Chapter 132: Golden Globe Awards Ceremony

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Golden Globe Awards Ceremony

On the night of the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, the streets of Beverly Hills were brilliant with lights. The flashes on both sides of the red carpet twinkled like a galaxy, and the shouts of reporters rose one after another, pushing the atmosphere of Hollywood’s vanity fair to its peak.

Irene was dressed in a Valentino bright red satin gown. The crisp tailoring outlined her tall and upright figure, and the three-dimensional bow design at the neckline added a touch of liveliness.

The wine-red velvet luster flowed under the lights, bright yet sophisticated. Her long hair was tied into an exquisite high bun, and her ears were adorned with pigeon-blood ruby earrings.

Every step she took was in rhythm with the flashes as she walked toward the red carpet entrance.

From afar, she saw Reese Witherspoon standing not far away. The champagne-colored off-the-shoulder fishtail dress she was wearing looked somewhat familiar to Irene.

As she walked closer, she discovered that it was actually the style that her sister Sophia had strongly recommended when she was preparing her own gown, but which she had eventually given up in favor of the more striking bright red.

The pearl belt fit perfectly, outlining Reese’s waistline, and the embroidery on the hem shimmered with a soft luster under the lights, complementing her signature radiant smile.

When she saw Irene, Reese immediately waved to signal. "Irene! Over here!"

Irene walked over quickly and then smiled. "Your dress is so beautiful. The champagne color makes you look gentle and elegant."

This was not just polite flattery. The cut of the dress was indeed excellent. It was just that she preferred the tailoring of this Valentino piece more.

"Your bright red is the truly stunning one. Valentino’s satin truly lives up to its reputation. The focus of tonight’s red carpet is undoubtedly yours." Reese gave her a hug, but the pressure was light, not as enthusiastic as usual.

Irene smiled in response, her gaze inadvertently sweeping to Rachel McAdams behind Reese.

Rachel McAdams was dressed in a black lace long dress, with tiny crystals dotted on the hem, and her makeup was exquisite.

When she saw Irene, she gave a big smile, but there wasn’t much warmth in her eyes when she looked at Reese.

Reese Witherspoon didn’t seem to notice this subtlety and enthusiastically pulled Rachel’s arm. "Perfect, none of the three of us have male companions, so we can walk together!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Rachel McAdams’s arm stiffened subconsciously, then immediately returned to normal, though the smile at the corner of her mouth seemed a bit forced.

Irene’s heart stirred, and the feeling that something was wrong became even more obvious.

As the three walked side by side, there was a distance of about a fist between Reese and Rachel. They looked close, but in reality, they were deliberately keeping their distance.

And the champagne-colored dress on Reese Witherspoon formed a sharp contrast with Rachel McAdams’s black dress, as if it were a silent contest.

Logically speaking, one being the lead actress and the other the supporting actress, the atmosphere between them shouldn’t be this cold.

In fact, as contemporaries in Hollywood, they had a natural rivalry. Rachel McAdams debuted as a supporting actress, but she couldn’t possibly be a supporting actress forever.

There were only so many excellent scripts for young women each year. If Rachel successfully won the Best Supporting Actress award today, it would inevitably squeeze Reese Witherspoon’s space in the future.

Presumably, some of those negative news stories about Rachel in the newspapers before were Reese Witherspoon’s doing.

Having figured out these entanglements, Irene didn’t make any extra moves. One was her lead actress in the film, and the other was her supporting actress. It wouldn’t be appropriate to favor either one.

When they reached the middle of the red carpet, reporters shouted their names one after another, asking for a group photo.

Reese Witherspoon naturally signaled for Irene to stand in the middle and reached out to hold Rachel’s shoulder, but Rachel happened to turn to the side to adjust her skirt, avoiding her touch.

This subtle movement was seen by Irene. She calmly adjusted her posture and stood between the two. Her bright red dress became the visual focal point in the middle, inadvertently resolving the awkwardness.

"Irene, Mean Girls has four nominations. Does your choice of a bright red gown imply that you are determined to win the awards?" a reporter asked loudly.

"Every nomination is an honor. Red represents passion and expectation. I am already very satisfied to be able to compete with so many excellent peers," Irene responded with a smile.

"Then, Reese, what are your expectations for winning this time?"

"This is my first time being nominated for a Golden Globe Award. It would be a bit fake to say I have no expectations, but as a newcomer, I am already very happy to be nominated." Reese’s answer was also watertight.

Subsequently, another reporter asked Rachel a similar question.

Rachel’s answer was similar to Reese Witherspoon’s, and her smile was perfect. She was truly worthy of being an actress. One couldn’t tell at all that there was any friction between the two.

After the group photo, the three continued walking forward. Reese Witherspoon took the initiative to bring up,

"Rachel, I haven’t properly congratulated you on getting the Best Supporting Actress nomination yet. Have you found any new work recently?"

"Thanks for your concern. After playing Regina, I discovered that I still have many shortcomings. I want to study systematically before considering other work." Rachel’s response was concise, which was also the advice Irene had given her before.

Reese had originally wanted to use the topic of finding new work to give the other party a warning and show her own status, but who knew that Rachel’s reply would instead make her seem unmotivated.

Listening to their conversation, Irene understood.

As contemporaries in Hollywood and in the same crew, both being nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the same time, it was no exaggeration to call them rivals.

This tension was like a layer of thin ice covering the surface harmony, which would break if one was not careful.

Walking to the end of the red carpet, staff guided them into the venue.

Before separating, Reese revealed a radiant smile again. "Wish us both good luck tonight!"

"Good luck to you too." Rachel’s response remained concise. "And I also wish for the director to win an award." After giving Irene a light hug, her steps were brisk as she turned, without lingering at all.

Irene watched their departing backs. She didn’t expose this tension, nor did she need to. Everyone was striving for their own career, and this kind of subtle confrontation was the norm in this circle.

Even though they were in the same crew, the three of them were seated completely apart. She didn’t know what the Golden Globe Awards meant by this.

After entering the venue, Shelly was already waiting by the seat. Seeing Irene come over, Shelly whispered in admiration, "Bright red suits you so well. Tomorrow’s red carpet photos should have a place in all the major newspapers."

Then Shelly gossiped, "Just now, the atmosphere between the three of you didn’t seem very harmonious?"

Irene sat down, her gaze sweeping over the crowd in the venue dressed in finery, and then she looked back at Shelly, responding softly, "You’re quite sharp. The two of them can only maintain superficial harmony." She didn’t elaborate, just picked up the champagne on the table and took a sip.

"There are some things I didn’t tell you. After Rachel played Regina, I originally wanted to sign her to CAA." Shelly moved the seat closer to Irene to facilitate their private conversation.

"Oh?" Irene asked in confusion, "Why didn’t it work out?"