Chapter 66: "Putting on Airs?"

As soon as the "Ear Emperor" had set his flag, many other enthusiastic netizens followed suit, raising their own stakes alongside him.

"If Zhou Ran wins Best Male Singer, I'll wash my hair standing on my head!"

"If Zhou Ran wins all the awards he's nominated for, I'll propose to my girlfriend right away!"

"If Zhou Ran takes home Best Album, I'll quit my job!"

Countless netizens took advantage of Zhou Ran's awards predictions to voice long-held wishes and confessions of things they’d always wanted to do but never dared. Zhou Ran’s predictions were merely an excuse for them to express these desires.

Following the wave of online predictions, Zhou Ran also took the opportunity to ask Chef Huang for a day off. Chef Huang, ever straightforward, simply gave the entire crew a day’s holiday. After all, with the leading man off to attend an award ceremony, there wasn’t much point in filming without him. Besides, their shooting schedule was ahead of plan; taking a day’s rest wouldn’t hurt at all.

What’s more, since Zhou Ran was going to the Chinese Golden Melody Awards, the "Drummer" crew, as his home team, had to show their support and cheer for him. Giving their leading man a proper send-off was only right.

During his time on set, Zhou Ran had won over almost all the crew members. At first, they’d assumed that, as a top celebrity, Zhou Ran would be proud and difficult, too lofty to bother speaking with ordinary staff.

But once they got to know him, they realized their assumptions had been wrong—Zhou Ran was, in fact, very easygoing. If a staff member made a mistake, he never blamed them. There was even a time when, in a rush, someone accidentally spilled water all over him. The staff member was terrified, convinced Zhou Ran would fire him on the spot. But instead, Zhou Ran comforted him repeatedly, assuring him it was nothing to worry about.

On set, Zhou Ran would often buy drinks and snacks for everyone whenever he could, never once acting like a prima donna. The reason was simple: in his past life, Zhou Ran had known hardship. He understood how hard the crew worked, and believed in showing kindness whenever possible—a good deed each day.

Besides, Zhou Ran didn’t see himself as anyone special—just an ordinary actor. There was no reason to put on airs.

Was there any real need to walk around with a dozen bodyguards, just to look important? Some celebrities would step off a plane surrounded by an entourage of bodyguards, yet only two or three fans would be there to greet them.

Zhou Ran wasn’t fond of having bodyguards. He felt they were unnecessary, unless he was appearing somewhere public in his official capacity, where crowds would be large.

For the Golden Melody Awards, Zhou Ran simply packed his phone and set off; he didn’t prepare anything else. He knew that once he landed, Li Mi would be there to pick him up, and she had already arranged everything, including the outfit he would wear for the ceremony.

"Don’t worry about a thing, you have Sister Mi," was more than just an empty phrase.

As soon as Zhou Ran exited the VIP passage, Li Mi was already waiting at the exit for him.

"You must be tired, Xiao Ran. Have some milk and rest a bit," Li Mi said, rolling down the car window and handing him a carton of milk.

"Hello, Sister Mi! Long time no see!" Zhou Ran replied, taking the milk and settling into the car, closing his eyes as Li Mi began briefing him on things to note for the awards ceremony the next day.

"Don’t be nervous tomorrow. Just walk out there confidently. I’ll be with you the whole time…" Li Mi was still talking, driving and explaining the details.

Suddenly, she heard light snoring from the back seat. Turning to look, she saw Zhou Ran already fast asleep, snoring softly, looking completely at ease.

Li Mi could only smile helplessly. "This Zhou Ran really can sleep—no sooner is he in the car than he nods off. If I were a bad person, I could have sold him off by now."

Despite her words, Li Mi quietly turned down the music, careful not to disturb his rest.

When they arrived home, Li Mi didn’t wake Zhou Ran right away but instead gazed at his sleeping face, lost in thought.

As she studied him in the car, Li Mi realized how much Zhou Ran had grown—he seemed more mature, with a touch of adult composure.

She wondered to herself whether bringing Zhou Ran into the entertainment industry had truly been a good thing. Someone as pure-hearted as Zhou Ran wasn’t really suited for this chaotic, treacherous world. Li Mi had always thought Zhou Ran was too kind, too quick to treat others as friends.

The entertainment world was just too complex. Everyone played a part, and you could never be sure who was friend or foe. Most people approached each other with their own agendas. Even Li Mi herself wasn’t immune; she, too, harbored a secret wish—a laughable, unrealistic hope she wouldn’t dare let anyone else know of.

Gazing at Zhou Ran in the back seat, Li Mi thought to herself, "Xiao Ran, don’t worry. Only your big sister can bully you. As for everyone else, let them stay far, far away."

At that very moment, in a certain conference room, a heated discussion about Zhou Ran was underway.

An elder, gripping a pen, declared passionately, "Since when did the Golden Melody Awards need to be influenced by outside forces? Can we no longer stay true to our convictions?"

"Have you all forgotten our founding principles? Fairness, justice, transparency—treating every person with seriousness and equality!"

As the elder’s words faded, the room fell silent, a hush as heavy as death. Clearly, Zhou Ran’s eligibility for an award had sparked fierce debate among the judges, and the obstacles were greater than anyone could have imagined.