Chapter 241: 241 Fans’ Expectations

Chapter 241: 241 Fan Expectations

The *Reign Supreme* team still occupied the best seats in the guest area. In front of Lu Xu's seat were the jury members of this year's *Contention Award*. Lu Xu knew a few of them fairly well, so before taking his seat, he made a point to greet them.

During this process, Lu Xu noticed someone staring at him.

"That’s Ni Xiuzhu," Zheng Xiao observed, whispered to Lu Xu.

Lu Xu gave a slight nod.

Their gazes briefly met before Ni Xiuzhu turned away first. From Lu Xu’s perspective, the other’s gaze was anything but friendly.

Since the other clearly disdained him, Lu Xu saw no reason to be overly polite either. He wasn’t the same rookie from his debut days—his clout now meant he wouldn’t take disrespect.

"He acts that way with everyone," Zheng Xiao remarked. "Don’t expect him to be courteous to anyone."

Neither Zheng Xiao, Lu Xu, nor Ni Xiuzhu had ever collaborated before. Their respective agencies knew working with Ni Xiuzhu meant guaranteed headaches.

Even though Zheng Xiao wasn’t as carefree as Lu Xu, as his agency’s top talent, he still had some degree of choice.

In a way, Ni Xiuzhu could handpick the most lucrative roles, but he couldn’t stop other actors from refusing to work with him.

Lu Xu and Zheng Xiao only briefly discussed Ni Xiuzhu before returning to their seats. However, this short encounter was still caught by paparazzi lenses, and marketers later spun it with juicy "details"—all fabricated, yet some people took them seriously.

...

"This place is so stiff," Zheng Xiao sighed after sitting down.

The events he usually attended were livelier, filled with younger crowds where someone might throw out a one-liner, and Zheng Xiao could effortlessly riff off it.

But at the *Contention Award*, even celebrities known for their humor couldn’t help but straighten up.

Lu Xu nodded slightly. "And it’s especially long."

The moment he spoke, this year’s Jury President, Qian Shuren, turned around and pointed a finger at him.

Lu Xu: "..."

Well, that backfired.

He promptly shut his mouth.

Though—he still believed he was stating facts.

The *Contention Award* ceremony dragged on forever, complete with additional performance segments. And as everyone knew, the more ceremonies were held, the more snooze-worthy the acts got, making one wonder if the organizers had secretly pocketed the budget.

Of course, that wasn’t the case—it was just that fewer films broke through these days, and even fewer had breakout soundtracks.

Chang Aiwei also shot Lu Xu and Zheng Xiao a look, signaling them to stop talking. Fortunately, the winners had already been decided before the ceremony. Otherwise, what if the jury members, originally planning to award *Reign Supreme*, pulled the award out of spite upon hearing Lu Xu’s grumbling?

"They wouldn’t be that petty, right?" Zheng Xiao grumbled lowly.

"Who knows?" Lu Xu shrugged.

Naturally, once the ceremony began, the pair finally clammed up.

The first awards presented were for Best Supporting Actor and Actress. *Reign Supreme* had two nominees for Best Supporting Actor.

Lu Xu noticed that Zheng Xiao not only spoke less but also seemed wound up tight—his muscles were rigid, and even his jaw was clenched, not an ounce of ease in him.

Zheng Xiao noticed Lu Xu's attention and smiled at him.

But his smile didn’t reach his eyes, unlike when he was teasing others with Lu Xu.

Lu Xu gently patted his shoulder.

In Lu Xu's view, the actor/actress awards were the most thrilling part of the entire Contention Award ceremony. Presenting the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards at the beginning hooked the audience from the start.

Meanwhile, placing the Best Actor and Actress awards later heightened suspense.

"The winner of this year's Contention Award for Best Supporting Actor is—"

Lu Xu felt Zheng Xiao straighten up in his seat.

"Wang Yu, *Reign Supreme*."

At that moment, Zheng Xiao's tension eased. Though he’d hoped otherwise, he wasn’t overwhelmed by disappointment.

Zheng Xiao had said before that he was mentally prepared for either outcome—whether he or Wang Yu won.

In his heart, he believed Wang Yu had a higher chance, given his seniority and more nuanced take on the character Ding Fu.

The result didn’t surprise him, but he still felt a pang of disappointment.

This was the closest he’d ever come to winning a Contention Award since entering the film industry. The trophy had felt *this close*, whereas before, he’d never even dared to hope, viewing the award as something distant and unattainable.

"Guess I’ll just have to step up my game next time," Zheng Xiao sighed softly.

Lu Xu nodded.

In Lu Xu’s opinion, Zheng Xiao’s performance was just as strong as Wang Yu’s. Wang Yu, with years of experience, had tackled all kinds of roles—both heroic and villainous. While Zheng Xiao’s acting might not be as layered, no one dug deeper into their roles than him.

The judges had to have noticed.

Zheng Xiao didn’t need much consolation from Lu Xu.

The reason the three of them became friends was their shared ambition—each had their own goals and were always pushing to improve in acting. Whether it was him, Zheng Xiao, or Shao Yao, none of them rested on past laurels.

A lost Contention Award, they’d fight to reclaim through their performances.

"But the Hilltop Trio is already amazing!"

"+1, all three have won Starlight Awards, with iconic roles in both the TV world and film industry. Zheng Xiao and Shao Yao even earned Contention Award nominations. Sure, they haven’t won yet, but if they’ve made it this far, isn’t the award within grasp?"

"Zheng Xiao, keep going! Don’t give up!!"

"Following Lu Xu and his friends feels like raising a character in a game—there’s that satisfying grind of leveling up. I know it sounds weird to say that about thirty-something men, but seriously, it’s like watching your account level up."

"Hard agree."

"Amazing! Keep pushing forward!!"

Without a doubt, Zheng Xiao and Lu Xu’s nominations were among the biggest suspense points of this year’s Contention Awards. The moment the Best Supporting Actor winner was announced, the live viewership surged, then gradually dipped after Wang Yu’s victory, flatlining at a quieter baseline without further surges.

For fans like Tan Qi, who adored Lu Xu, turning on the TV and tablet was just to screenshot Lu Xu looking flawless.

When it came to the charm of a mature man… no one understood it better than *G-brand*. And right after that, it was him.

Lu Xu’s suit for this year’s Contention Awards had a retro twist. As they say, fashion always comes full circle—what was once trendy has come back around.

This suit gives off a stoic yet distinctively mature charm, making Lu Xu seem not like a factory-made idol, but a vibrant and captivating individual.

Lu Xu has attended several Contention Awards, but this year's styling tops Tan Qi’s list.

Despite the retro aesthetic, Lu Xu's personal image remains refreshing in Tan Qi's eyes—his gaze into the camera, his bright smile, even the way he waves at the lens... none of it ever comes off as try-hard or sleazy.

"Is there a chance you've put Lu Xu on fast-forward?" A friend teased Tan Qi for her thick rose-tinted glasses toward him.

"Absolutely not," Tan Qi firmly denied.

It wasn’t just her—other fans on Weibo also shared backstage photos of Lu Xu from this year's Contention Awards... Lu Xu never gives off an oily vibe; he’s always as crisp as when she first stanned him.

Tan Qi never expected she’d stan Lu Xu for this long.

She isn’t the obsessive type—for her, following idols is just a pick-me-up. Seeing her favorite star on blah days makes the world feel brighter.

She started with Verse, and when the group disbanded, she thought her idol-chasing days would end. Yet, she later became a fan of Lu Xu again—harder, in fact, than during her Verse days.

This affection has lasted until now, making Lu Xu a non-negotiable part of her life.

Lu Xu broke box office records, snagged trophies fans would kill for, and kept maturing... while she, too, grew alongside him.

To her, Lu Xu feels more like kin.

Nowadays, Tan Qi has barely any bandwidth for fandom—she has a new family, switched jobs twice—but whenever she feels exhausted, watching Lu Xu’s new works or seeing his growth reminds her that life can get better.

This is the strength her favorite idol gives her.

She rarely spends money on Lu Xu these days. If he releases a new film, she’ll buy a ticket; otherwise, she passes. She did follow the mahjong variety show and *Light and Shadow Journey*.

She learned mahjong—now her friends never worry about being short a player; they can just call her.

*Light and Shadow Journey* led her to watch all the films recommended by the show. Last year, she even visited one of its filming locations during her travels.

Luxury brands endorsed by Lu Xu are beyond her budget now. In her youth, she might’ve splurged on an item or two, but these days, she prioritizes health and a rich inner world.

She doesn’t mind trying budget or basic products he promotes—just like his films, his recs never miss.

All in all, stanning Lu Xu hasn’t worsened her life; instead, things keep improving.

This is what an idol means to her.

Lu Xu’s diligence and hard work continue to inspire her.

Tan Qi rarely gets swept up by other things these days—Lu Xu remains one of the few "hype fuel" she still drinks.

The deeper she dives into Lu Xu, the harder it is not to like him even more.

"I hope Lu Xu wins another Contention Award this year," Tan Qi wrote on her Weibo profile.

Some mocked her comment, calling it wishful thinking—Lu Xu already has three Best Actor wins; a fourth seems unrealistic.

But others supported her. Some cited data, claiming Lu Xu outacted everyone among this year’s nominees. Others, like her, rode for him no matter what—regardless of competition or circumstances, they had tunnel vision for Lu Xu.

Lu Xu deserves every award in the world. He’s the ultimate flex, a whole treasure!!

In Tan Qi’s book, anything is possible.

From day one of stanning him until now, to Tan Qi, Lu Xu is a walking miracle.

In this entertainment industry, there will never be another Lu Xu.

There will never be another idol who ventured into both the TV and film industries and rose to the top in both.

Even in terms of looks, there will never be another Lu Xu in this entertainment industry.

Tan Qi has been quietly praying, hoping that Lu Xu can win another Best Actor award.

Lu Xu can do it, Lu Xu deserves it!!

Midway through the Contention Awards ceremony, Tan Qi’s mind was already set on the Best Actor award, which wouldn’t be presented for another hour.

It wasn’t just her—plenty in the live chat were just as fixated.

If Lu Xu took home another award, Tan Qi swore she would break down in tears.

Lu Xu is her pride, the spark in her ordinary life. She genuinely wishes for Lu Xu to have everything, to have the whole world.