Chapter 150: "Best Newcomer Award!"

"Zhou Ran, you are the Best Newcomer!"

"You've won, Arran! Wake up, stop daydreaming."

The moment Leifus on stage announced Zhou Ran's name, Chef Huang and Zhang Xiaofeng were overcome with excitement. They quickly tapped the shoulder of Zhou Ran, who had frozen in place, signaling him to snap out of it.

"Ah, did I get nominated? Really?" When Leifus called his name, Zhou Ran had been completely stunned. He couldn't quite believe that the name being called was his own; the intense nerves had left him feeling quite unsure of himself.

It wasn't until Zhang Xiaofeng and Chef Huang repeatedly emphasized in his ear that he had actually won the award that Zhou Ran began to believe it. Even as he started to come back to his senses, he still felt a bit dazed, as if he hadn't fully processed the moment.

"Hahaha, it seems our winner can't quite believe it's him! Let's give a round of applause to welcome Zhou Ran to the stage!"

Seeing Zhou Ran’s reaction on the big screen, Leifus couldn't help but chuckle. It was obvious that Zhou Ran was a bit bewildered and struggling to accept his win. The audience at the venue also laughed along as they watched his performance.

Zhou Ran’s dazed expression in the audience made quite a few people laugh, though they understood—after all, for a newcomer in the film industry, being nervous and stunned upon winning one's first award was perfectly normal. If he hadn't been nervous at all, that would have been the strange part.

The prestige of this award was on a completely different level from the Chinese Golden Melody Awards. One was merely a national award, while the other was international, with a vastly different reach. The Chinese Golden Melody Awards held little recognition outside of Asia, whereas the Cannes Film Festival was different; this Best Newcomer award was respected wherever it went.

After a brief moment, Zhou Ran finally regained his composure. He stood up along with the audience and made his way toward the awards stage. As he walked, he felt the gaze of everyone in the hall upon him. In that instant, he was the protagonist of the event, and even if it only lasted for a second, the feeling was captivating.

"Hello, congratulations!"

As Zhou Ran stepped onto the platform, Leifus was the first to greet him.

"Hello, thank you!"

Zhou Ran returned the greeting immediately, though he still felt a little dazed while standing on stage.

After Zhou Ran came up, Leifus gave him a hug to congratulate him on the award and whispered a word of congratulations in his ear. It was a passing of the torch; when Leifus had received his award in the past, his presenter had done the same, offering a blessing in his ear.

Once Zhou Ran took the trophy from Leifus, he prepared to give his speech. He first adjusted his emotions, knowing that everyone sitting below was a top-tier international superstar, each more impressive than the last.

There was a saying that fit this situation perfectly: if a bomb were to fall on this stage right now, a huge portion of the world's most famous film stars would be wiped out.

"Thank you all for the applause. To be honest, I was quite stunned when I first came up here. I didn't expect to win this award at all; I thought I was just here to make up the numbers. It truly was an unexpected surprise, and it really caught me off guard."

Zhou Ran tried to lighten the atmosphere as he spoke, as he was still quite nervous—anyone would be in this situation, as the intensity was completely different from what he was used to.

"I am Zhou Ran, a newcomer actor from China. Incidentally, I am also a new singer. If you have the time, you are welcome to listen to my songs; they are quite good!"

When introducing himself, Zhou Ran emphasized the word "China" heavily, just to ensure no one mistook him for an actor from another country. Such misunderstandings had happened before, so it was worth emphasizing to prevent his nationality from being quietly altered by others.

Furthermore, he took the opportunity to mention his identity as a singer. It was the right time to gain some exposure; perhaps someone would actually go listen to his music after hearing his introduction.

As Zhou Ran finished his opening, some of the audience members were amused by his words. It was the first time they had seen a self-introduction that felt like a job interview. Some were even slightly surprised to learn he was a singer, marveling that someone could act so well while also being a musician.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank Chef Huang and Zhang Xiaofeng, as well as the entire crew of *The Drummer*. Working with them was truly a pleasure. It was because of their cooperation on set that I was able to achieve what I have today and stand on this stage."

"When I first started acting, I was prone to mistakes, but Chef Huang and Ms. Xiaofeng taught me step by step, leading me to this achievement. I am truly grateful."

Hearing their names mentioned, Zhang Xiaofeng and Chef Huang smiled. It was the same authentic Zhou Ran; his way of giving acceptance speeches never changed.

The audience, hearing his speech, also applauded warmly. They could feel the sincerity in what Zhou Ran said, as many of them had experienced similar journeys themselves.

After his brief speech, Zhou Ran quickly took his trophy and headed off stage.

Many of the guests present remembered him after his introduction. With someone like Zhou Ran, who seemed a bit dazed yet possessed a handsome look that fit universal aesthetic standards—a handsomeness that people of any nationality could appreciate—he had certainly left an impression.

For Zhou Ran, leaving a first impression on the audience was a significant success. It meant he had achieved his initial goal. By making himself known to others, his future path toward developing his career abroad would be much smoother.