Bradley Adams took a deep breath and momentarily released his finger from the shutter button. He raised his head, surveying the actors around him. Neil Patrick Harris opened his arms to welcome Amy Poehler, who had just arrived on the scene. Not far away, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki appeared together, expressing admiration to Steve Carell.
Every year, the Emmy Awards were like this—countless familiar faces on the small screen, overwhelming to one's senses. So, standing out at the Emmy Awards was much harder than at the Golden Globe Awards or the Oscars.
The setup of the red carpet in front of the Nokia Theatre was somewhat unique. The theater faced south while the street in front of it ran east-west. The red carpet began from the western street, proceeding along the narrow sidewalk to the east. Once at the theater entrance, the path turned north, revealing a spacious square.
Reporters all gathered on the south side of the sidewalk, capturing the actors they wished to interview. Even if they didn't interview, they could accurately photograph each actor. While there were fans behind the reporters, most of the live audience gathered on the square. There, the actors would have the chance to interact closely with the audience.
Suddenly, a burst of screams erupted from the start of the red carpet. Bradley casually looked over and saw a group of fifteen or sixteen-year-old girls screaming excitedly, their exuberant gestures almost swallowing up the journalists at the entrance. It was easy to guess that the cast of "Glee" had arrived. The new show that premiered in the latter half of last year had already claimed the throne as the king of new dramas, each related news piece was a highlight, making it a phenomenon.
Journalists joked that if movies had "Twilight", then television had "Glee".
He leaned forward to get a better look. Without a doubt, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, and others collectively arrived, causing a frenzy among teenage fans. The narrow passage of the red carpet immediately boiled over, and the surging heatwave made standing difficult.
Bradley's interest wasn't particularly high. Teen dramas like "Glee" wouldn't receive extensive coverage in The New York Times, but he still picked up his camera and took a few shots—perhaps they'd be useful later.
These teen idols were receiving such attention for the first time. They appeared somewhat excited, simultaneously reserved and exuberant, enthusiastically shaking hands with fans on both sides. The scene erupted. Compared to the square, the fans here were only a small portion, but the fervor now caused fans further behind to start flocking over. The atmosphere on site was truly too intense, to the point where it gave the illusion that this wasn't the Emmy Awards but rather the Teen Choice Awards.
The camera aimed at Lea and Cory, the two main actors. Bradley's keen journalistic sense caught a hint of something unusual. He pondered: Could it be that these two are dating? But upon closer inspection, the signs weren't so evident. He momentarily suppressed this speculation. Just then, Bradley's hands, which he had been preparing to lower, suddenly froze in place.
Behind the cast of "Glee", a deep black Porsche two-door coupe came to a stop. A tall and upright man stepped out, standing by the street, casually surveying his surroundings. He fastened the first button of his suit jacket as the fiery sun cast its glow, resembling the strokes of an artistic master's brush, effortlessly outlining a rough sketch that captured the moment's stunning allure.
He wore a navy blue suit, and its straight shoulders exuded a military uniform's ruggedness, accentuating the resolute and taut curve of his chin. The design of the narrow lapel was sleek, breaking away from vintage styles and adding a touch of youthfulness from the new century, presenting an overall clean and sharp design.
The close-cut tailoring followed along his chest, abdomen, and waist, all the way down. It was full but not overly tight, every inch just right. Broad shoulders, solid chest, straight spine, supple waist—everything was enclosed under the fabric of the suit, emanating a refined gentleman's quality with an underlying fierceness.
The pearl-white shirt had no hint of impurity. Even the buttons were hidden within the front placket, suppressing any sense of muscle explosiveness beneath the surface. This further highlighted the navy blue's coolness and nobility. A pocket on the right chest revealed a segment of checkered pocket square with interwoven pearl white, light brown, and pale beige. It harmonized with the patterned bow tie, revealing that this suit came from Burberry.
From head to toe, the attire was minimalist with no excess fanciness. However, the intricate brown brogue shoes added vitality to the entire ensemble. Amid the youthful exuberance, there was a hint of rebellion and nonconformity, mingled with a subtle touch of restraint.
The brilliance glimpsed in the clear brow momentarily overshadowed the evening sunset.
"Click."
Bradley was somewhat lost in thought, and he instinctively pressed the shutter button to capture this moment. Then, the figure lifted his head, revealing his entire face. Bradley's pupils widened in disbelief—it was actually Renly Hall!
The premiere of "The Pacific" was only a fleeting curiosity after its momentary radiance. The outstanding performances in the series were just a passing interest in a newcomer. The Emmy nomination was merely the first stone to knock on Hollywood's door. But tonight, Renly's dazzling appearance erupted in a myriad of brilliance, sending shivers down the spine.
Standing in front of Renly was the cast of "Glee", causing a frenzy among fans. In comparison, Renly's entrance seemed entirely overshadowed. Almost no fans noticed another newcomer at the beginning of the red carpet. Extreme fervor and extreme neglect formed two extremes. This stark contrast was difficult to accept.
Yet it was precisely behind this overwhelming wave of enthusiasm that Renly's understated and serene aura shone brighter. In contrast, the "Glee" cast exuded a frivolous, restless, and bewildered unease. Their invincible youthful recklessness and indulgence were like bubbles—grand and spectacular, yet as soon as a light breeze blew, they vanished instantly, disappearing without a trace.
Bradley couldn't help but chuckle. This was truly fascinating.
Because the average age in "Glee" was far from that of actual high school students—Lea was already twenty-four years old, while Cory was twenty-eight. However, in comparison, at just twenty years old, Renly exhibited the composed and elegant bearing of a seasoned general, as if he had witnessed the vicissitudes of the world. This kind of temperament, chiseled by time and experience, burst forth under the blazing sunset like the aroma of fine wine.
Bradley couldn't resist pressing the shutter button once more. Even with a crowd of people in his way, even with Renly having just stepped onto the red carpet, even with the tumultuous crowd between them, he couldn't control his index finger, feverishly capturing every instant of that second. Soon, Bradley noticed he wasn't alone; the journalists around him all aimed in the same direction, snapping shots. Years of journalistic experience filled their veins with the inspiration and acumen to capture news.
No one at the scene noticed this anomaly, not even the cast of "Glee". All the lenses were focused on them, and the flashes fell like a torrential rain. The cheers and screams from all directions confirmed it—just like standing atop Mount Everest, they were under the world's gaze.
Only true professionals would discern that these journalists slightly raised their camera angles and shot from above to capture what lay beyond "Glee". At least a hundred journalists gathered beside the red carpet, and over two-thirds of them had shifted their attention away from "Glee". Some were interviewing other actors on the red carpet.
As the focus of attention, the cast of "Glee" would only realize the next day that they had almost disappeared from the headlines. The spotlight on the red carpet seemed like a dream that had never occurred.
Initially, Renly was a little nervous. After all, it was his first awards ceremony and his first time on an official red carpet. However, the noise and crowd upon exiting the car dispelled any remnants of anxiety. There were no artillery-like cameras aimed at him, no camera crews following him, and no fans shouting. It seemed not much different from entering a regular bar.
Comparing the Emmys to a bar party, Renly's calm demeanor was truly unique.
Various screams filled his ears. Calls like "Rachel!" "Finn!" and "Kurt!" blended together, making it hard to discern. Soon, Renly recognized the actors from "Glee". This marked a departure from the start of a bar party.
Initially, Renly wanted to approach and greet them, but the fans on his left were excessively wild, screaming at the top of their lungs. The actors were doing their best to respond to the fans' calls, and traffic began to clog at the entrance. He figured he could greet them once he was inside the theater, so he circumvented the "Glee" cast and entered the red carpet area from the right.
The red carpet before him was a bit too narrow. At most, it allowed for four people to walk side by side, with television cameras in the middle filming, making the passage even narrower. It really didn't feel like the Emmys at all; it was more like a high school graduation dance. Renly couldn't help but sarcastically think.
"Renly! Renly!" cries came from not far away. Amidst the roaring tsunami of screams, like a small boat, it could be swallowed up at any moment. However, Renly caught it and looked over in the direction of the voice.
In an instant, the camera flashes cascaded down like a waterfall.