The Purple Rose of Cairo (Part 2) At 7:30 PM, the red carpet of the Lion City Film Festival began on time. Two photographers from a domestic film website had flown for over ten hours to get there, without even having time to adjust to the time difference. In the afternoon, they hurriedly queued up in the media area outside the red carpet to secure a spot. They had no choice; the local Italian journalists were all tall and strong. To get a good position among them, they had to squeeze into the front row. Because of this, the two of them waited all afternoon, their stomachs growling, not daring to drink too much water. Although this year's Lion City Film Festival was star-studded, unfortunately, there were few representatives from their own country. In the main competition section, only Jin Jingyao's "Dream Addiction" was shortlisted, filling the gap for Chinese-language films. "The lead actress... I don't recognize her. She's a recently popular D-list celebrity." "I often see her name trending, but honestly, it's a bit too much." "Too much marketing, I guess." "Who knows what kind of capital is backing her." "Tsk, if she hadn't teamed up with Jin Jingyao, she wouldn't be in the spotlight now." "Some people are just lucky, getting a big director right from the start." The two of them sat on the ground, chatting to pass the time. Having worked in this industry for a long time, they were no longer excited by the so-called red carpet and celebrities. The sound of the shutter clicking had become mechanical, not aiming for good shots, just doing their job to get paid. Italians are never punctual, but the red carpet started on time. The sea breeze was strong, and the night on Lido Island became starry and lively, illuminated brightly by the flashing magnesium lights. The first to appear was the jury of this year's film festival. The foreign journalists around them were enthusiastically taking photos, but the film website's photographers only symbolically pressed the shutter, yawned, and exchanged glances. "'Dream Addiction' is coming soon." "I heard that Li Ling has never walked the red carpet before." "Really? This is her first time?" "Hope she doesn't make a fool of herself." They had photographed many newcomers on the red carpet, and few could be poised on their first try. Generally, newcomers were either too shy and stiff or overly excited and self-absorbed. The former didn't look good in photos and weren't photogenic, making it difficult for magazines to publish without backlash from studios and fans. The latter was better; if the actors made a fool of themselves, they could at least get some trending topics. The photographers held their cameras, silently praying that even if Li Ling made a fool of herself, she wouldn't be too stiff in front of the camera. As they talked, they found it amusing: What kind of newcomer? Almost thirty and still pretending to be a newbie, how ridiculous... After much anticipation, the "Dream Addiction" crew finally appeared at the end of the red carpet. They could no longer hear each other's complaints—the screams were too loud, like a tidal wave. They had no time to chat anymore; the work had arrived, and both of them perked up, firmly pressing the shutter. For the global premiere red carpet, they couldn't afford to be careless. The "Dream Addiction" crew came in full force. The director, producer, and several main actors lined up, even the recently low-profile Luo Mingqing appeared. However, given his status and popularity, he should have been in a more central position, but he was relegated to the side. Instead, the D-list lead actress Li Ling was surrounded in the center, like the moon among stars. The photographers looked at her from a distance, stunned for a moment. Then, they were engulfed by another wave of frenzied screams. They were used to such screams, but perhaps the Venetian sea breeze carried a hint of champagne's intoxication, making them unusually excited, pressing the shutter with more vigor. It is hard to say whether Li Ling is the type that looks good on camera, but seeing her in person is indeed quite stunning. She was wearing a black gown made of heavy satin and intricate craftsmanship. As a newcomer attending the red carpet for the first time, even with the most critical eye, this was a very impressive debut. The dress was very elegant, with an off-shoulder design and a low neckline, incorporating some lace and woven elements that made the cleavage faintly visible, exuding a sense of decadent beauty. The skirt was wide like a birdcage, embroidered with luxurious and intricate gold threads, resembling a peacock's tail feathers, trailing long on the floor. The front and back of the dress exposed large areas of skin, but due to the unique lace design, the skin and satin were tightly intertwined, without appearing frivolous. In the interwoven dim light, her arm and shoulder skin were as white as silk. The black hem of the dress was adorned with precious gold threads and sequins, emitting a faint, peculiar luster, like a wide river reflecting the deep night. It is imaginable that wearing such a magnificent dress, any hint of restraint would reveal timidity. But Li Ling stood tall and calm, smiling at the camera, facing the blinding white light without much change in expression. She didn't need to do anything more; any pose would be superfluous. This long dress was already so magnificent and grand. Just standing at the bottom of the red carpet steps, with the sea breeze brushing her face, she had transformed into a serene oil painting. The interwoven white light, like snowflakes, shone on her face, into the depths of her eyes, giving her an exceptionally captivating demeanor. Jin Jingyao stood beside her, his expression still indifferent, but he held her hand the entire time. He rarely wore formal attire, even on the red carpet, often casually donning a jacket. Despite studying in England for many years, he never adopted the British habit of paying attention to formalities. But today, perhaps to match Li Ling, he wore a rare white suit. They stood together, exceptionally well-matched, with an almost intimate atmosphere. The reporters were frantically pressing their shutters, only realizing much later that they had completely forgotten about Luo Mingqing standing nearby. His attention was entirely focused on Li Ling, even unconsciously calling out her name. It was unclear if Li Ling heard his voice, but as she turned to walk down the red carpet, she indeed looked back and smiled sweetly at the camera. At that moment, the endless brilliance in her eyes spread out, like the lingering gold threads on her dress, weaving a moment frozen in time. Jin Jingyao, standing a step below, held her hand, seemingly calm but very focused on her. Li Ling said something to him, and they exchanged a smile. That smile was faint, but enough to drive everyone below the red carpet into a frenzy. The shutter sounds grew more intense, and the flashlights made their spot as bright as daylight. In the jostling crowd, the reporter could barely stand steady. He felt he had been taking photos diligently, but compared to his Italian colleagues nearby, he still seemed too reserved. For some reason, this group of people was frantically pressing their shutters, passionately calling Li Ling's name in clumsy English, asking her not to leave and to take another shot. For a moment, the noise almost overwhelmed the security line, and the media area was in chaos. In a daze, the reporter gazed at her back as she walked up the steps. Her back was also slender and upright, with bare skin dusted with shimmering gold powder, stunningly beautiful in the sea breeze, like a swan spreading its wings. It turns out the spine is such a thrilling, seductive hollow. A new film crew was already approaching, but the camera still favored her, lingering on her. He suddenly felt that she didn't seem like it was her first time walking the red carpet, but more like she had "returned." She had returned to the Vanity Fair. Because some people are born to be superstars, born to belong here. The distance of the red carpet has never been long, but many people have spent a lifetime to walk from one end to the other. Li Ling also took a long time, walked many detours, to finally step onto this red carpet, to stand under the spotlight. This place is both the clouds and the abyss. For every person who is infatuated with the splendor of this moment, there is someone who has paid a lifetime's price for it. May the spotlight always shine on her. May the splendor always chase after her. ... The day before the red carpet, Luo Mingqing finally arrived in Venice. He wasn't invited by the crew but came at his own expense. He had his company work hard to persuade the producer Mai Hongcheng, and after much effort, finally got permission to walk the red carpet with the crew. It was also from the producer that Luo Mingqing learned that Li Ling hadn't chosen a suitable dress until just before departure. In private, he had spent a long time picking out a little black dress in the Hepburn style to send to Li Ling. When he was young, there was a time when it was very popular for female stars in magazines to wear this style of dress, dressing themselves up like Hepburn girls. And he had imagined countless times that his sister, he thought she was more charming, lively, and beautiful than anyone on the magazine covers. Perhaps there was a one in ten thousand chance that she would really wear it on a Venetian night. To match his sister on the red carpet, he deliberately chose a black suit. But when Li Ling stepped out of the car, all his expectations turned into an inexplicable sense of inferiority. She was dressed so elegantly and beautifully, even Luo Mingqing had to admit, her choice was better than his. His heart ached faintly, suddenly realizing once again that she was no longer the girl in his memory. Only he had stayed in the same place. They walked the red carpet together. He wanted to turn his head to look at her, but he didn't dare. There were only a few people between them, yet it felt like a whole century apart. At the end of the red carpet, the crew finally stopped to accept the host's interview. Li Ling's English wasn't good, but it didn't matter, she could speak Chinese confidently, and Director Jin would translate for her fluently in Italian. Whether it was intentional or for show, the two held hands in front of the media, their eyes only for each other, leaving no room for anyone else. And Luo Mingqing watched from the side, just a background figure with no sense of presence. After a while, the host suddenly asked Li Ling, "How do you feel about working with Luo?" The camera cut over, and everyone's eyes focused on him. Luo Mingqing's smile remained, but his heart was pounding, both nervous and excited. His sister was looking at him. How would she answer this question? Would she say she had taught him how to act, that she had played his roles... would she say something like that, even just one sentence— Li Ling smiled slightly, her tone very calm, "Unfortunately, we hardly had any scenes together." The host also smiled and said, "Indeed, that's a pity." Luo Mingqing was still smiling, but he felt his mouth twitching, unable to hide his inner disappointment. He must be smiling very awkwardly. In that moment, it felt like he was being abandoned in front of the world's cameras once again. His clenched fist loosened, the cold wind blew past his neck, and he suddenly realized that the hardest thing for him to accept had never been Li Ling disliking him. But she really only saw him as an ordinary colleague. She could ignore him and answer questions about him with such a detached tone. Even on her most glorious night, he was just an insignificant person. He thought he could, but in reality, he still wasn't qualified to stand by her side. After the red carpet event, it was time for the premiere of the opening film. The tickets had sold out months ago, but as one of the guests, Luo Mingqing naturally had a ticket reserved for him. However, he suddenly felt disinterested and didn't want to watch anything. Someone was standing at the entrance of the theater, holding a banner high, begging for a ticket, so he casually handed his ticket over. "Really? Thank you so much!" The person was stunned for a moment, then thanked him profusely in heavily accented English. Luo Mingqing looked at the person's ecstatic face and suddenly wanted to ask, was a movie ticket really worth this much joy? But in the end, he said nothing, just waved his hand wearily and let the person in. After a while, his assistant, scrolling through their phone nearby, suddenly exclaimed, "Teacher Li's dress tonight has such a big story behind it!" Luo Mingqing sneered, mocking the assistant's lack of knowledge, "It's just a dress, how big of a story could it have?" He himself was a regular in the fashion world, invited to shows by brands every year, having seen the most expensive haute couture. What was the big deal? The assistant, however, insisted, "It really has a big story." Because this black dress, though very grand, had a lot of history. It was actually a costume from an unfinished film, designed by Gabriele, Italy's most famous theatrical costume designer. Gabriele was considered one of the greatest creative masters in the film industry of the last century, having designed for countless classic films. In his later years, he was invited by an Italian director—a long-time friend—to design an incredibly luxurious black costume for the female lead, to be used in the most dramatic banquet scene of the film. Unexpectedly, shortly after the film started shooting, the director suddenly passed away. The beautiful dress was shelved, and in a way, it became the designer's unfinished work, just like the uncompleted film. After Gabriele's death, this never-before-seen black costume, along with his other works, was displayed in the Pitti Palace in Florence. Once unveiled, its luxury drew many exclamations. People also lamented its fate. How could a cold museum be the final resting place for such a piece of art? Many actresses tried to borrow it, but for various reasons, Gabriele's family declined them all. Jin Jingyao told them the story of Li Ling. In a mysterious way, it seemed to align with the fate of the dress—this story moved them, and perhaps the young director quietly orchestrating everything behind the scenes moved them as well. Romanticism runs in the blood of Italians. In the end, they made an exception and allowed Li Ling to wear it. This is why the local Italian reporters were so excited when they saw Li Ling. For her debut on the Venice red carpet, she wore such a legendary dress. Tonight, she was history itself. Luo Mingqing listened to all of this with a blank expression. He looked up and suddenly saw the movie poster for "Dream Addiction" in front of him. The still on the poster was of Li Ling alone on a theater stage in the dark. She was sitting in a wheelchair, yet still spreading her arms, dancing passionately.The moonlight quietly gazed at her lonely figure. This scene was one of despair, yet it was filled with a tearing tension. Jin Jingyao didn't even appear on the poster; he gave everything to her, as if this was her movie alone. The words "Starring Li Ling" were prominently displayed, while the director's name was barely noticeable. This was unusual, but it was indeed something this madman would do. Just like on the night of the red carpet, he stood silently in the shadows, leaving all the glory to her. Luo Mingqing stared coldly at the poster for a long time. He wanted to tear it down, but what would be the point? At this moment, the entire city was covered with this poster. Jin Jingyao wanted the whole of Venice—wanted the whole world to remember Li Ling's face. Luo Mingqing still wanted to curse Jin Jingyao for showing off, to call him disgusting and scheming. But he had done so much for Li Ling, elevating her to the highest place without asking for anything in return. If this was a show, no one could put on a show to this extent. Not even he himself could. A cold thought, like a pair of tweezers, pierced Luo Mingqing's heart. Perhaps he really should admit that this man deserved his sister. But whether he admitted it or not, what difference would it make? No one cared about his thoughts. - After walking the red carpet, Li Ling was supposed to enter the theater to watch the movie. But she unexpectedly found a group of mummies dancing in the square. She didn't hesitate long before crossing the barricade and joining them in the dance. At first, the mummy army didn't recognize who she was. Later, when they realized the leading actress had joined them, they were ecstatic. The scene was filled with immense joy, yet it remained orderly, with more people eager to join in. Overall, the group danced chaotically, embodying a wild and unrestrained spirit. But everyone was laughing, laughing with genuine happiness. Jin Jingyao stood by the roadside, silently taking photos of the leading actress with his phone. Li Ling lifted her skirt and ran to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the center of the square. Initially, the young director was a bit embarrassed, but as Li Ling twirled under his palm, he became somewhat entranced and unwilling to let go. Many people were taking pictures of them. At some point, the giant electronic billboard also began broadcasting this joyful, unstructured dance. Li Ling was sweating profusely, holding Jin Jingyao's hand, her face stiff from smiling. Under the gaze of the entire city, she walked to the end of the red carpet. But the red carpet was not the end; it was a new beginning. Her night, her beautiful dream, continued. The chaotic dance went on for a long time, and after it ended, many mummy fans came to her for autographs and photos. Li Ling remained good-tempered and accommodating, bowing her head to sign her name repeatedly. A pale wrist extended in front of her. Li Ling looked up to see the handsome, silent young director, pursing his lips and looking at her. He didn't use any special privileges and waited in line like everyone else, just to get the actress's autograph. Recently, it seemed as if the two of them had caught the contagion of a passionate romance; they couldn't help but smile when they saw each other's eyes. So it wasn't long before Jin Jingyao smiled at her. His amber eyes looked at her with such focus, filled with a few degrees of smiling eagerness, as if he really was her fan, the most loyal fan in the world. Li Ling bowed her head and once again, earnestly wrote her name on his throbbing pulse. Jin Jingyao whispered, "Thank you," still adhering to the rules, and prepared to leave the line after getting the autograph. Li Ling grabbed him. Jin Jingyao looked up in confusion. She extended her fair wrist to him and said, "Director, I want one too.""