Entertainment media loves to use "outshining" as a gimmick. What outshining the whole scene, a certain actress stunned the Four Seats when she appeared at a certain event, and so on.
But as we all know, it's essentially just pulling and ridiculing others.
However, when the media used these two words in the press release tonight, anyone who watched the live broadcast would nod their heads and think it was understandable.
The reason was simple. Jian Jing looked too beautiful.
Whether it was because she had grown up over the years, her facial features had become more defined, or her makeup today was particularly flattering, in short when she stood there, even strangers who saw her would ask: "Which celebrity is this? How come I've never seen her before?"
Among the guest presenters invited today was Zheng Keyan, who could be considered one of the most universally agreed upon great beauties in China, having often outshone others in press releases.
Even she had to pay attention to her manners when she came over to greet Jian Jing, lest she inadvertently appear haggard in comparison.
"Teacher Jian looks so beautiful today," was how everyone started their small talk.
Jian Jing smiled gently as she smoothed her skirt: "When others praise me, I dare believe it. But when you praise me like this, I don't dare believe it."
Zheng Keyan smiled charmingly: "I'm telling the truth, can we take a photo together?"
"Sure."
The two took an intimate photo together. From afar, Cai Tonger hesitated for a moment, pretended not to see, and sat down nonchalantly to play with her phone.
After Zheng Keyan left, another heavyweight guest arrived—Best Actor Qi, who played the demon doctor in "Demon Doctor 2", taking over the role from Shao Meng.
"Demon Doctor 2" had already started filming for some time, and Jian Jing had been busy recently and hadn't met him in person.
"Teacher Jian," Best Actor Qi greeted her politely with a handshake. "I'm very happy to have the chance to work with you."
Although nearing forty, he was still handsome and upright, with a well-maintained figure without a potbelly, and his face and body showed no signs of age, pleasing to look at.
Jian Jing was equally polite: "It is I who should say it's an honor."
In front of the cameras, with him unmarried and her unwed, it was inappropriate to chat too warmly, lest it spawn some scandal the next day. Best Actor Qi was careful, so after the greeting he promptly retreated.
Jian Jing was also tired from socializing, so she turned around to find her seat and sat down to play with her phone.
She sent Jiang BaiYan a message: [Why didn't I see you?]
He replied: [Suddenly got sick, couldn't make it]
She replied: [Get well soon, drink plenty of warm water]
He replied: [Smiley face.JPG]
"Who are you chatting with?" Kang Mu Cheng sat down beside her, and casually draped a white cashmere shawl over her shoulders. "Put this on, it's November already, quite chilly."
The air conditioning was on in the auditorium, but no matter how hard the central air blasted, in such a large space the warmth dissipated to almost nothing. The female celebrities wearing off-the-shoulder and backless gowns certainly felt cold, though none would admit it.
Jian Jing wrapped the shawl around herself and glanced around the venue.
The guests today were all invited by the organizers. Without an invitation one couldn't even get in. But backstage, the staff's management was much more lax.
The celebrities' assistants, the authors' agents, the staff responsible for lighting, props, stage, makeup... Where could he be?
The lights dimmed, signaling the official start of the ceremony.
The opening was a classical song and dance performance, a recreation of the narrow-sleeved "Green Waist Dance", with young ladies in long narrow-sleeved dresses, supple waists swirling gracefully, flying and fluttering about, evoking understanding of the rulers' debauchery.
After the dance, the host came on stage and introduced the judging panel of the Dream Pen Awards, all famous figures in the literary world, some professional critics, some winners of numerous major awards at home and abroad, with impressive qualifications, adding credibility to the judging of the prizes.
After introducing the judges, some unofficial minor awards were announced.
The Creative Short Story Award, Promising Novel Award, Best Illustration Award... Yes, the online voting awards could only get a seat at the ceremony without formal presentation.
Although these minor awards had little fame, just showing up and getting a medal as souvenir made them more worthwhile.
Everyone applauded courteously.
Jian Jing quietly asked Kang Mu Cheng: "How come I've never heard of these books?"
"They're all obscure works," he explained. "But well written."
She nodded.
Next was a round of song and dance performances, lively singing and dancing by young idols.
Then came the main event.
The first of the six major categories—romance, history, martial arts, sci-fi, mystery, and realism—to be announced was realism.
The five nominated books appeared one by one on the big screen, with the host reading the commentary for each: "Profoundly revealed the living conditions of the lower classes", "Incisively analyzed the psychological state of marginalized groups", "Hinted at the complexity and variability of human nature through fantastical portrayals"...
After a barrage of cryptic descriptions, he slowly announced: "The winner of this year's Dream Pen Award for Best Realist Novel is—'Spring Vegetable'! Congratulations!"
Jian Jing had heard of this book. Although sales were bleak and few understood it, it was highly acclaimed in literary circles, considered China's version of "One Hundred Years of Solitude".
She assumed the author was a Chinese Marquez.
However, when the author went on stage, everyone was surprised.
She was a simple working housewife, with dark, rough skin, petite build, a little old lady. She was also very introverted, and upon receiving the award only softly murmured: "Thank you."
The venue quieted, then erupted into warm applause.
No matter her appearance or background, as long as the soul of her writing was genuine, she deserved everyone's respect.
Next was a song performance, the theme song of a martial arts novel.
So the next award was for martial arts fiction.
The winner was a young teacher, extremely excited, and said many words of thanks, gushing about his passion for martial arts novels.
It represented a generation's youth and memories.
Kang Mu Cheng couldn't help but sigh: "Martial arts fiction is on the decline."
Jian Jing silently nodded. Indeed it was. Although respectable literary awards still included martial arts categories, the bestselling books in stores nowadays were fantasy.
Without web fiction sites here, new genres emerged nonstop, relying on buying affection with meat, and in recent years book rental businesses were thriving.
After martial arts was sci-fi.
The result was uncontroversial, the champion of a sci-fi fiction contest last year, published this year as a collection.
Next up was the mystery category.
The host began announcing the nominees this time: "'House of Shadows', 'Premeditated Murder', 'Thrice Dead Woman', 'Crossing the River', 'Roses, Gold, and Assassins'."
Followed by commentary.
'House of Shadows' was "ingeniously meticulous, seamless." 'Premeditated Murder' was "continuously twisting, interlocking." 'Thrice Dead Woman' was "cliffhangers upon cliffhangers, ups and downs." 'Crossing the River' was "bizarre and unique, in a class of its own."
Of course, the most coverage went to 'Roses, Gold, and Assassins'.
The host said: "This is a mystery novel of unique character, a reversal of the gloomy, thrilling style of mystery deduction fiction, focusing not on portraying the heaviness and pain of hatred, but telling a story of self-salvation. The writing is elegant and outstanding, narrating with words as refreshing as a spring day, reminding people that adventures have an endpoint, bloodshed concludes, but love is an eternal unfading rose, lighting the long road of life ahead..."
As his voice trailed off, he looked around, and under the anticipatory gaze of the audience, announced: "The winner of this year's Dream Pen Award for Best Mystery Novel is—'Roses, Gold, and Assassins'! Congratulations Jian Jing!"
The lights and cameras swung onto her simultaneously. In that moment, all eyes were upon her.
Kang Mu Cheng couldn't conceal the delight on his face, no longer bothering to hide it, nodded with a smile: "Go on."
Jian Jing got up slowly, rose petals fluttering down her snowy gauze dress, vividly lifelike.
The moment she stepped onto the stage, she turned her charm back on.
The stage lights were scaldingly hot, like the blazing summer sun beating down. Her cheeks immediately flushed fiery red.
The host froze briefly, but he was one of the top hosts in the entertainment industry, having seen hundreds of great beauties if not tens, and quickly composed himself, handing her the microphone.
"Thank you to the judges for the recognition," Jian Jing said into the mic, facing the camera with bright eyes. "Thank you to all the readers for loving my work, I feel extremely honored and very happy..."
She recited from a speech Kang Mu Cheng had vetted, enunciating clearly in steady tempo, making her seem frank and poised to outsiders.
Kang Mu Cheng was even more emotional.
He recalled the shock when he first saw Detective White Cat, the shock and hesitation when he got The Hide and Seek Child, and he couldn't help but think of the uproar when The Devil Doctor was first published... Looking back over the years, she was like a butterfly that had finally come to a metamorphosis.
An indescribable, ineffable strange feeling welled up in his heart.
It was like satisfaction, but more intense than satisfaction, like joy, but more complicated than joy. However, one thought was undoubtedly extremely clear.
That was - this was just the beginning.
It was just the start of her spreading her wings and soaring high.
In the future, she would definitely go higher and farther.
And he would certainly be the one to witness it.
"Thank you everyone." Jian Jing finished reading her lines under the spotlight and accepted the trophy from the award presenter.
The crystal-carved brush with her name engraved in gold was a unique memento.
The applause was like thunder as people crowded around her.
Jian Jing smiled and bowed as she walked off the stage.
The performance was over, and the real battlefield was about to open up.
She pressed the cool trophy against her cheek, thinking, I'm ready now, where are you?
*
History and romance were the two most fiercely contested awards in recent years, but Kang Mu Cheng had lost interest.
He felt something was off, but couldn't say what exactly.
President Tao was sweating nervously as he awaited the announcement of the romance category awards. Online opinion was firmly behind Jian Jing, and the guests around them were chatting as usual.
At first, he thought it was the after-effects of the Paris incident that made him uncomfortable in crowds. But he soon realized that wasn't it.
No, it wasn't psychological trauma, it was more like...like a premonition.
His gaze fell on the armrest next to him, where a white cashmere shawl was draped.
Ten minutes ago, Jian Jing had said she was going to the bathroom and left both the trophy and shawl behind. She even joked with him, "Mr. Kang, I'll be right back, don't worry."
At the time, he thought she was teasing him and didn't think much of it. But now, recalling it made cold sweat run down his back.
Kang Mu Cheng suppressed his emotions and immediately got up to leave.
Outside the auditorium, people were coming and going, very busy.
"Excuse me," he stopped a female staff member, "could you please go to the ladies' room and call someone for me?"
The staff member agreed and went into the nearest bathroom.
A moment later, a sharp shriek erupted from inside.
Kang Mu Cheng's heart thumped heavily, nearly jumping out of his throat. Ignoring propriety, he rushed in anxiously, "Jingjing?!"
Blood, he saw blood streaming down the entire mirror. The pungent smell of blood nearly overwhelmed his mind.
The sink was piled high with bright red rose petals.
And a snow-white envelope was tucked among them.
He walked over, fished out the envelope and tore it open.
Ribbons tumbled out, embroidered with red roses - it was Jian Jing's necklace.