He wasn't joking; he was genuinely nervous.
You see, even someone like Zhang Guoli, who has weathered his fair share of storms, was stammering during his speech earlier. Although Cheng Ming had gone in with the healthy mindset of "If I win, it’s my good fortune; if I lose, to hell with this stupid award, I’m never coming back," actually winning was an entirely different matter. After all, this was one of the most prestigious awards in the country, and at this particular time, it hadn't yet lost its weight.
"Hoo..."
Chapter 167