Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion

The Oscars ceremony generally starts with the presentation of awards for supporting roles, followed by music editing, technical, makeup, screenwriting, etc. In the latter half, the more significant awards like Best Actor and Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture are presented.
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Link sat backstage for a moment, waiting for Christine to return after presenting an award. He then joined Jennifer Lopez to collect the envelope containing the winner's name from the organizers and queued up at the backstage exit.

Jennifer Lopez is the Latin Queen, 41 this year, her parents both immigrants from Puerto Rico. Starting as an actress, she starred in well-known movies like "Anaconda," "Out of Sight," "Jersey Girl," and "Maid in Manhattan."

In 1999, she released her debut single, which reached the top of the Billboard singles chart. The following year, she released her first album "on the 6," which sold over 500,000 copies in its first week and went on to sell over 3 million copies in the United States.

Over the past decade, she has released six albums with a global sales volume of over 30 million, earning her the title of Latin Queen, with immense popularity in the United States and the Americas.

She is also the future wife of Ben Affleck and the ex-girlfriend of Puff Daddy, a woman with complicated identities. Rumor has it that the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry in the 1990s had a bit to do with her.

After her divorce from her ex-husband in '98, she became Puff Daddy's girlfriend. Her ex-husband, dissatisfied, sold their private tapes to the West Coast rap group's backstage boss, Suge Knight, the founder of Death Row Records, who had launched Tupac, Snoopy Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Dr. Dre.

Suge Knight used Jennifer's tape to ridicule Puff Daddy, causing a serious loss of face and almost resulting in gunfire between the two parties.

However, Jennifer's current husband is the Latin singer Mark Antony, who has little to do with East Coast rappers.

"Link, your new song 'all of me' is fantastic and has a soulful style," Jennifer Lopez said.

"Thank you. The new album mainly features pop music, but also mixes in other genres," Link replied, briefly explaining that aside from "all of me," his third album included classic love songs like "Closer," "girls like you," "The Woman I Love," and 21 others. The style of the songs was predominantly pop, with elements of rock, dance, electronic, soul, and country.

The album's romantic theme was somewhat cliché, but stylistically innovative, which led Link to be uncertain whether fans and the market would accept this album or what its sales might be.

Forced to compete for the charts, he had to play it by ear.

"That's very impressive! Hard to believe you're only 21," Jennifer Lopez said with a smile.

"One must make a name early. I'm merely following in the footsteps of predecessors like you," Link said, shrugging and smiling.

While they were speaking, backstage, the award for Best Art Direction was being presented, and the winners were the art directors of the "Avatar" crew.

The presenter of this award was the superstar Charlize Theron, dressed in a golden strapless gown. At the ripe age of 35 or 36, she still looked great, with tight skin, a tall figure, beautiful curves, and an aura of a strong, independent woman.

Returning from the stage after presenting to the "Avatar" art directors and seeing Link and Lopez at the exit, she greeted Lopez first, then turned those charming blue-grey eyes towards Link.

"Mr. Baker, it's a pleasure to meet you; you're looking quite good," Charlize Theron appraised him with a smile.

"Thank you, I'm happy to meet you too, Ms. Theron. I'm a fan of your work," Link responded with a smile.

Charlize Theron gave a slight smile, said she'd see him later, and waved as she walked away.

Link and Lopez also offered their congratulations to the award-winning artists.

Then, the Oscars host Alec Baldwin introduced the two presenters on stage, in a mixture of stately and teasing commentary, as was the style of the Oscars.

When introducing Lopez, Baldwin was more serious, noting that she started as an actress before making successful inroads into the music industry and that her presence at the Oscars was a return with honors.

Introducing Link, however, was less formal, mentioning his participation in boxing matches in '08, securing an Olympic championship and world heavyweight title. In '09, he switched to the music industry to become the best-selling artist of the year, receiving a Grammy for Producer of the Year.

Now having moved into the film industry, Baldwin joked, "I bet he'll get the Oscar for Best Actor next year."

The comment elicited laughter from the audience.

Link felt helpless.

Before he could even take the stage, his peers in the film industry viewed him with wariness, regarding him as a formidable competitor. Securing an Oscar for Best Actor would probably be even more difficult for him than for Leonardo DiCaprio or Robert Downey Jr.

As Baldwin made the introductions, the staff reminded Link and Lopez that it was time for them to present, and Lopez, linking her arm with his, walked onto the stage.

The Oscars stage was much smaller than the Grammy's but felt more artistic in design, with bright lights and a sense of technology. Receiving a trophy on such a stage must feel really cool.

Clap, clap, clap!

As the two made their way to the microphone, a round of applause erupted from the audience.

"Link, just now Alec bet that you could win next year's Oscar for Best Actor. Are you confident about that?"

Lopez asked with a smile, holding onto the microphone stand.

"Yes, confidence is something I never lack."

Before he could finish, laughter rose from below the stage, and director Quentin Tarantino clapped and cheered exaggeratedly. Any of Link's boxing fans would know that this line was his catchphrase, as he almost always responded with it whenever a reporter asked if he felt confident.

Those unfamiliar with Link, however, were completely clueless as to where the humor was in his statement, looking bewilderingly at the few dozen people laughing.

"I also trust Mr. Baldwin's judgment; he's a venerable figure in film, and if he says I can win, then there's no problem. If I don't win, I'll consider putting on boxing gloves and paying a visit to his house."

Link said expressionlessly, clenching his fist.

Ha-ha-ha!

Laughter and cheers followed throughout the venue.

The director even switched the camera to backstage, showing host Alec Baldwin holding his forehead, with an expression of mock fear.

After a smooth transition, Link and Lopez began introducing the five films nominated for Best Original Score at the Oscars: "Up," "Avatar," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "Sherlock Holmes," and "The Hurt Locker."

While they introduced the nominees, 15-second clips of the score from each film played on the big screen behind them.

Michael Giacchino, the eventual winner for the score of "Up," was also a well-known Hollywood film composer, known for his work on "The Incredibles," "The Stone Family," and "Mission: Impossible III."

After the award presentation, Link and Lopez returned backstage where they found Christine still there, sucking on a lollipop, holding a film magazine, dressed in a gown with her legs casually propped up on the sofa, not very ladylike.

"Where's my lollipop?"

Link walked over and asked, having opened and bitten the lollipop before going on stage just to tease Christine, causing her to hold onto it while waiting for him.

"Here!"

Christine pulled the lollipop from her mouth and handed it to him; it was now the size of a marble.

Link raised his eyebrows, "You ate my candy?"

"What else!"

Christine glanced at him proudly. "Let me tell you something, never leave your candy with a girl who loves sweets."

"Alright, I'll remember that."

"Here, take it!"

Christine insisted on giving him the remaining bit of the lollipop.

Link held it in his hand, unsure whether to throw it away.

"You despise me? I didn't despise you just now."

Christine said coldly, frowning her beautiful brows, looking somewhat angry.

Link shrugged his shoulders and had no choice but to finish off the remaining lollipop.

Only then did Christine nod in satisfaction and continued flipping through the film magazine on her lap.

"Aren't you going to the front to watch the awards ceremony?"

According to the organizer's plan, presenters could use a separate passage to reach the seating area in the front hall after fulfilling their duties.

"No, I don't find it interesting."

"Well, I'm going. They're about to present the Best Original Song next."

"It's no use, they won't give that award to you."

Christine retorted, and seeing that he was about to leave, she also put down the magazine and stood up to follow him.