In February, the Oscar awards ceremony took place. Edwin, John, and several other representatives from Pixar attended, and Henry tagged along without revealing his identity. He was there not only because Pixar was nominated for an award but mainly to enjoy the spectacle of Hollywood movie stars and, more specifically, to see some beautiful women!
The stars shone brightly that night, and the beauty of the attendees was overwhelming.
Henry did not walk down the red carpet but instead took an exclusive passage into the hall. Once inside, he looked around, feeling a bit of excitement building within him. Edwin and John shared in this excitement. After taking their seats, Henry noticed a beautiful woman sitting next to him. Hollywood was obviously full of attractive individuals; however, aside from a few very famous stars, Henry recognized very few of them.
Although Henry claimed to have watched many American movies, many celebrities either hadn't debuted yet or weren't eligible for participation in the Oscars. He glanced at the woman beside him and noticed her long, flowing blonde hair, a slender figure, and a red dress that was low-cut and quite revealing—sexy, yet her skin seemed a little rough. Henry secretly sighed.
It appeared that European and American women often had skin issues, which perhaps explained the cosmetics business's booming growth.
Henry lost some of his interest and shifted his attention elsewhere.
The beautiful woman next to him regarded him with pride, casting a disdainful glance at him and his companions.
Henry felt his cheeks flush slightly; perhaps coming with Edwin and John wasn't the best idea! He himself was dressed in a smart suit and looked handsome, but Edwin—as Pixar's CEO—was wearing gray casual clothes that looked rather cheap, and John, while in formal attire, didn't fare much better with his thin frame and slightly scruffy appearance.
Henry felt self-conscious about the company he was in.
In that moment, the beauty beside him sneered and whispered, "Little pervert!"
Henry's eyes widened in shock. "What? Is she talking about me?" He felt embarrassed and a bit self-righteous.
You flaunt your figure and don't expect others to look? He didn't stare—except for a few casual glances in the beginning.
Henry felt completely innocent and resolved to brush it off. "Forget it," he thought, "I may be smaller in stature, but I have a big heart."
As the various Oscars were presented, anticipation grew for the Best Animated Short Film category.
"The Oscar for Best Animated Short Film goes to..."
The award-presenting guest paused deliberately, the suspense hanging in the air as they drew out the moment for effect.
Edwin and John stared, completely focused, while the older audience members leaned in with palpable excitement. Henry observed their anxious faces and couldn't help but shake his head—a stark contrast for such giants in the field.
Henry remained calm, thinking to himself, "It's fine if they don't win; I can just create ten of my own when I get home. Who cares?"
With a momentary pause, the guest finally announced, "The award goes to… Luxo Jr. by Pixar Animation Studios!"
Edwin and John nearly sprang from their seats in excitement—Luxo Jr. had won! Henry felt pleased too and smiled at Edwin. "See? Now hurry up and go accept the award!"
Edwin didn't need a second invitation and rushed to the stage.
On the podium, the award presenter handed him the trophy and prompted him to give a speech.
Henry knew Edwin would start by thanking him, so he sat up straight, ready to bask in a bit of glory.
"First, I want to thank my boss, Mr. Henry Williams, for his incredible support!!!"
"Oh, Henry Williams?!" exclaimed the award presenter, visibly excited. "Is this the brilliant young author Henry Williams?!!!"
"Yes, that's right!" Edwin confirmed.
"Oh, how surprising!" the presenter continued, turning to the audience. "By the way, has little Henry come? If he's here, please invite him to the stage to share a few thoughts!"
Henry was taken aback, wishing to remain seated. He had no intentions of speaking publicly.
Suddenly, the spotlight shifted directly onto Henry, and he felt the warmth of many eyes upon him. While he didn't respond much, the female star next to him perked up in excitement, striking a pose for the cameras for over ten seconds until Henry, feeling somewhat forced, stood up and made his way to the stage—at which point she looked disappointed.
Hollywood could be quite shallow; some would go to great lengths for attention. This woman was no different, and she seemed to know how to seize her moment!
When Henry reached the stage, he received a warm round of applause.
Upon receiving the microphone, the presenter enveloped him in a welcoming hug, making it difficult for Henry to breathe under the weight of her affections.
Her presence was overwhelming; Henry had to fight to get a word in. With a gestation of 300 kilograms, it felt like being smothered by a mountain!
After a while, Henry managed to extricate himself from her embrace, his face flushed from the experience.
"Little Henry, I really like you!" she exclaimed.
"As I'm here at the Oscars for the first time," Henry said as he composed himself, "I'd like to express my thoughts."
He organized his words, speaking into the microphone: "Thank you for your love of Luxo Jr.. I'm thrilled that Luxo Jr. is receiving this award tonight. I am proud of our team at Pixar. This achievement belongs to all the hardworking employees at Pixar. Their dedication and effort made Luxo Jr. a success! Please let us show our appreciation with a round of applause for them!"
Applause erupted like a tidal wave.
Edwin's eyes glistened, nearly to the point of tears. Henry's heartfelt remarks had deeply moved him, solidifying Edwin's loyalty to Henry—even more so after experiencing the loss of a close colleague.
After Henry concluded his thoughts, it didn't take long for Edwin to make his exit.
Henry lingered on stage a moment longer than was comfortable.
Once off stage, he noticed a jealous expression from the beautiful woman beside him.
Dusha Moses was indeed envious. A second-rate actress, she had appeared in over twenty productions but never achieved significant recognition.
Watching Edwin and John celebrate with their trophy filled her with discontent; as their proud expressions flashed before her, she felt irritation rise within her. Finally, unable to contain herself, she sneered, "It's just a cartoon; it shouldn't even be considered for the best film award! Haha…"
John, overhearing this, nearly shouted back in anger, but Edwin placed a restraining hand on him. This was the Oscars, and public disputes would only tarnish their moment.
Seeing John hesitate brought a smile to Dusha's face, filling her with a sense of superiority.
Henry couldn't bear the condescension and replied calmly, "What's wrong with animated films? Sooner or later, Pixar's animation will make a mark on Hollywood!"
Dusha chuckled and turned her face away as if dismissing Henry.
Henry frowned slightly but decided against saying more. It was pointless to engage in arguments with someone like her. Furthermore, she had left a bad impression on him and had effectively made it onto his personal blacklist. Even in future projects, he felt inclined to limit her opportunities. Her lack of fame stemmed not only from her inadequate acting skills but also from her tendency to offend anyone she came across.
John and Edwin were also affected by the unfriendly encounter, which dampened their spirits.
Pixar's true brilliance wouldn't emerge until Toy Story, and until then, the animation scene still favored Disney's traditional techniques. Computer-generated animation wasn't fully embraced yet, so Dusha's words were a blow to Edwin, who was determined not to let negativity unnerve them. He and John were motivated to work harder and produce even more exceptional animated films, aiming to earn the respect they deserved!