TRES
Lisa got into her own car and drove directly to Irene's house.
She didn't know why, but she suddenly missed Irene.
Lisa usually very rarely requested anything of Irene, but when they met tonight, she actually couldn't help but cling to the other for a long while.
"I met Jennie today."
She believed that there was no need to hide this matter, and Irene also didn't appear surprised upon hearing it, asking very naturally, "PD Kim's back? When did she return?"
"Just a few days ago. She is pregnant, so they've come back to the city to give birth."
"This quickly? PD Kim's definitely very happy."
"Yes, but she's also worried about paying for baby formula."
The two of them very peacefully discussed Jennie's unborn baby. Finally, Irene mentioned the movie that Jennie had not been able to film at the time.
"I spoke with her about this, and she definitely wants to film it. The female lead also hasn't changed. She's still going to ask you to do it."
Ever since Jun Cotton's film finished, Irene had focused all her attention on the restaurant and practically hadn't taken any other jobs. What's more, Jennie had been a point of contention between them, so while Lisa had said that, she wasn't actually sure if Irene was still willing to act in it or not.
As expected, Irene startled for a moment when she heard that, but she very quickly began smiling, "As long as I'm the female lead, I'm naturally fine with it."
Lisa also smiled, as she more of less understood Irene's stubbornness in this regard.
"When you're sixty, will you still insist on playing the female lead?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Irene leaned forward, moving to blow air by Lisa's ear, saying in a low voice, "But when that time comes, I'll act only for you to watch."
That sentence was originally just a joke, but when Lisa heard it, she felt her heart surging. She grabbed Irene's hand and kissed and kissed.
That night, she slept at Irene's house.
They didn't make love every time. Sometimes, the two of them simply held one another to sleep, feeling incomparably warm.
The next morning, because Lisa was reluctant to leave this warmth, she refused to get up, holding Irene and saying, "When are you going to move to my house?"
Irene was still half-asleep and asked in return, "Why isn't it you who's moving to my house?"
"That's fine too. Whenever you think is appropriate, I'll pack up my things and move here."
It didn't matter where she moved, the most important thing was that she wanted to be together with this person.
"No, my house is too small, and it's located too far away, so it's not easy for you to get to the company from here. Let's talk about this again another time." Since Irene didn't agree to living together, Lisa also didn't bring it up again.
Their relationship progressed very smoothly. Sometimes, she would go to Irene's house to stay for a few days, and sometimes Irene would go to her house for the night; there actually wasn't much difference.
In this way, two or three months later, on a certain day, Irene suddenly received a call from Jun Cotton. The other said that there was a film festival next month, that their film had been nominated for the Best Director and Best Actress awards, and that their chances of receiving the awards were very high.
This was also one of the things that had originally been within expectations.
That movie was a literary film, and while the box office returns were so-so, it still had hope of receiving an award. Regardless of whether or not Jun Cotton really had talent, even if he filmed a completely incoherent mess, a certain someone would still throw money at him without holding back.
The genuinely fortunate person was actually Irene. She had acted for this many years and had never obtained true fame. She was somewhat popular, but in the end, she had never received an award before. This time was truly a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity.
Lisa was aware that, while Irene's acting had improved, the other still relied almost entirely on a good director, so in the future, there was no telling when such an opportunity would come again.
In contrast, Irene didn't have much to worry about. She still ate well and slept well as before. The most she changed was that, at night before going to sleep, she'd practice her smile in front of the mirror.
Lisa found this quite amusing when she saw and purposely reached out a hand to rub the other's face, asking, "You've almost become the film empress, so why are you still practicing this thing?"
"It's fine if I'm able to receive an award, but if I don't in the end, then I'll need to be able to smile even more naturally." Irene raised a brow and then slowly lifted up the corners of her lips, revealing a graceful smile to the mirror.
When Lisa heard this, she didn't agree at all, "Why do you have to be this lacking in confidence? You haven't even seen the award and already you're thinking of not getting it."
Irene looked at her through the mirror and asked in return, "And where do you get your confidence? It couldn't be that you've already bribed the judges?"
"That I haven't done. I'm not into payola things, huh. But I've prepared a gift to give you after the award ceremony." Lisa laughed and hugged the other from behind, lightly rubbing against Irene's head.
"What is it?"
"It's a secret for now."
"What if I don't get the award?"
"Babo." Lisa knocked lightly on Irene's forehead and said, "Then it'll become a consolation prize."
"If I get it, then it's a celebratory gift, and if I don't, then it's a consolation prize. It looks like I won't lose out no matter what."
"Yes." Lisa kissed along Irene's cheeks and said, voice soft, "How could I possibly bear to let you lose?"
Irene smiled without speaking.
Actually, a few days ago, she had already discovered that Lisa had been carefully looking into real estate pricing, but since a certain person said that it was still a secret, she then pretended that she didn't know anything and didn't continue asking what exactly this so-called gift was going to be.
If the time called for being oblivious, then one should just be oblivious, or else wouldn't there be a lot less nice surprises in one's life?
Two days before the film festival, Jun Cotton called again without any prior warning and said that he had an urgent matter to handle so he wouldn't be able to attend the event. Director Kim was more self-important than actual important people and declared he wouldn't go with just a few light words. As such, the only thing Irene could do was go by herself to the red carpet.
Luckily, the gown Lisa ordered arrived on time. It suited Irene very well, the bright white contrasting nicely with her skin tone. Even when she was just casually trying it on, it immediately made her look slim and gorgeous. Especially since she'd grown her hair out, strands of black hair half-covered her eyes, making the smile on her face especially enticing.
Lisa sent Irene to the location. Right before the other got out of the car, she held Irene's hand.
"I won't go in with you then. After the award ceremony is over, I'll be waiting for you in the parking lot."
"I know, the consolation prize," Irene blinked at her, "I'll definitely come and get it."
And then the car door opened and Irene stepped out, face full of smiles.
A large group of reporters had long been lying in wait, and the moment they saw Irene, they immediately rushed over, flashbulbs going off incessantly.
Compared to the resplendent starlight of the red carpet, the following award ceremony seemed long and tedious. Fortunately, the host was accustomed to creating a lively atmosphere, and a few awards also went to some relative unknowns, causing several nice surprises in succession.
The Best Female Lead was a coveted award arranged near the end as a climactic highlight.
Several of the candidates were those with pre-established popularity and starpower, and the competition was quite fierce. When the host named each and every one of the candidates, the camera also followed along and swept across everyone's faces.
At this time, the lights dimmed, and the honored guest was already opening the envelope, with a moving soundtrack beginning to play in the background. They were waiting only for that final name to be read out loud.
Irene sucked in a deep breath and softly held her right hand. If she said she wasn't nervous, then she'd be lying. But in comparison, she was looking forward to that consolation prize of Lisa's even more.
It wasn't as if everything would be fine as long as they were together. For the next several decades, who knew how many trials and tribulations they would go through. Perhaps she'd reach the peak one moment, and then fall down into the depths in the next.
But as long as she remained firm and resolute, as long as her affections remained unwavering from beginning to end, she believed that, no matter how many years passed, she'd still be able to reveal a smile just like today and say, leisurely and confidently.
"I'll act only as the female lead."
The greatest benefit of being the female lead was that, regardless of how many bullets she'd have to dodge, regardless of how many knives she'd have to evade, she would be the one smiling to the last, with a drink in hand and a beauty in her arms.
Then the curtains fall—
And the play comes to an end.
(FIN)
― 33 ―
Thanks for bearing with this boring and slow show.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: ZingTruyen.Xyz