novellhall Chapter 104 Golden Rooster Award Winner
Chapter 104 Golden Rooster Award Winner
Chapter 110 Golden Rooster Award Winner
November 23, 2019, Xiamen, the 32nd China Golden Rooster Awards ceremony.
At 4 p.m., the area in front of the Xiamen International Conference Center was already packed with people.
The red carpet was packed with fans and media, their cameras and microphones aimed at the entrance, all waiting for the first celebrity to appear.
The sun was shining brightly, and a gentle sea breeze was blowing, but no one had time to appreciate the scenery—all eyes were fixed on the person about to walk down the red carpet.
When Chen Nianbei's nanny van stopped at the entrance to the red carpet, screams instantly ignited the entire venue.
The car door opened, and he got out.
Wearing a dark blue velvet suit, the minimalist cut and lack of any unnecessary embellishments accentuated his upright shoulders.
She has a calm and composed demeanor.
The shirt is unbuttoned at the top, revealing a hint of collarbone, creating an effortless sexiness.
Her hair was neatly combed, but a few strands fell slightly across her forehead, swaying gently in the wind.
He stood there, facing the sunlight, squinting slightly.
In that instant, the sound of camera shutters was as dense as a torrential downpour, and the flashes created a blinding white blur.
"Chen Nianbei—!"
"Xiao Bei—!"
"Nianbei, look here—!"
He walked towards the media area with a smile, his steps calm and unhurried. That aura wasn't something he deliberately projected; it emanated from his very being—a composure born from experience in countless grand occasions, and a respect for this important moment.
The reporters in the media area went wild. They scrambled forward, trying to get a better angle. Someone shouted, "Nianbei, look this way!" Another yelled, "Nianbei, strike a pose!" Someone else simply shouted, "Nianbei, you look so handsome today!"
He adjusted his angles, pausing for a sufficient amount of time, occasionally waving and nodding slightly. This perfectly timed interaction made the atmosphere even more lively.
A reporter asked, "Nianbei, are you nervous today?"
He smiled and took the microphone: "A little. But seeing so many people here makes me less nervous."
Another reporter asked, "Are you confident of winning the award?"
He thought for a moment and said earnestly, "It is an honor to be nominated alongside so many outstanding seniors. I am grateful no matter the outcome."
This interview was later reprinted by countless media outlets. The comments section was filled with praise for "high emotional intelligence," "humility," and "broad vision."
At the end of the red carpet was a signature wall.
He took the pen from the hostess and signed his name on the wall.
Then he turned around and waved again to the media area.
Sunlight fell on him, making his dark blue velvet suit gleam slightly, and he looked as if he had stepped out of a painting.
The screams from the fans reached another climax.
Some people held up signs that read "Chen Nianbei, Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor," some held up banners that read "Seven years have passed, and we are still here," and others held up photos of his roles from 2013 to 2019, spelling out a big "7."
He saw it.
He stopped and bowed deeply in that direction.
There are long-time fans who have supported him since 2013 in that direction.
In that direction, there was Naza standing in the crowd, wearing a mask, but he recognized her eyes at a glance.
He straightened up, faced that direction, and smiled slightly.
Then he turned around and walked into the inner area.
Inside, in the lobby of the Xiamen International Conference Center, the stars shone brightly.
Chen Nianbei's seat was in the first row, with the main cast and crew of "Better Days".
On the left is Zhou Dongyu, and on the right is director Zhang Lei.
Further over there are Wang Jingchun, Duan Yihong, Xu Zheng, and other senior actors who were nominated for Best Actor alongside him.
Zhang Lei was nervously wringing his hands. He leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Bei, my heart is racing."
Chen Nianbei patted him on the shoulder: "Relax. No matter the outcome, we've already won."
Zhang Lei nodded, but his hands were still shaking.
The awards ceremony officially began at 7:30 p.m.
The opening program was a song and dance performance, followed by introductions by the hosts, and then round after round of awards presentations.
Best Animated Film, Best Documentary, Best Opera Film, Best Low-Budget Feature Film — awards were announced one by one, and winners went on stage to receive their awards.
Chen Nianbei clapped from below the stage, but her mind had already wandered off.
He was waiting for that moment.
Best Actor is one of the grand prizes tonight.
After the Best Actress award was presented, the atmosphere in the room became tense.
Everyone knew that what followed was one of the most important moments of the night.
The award presenters were two highly respected veteran artists – Li Xuejian and Xi Meijuan.
When they walked onto the stage, the entire audience stood up and applauded. Although Li Xuejian was not in good health, his presence on stage still commanded respect.
Teacher Xi Meijuan took his arm, and the two walked to the microphone, exchanging a smile.
"It's time to present the Best Actor award again," said Xi Meijuan. "All five nominees this year are outstanding actors."
Li Xuejian nodded, his voice slow but each word clear and forceful: "I've read all the nominated works. Every single one is a work of heart. Every single one deserves respect."
""
The nomination clips began playing on the big screen—
Wang Jingchun, "So Long, My Son". The father who was tossed about by the torrent of the times, was stoic and restrained, yet endless emotions flowed in his eyes.
Duan Yihong, "The Looming Storm". The obsessive factory security officer runs through the blizzard, his eyes filled with madness and despair.
Xu Zheng's "Dying to Survive". Cheng Yong, who went from a street vendor to an ordinary hero, laughed and cried, and cried and laughed, bringing tears to the eyes of countless viewers.
The last one is Chen Nianbei, from "Better Days".
Xiao Bei rode his motorcycle in the rainy alley, his headlights piercing the darkness.
His gaze shifted from indifference to a slight flicker. In the interrogation room, separated by glass, he said, "You protect the world, I protect you."
The sound was soft, yet it carried immense weight.
After the trailer finished playing, the entire audience was silent for a few seconds.
Then, applause broke out.
Li Xuejian opened the envelope in his hand and glanced at it. Then he looked up, his gaze sweeping across the audience, finally settling on a certain spot in the first row.
He smiled. It was a faint smile, yet it warmed one's heart.
The winner of the Best Actor award at the 32nd Golden Rooster Awards is:
Xi Meijuan took over, her voice clear and strong: "Better Days, Chen Nianbei."
Time seemed to stand still for a second.
Then, applause and cheers erupted like a tsunami.
Chen Nianbei sat there, stunned. Zhang Lei jumped up and hugged him, his voice choked with emotion: "Brother Bei! You got it! You got it!"
Beside him, Wang Jingchun, Duan Yihong, and Xu Zheng all stood up, applauded, and gave him approving looks.
Chen Nianbei finally came to his senses. He stood up, bowed deeply to the four senior actors, and then hugged each of the main creators of "Better Days." Zhou Dongyu cried, Zhang Lei cried, and his own eyes reddened.
But he held back.
He straightened his suit, took a deep breath, and walked toward the stage.
Every step felt like a dream.
From 2012 to 2019, it's been seven years.
From Xiaoman to Xiaobei, from a student at the Beijing Film Academy to a Golden Rooster Award-winning actor, he has come this far step by step.
He walked onto the stage and received the heavy trophy from Li Xuejian and Xi Meijuan. It was a golden rooster, gleaming under the lights.
Li Xuejian looked at him, her eyes filled with both relief and expectation.
"Good boy," he said, "keep up the good work."
Chen Nianbei bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Teacher Li. Thank you, Teacher Xi."
He turned around to face the audience.
The applause gradually subsided, and everyone waited for him to speak.
He held the microphone and remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he said—
"Seven years ago, I was a sophomore at the Beijing Film Academy. At that time, I told myself that I wanted to become a real actor."
His voice was low, but very clear.
"Seven years. I've played many roles—Xiaoman, Jin Yichuan, Prince Jing, Mingtai, Yang Xun, Xiaobei,..."
Fan Xian.
Every role feels like a part of me. Every role helps me become a better actor.
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the audience before finally settling on the creators of "Better Days".
"Thank you, Director Zhang Lei, for giving me the opportunity to make 'Better Days'."
Thank you, Dongyu. Without you, there would be no Chen Nian, and no Xiao Bei.
Thank you to all the creators and staff. It is with you and me that we brought Xiao Bei into this world.
"
His gaze shifted to the four nominees.
"Thank you, teachers Wang Jingchun, Duan Yihong, Xu Zheng, and Deng Chao. It is an honor to be nominated alongside you. You are my role models, and I will always learn from you."
Finally, his gaze fell on the fan section in the distance.
There, some people held up a banner that read "Seven years have passed, and we are still here," some held up his light stick, and some were already crying their eyes out.
"Finally, thank you to my fans." His voice trembled slightly. "Seven years, and you've always been here."
You've shown me that being liked is a wonderful thing. This award doesn't belong to me alone; it belongs to everyone who has supported me.
He raised the trophy and bowed deeply to the audience.
Thank you.
The applause rang out again, even more enthusiastically and for a longer time than before.
Some people stood up and applauded, and many more stood up. Finally, the entire audience rose to their feet, and thunderous applause filled the air.
Chen Nianbei stood there, her eyes finally reddening.
At that moment, the internet completely exploded.
#Chen Nianbei Golden Rooster Award Winner# topped the trending searches, followed by three bright red "hot" characters.
#YoungestGoldenRoosterActor# is the second most searched topic.
#Chen Nianbei's acceptance speech# is the third most searched topic.
#XiaoBeiDeservesIt# is the fourth trending topic.
#BetterDays# is the fifth most searched topic.
#Chen Nianbei cried# is the sixth most searched topic.
Of the top ten trending searches, eight were related to "Better Days" and Chen Nianbei.
Weibo's servers were temporarily down, and technicians worked overtime to fix them. One netizen joked, "Weibo's programmers won't be getting any sleep tonight."
Major media outlets quickly followed up.
The People's Daily official Weibo account immediately released the news: "The winner of the 32nd Golden Rooster Awards for Best Actor has been announced, 28..."
At the age of 20, Chen Nianbei won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor for his role as "Xiao Bei" in "Better Days," becoming the youngest actor in the history of the award. He spent seven years working his way up from a student at the Beijing Film Academy. He said: "I want to be a true actor."
Xinhua News Agency's headline was even more concise and powerful: "Chen Nianbei, Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor."
The Beijing News devoted a full page to a report titled "Chen Nianbei: The Seven-Year Journey of the Youngest Golden Rooster Award-Winning Actor."
Southern Weekly analyzed from an industry perspective: "Chen Nianbei's award marks the rise of a new generation of actors in Chinese cinema. He doesn't rely on popularity or hype, but solely on his work and acting skills to gradually reach the top. This is the best interpretation of the word 'actor.'"
The major forums and communities were in an uproar.
In a Douban movie group, someone posted: "Chen Nianbei, Golden Rooster Award winner! Let's share your thoughts!"
The comment section instantly exploded with comments—
"I cried. I really cried. Xiao Bei deserved it, Chen Nianbei deserved it."
"I've liked him since 'Battle of Changsha,' seven years ago. Watching him get to where he is today makes me more excited than if I won the award myself."
"The youngest Golden Rooster Award-winning actor! At 28 years old! He has unlimited potential!"
"The moment Chen Nianbei received the award, I screamed and woke my roommate up. She almost hit me, but after hearing the reason, she hugged me and cried together."
Those who said a nomination is a victory can now change their tune—he's a true Best Actor!
On Zhihu, the question "How would you evaluate Chen Nianbei winning the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor?" received more than 8,000 answers overnight.
Among the highly-rated answers, some analyzed it from a performance perspective—
"The most difficult part of playing Xiao Bei is not the outburst, but the restraint. Chen Nianbei portrayed the stubbornness of choosing to protect even in dire straits to the core."
Especially the final interrogation scene, the line spoken through the glass, "You protect the world, I'll protect you," that calm yet resolute tone—it made me cry my eyes out in the theater. He truly deserves this award.
Some people analyze it from the perspective of an actor's growth—
"From Xiaoman in 'Battle of Changsha' to Xiaobei in 'Better Days,' Chen Nianbei spent seven years transforming from a young person who could act into a true actor."
Every role he chooses is a breakthrough for him. Prince Jing, Mingtai, Yang Xun, Xiao Bei, Fan Xian—none of these roles are repeated. This kind of ruthlessness towards himself is unparalleled among actors of his age.
Others analyzed it from the perspective of industry significance—
"Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor. This record may stand for many years. But more importantly, Chen Nianbei's award represents a new possibility—an actor can reach the top step by step without relying on popularity or hype, but only on his works and acting skills. His success is a powerful counterattack against the superficial market."
But the most touching comments were from ordinary fans.
A girl posted a long Weibo post titled "Seven Years Later, I Can Finally Say It Out Loud: The Person I Like Is Chen Nianbei." She wrote: "In 2012, he had just entered the Beijing Film Academy, and I was still a high school student. In 2013, during the filming of 'Battle of Changsha,' I first remembered his name."
In 2014, I started to realize that this actor was extraordinary, thanks to his role as Jin Yichuan in "Brotherhood of Blades".
In 2015, I became a complete fan of Prince Jing from "Nirvana in Fire".
In 2016, I saw Yang Xun in "Like a Flowing River" shatter his "halo" and reshape himself.
In 2017, I cried buckets in the movie theater watching Xiao Bei in "Better Days." For the first time, I felt that he would really become a great actor.
In 2018, Fan Xian from the TV series "Joy of Life" made him known to people all over the country.
In 2019, he won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor.
Seven years. I've watched him grow from a student at the Beijing Film Academy to where he is today. I've never voted for him on any charts, never controlled any comments for him, I've just watched every movie he's in and bought every movie ticket for him.
But today, I can finally say out loud that the person I admire is Chen Nianbei. He is a Golden Rooster Award-winning actor. He is the best actor.
This Weibo post was forwarded three million times and liked ten million times. Chen Nianbei saw it, forwarded it, and captioned it with only two words: "Thank you."
These two words brought tears to the eyes of countless people once again.
Congratulations from industry peers poured in.
Zhang Lei posted a long article reminiscing about the filming of "Better Days." He concluded by writing, "Brother Bei, you are my brother and my role model. You deserve this award."
Wang Hao sent a message with only a few words: "Brother Nianbei, you've won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor!!!"
Kong Sheng called after the awards ceremony. His voice held a hint of relief, but also a touch of emotion.
"Nianbei, it's been seven years. You've finally made it this far."
Chen Nianbei was silent for a while, then said, "Uncle Kong, it was you who led me onto this path."
Kong Sheng smiled: "You went on your own. I just pointed you in the right direction. Keep going."
The message from Dilraba was accompanied by a series of fireworks and clapping emojis, ending with the message: "Teacher Chen!!! You've become a Best Actor!!! I'm so proud!!!"
The news about Naza was the quietest.
There was only one sentence: "Nianbei, I was in the audience watching you. You did it."
Chen Nianbei's eyes reddened again as she looked at the message.
He replied, "Thank you for coming."
Naza said, "I've always been here."
Late at night, after the awards ceremony ended, Chen Nianbei walked out of the venue.
The entrance was still crowded with fans. They held up light boards and banners, waiting for him in the night breeze.
He walked over to them and bowed deeply.
"Thank you," he said. "Seven years, thank you for always being there."
Some people cried, some screamed, and some waved their hands frantically.
He straightened up and looked at those familiar faces.
He smiled, then turned around and got into the car.
On the way back to the hotel, he leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed.
There were countless unread messages on his phone. He didn't look at them.
He just wanted some peace and quiet.
Outside the window, the night in Xiamen is gentle. The sea breeze blows in through the car window, carrying a faint salty smell.
He recalled seven years ago, when he was a sophomore at Beijing Film Academy practicing his lines in front of a mirror in his dormitory.
He recalled the nervousness of first stepping into the "Battle of Changsha" crew, the excitement of winning the Golden Rooster Award for Best Supporting Actor for the first time, the disorientation of standing on the Magnolia Award stage for the first time, and the silence when he first saw the finished film of "Better Days".
He thought of Xiao Bei.
The boy who lived inside his body for five months.
He let out a soft sigh of relief.
Xiao Bei, thank you.
You protect the world, I protect you.
Now, I've brought you here.
Back at the hotel, he turned on his phone.
Naza sent a message: "I'm at your room door."
He paused for a moment, then laughed.
He walked over and opened the door.
Naza stood outside the door, wearing a simple sweatshirt and a mask, her eyes red.
She looked at him, said nothing, and simply reached out and hugged him.
He hugged her tightly.
"Thank you," he whispered in her ear, "thank you for coming."
Naza didn't speak, but simply buried her face in his chest.
After a long while, she said in a low voice, "Nianbei, I'm proud of you."
He smiled and ruffled her hair.
"I know."
He slept soundly that night.
There are no dreams.
But when he woke up the next day, he knew it was all real.
He is a Golden Rooster Award-winning actor.
He is the youngest Golden Rooster Award winner.
He is still the same Chen Nianbei who has come this far step by step since 2012.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the Golden Rooster Award trophy and making it gleam.
He got up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant sea.
The road ahead is long.
He will continue on his journey.
But today, he wanted to take a good look at the sea.