Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 190 Lost in Love in the Waiting Room
Top celebrities don't have time to spare. Once their popularity and status reach a certain level, Gu Jingyi will be listed as an important guest at various events and business meetings.

The invitations were so numerous that they couldn't all fit on the table; there were more than ten invitations just for the fashion gala.

The prestige of winning "ten magazine covers" in the fashion industry is no less than that of winning a "Best Actor" award in the entertainment industry.

It took Chris more than three years to achieve the "10 magazines grand slam".

In the original timeline, Yi Yangqianxi also took more than three years to achieve this, step by step.

Gu Jingyi was lucky to catch the right time; 2018, the "Year Zero of Idols," changed the landscape of the Chinese entertainment industry.

Compared to other young male celebrities who have no works to show for themselves and only good looks, Gu Jingyi has film and television works to back him up and "his face is his asset."

Dior recommended him for a cover, skipping the near-top-tier magazines and choosing a top-tier women's magazine to collaborate with Dilraba on a double issue.

I thought Dior had misjudged the situation and was going to be the next "shameful case of over-promotion".

Who would have thought that the chemistry between Gu Jingyi and Dilraba would be so great, it would become a huge hit?

At the time, Gu Jingyi was only "second to the top," but her solo link in the duo magazine surpassed that of "top female star" Dilraba.

Su Mang from Harper's Bazaar also gave Gu Jingyi a push, "unintentionally" revealing that the inspiration for the double issue came from Gu Jingyi himself.

During a gathering with friends, when talking about celebrities in the industry, she expressed her optimism about Gu Jingyi.

After Gu Jingyi appeared on "Idol Producer," he also collaborated extensively with the Bazaar Group on "Bazaar Men," a leading men's magazine.

And in Nai Pao Sen's first fashion resource, the June issue of Harper's Bazaar, Su Mang only showed favor to Gu Jingyi.

In return, Gu Jingyi naturally had to support Harper's Bazaar's annual Charity Night.

In fact, as top fashion magazines, both COSMO and GQ also have their own annual gala events.

This is the most exciting event in the Chinese entertainment and fashion industry every year, and a grand occasion in the fashion world.

Given Gu Jingyi's current status in the fashion industry and her overwhelming popularity in the Chinese entertainment industry.

He certainly received invitations from these three organizations; for example, Gu Jingyi only made a brief appearance at the COSMO Annual Awards.

Gu Jingyi declined to attend the GQ Awards, citing reasons such as filming a movie and recording an album for Nai Pao Sen.

The editor-in-chief of GQ didn't say anything, just that he felt it was a bit of a pity.

Gu Jingyi has already achieved a "grand slam" of ten magazine publications; he could do a second round, but it's unnecessary.

GQ is a top-tier men's magazine, and its prestige is inherently lower compared to women's magazines.

The same applies to annual galas; "Elle Style Awards," "COSMO Awards," and "Bazaar Charity Night" have higher general recognition than the GQ Awards.

The relationship between popular celebrities and fashion magazines varies in closeness; the two sides are both symbiotic and interdependent.

Popular celebrities use appearances in top-tier magazines to cultivate a fashionable image and elevate their status in an effort to gain the attention of luxury brands.

Magazines, on the other hand, need to leverage the popularity of celebrities to reach a wider audience and sell more copies to generate more revenue.

An artist like Gu Jingyi, who possesses both top-tier popularity and a prominent position in the fashion world, is naturally a frequent guest of these magazines wherever she goes.

Gu Jingyi will definitely attend the Harper's Bazaar Charity Night to give Harper's Bazaar, which is currently in a precarious situation after Su Mang's departure, a sense of reassurance.

So Gu Jingyi accepted the invitation to the Bazaar Charity Night almost without hesitation.

Many celebrities participated in this charity event, including actresses born in the 85s such as Zhao Liying, Liu Shishi, and Yang Mi, as well as Lu Han, Chris, and Cai Xukun. The rest were veteran actors like Lei Jiayin and Liu Jialin.

None of the "Four Dan Actresses" and "Two Bing Actresses" attended this year; "Fat Bing" (Bing Bing) was absent. The absence of top actresses like Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun significantly lowered the star power of the Harper's Bazaar Night.

Bazaar has long been known as the "Bazaar matchmaking agency" because many celebrities like to announce their relationships or make a comeback after giving birth at the Bazaar Charity Night.

The "group photo competition for center position" and "final showdown" are annual events.

The 2017 Bazaar Charity Night featured memorable moments such as "Angela Zhang standing in the center" and the viral "Ode to Joy five beauties lip-syncing".

Zhang Shaohan was truly wronged; Lin Ze had specifically shown Gu Jingyi the recap before they came.

There were too many people on stage, and everyone wanted to be in the center position. She was completely squeezed into the center position.

Zhang Shaohan's popularity and works are both up to par, and she was the artist who donated the most money at the 2017 Bazaar Night.

The most awkward thing was that Su Mang, who was the editor-in-chief at the time, spoke out, seemingly expressing his dissatisfaction with Zhang Shaohan "stealing the center position".

In front of a large crowd, Zhang Shaohan was made to "squat down".

In reality, it was a warning to her, implying that she wasn't famous enough to deserve the center position.

If Su Mang were still here, Gu Jingyi wouldn't bother standing in the center.

The previous Bazaar Night was also quite greasy; when she realized the camera was zooming in, Zhang Ziyi deliberately showed off her shoulders while adjusting her clothes to get attention.

Compared to the brilliance of the previous edition, this year's Bazaar was quite uninteresting.

The veteran actresses "Four Dan and Two Bing" didn't come; only some popular celebrities showed up.

Gu Jingyi's participation was not only out of respect for Bazaar, but also to further solidify his position in the fashion world and cultivate his image as a "six-luxury brand ambassador."

As for Bazaar's routine donations...

He came from the future, so he naturally knew that when the charity foundation audited the accounts in 2023, they discovered that Bazaar had some minor issues…

Gu Jingyi donated the same amount as other celebrities.

If he couldn't fight back, he would secretly have Lin Ze buy several truckloads of supplies and send them over, personally ensuring the supplies were delivered.

Gu Jingyi is not like some celebrities who are only there for the high traffic of the Bazaar Charity Night and just want to get on the red carpet and get some screen time.

Although the Bazaar Charity Night had a few minor issues, it's still a highly regarded charity event in the Chinese entertainment industry. In any case, it added a touch of glamour to the event and helped broaden the reach of charitable causes.

The 2018 Bazaar Charity Night was quite prestigious. Only top-tier celebrities, rapidly rising stars, and artists with strong partnerships with Bazaar were invited to attend.

Perhaps it was the absence of the "Four Dan and Two Bing" (referring to four top actresses and two top actresses), that made the charity gala less dazzling after Su Mang left.

But Gu Jingyi's agreement to support Bazaar was an unexpected surprise.

Gu Jingyi received the best treatment in every aspect this time; he was arranged to appear last on the red carpet. Female celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry vied for attention, even engaging in palace intrigue to secure the "final spot."

With his star power, Gu Jingyi can make a grand entrance even if he does nothing.

Even the waiting room prepared for him was the best-equipped, spacious and luxuriously decorated.

Gu Jingyi had already arrived and was currently in the lounge eating fruit and playing on his phone.

Gu Jingyi's gown on the red carpet today was a black velvet suit from Dior's Fall/Winter 2019 collection, once again exceeding the season's expectations. This was also a global first-time appearance, a truly exceptional treatment.

Most men's haute couture pieces are similar, except this one features a deep V-neck design. A quick glance down reveals Gu Jingyi's impressive physique.

He has a rare physique in the Chinese entertainment industry—slim when dressed, muscular when undressed. This outfit perfectly brings out Gu Jingyi's characteristics.

This caused Dilraba to look at Gu Jingyi with eyes full of amazement.

"Teacher Reba, your eyes have been practically glued to this ever since you came in."

Gu Jingyi chuckled and spoke, merely glancing up. Lin Ze immediately understood and left, gently closing the door behind him.

"Would you like to experience it for yourself...?"

Gu Jingyi's voice suddenly deepened, his tone becoming seductive.

He stood up, and as he walked, several buttons on his suit collar came undone.

Beautiful and firm abs, and a strong chest that fills the chest completely come into view.

Dilraba's eyes darkened slightly, making her look somewhat unusual.

"Gu Jingyi, put your clothes on."

The thought of a staff member opening the door and being confronted with this horrific sight infuriated Dilraba. Did this man even know what male virtue meant?!

"What's the big deal? I'll be wearing this on the red carpet later anyway."

Gu Jingyi was unimpressed; at the Bazaar Charity Night, there would be special cars to pick people up from the red carpet and take them to the event venue. Then, they would go on stage one by one in the designated order.

He's the last one to be announced, so he's not in a hurry.

On the contrary, Dilraba's appearance order should have been close to the finale. She was ahead of the other actresses born in 85, with at least seven or eight people behind her.

It's still early before she walks the red carpet, she hasn't even left yet, I don't know what she's in such a hurry for...

"Your outfit is absolutely indecent! And you're not even wearing an undershirt, that's an even bigger offense!"

Dilraba was so angry she wanted to bite her teeth, and she used her fingers to punish Gu Jingyi.

"This is Dior's 2019 Fall/Winter Haute Couture collection, Ms. Dilraba. Are you saying that Dior's designers have bad taste?"

Gu Jingyi continued to tease her, already standing in front of her. His tall and handsome figure enveloped Dilraba, his suit featuring a classic aisle design.

The structured fabrics are a characteristic restraint of Dior.

Gu Jingyi's gaze towards her was anything but innocent.

It was ambiguous and seductive; he held one of her hands and touched it with extreme warmth.

The muscles in his chest were taut and contained explosive power.

She had been resisting, but after being touched, she forgot to struggle.

After Gu Jingyi lowered his wrists, those hands had already started to move involuntarily in various ways.

It's not like she hasn't experienced it; she's even given her approval.

How could she be like an ordinary young girl, getting dizzy at the sight of abs?

As Dilraba's mind wandered, her hand movements became more forceful.

"You scratched my abs with your fingernails."

Gu Jingyi's eyebrows drooped, and he looked somewhat displeased.

"what?"

When I saw her confused, somewhat innocent eyes...

Gu Jingyi's heart skipped a beat.

He gave her a hard shove, pinning the unsuspecting Dilraba against the wall.

The cool temperature emanated from the wall, and Dilraba's body twitched slightly upon touching it.

Dilraba's back was mostly pressed against the wall, and Gu Jingyi leaned in casually. He grabbed her shoulder with one hand and pressed down on the back of her neck with the other.

So, in her entire field of vision, only Gu Jingyi remained.

As Gu Jingyi's face drew closer, in that moment of panic, something soft... pressed against her lips.

Not only could you feel his breath, but you could also smell a faint woody scent.

"Pay attention, Ms. Reba."

Noticing her absent-mindedness, Gu Jingyi's expression turned cold.

He took his hand off her shoulder and then covered Dilraba's eyes.

"Well…"

Suddenly deprived of her sight, the environment became dim. Her hearing and touch became exceptionally sensitive at that moment, and Dilraba couldn't resist and collapsed.

Gu Jingyi quickly grabbed her waist, saying, "I thought you were so good, but you're terrible at it and still love to play around."

"you…"

Dilraba was furious, and tears welled up in her eyes.

I can't tell if it's from anger or someone's doing.

"Knock knock knock," the door to the waiting room was also knocked on.

Lin Ze urged, "Jingyi, are you done yet? Some artists have already come out of the waiting room and are taking business cars to the red carpet."

Gu Jingyi glanced at Dilraba's lipstick smudged from the kiss and her wrinkled dress.

He sighed and gently straightened her clothes again. He patted her head. "Alright, the princess's skirt can't get dirty. Go back to your waiting room. Some artists are already moving around. With so many people around, you're at greater risk of being exposed."

"Hmph," Dilraba snorted coldly, though a hint of suppressed emotion lingered at the corners of her lips.

"Don't rush off after the dinner; wait for me."

Gu Jingyi leaned closer and whispered something in her ear.

Dilraba blushed instantly and pushed him away.

"Are you addicted? Who can use that much?"

"Really not? It seems I have an obligation to help Teacher Reba recall."

Gu Jingyi also raised his hand to straighten himself up. Actually, apart from his collar being grabbed by Dilraba, his crotch was a little lower.

The rest of his clothes were intact; he was only "slightly dirty at the corner."

But Dilraba is different…

If Lin Ze had just walked in, everyone would have thought he was so crazy as to be doing something in the waiting room.

"Pah!" Dilraba's ears turned bright red, almost bleeding. She quickly got up and opened the door.

The high heels clicked loudly, and after only a few steps, Gu Jingyi called her back.

"By the way, Ms. Reba."

Dilraba turned around, and Gu Jingyi was leaning lazily against the door, staring at her with great interest.

"That Dolce & Gabbana outfit you wore before was nice, did you bring it with you?"

"you…"

Seeing that he couldn't say anything nice, Dilraba lifted her skirt and walked away in a hurry.

"I bought the crown..."

Dilraba almost twisted her ankle; this person is truly shameless.

He seemed like a refined and elegant gentleman before, but how come he changed so much after I got him?

It's one thing if it's done in private, but this is a backstage operation.

Aren't you ashamed to do that in front of so many people?

She covered her face and fled, the sound of her high heels growing increasingly hurried.

"Sister Ba, you're so lucky."

Lin Yue, the assistant, took her arm and escorted her to the waiting room.

After closing the door, the assistant stared at her expectantly.

"Gu Dingliu is so innocent. You went to the Dolce & Gabbana crown event, which cost over ten million yuan. He said he would buy it without batting an eye."

"You're so lucky to have such expensive jewelry. Only a top star like Gu would be willing to spend that much. He's really good at making money and loves you so much."

Dilraba was a little dizzy from Lin Yue's string of compliments.

Overjoyed, I felt as if I were walking on cotton.

However, thinking about what she would encounter later, Dilraba still activated the "anti-addiction system".

"Yueyue, you're still young. You probably don't understand. There are plenty of men in this world who are blinded by lust..."

As she spoke, Dilraba's voice grew softer and softer.

.........

standby room
Lin Ze looked at Gu Jingyi with a strange expression. "Only half an hour? That's not your usual level. Have you been too tired lately, and the quality of your work is..."

"What are you thinking about?" Gu Jingyi interrupted impatiently.

"This is the backstage area for the Bazaar Charity Night, a major event in the Chinese entertainment industry every year. If I wanted to, why wouldn't I be in the van? Why would I be in this waiting room? Am I crazy? Chris and Cai Xukun are here today too. Do I really want to give the rivals something to use against me?"

Gu Jingyi was speechless. He really wasn't the kind of person who let others dictate his thinking.

Otherwise, Dilraba wouldn't have been able to escape unscathed.

"Just kidding. If you don't like it, I won't say it again. I just think it's too boring for you to wait for so long."

Lin Ze smiled awkwardly, seemingly realizing that he had made a joke that was inappropriate for the occasion.

"Never mind, I'm still angry. Let me calm down for a bit."

Gu Jingyi looked down at himself, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

I simply grabbed a cushion from the sofa and used it to cover myself.

"Jingyi, with this kind of willpower, you will succeed in anything."

Lin Ze glanced at it, then smiled and looked away.

"There's nothing I can do. The backstage is too chaotic. It's not like it's abroad. I didn't know my team was watching me. They're just waiting to bring me down and put their own artists in that position."

Gu Jingyi sipped his iced Americano, trying to suppress the urge.

He'll be walking the red carpet soon, and male celebrities typically wear suits for haute couture.

Dress pants... really do make a big difference.

Ten minutes had passed, and there was still no relief.

Gu Jingyi picked up his phone, took a picture, and sent it over.

"Look what you've done..."

In another waiting room, Dilraba was so startled that she dropped her phone.

"What's wrong, Sister Ba?"

Lin Yue got up and picked up her phone, saying, "You're not allowed to look at it!"

Dilraba's voice suddenly became exceptionally sharp, almost like a whistle.

It was fine that she didn't react much, but the more she did, the more Lin Yue couldn't help but glance at her.

All of this happened so fast, before the phone was even locked.

After just one glance, Lin Yue blushed and handed this hot potato to Dilraba.

She looked at Dilraba with a complicated expression, not expecting her older sister to eat so well…

What a blessing!

At 19:35 PM, the highly anticipated Bazaar Charity Night red carpet event officially began.

A thick red carpet had already been laid out outside the venue, just waiting for the female artists to vie for attention.

Time passed slowly, and it was 19:50 PM.

The media who had been waiting by the venue started chatting.

"That's strange. Wasn't Yang Mi supposed to be the finale of Bazaar this year? I saw her walk into the inner area just now."

"How could it be Yang Mi? If it were her, neither Liu Shishi nor Zhao Liying would be satisfied. Besides, Ni Ni is here today. She's a movie star who debuted as a 'Zhang Yimou Girl.' Although she doesn't have the same widespread fame as the '85 Flowers,' her fashion resources are much better."

"It's a pity that Fatty Bing is not here; in this garden full of spring beauty, no one can outshine all the others."

"Haha, it's okay if she's not here. I'm quite curious to see who will be the final performer. Let's see who emerges victorious from this battle of the '85 actresses."

"Why can't it be a male celebrity? Chris and Gu Jingyi haven't even appeared yet."

"Chris is out of the question, his popularity has fallen far behind. Even Bulgari and LV didn't release any new haute couture pieces this year. His title is just a result of his nationality and resources. Gu Jingyi is the real exception, he's so young yet he's already overshadowing the entire fashion industry. Dior will definitely give him the title of global brand ambassador next year, just look at his accessories. Unique pieces, new season pieces, wide coverage, Dior is giving off a kind of doting mom vibe."

"Stop talking, Chris's here."

Amidst the commotion, Chris stepped out of the van.

Today, he was wearing a Bulgari striped suit and a Serpenti snake bracelet, which gave him a bit of the "hip-hop prince" vibe described in the press releases.

But Gu Jingyi's excessive treatment was so much that people started to judge Chris by Gu Jingyi's standards.

You can see a hint of despondency in this top celebrity.

Since 2018, Chris has been unable to borrow LV's high-end haute couture.

LVMH Group favored Gu Jingyi, as he was younger, more handsome, and more talented.

Chris is old; what does he have left to boast about?
Is it his looks? Kris, who's already 29, has gained weight. Those photos of him at the Idol Star Athletics Championships, which were touted as a "South Korean god," how much does he look like he used to?

Is this a work of art? "Su Yunjin, what do you owe me?!" has become material for Bilibili's parody section.

Is it music? Gu Jingyi's previous mini-album, "Like the Wind," swept the domestic market. It topped the sales charts in the Chinese entertainment industry and was the fastest album to surpass 100 million yuan in sales.

Later, a song called "Butter" broke into the European and American music market.

To allow more foreigners to appreciate the talent of Chinese singers and break down stereotypes.

You can't blame the old lady for favoring her youngest son. With such a promising youngest son, who would care about the good-for-nothing eldest son?
Chris walked out with a dark expression, and even in the fan section, there were only a few dozen of his fans.

Previously, the number of people involved was several hundred.

He is tall and walks fast.

He heard clearly what those two idiotic media outlets were saying.

What do you mean by "Chris is fine"? Is he some new unit of measurement in the Chinese entertainment industry?

"Chris, could you stay and answer a few questions for an interview?"

It seems the media still gave him face, and Chris's expression softened slightly.

He nodded, but didn't see the smile that flickered in the reporter's eyes.

Almost the instant he nodded, a deafening cheer erupted on the red carpet.

"Unrivaled in the world, supreme in chess!"

"Ahhh, Gu Jingyi is so handsome!"

"Ahhh, Gu Jingyi, look here!"

The fans were incredibly enthusiastic, their screams were the loudest in the stadium.

This also made Chris turn around and look at Gu Jingyi.

Gu Jingyi was seen smiling and waving at the fans in the stands, his exquisite wristband and unique brooch, along with his Dior 2019 Haute Couture collection, exuding an air of luxury.

Coupled with his face, which was a visual feast, he instantly became the focus of the entire event.

"Gu Jingyi's outfit is absolutely stunning; the haute couture he's wearing is a new 2019 design that Dior just released at their Fall/Winter fashion show not long ago."

"The watch is a limited edition Chopard, worth tens of millions."

Chris's expressions varied, but they all felt a pang of sadness in their hearts.

So what? He did the same thing before…

Distracted for a moment, Gu Jingyi almost walked over to the media reporters.

Chris's face stiffened, and he immediately turned and walked away.

"Chris, you haven't finished answering our questions yet."

Some media outlets were making a big fuss about it, drawing everyone's attention to his strange behavior.

Chris paused, he didn't want to be in the same frame as Gu Jingyi.

As a teammate, he knew perfectly well how superior Oh Sehun's face was.

Even though his teammates haven't gained weight yet, they still can't beat Gu Jingyi. He, along with Wu Sehun and Park Chanyeol, combined, wouldn't be enough to defeat Gu Jingyi.

Why couldn't he understand letting Gu Jingyi outshine him?

It's embarrassing, but we can't afford to lose our fashion career because the comparison is too drastic.

(End of this chapter)