The Greatest Showman #1233 - Applause and Thunder

One thousand, one hundred and ninety-five applause and thunder erupted as the red curtain on the side stage slowly lifted. A smiling Asian face emerged, and with the emcee's guidance, the person walked offstage.

Ren Li's eyes lit up slightly. It was the Best Director Award that had just concluded.

This year's awards season had been marked by a fierce battle between Ben Affleck for Escape from Tehran and Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. Their rivalry had been the season's biggest attraction. In addition to them, Ang Lee for The Fantasy Drifting of the Young Pi and David O. Russell for The Line of Happiness Behind the Dark Clouds were also leading figures in the first group of contenders.

However, after the Golden Globes, when Oscar nominations were announced, Affleck—who had been basking in his success—was unexpectedly left out. This surprised many and made the trajectory of the major Oscar awards much more unpredictable.

In the previous life, Ang Lee had become the biggest beneficiary of Affleck's exit, ultimately winning his second Best Director Oscar after Brokeback Mountain. In this life, though, with no spoilers like Renly's influence, history hadn't deviated too far from its original course. Ang Lee had managed to rise again, cementing his place as a prominent Chinese director in Hollywood.

And now, it was Ang Lee who appeared in front of Renly.

A fluttering sense of excitement deep inside Renly stirred his thoughts, but he politely stepped aside and greeted Ang Lee, "Congratulations."

Li An paused for a moment, and in the dim lighting, he caught the outline of Renly's face, his expression lighting up in sudden recognition. "Oh, thank you."

Renly smiled and nodded briefly. "This work was fantastic—the visual effects were amazing. But what I appreciated most was the depth and discussion of Eastern philosophy in the story."

"Undoubtedly, it's a film worth revisiting. Honestly, I don't know any director who can combine the subtlety of the East with the boldness of the West so perfectly. I look forward to your next work," Renly said, speaking slowly but with a thoughtful, layered commentary.

He gave one last "congratulations" before stepping away from the side stage, guided by the staff through a passage that led him to center stage.

Li An remained there for a moment, somewhat stunned by the interaction. The emotions from receiving the award were still swirling in his mind, and the unexpected encounter with Renly threw him off balance. He chuckled softly, recognizing the young actor's intriguing presence.

The master of ceremonies politely reminded him, "Li?"

Snapping back to the present, Li An quickly nodded, acknowledging that it was time to move on. He walked toward the waiting room, accepting congratulations from his colleagues.

Meanwhile, Renly continued walking towards the stage as Seth's voice was heard through the speakers.

After the Best Director Award had been given, the broadcast cut to a commercial. The ceremony was winding down, with just three major awards left: Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Picture—each one drawing intense anticipation. This commercial break would be the last before the final moments of the ceremony.

When the commercial ended, Seth returned, setting a lighthearted tone and seamlessly transitioning back to the event.

"...When we mention this person, we must reject envy, because envy means defeat. But honestly, who wouldn't want to be him?"

"In the movie Crazy Love, his handsomeness, his humor, his cuteness, his youth, his sadness, and his intensity… God, I'm definitely not in love with him. Absolutely not! But he made countless people fall in love with him, creating history with a heartbroken expression."

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, His Excellency Renly Hall."

Seth's witty and charming words elicited a round of applause, and many in the audience stood to cheer. Whistles, claps, and cheers filled the air, and the warmth of Hollywood's embrace was palpable.

Renly's footsteps brought him to the microphone. The applause continued, so he chuckled, "I guess my publicist and agent's work is finally paying off." His comment puzzled many in the audience, who didn't fully understand the subtle humor.

The subtext, however, was clear: Renly's aristocratic heritage had once posed a challenge in Hollywood, where British actors with highly educated backgrounds often faced resistance. Yet now, Renly was embraced by Hollywood, a sign that the work of his PR team had finally paid off.

It was a clever, self-deprecating joke that only a few in the audience truly understood. Those who did exchanged glances and shared a quiet laugh.

But the most ironic moment came next.

Despite the joke going over the heads of many, a low laugh spread through the audience. Could this be… a joke only understood by the elite? It was reminiscent of how nobles and the privileged classes often speak, knowing that others may not fully grasp their words, yet enjoying the inside humor.

Renly's smile deepened, realizing just how interesting Vanity Fair truly was.

When you're outside, it's hard to see clearly. When you're inside, you're trapped by it all. Only when you can truly step back, can you see everything for what it is.

Even Renly, despite his position, couldn't fully see through the game. But because of his background, he could perceive it a little more clearly than others. He still had a long way to go before reaching the heights of figures like Woody Allen.

"Standing backstage just now, the staff communicated with me a string of speeches for tonight's ceremony," Renly continued, shifting gears. The tone was casual yet eloquent, filled with the grace of his English accent. "It felt less like an awards ceremony and more like a friendly chat."

"They listed a series of praise-worthy words to describe the greatness of actresses: passionate, sensitive, brave, sensual, complex, free, strong, interesting, tough, warm, and elegant." Renly's voice flowed smoothly, the words falling like a poem, each one adding to the momentum. "But then, I decided to give up."

The audience was captivated by the slight twist in his expression, his smile hinting at something deeper. "Because words, no matter how grand, can't truly capture the greatness of women. And actresses don't need compliments from men. Their existence alone holds up half the sky. All we need to do is remain silent and appreciate their performances."

The applause was deafening. Jessica Chastain was the first to applaud, and the other actresses followed suit. Their enthusiasm and joy were palpable.

True equality doesn't mean one gender or group is superior to another. It's about standing on equal ground and ensuring everyone has the rights they deserve—women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable groups.

Renly stood there, a gentleman through and through, smiling at the applause, before shifting to announce the nominees for Best Actress.

"Jessica Chastain, Hunt Ben."

"Quvenzhané Wallis, Beast of the South."

"Jennifer Lawrence, The Line of Happiness Behind the Clouds."

"Naomi Watts, Tsunami Miracle."

"Emmanuelle Riva, Love."

Renly opened the golden envelope with the same calm composure, lifting the white card inside. The suspense was palpable—who would win? Jennifer Lawrence? Jessica Chastain? Emmanuelle Riva?

The answer was now in Renly's hands. He raised his gaze to meet the audience's eager eyes. The tension in the air was thick with anticipation.

"Jennifer Lawrence, The Line of Happiness Behind the Clouds."