While Ren was celebrating the New Year, Jada was busy with promotions.
Since Ren's "Fullmetal Alchemist" was nominated for an Oscar, Jada's team in America had been tirelessly promoting it, handling public relations, and working non-stop.
Despite the support from the TV network that purchased the rights to air "Fullmetal Alchemist" and the help from journalists arranged by Jada, she still wasn't very confident.
After all, winning an Oscar depends heavily on experience and connections.
When "Fullmetal Alchemist" entered the American market, Jada had organized some promotion, but honestly, she was just trying her best with a hopeful attitude. She didn't expect it to actually get nominated.
However, now that it was nominated, Jada wasn't sure they could actually win anything.
Her company, Picca Comics, was well-known in China, but who knew them abroad? They lacked experience and connections. Even the Big Five companies, with their significant resources, hadn't received an Oscar nomination in the past five years!
As days passed, the promotional efforts for "Fullmetal Alchemist" reached the limits of Jada's capabilities.
On February 20th, the Oscar voting ended, and the results were finalized.
On the evening of the 24th, the 85th Academy Awards would be held at the Daibi Theater.
The Daibi Theater, which in this world was similar to the Dolby Theater, had always been the venue for the Oscars.
A luxury cosmetics company called Daibi had previously paid nearly $80 million to secure naming rights for the theater for 20 years.
In China, people jokingly referred to it as the "Dumbbell Theater" because it rolled off the tongue nicely.
After waiting for so long, it was finally time for the awards to be announced, and Ren attended the Oscars in full formal attire.
After walking the red carpet, Ren saw the other comic creators competing with him for the Best Foreign Language Animated Film award. Even though they were competitors, it was important to be polite and get to know them.
It wasn't the time to show any animosity, especially with journalists around. Despite being rivals, they all displayed gentlemanly behavior.
After exchanging nods, they entered the venue together.
What was really going on in their minds—whether they were silently cursing each other not to win—was anyone's guess.
A Chinese journalist nearby excitedly captured this moment on camera.
...
At 11 a.m., which was 8 p.m. in Los Angeles, everyone in the Chinese animation industry was gathered in front of their computers and TVs, watching the Oscars live broadcast through the movie channel and Penguin Video.
It wasn't just the animation industry—viewers all over the country were watching what was arguably the most significant Oscars in five years.
As soon as the live stream started, Penguin Video's chat was flooded with comments, and the number of viewers skyrocketed.
"First!"
"I'm here!"
"Marking my spot, I'll come back during lunch break."
"If the Porter wins Best Foreign Language Animated Film, plus Best Manga Adaptation and Best Manga Creator, this Oscars will be perfect!"
"Not likely, it's a foreign award."
"Huh? Why did the Porter move so fast down the red carpet?"
"The Porter's here to win awards, not stroll the red carpet. Should he fake a fall to make headlines?"
"Give Mr. Wang a break—let him make headlines just once!"
Aside from Ren's fans, Jada, Yueyue, and Ren's parents were also watching the live broadcast.
"Mom, do you think Daddy will win?"
Yueyue looked up at her mother.
She had heard from her friends that this award was a big deal!
As a child, she liked to compare things, like whose dad had the coolest job.
"Of course he will!"
Jada certainly wasn't going to discourage her daughter.
But even as she said it, she wasn't entirely confident.
She had done all she could to help Ren get the nomination, but winning an Oscar? That was another matter entirely.
There were so many entries every year, and the fact that "Fullmetal Alchemist" had made it this far was an accomplishment in itself.
"Really? I knew Daddy was the best!"
Yueyue let out a sigh of relief when she heard her mother's assurance.
Suddenly, she noticed something on the screen that made her eyes widen. Tugging at Jada's sleeve, she exclaimed, "Mom! Mom! Look, why is there a row of white teeth shining over there?"
Jada, along with Ren's parents, followed Yueyue's gaze and couldn't help but laugh. "That's just a Black man smiling. It's dark over there, and he's standing in the shadows, so you can't see his body."
"Oh~~"
Yueyue nodded, not entirely understanding but sensing that it was something special.
...
Meanwhile, Ren was seated in his chair at the ceremony.
The seating at the Oscars is divided into tiers. The front rows on the ground floor are reserved for nominees and major presenters.
Behind the main seating area, regular celebrity guests sit in the back rows, while non-entertainment industry figures are placed on the second floor.
Ren was, of course, seated toward the front, near the edge.
Ren couldn't help but be impressed by his wife's abilities.
Although Jada had downplayed her capabilities before he left, saying she could only secure the nomination, Ren knew better.
Getting a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film was already impressive, but also securing nominations for Best Manga Adaptation and Best Manga Creator was beyond expectation.
These two awards were highly coveted each year.
"She's too hard on herself," Ren thought, shaking his head.
He didn't realize how complicated Jada's feelings were. In her view, Picca's success was largely due to Ren's contributions.
Ren's works would have shone no matter which company handled them, so it was because of him that Picca had reached its current status.
She didn't want to lag too far behind Ren.
Although she couldn't help Ren in the manga awards, she wanted to ensure his path was as smooth as possible in other areas.
As the theater filled up, the 85th Academy Awards officially began.
The first awards given were for Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short, followed by the technical awards.
The "Singing Master Series" won Best Original Score.
As for the Best Manga Adaptation and Best Manga Creator awards, as Ren expected, he didn't win.
But that was understandable. These were highly prestigious awards.
And since the Oscars are an American institution, not only do you need to spend money on public relations, but you also need to be American.
Alright, even if nationality weren't an issue, just being a Chinese person with yellow skin was enough to keep these prestigious awards out of reach.
----------
For 10 advance chapters: patreon.com/angelictranslating