"Mr. Hall, here's your trophy."
In the backstage of the Nokia Theatre, Renly received the trophy from the craftsman's hands. After the awards ceremony, craftsmen would engrave the winner's name on a standardized trophy base, showcasing its uniqueness.
Looking at the deep marks on the golden base, stroke by stroke, as if defying the erosion of time, leaving an immortal trace on the trophy. This feeling was truly marvelous – "Renly Hall," those somewhat unfamiliar yet familiar words, engraved with his mark.
Now, Renly somewhat understood why those great figures always wanted to erect monuments and statues, leaving their accomplishments in black and white on the annals of history. It was a mix of excitement, awkwardness, shame, elation, and even pride.
"Thank you." Renly held the trophy and felt its weight deep within him. "I hope you have a pleasant evening."
"Thank you, congratulations on your win again," the craftsman smiled and offered his blessings.
At this moment, people were bustling back and forth in the backstage. The awards ceremony had concluded, but it wasn't even ten o'clock local time in Los Angeles. This meant that the celebration party hadn't begun yet. This was a night mixed with joy and bitterness, excitement and sadness. The prelude had only just begun, and the grand performance was yet to come.
"Hey, you're here." Hugh Laurie walked over with a warm smile, patting Renly's arm with enthusiasm. "Congratulations! It seems I have to dig out "The Pacific" to watch again when I get back." The teasing smile on his face wasn't forced; on the contrary, it felt more intimate.
People from the British school of acting were like this. It was also why institutions like Eton College and the University of Cambridge were so important. People who hailed from the same school could easily become a bridge between two individuals, naturally forming a camaraderie within a faction.
"So far, I've watched every season of 'House'," Renly's straightforwardness brought a light laugh from Hugh. "It looks like you had a bit of bad luck tonight." Renly didn't avoid the topic of Hugh's consecutive fifth-year nomination, the topic that was still unresolved. He brought it up proactively.
"At least that way, they won't complain about why it's always the Brits winning," Hugh's self-deprecating remark was indeed full of wisdom, earning him an applause of admiration from Renly. "Do you have any plans for later tonight? Is the celebration party waiting for you?"
"Isn't the celebration party right here?" Renly retorted, turning to look at the bustling scene behind him. Everything was implied without words.
All the hubbub, all the excitement, all the elation seemed to have nothing to do with Renly. In comparison, the Miniseries and TV Movie department wasn't highly regarded to begin with. Moreover, Renly had only appeared in one work. In the bustling world of fame and fortune that was Hollywood, such a newcomer clearly felt out of place. Blending into the circles of others wasn't an easy task.
With a single glance, a jest was enough. Hugh chuckled and said, "This is just the beginning. The road ahead is still quite long. But at least for tonight, let's celebrate properly. After all, this award wasn't easily won, right?"
As they spoke, Hugh deliberately glanced at Renly's trophy, revealing a greedy expression, causing Renly to burst into laughter.
As Hugh had said, he would leave the future to tomorrow. He would continue exploring this path, but tonight was a moment for celebration. It wasn't just a victory for "The Pacific", nor was it merely a victory on his journey as a performer. It was a victory in the face of dreams, against family opposition, a solitary triumph. He had waited for this moment for far too long.
After bidding goodbye to Rami and the others, Renly left the Nokia Theatre alone. The crew of "The Pacific" would have a celebration party later, but it was set to start at eleven o'clock, and the food at the party probably wouldn't be very substantial. So, Renly decided to treat himself first and quell his protesting stomach.
Walking out of the theater's side door, the newly lit lights of Los Angeles radiated a wave of bustling heat. The end-of-summer warmth hit him head-on. There were still quite a few fans standing on either side of the street, cheering loudly and screaming, waiting for their idols to appear. Among them were also a few gossip reporters, aiming their large cameras at the street, ready to capture behind-the-scenes footage after the awards ceremony.
"Renly, over here."
Before Renly could react, he instinctively turned his head in the direction of the voice, and then the camera flash went off. Renly couldn't help but chuckle. He still hadn't grown accustomed to suddenly becoming the center of attention. Someone called out, and he immediately responded. He had forgotten that reporters were skilled in this kind of thing.
Was that reporter or paparazzi? Renly couldn't distinguish them by appearance at the moment. He jogged across the street and the person followed him closely, walking by his side. "How do you feel after winning the award? Did you anticipate this outcome? Winning over Al Pacino, does that feel particularly special? You mentioned Al Pacino specifically in your acceptance speech, is that provocation?"
Renly was about to answer out of habit, but fortunately, he restrained himself. These reporters were just looking for sensational news. He didn't need to pay them any attention.
So, Renly put on a bright smile, gentlemanly and friendly, and said, "Right now, what I need most is a hamburger or maybe two chicken wings. Even a pack of fries would be good. Not an interview."
Elliot Cort paused, his steps involuntarily stopping. Then he saw Renly walk towards a nearby food truck. Suddenly, it clicked in his mind, and he burst into laughter. This young lad was quite amusing. He was about to follow, but screams from fans nearby interrupted him. "Penny, Penny! When are you marrying Leonard?"
Clearly, the two stars of "The Big Bang Theory" had appeared.
Originally, it was a straightforward choice. One was a fledgling newcomer without much fame, while the other was a hot celebrity couple. For paparazzi, the latter choice required no thinking at all. However, Elliot's steps hesitated for a moment. He lifted his head and looked at Renly, who was now at the food truck. There were four or five people in line, and Renly obediently stood at the end of the queue. The scene was quite amusing. Elliot truly wanted to continue following. But...
Glancing at the two figures already within his sight, he gritted his teeth and decided to follow the couple at the entrance of the side door. Raising his camera high, he pressed the shutter button.
Renly looked up at the simple menu on the food truck, seriously contemplating what he should order. He actually wanted fried chicken wings, really craved them, but the truck specialized in making medium-rare steak burgers. So..."A medium-rare steak burger, please." It was Renly's turn to order, and he did so skillfully, "With a black pepper flavor, and all the vegetables."
"No problem!" The cashier girl at the food truck replied with efficiency, "Three dollars and ninety-nine cents, thank you."
Renly couldn't help but feel fortunate that he hadn't brought any cash with him. Thankfully, Rami had reminded him and lent him ten dollars in cash. Otherwise, this would have been embarrassing.
The girl took the cash, then noticed the trophy in Renly's hand. "Hey, I know you. You're that guy from "The Pacific". the rich young master, right? You won an award tonight? Congratulations."
"Even if I won an award, my stomach still needs to be filled, right?" Renly's response made the girl burst into laughter. She turned around, deftly packed up the freshly made burger, and handed it to the previous customer in line before giving it to Renly. "You're an interesting guy. Those big stars wouldn't come to a little food truck like ours."
"The problem is right here; I'm not a big star. Otherwise..." Renly raised an eyebrow, and his teasing comment elicited laughter from those around him.
The girl couldn't help but smile, radiant. "I'll turn that into a slogan and put it outside the food truck. I'm Ophelia, and you are...?"
"Renly." He adopted a completely candid expression. "If it's going to be a slogan, you'd better make it accurate: Renly Hall. That way, the promotional effect will be better. Do you need my autograph?"
The girl named Ophelia laughed, "Once you become a big star." She then apologized to the customer behind her, turned around, completed packing the burger she had just made, and handed it to Renly. "Enjoy your meal."
Knowing that his conversation had delayed the customer behind him, Renly turned and apologized with a nod, then accepted the burger. "Wishing you good business." After that, they exchanged nods, and Renly turned and left.
If he were to follow the aristocratic education of this life, having a meal by the roadside would be absolutely unacceptable—even starving wouldn't be an excuse. All his time in the previous life had been spent at his desk; he hadn't had a chance to eat street food. Tonight, Renly intended to break that rule.
Putting the trophy on the curb, he sat down on the steps, legs crossed, and opened the burger. He took a bite directly, and the tender and juicy steak exploded in his mouth, releasing a sweet and succulent taste that made him want to scream. Of course, it wasn't a Michelin three-star or five-star hotel-grade steak, but at this moment, the flavor left Renly thoroughly satisfied.
Before Renly could chew more, a car whizzed by, raising clouds of dust. Another car followed suit, and the sand even entered Renly's eyes.
Renly's actions froze in place. It seemed there was a reason these rules were established. But...who cares? Renly started chewing again. After swallowing, he took another big bite. He sighed contentedly in a low voice. The warm feeling returned to his stomach. He felt that, actually, a burger was more reliable than a trophy.
"Hey, buddy, this is definitely the best burger truck in Downtown!" Not far away, a group of young people passed by, each holding a burger. One of the young men shouted loudly at Renly. Apparently, they didn't recognize him.
Renly raised the burger in his right hand high and shouted back, "I totally agree!" With that gesture, many people around him immediately started whistling, responding in harmony. The atmosphere became lively and cheerful.