Chapter 73: Always

For the convenience of the celebrities changing outfits for the red carpet, the stylist room’s outdoor area was not far from the red carpet of this event hosted by Sheng Yu.

When Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi walked hand in hand toward it, they were immediately surrounded by a large number of cameras from afar. Amid the clicking sounds and flashes, the young girl clearly wasn’t quite used to such a scene, and she instinctively held Jiang Qi’s sleeve a little tighter.

“What’s wrong?” When they stopped on the carpet for photos, Jiang Qi slightly lowered his head and leaned close to her ear, softly asking, “Uncomfortable?”

This moment was wildly captured by the media with sharp eyes, almost drooling with excitement—after all, the famous actor Jiang Qi had always attended events like a “robot,” following the standard procedure. When had he ever shown such tender, intimate gestures?

If not now, then when?

With the mindset of “let’s get a good shot,” the cameras recorded this heart-fluttering scene.

“No.” Zhi Qi adjusted for a moment and gently shook her head.

She lifted her eyes to look at the young man’s cold and proud face. Suddenly, her heart stirred. Then she reached out a finger to touch the corner of his lips, smiling as she gazed into his eyes, which seemed to sparkle with tiny stars.

Zhi Qi coaxed him, “Smile a little.”

Jiang Qi was momentarily stunned, then couldn’t help but smile.

The media went wild.

Zhi Qi’s thought was actually very simple—she didn’t want to see Jiang Qi so serious, so she just wanted him to smile.

The girl had no idea that their shared smile on the red carpet would be captured completely.

Later, it became an iconic image celebrated by CP fans for years. Even though Zhi Qi was an ordinary outsider, it didn’t stop people from shipping their “celestial romance.”

By the time they reached the air-conditioned interior of the awards ceremony, the almost unbearable heat from before had slightly eased.

Zhi Qi’s fair skin was flushed with warmth. Sitting down beside Jiang Qi, the young man somehow found a fan and continuously fanned her.

He even softly coaxed her, “It won’t be hot for much longer.”

Zhi Qi obediently said, “Mm,” slightly relaxing her previously tense spine.

In reality, she really wasn’t very accustomed to such a “gathering of elites.” Countless cameras focused on you, countless eyes peering at you… it really required a strong psychological resilience.

It was only after personally experiencing it that Zhi Qi understood what Jiang Qi faced on a daily basis.

Not to mention, most of the time he also had to endure criticism and mindless haters. No wonder the young man had wanted to leave before.

But recently, Jiang Qi seemed to have adapted quite a bit, officially accepting that his presence in the entertainment industry was simply “work.” Zhi Qi pondered this and leaned close to his ear, softly praising him: “You’re really amazing.”

The young man was easily pleased. At her compliment, he couldn’t help but smile, though faintly, the trace of it visible only in his eyes.

Jiang Qi didn’t know why Zhi Qi had suddenly praised him, but it didn’t prevent him from feeling happy.

Sitting beside them, Qu Heng couldn’t help but feel a bit “embarrassed to watch,” regretting that he hadn’t brought his own wife. Thinking that for the next few hours he would have to sit there and watch these two flaunt their affection, he felt a chill of loneliness.

He couldn’t resist clearing his throat and deliberately interrupting: “Tone it down a bit.”

Jiang Qi gave him a cool glance.

Zhi Qi, however, felt a little embarrassed. She pursed her lips and didn’t continue teasing him—if she wanted to be lovey-dovey, they could wait until they got home. There was no need to show it in front of the cameras.

The next few hours dragged on in the long, tedious award ceremony.

The Sheng Yu Film Awards were among the top three in the country, so naturally many stars attended. You could say half of the entertainment industry was there. Although Zhi Qi didn’t watch many other people’s films, after being “immersed” in the past two years, she had come to recognize many of the popular figures and celebrities, and she watched with interest.

—Until the ceremony reached the announcement for Best Actor.

Having just watched the Best Actress go on stage to receive her award, Zhi Qi realized she was so nervous she could barely breathe as the guest presenter for the Best Actor award stepped onto the stage.

Although she had been telling herself to stay calm, deep down she still hoped Jiang Qi would win.

Zhi Qi couldn’t help but bite her lip, unconsciously gripping Jiang Qi’s hand so tightly that the young man’s fair hand turned slightly red.

“Zhi Zhi, don’t be nervous,” Jiang Qi sensed her anxious energy and gently took her hand in his, soothing her: “It’s okay.”

He, too, felt some unease, but at this final moment, he actually calmed down.

If he could win, he would; if not, it didn’t matter.

More importantly, Jiang Qi felt confident in his own ability to win.

He had watched the works of the “competitors” nominated this year—unlike last year, when he barely paid attention. Jiang Qi wouldn’t claim to have an exceptionally discerning eye, but both he and those around him believed that none of them measured up to him…

Lost in these complicated thoughts, Jiang Qi suddenly felt the grip on his fingers tighten painfully.

And the voice of the presenter boomed through the microphone, reaching every corner of the hall:

“The 43rd Sheng Yu Award for Best Actor goes to—Jiao Si, Jiang Qi!”

Accompanying the sweeping camera shots across the audience came the resounding applause from the entire hall.

Jiang Qi was still a little dazed when he saw the girl beside him with her eyes red from excitement, covering her lips to stifle a scream: “Jiang Qi! You did it!”

Seeing Zhi Qi lose her composure, he only then realized the depth of his own emotions—what could almost be called “excitement.”

Then Jiang Qi gently pulled Zhi Qi’s hand down and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, lightly kissed her.

A kiss for the ages.

Everyone knew just how romantic this young man could be.

“Damn it, hurry up and go on stage!” Qu Heng, unable to fully process the scene, felt a mix of exasperation and amusement. Watching Jiang Qi finish the kiss, he couldn’t help but step forward to nudge him. His elbow nearly poked him.

After that moment of satisfaction, Jiang Qi was very gentle. He lightly brushed aside the slightly messy hair at the girl’s cheek. In Zhi Qi’s stunned gaze, he stood up, shared a brief hug with Qu Heng, and then calmly turned toward the stage.

As he walked on stage, he instinctively straightened his long fingers over his suit buttons, posture upright.

Reaching the center of the stage, Jiang Qi took the trophy from the senior presenter. After exchanging greetings and hugs, he finally approached the microphone.

The once noisy environment gradually quieted down, all the spotlights focused on his slender figure, casting a long shadow across the wide stage.

Jiang Qi lifted his eyes slightly, accurately spotting Zhi Qi’s position.

Then, across the crowd, he locked eyes with her sparkling black eyes and smiled gently.

“Previously, I had a chance to stand on a stage in front of everyone, but I said too little. Today… please give me a little more time.”

Since entering the industry, this was the first time Jiang Qi spoke so much outside of “acting.” His calm, low voice was beautiful, reaching everyone through the microphone: “To receive this award, I need to thank many people. For example, Director Shen Lei, who brought me into this industry. Without him, this kid might still be carrying bricks on a construction site, or—like you know—fixing cars.”

He was rarely humorous, and many people at the venue laughed.

But when the camera panned to Zhi Qi, the girl’s composed face was touched, her eyes shimmering with tears.

“Also, I want to thank our film’s director, Qu Heng. I once quit during filming, and if Qu Heng hadn’t insisted I come back and finish this story, Jiao Si wouldn’t have a proper ending.”

When the camera focused on Qu Heng, Jiang Qi sincerely said: “Thank you so much, Qu Heng.”

Everyone knew the young man was speaking from the heart in this acceptance speech and couldn’t help but sit up straighter.

“I want to thank someone even more,” Jiang Qi continued, looking at Zhi Qi, though speaking to everyone: “My wife. Without Director Shen and Director Qu, I wouldn’t have entered the entertainment industry or achieved what I have today. But without my wife, Jiang Qi might have been gone long ago.”

Perhaps gone the year he was diagnosed at seventeen, or perhaps another time.

Without Zhi Qi, he had no “hope.”

His almost resolute confession left the more than a thousand people present in awe.

Zhi Qi covered her eyes, not wanting to look at the cameras, yet the high-definition cameras captured her tears streaming through her fingers.

Only those closest to him truly knew how difficult Jiang Qi’s journey had been.

He needed her, and she cared deeply for him.

“My life has been full of hardships,” Jiang Qi said, lowering his eyes as he faced the intense lights before him, speaking each word deliberately. “As Qu Heng wrote in his article, my childhood was very unfortunate.”

“I’m not saying this to gain sympathy or anything like that. I just feel that it should be said.”

“Since I have this opportunity to stand in front of the public, I should do something meaningful.”

“I know so many cameras are pointed at me, capturing me, so I want to say—please pay attention to them.”

“Pay more attention to those children who have psychological scars from their families of origin. They are a vulnerable group that we should care for.”

“Countless times, I thought death would be a way to escape, but fortunately, I met my wife and many others willing to help me, though they didn’t.”

“As a way to give back, I want to help them.”

“So I said it. Thank you, everyone.”

…

Jiang Qi felt that these words should have been spoken long ago.

People harmed by criminals can protect themselves through the law, but what about parents who abuse their own children—are they not criminals?

And those powerless children—who do they turn to for their suffering? Even if they go to the police, they are often ignored under the guise of “family reasons.”

In the end, those children either suffer to death or grow up.

But one’s family of origin and childhood traumas shape a person’s character and follow them for a lifetime, often as profoundly as a terminal illness.

At one point, Jiang Qi hated the idea of becoming like Jiang Quan so much that he nearly wanted to destroy himself—but luckily, Zhi Qi saved him.

But what about those children who cannot speak up for themselves? Do they have their own “angels”?

Not everyone is as fortunate as he was. That is why, in what should have been a moment just for receiving his award, Jiang Qi spoke from the heart.

He wasn’t claiming to be noble.

He just believed that these groups deserved attention and care.

After Jiang Qi finished speaking, the enormous venue was silent.

A few seconds later, applause erupted—louder than it had been even before he stepped onto the stage. Some people even stood up immediately to voice their support for what he had said.

It was like… a golden age.

The words that had longed to be spoken but had nowhere to go were finally reaching the ears of thousands, even millions.

For the first time, Jiang Qi felt that he was useful. Perhaps these words carried more meaning than the trophy itself.

He had once thought himself unlucky, but over the past year, he had come to feel increasingly fortunate.

Especially at this moment, when Zhi Qi was still gazing at him from below the stage.

“Do you see it?”

Through the crowd and the kaleidoscope of lights, Jiang Qi smiled at the girl, his lips silently forming the words: We did it.

Zhi Qi’s wish was for the world to be a little kinder, so she would “overreach,” hoping to change even just a little.

And Jiang Qi’s wish was for Zhi Qi’s wish to come true.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Hope depends on existence; where there is existence, there is hope, and there is light.

—————End of Main Text—————

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