novellhall Chapter 236 Chen Xun's Hand-Painted Drawings [5000]
Chapter 236 Chen Xun's Hand-Painted Drawings [5000]
Chapter 236 Chen Xun's Hand-Painted Drawings [5000]
The next morning at nine o'clock, in the living room of Chen Xun's suite.
Kayla has already changed her clothes.
A simple black dress paired with a beige trench coat looks appropriate and understated.
This was delivered by Kayla's agent early this morning.
Seeing Kayla in Chen Xun's room, Kayla's agent looked at the two of them with ambiguous eyes.
Chen Xun had met with Kayla's agent once before, so they were acquainted.
He wanted to explain.
But after opening his mouth, he didn't know what to say, so he simply gave up.
Kayla is in much better spirits than last night; at least her dark circles have faded.
"Is this okay?"
Kayla twirled in front of Chen Xun while wearing a dress.
Chen Xun breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Kayla was clearly in much better spirits.
She truly deserves the title of "British Rose".
Although she wasn't exceptionally beautiful, she possessed a captivating and pitiful charm.
Especially when she twirled in front of him in a skirt.
Very charming.
"Isn't that too casual?"
Kayla tilted her head and blinked as she looked at Chen Xun.
"Perfect match!"
Chen Xun gave a thumbs up.
"The premiere red carpet is in the evening. Right now it's just a rehearsal and media warm-up, so there's no need to dress too formally."
Kayla nodded and then tidied her hair in front of the mirror.
Chen Xun's phone rang. It was Vin Diesel: "We're in the lobby downstairs. Are you done yet?"
"Get down right now!"
The two took the elevator downstairs.
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Michelle Rodriguez were all in the lobby.
Seeing Chen Xun and Kayla walk out together, the expressions of the three of them became subtle.
Paul was the first to react, whistling, "Hey, Chen, aren't you going to introduce me?"
Vin Diesel had a knowing look on his face.
Michelle raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
Chen Xun knew they had misunderstood, but explaining now would only make things worse, so he simply introduced her generously: "This is Keira Knightley, she's here to support us today."
Hi~
Kayla greeted her with a smile, "I really love the Fast and Furious series, especially the scene in the fifth one where you guys steal the safe, that was so cool!"
Paul laughed: "You have a good eye! I filmed that scene for two whole weeks, and my back almost broke."
Vin Diesel bumped fists with Chen Xun and whispered, "You're pretty good, kid. You even managed to get the British Rose."
.
"It's not what you think!"
Chen Xun was helpless.
"I understand, I understand, we're friends."
Fan winked: "Don't worry, we've all been there, we won't say anything nonsense."
Chen Xun gave up trying to explain.
The group boarded a van and headed to Leicester Square.
On the way, Paul asked Kayla, "What movie are you filming lately?"
"I just finished filming an art film and am now taking a break."
Kayla smiled and said, "Actually, I came here today to relax."
"Then you've come to the right place!"
Michelle finally spoke up: "Fast & Furious 6 will guarantee your adrenaline surge, and you'll forget all your troubles after watching it."
Outside the car window, promotional materials for Fast & Furious 6 had already begun to appear on the streets of London.
Bus stops, shopping mall exteriors, and even taxi rooftops are covered with GG screens displaying movie posters.
Vin Diesel and Paul occupy the center position, while Chen Xun, a newly added character, is prominently positioned on the right side of the poster.
"That's quite a spectacle!"
Chen Xun sighed.
"Global Times has gone all out this time!"
Vin Diesel looked out the window: "A simultaneous global promotion, with a five million pound GG budget spent in London alone. They say this movie is going to be the year's box office champion."
"Are you confident?" Kayla asked.
"certainly!"
Fan laughed: "We have the best team, the best cars, and—"
He glanced at Chen Xun: "The best Chen Xun!"
Chen Xun blushed.
Vin Diesel is clearly flattering Kayla in front of her.
The car was parked near Leicester Square.
The square has been completely transformed, with a red carpet stretching from the street corner all the way to the cinema entrance, and media and fan zones set up on both sides.
Although it is morning, many fans are already waiting, holding up posters and light sticks.
Chen Xun saw a group of fans with Asian faces holding up light boards with his Chinese name, which stood out in the crowd.
"Are they your fans?" Paul asked.
"Yes, I didn't expect them to make such a big show of it."
Chen Xun felt a warmth in his heart.
Staff members came over and guided them into the temporary backstage area.
The rehearsal mainly consisted of stage movements and media interviews, and was not particularly complicated.
The presenter arranged by Universal was a British entertainment journalist named Simon, who was known for his sharp tongue.
He walked over with the schedule in hand: "Ladies and gentlemen, the red carpet event is expected to last forty minutes. The media interview area is here, here, and here—"
He pointed to several points on the map: "The Sun, BBC, Sky Sports, and MTV."
"I've screened all the questions. Most of them are routine, but some reporters might ask tricky questions, so please be prepared."
The rehearsal went smoothly.
They walked the red carpet route, familiarized themselves with the media locations, and rehearsed the interactive activities inside the cinema.
During his lunch break, Chen Xun went to take a look at the fan area.
The group of Chinese fans was still there, about twenty or so, men and women, who all looked like students.
They became excited as soon as they saw Chen Xun.
"Brother Xun! Look this way!"
"Brother Xun is awesome!"
Chen Xun walked over, and when the security guard tried to stop him, he waved his hand and said, "It's okay, I know him."
Fans immediately swarmed around, chattering, "Brother Xun, we're international students in London, we came especially to see you!"
"I came by train from Manchester!"
"Brother Xun's Oscar acceptance speech was excellent! My parents both praised you!"
Chen Xun smiled: "Thank you for coming all this way. Have you eaten?"
"I've eaten!"
"What are you wearing tonight, Brother Xun? Can we take a picture together?"
-
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"Yes, we'll do it soon."
Chen Xun said to the security guard next to him, "Could you please take a picture of me and my fans?"
The security guard took the phone, and Chen Xun stood among the fans, giving them a thumbs up.
After taking the photos, he chatted with his fans for a few more minutes, reminding them to be careful and not to crowd too much at night.
Backstage, Paul teased him, "Wow, you're an international superstar, with fans traveling across borders to follow you."
"They are all international students; it's not easy for them to come all this way."
Chen Xun was also very moved.
Kayla sat quietly in the corner, watching Chen Xun interact with the fans, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"What's wrong?"
Chen Xun walked over.
"It's nothing!"
Kayla shook her head: "I just think you're very popular and you're nice to your fans."
"Of course!"
Chen Xun sat down next to her: "Without them, I am nothing."
Kayla was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, "I used to be very nice to my fans, signing autographs, taking photos, chatting—but I don't dare anymore. I'm afraid there might be a pervert hiding among them."
Chen Xun looked at her and said, "Not all fans are like that. Most of them genuinely like you, but a very small number of them have psychological problems."
"I know, but—"
Kayla smiled wryly: "Once bitten by a snake, twice shy."
"Your Chinese is very good!"
Chen Xun was surprised that Kayla could still speak a perfectly fluent Chinese sentence at this moment.
Kayla blushed.
Chen Xun gently patted her shoulder.
At 4 p.m., the countdown to the premiere officially began.
The lead actors began changing costumes and getting their looks done.
Chen Xun wore a dark gray suit provided by Dior, which was well-tailored and made his broad shoulders and long legs appear even more striking.
The stylist gave him a simple slicked-back hairstyle, revealing his forehead, which made him look much more mature.
Kayla also changed her clothes; she wore a champagne-colored knee-length skirt with silver high heels, and her hair was styled into an elegant updo.
She looked at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath.
"Nervous?" Chen asked.
"A little!"
"It's been a long time since I walked the red carpet, and I always feel like there are eyes watching me from the shadows."
"Don't worry, security has been upgraded tonight."
Chen Xun comforted her, "I will always be with you."
The red carpet event began at 5:30.
Leicester Square was packed with fans and media.
The screams, the clicking of camera shutters, and the host's voices mingled together, creating a deafening cacophony.
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker led the way, and the fan section exploded the moment they appeared.
"Van! Paul! Look this way!"
"Ah ...
The fans were shouting and screaming with excitement.
Michelle and Jordana followed closely behind, then Tyrese Gibson, and Ludacris.
Chen Xun and Kayla were assigned to the second-to-last group.
When the two walked side by side down the red carpet, the sound of camera shutters clicking in the media area noticeably doubled.
"Chen Xun! Look to the left!"
"Kayla! Over here!"
"You two! Come closer!"
Chen Xun naturally put his arm around Kayla's waist and posed for photos with the media.
Kayla was a little stiff at first, but she quickly relaxed and put on a polite smile.
A commotion erupted in the fan section from the group of Chinese students: "Brother Xun! Kayla! They're such a perfect match!"
"My brother-in-law has changed wives again?"
"Don't talk nonsense! They're friends!"
Chen Xun was both amused and exasperated.
Red carpet interview area.
"Chen, as an Asian actor joining the Fast & Furious series, did you feel out of place?"
Speaking into the microphone, Chen Xun said calmly, "The core of 'Fast & Furious' is family, and family has never been defined by skin color."
"Dominic and his team accepted me because of my abilities, not my race, and I think that's great. That's true diversity."
The answer was flawless.
Simon nodded and turned to Kayla: "Kayla, you're attending today as Chen Xun's date. What's your relationship?"
Kayla smiled and said, "We are good friends. I admire Chen Xun's acting skills and I also like the Fast & Furious series, so I came here today to support him and this movie."
Are there any cooperation plans?
"Not yet, but who knows what the future holds?"
Kayla skillfully evaded the question.
After the interview, the two continued walking.
Just as she was about to reach the movie theater entrance, Kayla suddenly froze.
Chen Xun followed her gaze and saw a man in a gray hoodie, wearing sunglasses and a mask, standing behind the media area on the right side of the red carpet. He was taking pictures of them with his phone.
The person was standing in a very concealed position; if Kayla hadn't reacted unusually, no one would have noticed.
Chen Xun immediately gave a wink to the security guard next to him.
Two security guards quickly walked over and stopped the man: "Sir, please show your media pass."
The man didn't say anything, and turned to leave.
Security guards stopped him: "Please cooperate."
At that moment, the man suddenly took off his sunglasses and mask. He was a white man in his thirties with an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were crazy.
He stared intently at Kayla, his lips moving, though no sound could be heard, the shape of his mouth was clearly: "You're mine!"
Kayla's face turned pale.
Chen Xun pulled her behind him and said to the security guard, "Take him out and call the police."
There was a brief commotion at the scene, but it was quickly brought under control.
The man was escorted away by security, and the red carpet event continued as if nothing had happened.
But Kayla's hands were shaking.
Chen Xun squeezed her hand and whispered, "It's alright, he can't get in."
Kayla nodded, took a few deep breaths, and managed to maintain a smile as she walked the rest of the red carpet.
Once inside the theater, shut out the noise from outside, Kayla finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks!"
Kayla's eyes were red: "If it weren't for you, I might have broken down."
1
"Of course!"
Chen Xun looked at her: "Are you feeling better now?"
"Much better!"
Kayla smiled. "At least knowing he's out there is better than not knowing where he is."
The premiere officially began.
The lights dimmed, and the screen lit up.
The opening credits of "Fast & Furious 6" appear, accompanied by rousing music.
Chen Xun sat next to Kayla and could sense that she was gradually relaxing and becoming engrossed in the movie's plot.
When his character first appeared.
Driving a modified car and drifting through the streets of London, he cleanly and efficiently subdued the thugs.
A round of applause and whistles erupted in the theater.
Kayla leaned close to his ear and whispered, "You look really cool driving!"
Chen Xun felt an itch in his ears.
Turn to look at Kayla.
Kayla just happened to lean over, wanting to say something more.
Their lips met at that moment.
Swish!
Kayla's face turned bright red.
She quickly turned her head away.
Fortunately, the theater was dark when the movie was playing, so no one saw what happened.
Kayla trembled all over.
Chen Xun patted her hand on her lap, and Kayla slowly calmed down.
The movie was great; the two-plus hours flew by.
When the end credits rolled, the entire audience stood up and applauded.
The premiere was a complete success.
As the movie ended, Vin Diesel excitedly patted Chen Xun on the shoulder: "Chen, did you hear the cheers from the audience? Our movie was a success!"
"Congratulations!"
Paul came over too: "The executives at Universal just told me that the pre-sale box office has broken records. Chen, you deserve a lot of credit."
Chen Xun smiled but didn't say anything.
After the end credits finished rolling, the theater lights came back on.
The applause continued as the lead actors rose and walked to the front of the stage, preparing for the post-screening Q&A session.
Host Simon returned to the stage with a professional smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, let's once again welcome the creative team of 'Fast & Furious 6' with applause!"
The applause of the audience was thunderous.
Vin Diesel took the microphone, his voice deep and powerful: "Thank you, London! Thank you to everyone who came to the premiere! This film is the culmination of our team's sweat, oil, and a little bit of madness!"
Paul added, "And dozens of other cars were damaged!"
The audience burst into laughter.
The interactive session mainly involved answering questions from the audience. Staff randomly selected audience members who raised their hands, and the questions mostly focused on interesting anecdotes from filming and the relationships between the characters.
"Fan, was that car chase scene between you and Paul on the runway real?"
"Eighty percent of it is true!"
Fan answered seriously, "The remaining 20% is special effects—because we simply didn't have the money to buy another plane to crash into."
Another viewer asked Chen Xun, "Chen, what was the biggest challenge for you joining this series?"
Chen Xun thought for a moment: "Learning to drive isn't ordinary driving; it's stunt driving. Director Justin Lin requires all action scenes to be filmed practically as much as possible. In the last film, I spent a long time training at the racetrack, learning to drift..."
Drifting, and all sorts of unbelievable driving techniques.
"So, how are your driving skills now?"
"At least I won't get road rage in London traffic jams."
Chen Xun shrugged: "Because I know how to squeeze through traffic, although I don't recommend that everyone try it."
Good-natured laughter came from the audience.
Halfway through the Q&A session, Simon suddenly said, "We have received a special gift from a fan who wants to personally present it to Chen Xun on stage."
The spotlight shone on the left side of the audience seats.
A Chinese girl, about twenty years old, wearing glasses, stood up and held a long, rectangular paper tube in her hands.
She looked a little nervous as she walked onto the stage with the help of staff.
"Hello everyone, my name is Lin Wei, I am from China, and I am currently studying illustration at the University of the Arts London."
The girl's voice trembled slightly, but her eyes were firm: "I'm a fan of Chen Xun."
She handed the paper tube to Chen Xun: "This is a painting I spent two months creating, and I wanted to give it to you."
Chen Xun took the paper tube, somewhat surprised: "Can I open it now?"
"certainly."
Chen Xun carefully untied the ribbon and pulled a scroll out of the paper tube.
It unfolds slowly.
The entire room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in gasps of amazement.
It was a hand-painted scroll about two meters long, made with watercolors and ink, with a delicate and expressive style.
From left to right, in chronological order, each of Chen Xun's important roles in Hollywood is depicted.
Han Lee in "2 Broke Girls" holds a feng shui compass with a serious expression.
The Chinese-American programmer protagonist in "Green Lantern" wears a battle suit and has a determined look in his eyes.
Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games looks back with tender eyes in the arena.
Chen Zhen in Fast & Furious 6 is speeding through the streets of London, his cool profile reflected in the car window.
Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy wears a red jacket, holds an Elemental Gun, and has a nonchalant expression.
What's most ingenious is that many supporting characters and small details are drawn around these main characters:
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker high-five in the background, Michelle Rodriguez smiles leaning against a motorcycle, Jennifer Lawrence falls in her Oscar gown, and Kristen Stewart waves in the distance.
There are even silhouettes of director Gunn holding a walkie-talkie and director Justin Lin behind a monitor.
The painting features smooth lines and harmonious colors, capturing not only the essence of each character but also cleverly connecting Chen Xun's entire career.
Chen Xun stared at the painting, speechless for a moment.
He felt a tightness in his throat.
The audience below the stage had already started taking pictures, with flashes going off one after another.
Paul leaned over to look and whistled, "Wow, this painting is amazing! It even makes me look pretty handsome!"
Vin Diesel leaned over and asked, "Are my muscle lines drawn too exaggeratedly?"
"You've always been this exaggerated," Michelle retorted.
Kayla stood beside Chen Xun and said softly, "It's a really good drawing. She must have put a lot of effort into it."
Chen Xun took a deep breath and looked at the girl named Lin Wei: "Thank you, this is the most meaningful gift I have ever received."
Lin Wei's eyes reddened: "No—you're welcome. I just wanted to tell you that we've seen every step you've taken, from being an extra to winning an Oscar, from being unknown to where you are now—you've truly given us a lot of strength."
Some fans in the audience started wiping away tears.
Simon interjected at the opportune moment: "Lin Wei, how long have you been studying illustration?"
"I started drawing in elementary school."
Lin Wei wiped her eyes: "But the inspiration for this painting came from Chen Xun's speech at the Oscars. He said that because of you, I have become stronger. I wanted to tell him that he is also our strength."
Chen Xun stepped forward and gave the girl a gentle hug: "Thank you!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.