Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 126 Private Visit
"Rio cocktails have seen a significant increase in market share after they changed their spokesperson to Jingyi."

Fan Chengcheng picked up the bottle of Rio cocktail on the table, twirled it in her hand, and examined it.

He smiled at Gu Jingyi's profile picture and asked curiously, "Jingyi, how much was your endorsement fee for Rio cocktails for a year? After the endorsement, Rio cocktails sold out immediately, and the first quarter's financial report showed a 721% increase compared to the previous quarter. The stock price also soared. Rio is truly blessed to have Jingyi."

Gu Jingyi glanced at Fan Chengcheng and knew he had misunderstood. "I took this contract during the middle of Idol Producer. I signed a two-year, 1500 million yuan deal back then. Don't be surprised, I'm not a fangirl, how could I possibly snatch an endorsement at a low price?"

"No matter how well Rio has its brand presence, can it compare to the number of brands like Oppo, Vivo, and Huawei? Even in small towns, you can find Oppo and Vivo signs in shopping malls and street-front shops. They display merchandise, posters, and standees of their brand ambassadors right outside – that's the best kind of exposure."

After the concert, the nine members of Nine Percent were enjoying a delicious meal in a private room at a long-established copper pot mutton hot pot restaurant.

They sang and danced on stage all night, and then recorded a concert video in their van to be used as material for their group variety show.

By the time everything was finished, it was almost midnight, and everyone was getting hungry. So, instead of going to Quanjude for Peking duck, we changed our plans and went to eat the famous hot pot.

After finding a well-established brand, the nine young men prepared to open a wine shop selling both red and white wine.

The manager of Idol World had specifically instructed them that there was a group variety show recording tomorrow and nothing could go wrong. Since they could only drink beer and low-alcohol cocktails, Nine Percent's table simply ordered a case of beer and a dozen low-alcohol Rio cocktails.

Inside a private room at the time-honored Jubao Yuan restaurant, a copper pot and charcoal fire blazed brightly. Goji berries and scallions bubbled in the clear broth. Nine boys from Nine Percent sat around the table, dressed in their own casual clothes, looking for food. Fan Chengcheng swung a bottle of Rio cocktail around, the image of Gu Jingyi on the bottle gleaming coldly in the steam.

After hearing Gu Jingyi's words, Fan Chengcheng seemed to suddenly remember something.

Turning to Kun Kun beside him, he asked, "Kun Kun, when will your endorsement for the vivo X23 be officially announced? Is it also in early June, like Jingyi's?"

Cai Xukun was simmering a slice of fatty lamb in the hot pot when Fan Chengcheng asked him this question. The red and white meat spun around on his chopsticks before falling into the boiling pot.

He smiled somewhat awkwardly, "My collaboration is a short-term partnership for the X23 product, not an endorsement."

"Jingyi is the spokesperson, the spokesperson for OPPO's R series."

After Cai Xukun finished speaking, he silently ate the pickled garlic, looking somewhat dejected.

"Come on, don't be ridiculous," Gu Jingyi chuckled.

“When I was on ‘Idol Producer,’ OPPO contacted Huace to discuss a short-term endorsement. At that time, the brand felt that those who came from talent shows only had short-term popularity. They were not as stable as Wang Junkai, who debuted as an idol from the same training system, nor as popular with the general public as Yang Zi.”

As Gu Jingyi spoke, he picked up a piece of mutton and dipped it in sesame sauce. "Now look what's happened. When they found out that Huawei was also in contact with Huace, they directly adjusted the endorsement fee to 1200 million yuan a year. They will officially announce my status as OPPO's global brand ambassador a month after the R15 Dream Edition is released."

"Kun Kun, don't be self-conscious. There has never been a boy group in China operated like an idol group before. It's normal for brands to be wary and in the evaluation stage. I estimate that by next year, the quality of your commercial resources will have risen to another level."

Upon hearing this, Cai Xukun felt relieved, a smile of relief appearing on his face.

The mutton in the copper pot was rich in flavor, and the various cuts of mutton and vegetables sizzled harmoniously as they were added to the pot.

Occasionally, the sounds of breathing, chewing, and clinking glasses could be heard, filling the private room with an alluring, smoky atmosphere.

With beer in hand, the nine of them devoured the food in no time.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhu Zhengting patted Gu Jingyi's arm and said, slightly drunk, "We'll be fine together from now on. Let's try to do more tours next year. Jingyi's new drama will be a huge hit, and he'll become the spokesperson for high-end liquors like Wuliangye and Moutai."

Gu Jingyi's face twitched slightly, unable to utter a word of complaint.

"Wow, Jingyi, what's with that expression? You don't seem very happy."

Zhu Zhengting noticed that Gu Jingyi's expression was off, and continued, "Among liquors, Moutai and Wuliangye are already very high-end brands, right? Being able to endorse these two is absolutely amazing."

"Yes, it's high-end."

Too lazy to argue with the drunkard, Gu Jingyi nodded perfunctorily in agreement.

"Brother Jingyi"

Justin looked at Gu Jingyi's image printed on the Rio bottle and suddenly said, "If you become the spokesperson for Wuliangye in the future, will the bottles be covered with your posters? It's a really interesting thought. Baijiu is still the mainstream liquor in our country. If that happens, Brother Jingyi, your popularity will be unmatched."

"What are you thinking? The main consumers of baijiu are men. What man would be interested in buying it if he saw his face printed on the bottle?"

Cai Xukun burst out laughing upon hearing this, picked up the bottle, and blew straight into it. He glanced at Gu Jingyi, then at the beer bottle in front of him.

Seemingly recalling the image of Gu Jingyi printed on bottles of Wuliangye and Moutai, he let out the classic Kun roar.

"Hey, what are you doing? Zhengting and Justin, why are you making me laugh?"

Cai Xukun waved his hand dismissively and moved the wine bottle in front of him a little further away.

"Baijiu (Chinese liquor) is meant to be savored slowly. If a big brand puts a male celebrity's picture on its packaging, I'll just buy the competitor's product, okay?"

"Who would want to look down and see another man halfway through a drink? He's so gay, if they were going to print it, they should print a female celebrity."

Cai Xukun was really drunk, and his words were somewhat sharp.

"That's impossible. Wuliangye and Moutai are already the leading brands in the domestic liquor industry. They wouldn't lower their status by hiring spokespeople. They follow a strategy of fewer but more refined business and high-end products. Adding a spokesperson would affect the product's characteristics."

Gu Jingyi was quite realistic; he was truly astonished by his teammates' comments. Top male celebrities endorsing two high-end liquors that represent a national symbol? How utterly ignorant must they be to even utter such a thing?

A top male celebrity would only endorse luxury wines, specifically those from well-known international brands.

Similarly, red wines specifically marketed to women also have beauty benefits, and are priced similarly high.

By this time, the meat in the copper pot was cooked, and the young men each took a few bites.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, Gu Jingyi's phone suddenly rang.

He quickly put the meat in his bowl into his mouth, chewed it thoroughly, and then put down his chopsticks. Only then did he free his hand to pick up his phone, glance at the caller ID, and blink.

Gu Jingyi casually pulled out some tissues from the table, wiped his mouth, and then stood up.

He waved to the members and said, "I'm going to take this call, I'll be right back. You guys eat as much as you want, but don't forget to save some for me!"

“That’s impossible.”

"How could I possibly leave this for a guy who values ​​women over friends!"

When Gu Jingyi opened the door and walked out of the private room, he could still hear the noise of the group.

When the call connected, the voice was quite gentle, "What's wrong? Why are you calling me at this time?"

Upon hearing his distinctly gentle tone, Fan Chengcheng couldn't help but turn to look at him. After a moment's thought, she gave a mischievous smile.

"Hey, why aren't you saying anything?"

After leaving the private room, Gu Jingyi glanced around. He randomly found an empty corner at the end of a corridor, opened the window to let in some fresh air.

A gust of cold wind blew by, and the sudden chill of early spring made him shiver. But it dispelled the heat from drinking and made him feel much clearer-headed.

Seeing that there was no response from the other end, he greeted the person on the phone again.

It's quite unusual that this call was made by Tian Xiwei.

Gu Jingyi fed him twice, but the other person remained silent.

If he hadn't heard faint, low breathing coming from the receiver, he would have taken out his phone to double-check if the call had actually connected.

"If you don't say anything, I'm hanging up."

The night breeze was pleasant, and Gu Jingyi unzipped his jacket to let out some of the smoky smell from his clothes.

"Oh no, why are you doing this...?"

Tian Xiwei's voice was soft and slightly reproachful. Despite being a fierce woman from Sichuan and Chongqing, she still surrendered to Gu Jingyi's threat.

Not only that, she also made her voice sound a bit sticky and muted. It sounded pleasant, but it didn't seem like her usual energetic and outgoing personality.

It's already very late; given Tian Xiwei's personality, she should have been asleep long ago.

This girl previously starred in a web series called "Waiting for You in the Longest Time".

Filming had just wrapped up, and according to the lifestyle of celebrities, even if they hadn't gone to sleep yet, they should be resting right now. Her calling so late must mean something's wrong, and judging from her voice, she didn't sound well.

"Let me guess what's keeping Xiaotian awake, and who's upset you."

Gu Jingyi could tell she seemed to be in a bad mood, so he softened his tone and said a few words to comfort her.

He paused, as if he had thought of something. His tone suddenly rose, and he asked with great surprise, "Is it because the broadcast time of your 'Waiting for You in the Long Years' has been postponed again?"

Most of the web dramas during this period were filmed in a short period of time.

Gu Jingyi's debut work, "A Love So Beautiful," was filmed less than three months ago. After the first performance of "Idol Producer," this girl explained to me on WeChat that she was going to take on a drama. If I didn't see her at the subsequent performances, it wasn't because she ran away, but because she was busy with work.

He was also filming commercials at the time, with more than ten commercials crammed into less than a week to complete. Gu Jingyi simply didn't have time to discuss this topic with her much, and after replying with an emoji, he didn't follow up.

Even so, Tian Xiwei still managed to squeeze in time to appear during Gu Jingyi's "Second Public Performance," "Third Public Performance," and "Final Night."

There was some touching feeling, but more than that, there was a tacit understanding between us.

Therefore, when Tian Xiwei called so late, her voice slightly choked, Gu Jingyi's first thought was that this girl's debut work had been shelved. After all, she was a complete newcomer at the time, yet she managed to take leave. It seemed that this production team wasn't so reliable after all.

Although Gu Jingyi knew that web dramas were low-budget, only one or two out of a hundred web dramas would make a splash.

But Tian Xiwei's start was unsuccessful; her luck was just too bad...

When she first joined the crew, Gu Jingyi remembered that Tian Xiwei sent him a lot of updates about the crew.

Sometimes it's a selfie taken when she joins the crew, and sometimes it's a funny thing that happened to her while filming.

She has a really good mouth; she can describe any trivial matter in a vivid and detailed way.

Gu Jingyi usually replies with a short word or two, and when he's not so busy, he'll reply with a sentence or two.

Tian Xiwei wasn't angry; she was always unusually good-tempered when facing Gu Jingyi.

"No, I wasn't forced to watch it. Ugh, Gu Jingyi, what a mouth of yours!"

Upon hearing Gu Jingyi's guess, Tian Xiwei reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

She lost her temper and immediately retorted to Gu Jingyi.

However, after Tian Xiwei finished speaking with her neck stiffened, the confidence she had been holding onto suddenly deflated a lot.

Her voice visibly lowered in volume, and she asked somewhat uncertainly, "Gu Jingyi, what do you think the ratings will be like after my drama airs...?"

Before Gu Jingyi could finish asking for the full details, Tian Xiwei sniffed and, in a slightly sticky voice, recounted what had happened that day.

The production team called this afternoon to say that the show will be broadcast on the platform on July 13th.

A web series with an entirely new cast was released during the summer season, a time when many big names were in the industry.

They're just cannon fodder; how could they possibly defeat the other productions from the same period?

Aside from "One Thousand and One Nights," starring top female celebrities Dilraba Dilmurat and Deng Lun, which is scheduled to air during the summer vacation, there is also "Story of Yanxi Palace," written by the acclaimed screenwriter Yu Zheng.

Judging from her new drama, she's practically invisible compared to these established stars of the same period.

This is another debut work that gets him into the industry, and he always puts more effort into his first drama.

Although when she received the script, Tian Xiwei guessed that the ratings would not be very good after it aired.

But rational as she was, when it came down to it, Tian Xiwei was still restless. Even though she knew the new drama would likely only achieve mediocre results, she couldn't help but hope for a miracle. What if? What if it could turn the tide like a low-budget web drama such as "Go Princess Go"?
Tian Xiwei is now completely teetering on the edge of emotional breakdown, like a quiet, active volcano.

"What? I had no idea. So, the problem that's been bothering you all night is right here."

Gu Jingyi's laughter came through the receiver, his voice deeper than usual. Tian Xiwei felt a surge of heat in her heart, but she still stubbornly retorted, "What do you mean 'that'? That was my first work. No matter where I go in the future, fans will always start their research from my first work, okay? What if I really acted badly? Wouldn't I lose face?"

Hearing that Tian Xiwei's voice had regained some energy, and that she responded quickly, her little mouth chattering away, Gu Jingyi's mood brightened as well.

However, when Tian Xiwei sounded somewhat insecure and aggrieved as she said "I've lost face," Gu Jingyi couldn't help but laugh, even though her voice did sound quite pitiful.

Before Tian Xiwei could explode, he sighed and asked, "So you're trying to tell me the problem that's been bothering you all night: how well the new drama will be received, and whether it will leave a bad impression on your past?"

"Um…"

Upon hearing Tian Xiwei's somewhat hesitant and shy "Mmm," Gu Jingyi couldn't help but chuckle.

He suddenly realized that Tian Xiwei might seem smart, but she was actually quite innocent and adorable at times.

"The problems you're worried about are things that haven't even happened yet. Do you know how many people want to break into the entertainment industry every year? Do you know how many people can beat out so many others and land the lead role in their debut film?"

Gu Jingyi's series of questions left the other end somewhat bewildered.

After a long pause, he replied somewhat hesitantly, "Actually, it wasn't entirely thanks to my own efforts; I signed a contract with the company and received their resources..."

"What did you say? Your voice is too soft, I can't hear you."

The wind was strong in the corridor, and Gu Jingyi could only hear the howling wind, so he couldn't hear what Tian Xiwei was whispering over there.

"It's a script provided by the company, and it's an internal casting call. There weren't that many people auditioning. Ugh, you're so annoying. You can't even hear yourself, yet you keep asking and asking."

Tian Xiwei was getting annoyed by Gu Jingyi's repeated questioning, and she eventually became exasperated.

"What's there to be embarrassed about? You just signed with Gong Yuhan and you're already getting strong support from a top agent. You have film and television resources right after joining the company, which shows that he really values ​​you. Besides, it would be foolish not to use resources. Don't I often get called 'Emperor Gu' because Huace Film and Television has too many resources? Just get used to it. Your abilities won't be diminished because of your connections."

"No matter how you deny it, you're the one who took on this web series. You're a professionally trained actress, so even if your acting is bad, it's still better than some actresses who don't memorize their lines, can only recite numbers when acting with their co-stars, and can only glare when angry or use eye drops when crying, right?"

Gu Jingyi's voice was very gentle, which made Tian Xiwei feel more and more comfortable listening to it.

"That's why I'm saying you're just scaring yourself. Nobody expects a newcomer's first drama to be a huge hit. It's a journey that's taken one step at a time. You're just wasting your time on this little thing, keeping yourself bottled up all night?"

Tian Xiwei seemed to choke, her breathing becoming somewhat uncontrollable. She seemed to have truly realized how foolish her actions had been.

After several seconds, she replied sullenly, "Why did you say that?"

Gu Jingyi ignored her and said directly and with certainty, "Were you feeling down because of this? Did you try to talk to your family but didn't get any empathy from them? Did you secretly call home for comfort, cry for a while, and then hang up when you realized it wasn't working?"

"Who stole it..." Tian Xiwei retorted to Gu Jingyi's choice of words with some displeasure.

Then, somewhat surprised, she asked, "How do you know so much? Tell me, did you install a surveillance camera on me?"

When the call first connected, Tian Xiwei didn't say anything. She was clearly not in a good mood, and her tone was somewhat affected by her emotions.

But after a while on the phone, and with some psychological support from Dr. Gu Jingyi, Tian Xiwei felt much better and was even able to tease him. Her initially nasal voice also softened, and she sounded much more normal.

"How do I know?"

A faint sound came from the other end of the phone, making it unclear whether Tian Xiwei was seriously looking for "surveillance footage" or rummaging through snacks.

Gu Jingyi chuckled in exasperation. He pushed the window open again and leaned against the windowsill, looking down at the increasingly deserted street from the upper floor. He said irritably, "Because I'm right behind you. If you don't believe me, turn around and look."

"You're lying..."

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiwei burst out laughing; her clear and melodious voice was like a wind chime.

"Wow, you know that too. Looks like you're not stupid. How come you were so stubborn just now? Thinking about things that didn't even happen, aren't you tired?"

Gu Jingyi's mood lightened a bit, and after saying a few words, his speech slowed down, becoming quite alluring in the night.

"I honestly don't know whether your new drama is good or not. I haven't seen the script either, but it shouldn't be too bad. If it were really bad, Gong Yuhan, as a top agent, wouldn't ruin her reputation for short-term profits."

"As for your acting skills, I haven't worked with you, so I can't give a definitive judgment. But in terms of appearance, you're definitely among the top three young actresses. Your face alone is enough to set you apart from the rest. It's enough to help you stand out from your mediocre peers."

"Don't underestimate looks. Among actresses in the industry whose names start with '95,' the only one I know who is known for her acting skills is also a film actress. She's not on the same path as you, so Ms. Tian's qualifications in the industry are already quite excellent."

"Hehehe," Tian Xiwei giggled foolishly while holding the phone.

She cared a lot about Gu Jingyi, and naturally valued his opinion highly.

This was the first time Tian Xiwei had received such a solemn compliment from Gu Jingyi. She pinched her thigh and gritted her teeth, trying to hold it in for a long time, but she still couldn't hold it in.

She burst into laughter, the cheerful sound dispelling the gloom and disappointment she had felt earlier.

The conversation, delivered over the phone, made the person on the other end of the line smile along with her.

She laughed for a while, then couldn't help but emphasize again, "My acting skills aren't that bad. I have formal training and the company hired professional teachers to give me private lessons."

"Okay, so don't overthink it. Go to sleep early after this call. It's already past 2 a.m., Tian Xiwei, do you want to look like a swollen pig's head tomorrow?"

"Ugh, your words are so harsh now. Could you please apply for the same treatment as before?"

Tian Xiwei started acting coquettishly again; even with her Sichuan-Chongqing accent, her voice was incredibly gentle.

"No, haven't you ever heard a saying?"

"What?"

"A gentle knife, yet every strike is deadly."

Gu Jingyi smiled and gave the answer.

When he smelled the aroma of hot pot coming from the distant corridor, he suddenly remembered that he had just been eating hot pot with his teammates.

So much time has passed, I wonder if those guys have finished eating all the meat.

"Okay, I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm still eating hot pot outside. I'm going in first."

"Wait a minute," Tian Xiwei quickly interrupted.

"Gu Jingyi, who are you with now? A boy or a girl? Why aren't you home yet, it's so late?"

She seemed to realize that she had no right to ask these questions, and her voice was somewhat timid but not offensive.

"Why are you asking this all of a sudden?" Gu Jingyi did not answer.

Can I answer first?

"No," Gu Jingyi coldly refused.

"Because you just said I'm in the top three girls you've ever met..."

"Well, what's the problem?"

Tian Xiwei was a little defensive. "You mean I'm the third most beautiful girl you've ever seen? Then who are the first and second? Do you know them, or are they your mom and girlfriend...?"

Gu Jingyi was somewhat surprised by her keen intuition, but he still didn't rush to answer her question.

Sigma Man wouldn't let himself be put on the defensive; he replied based entirely on his mood.

"Don't make wild guesses. The ranking I'm referring to is based on the appearance of popular young actresses in the Chinese entertainment industry."

"Oh," Tian Xiwei nodded.

She pressed on, sounding somewhat aggrieved, "But Gu Jingyi, you still haven't answered me. Is it really that difficult to answer the question of whether you have a girlfriend or not?"

I don't have a girlfriend right now.

Gu Jingyi was silent for a few seconds before speaking.

Dilraba was his secret girlfriend, and Li Yitong was his lover.

His pure love is terrifying now. Which top male celebrity isn't surrounded by a bunch of girls?

In the entertainment industry, multitasking is commonplace. Gu Jingyi is in stark contrast to Chris, who publicly selects his concubines, and Li Yifeng, who frequently flies to Southeast Asia to experience "exotic culture" and receive customized private services.

Gu Jingyi was as pure as a blank sheet of paper.

"Hmm~"

Tian Xiwei's voice on the other end also became noticeably cheerful, as if she had breathed a sigh of relief.

"I saw someone on Douban reveal that you have a boyfriend."

Fearing that Gu Jingyi would be angry, Tian Xiwei added another explanation.

Fearing that Gu Jingyi might misunderstand, she added, "I didn't say I believed it. It's just that recently there's been a large-scale smear campaign against you by your rivals. They're saying you're too good at pandering to fans, and that you're not doing it for your fans but to please your sister-in-law."

"Gu Jingyi, are you listening?"

After saying several sentences, Tian Xiwei's confidence waned.

"That's boring. That's how it is when you're a celebrity. You always have to face all sorts of speculation. Don't let these things affect your mood in the future."

Gu Jingyi didn't say anything, but Tian Xiwei's ears turned red.

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone and hearing Gu Jingyi's answer that he was still single, Tian Xiwei felt a huge weight lift from her chest.

Gu Jingyi's voice still echoed in her ears; every word and tone he uttered was etched into Tian Xiwei's memory.

Recalling Gu Jingyi's voice on the phone, she imagined he must be there to answer her call. She left the private room where the group had dinner and walked alone into the hallway to make the call.

Tian Xiwei lay on the bed, holding her phone, staring at the blacked-out screen.

Suddenly I burst out laughing, and my initial bad mood disappeared.

Although a cold wind was still blowing outside the window, she couldn't feel it. It was as if spring had arrived all around her, and the room became warm.

When Mingming first started chatting and talking to her family on the phone, she was still in a very low mood.

I didn't expect that after hanging up the phone, I would feel so much lighter. The low and upset I felt before have completely disappeared.

Tian Xiwei, clutching her phone, rolled herself up in the blanket like a chicken roll. She rolled around on the bed, laughing out loud every now and then.

……

Inside the hotel

Gu Jingyi frowned as he rummaged through his suitcase.

I don’t know if it’s an illusion.

He felt like he was missing a few clothes, and even his underwear from yesterday was gone.

(End of this chapter)