Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

The next morning, as dawn broke, Gu Qing and his group boarded a flight back to China.

After a flight of more than ten hours, the aircraft's landing gear finally made steady contact with the domestic runway, emitting a familiar grinding roar.

Gu Qing's back, which was leaning back in the chair, relaxed almost imperceptibly by a slight crease.

As he stepped back onto the familiar ground, a breeze carrying the dryness of early summer and the faint scent of dust caressed his face, instantly enveloping him in an indescribable, heavy sense of peace.

During their months in Africa, although filming went smoothly and the team was well protected, being in a foreign country, especially with rumors of poor security in some areas, made the experience challenging.

He was always subconsciously on edge, with a vague sense of crisis that he might encounter an accident or even be targeted by someone with ill intentions.

Home is the best place; even breathing feels reassuring.

"Boss, we got a message from Brother Xu."

As Zhao Ya handed her luggage to her cousin Niu Ma, who was already waiting nearby, she quickly whispered her report during the last moment of walking on the covered bridge.
He said he did not deliberately hide his trip back to China, and that there must have been media and fans waiting at the airport who had gotten wind of it.

There will likely be interviews when you go out, so be prepared and handle them carefully.

"Ah."

Gu Qing was not surprised by this and nodded slightly.

Xu Wei is always meticulous in his actions. This level of exposure is intended to maintain his popularity and also to generate buzz for his upcoming important events.

Before getting off the plane,

Like a busy little bee, Zhao Ya tidied Gu Qing's slightly disheveled hair, which had become messy from the long flight, and smoothed out a barely perceptible wrinkle at the collar of his shirt.
Make sure he appears in front of the camera in the most impeccable way.

Gu Qing's most important activity during her trip back to China was attending the annual high jewelry gala hosted by the top luxury brand Bulgari in Shanghai.

Before a formal debut at a star-studded event, necessary media exposure and pre-launch hype are standard practice in the industry.

to this end,

He didn't even get to fully attend the wrap party for "Wolf Warrior 2" before rushing back.

Upon closer examination, this process did indeed lack the composure expected of a top superstar, and even appeared somewhat rushed and flustered.

However, that's just how the entertainment industry is.

When faced with an invitation from a brand of Bulgari's caliber, the entire industry would band together, and no one would dare to put on even the slightest bit of a "cool" attitude.

They either grovel and fawn, or they squeeze in with the most perfect smile.

There are no artists that Bulgari can't invite, only artists they don't want to invite.

This is the absolute power of discourse and class barriers represented by the term "ultimate luxury".

The Bulgari Gala Dinner is considered one of the most prestigious events in the global entertainment and fashion world.

Receiving an invitation means you've been recognized by this elite circle and are one of the most commercially valuable and influential figures in the fashion world today.

on the contrary,

If you dare to refuse Bulgari's invitation, you can almost overnight wipe out an artist's commercial value.

It's a direct reset... to zero!
Many people may misunderstand fashion brands, believing that each brand operates independently, and if one brand fails, another will succeed.

If this company doesn't like me, I'll go to another one. Why should I fawn over you?
However, the truth is,

The vast majority of well-known luxury brands in the world are owned by a few giant conglomerates.

Among them, the LVMH Group is the undisputed leader.

This behemoth, often simply referred to as "LV, which sells exorbitantly priced bags," owns more than 75 luxury brands, covering multiple fields such as fashion, leather goods, perfumes, cosmetics, watches, jewelry, and even retail.

In 2011, Bulgari was acquired by them and quickly became one of the group's core jewelry and watch brands.

Its position is extremely important, enough to rank it among the top ten brands in the group, making it a top priority.

How massive is the LVMH Group?
The most obvious indicator is market capitalization.

Its market capitalization has now exceeded 400 billion euros, which is equivalent to about 3 trillion yuan.

Tencent, the largest company in China, currently has a total market value of 3.3 trillion yuan.

LV is almost identical to it.

Considering the pervasive influence of the luxury goods industry on popular culture and the entertainment industry ecosystem, as well as its staggering profit margins.

Its power and influence far exceed the imagination of ordinary people.

For such a behemoth to "punish" or even "ban" an artist, it might be as easy as Tencent freezing a user account that has violated regulations.

Faced with such a huge gap, even a top star like Gu Qing, who already had considerable confidence, had to obediently adjust his schedule and "hurry up" to rush back.

Needless to say, other artists, upon receiving the invitation, were probably only overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement.

Being able to make an appearance at this banquet is already a great "honor" recognized by the industry and the public.

……

Guided by airport ground staff, Gu Qing and his group headed towards the VIP exit.

Before I had even fully stepped out, a wave of noise, a mixture of frantic camera shutters, blinding flashes, and deafening voices, rushed towards me.

Outside the passage,
The area was already packed with media and a small number of core fans who had already heard the news.

Cameras and microphones were all pointed at the exit, reporters stretched out their arms, and recorders and microphones were almost poking people's faces. A barrage of questions came at them like a tidal wave:

"Gu Qing, is there some important work you need to come back from abroad so suddenly?"

"Little brother, would you mind revealing some details about the filming in Feizhou? Is it a movie or something else?"

"Gu Qing, look this way and smile!"

"Going to Africa is indeed for filming, but the specific details must be kept secret."

Gu Qing took off her sunglasses and patiently answered each question.

"Everyone will know when the official announcement comes. The expected release date is probably at the end of the second half of the year."

Compared to the stiffness or overacting of many celebrities in front of the camera, Gu Qing's "naturalness" is particularly rare.
It truly is a case of "red energy nourishing people".

"Little brother, I heard you received an invitation to the Bulgari dinner. Is that true?"

A reporter asked.

"it is true,"

Gu Qing nodded readily, "I'm very happy to receive the invitation, and I will attend on time."

"Will you consider incorporating some Chinese elements for this appearance, such as Hanfu styling?" another reporter asked.

Gu Qing paused, then smiled and said, "Well... that probably depends on the stylist's overall design concept."

I'm really looking forward to the final look and hope it will surprise everyone.

His gentle voice and unhurried tone possess a calming power.

With the help of well-trained staff,
Although the media present were excited, they maintained basic order, following and filming while asking questions from a distance of about half a meter, and there was no pushing or shoving.

After the routine interview questions had been asked,

Some familiar journalists began to talk about lighter topics, trying to dig up some different "scoops".

"Hey bro, have you been watching Chris Wu's 'The Rap of China' lately? It's super popular!" a reporter from an entertainment weekly asked with a smile.

"The Rap of China?"

Gu Qing frowned slightly, revealing a perfectly timed look of doubt. "He...is he making a new movie again?"

With this remark,
There was a moment of silence, followed by an even louder burst of laughter, mixed with a few uncontrollable "pffts" and "goose goose goose."

Who doesn't know that Chris Wu's film "L.O.R.D.: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties" had a troubled fate, suffering both critical and commercial failure after its release was postponed, and almost disappeared from the public eye.

Gu Qing's seemingly innocent question was surprisingly powerful.

"It's not a movie, it's an online talent show where Kris Wu is a celebrity producer, or rather, a mentor. The ratings and buzz surrounding it exploded."

A kind reporter, suppressing a laugh, explained, "There's a really popular contestant in there, called 'Magneto,' haven't you heard of him, little brother?"

"Feel sorry,"

Gu Qing shook her head. "I've been filming abroad, and the signal is sometimes good and sometimes bad. I've also been busy wrapping up filming and returning to China recently, so I haven't been paying much attention to the news online."

"So... have you heard anything about Huang Zitao being criticized, little brother?"

Another reporter persisted, asking further questions.

"Getting dissed?"

Gu Qing was genuinely surprised this time. Her eyes behind her sunglasses widened slightly as she looked at the reporter who asked the question, but she quickly regained her composure and continued to shake her head, "This... I'm not quite sure either."

They will continue to maintain a facade of "ignorance".

After dealing with a few more trivial questions, Gu Qing put his sunglasses back on and, surrounded by staff and security, quickly walked towards his private car waiting outside the airport.

He only let out a soft breath after the car door closed, completely shutting out the noise outside.

The vehicle started smoothly and entered the airport expressway.

"Huang Zitao is being criticized?"

"Sister Xiaoya, do you know what happened?"

Gu Qing then turned to Zhao Ya, revealing his genuine doubt.

"Boss, I've heard the whole story!"

Zhao Ya instantly perked up, turned around and gripped the back of the seat, her eyes shining, "It's that contestant from the show 'The Rap of China' who was already eliminated, released a song that specifically named and insulted Huang Zitao, and the insults were really nasty!"

The lyrics are absolutely unplayable, they're incredibly vulgar! Boss, please don't be curious and search for them, they'll pollute your ears!

She looked nervous, afraid that the song, a source of mental pollution, would pollute her boss's ears.

"Why would Huang Zitao, who was doing well, be criticized by a hip-hop artist?"

Gu Qing was puzzled.

Despite his current decline, Huang Zitao still manages to maintain a level of popularity comparable to top-tier male celebrities, thanks to a line from his family's 'OK' song.

To put it bluntly, those hip-hop artists could be drowned by the mere spit of Huang Zitao's fans.

"Boss, the internet says there are two reasons."

Zhao Ya explained: "There's a song that Huang Zitao released in 15 called 'The Great Ruler,' which has a lyric that goes: 'I'll use every rap song I release to shut down all the other rappers.'"

"He attacked the hip-hop scene first, so the singers retaliated."

"How come the lyrics were written 15 years ago, and it took 17 years to retaliate?"

Gu Qing asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, I also think it's outrageous, so the second possibility circulating online is that the reason this hip-hop artist confronted Huang Zitao was at the behest of Kris Wu."

Zhao Ya said in a serious tone, "Before he was eliminated in the first two episodes, he was a player on Chris Wu's team."

Currently, there's a war of words between Kris Wu's and Huang Zitao's fans online. Since the celebrities themselves can't directly intervene, they'll definitely send their underlings to join the fray.

"Boss, you have no idea. That diss song they released was super violent, it attacked Huang Zitao personally. I didn't even dare to listen to the whole thing. You absolutely mustn't watch it."

"Sister Xiaoya, do you want me to go see it, or do you not want me to go see it?"

Gu Qing waved her hand, both amused and exasperated, "Alright, alright, I'm not interested in their conflict. Let's go to the hotel for my makeup first. I wonder what style they'll design for me."

Thinking of this,
Gu Qing felt inexplicably uneasy.

This was unlike any of the fashion events or award ceremonies he had attended before. The Bulgari Gala had a very core and straightforward attribute: selling products.

What kind of goods are they selling?

Of course, it's expensive: 'jewelry'.

But since it's about selling jewelry, it's essential to show it to customers.

So... how should we present it?
What could be a more direct and effective way than using celebrities with good looks as human merchandise?
therefore,

All the celebrities invited to the dinner shared a common, unspoken identity: salespeople.

Their mission is to wear Bulgari jewelry, mingle among wealthy women and businessmen, and use their charm and aura to stimulate customers' desire to buy and close deals.

In the past, people often joked that celebrities were "commodities".
However, in this particular context, the artist may not even be considered a "product," but rather a magnificent and exquisite "showcase" or "backdrop" that serves to showcase and highlight the real product (jewelry).

But even so,
This banquet remains a sacred place that countless A-list and top-tier celebrities would do anything to enter.

Receiving an invitation from Bulgari is itself the ultimate affirmation of their commercial value, fashion sense, and status in the industry.

Once an artist makes an appearance, their "status" in the industry will instantly be elevated.

More importantly, it is an excellent springboard to enter the core circle of the top world of fame and fortune.

The banquet was attended by many wealthy patrons. If you could hook up with one or two of them and throw some money at them, you could easily get several movies credited to you.

Even if you don't have that charm, you can't seduce them.
That way, you won't lose out.

Bulgari is rich and powerful.
For jewelry sold at the gala dinner, the brand often gives the artist a considerable sales commission or bonus, the amount of which depends on the value of the jewelry.

It's common for artists to earn hundreds of thousands or even millions of yuan from a single transaction.

If a person can close a few deals in one night, their personal earnings may far exceed what they earn from a year of hard work filming.

Moreover, this money is usually considered an "extra reward" or "tip," and does not need to be shared with the company, making it very tempting.

of course,

It has many advantages, but also quite a few disadvantages.

Working with such a behemoth comes with extremely strict rules.

On a typical red carpet, celebrities can rely on their personal teams to create unique looks and compete for attention;

But here, everything must be subject to the brand's unified arrangements.

From makeup and hair to clothing and jewelry, everything is handled by Bulgari's top styling team, leaving the artist with virtually no say.

This is precisely why Gu Qing changed his answer when the reporter asked him earlier if he would wear Hanfu—the decision was not in his hands at all.

Gu Qing felt a slight headache when she thought about those "high-end" designs in the fashion industry that often left people speechless and challenged public aesthetics.

He could only silently pray that the stylist would be lenient and not create anything too outrageous for him.

Forget it, I'll just close my eyes and get through the night.

Gu Qing had no interest in the commission from jewelry sales.

just,

Unable to withstand the overwhelming momentum of the other party, I could only come and play the part as a mascot.

After two hours,

The vehicle arrived at the "White Horse Manor" located in the heart of the Bund area.

This will be the venue for the Bulgari dinner the day after tomorrow, and also the hotel where many invited guests will stay.

Although all the artists have similar "functions" at the dinner party, there are different levels of "sales".

In Bulgari's eyes, Gu Qing was undoubtedly one of the most promising "top salespersons" at this year's gala, and naturally received the highest level of hospitality.

As soon as the vehicle came to a stop in front of the manor's grand gate, the hotel manager, Bulgari Greater China executives, and several other people who had been waiting there warmly greeted them.

In the social and consumption settings of high society,

Male celebrities with outstanding appearance and unique temperament are often more favored by the core consumer group than female celebrities.

First, the primary target audience for jewelry is wealthy women.

Compared to glamorous female celebrities, they prefer to spend money on male celebrities.

therefore,

Male celebrities have consistently been the "sales champion" at Bulgari's annual gala dinners.

Female celebrities receive this award in very rare cases.

However, female celebrities must also have a style that is attractive to both men and women, so that wealthy female women don't dislike them or feel hostility towards them.

Representative figures,

It's Shu Qi, Bulgari's designated global female celebrity ambassador.

As for the second reason why male celebrities are popular... it's naturally their 'scarcity'.

A married male tycoon who strikes up a conversation with a female celebrity might face criticism, but flirting with a male celebrity carries absolutely no risk of public backlash.

……

"Mr. Gu, welcome! You must be tired from your journey!"

"Little brother~ I've been waiting for you to come."

"Wow, it's so beautiful."

A warm and enthusiastic greeting instantly enveloped Gu Qing.

The leader was a woman around forty years old, with neat short hair and impeccably tailored clothes. She was General Manager Xu, one of the key people in charge of Bulgari's preparations for this dinner.

The moment she saw Gu Qing get out of the car, her gaze was fixed on his face, her eyes flashing with undisguised feminine stare and... passion.

Gu Qing quickly glanced at the welcoming crowd and felt somewhat reassured.

The bad news is that, judging from this situation, I'm bound to be surrounded by "enthusiasm" and even "taken advantage of."

The good news is,

At least the person in charge with real power in front of us is a woman.

however,
He clearly underestimated the way people in the fashion industry express "enthusiasm".

Before Gu Qing could even stand still, a strong, almost pungent, fragrance mixed with several high-end perfumes wafted towards her.

General Manager Xu stepped forward very naturally, first giving him a slightly forceful hug.
Gu Qing could feel the other person's fingertips gently brushing against the fabric on his back, the meaning of which was obvious.

At last,
After the familiar cheek kiss,
Her hand slid smoothly around his arm, her fingers even gently gripping Gu Qing's wrist. She turned and smiled at the accompanying brand staff:

"Quick, take some photos of me and my brother together. I'm a big fan of your dramas, and I've finally met my idol."

"Little brother, come here, look at the camera, and smile."

General Manager Xu turned her head, her face beaming with a smile.

Gu Qing: "..."

He pursed his lips and smiled.

His professional-level fake smile completely captivated the short-haired, flat-chested middle-aged woman beside him.

This actually stirred up the female general manager's possessiveness.
When faced with other colleagues who want to take advantage,

She held Gu Qing's hand tightly, refusing to let go, and simply nodded with a smile as she introduced him. Then, she led him straight into the manor.

He completely ignored the resentful looks from his colleagues behind him.

…:
The manor is extremely luxurious, blending the grandeur of classical European architecture with the ingenuity of modern design, with a beautiful view at every turn.

General Manager Xu personally acted as a tour guide, mixing Chinese and English to introduce the carvings on the pillars, the origin of a certain painting, or the beauty of a certain view outside the window.

He would intersperse his words with a few English phrases and slightly explicit jokes every now and then, testing Gu Qing's reaction.

Gu Qing also had experience in dealing with such matters. When faced with overly private or inappropriate topics, he would respond with a shy smile and would never engage in the conversation easily.

This only fueled the middle-aged woman's anger and aversion.

If celebrities in the entertainment industry are just a ripple,
The people in the fashion industry are like the surging waves on the sea.

Each wave is stronger than the last!

“Little brother, do you know how excited our chief stylist, courier, and makeup artist were when they heard you were coming?”

As they rode the private elevator up, the woman looked up at Gu Qing, her gaze lingering on every detail of his face, her tone filled with exaggerated admiration.
"They all say that only God could have sculpted your face, and that it is the most inspiring to inspire people's creativity."

"I think... it was the goddess Nuwa who made it well."

Gu Qing replied succinctly.

"Hehehe, little brother, you're so funny."

Strangely, there were both men and women in the elevator, but all the laughter was 'coquettish'.

Gu Qing felt a chill run down his spine and his back tense, not daring to relax even for a moment.

Holy crap!
This is hell!

Finally,

I survived unharmed until the elevator doors opened.

Gu Qing was taken to a private dressing room.

inside the room,
The three core stylists were already waiting here. Two men and one woman.

Before the other party could speak, she would employ the fashion industry's "intimate contact" etiquette.
Gu Qing took the initiative this time.

He strode forward, his goal clear, and when he shook hands, he not only gripped the other person's hand tightly,
With his other hand, he covered the other person's forearm with great "enthusiasm," shook it vigorously, and spoke with utmost sincerity:
"Hello brothers and sisters, I'm begging you if you can get me trending on social media the day after tomorrow."

"Oh my, little brother, you have such a sweet tongue. Don't worry, we guarantee you'll amaze everyone."

A male makeup artist, with long hair and delicate hand gestures, who appeared to be in his early thirties, was initially taken aback when his hands were pressed down.
Seeing Gu Qing so close, he gasped for breath, but still smiled shyly, "Those little bitches are definitely not as beautiful as you."

Gu Qing: "..."

What should I do if my stomach is churning?
Someone please come and save us!

"Ding Ding Ding-"

The female general manager's phone rang again.

With so many celebrities, she was clearly the busiest person, her phone never stopped ringing all day.

Anyone who can get through to her on the phone must be a very high-profile celebrity.

The woman answered the phone impatiently, "Who is it?"

"Manager Xu, we've received word that Chris Wu and Liu Tianxian's teams are almost here. Would you like to come and meet them?"

The employee asked cautiously.

"Okay, I'll be there soon."

The woman's expression softened slightly, and after glancing at Gu Qing again, she couldn't help but laugh.

Alright, all three top sales performers have arrived for the day after tomorrow.

……

...(End of chapter)