Pet King

Zhang Zian did not know how he walked down from the stage.

He only remembered the old woman smiling and waving to him before she was pushed back to the backstage, then the hostess stared at him and joked, “You’re not planning to leave? Or do you think that you can win the Best Female Lead Silver Bear Award?”

Like someone who had just woken up from a dream, Zian laughed as he hurriedly left the stage. He couldn’t disrupt the organizing committee from giving out the awards.

On the way back to his seat from the stage, many celebrities took the initiative to reach out their hands to him. Zian mechanically shook their hands and accepted their congratulations.

“Congratulations to you! Congratulations to Famous!” Feng Xuan sincerely extended his hand to Zian.

“Thank you!” Zhang Zian said gratefully. After all, if Feng Xuan had not chosen Famous as the lead, it would not have won the award today.

Nie Yuan snorted and he did not look too happy. He was probably blaming Zian for not giving his thanks to the film crew on stage.

Yes, many award winners from before and after were excitedly thanking their family, friends, and film crews, but Zhang Zian didn’t. From the beginning until the end, he did not mention a single “thank you”––of course, he didn’t thank the neighboring committee, either, because it was Famous who won the award and not him.

Lin Feng’s face was even more unhappy. After returning to China, he may have to face an embarrassing public relations crisis. He might be asked the same question repeatedly by the media: “How do you feel about losing to a dog?”

Feel your sister!

Lin Feng had no idea how he was going to answer that question––he even had the thought of retiring.

Zhang Zian had already made a guess that his declaration of planning to donate all of the earnings to the UN World Food Program would inevitably be questioned back in China. People would suspect it to be another fake charity––after all, there were too many tainted stories of such incidents in China. But just as Old Time Tea always said, “Whatever we do, we only ask for a clear conscience and to be worthy of this world. Whether or not others understand, what does it matter.”

The hostess continued to invite other guests to present the other awards, but Zhang Zian’s heart had already flown back to China. It is no longer here.

A few minutes earlier, his phone had vibrated many times. It was obvious that many people had sent him messages and their congratulations, but the strange thing was that he had already muted his phone before entering the hall, so why would it still ring?

Taking the opportunity, Zian quietly pulled out his phone and unlocked the screen.

As he looked at the level up reminder from <Pet Hunter> on the screen of his phone, he couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned. Famous leveled up so quickly? But it made sense after Zian thought about it. Dog Warrior had already been released in Berlin, and the shot of Famous winning the award had been broadcasted to thousands of households. Many people now knew its name, and they are also aware that it had just won the Berlin Film Festival’s Best Male Lead Silver Bear Award.

Just knowing its name was not enough to generate the strength of faith––it was necessary for them to watch its film and acknowledge it, then be its fan to generate the strength of faith.

So, Zian pressed on “Level Up,” and Famous was upgraded to Epic Level.

Famous sat on the seat and stared at the stage, looking at the guests presenting the awards to the other actors and showing his respect for the people in the same industry.

The silver-plated Silver Bear Award was placed beside it, attracting countless envious looks.

Famous had planned on buying the Berlin Film Festival collar as a souvenir, but now it had gotten an even more meaningful souvenir.

Famous was not aware of the upgrade, but Zhang Zian knew that certain aspects of it had undergone subtle changes, and the results of those changes would be revealed in time.

The increase in likability to trustful was just a matter of time.

Famous had made up for its longtime regret that night, and a brighter, more brilliant, future awaited it.

Zhang Zian was looking forward to the day that Dog Warrior would be officially showing back in China.

There had been waves of controversy in the forums back in China––some people supported the idea of having a dog win the Best Male Lead Award, while some were opposed to it. The more enthusiastic the supporters got, the fiercer the opposition became.

The supporters quoted the old woman’s words: “Rather than being envious of a dog, you’re better off being ashamed of yourself.”

This situation was expected, since a change in perspective was not accomplished in just a day or two.

With the end of the award presentation, the hostess gave a warm invitation to the guests and celebrities seated, welcoming them to visit the Berlin Film Festival again next year.

With her curtain call, the ten-day Berlin Film Festival officially ended. It was like having a dream that one did not want to be woken up from.

Regretfully, the Dog Warrior film crew had only harvested that one trophy. The Best Film Golden Bear Award was won by an experimental stream-of-consciousness film—the Berlin Film Festival kept to their old traditions and was unwilling to compromise with commercial films.

Zhang Zian, Famous, and the other members of the film crew all had their own thoughts running as they stepped out of the door of the film palace.

There were a lot of reporters gathered outside. As soon as they caught sight of the celebrities, they were like a swarm of flies that had caught on to a scent.

Zhang Zian and Famous in particular were surrounded by groups and groups of reporters.The reporters from China were especially enthusiastic––all kinds of microphones with various logos on them were extended out towards his mouth.

“I am XX TV reporter, do you mind saying a few words?” one reported asked.

“Mr Zhang, do you have anything you want to say to the audience back in China?” another chimed in.

“May I ask how you trained Famous? Were there any interesting happenings during the training process?”

“Why did you decide to donate all the earnings?”

******

Although Zian was happy to hear the familiar Chinese language, he was not in the mood to deal with reporters.

The staff members from the organizing committee were used to such scenes. Soon enough, they opened up a passage for him and blocked out the reporters.

Lin Feng had already sneaked away after he put on his sunglasses and scarf for fear of being recognized by the reporters.

“Famous!” people called out. “Famous!”

What surprised Zhang Zian was that there were still many young fans who braved the cold of Berlin’s February night. They continued to wait outside just to catch a sight of Famous.

“I knew it! I just knew it! Famous, I knew you would definitely win the award!” the freckled teen shouted. “I told them long ago, but they just wouldn’t believe me!”

Unfortunately, Richard was not at the scene today, so Zhang Zian could not understand what they were saying in German, but their enthusiasm had also influenced him. The freckled teen looked proud and overjoyed after he proved the others wrong.

Just like the speech given by the old woman earlier, Zian did not understand a single word, but he understood what he saw.

Zian was able to ignore the reporters, but he was not able to ignore the loyal fans–– they were the source of Famous’ strength of faith.

Disregarding Nie Yuan’s constant urging, Zian raised the Silver Bear Trophy up in the air on behalf of Famous. Zian then responded to each young fan’s request to take a picture with Famous one by one until the last young fan was also satisfied.

They then returned to the hotel by car, picked up their luggage, checked out from the hotel, and bid their farewell to the friendly hotel staff.

Zhang Zian and the other members of the crew rushed to the airport, and while the others waited to board at the waiting hall, Zian brought Famous to process the check-in procedures for pets.

Not long after, the plane took off.

Zhang Zian waved his hands and bid farewell to the angel on the Victory Column, while also bidding farewell to Germany.