Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 145 The Woman in the Scene
"Huh?" Wu Xuanyi, who was still grinning foolishly while holding her phone, became unhappy upon hearing Cheng Xiao's words.

She narrowed her eyes and glanced at Cheng Xiao, her expression instantly turning cold.

"Xiaoxiao, are you interrogating me?"

More than being questioned, Wu Xuanyi felt wronged by her sisters' doubts.

Honey, did I ever say I liked Gu Jingyi?
Please, I've been creating opportunities for you two the whole time. I've been helping you out and easing the tension.

What's wrong? Gu Jingyi finally came in. You've been holding back the whole time, unable to let go of your pride and wait for him to coax you.

Do you really think you two are in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship? Do you really think this is still the South Korean era when popularity wasn't that different?

Please, sir. Times have changed. Gu Jingyi is now an absolute top star.

A precipitous cold war lasting several months—what else could it be but a complete severing of ties!
Wu Xuanyi even felt that Gu Jingyi was already quite presentable today.

If it were her, she would probably recreate the famous scene from the movie "Ka Huang" when she saw her ex-wife's sister.

Even though they were practically next to each other, they turned their heads away and pretended not to see each other. They only spoke to the middleman, completely ignoring the other party.

Gu Jingyi has already given Cheng Xiao a way out, allowing him to save face.

Cheng Xiao was just being coy and awkward, and then people blamed her as soon as they left?
Wu Xuanyi's fingers trembled with anger. She regretted getting involved in this mess.

Cheng Xiao's momentum faltered, and she realized that her attitude just now was problematic.

However, he remained stubborn, clinging to his pride.

"I want to know when you and him became so familiar, when you two were just exchanging a few words at a party before. As for the interrogation..."

Cheng Xiao bit her lower lip. "If that's how you feel, there's nothing I can do about it."

"Fine, it's my fault for meddling. From now on, I won't concern myself with your affairs."

Wu Xuanyi waved her hand, her freshly done manicure flashing under the light. The dazzling rhinestones gave Cheng Xiao a chilling feeling.

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that after saying those words, the ominous premonition in her heart grew stronger and stronger.

It seems that doing this only pushes Gu Jingyi and her few friends further and further away.

She wanted to say something to calm things down, but couldn't get the words out. She just bit her lower lip anxiously; these unconscious behaviors seemed to have returned somehow.

"Is Xuanyi here?"

A female voice came from the door of the waiting room; the voice sounded somewhat familiar.

"Here I am"

Wu Xuanyi pushed open the door and smiled warmly when she saw Xie Na.

"Master, what brings you here?"

She hugged Sheena and unconsciously nuzzled against her neck.

Xie Na smiled even more gently, "The director said there's an opening dance that needs a stage for a male and female duet. You and Jingyi will be performing together, so get ready."

"Huh?" Wu Xuanyi was somewhat surprised.

"Are you really going to have me go? Aren't you worried about rumors spreading about Gu Jingyi? Sister Na, if we do this for publicity, won't we offend his team...?"

There were rumors about Gu Jingyi when she went to support the third stage of Produce 101 China and they collaborated on the song "Shiny".

Fortunately, both teams acted swiftly, containing the spread of the rumors within a controllable range.

"No, there shouldn't be any problems with Jingyi."

Seeing how considerate Wu Xuanyi was, Xie Na's smile became more and more genuine.

"Don't worry, it's just a simple collaboration stage. There's still an hour before you go on stage, and with your and his abilities, there shouldn't be any problems."

What song?

"You've definitely heard of 'Heart Attraction.' It's been super popular on short video platforms lately."

Shena said with great certainty.

"I've definitely heard it; it's hard not to hear this song."

"Okay, then come with me."

Cheng Xiao was completely ignored by Xie Na, while Wu Xuanyi was very popular in 18 and 19. There are two actresses in the Chinese entertainment industry with tens of millions of views on her videos, and some marketing accounts are even calling her a "top-tier actress born in 95".

It wasn't until Yu Shuxin appeared in "Youth With You 2" and Rou Si emerged that the title of "top 95 actresses" was transferred to them.

TV stations have always been very pragmatic; popularity determines status and screen time.

Cheng Xiao lowered his head, his fingers clenched tightly in his palms, his face ashen.

……

"Jingyi, you stand over here, facing Xuanyi across from you. Then you sing and walk, and since the backup dancers were next to you at the beginning, you play a couple in the early stages of a relationship, then head towards the center of the stage."

"Xuanyi, yours too. Then, when we get to the center of the stage, there needs to be some interaction as the lyrics progress. Like..."

Backstage at "Happy Camp," the production team sent the stage director to explain the opening stage to Gu Jingyi and Wu Xuanyi.

I don't know when it started, but domestic variety shows have all changed. They've gone from focusing on creating quality content to fabricating on-screen couples for popularity and buzz.

The image of the "Lu Di Couple" is so deeply ingrained in people's minds that nowadays, many variety shows in China try to pair up young, popular celebrities with one another.

The show "Happy Camp" naturally wanted to take advantage of Gu Jingyi's presence and use the guise of stage collaboration to create a romantic pairing. After the show was recorded, they released information from informants on various platforms.

The goal was to make the show a hit even before it aired, garnering significant attention.

As soon as the directors from Hunan TV saw the two of them, they started sketching and writing on the script.

I have a feeling that this time, it will break the ratings record for "Happy Camp" since it started airing in 2018.

Gu Jingyi and Wu Xuanyi's collaboration stage was also pre-recorded. A pre-recorded stage means that the performance was recorded in advance. After the audience entered the venue, the pre-prepared audio track was played.

The people on stage only need to lip-sync to create a pink, bubbly atmosphere.

All the stages of "Happy Camp" are pre-recorded, starting in 2012. For each episode, the host team changes into special outfits and sings their opening theme song, "Happy Start," on stage.

Pre-recorded is one thing, but these people were packaged to make it sound like they were singing live.

The audience couldn't tell the difference without carefully listening to the audio tracks; they only recognized it based on the exaggerated expressions of the hosts.

"Happy vacation, you know what I mean. Nothing's too hard to let go of..."

When they sang these lyrics, Xie Na and He Jiong's expressions were so exaggerated and serious.

It's quite normal for them to be on Hunan TV, after all, they've produced feature films for two phenomenal variety shows, "Happy Camp" and "Where Are We Going, Dad?".

Gu Jingyi felt that no matter how outrageous the actions were, he could remain calm.

Actually, for idols like him and Wu Xuanyi who came from talent shows, a simple opening dance doesn't need to be pre-recorded at all.

But most of the people who come to Hunan TV for promotion are actors.

Everyone has their own area of ​​expertise, and not everyone can be as successful in two fields as Gu Jingyi.

Han Geng, one of the original top idols, only sang passably; his dancing was far superior. As for his acting, it was just so-so, not enough to make the audience too distracted.

This is why, as soon as Gu Jingyi appeared, even though "Idol Producer" had only aired one round, the top luxury brand Dior was already buying shares in the show.

With such strength and such conditions, they are unmatched in the entire Chinese entertainment industry.

Anyone with even a slight understanding of the market can see that Gu Jingyi is destined for great things.

The pre-recording took the two of them less than ten minutes to complete, and now they are standing by the stage, listening to the stage director's instructions for rehearsals.

"okay, I get it."

Pre-recording the stage also has its advantages, allowing the production team to design the stage and props more meticulously.

Right after the dance director finished explaining the key points, the stage props were all set up.

Gu Jingyi listened to the key points he was making and nodded to indicate that he had remembered them.

When they stood on the stage again, the stage, which had been decorated, was now decorated in a warm and sweet way.

The song the two were going to sing was "Heart Attraction," which was released on Gu Jingyi's first mini-album, "Like the Wind."

It's been released for two or three months, and the long-tail effect is still there.

In many karaoke bars, "Heart Attraction" has become a must-sing song for young couples. It's requested just as frequently as classic love songs like "Little Dimples" and "Plain Face."

The original idea for the toilet station was to approach Gu Jingyi and ask him if he had any "used songs" that could be used for a duo performance.

In fact, Gu Jingyi has quite a lot of such "unused songs" in his repertoire. Songs like "Dangerous Party" and "Infatuated" are very suitable for a duet performance.

In later generations, many male and female artists in Hi6 used this song as their entrance music. The dance was so captivating it made people blush and their hearts race; it was overflowing with hormones.

Gu Jingyi could easily release a filler album with these songs; they are all good songs, but their popularity on short videos has somewhat diminished their appeal.

However, he could conveniently sign a collaboration agreement with Yin Fu to promote another mini-album specifically for Yin Fu. This would help Yin Fu break through the competition with Man Jiao in the market and gain more popularity among young people.

Add a hand gesture dance to these songs, and Gu Jingyi will find a few young idols to collaborate on the hand gesture dance.

They could easily adapt and promote the "Challenge," which would later become a sensation, to their local context in China.

These songs were all bargaining chips that Gu Jingyi wanted to use as bargaining chips in exchange for musical notes, so of course he couldn't just give them to the declining "Happy Camp" so easily.

In 18, the rivalry between Yin Fu and Man Jiao was still fierce, with both sides burning through their budgets. Man Jiao signed top female star Dilraba Dilmurat for a hefty sum, while Yin Fu was also locked in a tough battle with Gu Jingyi.

Gu Jingyi's tone was ambiguous; he was waiting for Yin Fu to panic and buy in at the bottom.

In 2018, the initial videos of the music notes mostly relied on scenery and songs, and videos with substantial content were mostly slow-paced.

In the initial battle, Slow Foot had the advantage. Gu Jingyi wasn't in a hurry; his entry into Yin Fu was definitely not just for the signing fee.

Then write a proposal and include the "Challenge" suggestion. Also, bring a few addictive song demos and have Lin Ze help him negotiate terms.

If Gu Jingyi could exchange the signing fee for shares plus profit sharing, he could just sit back and wait to win.

Gu Jingyi wasn't worried about Yin Fu plagiarizing his ideas; even the best ideas need someone to implement them.

After all, he is the "national center" and the "giant center," with his own popularity far exceeding that of any other idol. His teammates and friends are also leaders in the field.

If Fuyin wants to maximize the effectiveness of this plan, she really has no choice but to seek out Gu Jingyi.

So when Happy Camp mentioned creating collaborative stage tracks, Gu Jingyi's first choice was her own song.

He wouldn't do someone else's work for his own benefit; singing his own songs to generate buzz for himself is the right approach.

The song "Heart Attraction" isn't particularly difficult for female vocals. A previous duet version was performed by Gu Jingyi and Wang Xinling during Milkball's first tour. This time, with Wu Xuanyi, there's no need to specifically distinguish between male and female vocal parts.

The live concert version is the correct answer; just copy it.

The female vocals aren't difficult; there aren't many high notes in the entire song. Wu Xuanyi is known for her sweet voice, which gives her a significant advantage in this song.

Gu Jingyi's singing ability goes without saying; the phrase "a rising star in the Chinese entertainment industry" was coined specifically for him. What started as casual observers marveling at his versatility was quickly noticed by his more discerning fans.

The phrase "God's child is dancing," which the fans of Jingfei (Gu Jingyi) lavishly requisitioned, is similar to the tagline "God's child is dancing," which they won back through a fierce battle with Kai's fans. It has become a unique and memorable adjective describing Gu Jingyi.

"Both of you performed very well, let's go through it again."

This is what the meticulous stage director said.

It's actually quite common to record several takes before and after the performance. Pre-recording the stage is a way to achieve the best possible stage effect.

The song "Heart Attraction" is mostly sung while standing, with very few dance moves.

This was done both to facilitate recording and to avoid upsetting either side's fans.

At the very end of the dance, the two of them followed the pre-rehearsed movements with their eyes. Wu Xuanyi was about to be pulled into Gu Jingyi's arms, and she looked down into his eyes, gazing at him with deep affection.

"This take is great. With a little more preparation, we can record the final, complete performance."

The dance director took a look at the results and was very satisfied.

He nodded, making the final decision.

The audience was already packed with fans while the two were recording, and they just watched, their faces turning ashen, as their idol recorded this kind of performance with another woman.

Although there was very little physical contact on stage, the ambiguity was almost entirely conveyed through eye contact and the final frozen pose.

But fans just couldn't suppress their jealousy, and even felt a sense of absurdity at being cheated on.

Why should Jingyi dance such an ambiguous duet with another woman on stage? Wouldn't it be better to use puppets instead, just like in the last concert?
Ugh, this is so annoying!
If the fans feel this way, one can only imagine how Cheng Xiao, who is sitting in the waiting room watching the broadcast of this stage, must feel.

On stage, the soft lights focused on Gu Jingyi and Wu Xuanyi. As the intro began, the gentle and cheerful melody instantly raised the atmosphere.

"I'm a bit far from you, and my view is blocked. I have to stand on tiptoe to pretend I'm closer." Gu Jingyi started singing first, and her acting skills were also integrated into the stage performance.

His gaze towards Wu Xuanyi was so tender it seemed to melt into water.

His peach blossom eyes were full of affection, and his gaze toward Wu Xuanyi was gentle and indulgent.

Ambiguity and affection flowed between their eyes, even though they had rehearsed it several times and she had gradually become less sensitive to it. But during the final rehearsal before going on stage, Wu Xuanyi's heart was still burned.

She had always had a good impression of Gu Jingyi, and the two got along very well.

Especially after returning to China, before the finale of "Produce 101 China," Gu Jingyi even posted on Weibo that he had bought a Tencent membership card specifically for Wu Xuanyi, which automatically added 1210 votes to her account, which moved Wu Xuanyi even more.

Before the final of Produce Camp 2019, Wu Xuanyi was criticized as a "pretty face".

Meng Meizhi also had some people in the industry forwarding her Weibo posts to support her, while Wu Xuanyi's side was outnumbered and outmatched.

Gu Jingyi's seemingly insignificant action prompted some of the Consorts to casually cast a vote or two for Wu Xuanyi.

Although the number of votes was not large, it still amounted to a considerable number given the overwhelming number of fans of top-tier celebrities.

Wu Xuanyi will always remember this kindness.

It started off well, with a touch of tenderness that was truly touching. As their relationship grew increasingly harmonious, the ending of the story naturally became complex and unpredictable, leaving the reader with a turbulent feeling.

Wu Xuanyi's heart suddenly raced, and the tips of her ears were subtly tinged with rouge.

Despite her top idol status, she maintained her composure and suppressed her excitement to continue performing on stage.

When the song reaches the chorus, "I think this is the law of attraction, finding what you want to say to me. Together, you and I have slowly grown closer."

As the dancers around him began to dance the waltz in groups, Gu Jingyi took Wu Xuanyi's hand and, in a gentlemanly manner, circled around her.

The two were less than ten centimeters apart, and at this distance, Wu Xuanyi experienced the overwhelming visual impact of Gu Jingyi's appearance for the first time at such close range.

His facial features are large and have little negative space. His features are well-defined, which is a great advantage at close range.

As the rehearsal concluded, Wu Xuanyi was embraced by Gu Jingyi.

She almost forgot to manage her facial expressions, but thankfully she managed to control herself.

Because of what Cheng Xiao said to her in the waiting room earlier, and also for the sake of the show's effect.

When Wu Xuanyi looked up at Gu Jingyi, she gently tapped his cheek with her fingertip.

Only the final accompaniment of "Heart Attraction" still echoes, making this scene even more beautiful and moving.

In the waiting room, on the wall-mounted TV, Wu Xuanyi gently raised her head and looked at Gu Jingyi with affection.

The director, who had anticipated this, switched the camera to that spot, faithfully capturing the scene.

In the waiting room, Cheng Xiao listened to the repeated "No" and "Stay away from my brother" coming from the wall-mounted TV.

Her mood didn't improve because of this; instead, she became even more uneasy and even a little irritable.

As everyone knows, wall-mounted TVs broadcast pre-recorded live performances. So when these noises clearly reached Cheng Xiao's ears, her expression turned unpleasant.

How dare these two be so arrogant in front of so many fans?
Her expression was somewhat embarrassed. At this moment, the assistant looked up and saw that Gu Jingyi and Wu Xuanyi were on the screen.

"They were guests; this was all for the sake of the show."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiao felt his body tense up instantly.

Guest? This was the first time Cheng Xiao had ever heard this term.

The company only knows that she and Gu Jingyi are friends, and they are unaware of any further intimate relationship.

Although the two of them didn't actually develop a deeper relationship, it still caused Cheng Xiao a dull ache in her heart.

She withdrew her gaze from the stage performance on the wall-mounted television and smiled with a touch of elegance: "I know, I just think Wu Xuanyi's acting is very good."

Let alone what Cheng Xiao thought when she caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of her eye; she was furious but pretended nothing was wrong.

Especially when she saw Wu Xuanyi poking Gu Jingyi's cheek, her pupils suddenly shrank, and her eyes widened to their limit in an instant, she was extremely jealous.

Damn it, we're like sisters, all close. You and your girlfriends are playing tricks on each other, backstabbing each other?

Cheng Xiao was furious, both angry and heartbroken.

Gu Jingyi and Wu Xuanyi were unaware that after they stepped off the stage, countless people greeted them and talked about today's performance.

Amidst praises like "Jingyi was amazing today" and "The two are a perfect match,"...

Wu Xuanyi looked at Gu Jingyi's meaningful gaze, her eyes darting away, refusing to turn her head and meet his eyes, pretending to be a coward.

What did I do? What else could it be!
She touched Gu Jingyi!
Although it wasn't a particularly special physical contact—the touch of fingertips to cheek—the cool temperature allowed Gu Jingyi to clearly feel the sensation from the fingertips.

Gu Jingyi was quite surprised and startled by this scene that wasn't in the rehearsal.

However, he reacted quickly, and to avoid being seen as an impromptu addition, he amplified his smile, making the fans think it was a stage effect.

The stage manager applauded and cheered from the audience, and a chorus of exclamations arose from both the stage and the audience.

The sudden surge of support relieved Wu Xuanyi of the embarrassment she had felt in her impulsive moment.

After the stage pre-recording ended, Teacher He tried to smooth things over.

The two main figures involved have stepped down.

"I'm sorry, but I thought it would make the show more entertaining this way."

Wu Xuanyi's heart skipped a beat, and then she apologized to Gu Jingyi.

While one might think that doing so would enhance the show's entertainment value, it remains to be seen whether it was for the sake of the show, to provoke Cheng Xiao, or simply a product of a sudden surge of affection.

Only Wu Xuanyi herself probably knows her true thoughts.

"It's nothing," Gu Jingyi said, not taking it to heart.

That gesture was at most a little ambiguous; it wasn't a kiss in front of the fans.

He was only a little surprised at first, but now that he's off the stage, he doesn't feel anything is wrong.

Anyway, he's a grown man, so he won't suffer any loss.

Gu Jingyi's frankness left Wu Xuanyi somewhat at a loss.

Her expression froze as she walked with Gu Jingyi.

Are you thinking about the effect of the show?

Gu Jingyi smiled and continued the conversation.

But soon after, he delivered a somewhat fatal reply to Wu Xuanyi.

"It's okay, Dilraba isn't that petty."

What if Cheng Xiao finds out?

The two spoke almost simultaneously.

"Eh?"

After realizing something was wrong, Wu Xuanyi's expression changed from conflicted and distressed to shocked.

"That's exactly what you think, and I have three girlfriends like that."

Gu Jingyi's frankness was terrifying; Wu Xuanyi covered her mouth in surprise after hearing this gossip.

"Is it true or false? You didn't just release this fake news to get rid of Xiaoxiao, did you? Just to make her give up on you?"

Wu Xuanyi has quite a vivid imagination and quickly came up with this possibility.

"Do you think I would joke about something like this? A boy's innocence is also very important."

Gu Jingyi smiled without saying a word, just watching her.

"So, does Xiaoxiao know or not? Have you thought about what to do?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Xuanyi's expression became conflicted and distressed. Her face fell, and she looked listless.

"What do you mean, 'what to do'? Aren't you here to relay the message?"

Gu Jingyi was somewhat surprised and looked at Wu Xuanyi speechlessly.

"Wu Xuanyi, you wouldn't want to see your best friend fall deeply in love, would you?"

Upon hearing these words, Wu Xuanyi felt as if she had lost her parents. A shiver ran through her body; she genuinely believed Cheng Xiao would do such a thing.

"Wu Xuanyi, you wouldn't want your best friend to become a convicted criminal, would you?"

Gu Jingyi continued to press the issue, and these words immediately rendered her unable to think or speak.

She just looked at him with a conflicted expression, "Did you plan to use me to relay a message a long time ago?"

"Don't say that. We're friends, why are you starting to doubt my motives?"

Gu Jingyi glanced at her and saw that her face was full of confusion and entanglement.

With his natural quickness to detect emotions, he discovered that Wu Xuanyi did not criticize his philandering at all.

She just felt really unsure how to bring it up with Cheng Xiao, and was feeling rather flustered.

Wow, is this girl really that nice?

Gu Jingyi pondered for a moment, then stared at Wu Xuanyi's face for a while.

A somewhat absurd thought arose: Could she have a crush on me? Shouldn't her first reaction to finding out I'm a jerk be to stand with her best friend and condemn me together?
Why did Wu Xuanyi make that ambiguous gesture on stage? Does she really like him?
But he's a married man. Does she have some kind of unusual fetish?
The woman is currently guilty?
Is this immoral? Or covetousness?
No wonder they're best friends; their tastes are exactly the same!

Gu Jingyi thought for a moment and then shook his head. It shouldn't be that bad.

He's not some kind of succubus; thinking like that is too naive.

Little did she know that Wu Xuanyi's feelings of grievance surged up suddenly, and her mood became increasingly depressed.

What is this supposed to be...?

Although she couldn't control her surging emotions and, in a moment of madness, poked Gu Jingyi's face.

On stage, I didn't think about all that.

But all of this was done without her realizing it, out of pure sincerity!

On the stage of ambiguous entanglement, any goodwill can be amplified infinitely.

This is one of the reasons why viewers often speculate whether the two are dating.

"Wu Xuanyi, I've noticed your courage fluctuates. Isn't it always like this on stage..."

A soft whisper rang in her ear.

Wu Xuanyi was startled and pushed Gu Jingyi, "Hey, don't talk nonsense. One thing at a time, I was just doing it for work."

"Although the stage effects were indeed quite good, but..."

Gu Jingyi didn't rush to argue with her, but deliberately put on a conflicted look.

This unexpected twist made Wu Xuanyi's heart start pounding.

Her eyes flickered slightly. "I already said it's for work. You're really something, what are you thinking?"

"That's good"

Seeing that Gu Jingyi didn't press the matter further, Wu Xuanyi hadn't even had a chance to catch her breath.

Then Gu Jingyi asked again, "As a friend, you'll help me, right?"

"Of course, we're friends."

Wu Xuanyi breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he no longer mentioned her loss of composure.

It was like a surrender; she grasped at a straw.

"We're friends, I'll help you."

"You're such a good friend, Xuan Yi~"

Gu Jingyi raised his eyebrows and patted her head approvingly.

Wu Xuanyi lowered her head in a cooperative manner, making Gu Jingyi's hand land more comfortably.

Unbeknownst to anyone, her cheeks suddenly flushed crimson. A hint of excitement flashed in her lowered eyes; she thoroughly enjoyed being treated this way by Gu Jingyi.

(End of this chapter)