felt awkward. After this year’s Golden Dragon Awards, everyone finally understood.

Matching outfits aren’t about what you wear, but about love. Affection isn’t performed, it’s born from love.

Zhang Le’s words gave everyone the answer.

True character is revealed over time, and real feelings are proven through endurance.

Many, especially those who hadn’t accepted Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er, began to reflect: Why do those who perform affection for the sake of the show receive blessings, while those whose love is sincere and on display earn curses?

What has become of this world?

When Yang Xin’er was crowned Best Actress and shouted “I love you” from the podium, the sincerity and determination in her voice were unmistakable.

And when Zhang Le immediately responded, “I love you too,” his words were smooth and uncontrived—another heartfelt confession, another act of fearless love.

In a short time, Zhang Le had achieved remarkable feats, closing the gap between himself and Yang Xin’er. Yet with Yang Xin’er crowned Best Actress and Zhang Le merely an award-winner, the distance widened once more.

Still, their disparity seemed less pronounced, and fewer people doubted Zhang Le’s worthiness.

For those truly in love, concepts of “worthy” or “unworthy” hold no meaning.

Bit by bit, Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er earned the public’s blessing with their sincerity.

When a film begins production, halting midway is a significant loss. The suspension of “No Way Out” was entirely due to the crew being almost the same as that of “Waiting for Home.” Since “Waiting for Home” had so many Golden Dragon nominations, the entire crew was likely absent.

Once the Golden Dragon Awards ended, Zhang Le returned to the crew with Chen Ke and others to resume filming.

Yang Xin’er shared her joy of winning with Zhang Le, but it was short-lived; there was no time for celebration, and they hurriedly parted ways, leaving her with a sense of regret.

Yet Yang Xin’er knew that not only Zhang Le, but she too had to keep striving—for their dreams, and for each other.

With Yang Xin’er crowned Best Actress, her value soared. Films she had previously shot were now windfalls for their producers, especially Yue Yang, who benefited most. He not only gained Yang Xin’er, the newly minted Best Actress, but also Zhang Le, the fresh winner of Best Original Movie Song, who wrote, composed, and performed his film’s theme song.

Anyone with a keen eye would seize this momentum.

“Dragon Gate Inn” immediately launched its publicity campaign, with its trailer and theme song music video quickly appearing online.

The current film market has no shortage of martial arts movies, but they no longer match their heyday a decade ago, and their decline is indisputable. Yet, with aggressive promotion, this film still attracted considerable attention, especially among martial arts fans.

Zhang Le’s “Red Dust Inn” quickly became widely sung.

With “Cold Fireworks” preceding it, countless fans began to speculate about the plot of “Dragon Gate Inn” based on the lyrics of “Red Dust Inn.”

The song’s content resembled a musical martial arts romance: the end of the world is swept by sand, the stories of the mortal world are about longing, a hero hangs up his sword for a beauty and disappears among ordinary families beneath the eastern fence; the couple sits beneath the eaves, drinking tea, the brush in hand not for elegance but to remember her face; scene after scene, like a classical Chinese painting of heroes and beauties.

“Cold Fireworks” had all but narrated the plot of “Waiting for Home,” and although “Dragon Gate Inn” only released a two-minute trailer, fans believed “Red Dust Inn” had similarly foreshadowed its narrative.

It was almost a spoiler, but even more, it heightened anticipation for the film, as everyone wished to see if their guesses were right.

Compared to “Cold Fireworks,” Zhang Le’s vocal skills had visibly improved. With a style that alternated between free-spirited, reflective, and heroic, he sang of the life-and-death bonds in “Red Dust Inn,” clearly demonstrating his growing mastery of musical technique.