From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Sunlight poured down, the shadows of trees danced, and a warm, gentle afternoon breeze playfully chased ankles and fingertips. It felt as if laughter echoed in the ears, and the orange hue spread across the sky, clinging tightly to the tail end of summer, dancing and partying under the blue sky of the Northern Hemisphere.

It was Emmy Awards season again.

Nicholas Flynn habitually chewed his gum. Although he hadn't smoked for six months, he was now addicted to nicotine gum. Was that really okay?

In Los Angeles, it was 4:30 PM, the time to finish sunbathing, pack up, and head home for a cocktail before an evening gathering with friends, seizing the last fleeting moments of a Sunday afternoon to relax. But in New York, with a three-hour time difference, it was already time for dinner.

Precisely because of this, the annual awards ceremony's length was always criticized—

Four hours, or even four and a half hours, was too much. By the time the ceremony ended, it was midnight in New York, and the Academy members, whose average age was sixty, couldn't take it, physically and mentally. Even the young party animals began to contemplate whether to continue drinking or go to bed early for beauty sleep.

However, in Los Angeles, there were no such worries.

Among the four "EGOT" awards, the Oscars and Emmys were permanently based in Los Angeles, the Tonys were permanently based in New York, and the Grammys alternated between Los Angeles and New York. However, the past two years had been in Los Angeles, and it had already been confirmed that next year would also be in Los Angeles. Clearly, things weren't that simple.

So, what was Nicholas's opinion?

Did his opinion matter? No, it didn't matter at all.

Anyway, he was just a small reporter for the entertainment section of "The New York Times," with little influence. Wherever the awards ceremony was held, he would just obediently go on assignment.

If he really had to express an opinion, Nicholas was more concerned about who would win the Emmy Awards tonight—

The competition was fierce, a real bloodbath.

Almost every award had something to watch, and the Best Drama Series and Best Comedy Series, which attracted countless eyes, were a rare gathering of talents.

For the audience and the entire television industry, this was a good thing.

Therefore, when the red carpet began and the actors, directors, writers, producers, and others appeared, they genuinely enjoyed it. These past few years had indeed been a golden age for the television industry, with classic works emerging one after another, and major television stations competing for dominance.

The Shrine Auditorium, like a true temple of pilgrimage, was filled with laughter, and the elegant attire and hairstyles were dazzling.

In the past decade, the "Shrine Auditorium" had undoubtedly been a landmark building in the entire entertainment industry. The Emmys, Oscars, and Grammys were all held here, frequently appearing on television and in magazine photos. The dome, arches, mosaic windows, and other architectural features with distinct colors had become symbols of the artistic palace in the minds of countless viewers.

Every newcomer entering the entertainment industry, from directors to actors to reporters to even the behind-the-scenes staff, all yearned to enter the Shrine Auditorium—

A kind of pilgrimage.

When the dream came true, the happiness and joy were indescribable, as if they were finally standing under the spotlight of Hollywood's fame and fortune.

For example, Jane Kaczmarek.

This actress, who was already forty-five years old this year, had been in the industry for nearly ten years but had always played small, fleeting roles in television dramas.

Until this year, the Fox television network's spring pilot comedy "Malcolm in the Middle" became her breakthrough. She was widely regarded as the soul of the show and became a highly sought-after star in the entire television industry. This time at the Emmys, she broke through and won a nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

By the way, the cast of "Malcolm in the Middle" also hides another actor who has been working hard and striving for success, Bryan Cranston. This actor, who later became extremely popular with "Breaking Bad," is still on a long journey, just like Jane.

Now, Jane Kaczmarek finally stepped onto the red carpet of the Shrine Auditorium, her face still filled with disbelief, like an elementary school student attending a science fair, because there were so many novel things that she didn't know where to look, and the smile on her face was more like confusion and bewilderment.

Everything was amazing.

She looked around, paused, hesitated, both expecting and uneasy, both excited and nervous, and the mixed emotions surged between her brows.

"Jane!"

"Hey, Jane!"

"Lois, look over here."

The reporters on the left side of the red carpet tried their best to make sounds, trying to attract Jane's attention, hoping that she would stop and give an interview:

Lois, that was the name of her character in "Malcolm in the Middle."

However, there were too many voices, and Jane didn't know where to look at all. Her violently shaking pupils were as helpless as lost lambs.

At this moment—

"Kaczmarek!"

A loud noise, like Moses's spell in front of the Red Sea, gathered all eyes in a hubbub.

Everyone was trying to monopolize Jane's attention, even resorting to special methods. But in the end, the reporter accurately pronounced Jane's complicated last name. One by one, they looked towards the source of the sound:

Okay, you win.

Sure enough, Jane took a step towards that reporter, her smile fully blooming.

However, it only lasted for less than thirty seconds. Before the interview even had time to begin, a burst of cheers came from the front of the red carpet, an out-of-control cheer, instantly erupting with incredible energy in a destructive manner, sweeping across the entire Shrine Auditorium like a storm, and the rolling air waves oppressively swept across the audience.

"Brad!"

"Jennifer!"

Unlike just now, this time the names alone were enough. Without a doubt, it was the hottest celebrity couple of the summer. The two officially held their wedding ceremony on July 29th, and two weeks later, "Us Weekly" exclusively published a large number of wedding photos, setting off a wave of frenzy across the United States.

Although "Us Weekly" had never confirmed it, industry rumors said that they spent three million dollars to exclusively buy out the wedding photos.

"Brad X Jennifer" was the undisputed number one couple in North America. Their influence even surpassed that of the President.

Today, at the Emmy Awards ceremony, this was the first time the two had officially appeared in public as a married couple after their honeymoon.

No one could refuse.

Thus.

When they appeared, the entire Shrine Auditorium went crazy, completely crazy, literally.

The surging crowd pushed forward wave after wave, and flashes, shutter sounds, and all kinds of shouts were overwhelming, even more violent than a volcanic eruption.

Not far behind, a car quietly arrived at the scene amidst the frenzy. Inside the car, Eve and Edgar looked at each other—

Damn it, we're done for.

Second chapter.