In the lounge.
The makeup artist touched up Jiang Yue's makeup, and Pierre checked the suit once more to ensure everything was perfectly in place.
A staff member also brought in the final seating chart.
Just then, Jiang Kaiwen held his phone out to him.
On the screen, Lamerd's official Weibo account had just pinned a high-definition, unedited photo from the red carpet.
In the photo, Jiang Yue stood beneath the brilliant lights, the midnight blue velvet suit sharply defining his silhouette. The light caught his shoulders, and the obsidian brooch gleamed with a cold luster, giving him an incredibly commanding aura.
The post had two lines of text:
【Lamerd Asia Region Spokesperson Jiang Yue.】
【Approaching every goal with unwavering resolve.】
The shares in the comments section had already exceeded ten thousand.
Jiang Kaiwen's eyes lit up, clearly stunned by the photo as well. However, he first clicked through the brand network and studio collaboration pages to ensure the comment sentiment was normal before lowering his voice. “The domestic and international platforms have synced up.”
Jiang Yue glanced at it. “The brand certainly moves fast. But didn't we already know about this?”
“Is knowing the same as seeing it with your own eyes?”
After saying this, Jiang Kaiwen took the final seating chart from the staff member and cross-referenced it with the schedule on his tablet.
“They're about to let people into the main hall.”
He tucked the seating chart away and instructed, “Third Brother, remember to manage your facial expressions once you're seated inside. The cameras will scan the crowd at random. If your name is called for an award, take the Side A aisle and return the same way after accepting it.”
Jiang Yue glanced at him, a trace of amusement in his eyes.
The smile seemed to hold both gratification and gentle teasing.
Jiang Kaiwen paused under his gaze. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“No.”
Jiang Yue said calmly, “Your arrangements are very clear.”
Jiang Kaiwen's ears turned red, and he cleared his throat.
He was the manager, after all; these were things he was supposed to confirm in advance.
He looked down at the seating chart again.
“Third Brother.”
“What is it?”
“Teacher Han Song is sitting right on your right.”
As the main hall began letting people in, Jiang Yue followed a staff member through the side door into the audience area.
He glanced at his seat number again.
B08, Row Two, center section.
The position had already been confirmed on the schedule, but actually walking up to the seat made its significance feel far more tangible than it had on paper.
The lights in the main hall gradually dimmed, and the artists took their seats one by one according to the seating chart.
As the livestream camera panned across the first two rows, wave after wave of cheers erupted from the audience.
Jiang Yue walked over to seat B08, politely nodded in greeting to several seniors in the first row, and then sat down composedly.
Han Song was already seated in B09. Seeing him arrive, he leaned over and whispered with a smile, “The organizers really know how to generate buzz, placing our seats right next to each other.”
Jiang Yue chuckled softly and lowered his voice. “Then let's not waste the traffic they've handed to us.”
Sure enough, the livestream camera panned over to the center section of Row Two the very next second.
Jiang Yue's and Han Song's nameplates entered the frame at the same time.
One in a midnight blue suit, the other in formal black attire, sitting side by side. The moment the screen cut to them, the bullet comments went wild.
【Ahhh, Jiang Yue and Han Song in the same frame!】
【《The Hidden Sentry》 after-sales content is here! Fans of both are feasting!】
【If the organizers know how to seat people like this, they should do it more often!】
【These two sitting together is absolute eye candy!】
On the small table in front of their seats, their two nameplates were placed neatly.
The camera lingered briefly before cutting back to the glittering stage.
Jiang Kaiwen had already been guided to his seat in the staff section at the back. His gaze pierced through the crowd, looking in Jiang Yue's direction.
During the first half of the gala, awards such as New Face for Short Dramas, Popular Actor, Fashion Figure of the Year, and Backbone Drama Actor of the Year were presented one after another.
Once the presenters read the names, the winning artists would walk up from the designated side-stage passage, accept their trophies, deliver their acceptance speeches at the center stage mark, and then head backstage guided by the staff.
Jiang Yue sat upright throughout the entire event.
Whenever the camera panned his way, he would applaud politely, occasionally whispering a few words with Han Song beside him, maintaining a perfect sense of decorum.
Midway through, a staff member approached to remind him, helping him confirm the side-stage position for the second half of the awards ceremony in advance.
Jiang Yue nodded in acknowledgement, mentally running through the route.
It wasn't until the two hosts stepped back onto the stage that the lights on the background screen converged into a dazzling gold.
“Next, we will be presenting the Penguin Video Quality Drama Actor of the Year award.”
Jiang Kaiwen's heart had been in his throat since the awards ceremony began.
The award being presented now was one of the platform's highest-tier individual actor awards. It was typically given to young or middle-aged actors who had starred in an S-Tier hit drama that year, could anchor the platform's viewership, and delivered stable performances.
It was not a professional acting award based purely on craft, but rather represented the platform's comprehensive recognition of commercial success, project popularity, and future partnership value.
On the other side of the stage, a presenter slowly walked out.
The host's voice echoed through the entire venue via the microphone.
“In 《The Hidden Sentry》, his portrayal of Zhou Jinnan left a deep impression on the long street shrouded in darkness. He used his performance to prove to everyone that a new generation actor can possess both traffic and popularity, and more importantly, deliver convincing works.”
The giant screen began playing a meticulously edited character reel.
In the clip from 《The Hidden Sentry》, Zhou Jinnan sat in a dim carriage, the weight of an era and the struggle of a soul hidden deep within his eyes.
The host raised the cue card in their hand.
“The artist who has won the Penguin Video Quality Drama Actor of the Year is...”
“Jiang Yue!”
When the presenter read out the name, a brief silence washed over the venue, immediately followed by a thunderous wave of applause pouring in from all directions.
On the giant screen, the clip of 《The Hidden Sentry》 froze at the moment Zhou Jinnan looked up. He didn't utter a single word, yet that single glance was enough to display a body full of secrets and unyielding character.
The moment he heard the result, Jiang Kaiwen almost leaped up from the staff section.
He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound, his face flushing red as he clapped with all his might.
Jiang Kaiwen knew better than anyone what this award meant to the current Jiang Yue.
For any actor on the rise, this was an incredibly weighty affirmation.
Han Song was the first to react.
He turned, a genuine smile on his face, and patted Jiang Yue's right arm.
“What are you dazed for? Quality Drama Actor of the Year—go on up.”
Only then did Jiang Yue snap back from his brief moment of surprise.
He stood up slowly, meticulously smoothing out the hem of his suit jacket. He first nodded in acknowledgment to Han Song, then bowed slightly to the seniors in the front row before stepping out with long strides, walking steadily down the Side A aisle toward the dazzling lights.
The camera followed him all the way, and the bullet comments in the livestream were already flying by so fast that the text became a blur.
【It really is Jiang Yue! I didn't hear wrong, did I?!】
【Quality Drama Actor of the Year! Penguin really delivered this time! Zhou Jinnan deserves it, and so does Jiang Yue!】
【He just announced his Asia Region Spokesperson role and now he wins Actor of the Year. Is today some kind of Jiang Yue harvest day?】
The steps weren't high, and Jiang Yue's steps were steady and powerful.
The presenter stood in the center of the stage, reaching out to him with a smile. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
The trophy felt quite heavy in his hand, its cool metal and crystal texture very substantial. A line of words was clearly engraved on the base: Penguin Video Quality Drama Actor of the Year.
Jiang Yue stood at the designated mark in the center of the stage, and the host handed him the microphone at the perfect moment.
The clamor below the stage gradually quieted down.
Jiang Yue's gaze swept over the sea of light boards lit up for him in the audience, then he looked down at the trophy in his hand. His voice rang out clearly through the microphone, echoing across the entire venue.
“First of all, thank you to Penguin Video, and thank you to every member of the cast and crew of 《The Hidden Sentry》, both in front of and behind the scenes.”
On the giant screen, the camera cut to Han Song in the audience, who was smiling and applauding.
Jiang Yue paused briefly, his tone carrying a touch more sincerity. “I am very grateful for Director Xu's trust, and I thank Brother Chen and Brother Han for their guidance on set. I also want to thank all my colleagues who completed 《The Hidden Sentry》 with me. Most of all, I want to thank the audience. Thank you for being willing to understand Zhou Jinnan through the screen and for sharing your love with him.”
The applause rang out once more, warm and heartfelt.
“This award is a very important encouragement for me. Moving forward, I will continue to do my best in every scene and play every character well. Thank you, everyone.”
His speech was brief and sincere, without any unnecessary drag.
The host smiled and took over, bringing up a topic that had been highly discussed lately. “Teacher Jiang just said he wants to continue doing his best in every scene. I heard you rushed here specifically from the set of 《The Pivot Bone》, and were still filming thrilling action scenes just a few days ago?”
A fan in the audience immediately shouted at the top of their lungs, “Stay safe!”
Jiang Yue heard it and looked up, flashing a reassuring smile in the direction of the voice.
“It's almost fully healed. Thank you for your concern.”
The host seized the opportunity to wrap up: “Then we also look forward to the new surprises Jiang Yue will bring us. Once again, congratulations to the Penguin Video Quality Drama Actor of the Year, Jiang Yue!”
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