After Being Scummed – Chapter 90

Love me as you did at the beginning, unwavering until death

While Zuo Jingyou was still in a dazed state, Yin Bai, who was beside her, started clapping vigorously, her excited face turning pale. She exclaimed, “Zuo Jingyou, you’ve won! You’ve won!!”

Yin Bai reached out and placed her palm on Zuo Jingyou’s lower back, urging her, “Quick, Zuo Jingyou, quickly go on stage to receive the award!”

Zuo Jingyou instinctively lowered her gaze and glanced at the equally surprised Yin Bai. Then she shifted her gaze and focused on Lin Zixi.

Lin Zixi raised her eyes with a smile and said, “Congratulations, Jingyou! Hurry up and go on stage to receive the award.”

Lin Chuchen, who was beside them, clapped her hands and happily exclaimed, “Congratulations, congratulations! Sister Zuo is amazing!”

Ye Can snorted but sincerely said, “Yeah, it’s your award. Go up there quickly.”

Encouraged by these words, Zuo Jingyou stood up, embraced the people behind her, including Xu Ruofeng in the back seat, and then walked onto the stage in a dazed manner to receive the award from the presenter.

When she received the trophy, Zuo Jingyou, who had been composed and calm in front of the media, couldn’t help but redden her eyes. With deep emotion, she said, “Although tonight, I have always hoped that 《Dawa》 could win an award, I was ill-prepared and didn’t prepare any acceptance speech.”

“Now I’ll gather my thoughts. First, I want to thank the judging panel and the organizing committee for giving 《Dawa》 this script and story. Next, I want to thank my senior sister, Xu Ruofeng, the assistant director of the crew, for telling me such a great story.”

“Thanks to Yin Bai, the producer, for making this film come to life.”

“Thank you to everyone on the production team for your hard work, and thank you to all the fans for your support. Thank you all for being here to witness the film journey of 《Dawa》!”

As her words fell, applause filled the air. Zuo Jingyou, on the stage, teary-eyed, bowed deeply with the trophy.

She swiftly walked down from the stage and approached her film team, handing the trophy to Xu Ruofeng.

Xu Ruofeng, holding the trophy, was deeply moved. “Having such an award tonight, I feel it’s worth it.”

Yin Bai, sitting below, looked up with a playful smile. “Is it worth it just for this? Why can’t we have even bigger dreams? There are still several heavyweight awards to be presented, like ‘Best Film,’ ‘Best Actress,’ and ‘Best Director.'”

Because of Yin Bai’s words, everyone began to have new ambitions, eagerly anticipating the remaining awards.

Traditionally, “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” are the last awards presented, but this year they became the grand finale.

After missing out on the major awards like “Best Film” and the lead actor and actress awards, it quickly approached the “Best Director” category.

At this moment, Yin Bai suddenly held her cane, stood up, and adjusted her clothes. Zuo Jingyou, watching her rise, blinked and seemed to understand something. “Yin Bai, why are you getting up?”

Yin Bai smiled and replied, “Didn’t I promise you last time that if you won an award next time, I would come and present it to you?”

Zuo Jingyou’s heart skipped a beat as she stared straight at Yin Bai. “How did you know I would win?”

Yin Bai pursed her lips and smiled. “I don’t know, but since your name is on the director’s list, I will definitely be there.”

“I won’t miss any moment of glory for you.”

Yin Bai spoke earnestly and then winked at Zuo Jingyou. “And who knows, maybe when I present the award, you’ll be the winner? Maybe I am your lucky star?”

Zuo Jingyou chuckled and looked at her. “But what if I don’t win this time? Then your first time presenting an award would be for someone else?”

Yin Bai thought for a moment and said to Zuo Jingyou, “That’s not important. What’s important is that I can’t miss being there for you.”

“Missing any opportunity would make me feel regretful. So this time, of course, I will go.”

“Not to mention…” Yin Bai paused, leaning down and looking tenderly into Zuo Jingyou’s eyes. “I believe in you, Teacher Zuo. You will definitely win, right?”

Zuo Jingyou nodded. “If that’s the case, then I believe in your belief.”

Under the gaze of everyone, Zuo Jingyou supported Yin Bai as they descended the steps and arrived in front of the award stage.

This time, under the dazzling lights, in front of all the cameras, and in the eyes of the crowd, Yin Bai didn’t care about her slightly uneven shoulders or her limping gait. She took the award script from the host’s phone and confidently walked to the place where the starlight converged.

She seemed a bit unfamiliar with this as she approached the microphone, squinting her eyes. She bent down and looked at the slightly shorter microphone, clearing her throat and saying, “Sorry for being a little slow.”

The people below the stage didn’t respond, so Yin Bai pointed to her leg and said, “It’s the final major award, and I know everyone is anxious to know the answer.”

“I’m also in anxious, so I volunteered to be the presenter.”

Yin Bai glanced in the direction of Zuo Jingyou and saw her looking at her with a serious expression, which helped calm her emotions.

She continued, “Many people here probably know me, but I still need to introduce myself. I’m Yin Bai, the Chairman of the Galaxy Group, and the Galaxy Film belongs to my company.”

“I’ve been in the film industry for about ten years, and I’ve seen many filmmakers and collaborated on numerous films.”

“I’ve attended the Thorn Flower Awards ceremony for ten editions and anticipated the award presentations with various production teams. But this is the first time I want to witness the rise of a young director myself.”

“So here I am, even though I walk slowly, I still came.”

Yin Bai pointed to her leg and self-deprecatingly said, “As you all saw, my leg is not good, so I didn’t intentionally walk slowly to delay the award presentation and make everyone as anxious as I am.”

Yin Bai’s self-deprecating humor prompted a burst of laughter from the audience below the stage.

Zuo Jingyou, who was in the distance, looked at Yin Bai in this state and inexplicably felt a bit emotional. She raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose but couldn’t help the tears welling up in her eyes.

Yin Bai seemed to gain strength from this goodwill and continued speaking, “I know everyone is anxious, but before presenting the award, I want to be a bit verbose. In my investment career, 《Dawa》 is not the film with the highest artistic or commercial value. After all, I have invested in many award-winning films. You can look them up in encyclopedias.”

“But when I first heard the story of 《Dawa》, I was deeply moved by the wild vitality contained within a certain woman’s growth.”

“She survives like a blade of grass, yet pursues the meaning of life. Even when trapped in a quagmire, she always moves toward the light. Covered in mud, she is truly the most beautiful flower of the snow-capped mountains…”

“I admire her vitality, which belongs to the essence of a woman’s life. So, I am grateful for the story that Zuo Jingyou has brought.”

As Yin Bai spoke, she tremblingly opened the award card and said, “After saying so much, let’s finally reveal the answer. Who is tonight’s Best Director…”

“I announce that tonight’s Best Director is…”

Yin Bai pulled out the card, and when she saw the familiar name shining brightly on it, her eyes widened in surprise, “Oh my god! It’s really Zuo Jingyou!”

She also seemed shocked by this surprise, and the audience below the stage was momentarily stunned before realizing that Yin Bai truly had no prior knowledge of the winner, and they burst into laughter.

Suppressing her surprise, Yin Bai quickly finished reading the award speech, “Congratulations to Director Zuo Jingyou for winning the Best Director award at the 57th Thorn Flower Awards with the film 《Dawa》!”

Amidst the applause, Yin Bai carefully pocketed the award card and raised her hand to clap, her face turning red as she did so.

She applauded with force, so excited that her ears turned red.

At that moment, Zuo Jingyou in the audience lifted her dress and, with everyone’s eyes on her, ran towards Yin Bai on the stage like a dove.

Her eyes were tinged with crimson, tears welling up, and she fell into Yin Bai’s embrace.

Zuo Jingyou held her waist, her teary eyes gazing at Yin Bai, her lips moving, unable to say a word before directly kissing her.

It was a passionate kiss. In that moment, Yin Bai felt the applause from the audience suddenly grow louder, even accompanied by cheers.

She was surrounded by the crowd, embraced by her beloved, and the kiss made her feel light and floaty, unaware of the passing time.

The deep kiss lasted for over a minute, and when it ended, Yin Bai’s entire face was as red as if she had been cooked.

Zuo Jingyou supported her, tears still in her eyes, wanting to laugh but almost crying, “You’re such a person, do you need some oxygen?”

Yin Bai licked her lips, suppressing the burning sensation in her earlobes, and shook her head, saying, “No, no, no, not this time.”

“Zuo Jingyou, you should go up and accept the award quickly.”

Only then did Zuo Jingyou support her, and they walked together to the center of the stage. The host approached and placed the trophy in Yin Bai’s hands, teasing them with a few words.

With a red face, Yin Bai urged, “Let’s focus on the important matter, let’s present the award.”

As Yin Bai spoke, she forcefully handed the trophy to Zuo Jingyou, urging her, “Congratulations, Teacher Zuo, give your acceptance speech quickly!”

Zuo Jingyou took the trophy, bit her lip, and glanced at her, appearing both coy and reproachful.

Accepting the trophy, she walked to the front of the stage and delivered an acceptance speech.

After the entire process was over, the host did not come on stage to announce the end of the segment. Zuo Jingyou felt puzzled, and with the trophy in her arms, she turned her head and looked towards the center of the stage.

At that moment, a group of ballet dancers dressed as swans rushed onto the stage, surrounding her and Yin Bai in a circle.

Music began to play, and on the stage, the iconic love song 《Le balcon》 from the musical adaptation of 《Romeo and Juliet》 started to play.

Graceful ballet dancers danced to the music, surrounding Zuo Jingyou as they approached Yin Bai step by step.

In the line, “Which star, which deity, made me the love of her eyes,” Yin Bai leaned on a cane and slowly knelt down on one knee.

Zuo Jingyou, who was escorted by the “swans,” had her vision instantly blurred.

Taking a deep breath, she hurriedly approached Yin Bai, holding the trophy.

Yin Bai took out a ring from her pocket, raising her gaze with piety and seriousness, and said, “Miss Zuo Jingyou, would you be willing to spend the rest of your life with me, to love me as you did at the beginning, unwavering until death?”

In that moment, tears instantly streamed down Zuo Jingyou’s eyes. She nodded and said with red eyes, “Yes, I’m willing.”

Yin Bai immediately smiled. Her beautiful gray-blue eyes were like the most beautiful stars in the sky at that moment.

She spoke, her voice enchanting, “Then, please accept my ring and take wedding photos with me.”

Zuo Jingyou held back her tears and vigorously nodded, gently extending her hand towards Yin Bai.

Yin Bai pushed the ring adorned with a sapphire onto Zuo Jingyou’s finger and smiled, asking her, “Can I request a kiss from you now?”

Without needing her to ask, Zuo Jingyou already understood what she needed to do. She bent down and lifted Yin Bai up from the ground, tears in her eyes, and once again kissed her.

The ballet dancers on the stage continued to surround them, and to the beautiful music, they continued this kiss until the dancers left the stage and the thunderous applause from the audience subsided.

Finally, the two of them held hands and gracefully left the stage.

That evening, the video of Yin Bai and Zuo Jingyou’s proposal spread throughout Weibo. The most widely discussed line was Yin Bai’s proposal, where she said, “Will you love me as you did at the beginning, unwavering until death?”

Usually, during a proposal, it is the proposer who gives their commitment. But Yin Bai was different. She boldly requested the other person’s unwavering love. Despite this, Zuo Jingyou still accepted her.

That evening, Zuo Jingyou gave her lifelong commitment: to love Yin Bai as she did at the beginning, unwavering until death.

Just like Romeo and Juliet, even death would never separate them.

LP: Last chapter of the main text! Ahhh, author is so good! 14 extra chapters left! I still don’t want this to end ( • ᴖ • ｡)