Dating the Heartthrob Superstar
Chapter 98: Dual Best Actor Winners

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Dual Best Actor Winners

Chapter 98: Double Best Actor

February, West Berlin, Germany.

Fine rain drizzled from the sky, but it couldn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm. The red carpet sprawled forward, stars from various countries vying for attention and elegance under the spotlight.

The clicks of cameras echoed in the rain, flashes from magnesium lights dazzling, shaping this hall for filmmakers.

The red carpet event had begun.

This time, the domestic film "Silent War" was nominated for multiple awards at the festival, with leads being Lin Qin and Meng Chao. Consequently, a domestic live-streaming platform saw a business opportunity and purchased the broadcasting rights for the Berlin Film Festival within China.

When fans heard Lin Qin and Meng Chao’s red carpet appearance would be live-streamed, they eagerly gathered in the live-stream room to wait.

During the wait for Lin Qin and Meng Chao’s arrival, of course, the fans casually criticized certain celebrities’ outfits and behaviors — after all, some would go to extreme lengths to stay in the spotlight, all for a bit of exposure.

While the comment section was still chuckling and teasing about how one particular celebrity had dressed too provocatively, the camera captured a limousine pulling in from afar.

The fans, as if guided by intuition, eagerly flooded the comment section: [I’ve got a feeling the ones getting out of this car are the "Silent War" team!]

[Me too, I swear Lin Xiaotu and Meng are in that limo!]

Of course, the comments said this for practically every car arriving — sooner or later, they were bound to get it right.

This time, they actually hit the mark.

The "Silent War" crew arrived together, with Lin Qin, Meng Chao, the director, and Han Zhi representing their team — coincidentally all tied to the film’s nominations.

Some viewers, unaware, wondered why Han Zhi was even part of the group.

[Why’s Han Zhi on the "Silent War" team? Didn’t he just make a guest appearance as a minor character? Does that really warrant walking the red carpet?]

[You must be new around here. Han Zhi composed all the music for "Silent War," and the score’s been nominated for Best Original Score. That puts Han Zhi firmly on the red carpet roster.]

[Han Zhi is amazing!]

The comment section exploded with praise for Han Zhi, and soon Lin Qin and Meng Chao appeared on the live stream. Both men carried the prestige of Best Actor awards, and foreign photographers recognized them immediately, unleashing a flurry of flashes as they stepped onto the red carpet.

The live-stream’s comment section went into overdrive.

[Aaaaahhh, Lin Xiaotu and Meng are secretly in matching outfits again! Both look so dashing! So handsome! They’re perfect!]

[@FriedVegetablesWardrobeQuickCare, please tell us how many couple outfits these two have worn already?!]

[FriedVegetablesWardrobeQuickCare: No idea, don’t ask me! I’ve long lost count!]

[Hahaha, WardrobeQuickCare is so bitter.]

The comments didn’t stop, but Lin Qin and Meng Chao had already finished the red carpet walk and were heading into the venue.

The lighting inside was dim. They located their seats and settled down to await the awards ceremony.

"Meng Chao, why do I feel like you’re a bit tense?" The director tilted his head to ask Meng Chao. It was hard to tell if this was mere imagination. After all, Meng Chao had attended even larger festivals before, and he’d never seemed as nervous as he did today.

Lin Qin turned his gaze to Meng Chao upon hearing this, doubt clouding his eyes. He thought he should be the nervous one; why would it be Meng Chao?

Meng Chao feigned indifference and replied, "It’s just your imagination." Yet his hand instinctively brushed over his pocket, as though protecting some sort of treasure hidden within, treating it with extreme care.

The awards ceremony finally began, but each category brought another long bout of waiting.

Meng Chao didn’t know if the Silver Bear Award would end up in his or Lin Qin’s hands, but no matter the outcome, there was something he was determined to do today. If they won, it would be icing on the cake; if not, it would be a lifelong regret.

For Meng Chao, every passing second felt like torture.

Finally, the big screen lit up with a scene from their film – the moment Meng Chao had been eagerly anticipating arrived.

"Chao Meng!" The heavily accented name echoed, and the camera focused on Meng Chao. He had won Best Actor at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival — the second international A-list Best Actor award of his career.

Lin Qin was about to turn and congratulate Meng Chao when he suddenly heard his own name called: "Qin Lin!"

Lin Qin froze. Weren’t they supposed to have just announced one winner? Why were they calling his name now? What was going on?

The director nudged Lin Qin, exclaiming in excitement, "Double Yellow Egg! Double Yellow Egg! Double Best Actor!" This was incredibly rare, a double Best Actor win — and both awards had gone to their team.

Lin Qin finally snapped out of his daze, his hand grabbed by Meng Chao.

"Let’s go up together," Meng Chao said.

Lin Qin’s heart steadied, and he smiled. "Okay."

Under the spotlight, Meng Chao and Lin Qin walked hand in hand toward the center stage. Two Silver Bear Awards were handed to them, affirming their acting skills.

This symbolized yet another peak in their careers.

After the presenters stepped back, the host gestured for Lin Qin and Meng Chao to deliver their acceptance speeches.

Lin Qin suddenly noticed Meng Chao seemed nervous now. Though he hadn’t been during the award announcement, with the trophy in hand, why did he start acting this way?

Lin Qin cast Meng Chao a worried glance, but Meng Chao indicated that Lin Qin should speak first.

Clearing his throat, Lin Qin delivered a traditional yet heartfelt acceptance speech, his sincerity shining through his tone.

Toward the end, Lin Qin especially thanked Meng Chao and exchanged a deep, meaningful look with him, emotions brimming in his eyes.

Meng Chao suddenly calmed down. Taking the microphone from Lin Qin, he first cracked a harmless joke in fluent English, eliciting laughter from the audience. Then, in a decisive shift, he began speaking Mandarin.

"Today is a particularly significant day in my life, a day worth treasuring forever. Because today, I want to propose to my lover. I hope he will walk through life by my side."

Lin Qin’s eyes widened at these words. He looked on in shock as Meng Chao dropped to one knee, pulled out a prepared ring from his pocket, and held it up in his palms toward Lin Qin.

Meng Chao: "Qinqin, marry me."

Even though the audience couldn’t understand Meng Chao’s Mandarin, his proposal gesture transcended language barriers, instantly sparking whistles and thunderous applause throughout the venue.

At the center of attention, Lin Qin was speechless for a long time, unsure of how to respond. In the end, he simply extended his hand and let Meng Chao slide the ring onto his finger.

As though afraid Lin Qin might change his mind, Meng Chao swiftly secured the ring on Lin Qin’s finger.

With my ring on him, he’s mine for life.

— The End.