After that long review, more and more supporters joined in. In today's era, women were willing to pay for shows centered on "strong female leads" and the "rise of women." Even though they had been deceived countless times by shows that were wrapped in the guise of female empowerment but ended up being about submissive wives or had pretentious bourgeois cores, they still kept buying in, drawn by the promise of female-centric stories.
It wasn't that they were gullible or foolish. The reason they were so easily tricked was that they wanted to see more female representation in the domestic film and television market.
So when a true female-centric story emerged, they rushed in to support it, to add fuel to the fire, and to show that there were people out there who stood behind such stories.
Some netizens even noticed that the entire creative team was composed of women:
[Now I understand why this team could produce such a strong female-led story. The screenwriter is February, who has written suspense, mastered political intrigue, and can settle down to write a powerful female period drama. She's a rising new screenwriter who debuted at the top and has stayed there. The director is also a familiar face—someone we've all grown up watching, who's best at showcasing the beauty and strength of women. Even when directing male-led dramas, she always finds a way to give the women their spotlight. Aside from these two, the producer is also a woman, and so is the investor. The well-known Qin from 99 Entertainment? No need to say more.
Even Miss Zhao, who also invested in this, mentioned in an interview that she thought the movie would likely flop, but she didn't care because she liked the film's theme and was willing to support it.
Look at this level of dedication—it's no wonder the film captured the strength of women so well.]
Thanks to these supporters efforts, the film really took off. On its first day, it ranked seventh at the box office. By the tenth day, it had shot up to the top, holding onto the number one spot for almost half a month, and recouping its initial investment. It was a result that surprised everyone.
Afterward, Yu Shuman became even busier because the film's screening period was extended, and she had to continue promoting it. By the time Qin Ran completed her graduation defense and was ready to take graduation photos, Yu Shuman was too busy to attend.
Qin Ran couldn't help but feel a little regretful. They had talked about taking their graduation photos together, but Yu Shuman simply didn't have the time.
However, to Qin Ran's surprise, on the day of the graduation photoshoot, Yu Shuman showed up. Not only did she come, but she also brought Qin Ran's mother. Qin Ran's eyes widened, completely caught off guard by their arrival.
Sister Li and Assistant Wu joined in the fun too. Sister Li brought out a Polaroid camera, insisting on taking lots of photos of them. She even directed Qin Ran, saying, "Hey, Xiao Ran, smile! Don't be so stiff—you're not photogenic at all!" Yu Shuman had already told Sister Li to be careful since Qin Ran's mother didn't know about their relationship, and Qin Ran didn't want to reveal it yet.
Sister Li, being the cheeky person she was, took full advantage of this rare opportunity to call Qin Ran "Xiao Ran" in front of everyone, her face practically splitting with mischief as she repeatedly called her by name.
Qin Ran couldn't do much with her mother present. She couldn't correct Sister Li and had no choice but to obediently follow her directions.
Following Sister Li's guidance, the three of them wandered around the campus, taking pictures in various spots. It was also Qin Ran's mother's first time at Yu Shuman's alma mater. She listened intently as Yu Shuman and Qin Ran chattered about the campus: "This is the cafeteria. It's super cheap because of the government subsidies. You can get one meat dish and two veggies for only eight yuan, and you can have as much rice and soup as you want... This is the library, and if you read books there, it doesn't cost a penny. If you borrow a book, it's only fifty cents a week…"
Qin Ran's mother listened with great interest. When it was time for the group photos, Yu Shuman stopped Qin Ran to straighten her graduation gown and cap. Qin Ran glanced at her mother, who was still admiring the campus, and softly asked, "Manman, how come you're here?"
Yu Shuman smiled warmly. "You mentioned it when I graduated, didn't you? You said you'd bring me along when you took your graduation photos."
Qin Ran hadn't expected her to remember and was even more surprised that, despite flying all over the country, Yu Shuman had made time to come back for this. Just as Qin Ran was about to smile, Yu Shuman added, "Besides, even without that promise, I would've come. Today is your graduation day, and since our Xiao Ran doesn't have any other family here, it's up to Mom and me to be here."
Yu Shuman patted Qin Ran on the shoulder and said, "Alright, go take your pictures."
As Qin Ran stood with her classmates, she couldn't help but break into a goofy grin. As Sister Li put it, "Someone could steal her wallet right now, and she'd still smile and say, 'Take it all, and I'll transfer you more if you need it.'"
But Qin Ran was truly happy. Her heart felt full, completely content with the warmth and light Yu Shuman brought into her life.
After graduation, Qin Ran had more free time. By July and August, Yu Shuman wasn't as busy either, so Qin Ran took her to Fashion Week, where they shopped and enjoyed themselves. When they returned home, Yu Shuman received an invitation to the Golden Phoenix Awards.
This was completely unexpected for her, as she never thought she'd receive an invitation for her first film. Sister Li, however, remained pragmatic: "It's probably just a Best Newcomer nomination. Don't get too excited. You did well, and this is what you deserve."
On November 1st, when the Golden Phoenix Awards announced the nominees and released the official poster, Yu Shuman was shocked to find that she wasn't in the Best Newcomer category but was nominated for Best Actress.
Sister Li, ever the realist, poured cold water on her excitement once again. "Don't get your hopes up about winning. Newcomers rarely win on their first try. I'm sure this is just for show, but don't worry, even being nominated for Best Actress on your first film is a huge honor."
Sister Li had a point. The other four actresses nominated alongside Yu Shuman were all seasoned veterans, with well-established reputations in the industry. Yu Shuman even spotted Rong Hua's name in the Best Supporting Actress category, and knowing someone familiar eased her nerves considerably.
From the moment she received the invitation, Yu Shuman eagerly looked forward to the Golden Phoenix Awards ceremony. On the day of the event, as she got ready, she kept asking Qin Ran if her makeup and outfit were okay. Qin Ran reassured her, "Manman, you look amazing, absolutely stunning. You're the most beautiful flower of the night, no question."
With Qin Ran's constant reassurance, Yu Shuman finally relaxed. She took a deep breath, hugged Qin Ran, and then headed off to the ceremony.
Yu Shuman walked the red carpet with the rest of the Gong Suoran production team.
Qin Ran had also been invited, given her numerous investments in the entertainment industry. However, she wasn't seated with the actors but rather towards the back, along with other industry professionals.
Seated next to her was Miss Zhao, who had also been invited because of her co-investment in the film.
Qin Ran couldn't resist a jab. "Why'd you jump on the movie investment bandwagon too?"
Miss Zhao chuckled. "Who doesn't know about you, Xiao Qin? If I follow your lead, there's no way I'll lose money. Look, I made a killing off that movie already!"
"Then why did you tell the media you didn't care about losing all your money on it?"
Miss Zhao just grinned and said nothing. After a while, she leaned over and added, "I knew I wouldn't lose out. Even if I did, you'd make up for it with your other projects. Honestly, even if I had lost money, I wouldn't have minded. This is the kind of movie I'm happy to invest in."
Having crawled her way out of hardship, Miss Zhao had always admired women who pushed forward with determination.
After a while, all the celebrities had taken their seats, and the Golden Phoenix Awards officially began following the opening ceremony and performances. Awards were announced one after another, and the Gong Suoran team picked up several trophies. the screenwriter even won Best Screenplay, though she was so stunned when her name was called that she stammered her way through her acceptance speech and hurried off the stage like something was chasing her.
As the announcement for Best Actress approached, Miss Zhao leaned over to Qin Ran again. "Xiao Qin, do you think your Yu Shuman has a shot at winning?"
Qin Ran pressed her lips together, feeling both amused and pleased by Miss Zhao's use of "your Yu Shuman." But when it came to Best Actress, Qin Ran was uncertain. She shook her head, honestly replying, "I don't know, but I hope she does."
If she were to speak from her heart, Qin Ran truly believed Yu Shuman would win. She wasn't interested in an inspirational story where Yu Shuman, after missing out on the award in her debut, worked tirelessly for years before finally claiming the Best Actress title.
That would be motivational enough, but Qin Ran didn't want Yu Shuman to wait so long for recognition.
She only wanted Yu Shuman's life to be smooth and filled with success. After all, this world no longer followed the original plot where Ling Miaohan could win an award right after debuting. If Ling Miaohan could do it in the novel, why couldn't her Yu Shuman? Yu Shuman worked hard, was ambitious, and deserved all the best the world had to offer.
Soon, it was time for the announcement of the Best Actress award. The host first listed the names of the five nominated actresses and their respective films, then began building suspense. The lights dimmed, and a white spotlight moved around, unsure of where to settle.
Finally, after dragging it out long enough, the host announced: "The winner of this year's Golden Phoenix Award for Best Actress is—Yu Shuman!"
The spotlight landed on Yu Shuman, seated with the Gong Suoran team in the front row. The big screen displayed her stunned face, which quickly shifted to one of joy. With a reminder from her fellow cast members, she stood up, bowed to the crowd, and smiled.
Even in the dim lighting, Qin Ran felt as though Yu Shuman had seen her, and that radiant smile was just for her.