Chapter 67: "Adored by All"

“How do you feel, Ranran? Your first awards ceremony—are you nervous?” Li Mi asked as she accompanied Zhou Ran on the way to the event, hoping to help her relax.

Zhou Ran sat in the car, scrolling through social media on her phone, taking a rare moment to unwind by reading the comments from netizens.

But when she heard Li Mi’s question, she put down her phone and smiled, replying, “Hahaha, I can only say—who else but me deserves these awards?”

Far from nervous, Zhou Ran seemed brimming with confidence.

Last night, she had slept from nine in the evening straight through to two in the afternoon, catching up on all the rest she’d missed during filming. The sleep left her feeling utterly refreshed.

While Zhou Ran slept, Li Mi tried everything to wake her, but nothing worked. Zhou Ran slept like a log, utterly oblivious, so much so that Li Mi joked she could’ve sold Zhou Ran to traffickers and Zhou Ran wouldn’t have stirred.

But Zhou Ran was too heavy for Li Mi to move, so she had no choice but to let Zhou Ran sleep in the car overnight. Fortunately, Li Mi drove a business van, so she could recline the seats and make Zhou Ran more comfortable.

Li Mi herself had to stay in the car for the night as well, unable to leave Zhou Ran unattended, given that Zhou Ran was a living, breathing person sleeping in her car.

…

Today, they left later than most, and when they arrived at the waiting area for the awards ceremony, the entrance was already packed with paparazzi and entertainment reporters, all eager for the singers’ arrival and some fresh news.

Though the red carpet event hadn’t officially begun, the waiting room was already abloom with stars.

Of course, there was also a batch of so-called internet celebrities who had come to the Mandarin Golden Melody Awards at their own expense, just for a chance to walk the red carpet and piggyback on the buzz, hoping to post videos and gain a few more followers.

The Mandarin Golden Melody Awards ceremony had always drawn major media attention. Wherever there’s exposure and coverage, there are people vying for a piece of the spotlight.

Many went to great lengths for a taste of the limelight—some deliberately staged falls or wardrobe malfunctions on the red carpet, all for a shot at fame. As long as they got noticed, they were satisfied.

But those scrambling for fleeting attention had little to do with Zhou Ran. She herself was the center of attention, and the organizers had scheduled her appearance near the very end.

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At awards ceremonies, the later you appear, the higher your status and prestige.

Zhou Ran didn’t need to do anything; people approached her on their own, and her arrival drew every gaze in the waiting room.

She was like a radiant sun, drawing everyone’s attention.

Her status was extraordinary: the newly crowned superstar, the king of Mandarin originals, a genius songwriter, the very definition of beauty, reigning atop music charts for a month straight.

Whenever someone greeted Zhou Ran, she responded politely, regardless of their status. She treated everyone equally.

If she spotted a respected veteran, she would take the initiative to greet them as a sign of respect.

In the waiting room, Zhou Ran saw many familiar faces—Chen Yi, Ji Ran, Jin Kun, and others she’d met on “Who’s the King of Singers.”

Jin Kun, sitting in a corner, watched Zhou Ran in her black velvet suit embroidered with dragons—confident and radiant, surrounded by people like stars encircling the moon.

Jin Kun felt deeply affected; last year, it was him who stood in Zhou Ran’s place, brimming with confidence and youthful ambition.

Now, the contrast was stark—one in the heavens, the other on earth.

Zhou Ran’s rise was meteoric. In just a few months, she had become the new superstar—something no one could have predicted at the start of the year.

Her journey had become a goal for countless young singers, with many agencies using her story to inspire their trainees, force-feeding them motivational tales.

After waiting for a while in the waiting room, the red carpet ceremony was about to begin.

This time, the organizers chose to broadcast the event live online, closing the distance between the ceremony and the viewers at home.

The livestream had barely started when fans flooded in, and the comment section began to scroll wildly.

“Zhou Ran, fly bravely! Ran-fans will always be with you!”

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“Zhou Ran’s snack shop is officially open! Drinks, sunflower seeds, snack packs up ahead—get them while you can!”

“Go, Zhou Ran, go!”

“Zhou Ran is sure to win Best New Artist this year. If she doesn’t, I’ll streak five kilometers live!”

“I’ve got your ID, upstairs—don’t back out!”

“No need to remember IDs. Zhou Ran winning Best New Artist is practically set in stone. If she doesn’t, it’s pure corruption.”

Though the red carpet hadn’t officially begun, the livestream audience had already heated up the atmosphere with their banter.

To be fair, Zhou Ran’s fans truly knew how to build excitement.

At seven o’clock sharp, the red carpet show at the awards ceremony officially began.

“Welcome, everyone, to the Mandarin Golden Melody Awards ceremony,”

As the clock struck seven, the host, Teacher He, began the proceedings, introducing the event’s schedule and stirring up the crowd’s enthusiasm.

This year, the organizers had chosen a male-female hosting duo. The male host was the familiar Teacher He, while the female host was an actress.

The Mandarin Golden Melody Awards aimed to balance professionalism with entertainment: the hosts and experts handled the interviews and kept the pace on track, while the actress brought a lively touch to the red carpet, making the event more entertaining.