Nomination

The fitting room was as spacious as the living room of a luxury apartment, the air filled with the crisp scent of freshly laundered clothes and a faint trace of perfume. A velvet sofa, a champagne bucket, and a massive three-sided mirror were all provided.

Compared to the opulence of other designer brands, this fitting room felt more approachable. The racks were packed with dresses suitable for a young girl, featuring bright colors and lively styles.

Britney was like a mouse that had fallen into a rice bin, excitedly running her fingers across rows of clothing, the hangers making a crisp "swish-swish" sound as they slid.

She picked up a pink cropped top and a pair of low-rise jeans, holding them up to the mirror with excitement. "Irene! Look at this! Isn't it super hot? The MTV audience is going to love this!"

Irene set down her coffee cup and firmly refused. "Brit, you've been wearing pink tops for almost the entire summer. I think you could try something else, don't you? Besides, those pants are great, maybe you could buy them for your next autograph session?"

"Alright then," she replied, then picked up a white dress and asked Irene uncertainly, "How about this? This looks very dignified and ladylike, right?"

This dress looked exactly like the "good-wife style" Irene had seen in her past life—the standard uniform for a well-bred lady.

Her mouth twitched as she said, "We are going to the MTV Awards, not a wedding. You don't need to look that ladylike."

"Oh! Right!" Britney had a sudden realization, putting down the dress and searching for something flashier and more eye-catching. "I have to dress like a star! Everyone will be watching us!" Her nervousness and anticipation were written all over her face.

Irene stood up and walked to the rack. After searching with her fingers for a moment, she stopped at a slip dress. It was a pale purple dress with a slight sheen, simple in style and knee-length, losing none of a young girl's sweetness while revealing the elegance of someone just coming into her own.

"Try this." Irene took the dress down and handed it to Britney. "In the music video, you wore a school uniform, but your radiance overshadowed everything. It's the same for the awards ceremony; what you need is for 'Britney' herself to shine. You are the Best New Artist, but beyond that, you are a pop superstar."

Britney took the dress, touched the smooth fabric, and a look of contemplation crossed her eyes. "You're right, I'm more than just a 'teen idol'." She walked into the fitting room.

When Britney stepped out again, the effect was just right.

The pale purple set off her blonde hair and porcelain skin, and the well-tailored dress made her look both fresh and lovely, with an aura of a superstar in the making. She looked in the mirror and asked a bit uncertainly, "Is it... too simple?"

"Not at all." Irene took a Chanel necklace out of her bag and put it on her. She stood back and looked at them in the mirror—one a nominated new singer, the other a nominated director—their faces filled with longing for the future. "How do we look? Do we look like two girls about to conquer the world?"

Britney touched the necklace at her throat, seeing the radiance blooming in the mirror. "Isn't it too expensive?"

"Not at all. This is a gift to celebrate you winning Best New Artist."

Britney smiled, her nervousness dissipating significantly, and she linked her arm with Irene's. "God, now that you say that, I'm even more nervous. What if I don't win?"

"Hey," Irene turned and looked at her seriously. "Listen, no matter whose name is written in that envelope, you've already won. You made the whole world remember your name, 'Britney', in a single music video."

"And for me, an 18-year-old director, being able to stand on the nomination list with you and beat so many opponents is a miracle in itself."

Britney took a deep breath and nodded, her eyes becoming firm once again. "Okay! Then this is the one! What about you? What are you wearing?"

Irene pointed to a clean, sharp black jumpsuit hanging on the sofa. "As a director, I have to be a bit cooler, so it's easier to clap hard for you in the audience."

The two of them burst into laughter.

Soon, the day of the awards ceremony arrived.

The cheers from the crowd outside Rockefeller Center were deafening; there were estimated to be hundreds of people, all calling out the names of their favorite singers. It was no different from the variety concerts Irene had seen in her past life; fans truly were a respectable group.

Because Britney had promised Edward Nelson in advance that she would take him on the red carpet, and Irene didn't trust the two of them to walk alone, a very strange scene unfolded: Irene and Britney walked hand-in-hand, while Edward trailed half a meter behind them like a bodyguard, the three of them hitting the red carpet together.

If this were the scene of a television drama awards, it wouldn't be strange—there were plenty of cast members who walked together—but the MTV Video Music Awards were usually attended by the singers themselves or with a male or female companion. The three of them left the fans and reporters at the scene completely baffled.

"Look over here, Brit!"

"Britney, is this your boyfriend?"

"Irene, take a photo with Brit!"

The dense forest of microphones and blinding camera flashes seemed eager to cross the barricades and shove right into their faces. The scene was so noisy that Irene couldn't hear what anyone was saying; it was much livelier than their premiere.

Three newcomers, all walking the red carpet for the first time, were instantly submerged by the massive wave of sound and magnesium flashes. It felt as if they were standing at the center of the world, with every lens pointed at them and every mouth shouting their names. In such a situation, who wouldn't feel a bit carried away?

If you can't find the book title, try searching for the author; perhaps the name was just changed!

Every step they took felt exceptionally difficult, and there was always a voice in their hearts urging them to wait another minute to fully soak in the feeling of being surrounded by the world.

For the Nth time, Irene felt like crying from the irritation of the camera flashes, but she held it back, squeezed Britney's hand, and pulled her toward the temporary interview area. If she stood there any longer, she was going to get glaucoma.

"Hello Irene, hello Britney."

After walking for a while, they finally reached the interview area. The MTV reporter immediately leaned in, then looked at Edward Nelson with some confusion, clearly not recognizing him.

Irene had to take the initiative to introduce him. "This is Mr. Edward Nelson, one of the leads in my film, and a good friend of mine and Brit's."

Edward immediately flashed a charming smile and extended his right hand to the reporter. "Just call me Edward, beautiful reporter."

What woman could see Edward's face and not be moved? The reporter immediately put on a sweet smile. "Hello, Mr. Edward."

But her professional instincts forced her to keep the focus on the two ladies.

"All three of you are attending the red carpet for the first time. Have you been infected by the atmosphere here?"

The microphone was between Irene and Britney, but Britney took a half-step back, handing the floor to Irene.

Irene didn't decline, naturally taking over the conversation. "Seeing so many people here who like me and Britney is certainly a very exciting thing. I hope all the viewers can have a great time today as well."

The reporter was a bit surprised that someone so young could give such an official answer. "Then, what are the two of you expecting from today's awards?"

"Being nominated is already a huge surprise. Compared to so many seniors in the industry, we still have a lot of room for improvement."

The beautiful reporter was left speechless by the other party's airtight response; if she didn't know better, she would have thought she was interviewing a White House spokesperson.

It was clear there was no news to be dug up from Irene's side, and with Britney protected behind her, she turned her gaze to the "accessory" on the side, Edward Nelson.

"Then, Mr. Edward, do you have any well-wishes for the two ladies?"

Irene immediately realized this question was a trap. After all, if the blessing was too much, it might be written in the papers as Britney's friend being arrogant, which would in turn sabotage Britney.

But although Edward looked like a "sweet fool" and usually acted casual and unreliable, he didn't drop the ball on important occasions.

"I'm no wizard. My blessings won't bring them any luck; in fact, if I give a 'reverse blessing,' they'll definitely beat me up afterward. At a time like this, I'm only fit to be a quiet, handsome man."

The reporter's hand holding the microphone paused. The youngest group on the red carpet today had actually given the most unexpected response; these three young people were not simple at all.

The interview didn't last long. After a few simple questions, the three of them turned and walked toward the ceremony venue, following the usher to their seats.