Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 222: A Double Success in Love and Career
Unlike the Battle round in "Idol Producer," which had no backup, no beat, no rhythm, and no melody.

This song, "The Throne," now has the best lighting, the best stage design, and the best band.

Furthermore, the 360-degree surround sound system created a live experience that was naturally different from anything seen before.

The prelude ended completely after the sacred female voice finished singing.

The stage performance has officially begun!
Seven or eight backup dancers, with their backs to the stage, danced in circles around the center.

The audience held their breath, staring blankly at the figure surrounded in the center of the stage.

The director cut to a close-up shot, and Gu Jingyi, dressed in a black robe, looked up, revealing most of his face hidden under the hood.

Then, he curled the corners of his mouth into a smug smile.

The atmosphere was reignited, and all the spectators were chanting his name.

"Gu Jingyi! Stage King!"

"Gu Jingyi! Gu Jingyi! Gu Jingyi!"

In the audience directly below the stage, Ren smacked his lips and remarked, "Gu Jingyi looked quite handsome in that suit at the beginning, so why is he wearing this black robe now? He looks like a wizard, which is really strange."

"Shut up, don't talk about him like that," Liu Haojian snorted coldly.

"Don't you think his outfit has a very old-fashioned opera feel to it? Everything is in service of the song, okay? And think back to his video clip, everything makes sense."

"I understand. If I weren't watching a concert, I would have thought I was in a foreign concert hall. After that female vocal performance, the stage lights shone on the dancers, and then there was that close-up of Gu Jingyi looking up. That little vibe just came through!"

Ren Min excitedly slapped her thigh and rattled off a bunch of things.

"boom!"

As soon as a sound came from the stage, everyone who was still discussing the matter stopped whispering and looked at Gu Jingyi.

Gu Jingyi held the scepter, his figure shrouded in a wide black robe.

Beneath the hood, his lips moved slightly and rapidly:
"Wow, pick up your weapons again and kill all the thieves."

"The king is a dictator and won't listen to your objections, Boy"

Even after singing two and a half lines, his voice remained stable and his tone was strong.

The backup dancers made exaggerated movements, lunging forward with outstretched arms to try and grab Gu Jingyi's robes.

On the big screen, all the details were barely visible. It was only then that people noticed that the design team had deliberately given battle damage treatment to Gu Jingyi's wide black robe.

The robe was covered with jagged, menacing openings, but what was even more chilling was that it was bound with shackles.

Holding the scepter, Gu Jingyi made striking motions to repel the traitors who came to commit crimes one by one.

As he moved, the hood naturally fell down.

The director cut to a close-up shot, allowing everyone to see Gu Jingyi's eyes clearly.

His dark eyes surged, as if frozen in ice, ruthless and cold.

"Ahhh, is this the Lion King storyline? A royal bloodline banished from the royal family, growing up and seeking revenge!"

Sun Zhenni couldn't help but gasp, then quickly covered her mouth.

She genuinely wanted to restrain herself and not make any noise so as not to affect the stage.

But Gu Jingyi looked incredibly handsome in this outfit; it was a style he had never worn before.

It's said that rappers are the best cosmetic procedure for men, and Gu Jingyi, who is already incredibly handsome, goes on to date rappers. His appeal to women is on the order of hundreds or even tons.

A strong face, especially a cold one, creates a stronger visual impact.

Gu Jingyi's eyes gleamed with an indomitable flame, his expression defiant and unruly.

He pointed a finger at the ground casually, and every emphasis he made was deafening.

"Give you three seconds to kneel down, and I'll forgive you the crime of rebellion, boy."

He stood there alone, his aura soaring like the sun.

He glanced coldly at the backup dancers on the side of the stage, his expression disdainful.

In just one verse, the sheer force of the performance nearly lifted the roof off the venue.

His voice wasn't loud, but each syllable exploded like a thunderclap. It resonated in the hearts of everyone who heard it, reigniting the atmosphere.

“Post notices all over the city walls”

"Tell those young boys that the king has arrived"

After singing this line, Gu Jingyi reached out and tore open his black robe.

He violently ripped off the shackles, and the stage burst into flames.

Gu Jingyi casually kicked it away, and the black robe was engulfed by flames.

Having shed his black robe, Gu Jingyi was still wearing the same Dior haute couture outfit he wore at the beginning, looking absolutely glamorous.

"I'm going to issue an edict to the world," Gu Jingyi said, pointing to the audience.

The audience in the front row excitedly reached out their hands, wanting to interact with Gu Jingyi.

He suddenly withdrew his hand and burst out a line in a Peking Opera style.

“Write down your sincere confessions—”

The tone rose steadily, carrying a majestic momentum.

The operatic singing style also enriches the stage performance, creating a rich and layered experience.

"If I move my butt, I can reach your sky"

"I was born the chosen one because I was born that way."

"Even if you have no grudge against me, you still have to kneel before me!"

"You are my food, fully digested feces"

"I'm like a pastor, my job is to get you to heaven"

What followed was an extremely fast-paced rap. Gu Jingyi used several explosive sounds in a row, focusing his voice to create an even more explosive stage effect. He also extended his breath and sang two lines in one go, changing the flow at just the right moments and giving the audience time to savor it.

"Murder you murder you I am the murderer of your whole family"

“A real real real killer”

With each beat of the drum increasing in layers, the rhyme becomes clearer.

On the next stage, Gu Jingyi presented the complete version of "The Throne".

However, Gu Jingyi changed some of the overly aggressive words in Yang Hesu's version.

He's just using it to show off his skills; he's not trying to be a genuine rapper.

The song "The Throne" will only be a special version for Gu Jingyi's concerts from now on; he doesn't plan to release a full version. It will only be performed live, which is part of the hype.

Gu Jingyi surveyed the stage one last time and sang the final line:
"Oh Oh Oh, return to my throne"

"To settle your sins"

"Offer your sincere repentance"

The glamorous attire, the domineering stage presence, the overwhelming power, and the high-end jewelry worth fifty million sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Gu Jingyi radiated light, like Hamlet who overthrew the false regime.

As soon as he appeared on stage, the entire audience in the venue began to shout excitedly.

"Welcome to the coronation of Emperor Jing!"

"Emperor Jing! The throne!"

The deafening sound swept through all the surrounding corners like a tsunami, and even the crowds stationed outside the venue and behind the cordon could clearly hear the ear-piercing cheers.

The entire Bird's Nest stadium was filled with 100,000 people in a frenzy of celebration.

Gu Jingyi raised his arms high and was crowned once again amidst the cheers of thousands.

The song "The Throne" needs no introduction. As a pinnacle of live performance technique, Gu Jingyi successfully ignited the atmosphere of the entire venue from the very first song. Screams rose and fell, never ceasing.

When Gu Jingyi's song "The Throne" aired on "Idol Producer," countless rappers praised his talent. They said he was a rapper whose talent was wasted on his looks, as he was so handsome that even if he became a rapper, he could only be a "male model rapper."

So he had no choice but to switch careers and become an idol and actor.

Although there was an element of jest, it also proved Gu Jingyi's capabilities.

Especially after Gu Jingyi's drama aired, it became increasingly popular. Many new fans dug into Gu Jingyi's past, and this song "The Throne" has always been considered a "hidden gem".

Even many rappers have performed live covers at various music festivals after purchasing the performance rights from Gu Jingyi.

Seeing the atmosphere getting lively, Gu Jingyi continued with "Indifferent" and "Don't Call Me Da Vinci".

One of these songs is the only dance track on Gu Jingyi's mini-album, and the other is a song that Gu Jingyi assigned to the Milk Bubble Girls' album. However, the copyright belongs to Gu Jingyi, and he can sing it whenever he wants.

So baby girl, don't call me Da Vinci.

"Singing you a Melody is no problem at all."

Gu Jingyi wore 7-8 outfits throughout the concert, and at this moment he was wearing a white, tight-fitting sleeveless vest. His abs were faintly visible as he moved, looking quite alluring. He paired this with paisley jeans and stylish puffy shoes.

This combination looks handsome and stylish, highlighting a tall and slender figure.

His black hair was styled into a slicked-back look, and the side-parted wolf-hair style looked very stylish.

He was singing this song while standing on a "float" at the start of the parade.

As he passed through the parade area, countless fans reached out to give him a high-five.

The song "Don't Call Me Da Vinci" became a huge hit on Douyin and is familiar to countless people.

The atmosphere was great, with the whole audience singing along.

Before the sound could even spread, the music started up again.

The song "Heart Attraction" from the mini-album "Like the Wind" has been quite popular since its release, even though it's not the title track.

As soon as the intro starts, fans can hum along:
"It's a bit far from you, so I have to stand on tiptoe."

"I can't learn acting well, so I can only make funny faces."

"Be careful how you test the other person."

Gu Jingyi sang a solo version of this song. He changed into a light-colored crew neck sweatshirt and cargo pants, looking like a gentle man.

The final ending featured fireworks on stage, with Gu Jingyi making a heart shape with his fingers in the center of the stage.

The stage was set up one after another, culminating in the benefits for the Beijing audience.

Gu Jingyi appeared wearing a shirt with an ink-wash style. He picked up the microphone and said, "The song I'm going to sing next is not my own work. It's a song that I heard Teacher Wang sing when I was a child, and it's one that I really like."

"As a perk for our Beijing show today, we're giving you a song called 'Beijing, Beijing'."

Fans waved glow sticks and screamed loudly.

It's no secret that Gu Jingyi will sing a local song in every city he visits during his Asian tour.

For this concert in Beijing, Gu Jingyi chose one of Wang Piku's representative works.

Gu Jingyi took the microphone, adjusted its position slightly, and placed it back on the mic stand.

"As I walk down every street here, my heart never seems to find peace."

"Besides the roar of the engine and the hum of electricity, I seemed to hear its heartbeat as sharp as a candle."

"I laugh here, I cry here."

As the chorus of this familiar song approached, many fans joined in humming along. "Beijing, Beijing."

The unified voices of the entire audience singing along blended with Gu Jingyi's voice, creating a sound that was incredibly moving.

After the song was finished, it was time for the "Talk" segment.

This is a standard segment that every singer has at their concert, and they specifically set aside time to interact with their fans.

Gu Jingyi shared a few amusing anecdotes from before the concert, followed by taking photos with audience members.

He walked to the edge of the stage, picked up a fan's phone and a selfie stick, and took a group photo with the fans who had drawn their spots.

Then he threw out some small toys, and Gu Jingyi, being strong, even threw some to the people in the back row. Everyone was treated equally, without discrimination based on ticket price.

Finally, it was time for a song request. The fan who got the song request was a young girl.

"Gu Jingyi, could you sing 'Pinky Promise' one more time?"

The girl covered her mouth, looking at Gu Jingyi with some anticipation.

"Are you sure it's a pinky promise? This song is so cute. I mentioned at the fan meeting that I'd probably only sing it once at most."

Gu Jingyi shrugged, looking quite regretful.

"No! No!"

"Ahhh, honey, I want to hear it!!!"

"It's so hard to get a spot at a fan meeting! We want to attend too!"

The fans at the scene were also shouting loudly, trying to persuade Gu Jingyi to change his mind.

"Never mind... I'll think of another song then..."

Although the girl who was chosen was somewhat disappointed, she still tried to make amends for Gu Jingyi.

"But for you, I would do it a thousand times over, so what's wrong with singing it again?"

Gu Jingyi blinked and tilted his head as he spoke.

"Really? Jingyi!" The young female fan's eyes were practically overflowing with joy.

"Yeah, of course."

"Pinky Promise" is a song that Gu Jingyi sang at his fan meeting on his 100th day since debut, and this song has great significance for his fans.

The original video has accumulated over 100 million views across the entire internet. No one can resist Gu Jingyi singing this song while wearing a cartoon headband given to him by fans.

Although Gu Jingyi thought it was too cute afterwards, he never sang the song again.

However, this song truly broke out of its niche. After Luo Tianyi covered it, it was used in almost every popular character and celebrity-themed video on major domestic ACG platforms.

"You are a miracle as it is, you are the beauty of the moonlight."

"You are a gift from Santa Claus to me, a good child."

You are a drop of water in my vast and beautiful world.

A song began to play in the darkness, and warm light gradually shone on Gu Jingyi, who was riding in a float and beginning his parade again. He picked up the microphone and sang the lyrics in a gentle, clear voice.

The music, with its light and soothing style, is filled with a warm feeling, as if all the beautiful scenes are appearing before your eyes.

So please come a little closer, because you are so warm.

I will become a little stronger, because you are so soft.

The floats passed through the inner area one by one, and as they approached Liu Haoli's section, Gu Jingyi's eyes met hers, his gaze softening.

The lyrics just happen to go to this line: "Exchanging golden vows on our ring fingers, for each other's years."

"So from now on we must hold hands, because we have a long way to go."

Liu Hao clutched his chest, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst.

So, is Gu Jingyi making a promise to her?
Gu Jingyi gave her a quick wink, then rode away in the float.

"Ahhh, honey!!"

"Gu Jingyi, stop fishing, stop fishing, okay? I'll come with you, alright?"

"Gu Jingyi is the epitome of husbands, the epitome of masculinity, the ruler of men, the master of men, the terminator of men, a king, a master, a god, an emperor, a demon lord—an overwhelming man! An immortal pinnacle in the history of human modeling! Gu Jingyi is too '1,' so '1' it sends chills down your spine, too 'arrogant,' so 'arrogant' it's terrifying. He has the face every miner should have, like a tailor-made miner template. His image is formed from the spirits of countless miners, like a work of art sculpted day and night by eunuchs worldwide. His mere existence makes all eunuchs yearn for him, and all nannies grit their teeth. He has drained the masculine energy of everyone around him to the best of his ability!"

Liu Haolin listened to the words of the wealthy women around her and smiled brightly.

Gu Jingyi then sang "The Second Male Lead," "Wish and Sorrow," and "Write Our Story."

These songs are all hits from his first album, and each one has sparked a massive sing-along from fans.

After another interactive segment, Gu Jingyi sang four or five songs from her previous viral Douyin album.

In other words, Gu Jingyi released three albums, and almost every song in them is well-known.

He has about 27 songs to choose from, which is enough to support a concert.

This is why it's said that there's a barrier between singers and internet celebrities, because some internet celebrities suddenly become famous because of a single song.

If they hold a concert, the entire audience might only have heard one or two of his songs.

They can only fill the entire concert with "Giao Giao Giao" (a type of chanting or singing) or buy the rights to perform a large number of songs by various artists to make up the time for a concert.

Gu Jingyi's only problem is that there are just too many good songs, and there are almost no fans who can't sing them.

Even some casual fans can sing along.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was time for the last song.

The big screen also played a video clip of "Plum Jam," a track from the first official album.

In this video, Gu Jingyi is wearing the exact same clothes as now, walking and running around the school. His happy smile is shown in one continuous shot, and the relaxed atmosphere makes everyone nod and smile along.

Your gentle smile is like plum jam.

Countless audience members joined Gu Jingyi in a massive sing-along, their voices so loud they completely drowned out the original audio from the speakers.

Where Gu Jingyi couldn't see, Liu Haoli and Sun Zhenni were waving their hands like ordinary fans, staring at him intently, and softly singing along.

"I tasted the lip balm on your lips, it tastes minty~"

"It's sweet love, and it's come so definitely!"

Although he was wearing an in-ear monitor, Gu Jingyi could no longer hear the notification sounds from it.

The fans' chanting drowned out the notification sounds, and all that could be seen were waving glow sticks. The venue transformed into a sea of ​​black and gold, and the only sound was the collective singing of all the fans.

A warm feeling rushed to his chest, and he suddenly felt truly happy.

Line after line, until the short song "Plum Jam" came to an end.

The only light went out, and Gu Jingyi's figure disappeared from everyone's sight.

He stood on the rising platform, smiling and waving goodbye to his fans.

The Bird's Nest has strict rental periods, and singers who exceed the rental period will be fined.

"Plum Jam" is already Gu Jingyi's encore song in Australia, although I had already heard "Plum Jam" which swept across major short video platforms.

However, the concert version of this song has a unique live beauty. After just one listen, many people have fallen in love with this catchy melody, addictive chorus, and sweet, refreshing lyrics.

The quality of this concert truly exceeded many people's expectations. Even though it has ended, many fans are still discussing Gu Jingyi's songs and him personally.

Although Gu Jingyi had already returned to his van, many fans remained enthusiastic and were reluctant to leave, with many still holding glow sticks and constantly mentioning Gu Jingyi.

"I really like Gu Jingyi so much... Ahhh..."

Ren Min's face flushed with excitement. She looked towards the stage lift and then at Liu Haoli with lingering interest: "Haoli, aren't you talking to him? Could you ask him to take us backstage? I like him so much."

Liu Haoli's smile froze, and she frowned. After thinking for a moment, she said somewhat apologetically, "Such a good spot is already troublesome enough for him. He must have a lot to do right after the concert, so let's not add to his burden."

"Oh, it's okay. Given your relationship with him... going backstage at the concert, you might even get an autograph and a photo... Besides, you've been there before..."

Ren Min was still immersed in the atmosphere from earlier and kept urging him on.

"No, let's not talk about the past anymore. I won't do anything to make things difficult for him now, do you understand what I mean?"

Liu Haoli's face turned cold, and he spoke crisply and decisively.

"toot toot"

Her phone suddenly rang, and when she looked at the message, the chill she had felt earlier melted away like ice and snow.

He simply got up and left with the other audience members.

……

Gu Jingyi sat in the van, idly playing on his phone, while Lin Ze was still backstage.

A successful concert relies not only on the singer, their manager, and assistants, but also on the stylist and a large staff, including dozens of people responsible for stage management and lighting.

Lin Ze handed over the work to the staff backstage, which is the most basic courtesy.

Although Gu Jingyi's current status doesn't require him to be so cautious, he likes to do everything perfectly to make sure that no detail is too difficult for him to handle.

Not long after, the MV gull-wing door suddenly opened with a "bang," and assistant Xiao Pang covered Liu Hao as he rushed over.

"how do you feel?"

Gu Jingyi raised an eyebrow and asked Liu Haolin about his concert experience.

"It was great. The fans in the venue kept saying that the overall experience was really amazing. The lighting design was also very good, and the songs were great too. Although you haven't been in the industry for long, you've already had quite a few hit songs..."

Liu Haoli recalled the events and reflected on the comments from those around him.

"Who asked you about other people?" Gu Jingyi was speechless.

He tilted his head and looked at Liu Haocun, "I was asking you."

"..." Liu Hao blushed and shyly threw himself into Gu Jingyi's arms.

"How was my concert?" Gu Jingyi asked again.

"It's great. The live vocals in The Throne are explosive from beginning to end, and every line can be considered a punchline."

In terms of content, the lyrics are sharp, precise, and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the theme. The near-perfect wordplay, with its rhyming within and between sentences, elevates the overall listening experience. The chorus features only two repeated lines that are absolutely catchy: "Return to my throne, and settle accounts for your sins."

Verse 2 starts with almost unaccompanied a cappella and later incorporates the sounds of various instruments, flowing smoothly and naturally.

The heartfelt emotions in Verse 3 enrich and deepen the work's themes, revealing another side of the king and conveying complex emotions and reflections. The final combination of children's voices and cello creates a transcendent experience, as if hearing the call of heaven from hell.

The arrangement is truly unparalleled, with layers of various natural and unnatural timbres, numerous enhancing details, and perfectly placed harmonies. It's easy to infer that this involved countless trials. The first 15 seconds feature a somewhat disjointed, heavy intro, but because it perfectly complements the main theme, it effectively builds the atmosphere. The next 15 seconds of the intro transform the strings into synthesized chanting, evoking the sacred feeling of a collective prayer. The sudden pitch shifts during this transformation unexpectedly add to the mysterious, eerie, and enigmatic atmosphere…

As Gu Jingyi listened, he sensed something was wrong and tugged at Liu Haocun's collar.

Sure enough, I saw a cell phone.

The screen was still lit, displaying the famous music influencer Erdi's review of Gu Jingyi's live version of "The Throne" today.

"..." Liu Haolu chuckled sheepishly when he realized he'd been caught.

She was at a loss for words, so she just kissed Gu Jingyi.

The kiss quickly turned sour.

Gu Jingyi's grip tightened, almost crushing her in his arms.

Little Fatty wisely stepped on the gas and drove Gu Jingyi to his villa in Beijing.

The bed creaked and groaned as Liu Haolin was finally crushed into an apple by Gu Jingyi.

(End of this chapter)