I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 387 - 387 386. Is there something wrong with my brain_1

Chapter 387: 386. Is there something wrong with my brain?_1 Chapter 387: 386. Is there something wrong with my brain?_1 The scene was awkward for a time.

Even the jovial background music seemed out of place.

All the camera lenses were trained on the empty seat beside Lu Ban.

Everyone’s gaze converged there, waiting for a miracle to occur.

Some imagined Amber stepping out of some dark place to dazzle the crowd; others fantasized she would descend from the heavens, swinging onto the stage with wires; and there were those who imagined that with a spotlight, the incredibly beautiful girl would already be sitting in the seat.

But nothing happened.

The band seemed at a loss, and the host and award presenter looked at Lu Ban, baffled.

At that moment, Lu Ban appeared to pat the “shoulder” of the “person” beside him and said a few words as if offering encouragement.

The music started up again, and the spotlight inexplicably began to move.

There are generally two modes for spotlights at events: manual spotlighting and automatic tracking. Automatic tracking is similar to camera focus and follows a person’s face automatically. In complex situations, it’s usually a combination of automatic tracking with manual adjustments by a lighting technician on the side.

Now that the spotlight had started moving, it meant that…

The guests in attendance held their breath, watching the spotlight slowly move toward the stage; though it was empty, it was as if someone were there.

As the light moved, the venue fell silent.

Many were thinking, confused, searching for answers.

Why was Lu Ban doing this?

What was the meaning of this act?

Why was the spotlight moving along with the void?

Could it be that Amber really was there?

At that moment, an elder from the art world in the front row suddenly started clapping.

Starting with him, the entire venue began to applaud. The thunderous applause drowned out the music, deafening.

The spotlight reached the stage, next to the award presenter.

It was as if someone was standing there.

The Cannes Best Actress hesitated for a moment but soon seemed to understand something, revealing a healing and mysterious smile.

She picked up the trophy and handed it to the side, as though there really was a person there.

Only, nothing caught it.

The trophy was simply placed on the ground, in the center of the spotlight.

The applause stopped at that point.

The audience fell silent, their eyes fixed on the trophy on the ground, as if they were listening to Amber’s acceptance speech.

The silence lasted for a while, and after a moment, Lu Ban started clapping.

“Well said!”

He exclaimed.

The applause spread from Lu Ban once again.

The guests present acted as though they had heard an inspiring and exhilarating speech, showing fervent enthusiasm.

Outside the venue, Pang Zhen and Bai Qiquan, watching the broadcast, were utterly confused.

“What are they doing, some kind of performance art?”

Pang Zhen didn’t understand.

“This is, this is… I get it now!”

Bai Qiquan pondered for a moment, seemingly finding the answer.

“This has to be viewed in conjunction with what Director Lu said earlier. He mentioned that Amber really exists, her story is not controlled by Director Lu, she’s a living person. This signifies that the character has transcended the actor, has risen above our cognition!”

“And since the character of Amber is already dead, her actor shouldn’t appear before us. If she does, it would break the artistic conception that the movie brings.”

“Therefore, it is perfect when Amber doesn’t show up at this moment!”

“Now, it seems as though she isn’t appearing before us, but in fact, it is precisely because of this that she can appear before us. Because she no longer exists, she truly exists!”

“And her award acceptance speech, seemingly nothing on the surface, in reality, it is this very blank space that fills her with infinite possibilities. Whatever you think she might say, she has said, which is the true essence of art, the best display of human imagination!”

“Director Lu’s move is too clever, indeed too clever!”

“?”

Upon hearing her boyfriend’s explanation, Pang Zhen’s first reaction was to wonder if there was something wrong with his brain.

But after careful consideration, surely all the big shots in the film industry present couldn’t all be off their rockers, right?

Their applause didn’t seem to be for show; it seemed more heartfelt.

So, is this the gap in understanding art?

She glanced at the live broadcast on the large screen outside the cinema palace, the lonely trophy illuminated by the spotlight.

As she looked, Pang Zhen suddenly felt as though there truly was someone standing there, smiling at the audience.

The spotlight dimmed and, when it brightened again, the trophy had disappeared.

“Have I lost my mind too?”

Pang Zhen felt disorganized.

The host continued to announce the next category calmly. It was time for the last major award, the Palme d’Or.

For the audience present, the answer was self-evident.

If “Peaceful Days in Spring,” having secured Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress, didn’t continue to win the Palme d’Or and achieve a grand slam, it would be an insult to art, a regret for Cannes, a moment of infamy that history would remember.

The award presenter, one of the Cannes Film Festival organizers and a senior figure in the French art film circle, picked up the envelope. Without hesitation, as if already sure of the answer, he opened the envelope and read the name on it.

“Best Film ‘Peaceful Days in Spring,’ Director, Lu Ban.”

The warmest round of applause erupted, and Lu Ban stepped up to the award podium.

He took the heavy trophy, with a crystal base and golden palm leaves, and approached the microphone.

“What I could say has nearly been said in the previous speeches.”

At Lu Ban’s jest, many in the audience let out a friendly laugh.

Being able to stand on the stage at Cannes and deliver an acceptance speech is an honor many could scarcely achieve, let alone multiple times in the same festival.

“This movie, as I said, I wanted to bring everyone a different experience, a story about warmth, growth, healing. I believe anyone who has watched the entire movie will definitely understand what I mean.”

“I think that times have changed; humanity has reached a moment where it must change itself to adapt to the future. While preserving the status quo, we also have to make some changes; otherwise, civilization will only face destruction.”

“The reason I make movies is not for fame or profit, but for the world. I just hope that my insignificant contribution can delay the world’s destruction by even a little bit; that would be enough.”

Lu Ban’s speech made the audience reflect on a lot.

Some thought that Lu Ban was referring to the increasingly severe environmental problems—that humanity must urgently embrace environmentalism, or else Earth would be overwhelmed.

Some thought that Lu Ban was touching on the art community of today—many cling to outdated notions and suppress newcomers, which if perpetuated, would mean the end of art itself.

Others believed that Lu Ban was criticizing the current state of the movie industry, thinking that most are just complacent, destroying cinema, and that his presence was to save the entire film community.

There were even those who thought Lu Ban was talking about his own creation, transcending from classic horror thrillers to current art films, exceeding himself, continuously moving forward and improving.

Without voicing their inner interpretations, everyone just revealed understanding smiles, healing and mysterious.