Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 144 Sisters Glancing at Each Other
Gu Jingyi never expected that he would have a childhood sweetheart, Zhou Ye, who would later become one of the famous "Four Little Flowers of '95".

In his previous life, he did have several interactions with Zhou Ye.

At that time, both of them were well-known "95 Flowers" and "95 Students" in the entertainment industry, but neither of them liked that they had such a connection when they were children.

He looked at his parents with a complicated expression. "Why have you never told me these things before?"

Mr. Gu snapped at him, "When have you ever come back before and been willing to talk to us this much? When we asked about work, you looked upset and rushed into your room."

Gu Jingyi remained silent; the allure of success was truly nourishing. A person's inner world truly does change with the success of their career.

In his previous life, he was simply not famous enough, nor was he approachable enough.

The reason I feel so relaxed when I go home now is because I am almost unrivaled among the new generation of celebrities.

His popularity was so overwhelming that not only was he unmatched among the 95ers, but even the 90ers, whose popularity had fallen behind, couldn't compete with him.

When you're in a relaxed and easygoing mood, you can naturally talk about these things with your parents in a cheerful and relaxed manner.

If he had been able to sit down and have a proper talk with his parents in his previous life, would his ending with Zhou Ye have been different...?

"Old Gu, shut up!"

Lin Yun noticed that Gu Jingyi's expression was a bit off, and assuming that her son's mood was affected, she rolled her eyes at her husband.

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more. Let's eat..."

Gu Jingyi ate his meal absentmindedly, and his mind was still wandering as he lay in bed.

The next day
"Jingyi, you'll be a guest on 'Happy Camp' this time. There are seven guests recording with you: Wu Xuanyi, Peng Yuchang, Hu Xianxu, Song Weilong, Zhang Yunhan, Tan Songyun, and Cheng Xiao, your mentor from 'Idol Producer'."

"You should arrive about half an hour early to visit each of the hosts in turn, and you should set aside at least 10 minutes to visit the host team."

"The gifts for the host team are already on the bus."

Gu Jingyi nodded. "Okay, are all the gifts the same? Is there anything special I should be careful about so I don't give the wrong thing?"

"No need, just pay attention to the packaging. The blue box is for the male host, and the pink box is for the female host."

Lin Ze smiled; he was always meticulous in his work.

"Jingyi, if the host tries to take you on as an apprentice during a game segment, don't pay any attention to him."

The agent suddenly remembered something and looked at Gu Jingyi in the rearview mirror, giving him very serious instructions.

"I can't possibly pay any attention to that," Gu Jingyi said, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Haha, the host took Cai Xukun as his apprentice in May, and then announced on Weibo in July that he had taken Wu Xuanyi as his apprentice.

How could Gu Jingyi possibly become her apprentice? Even Teacher He, who is known as "half the nation's leader," doesn't have that kind of respect from him.

"Just keep it to yourself. We didn't bring any promotional tasks to Happy Camp this time. It's just that they value our popularity. Cai Xukun, Justin, and Zhu Zhengting all appeared on it after they came out of Idol Producer. Jingyi, have fun and don't feel pressured."

"Recording a show is like working, and no job is easy. It's all hard work, so I bet even if I wanted to just be a background character, the show would keep bringing me up and calling on me."

Gu Jingyi retorted, saying he wasn't a newbie and didn't believe that an agent could make it as simple as they made it out to be.

Lin Ze glanced at him and suddenly smiled.

"Hey? Jingyi, how do you know all these intricacies so well?"

Gu Jingyi pointed to his head, "This is such a simple thing, you can figure it out with your brain."

"I may not understand those intricacies, but how could I not understand the nature of the toilet seat?"

Those who know how to use a toilet seat know how to serve food; those who know, know.

Lunzi, Longge, Kunzi, and Bozi have all gone from being background figures to being the main focus.

Gu Jingyi went to promote "A Love So Beautiful" before its broadcast, and recorded the video with Shen Teng, Mary, and other members of the "Happy Twist" team.

Throughout the entire episode, the cast and crew of "A Love So Beautiful" only occupied about ten minutes of screen time.

When that episode of "Happy Camp" aired, Gu Jingyi had very few scenes. When fans dug back for more information, they could only find traces of Gu Jingyi in the gaps between the clips.

He was also nicknamed "Gu Jingyi" because whenever the camera zoomed in on Gu Jingyi, the camera would rotate to avoid moving him out of the center of the frame.

Later, when Zhang Yixing took Gu Jingyi to record the episode of "Happy Camp" for Idol Producer, Gu Jingyi, who had just become a top star, was frequently mentioned.

It would be strange if Hunan TV wouldn't let this break the deadlock of popularity.

"Jingyi, go and greet the host team first. Deliver the gift bag to them, then go to the waiting room."

Lin Ze still gave Gu Jingyi a few more instructions, just in case she forgot.

"I thought you'd let me go to the waiting room to say hello first, and then go straight to chat with the host team. You wouldn't go back to the waiting room and wouldn't give anyone else a second glance."

Gu Jingyi glanced at Lin Ze, genuinely surprised by this decision.

"Tch, the waiting room isn't public. It's in pairs, Wu Xuanyi and Cheng Xiao are in one waiting room. You should take this opportunity to go to Cheng Xiao's side and add her back."

Lin Ze analyzed logically, "Cheng Xiao's figure is currently unmatched in the Chinese entertainment industry. I don't think you'll let her go."

"Random speculation, completely unfounded, utterly fabricated rumors."

Gu Jingyi denied it three times: "I'm not that shallow a man. F is just a bit bigger. I'm not short of women. Look at Dilraba and Xiao Tian. They're just a little inferior in soft power, but their hard power is much better."

"One is the ultimate allure, the other the ultimate sweetness. Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. I always eat organic food and I eat very refined meals. Unlike you, who only pursues quantity."

The saying "birds of a feather flock together" really holds some truth. Lin Ze is also a playboy, but the quality of the girls around him is far inferior to that of Gu Jingyi.

He has a wide range of tastes, appreciating both physical beauty and differences in appearance.

Unlike Gu Jingyi, he was more like an artist with a craftsman's spirit. He only took the best of the best in the same category, and ignored everything else.

Scumbag? Are you kidding me? What artist doesn't have a lot of romantic experience? Would a young guy like Gu Jingyi have written such great songs without having had several relationships?
Just like Wang Gaga, one day someone will understand Gu Jingyi's pursuit of art as an artist.

"I'm not you, why talk about quality? Quantity has to catch up first, then we can worry about quality. Ugly ones will be killed too. Just because you don't have women in your heart doesn't mean you don't have women around you."

Lin Ze got excited when this was mentioned, tilting his head to argue with Gu Jingyi.

"Your twisted logic only applies to yourself; I still have high aspirations."

Gu Jingyi didn't want to waste time on such a trivial question; everyone has different aesthetics and requirements. He fully respected these differences and understood that individuals held different beliefs.

"Is this Teacher Gu?"

The staff sent by the TV station were waiting at the entrance of the broadcasting station from a great distance.

Gu Jingyi's current nanny car is a Rolls-Royce Phantom, which is very recognizable.

HuaCe was willing to spend over 700 million yuan on him.

When the top salesperson dine with the boss, all they do is pass around the dishes, and the boss just smiles and claps.

Given Gu Jingyi's popularity, if he goes solo, Huace will face a complete talent gap in its new generation of stars. They won't be able to find any male celebrity with even a modicum of fame among the younger generation to support as a backup plan.

"Yes, that's right. Are you a staff member from 'Happy Camp' here to help? Can I check your DingTalk attendance record?"

Lin Ze remained relatively cautious, confirming that the DingTalk attendance record matched the person on the work permit.

Only then did he feel relieved enough to let Gu Jingyi get out of the car and go to record "Happy Camp".

The salaries of agents and artists are also complementary; the more Gu Jingyi earns, the more Lin Ze, as her agent, earns.

In the industry, it's common practice for artists to allocate 5% of their salary to their teams for wages and bonuses. Given Gu Jingyi's phenomenal commercial value, even 5% is more than the income of many third- or fourth-tier artists.

Moreover, Lin Ze is also the agent, and he can get about half of the team's 5% share.

The rest was then divided among the rest of the team. The remaining 30-plus people were only fit to eat Lin Ze's leftovers.

With such generous treatment, it's no wonder Lin Ze took it so seriously.

"Teacher Gu, this is the backstage area of ​​our 'Happy Camp'."

As he walked backstage, the staff accompanying him on "Happy Camp" took the time to introduce him to the crew, just in case he didn't know.

Gu Jingyi nodded slightly, but couldn't help but complain in his heart.

It's not like this is his first time here, why would he need an introduction to something like this?
Previously, when Kun Kun recorded "Happy Camp", he even made a vlog on Weibo to record his "Happy Camp journey".

After seeing this, the staff of "Idol Producer" specifically asked Kun Kun for a copy. They also got inspiration from it and deliberately focused the camera on some trainees who were sure to debut.

The reason why "Idol Producer" appeared on "Happy Camp" was as a perk after the theme song was re-evaluated.

Although not many recordings were done at the time, the debut spots had basically been decided.

Aside from the two or three spots left for new members, whose respective agencies hadn't yet finalized their selections, the show's debut lineup was already circulating internally at that time. Some gossipy individuals even leaked it to Douban (a Chinese social networking site).

At the time, a lot of people were criticizing it, saying, "It's too fake, they're not even acting anymore."

Unexpectedly, on the final night of "Idol Producer," eight out of the nine members were predicted. At most, there were only two or three trainees, and the debut order was slightly different from the earliest version.

Therefore, the staff of "Idol Producer" easily found it in the group variety show of Nai Pao Sen, which triggered fans to do some archaeological digging.

However, Gu Jingyi remained remarkably calm. He seemed completely at ease, as if he were in his own backyard when he visited Happy Camp, though he didn't receive as much camera attention as Cai Xukun and Chen Linong, who were making exaggerated reactions.

However, his "cool guy" and composed image have generated a great deal of discussion and successfully made him break out of the mainstream.

His fans immediately hailed him as "the pinnacle of intellectual homosexuality" and "a noble young master."

Kun Kun, who was a bit exaggerated in the group's variety show, was even called a country bumpkin.

Gu Jingyi is alright; his face speaks for itself. Even the most critical viewers and haters can't bring themselves to say anything harsh to him.

"Teacher Gu, we've arrived at the dressing room for our Happy Team. Teacher He and the others are already waiting inside."
"Thank you, I won't bother you any longer."

The staff member who guided Gu Jingyi was very professional; he escorted him to the door and then left.

"Tuk Tuk Tuk"

The knock had barely been made when Xie Na's voice was heard.

"Xiao Yi, it's you!"

Gu Jingyi, who had a professional smile on his face since he knocked on the door, pushed it open and entered.

Before he could even speak, Xie Na greeted Gu Jingyi warmly.

This sound also drew the attention of Teacher He, who was still sitting there looking at the script.

He got up and took a few steps to Gu Jingyi's side, acting like a very kind elder and asking Gu Jingyi about his well-being.

"It's Jingyi! Long time no see. How have you been? Is work going well?"

Teacher He looked at Gu Jingyi with great interest, and indeed couldn't see anything wrong with him.

Gu Jingyi's lips moved slightly, but he was interrupted again just as he was about to answer.

"Oh! It's Xiao Gu!"

Wu Xin, who was putting on makeup, noticed the commotion and greeted Gu Jingyi warmly.

Li Weijia and Du Haitao, who loves to act, also noticed Gu Jingyi's arrival. As if afraid of neglecting him, they came over and greeted him.

This is the ecological niche brought about by the top flow of the fault, something Gu Jingyi would never have dared to imagine before.

Gu Jingyi thought to himself, but his smile remained humble as he greeted the group and presented them with gifts.

Lin Ze had prepared all of this beforehand; the men all wore wristwatches.

The gift was specially sent to the company by Chopin; it was a piece of merchandise that Gu Jingyi gave him after filming the last Chopin advertisement.

It's clear that the other party really hopes to continue working with Gu Jingyi for the next few years.

Although the gift didn't cost any money, Gu Jingyi still hated the unspoken rule of giving gifts to the host.

He genuinely didn't know when or from whom this trend started.

But at some point, it became a trend within the industry because most people consciously abided by it.

When this rule was applied to celebrities with high online popularity, the situation became even more serious.

It is well known that the fans of popular celebrities are notoriously powerful. In addition to arranging large-scale events and drone shows to support their idols, they also...

She also had to worry about her brother's career, buying magazines by the volume. She was relentlessly pushing for endorsements, working herself to the bone.

Even with masks on, the episode of "Happy Camp" still holds considerable value.

Not only do obscure celebrities want to be on the show, but even popular artists who have already been on it want to be on it again.

The screen time on "Happy Camp" is measured in seconds; whoever is popular gets more screen time.

Fans would create more buzz around their idols to ensure the hosts would take good care of them. Before even knowing their idol was going to record "Happy Camp," they would raise funds in their fan community to prepare various support gifts for the hosts. They hoped the hosts would give their idol more screen time and attention. When the first popular celebrity's fans did this, the trend quickly followed.

Then it gets more and more competitive, with everyone rushing towards this goal.

Your top influencers look down on this kind of behavior, thinking it's beneath them and refusing to do it, but many ordinary influencers do it.

If fans of top celebrities don't send gifts, they worry the host will treat them differently. Being harsh on their idol isn't good for him.

The level of worry she causes is comparable to that of a mother.

Gu Jingyi's fans felt the same way, but Tian Xiwei made the final decision: "Everyone else is giving gifts, so why shouldn't we? What if the hosting team has designs on Jingyi? Jingyi will be the one who suffers. Nobody wants to live in fear for a little bit of money that doesn't exist, right?"

Only after the fans had a leader to rely on did they start making arrangements for this.

Before Gu Jingyi even arrived in Xingcheng, the gifts that the "Jingfei" fans had given to the host team had already filled the storage room.

He has many wealthy female fans who send him gifts, mainly luxury items.

When Gu Jingyi arrived, the hosts of "Happy Team" naturally treated him with great respect.

When Teacher He saw the gift in Gu Jingyi's hand, his eyes widened for a moment. Knowing its value, he immediately judged the value of the gift.

It costs around tens of thousands, which is indeed not cheap. However, it's just an entry-level piece from Chopard, a high-end jewelry brand, placing it in an awkward position within the watch industry.

It's nothing compared to those "green Submariner" gifts from Gu Jingyi's fans—those hard currency items.

However, he has high emotional intelligence, and his smile quickly returned.

Teacher He patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't bring anything next time you come. Why are you being so polite with your Teacher He?"

Gu Jingyi just smiled; these words were only good for amusement at best.

If Gu Jingyi actually believed him and refused the gift, he would be a fool.

During this period, the practice of accepting gifts was very prevalent in Taiwan.

Gu Jingyi said, half-jokingly, "I still have to give it to you. This watch suits your style perfectly. It's so trendy and fashionable. Teacher He, if you change your hairstyle, you'll definitely be trending on social media for looking handsome."

Teacher He just smiled slightly, clearly not taking it seriously.

"Alright, Jingyi, you're very thoughtful."

After glancing at him a few more times, Teacher He suddenly spoke up: "By the way, Jingyi, Hunan TV is planning to produce a slow-paced, rural variety show. I don't know if you'd like to go, mainly for relaxation. Society is too restless these days, it would be more ideal and comfortable there."

"Zifeng, who filmed 'Take My Brother Away' with you, is also here. How about it? Do you want to be a regular guest? With you here, it'll definitely be fine."

"Back to Field" does sound good, and it's a hugely popular and phenomenal variety show.

But it's too drawn out, and recording it takes too much time. Gu Jingyi would be better off using that energy to film one or two more projects, which would bring greater benefits.

"Back to Field" only has a few casual fans, so Gu Jingyi's participation wouldn't have gained much benefit.

He already has the best public image among all the top celebrities in history.

"Don't rush to refuse," Teacher He said, showing no embarrassment at being rejected. He carefully explained the costs and benefits to Gu Jingyi again and asked for his opinion once more.

"Jingyi, so you really don't plan to accept?"

"It's not that I don't want to, it's that I really don't have the time."

After briefly recounting the itinerary he had heard from Xiao Pang, Teacher He fell silent for a moment.

"Jingyi, you're working too hard. This job..."
"The workload is so great, even a single regiment might not be able to handle it."

Seeing that the atmosphere was getting tense, Xie Na smiled and explained on behalf of Gu Jingyi.

Gu Jingyi didn't say anything. Actually, what he feared most was that after appearing on too many variety shows, people would mention his name and only say that Gu Jingyi was a "variety show personality."

After Wei Daxun's traffic surged thanks to Meng Yanchen, his business did not follow suit.

why?
The image of Wei Daxun as a variety show personality is too deeply ingrained in the public's mind, and investors fear that the current popularity is just a facade. They've only tentatively given him some short-term contracts, and even his magazine appearances are limited to a secondary online magazine under the umbrella of "Cosmopolitan."

Intentionally not issuing physical copies to save costs is tantamount to deliberately exploiting followers.

Wei Daxun didn't actually sit down for a meal afterwards, which is also related to the fact that his commercial endorsements didn't keep up after his sudden rise to fame.

After Lunzi's drama "Ashes of Love" became a huge hit, he was criticized by fans for his company's unseemly behavior of working on multiple variety shows for over 570 days without joining a film crew. After being exposed by rivals, his unseemly behavior further damaged his public image.

Gu Jingyi had no intention of following in their footsteps; he always cherished his reputation.

Seeing that Teacher He was embarrassed, he took the initiative to help him out, saying, "I can't be a regular guest, but I can fly in for one or two episodes."

"Great! That's wonderful!"

Teacher He's expression softened slightly. He pulled Gu Jingyi's arm and sat down on the sofa, chatting about everyday things with a gentle smile, putting on the demeanor of a kind elder.

Gu Jingyi handled the situation very well, demonstrating excellent communication skills.

He Jiong found himself appreciating Gu Jingyi more and more; if Gu Jingyi could go, his life would be much easier.

Dahua also had K-pop experience, but that kid was stubborn and not as easy to get along with as Gu Jingyi.

It seems we have no choice but to use Eddie Peng as our backup plan…

However, He Jiong's disappointment was only temporary. Top celebrities rarely stay on a variety show regularly in order to maintain their status.

Chris, who served as the manager of "The Rap of China," and Lu Han, who served as the PD of "Produce Camp 3," both agreed to these positions when their popularity was declining.

Gu Jingyi, in her prime, wouldn't possibly join a variety show for some petty gains. Even though "Mushroom House" is a top-tier variety show, it really gave Henry Lau and Eddie Peng a lot of exposure.

The landscape of top-tier circles is changing and evolving too rapidly.

Gu Jingyi is one of the most successful young actors and singers, and to ensure audience immersion, he needs to minimize distractions and maintain a certain level of mystery, letting his work speak for itself.

Only when Gu Jingyi completely takes the lead and breaks through the limitations of being a top star with one blockbuster work after another will he have more and more freedom, and even if he doesn't release any new works for many years like Jay Chou, he won't worry about losing popularity.

With the help of a "golden touch," that day is not far away for Gu Jingyi.

Let's give ordinary young male artists some space. Emperor Jing is kind and doesn't want to deprive Eddie Peng of his only chance.

As Gu Jingyi left the Happy Team's dressing room, the professional smile on his face slowly faded. He turned and walked towards the other guests' dressing room, needing to go through the formalities of exchanging pleasantries.

He spent very little time in the other lounges, simply saying hello and then turning and leaving.

After walking through one room after another, they stood at the entrance of the lounge with nameplates that read "Cheng Xiao & Wu Xuanyi".

Gu Jingyi's face showed difficulty. How should he handle things after entering his "ex-wife's" waiting room?
Cheng Xiao has a rather bad temper. Her "321 attack" against e-sports fans caused her to lose the benefits of a hugely popular show after its release.

Gu Jingyi had already anticipated that Cheng Xiao wouldn't give him a friendly look once he went inside.

He was destined to encounter several minor setbacks.

However, with Wu Xuanyi around, this woman's emotional intelligence fluctuates, but she is not a bad person at heart.

In private, she is the kind-hearted type who is not good with words.

He trusted Wu Xuanyi, believing that with her around, she could act as a mediator.

"bang bang bang"

"Please come in"

Cheng Xiao cleared his throat and spoke in a very serious tone.

Gu Jingyi pushed open the door and entered, only to see Cheng Xiao, dressed in a white T-shirt and floral skirt, arms crossed, with a cold expression.

Beside her, Wu Xuanyi, wearing a light yellow dress, was quite friendly when she saw Gu Jingyi arrive.

"Hey? Jingyi! Why are you so late? Come on over. Xiaoxiao has been waiting for you for ages, she thought you weren't coming..."

Wu Xuanyi's words immediately deflated the momentum Cheng Xiao had managed to build up.

"Xuanyi!"

She glared at Wu Xuanyi with some annoyance, her chest heaving.

"Ah...sorry, sorry"

Wu Xuanyi's smile was so sweet it made one's heart flutter.

Even a sweet girl can't make you angry, let alone Wu Xuanyi and Cheng Xiao who have a close personal relationship.

In 2017, when Cheng Xiao was at the height of her popularity, she appeared on a variety show with friends, and the only person she invited was Wu Xuanyi.

The two seemed very natural together at the hotel, which suggests they are close friends.

"never mind…"

Cheng Xiao tilted his head back, looking somewhat unhappy.

She looked at Gu Jingyi, waiting for him to step off the stage first.

Gu Jingyi almost laughed; this question seemed a bit too much.

He and Cheng Xiao were just friends, the kind of friends who kissed in bed.

Just as he was about to go deeper, Cheng Xiao suddenly retreated.

It was a sudden, abrupt breakup that left him completely bewildered.

That phrase, "Let's take a break and cool off for a while," lasted for almost half a year.

Half a year has passed; the daylily has already gone cold.

Gu Jingyi felt that after seeing Cheng Xiao, the thought of starting anew vanished from his mind.

Even his "bedmate" has a sensible and considerate Tongtong.

To be honest, Cheng Xiao and Xiao Tian are quite similar in appearance and physique.

Gu Jingyi isn't Kunkun; he doesn't love "playing basketball" that much.

Although Xiao Tian also has a bad temper, she always puts him first. Even if he really does something wrong, Xiao Tian would rather betray the world than hurt Gu Jingyi.

That's the destructive power of the "white moonlight" (a metaphor for unattainable love).

He was Tian Xiwei's most beautiful fantasy throughout her adolescence, the moment he appeared there. She didn't need to do anything; Tian Xiwei herself could "explain the classics" for Gu Jingyi.

The two of them stood there, and the atmosphere became increasingly awkward.

Wu Xuanyi could only smile and try to smooth things over, occasionally mentioning Gu Jingyi and then Cheng Xiao, keeping herself extremely busy.

"Xuanyi, do you have any plans to release a single in the second half of the year?"

Gu Jingyi suddenly asked.

"Huh? I think so. Rocket Girls will release a full album, and each member will have a song. I plan to write the lyrics myself, and the company will find someone to compose the music for the fans. Why are you suddenly asking this? What's wrong?"

Wu Xuanyi looked at Gu Jingyi with some confusion and bewilderment.

"That's not what I'm asking you. I'm asking if you yourself have it."

“No…” Wu Xuanyi said, somewhat disappointed.

"If there really is one, it won't be until next year, and the US will release its mini-album first. I'll be a little after her..."

"Okay, then I'll write a song for you."

The unexpected windfall left Wu Xuanyi feeling somewhat dizzy.

"Really?"

"Oh, and also, I might release an English song next year, and I need someone to sing the intro. Your voice is sweet and very distinctive, so I'll write a song for you as payment."

"A new song? Gu Jingyi, are you going to conquer Europe and America?"

Wu Xuanyi's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Gu Jingyi with a mixture of admiration and envy.

Indeed, there is indeed limited space for domestic singers...

"How could that be? It's just a new attempt. 'Poetry in Drops' is a pop dance song with a lively melody."

After chatting for a while, Gu Jingyi pushed open the door and left.

Cheng Xiao's face was extremely embarrassed. She glanced at Wu Xuanyi, who was still grinning foolishly, and suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

"Xuanyi, when did you two become so close?"

(End of this chapter)