Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 184 "Ex-wife's Sister" Blocks the Door

South Korea is truly a magical place. Gu Jingyi was completely immersed in the charms of these two K-pop female idols, renowned for their beauty. He was almost lost in a blissful state, forgetting all about home.

Compared to China, Gu Jingyi seems to be unleashing his true nature.

Yoona is currently on tour in Southeast Asia with Girls' Generation, and no one can control Gu Jingyi at this time.

He galloped across this small island nation like a runaway horse.

For a moment, they lost all sense of day and night.

"Tuk Tuk Tuk"

The phone kept ringing, making Gu Jingyi very uneasy.

"Stupid! Turn off the alarm."

Jung Soo-jung spoke in perfect American English, saying that she had been tormented by Gu Jingyi the night before and felt terrible.

Like a dried-up fish, dazed and confused on the shore.

"It's only a little past three, Gu Jingyi, don't you need to rest..."

Krystal Jung picked up her phone and glanced at the time.

She was instantly furious again; she had only slept for less than an hour…

Fortunately, f(x) is already semi-retired, and Krystal Jung doesn't have much work for the time being.

She can continue to sleep in, getting up whenever she wants.

Gu Jingyi didn't get such good treatment; he had to go perform on a music show...

The three major music shows in South Korea are Inkigayo, Music Bank, and M!C., with M!C. having the most pre-recorded tracks.

A portal website once conducted a survey, and it was found that approximately 95% of the pre-recorded tracks for M!C! were...

Mnet has absolute editing rights over pre-recorded videos, allowing them to replace audio tracks (edit the sound or change the CD source) and adjust camera angles to downplay members who are not performing well.

It can also be used to cut out mistakes when idol groups make mistakes during their music performances.

Pre-recording usually involves several takes. The advantage is that the VJ can manipulate the joystick to capture the idol's full view, close-up, and audience reactions. Then, multiple versions are spliced ​​together in the control room to create a "pseudo-live broadcast."

Various music shows claim to be "live," but in reality, the only truly live segments are the announcement of the rankings and the winner's acceptance speech; the reactions of the nominees are pre-recorded.

Information cocoons still existed in 2018, probably because the second-generation K-pop groups were too strong. So much so that when the fans of the fourth-generation groups, who were "half-live and half-permanent," even a single "full-live" performance was something to brag about, those who had followed the old boy and girl groups lamented that "K-pop's strength has declined."

In this situation, "pre-recorded" is labeled as "lacking in skill," much like "studio recording," leaving much to the imagination.

Who knows if their skills are too poor and they need auto-tuning and editing to save the day...

Various music shows have also experienced "pre-recorded" mishaps, such as M!C.

A prime example is when Jeongyeon's wrestling scene was cut during TWICE's music show performance in 2016.

After the "Once" fans spotted it in the photos taken by the fan site admins, they left messages on the Mnet official website to inquire.

Mnet publicly stated, "This is a normal thing to do in order to optimize the stage effects."

The limited-time group "Wang Na Wan," which debuted at the end of the talent show "Produce 202," was also embroiled in a "pre-recording" controversy in 2017.

The song "Forgot to Take the Bowl" replaced the original CD audio with a pre-recorded track. After the performance was released, fans compared the audio and found that there was a 97% similarity.

In 2018, Red Velvet's "Bad Boy" was confirmed to have been "pre-recorded" because the audience's screams were found to be the same as the previous week's.

Goodness, for three years in a row. Every year, the groups that were exposed as having "pre-recorded" on Mnet have had close ties to Gu Jingyi.

Twice and Gu Jingyi are old acquaintances; Red Velvet debuted earlier, in 2014. Gu Jingyi only interacted with Yeri at an exchange event for trainees from the "Big Three" (Twice, 2016, and 2017).

However, this year there is a new member, Joy, who just finished talking with Gu Jingyi yesterday. She is also a member of Red Velvet.

As for forgetting to take the bowl, Gu Jingyi remembered that this hadn't happened when he debuted in his previous life.

It seems that after Gu Jingyi withdrew from the competition, the lineup of "Forgot to Take the Bowl" changed from "two main vocalists" to "one main vocalist".

And some songs were missing Gu Jingyi, the "main vocalist," who provided backing vocals. Forgetting to bring a bowl meant having to modify the audio, which was truly hilarious.

Whether An Junying regrets it or not, Gu Jingyi certainly found it quite amusing.

In his previous life, he debuted in the group "Forgot to Take the Bowl," and he didn't have a good relationship with any of the members.

Lai Kuan-lin is from Taipei. He is prone to emotional outbursts and loves to talk about all the hardships and exhaustion he has experienced since becoming an idol.

Gu Jingyi thought at the time that this person was not worth getting close to, and later his guess was indeed confirmed.

The two returned to China together to develop their careers, and Lai Kuan-lin secured good resources thanks to the capital behind him.

Lai Kuan-lin was able to become the male lead in the remake of the classic foreign romance film "First Love" as soon as he returned to Taiwan.

Lai Kuan-lin, who also holds a K-pop green card, was able to land the lead role in a youth film with a guaranteed script right from his debut.

Gu Jingyi had no film or television resources, so he had to appear on variety shows to gain exposure. He could only take supporting roles in small dramas, gradually building up his popularity with the audience.

Lai Kuan-lin is clearly less popular than Gu Jing-yi in the group, but he has a good company.

Gu Jingyi felt that he was a gender-swapped version of "the hope of the whole village," with the same terrible singing and dancing skills and the same appalling acting ability.

They also love to argue with their fans, leaving them embarrassed.

They clearly have excellent platforms, yet they don't know how to cherish them. They don't know how to hone their acting skills; they only care about making quick money.

It's normal that there was no further buzz afterward.

Lai Kuan-lin's most popular day was the day he left the entertainment industry to become a director and betrayed his former idol.

Gu Jingyi earned his position step by step through hard work, and before his rebirth, he was already a "rising star".

However, he completely gave up music in his previous life, but in this life he is developing both music and film.

Looking out the car window, those familiar street scenes receded one by one.

This stirred up those memories in Gu Jingyi's heart, and his thoughts drifted away with the wind.

"Jingyi, we'll also be doing an interview with TikTok today."

Lin Ze patted Gu Jingyi's arm, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Butter" has become a streaming sensation, and the song has long been a popular background music track on TikTok. Lately, if you swipe through seven or eight videos on TikTok, nearly half of them use "Butter" as the background music.

Douyin was naturally overjoyed, as Gu Jingyi was already the spokesperson for the highest-ranking celebrities in China. As a male star with a K-pop background, Gu Jingyi had many advantages in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, that local celebrities didn't have.

He has many die-hard fans who are good at generating data for Gu Jingyi and are also capable of spending money and fighting.

If a fledgling "foreign Douyin" brand can also benefit from the spokesperson's influence and leverage the "celebrity effect" to achieve successful promotion.

That would be wonderful...

"Okay, I'll go wait for them in the waiting room."

Gu Jingyi closed his eyes to rest, gently tapping his fingers together.

He certainly wouldn't find it troublesome, since Lin Ze had already reached an agreement with "TikTok".

Despite being a "foreigner," he also acquired a small share.

The treatment of one's own business is naturally no different from that of a "own son".

Gu Jingyi will then focus on TikTok, a level of support he won't receive on Douyin.

Today, Gu Jingyi will be filming an official onboarding video for TikTok, and also singing a song casually.

He then gave another interview and answered related questions.

The whole process is quite complicated and takes a lot of effort to film.

So Lin Ze drove Gu Jingyi to a high-end beauty salon in Cheongdam-dong for makeup and styling.

South Koreans are obsessed with dewy, radiant skin, which is something Gu Jingyi finds incredibly difficult to achieve.

Fortunately, this beauty salon, which has long collaborated with top South Korean idols, has excellent aesthetic sense and doesn't mass-produce "dewy skin" for celebrities.

Gu Jingyi possessed a strikingly handsome face with sharp features and a distinctly Chinese appearance. He was naturally incompatible with the makeup style prevalent in South Korea, and it was impossible for Gu Jingyi to force himself to adapt to it.

He learned about this beauty salon from Krystal Jung.

As expected of a high-end beauty salon, Gu Jingyi could smell the aromatherapy scent in the air as soon as he entered the store.

The interior design also uses a sophisticated gray color scheme, which looks simple yet elegant. Some artworks hanging on the walls add a touch of artistry.

Even the rest area is furnished with soft leather sofas, coffee tables, snacks, and a bookshelf piled high with fashion magazines.

The celebrities were already there waiting at this time. South Korean celebrities usually go out without makeup, and they don't look as radiant as the photos taken by fansites in real life. In fact, due to long-term hair dyeing and staying up late, their skin is rough, their hair is dry and brittle, and their overall condition is not good.

Some people are even in worse condition than ordinary people.

Gu Jingyi glanced at it briefly before preparing to go upstairs for makeup and styling.

Suddenly, a surprised female voice rang out, and she asked excitedly, "Is that Jingyi? What brings you here today?!"

Gu Jingyi turned his head and saw that it was Jennie from Black Pink.

At first, this woman and her group members were huddled in a corner of the sofa, dozing off under small blankets.

So at first, Gu Jingyi didn't notice her when his gaze swept across the room.

"Jennie, it's been a long time."

Gu Jingyi smiled professionally and greeted the "Queen of Controversy".

His gaze, however, unconsciously drifted to Kim Jisoo, who was lying on Luo Jie's lap with a small blanket covering her and catching up on sleep not far away.

Her smooth, black hair fell over Luo Jie's legs, and the left side of her cheek was slightly red from the pressure.

His eyes are a bit bluish-black, it looks like he hasn't been resting well lately.

Perhaps because the two were too close, even though Gu Jingyi only looked at her for a few seconds before looking away, Jennie still caught him. She glanced at Kim Jisoo and said meaningfully, "Jisoo unnie is very popular; quite a few male idols are chasing after her."

Gu Jingyi chuckled and pointed to his face, asking, "Jennie, do you think someone with a face like mine would lack suitors?"

Jennie paused, realizing that she had indeed come to greet Gu Jingyi with the intention of acting as a mediator.

No one knows better than Kim Ji-soo how much she likes Gu Jingyi.

"Congratulations to Jennie on securing a Chanel endorsement. She has the best fashion treatment among active female K-pop idols."

Gu Jingyi didn't dwell on it and casually offered a compliment.

Jennie is known as "Human Chanel," and her fashion resources are not only the highest in the group but also currently the best in K-pop.

Jennie's fashion resources are truly exceptional, having become a Chanel global ambassador in 2018.

"How can anyone compare to a superstar like you who owns six luxury brands?" Jennie's mood improved a bit when Chanel was mentioned.

She spoke in a light tone, but there was a hint of envy in her eyes as she looked at Gu Jingyi.

"Jisoo Xi, is she in contact with Dior?"

Gu Jingyi recalled the Black Pink news he had seen before, noting that he had seen many Dior elements in Jisoo's airport fashion.

Dior also immediately acknowledged each repost.

This is what's commonly known as "licking the lipstick," meaning that a brand's endorsement doesn't guarantee a title. Only when a luxury brand promotes an artist or sponsors their public events does the artist enter the luxury brand's evaluation period.

Kim Jisoo is only taking the first step in a long journey; there is still a long way to go before she can relinquish her title.

"It's rare that you still pay attention to these things."

Jennie gave Gu Jingyi a strange look. In her opinion, Gu Jingyi, a sophisticated egoist, would never suddenly pay attention to things that were unrelated to himself.

Are these two going to get together again? Jennie was a little curious, but she didn't have any intention of stopping them.

She herself is no different...

"I'll mention it to Dior during Fashion Week."

Gu Jingyi said confidently that his contract renewal with Dior was now a "sure thing".

Given Dior's fondness for him, giving Kim Jisoo a generic title like "Beauty Ambassador for a Korean Brand" would be a piece of cake.

Dior's main focus isn't on cosmetics, but on ready-to-wear clothing.

Moreover, Kim Jisoo has always been Dior's type of look, and her cool and aloof temperament matches the brand's image very well.

Based on her previous trajectory, Kim Jisoo will not officially move from being a "prospective admirer" to entering the brand evaluation period until next year. In 2019, she made her first appearance at a pop-up store wearing a dark green dress and was hailed as the "Dior Princess".

It wasn't until 2020, as Black Pink gained international recognition, and after a trial period, that they officially signed with Dior to become South Korea's beauty ambassador. Then, in 2021, Kim Ji-soo officially became Dior's global fashion and beauty ambassador.

Gu Jingyi gave his ex-wife sister a helping hand in advance, and at this time, Kim Ji-soo's life was not easy.

After BLACKPINK's "Du Du Du" became a huge hit, Jisoo was embroiled in controversy over whether she was just slacking off or lacking talent. She was criticized for only having a pretty face and being labeled a "pretty face" from YG Entertainment.

Giving Kim Jisoo a luxury brand title would at least allow her status in the fashion industry to contribute to her image as an artist.

Given South Korea's obsequiousness towards luxury brands and European and American brands, Kim Ji-soo's life is likely to be better.

"Jingyi, it's your turn."

Lin Ze reminded Gu Jingyi to hurry up and get her hair and makeup done, as they still had a lot to do today.

"Okay," Gu Jingyi nodded and calmly pushed the door open to enter.

As soon as he sat down, the stylist praised Gu Jingyi for having a good natural look and not needing heavy makeup. She simply applied loose powder as a base, shaped his eyebrows, used contouring to highlight his brow bone and nose bridge, and finally applied lip balm to complete his makeup for the day.

Then, she began to style Gu Jingyi's hair.

When Gu Jingyi opened his eyes, his hairstyle had changed.

His sideburns were trimmed, and his previously long hair was cut into more layers. The stylist also added some gold powder to Gu Jingyi's hair, as he stood on the stage waiting for the lights to come on.

Gu Jingyi will become even more dazzling and outstanding.

After saying goodbye to Cody, Gu Jingyi left the beauty salon. His figure flashed past behind the glass door, as clean and serene as a cloud.

I will not be held back by anything, nor will I stay for anyone.

Gu Jingyi, who left in a hurry, was unaware that behind him, a pair of beautiful eyes were staring at his back through the glass, almost melting his silhouette.

Kim Jisoo had woken up sometime earlier and was leaning against the leather sofa in the lounge. She watched Gu Jingyi leave, her brows furrowing slightly.

She didn't look away until the van merged into Seoul's traffic. She affectionately took Jennie's arm, her tone as casual as if discussing the weather: "Let's go, it's time to get our makeup and hair done."

“Unnie,” Jennie leaned closer, her voice low and slightly teasing.

"The way you looked at Gu Jingyi just now... tsk tsk. The affection was overflowing... the beauty salon floor was practically flooded."

Jisoo felt a pang of panic and instinctively glanced around. Once she was sure her manager was out of sight, she glared at Jennie with feigned bravado: "Hey! What nonsense are you spouting!"

But not long after, Kim Jisoo unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes again. Her voice lowered, carrying a hint of bitterness she herself didn't realize, "Does what I think matter? It depends on whether the other person... wants it or not."

The sourness in those words could be smelled even across the Han River.

Jennie, being the shrewd person she is, scoffed and found the two of them awkwardly ridiculous.

They clearly can't let go of anything, yet each of them manages to carry it on better than the last.

When you meet an ex, it's like you're dealing with a complete stranger.

“Speaking of which,” Jennie began slowly, as if speaking casually.

"I ran into Gu Jingyi while you were asleep just now, and we chatted about you."

Kim Jisoo's back straightened instantly, and her heart burned.

She turned her head abruptly, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Jennie. The slight bitterness she had felt earlier, feigned composure, vanished instantly, and she stammered, "Really? He... what did he say? What was his attitude?"

Jennie watched with great interest as Kim Jisoo changed her expression. As soon as Gu Jingyi's news came out, this "April in the Human World" was still hooked and turned into a pouty-lipped girl.
Jennie slowly revealed the answer as Jisoo's complexion worsened: "It wasn't that we were specifically talking about you, you were asleep and didn't know. After Gu Jingyi and I went up to greet him, his eyes scanned the entire room like they were on radar. Finally, 'snap,' they landed on you."

Jennie clicked her tongue and remarked, "His gaze, tsk, lingered for quite a while. I only teased him a couple of times..."

Before she could finish speaking, Kim Jisoo frantically pulled a small mirror from her bag. She looked at herself from every angle, feeling dissatisfied with everything.

Even though my skin is good, I always feel like there's a little pimple peeking out from my forehead.

Where are your eyes? Oh no, the dark circles under your eyes from running around all night are definitely being seen!

Good heavens, why did Gu Jingyi have to see me like this?

Gu Jingyi, who usually has such exquisite makeup, is nowhere to be seen.

It was precisely because she was completely unprepared and without any makeup that she walked right into Gu Jingyi's eyes!
"Damn it!" she slapped her forehead in frustration, her voice dropping.

She'd been careless. She only knew Gu Jingyi would be in South Korea for two or three days, but she had no idea when they would meet. If she'd known he was at this beauty salon today, she would have definitely put on a carefully crafted "no-makeup" makeup look, instead of exposing her most vulnerable side to his scrutinizing gaze like this.

Although it was a long time ago, in that cramped underground practice room at YG Entertainment, the two of them had seen each other more than just their bare faces...

Those sweaty temples, those tired eyes, and even the deeper, more private embarrassment—all were once the warmth shared when we huddled together for comfort.

It's all that bastard Ahn Joon-young's fault! And that lunatic Yang Hyun-suk too!
The slight annoyance in Kim Ji-soo's heart was instantly replaced by a nameless fire when she thought of those two names.

If it weren't for them, how could Gu Jingyi have terminated the contract and plunged back into the vast ocean of China without looking back?

Why is it that she is now in such a situation, where even meeting her is like crossing mountains and seas, as difficult as climbing to heaven?
Damn it, God, don't you know why you have to break up two people who clearly love each other?

Jennie's lips curled into a knowing yet mischievous smile as she watched with great interest the ever-changing emotional storm on Jisoo's face.

From regret to reminiscence, and then to gnashing teeth and venting anger.

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!
After she had seen enough, she slowly revealed the real bait: "Gu Jingyi said he would help you get a Dior title. The specific details... will be clear after this fashion week."

Jennie paused for a moment, then put away her playful thoughts.

When she spoke again, her tone was filled with genuine envy, "Unnie, you really deserved to be my ex...."

"What ex!"

Just moments ago, Kim Jisoo was all smiles, but now she's like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, instantly bristling with anger.

Her face darkened, and she corrected him righteously, "It's not over until you've officially said goodbye! At most... at most, the honeymoon phase is over, and we're temporarily in a period of adjustment! Hey! Don't make up those definitions!"

Kim Ji-soo's rebuttal was swift and urgent, like a sudden downpour in June. Yet it carried an undeniable defense of Gu Jingyi and her true inner thoughts.

Jennie simply smiled and posed a soul-searching question:
"Really? Then can you be sure that Gu Jingyi himself feels the same way about this relationship?"

The air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment, and something shattered on the floor.

Kim Ji-soo's heart and her carefully maintained composure were like porcelain that had fallen to the ground.

A barely perceptible hint of panic crept into her eyes.

…………

"Jingyi, here's the manuscript. Take a look at it beforehand."

Lin Ze took out a thick stack of manuscripts from his briefcase, and Gu Jingyi smiled as he took them and began to read.

It's mostly very standard Q&A, with a fast-paced format that fits the current trend. The questions are geared towards young people and are very trendy.

There weren't any sensitive issues; it was almost entirely about the song "Butter."

After all, they were "one of our own," so how could they possibly make things difficult for Gu Jingyi?

Gu Jingyi glanced through it briefly, and after understanding it enough, he started playing on his phone.

Dilraba has been out of contact for the past few days, which has made Gu Jingyi start to wonder if there's something wrong with their relationship.

It wasn't until I surfed the 5G network for a bit that I realized where the problem lay.

The fault does not lie with Mr. Gu, but with Mr. Jin Ying.

These things can't be easily comforted with a few words on WeChat. I'll wait until we meet at the Bazaar Charity Gala after I get back to China to offer my comfort.

Meanwhile, messages from the younger "girls on Line"—Xiaotian, Coconut, and Tea Girl—never stopped. Gu Jingyi kept replying to them, one here and one there. It really felt like he was approving imperial edicts and choosing concubines.

If he is the emperor, then who is his empress?

Gu Jingyi pondered for a moment but couldn't find an answer.

It's still early, the outcome is uncertain. The world is not yet decided, anything is possible.

Lin Ze, however, wasn't as relaxed. He was busy setting up the venue in the waiting room, just waiting for the TikTok team to arrive so they could start the interview immediately.

Soon there was a knock on the door; the people from TikTok had arrived.

"Let me give you a brief self-introduction." The host stood behind the photographer, speaking but not appearing on camera.

This is also to give the audience a better sense of immersion and a better first-person perspective on meeting Gu Jingyi.

"Hello everyone, I am Gu Jingyi from China. I am currently an actor, singer and composer. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

Gu Jingyi was wearing a mint-colored GoodGu sweatshirt today, and of course he wanted to take this opportunity to insert an advertisement.

Besides, wearing luxury brands on music shows doesn't suit the cool and playful vibe of "Butter".

With the microphone tucked into his hoodie collar, Gu Jingyi flashed a professional smile and introduced himself in fluent English.

His face showed no restraint, only a relaxed and leisurely demeanor.
What inspired you to write the song "Butter"?

The host's voice rang out again, asking Gu Jingyi about her creative inspiration.

"I got the idea one morning from spreading butter on toast. The smooth and fragrant butter gave me the inspiration."

This question was no challenge at all; Gu Jingyi simply told a little lie.

How do you view Butter's remarkable international achievements, becoming the first Chinese person to make it into the "Butter Hot 10"?

"Thank you for your support, fans. The credit goes to everyone who played this song on repeat outside of their screens."

Have you watched any videos on TikTok?

"Of course, I've noticed a lot of interesting fan-made content. The first fan to associate this song with The Matrix was a genius, a really interesting idea."

Gu Jingyi's smile widened; he had indeed paid attention to the fan creations on "Butter".

The first viral moment for this song was when a fan edited together Gu Jingyi, who appeared on stage suspended by wires at the beginning of the concert, with agents from The Matrix. Using "Butter" as background music contributed to a huge amount of traffic on the international internet.

Following the viral success of the derivative works, other great ideas poured in. Whether it was fans or self-media creators seeking traffic, a wide variety of musical creations based on the song's beat emerged, resulting in all sorts of videos.

The interview was just a boring question and answer session. After asking a few other questions, we got to the last one.

"Gu Jingyi, let's say goodbye to all our friends on TikTok."

"Thank you to all the netizens who used my songs as background music. As the songwriter, I am honored to witness your creativity and participate in the lives you record. Starting today, I am officially on TikTok. Friends who are interested, don't forget to follow and like."

This concludes the interview.

Although the final edited version was only a few minutes long, Gu Jingyi spent nearly an hour giving this complete interview.

Lin Ze got up to see the interviewers off, while Gu Jingyi opened the door to buy a drink from the vending machine.

As soon as he opened the door, a figure stumbled and fell into his arms.

Looking at that pretty face, Gu Jingyi said with a complicated expression, "How long have you been standing at the door of the waiting room? Don't you know how to knock before coming in?"

(End of this chapter)