Annie smiled gracefully, slowly turning in all directions so that every photographer could get a good shot of her. Her expression was elegant—almost like that of a princess.
But Director Wibinski knew very well that Annie wasn't happy tonight.
Luke hadn't chosen to walk the red carpet with her. Instead, he came with the Hero production team.
Of course, that was perfectly understandable—after all, the Hero crew were guests from overseas. They didn't know Hollywood well, and naturally needed Luke's help.
Still, Annie couldn't help but feel a little upset.
The arrival of the Pirates of the Caribbean cast drew an explosive reaction from the media.
In an instant, the flashing lights turned night into day.
It was well deserved—Pirates of the Caribbean had been the biggest box office hit of the previous year, and everyone in the cast had gained massive popularity and attention.
If the Oscars cared more about commercial success, the Pirates crew would definitely have been the night's biggest winners.
Once they passed, a new wave of commotion swept through the red carpet entrance.
This time, though, the buzz was even louder than before.
"Is that Luke?" a Korean reporter asked.
"Can't tell—it's a man and a woman. But with that kind of noise, they've got to be huge stars," a Japanese reporter replied.
"I don't think that's Luke," a reporter said. "That guy doesn't look tall, and the woman next to him is much taller."
Everyone's eyes turned to a man about five-seven walking arm-in-arm with a woman half a head taller.
"It's Tom Cruise and his wife, Nicole Kidman! No wonder the reporters are going crazy!"
"But Tom looks so serious—not happy at all."
"He's probably disappointed. He's been chasing the Best Actor Oscar for years with no luck, and now his wife's nominated for Best Actress. If she wins tonight, who knows how he'll feel?"
"Well, that's Hollywood—handsome guys have it tougher when it comes to the Oscars. Tom Cruise, DiCaprio, even Luke—they all face the same problem."
"Come on, Tom Cruise isn't even in Luke's league when it comes to acting! I bet Luke will win Best Actor soon enough."
"Speaking of, where is Luke anyway?"
"Wait—look! Up ahead! The photographers are going nuts—way more than when Cruise showed up!"
The red carpet suddenly lit up with an explosion of camera flashes—the brightest of the night.
Click! Click!
The reporters were practically hammering their cameras, the snapping sounds blending into a sea of clicks and flashes.
Director Zhang Mou, walking in front, was completely stunned.
"Luke's popularity is insane. Am I benefiting from this—or just borrowing his thunder?" he joked, straightening his posture and waving proudly to the crowd.
Behind him were Zhang Ziyu and Li Renjie, both already familiar faces at the Oscars—but even they had never experienced this level of enthusiasm.
Hero was a hit, sure, but this kind of treatment was clearly thanks to Luke.
Zhang Ziyu, who had watched Luke rise from a shy young actor on set to a towering star, couldn't help but sigh.
Never underestimate a young man with potential.
Following them came Luke and Gao Yuanyuan.
Her hand rested gently on his arm as they walked together down the carpet.
"Relax, no need to be nervous," Luke whispered.
"Mm. I'll follow your lead."
Gao Yuanyuan was secretly grateful—if Luke hadn't brought her along, she probably would've made a fool of herself in front of all those cameras.
She was truly thankful to him—not only had he given her the chance to play Ruyue in Hero, he was also walking the red carpet with her tonight.
With his level of fame, just appearing beside him meant tomorrow every major outlet would be running their photos.
For a young actress like her, that kind of exposure was priceless.
The reporters were buzzing again:
"Luke looks incredible! But who's that woman with him? I think she's a newcomer."
"She played Ruyue in Hero. Looks like he's giving a newcomer a boost."
"Heh, come on—you think it's just mentorship? I saw their scenes in Hero, and there was definitely some chemistry there."
"Obviously! You know how things go in the film industry. But wait—what are they wearing? Those look like traditional outfits!"
Indeed, Luke wasn't in a tuxedo tonight. He was dressed in a striking black-and-white Feiyu robe with a traditional Yishan crown—an ensemble that gave him an aura of regal grace.
Gao Yuanyuan matched him perfectly, wearing a bright red embroidered Mamian skirt with a white standing-collar top adorned with delicate patterns. She radiated classical Eastern elegance.
Together, they looked like a prince and princess straight out of an ancient legend—so dazzling that the photographers could barely keep up.
Gao Yuanyuan, still a bit stiff and nervous, followed Luke through the blinding flashes, feeling like she was living her ultimate dream.
When Luke finally thought the reporters had taken enough pictures and started to move on, a wave of shouts stopped him.
"Luke! Wait! Just a few more shots, please!"
"Turn this way—yeah, over here! Thanks!"
Normally, such behavior from reporters would be unprofessional, but the atmosphere was so electric that no one seemed to care.
Luke indulged them, staying on the red carpet another twenty seconds, turning to different angles to accommodate their lenses—though he couldn't stay too long, since others were still waiting their turn.
Once it felt right, he led Gao Yuanyuan to the autograph wall.
"You sign first. I'll sign next to you," Luke said.
"I saw Director Zhang signing in English—should we do that too?" Gao Yuanyuan whispered nervously.
"Sign in ."
"Huh?"
"It's fine. I'll do it with you."
So, under Luke's insistence, they found a blank spot and both signed their names in elegant characters.
As they walked into the theater afterward, Luke leaned closer and said quietly,
"You don't have to cater to Hollywood's tastes. What really matters is delivering strong work—that's the foundation."
Gao Yuanyuan nodded, though her lips silently formed the words:
"Easy for you to say… not everyone can afford not to play along."