Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 228 Finale
In the Chinese entertainment industry, some dramas may have good broadcasts, but they don't generate much buzz and therefore aren't considered very popular.

Just like "The Hunting Guide" and "Qingqing's Daily Life".

Some dramas don't perform that well, but they're willing to spend a lot of money on marketing. They aim to get eight hundred trending topics a day, like "A Love So Beautiful" and "The Legend of Canglan".

Both of these shows were hits, but they didn't have any strong competitors at the time.

The production team was willing to spend a lot of money on marketing and buying trending topics. As a result, even now, some people still believe these two dramas are huge hits…

One hit drama is enough to sustain an actor for three years, and even if no other works are broadcast for three years, the actor will not fade into obscurity.

Wang Hedi and Hu Yitian, however, made little progress in the second year.

The funniest thing is that with the popularity of "Nine Layers of Purple," many fans went to dig up old photos at the Star Awards. They were all behind Wang Hedi, trying to savor the sweet moments between Meng Jie and Li Yunrui...

That's how popular dramas are; no matter how many fans they attract, they're only "three-month drama fans."

When the new TV series comes out, they'll start creating new on-screen couples.

Only a hugely popular drama can allow actors to truly benefit from the role.

The only way to turn a popular drama's fans into die-hard fans is through "purification" and "fan torture".

Either purify the CP (couple) fans, or torture the fans.

Although the method is old-fashioned, it really works!
Gu Jingyi had a better way; he reluctantly joined "Idol Producer" after being courted by Tao Chang.

There's no place more heart-wrenching than a talent show; fans are always willing to spend money, fight hard, and remain loyal.

Rather than risk damaging his relationship with his partner Shen Yue by fighting over the cake, Gu Jingyi chose to get involved and make the cake bigger.

This is why, with Gu Jingyi's support, "A Love So Beautiful" became a "mini-hit" on its final night.

Needless to say, Gu Jingyi always aimed for the top from a holistic and comprehensive perspective.

Now, record companies and film and television companies are all trying to create the next "Gu Jingyi" in their marketing.

Like Chen Youwei from "Youth With You," who played the role of the Fifth Prince in "Story of Yanxi Palace" before the talent show.

Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo, who starred in the hugely popular drama "The Untamed," have also released singles or albums in a respectable manner.

This is why the companies behind the scenes are all drawing inspiration from the "Gu Jingyi template," hoping to create the next "Gu Jingyi."

After investing countless efforts and resources, it ultimately ended in failure.

During "Dead Girl's" live stream, some passersby asked why she didn't let Song Weilong or Xu Kai release an album to test the waters.

"Gu Jingyi's path to success has no reference value for any actor or idol in the industry. He is far ahead in all aspects of comprehensive quality, and he is determined not to take on variety shows and commercials to make easy money when he is at the peak of his popularity. If we use Gu Jingyi's standards to demand that our artists be like Xu Kai and Song Weilong. Whether they are actors or singers, as long as they can do their job well, that's enough. Huanyu will never force its artists to be anyone's shadow."

As someone with a natural talent for trending topics, Yu Zheng's words immediately went viral, staying on the trending list for several days.

Surprisingly, no one objected to what he said.

"Sorry, this is the episode I support Yu Zheng the most."

"I'm not a fan of Gu Jingyi, but what that brat said is absolutely right."

"Save money: Gu Jingyi is a bug-level existence in the domestic entertainment industry, there is no need to compare with him."

Even when the fans saw the trending topic, they just commented on it.

Now no one dares to "disobey" Consort Jing anymore, not even when Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan's fans are fighting.

Besides photoshopping unflattering pictures of the other person's idol, they would also drag Gu Jingyi into it to put the other person in a better position.

"XS, you talk like your Xiao Zhan is so amazing. If you're so capable, why don't you compare him to Gu Jingyi? Laugh."

"Damn it, you're talking as if your Wang Yibo can fight Gu Jingyi."

There are also fans of the "Bo Jun Yi Xiao" (Bo Jun Yi Xiao) couple causing all sorts of trouble and twisting the facts.

Unbeknownst to them, the concubines had already found themselves feeling increasingly isolated at the top.

At this time, the cosmetics fans also took advantage of the situation and organized the "First Super Topic Cup for Concubines of Jingfei" event.

Sponsored by several wealthy female fans of Gu Jingyi, and hosted by a top fan of Jingfei, the event will be a live stream with voice chat. Registered Jingfei fans will share their talents to determine the winner.

And you know what? It really brought back the core of some "cuteness fans".

Some fans really love to nurture their idols; when their idol becomes the best in the world, they feel like their idol doesn't need them anymore.

I'm starting to quit this hobby and move on to the next one.

Huace pays close attention to the dynamics of the fan community, and Gu Jingyi also occasionally drops into the super topic fan group to chat with the fans.

Gu Jingyi's fans rarely leave the fandom, and they constantly join as his new works are released.

Just like last year's "The Beginning," Gu Jingyi collaborated with Zhao Jinmai, a child star who doesn't follow the mainstream path.

And with the "mask mandate," everyone's staying home and binge-watching TV shows.

Gu Jingyi has once again caused a sensation, and with everyone "lying down and doing nothing".

His popularity has also expanded across different age groups.

Middle-aged and elderly fans won't support celebrity endorsements, but they will support movie box office!

Actually, the data for "Qingqing's Daily Life" was much stronger than that for "The Beginning," but the White Shoes didn't cooperate with the CP promotion at the time, which resulted in only average popularity.

Therefore, many people do not know that "Qingqing Daily" was the top-rated drama of 2022, and Xiaotian missed a good opportunity to become a star.

Despite being a hit, it didn't attract as many fans as Yu Shuxin's "Little Orchid".

In fact, "Qingqing's Daily Life" has ten million more episodes per episode than "Canglan Jue".

The character "Li Wei" didn't even have as much buzz as "Li Shiqing".

The original timeline of "Qingqing's Daily Life" did not benefit Xiaotian much, but "Tian Geng Ji" brought her a lot of commercial endorsements.

However, with Gu Jingyi around, none of these situations will occur.

Gu Jingyi is very cooperative with the CP (couple) promotion; for him, it's almost like "dating on company money."

Since 2019, door-to-door visits have frequently become a top priority for drama promotion, as countless fans want to see "couple after-sales service".

Today was the door-to-door visit for "Qingqing's Daily Life," and Gu Jingyi and Tian Xiwei joined the company directly as "Sina editors."

First, he walked around the Sina building, and then went to the second floor to be interviewed.

The two entered through the door and waved to the live stream camera:

"Hi everyone, I'm Gu Jingyi."

"Hi everyone, I'm Xiaotian."

"We are two new employees at Weibo today. Let's go get our employee badges now."

Gu Jingyi had participated in door-to-door sales several times, so inquiring about the process was commonplace for him.

Xiao Tian followed closely behind Gu Jingyi, observing the surrounding environment.

Many viewers were commenting on how cute he was, while a few fans were saying things like "Stay away from my brother."

The place to pick up the employee badges was right next door. Following the staff's instructions, the two filled out a new employee registration form and successfully received their employee badges.

Next, the two new employees were led by the HR lady to the employee area to familiarize themselves with the work environment.

This is different from when Gu Jingyi and Tian Xiwei were waiting and wandering around downstairs at the beginning. When they were wandering around, Sina employees were not allowed to go down to ask for autographs or obstruct the filming.

The fact that HR brought Gu Jingyi and the others over indicates that this is part of the filming and that they can openly take this opportunity to contact Gu Jingyi.

He had barely taken a step or two when he was surrounded by Sina employees who had rushed over after hearing the news.

Without a doubt, 90% of them came for Gu Jingyi.

"Qingqing's Daily Life" benefits Gu Jingyi more because it is mostly watched by female viewers.

However, some programmers came specifically to see Tian Xiwei, but they were too shy to compete with the girls for seats, so they squeezed in at the back to watch her.

Of course, they were also very curious about Gu Jingyi.

After all, this man is the culprit who often causes Weibo to crash and forces them to work overtime.

"Gu Gu is really popular, everyone's here because of him."

"Gu Jingyi is really something else. Look at those female employees. The excitement in their eyes is exactly the same as when I saw Gu Jingyi."

"Qingqing's daily broadcasts are so good, why did they take so long to arrive? KSL, KSL! Just sitting there, every frame they take looks like a poster."

"I have a feeling that Xiaotian is really interested in Gu Jingyi, but who knows? Xiaotian is a veteran fan site admin for Gu Jingyi, and I always feel that she entered the fandom just to pursue Gu Jingyi."

"Gu Jingyi and Xiaotian might not end up together. Isn't it said in the industry that Gu Jingyi doesn't have a steady girlfriend, only steady casual partners? Even the most beautiful but rotten ideal will shatter into nothingness."

"No, the rotten white moonlight is even more adorable. You guys aren't girls, you don't understand the destructive power of the white moonlight. Even if he's rotten, you'll still cover your eyes and say you love him."

"Stop shipping him, okay? Gu Jingyi will stay single forever!"

The live-stream of today's building visit has just begun, and viewers who have been waiting in the live-stream room for a long time have already filled the screen with comments.

Although the promotional materials for the drama usually feature paired characters, who cares about such things when fans are really into shipping them?

They went straight to being actresses; the aloof Bking and the charming sweet girl were the best.

The more you look at the sweet moments between Gu Jingyi and Tian Xiwei, the more exciting it becomes, even more so than shipping Yin Zhen and Li Wei.

Gu Jingyi's die-hard fans were furious, but because Xiaotian was a legendary "fan site admin" among the Jingfei (Gu Jingyi's fans), and had never used this for marketing since entering the fandom, they couldn't bring themselves to hurl any insults...

The brother in the live broadcast room seemed oblivious to their feelings at that moment, and continued to give interviews for today's event alongside Tian Xiwei.

The two would occasionally exchange smiles, their pink bubbles practically overflowing the screen.

"Teacher Gu, how do I access 'Qingqing's Daily Life'?"

These were all very common questions, and Gu Jingyi answered them fluently.

While Gu Jingyi was speaking, Xiaotian tilted her head and stared intently at him with her big eyes.

The comments section was filled with "kdl" and "kswl" (a Chinese internet slang term for extreme excitement or frustration).

"Teacher Gu, some fans are saying that Yin Zheng in 'Qingqing's Daily Life' is Emperor Yongzheng, Li Wei is Consort Qi, and Su Shen is Su Peisheng. Is this true?"

Just as it was about to end, a reporter suddenly asked this question.

Tian Xiwei's smile froze, and her fingertips dug into her palm.

As a seasoned 5G internet user, she was certainly aware that with the huge success of "Qingqing's Daily Life," many netizens had already dug up the original novel of the show, "The Strategy of Time Travel in the Qing Dynasty," and that Li Wei's character was based on Consort Qi.

She's the Consort Qi from "Empresses in the Palace," who said, "You're so delicate and pretty in pink, how old are you now!"

Marketing accounts are lamenting, "That's probably why idol dramas can only end when the male and female leads get married."

Consort Qi was favored in the early part of her life and gave birth to three sons in a row. However, she fell out of favor after Lady Nian entered the Prince's residence. They did not see each other for a long time, and when they met again, she would only mention that "the Third Prince has grown taller again."

She knew she had fallen out of favor and had no more affection for Yongzheng.

The Third Prince was dull-witted, and her repeated emphasis on growing taller was simply to tell Yongzheng that the Third Prince was the most robust of all his sons.

However, the emperor was heartless; he only took his anger out on Consort Qi because he had been humiliated by his other favored concubines. A single sentence, "Pink and delicate, how old are you now?" Consort Qi even wore lake blue when she committed suicide.

Gu Jingyi noticed Tian Xiwei's unusual behavior, and his hand naturally covered her knee under the table. In front of the camera, he said casually, "Qingqing Daily Life is an alternate history, the script is original, the novel mentioned is just a framework, but the content is different. There is no prototype issue, Yin Zheng only loves Li Wei."

……

Tian Xiwei curled up in the passenger seat like a cat, her eyelashes still wet with undried tears.

Neon lights flowed outside the car window, like an overturned palette splashed on the windshield. They divided Gu Jingyi's profile into alternating light and shadow, his eyes swirling with emotion. His fingertips unconsciously traced the texture of the leather steering wheel, and suddenly those textures transformed into dried sweat stains on a talent show stage.

The commotion from the Sina building an hour ago still echoed in my ears, no matter how impeccable his answer was at the time.

I still can't forget the light in Tian Xiwei's eyes that suddenly went out when the host asked her a question.

She was hesitant, she was uneasy.

Gu Jingyi had no idea why she was uneasy.

Having been reborn, he already showed enough favoritism towards Xiaotian.

Seeing that Tian Xiwei was still staring blankly, Gu Jingyi put his hands under her armpits.

He looked her straight in the eye and asked patiently, "Xiaotian, you've been distracted ever since you came back from canvassing the buildings. Can you tell me why?"

Tian Xiwei leaned quietly against Gu Jingyi's chest, then suddenly looked up and asked in a trembling voice, "Gu Jingyi, if you hadn't withdrawn from Produce 202 that year..."

The air seemed to freeze, and Gu Jingyi frowned.

Tian Xiwei raised her fingers and gently smoothed out the wrinkles between Gu Jingyi's brows.

"You know what? Before the finale of 'Idol Producer,' I had a dream."

Her voice was cold, but her face was full of sorrow.

“I dreamt that you didn’t withdraw from the competition. On the debut night of Produce 202, you were voted out and debuted as the fifth place winner.”

Gu Jingyi's arms around her suddenly stiffened, but he quickly tightened his embrace.

"No, don't you believe in my abilities? I'm the undisputed number one over there. It's possible to be second, but fifth would be too obvious. Ahn Joon-young isn't that stupid."

Gu Jingyi chuckled and spoke in a relaxed tone.

Although he didn't know why Oda dreamed about it, these past events were too heavy for him to bear alone; there was no need to involve Oda in them.

"Of course I believe in your abilities, but I don't believe in Ahn Joon-young's character."

Tian Xiwei said with a sour tone, "Suppressing green cards is something every agency does. After losing third place, the South Korean public directly labeled Chinese people as treacherous. If you're not number one, there's no difference between second and fifth. Only your fans care about that difference in ranking."

"And many South Koreans are indifferent. Gu Jingyi, have you ever thought that second and fifth place actually mean a difference in resources and roles? Even if you are pushed to second place, at least you still have a guardian position. But fifth place is not much different from being a sideline."

"Spotting resources and popularity will only continue to diminish. Given your personality, it's impossible for you to stay in South Korea after your limited-time group contract expires."

Tian Xiwei's nails dug into his forearm, and her eyes suddenly shone like stars.

"If you go back to China, will you come back to me?"

Gu Jingyi's knuckles turned bluish-white; in his past life, he hadn't looked back.

The cheap halo of debuting in the middle ranks meant that popularity was gradually eroded by the passing of time.

After returning to China, he became a peripheral guest in online variety shows, forcing a smile.

There are no powerful brokerage firms or top agents.

Gu Jingyi can only rely on himself; he is adept at networking. He cultivates connections on various variety shows and takes on minor roles in various film and television productions.

I met Oda again at an awards ceremony.

He carried the "consolation prize" through the corridor and met Xiao Tian standing with Gong Yu Han at the corner.

She was being led by Han Gongyu to chat with various producers, and even her favorite student, Deng Lun, was supporting his junior sister.

Gu Jingyi pulled his blue mask tighter, his cheekbones taut.

As Gu Jingyi passed by Tian Xiwei, she recognized him. She moved her lips as if to say something, but Gu Jingyi lowered his head and hurried away.

He didn't want to acknowledge Tian Xiwei in his disheveled state, even though Gu Jingyi at the time didn't know why he did it.

Perhaps it was a bit of pride at play, but Gu Jingyi was unwilling to show her his imperfections.

Or perhaps he sensed that although the two were both new actors, the resources they received differed due to the different strengths of their management companies. There was a gap between them, and Gu Jingyi didn't want to shatter Tian Xiwei's idealized image of her.

Gu Jingyi had thought about this question for a long time but still couldn't quite understand it.

If he couldn't figure it out, he stopped thinking about it. So he got up and started working on the script.

Finally, after days of polishing, he became the "second-best" after the broadcast of "The Beginning".

Whether a drama can promote a person or not still depends on the actor.

Gu Jingyi's good looks and acting skills immediately made him a name for himself in the industry.

In the same year, the drama "Starry Night" which he filmed with Rou Si became a huge hit, and Gu Jingyi immediately jumped into the top of the popularity list.

And the 2023 drama "Changfengdu" further solidified his status as a top star.

Everything was moving in a positive direction, but that figure was no longer by his side.

He had long been corrupted by the industry and tacitly agreed to continue the "on-set couple" relationship.

It wasn't until much later that I met Oda again at an awards ceremony.

Seeing her engaging in normal on-screen couple pairings with other male actors is like a constant, nagging pain to my heart.

Gu Jingyi then realized that he had fallen in love with Tian Xiwei a long time ago.

He used to be a trainee and had long been accustomed to seeing one fan site after another spring up, only to shut down and leave to support other idols.

In 2017, Tian Xiwei asked Gu Jingyi what she meant to him.

"It's the wind."

"Huh? I'm just the wind. I thought you'd become quite familiar with me after walking home from get off work with Jingyi these past few days."

Tian Xiwei stomped her foot in annoyance, feeling somewhat aggrieved.

For Gu Jingyi, who is still participating in "Produce 202", Tian Xiwei is like a gust of wind.

He didn't know when she came, nor when she left.

But he never disliked the wind.

On the contrary, he was very grateful.

Thanks to the wind for appearing, he realized that he was never fighting alone.

"Yes, to me, Sister Sweetie is like the wind."

Eighteen-year-old Gu Jingyi was still wearing her pink Class A uniform, and her smile revealed her bright and clear features.

He suddenly stopped, amidst the disgruntled urging of the election officials and the surprised exclamations of other fans.

Gu Jingyi and Tian Xiwei exchanged glances, and before entering the dormitory building, Gu Jingyi said with a very serious expression, "Thank you for coming."

Thank you for appearing. It made me feel like I was being kicked out of YG Entertainment. Packed up like trash, I was practically given away as a favor on this audition program. Being maliciously edited by the production team every day isn't such a bad thing after all.

Because I will always be running on the road of life, with the wind blowing through me.

Tian Xiwei's appearance changed Gu Jingyi's mindset.

He put aside his resentment at being kicked out of the debut group by YG and started afresh.

No one dislikes being a better version of themselves, so how could Gu Jingyi not like Tian Xiwei?

But his budding romance was like a tornado, and he was unaware that he was in the eye of the storm.

He went too far in his pursuit of fame and fortune, and missed his chance with Oda.

.........

"Gu Jingyi, what's wrong?"

When his consciousness returned, Gu Jingyi looked up and saw Tian Xiwei's worried eyes.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about what you just said."

Gu Jingyi organized his thoughts and gave his answer.

"I won't look back, because I want to always be the perfect person in your eyes. I don't want you to see any loneliness or imperfections."

"So, Xiaotian, you must hold on to me tightly."

Tian Xiwei's tears suddenly burst forth. "Nonsense, you've been mine for a long time. How could I possibly let you get away? Don't even think about it."

"But that dream was terrifyingly real. In the dream, you made the same choice, and I could only watch you drift further and further away from me."

Tian Xiwei's voice was somewhat ethereal, making Gu Jingyi's heart race uncontrollably.

"Xiao Tian," he suddenly turned her face, his thumb tracing the corner of her wet eye.
He bent down and kissed her trembling eyelids, the salty liquid seeping into his lips.

“Dreams are always the opposite of reality,” she murmured, her words landing on her eyelashes like a sigh or a spell. “Look, aren’t we doing just fine now?”

She finally stopped crying and started laughing, but the tears fell onto his neck.

Only after having a "half-confrontation" with Xiaotian did Gu Jingyi discover the unease hidden deep within her heart.

This unease wasn't unique to Oda; all the other girlfriends in the harem shared it.

The difference is that Group 90 is worried about fading and loss of beauty due to age differences.

Group 95, on the other hand, worried that a significant career gap would make them just passersby in Gu Jingyi's life.

After the finale of "Qingqing's Daily Life", Gu Jingyi made a low-key appearance on the Middle Eastern island he had purchased.

The warm winds of the South Pacific, carrying the salty scent of the sea, gently caress the beach.

This island has now been transformed into the grandest stage for love and commitment.

Following the winding path strewn with flower petals, you'll find today's wedding venue.

Gu Jingyi's love with his girlfriends will be recognized in this country that acknowledges diverse marriages.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse palm leaves, casting dappled patterns. Pure white curtains swayed gently in the breeze, adorned with blooming orchids and soft green vines. The long, narrow seating area was filled with the closest family members and a few dearest friends, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere.

Nine brides in pure white wedding dresses looked even more beautiful against the backdrop of the blue sea and sky.

Gu Jingyi stood under the flower pavilion, dressed in a perfectly tailored white dress.

He is no longer the dazzling top star, but just a man about to get married to the one he loves.

Gu Jingyi's eyes were gentle yet firm as he glanced at the nine brides who were walking toward him.

Tian Xiwei, Liu Haolin, Dilraba Dilmurat, Sun Zhenni, Zhou Ye, Li Yitong, Lin Yoona, Kim Jisoo, Cheng Xiao.

When Gu Jingyi looked at them, his eyes were filled with love and tenderness. The sunlight gilded him, making him breathtakingly handsome.

The wedding was kept simple, and Gu Jingyi exchanged vows with his wives under the witness of the pastor.

As the final vow was uttered, Gu Jingyi placed the carefully prepared wedding rings on the fingers of his nine wives in turn.

After the ceremony, a grand celebratory banquet followed. Long tables were set up on the lawn by the beach, covered with white tablecloths and filled with exquisite local seafood, tropical fruits, and champagne.

Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air as family members raised their glasses in celebration and friends shared anecdotes. A gentle sea breeze caressed the scene, and the setting sun painted the sky a mesmerizing golden-red, while the sea shimmered under the sunlight.

Gu Jingyi moved among the wives, sometimes clinking glasses and whispering with Dilraba, sometimes gently stroking Tian Xiwei's hair, and sometimes whispering to Zhou Ye.

His eyes were always gentle, and his movements were full of care.

He thanked God for giving him a second chance, and this time he and his wives will live happily ever after.

(End of this chapter)