EFB Chapter 232 Even the most beautiful flower needs someone to care for it [5000]
Chapter 232 Even the most beautiful flower needs someone to care for it [5000]
Chapter 232 Even the most beautiful flower needs someone to care for it [5000]
After Robert left, Chen Xun took a shower and changed into comfortable loungewear.
He nestled on the sofa, turned on the TV, and aimlessly flipped through channels.
Local Los Angeles news outlets were still broadcasting follow-up reports on the Oscars, with cameras panning across the red carpet and the party, occasionally flashing glimpses of him accepting his award.
Chen Xun looked at himself on the screen and felt a little dazed.
It's like watching someone else's story.
My phone kept vibrating.
The message count is over 99.
There were congratulatory messages from friends, and greetings from directors and producers I had worked with before.
Chen Xun picked out a few important ones to reply to, and planned to have Robert's assistant handle the rest.
As I was browsing, a video call request popped up.
It's Shen Man.
Chen Xun paused for a moment, then answered the call.
Shen Man's face appeared on the screen.
The background shows busy staff.
"Congratulations, Mr. Oscar."
Shen Man smiled, but there were tears in her eyes.
"Why are you crying?" Chen asked.
"Happy."
Shen Man wiped her eyes: "I just finished work and watched the live replay in the break room. I cried for half an hour during the part where you spoke Chinese."
Chen Xun didn't know what to say.
Shen Man sniffed: "You know what? I'm currently working as a variety show director in China, leading a group of young people who are just starting out in the industry."
"This afternoon, I showed them your clip and said, 'This is someone who came from our area. He thanked us in Chinese on the top stage in Hollywood.'"
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She paused for a moment: "A young girl cried and said that she studied media because she admired you, but she never dared to tell her family for fear of being accused of being a Western worshipper."
"Today she can confidently say that my idol appeared on CCTV."
Something inside Chen Xun's heart was gently bumped.
"Please thank her for me."
"I will."
Shen Man nodded: "By the way, I have something to tell you. CCTV-6 will be broadcasting highlights from the Oscars ceremony tomorrow night, 90 minutes long, with a focus on the part where you won the award. I heard that the media leaders are taking it very seriously and have specially hired the best dubbing team and even made a special feature on you."
Chen Xun raised an eyebrow: "So fast?"
"You're the first Chinese person to win an Oscar for acting; this is already considered slow."
Shen Man laughed: "Starting tomorrow night, you'll be a true national icon."
After hanging up the phone, Chen Xun leaned back on the sofa and stared blankly at the ceiling.
On the third night, during prime time in Beijing.
The opening theme music of CCTV-6 began to play.
Many families tuned in to the television on time.
Fans, curious passersby, and parents dragged to watch by their children.
"Mom, come quick! This is the actor I told you about!"
"Who is it? A foreigner?"
"A Chinese person won an Oscar in Hollywood!"
"Oh—let's take a look."
Selected clips from the awards ceremony began playing on the screen.
The professional voice actor's narration was steady and powerful: "On the evening of February 24th local time, the 85th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles."
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"At this year's awards ceremony, a Chinese actor made history —"
Screen switch.
Chen Xun walked on the red carpet, wearing a dark blue suit and with a polite smile.
Jennifer fell down, and Chen Xun rushed over to help her up.
Standing on the stage, holding the trophy, Chen Xun said in Chinese, "Thank you to my motherland and my fans in China!"
Every frame is meticulously edited, paired with just the right music and narration.
Then came a ten-minute personal segment on Chen Xun.
Early footage of him working as an extra in Los Angeles.
A fleeting shot in Twilight.
The investigator in "Lurking".
The exaggerated performance at Burger GG.
Then there are behind-the-scenes clips from "The Hunger Games," showing him being suspended by wires, training his physical fitness, and acting opposite Jennifer Lawrence.
Finally, there are the car chase scenes from the Fast & Furious 6 trailer and some funny photos from the set of Guardians of the Galaxy.
The narrator gently recounts: "Chen Xun started as an extra at the very bottom, and through tireless effort and extraordinary talent, he has gradually risen to where he is today—"
"He broke the stereotype of Asian actors in Hollywood, refusing to play stereotypical roles such as nerds or kung fu kids, and instead conquered audiences with his solid acting skills."
"This award is not only a personal honor, but also a significant breakthrough for Chinese-language filmmakers on the international stage."
'
In a university dormitory in Beijing, four girls squeezed together in front of a laptop.
Since there was no TV in the dormitory, they used mobile data to watch CCTV live.
"Ugh, it's my turn to look for my brother again!"
"I've seen the original version of this, but with CCTV's narration, it feels so formal!"
"My grandma just called and asked me if that person on TV is the idol I always talk about."
"Now Brother Xun is truly nationally recognized!"
Villas in Shanghai.
A middle-aged couple sat on the sofa.
His wife pointed at the screen: "Old Li, look at this kid, so energetic. I heard he's only 25?"
The husband pushed up his glasses: "Yeah, young and promising. It's not easy to make a name for yourself in Hollywood."
"I heard he went to Hollywood all by himself?" the wife asked, turning to her daughter who was scrolling through her phone. "Is that true, Yin'nan?"
Without looking up, the daughter said, "Mom, you've asked three times already. Yes, he went to study in America back then, slept in basements, ate expired bread—now he has an Oscar, Marvel is making movies, and Vin Diesel is his buddy."
The wife sighed, "It really wasn't easy."
The husband suddenly said, "This child speaks honestly. Look at his acceptance speech; he's not arrogant and doesn't forget his roots."
The daughter finally looked up, her eyes sparkling: "Dad, you finally admit my idol is amazing?"
The husband coughed and said, "When did I deny it?"
In a conference room of a film and television company in Guangzhou, a group of industry professionals watched and discussed the film.
"CCTV is really going all out this time, a 90-minute special. Only Jackie Chan and Jet Li have ever received this treatment before."
"Chen Xun's commercial value has exploded. I heard that five brands have already approached him for domestic endorsements, and the offers are all in the eight figures."
What's his next project? Is there a possibility he'll film it in China?
"It's hard to say. He's already firmly established in Hollywood, and his contract with Marvel is long-term, but—if a suitable script comes along, he might consider it."
"Then hurry up and prepare the script! Getting an actor of this caliber back is a huge win."
The program was coming to an end.
The scene returns to a close-up of Chen Xun holding the trophy.
The narration concludes: "From the film set in Los Angeles to the Oscar stage, Chen Xun has covered in four years a journey that many people cannot complete in a lifetime, but his story may have only just begun."
"Let's look forward to this young Chinese actor bringing us more wonderful performances in the future."
The end credits music begins.
The screen displayed the following text: "This film is dedicated to all Chinese filmmakers who are working hard overseas."
The program has ended.
On Weibo, fans have gone crazy!
The CCTV Oscar Special# trended on social media.
"I was moved to tears. The CCTV editing combined with the narration really broadened the scope!"
"Brother Xun's story is truly inspiring. From being an extra to winning an Oscar, even novels wouldn't dare to write something like this."
"My parents said this kid is good after watching him," so now I can openly be a fan!
"Certified by CCTV, its value is off the charts!"
"Did anyone notice that the show used a lot of footage of Chen Xun as an early extra? That hamburger guy scene makes me laugh every time I see it!"
"This shows that CCTV did its homework and didn't just edit things randomly."
"From today onwards, Chen Xun is a celebrity that even my parents' generation knows; his popularity is skyrocketing!"
Chen Xun watched the recorded broadcast of the program on his iPad in his apartment in Los Angeles.
Robert sat beside him, watching and taking notes.
Chen Xun remained silent.
He looked at his own face on the screen and felt a little unfamiliar with it.
That Asian clerk in the burger joint was so funny and exaggerated; that extra who saved the day on the set of Twilight; that young man who argued with the writers on the set of 2 Broke Girls—
It all feels like a dream.
"What are you thinking about?"
Rob put down his phone.
"If someone had told me four years ago that I would be standing on the Oscar stage and then be featured in a 90-minute special on CCTV, I would have thought they were crazy."
Rob laughed: "But this is reality now."
"yes."
Chen Xun turned off the iPad: "I'm thinking about what to do next."
"Just act as you normally would!"
Rob stood up: "There's something I need to tell you. I just received a call from back home. They want to invite you to a few official events, cultural exchange events, in about a month, after you finish filming 'Guardians of the Galaxy'."
Chen Xun raised an eyebrow: "Specifically?"
"An interview with the movie channel, a symposium with the Film Association, and several invitations to give lectures at universities."
"I think you should accept it. It will be good for your foundation in China."
Chen Xun nodded: "You can arrange it!"
On the flight back to London, Chen Xun had just turned off airplane mode on his phone when WeChat exploded with messages.
Rob's message was the most eye-catching: "Look! You and Jennifer are going crazy!"
Chen Xun opened Twitter.
#1 Trending: #JenniferFallsDown#
Second: #Chen Xun saves people#
Third: #OscarMeme#
Clicking on the first one, the most popular one is a ten-second animated GIF.
Jennifer fell heavily down the steps, and Chen Xun rushed over to help her almost simultaneously, his movements so fast it was as if they had rehearsed it.
The post has been shared over a million times.
"It's heartbreaking but also funny."
"Chen Xun's reaction was amazing!"
"I watched it ten times, and every time I wondered how Chen Xun managed to rush over so fast?"
"Jennifer's fall was so real, but Chen Xun's gesture of helping her up was so heartwarming!"
"That's what a true gentleman is, not something you can fake."
"The chemistry between these two is amazing, even better than in 'The Hunger Games'!"
Clicking on the second trend, the most popular topic is the couple's photos on the red carpet.
Jennifer wore an ivory white Dior gown, while Chen Xun wore a dark blue suit. The two smiled side by side, each holding an Oscar trophy.
The caption for the photo reads: "The best duo on Oscar night."
The number of likes has exceeded two million.
The comments section was even more lively: "This photo could be used as a movie poster!"
"Are they really not together? I don't believe it!"
"But I support this couple! They're a perfect match in looks, career, and even if they fall, someone will help them up!"
"Upstairs, Christine would help too, okay!"
"But Christine wasn't there, it must be fate!"
Chen Xun was both amused and exasperated.
As I was flipping through the pages, Jennifer called.
"Chen! Have you seen the news?"
Her voice trembled with excitement: "Dior! Dior gave me a ten-year contract! Ten years! You know what that means..."
What?! It means I won't have to worry about endorsements until I'm 35!
Chen Xun laughed: "What did I say again?"
"You're amazing!"
Jennifer screamed on the other end of the phone, "My agent almost fainted when she got the call! The terms are three times better than before, and they even said they value my genuine, unpretentious image. My fall was actually a plus!"
"So you believe my prophecy now?"
"I believe you! From now on, I'll call you Master Chen!"
Jennifer laughed so hard she could barely breathe: "And it wasn't just me, Dior contacted you too!"
Chen Xun was taken aback: "Looking for me?"
"Yes! The menswear line! My agent heard from people at Dior that they want to sign you as their menswear ambassador for Asia, for a year first, to see how the market reacts."
Jennifer paused for a moment: "I've already thought of the tagline, to match my style!"
"Who will win? Dior!"
Even the most beautiful flower needs someone to care for it!
Chen Xun: "————"
This copywriting is incredibly cheesy.
But I have to say, they're pretty good at jumping on trending topics.
What do you think?
"Let Rob negotiate; if the terms are right, we'll sign!"
"We have to sign!"
Jennifer exclaimed excitedly, "This makes us the official Dior couple! We can shoot GG together, walk the red carpet together, and oh right, Dior said they want to do a big photoshoot with us, to keep up that Oscar vibe."
Chen Xun thought for a moment: "As long as the time can be arranged."
"Definitely!"
Jennifer said, "My agent is already adjusting the schedule."
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"Chen, thank you."
She suddenly became serious.
"What are you thanking me for?"
"all!"
Jennifer's voice softened: "Thank you for helping me, thank you for your prediction, and thank you for being there for me at the most opportune time."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.
"We are partners."
"Yes, partner."
Jennifer laughed: "The best partner!"
After hanging up the phone, Chen Xun opened his email.
Sure enough, Rob had already forwarded Dior's preliminary letter of intent for cooperation.
The terms are very attractive: a one-year contract, an eight-figure endorsement fee, including print and television appearances, and attendance at brand events.
The focus is on joint promotions with Jennifer.
Rob added, "Dior made a smart move, locking in the two of you while the Oscars were at their peak. I suggest signing you; it will greatly help elevate your status in the luxury goods industry."
Chen Xun replied, "You decide!"
After sending the email, the plane began its descent.
London's overcast and rainy weather continued as usual.
Chen Xun dragged his suitcase out of Heathrow Airport, where a car sent by Director Gunn was already waiting at the door.
The driver, a talkative British gentleman, asked as soon as he got in the car, "Mr. Chen, I saw the news, those photos of you and Ms. Lawrence are really great! My daughter is a fan of both of you, could you help me get an autograph?"
Chen Xun smiled and agreed.
The car drove toward the set of Guardians of the Galaxy.
On the way, Chen Xun checked domestic news.
On Weibo, news has spread that Dior is about to sign him and Jennifer.
The headlines from marketing accounts were increasingly exaggerated: "Oscar Effect! Dior swiftly secures Chen Xun and Jennifer, ten-year contracts + menswear endorsements—this is a massive win!"
"From Oscars to Dior: Chen Xun and Jennifer's commercial value soars; is Hollywood's strongest on-screen couple born?"
Analysis: Why was Chen Xun able to land the Dior menswear deal? Besides the Oscars, there are three other reasons —
Opening the comments section, fans were already ecstatic: "Brother Xun is awesome! Dior menswear ambassador, his status has skyrocketed!"
"A photoshoot with Jennifer? I'm already looking forward to it!"
"What a clever tagline! Even the most beautiful flower needs someone to care for it—is that a veiled reference to the scene where Oscar helped Jennifer?"
"Dior did a great job capitalizing on this hype; it's a win-win situation for both sides."
"Am I the only one concerned about endorsement fees? It must start at eight figures, right?"
"Upstairs, you've broadened your perspective. After this, Brother Xun's endorsement fees will all go up."
There were also dissenting voices: "It was just a simple act of helping someone up, why is it being blown out of proportion for so long?"
"Dior is really going all out for the Chinese market, even finding a Chinese actor."
"Jennifer's ten-year contract is the key point; Chen Xun's contract is just a one-year trial."
These comments were quickly drowned out.
When I arrived at the film set, it was already 3 p.m.
Filming for Guardians of the Galaxy is still ongoing.
As Chen Xun entered the studio, he was greeted by Dave Bautista, shirtless, doing push-ups, his muscles gleaming.
"Hey! Mr. Oscar's back!"
Dave jumped up and gave Chen Xun a tight hug: "I heard you're trending again?"
Chen Xun was being choked so tightly he could barely breathe: "Easy—what trending topic?"
"You and Jennifer, Dior."
Dave winked: "Sure, winning an Oscar comes with a luxury brand endorsement."
How did you know?
"Zoe told me."
Dave pointed to the distance.
Zoe Saldana had already done Gamora's makeup, her green skin glowing under the lights.
She walked over, smiled, and bumped fists with Chen Xun: "Congratulations, Dior has good taste."
"You guys are really well-informed."
"There are no secrets in Hollywood."
Zoe shrugged: "Especially good."
As we were talking, Director Gunn came over with a walkie-talkie.
"Chen! Welcome back!"
He looked Chen Xun up and down: "How was it? Feeling like you're sleeping with the little golden statue?"
"I haven't tried it yet."
Chen Xun smiled and said, "How about we try it tonight?"
"Give it a try, it might give you some acting inspiration."
Gunn patted him on the shoulder.
Chen Xun went to the dressing room to change into his costume.
I ran into Bradley on the way.
He was wearing headphones and muttering to himself in the corner. When he saw Chen Xun, he took off one earphone and said, "Hey, Oscar boy, I heard you're going to become Dior men?"
"The news travels fast!"
Chen Xun was helpless.
After putting on his makeup and wearing Star-Lord's red jacket, Chen Xun walked to the center of the set.
Today we're filming the first group scene since the Guardians of the Galaxy were formed.
Five people on the Milano were arguing about where to go next.
"All departments, get ready!" the assistant director shouted.
Chen Xun took a deep breath.
[Aura Control] will take effect automatically.
He felt like he had entered Peter Quill's state.
That cynical, sarcastic but kind-hearted little thief.
"Action!"
The filming went very smoothly.
Perhaps because he was more relaxed after winning the Oscar, Chen Xun's performance was more natural than before he went to Los Angeles.
Gunn nodded repeatedly behind the monitor.
During a break, Chen Xun sat on a folding chair and scrolled through his phone.
Dior's official Twitter account just posted a teaser tweet: "The most beautiful flowers deserve the most careful care. They are about to bloom. Stay tuned."
The accompanying image is a blurry silhouette.
A man and a woman stood side by side, their silhouettes clearly those of Chen Xun and Jennifer.
The number of shares and likes instantly exceeded 10,000.
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