Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

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"Little brother, Liu Qianqian and Yifan will be here soon. You should have the three makeup artists do a good job of customizing your makeup and styling first. I'll go downstairs to meet them."

General Manager Xu put down her phone, and before leaving, she lingered for a couple more moments to look at Gu Qing before quickly walking away in her high heels.

The door to the dressing room closed gently, temporarily shutting out the noise from the outside world.

Under the bright indoor lights, only Gu Qing and three stylists with very different styles remained.

"Little brother, come, sit here."

The three Tonys pointed to the large, comfortable leather chair in front of the makeup mirror.

"Alright, then I'll trouble the three teachers in advance."

Gu Qing took a deep breath and calmly sat down.

"I'll go first."

First, there's the designer in charge of styling management, named Guo Min, who is a rare female stylist in the industry.

In the fashion world,

Especially among top-tier fashion design teachers, almost 70% to 80% are male.

From stylists to makeup artists to fashion designers, without exception.

Guo Min is undoubtedly quite skilled to have reached the position of Bulgari's chief stylist in China.

Its design alone is unique.

Although she is a woman, she is completely different from the image of a woman in the public's mind.

The woman was around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. She had strong features, slanted triangular eyes, and gave off a cold, mean, and unapproachable feeling.

Furthermore, his eyebrows were very light, almost nonexistent. He wore a white suit with the cuffs slightly rolled up, and still had a buzz cut with the fine roots of his hair dyed white.

At first glance,
He's more manly than his two male colleagues.

Seeing that Guo Min had seized the initiative,

The two male colleagues exchanged a glance; one pouted, the other looked aggrieved, and they had no choice but to step aside.

But as Guo Min stood behind Gu Qing and looked at her face in the mirror, even the coldest and most aloof person couldn't help but smile.
Even with her discerning and rigorous professional eye, which has seen countless people, she has to admit that this is truly a 'divine face'.

As Guo Min habitually raised her hand, her fingertips gently probing through the strands of hair on Gu Qing's forehead, touching the roots and feeling the texture and elasticity of the hair...

"what?"

She uttered a short question, fiddled with her hair a couple more times, and said with surprise, "Little brother, how come your hair is so well-maintained?"

The hair feels smooth and silky to the touch, with jet-black, glossy strands that exude a healthy shine and elasticity.
This is almost the closest she has ever touched a "normal" person's hair in her nearly 20 years in the industry.

This is nothing short of a miracle among the hair of celebrities, which is generally ravaged by chemicals.

"Maybe... it's because I rarely perm or dye my hair."

Gu Qing offered an explanation, not surprised by Guo Min's astonishment.

Don't be fooled by the seemingly flowing, smooth, and glossy hairstyles of celebrities on screen.

When you actually touch it, it's 99% likely to feel like prickly dry grass.

It can be said,
Nearly 90% of celebrities in the entertainment industry suffer from baldness and hair loss.

Female celebrities are particularly hard hit, with many having high hairlines.

In the entertainment industry, the best-selling item isn't cosmetics, but hair extensions.

The cause is naturally quite simple.
Celebrities—especially male and female idols who need to attend social events and rely on their looks for a living—almost change their makeup and styling every day in order to maintain a fresh image in front of the public.

Frequently dyeing and perming hair, using chemical agents.

Even though I always use the best hair dye products, it's still impossible to stop dyeing my hair ten or twenty times a month.

Dry, frizzy, and dull hair is almost always the case.

Gu Qing herself had been a trainee in South Korea, where the living conditions for celebrities were particularly unpleasant.

Domestic celebrities at most suffer from baldness or hair loss.

In South Korea, entertainers already have a low social status, and since most of them are idol groups, they tend to use inferior hair dye products in order to save costs.

lead to,

Some idols' hair is so bad that if you just reach out and gently tug at it, or blow-dry it at high power, all the hair strands, from the roots, will break off.

Even Wu Shih-hsun from the XO group once posted a wish on his public social media account during his birthday, hoping to dye his hair less in the coming year.

This shows that

What are the psychological traumas of South Korean idol artists?

Having learned from these past mistakes, Gu Qing cherishes her hair all the more.

Unless required by a role, he rarely perms or dyes his hair. His daily styling is mostly done with hair clay or wax for local styling. When filming period dramas, he also mainly wears hair buns or wigs to minimize chemical damage.

therefore,

His hair quality is particularly precious and rare among all the "straw head" celebrities.

"So that's it..."

Guo Min nodded knowingly, her fingers still lingering on Gu Qing's thick, smooth hair, teasing her with a mixture of admiration and annoyance.
"Little brother, now that you mention it, I'm almost reluctant to give you a complicated perm."

Her remark could be described as "gentle".

The two colleagues behind him exchanged a look that said, "What the hell?"

"Has this tomboy suddenly changed her personality? Has the sun risen in the west?"

"If it were any other celebrity, even a superstar, and they dared to make demands with slightly poor hair quality, she would have rolled her eyes at them long ago."

"There's nothing we can do; it's Gu Qing after all."

"Looking at that magnificent face, who could harden their heart and speak harshly?"

Guo Min was naturally unaware that the two gossipy women behind her were criticizing her.

Her attention was already focused on her work.

Staring at Gu Qing in the mirror, her eyebrows, so light they were almost invisible, sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed.

Her fingers deftly moved through Gu Qing's hair, occasionally using a rat-tail comb to pick up a strand, trying out different sections and directions, simulating the possibilities of different hairstyles.

"Her forehead is full and her lines are smooth. She doesn't need to use heavy bangs to cover it up like those celebrities with defects."

She muttered to herself.
"A standard slicked-back hairstyle, a wolf tail... no, that's too ordinary, it doesn't suit this face, and it doesn't highlight the sense of sophistication and uniqueness that Bulgari wants..."

She quickly rejected several common fashion hairstyle options, her brows furrowing even more.

Gu Qingze was used to having her hair styled for several hours at a time, and had developed the ability to fall asleep with her eyes closed.

Guo Min has hit a creative block.

Gu Qing's hair is of a moderate length, with her bangs even touching the tip of her nose when they fall naturally. This length is highly versatile, but it also makes it difficult for her to make a decision.

Cut it all short?

She couldn't bear to part with her excellent volume and length of hair.

more importantly,
Gu Qing's features are rare, possessing both the delicate elegance of a young man and a perfectly proportioned soft contour. His abundant collagen brings unparalleled youthful vigor and vitality.

This trait,

It has always been a perfect embodiment of "neutral aesthetics" highly regarded in the fashion industry.

To best showcase this aesthetic, medium-length hair is often more expressive than short hair.

"Hey, tomboy, are you done yet?"

"We still need to finalize the makeup and styling for Chris Wu and Liu Yifei today! What if their teams get impatient and start pushing us?"

Shut up, you filthy bitch!

Guo Min didn't turn her head, her tone suddenly turning cold, filled with impatient irritation, "Let them wait if they want! Do I need to indulge them? If they keep nagging, believe me, I'll spray hairspray all over your face?"

She hates being interrupted while working, especially during crucial moments when she's looking for inspiration.

If it weren't for the image she wanted to project to Gu Qing, given her temper, she would have said even harsher things.

Designers who reach their level are already considered top-tier in the industry.

Especially with the backing of giants like LVMH and Bulgari, only artists seek their services; no one dares to act arrogantly in front of stylists.

"Why are you being so fierce? Does a boy with looks like him need to go to all that trouble with his hairstyle?"

The man complained softly, feeling wronged, "Even if you just let him sleep in bed, he could still outshine all those ordinary women when he gets up the next day to attend a banquet with his naturally unkempt hair."

"You...wait...naturally...!"

Guo Min was taken aback.

Half an hour later…

"It's finished, little brother. What do you think?"

After Guo Min finished spraying the hairspray, she gently pinched the ends of his hair with her fingertips, which were covered in hair clay. After making the adjustments, she took a step back, completely absorbed in her own art.

"nice."

Gu Qing blinked her itchy eyes, her ears itching.

To be honest,
There was a dividing line in front of him, and it was difficult to even open his eyes to see it.

But that doesn't stop Gu Qing from spouting eloquent words.

"Ugh, you tomboy, you're something else!!"

"How did you come up with this? It's such a perfect match for your younger brother!!"

Two onlookers behind them were jumping and screaming, covering their mouths.

"Of course! How bad could my skills be?"

Guo Min's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of smugness.

With the hairstyle decided, the next step is makeup.

Gu Qing was asked to return to her chair.

But Guo Min stood aside and began to forcefully "instruct":
"The eye makeup must be light, just enough to highlight the natural beauty of your eyelashes. The base makeup should be sheer; I want a clean, natural, bare-faced look, absolutely no heaviness..."

"Throw that glamorous, heavy-makeup nightclub look of yours far away from me, don't let me see it!"

"Hey, you old hag! Who's the makeup artist, you or me?"

The long-haired makeup artist, holding up her powder brush, protested indignantly, "I have my own aesthetic philosophy!"

"If your ideas dare to ruin my overall artistic effect, I'll shove these brushes into your mouth today!"

Guo Min stood her ground, her eyes dangerous. "Hurry up and do as I say, or if you keep arguing, believe me, I'll pull your hair out!"

"Did you keep that buzz cut just to protect yourself from this?!"

The male makeup artist could only complain as he reluctantly began to perform the procedure according to her instructions.

About twenty minutes later, the makeup was finished.

At last,
Only clothing design remains.

As its name suggests, Bulgari's most important aspect is not its clothing, but rather the pairing of its jewelry.

Various precious jewelry and ornaments were piled on Gu Qing as if they were free.

Her left and right hands, each with ten fingers, are adorned with ten different colored gemstones, each worth millions.

The ring has an evenly distributed color and sparkling brilliance, giving it a pleasing visual appeal without any tacky, nouveau riche feel.

Especially on Gu Qing's hand, against the backdrop of her fair, slender, and well-defined fingers, it seemed impossible to tell which was more expensive.

Remove the ring,

There's also a bracelet on her left hand and a watch on her right.

Wearable earrings and necklaces around the neck.

Gu Qingdu felt his body grow heavier.

Is this the merchandise I'm going to bring tonight?

Gu Qing looked down at the rings adorning her fingers and couldn't help but chuckle.

I found it inexplicably funny, but I didn't feel the same way you would feel if you were wearing a lot of jewelry, being careful and apprehensive.

All the jewelry he wore was less expensive than the cost of just showing his face.

If Gu Qing is bored, she can even play with the gemstone on her ring like a marble.

Bulgari's main focus at tonight's dinner was 'high profit margins, high volume'.

They wouldn't be so foolish as to dress up celebrities in jewelry worth tens or even hundreds of millions of yuan every time.

They're here to sell goods.

Therefore,
Earrings worth hundreds of thousands, rings worth over a million, and watches worth two or three million.

The most expensive thing Gu Qing wore was a round brilliant necklace worth over ten million yuan, weighing a total of 46.56 carats.

The official website lists the price as between $120 million and $160 million.

A strong inner confidence naturally manifests as an air of refinement. Gu Qing's relaxed and carefree demeanor captivated Guo Min and the other two, perfectly embodying the aristocratic air and the ability to carry off jewels with ease that they had been searching for!
The work has finally come to an end.

With the help of the staff, Gu Qing carefully removed all her jewelry and went to a private bathroom to wash off the hair gel and light makeup.

I felt much more relaxed and relieved.

Finally, I can go back to my room and get some rest to adjust to the time difference.

Just as Gu Qing was about to get up, say goodbye, and leave.

"咚咚-"

"Teachers, is the makeup and styling for my younger brother finalized? Would it be convenient for me to bring Qianqian in for a look and to have her makeup done as well?" General Manager Xu's efficient voice came from outside the door.

"It's ready, come in," Guo Min called out.

The door was pushed open.

General Manager Xu walked in with a smile, followed by a familiar figure with a refined and elegant appearance.

That's none other than Liu Tianxian.

Gu Qing turned her head upon hearing the sound, and her gaze met those eyes.

"Hi... Junior brother."

Liu Tianxian didn't even know why she felt so guilty.

When their eyes met,

She blinked, tucked her right arm between her legs, and waved her delicate hand, giving off a feeling of having done something wrong.

Liu Tianxian had just arrived at the hotel when she learned from Manager Xu that Gu Qing had already arrived and was upstairs getting her makeup done.

She took the initiative to say she wanted to come and take a look.

The purpose, of course, was to see Gu Qing.

Liu Tianxian was genuinely embarrassed.

She deleted Gu Qing from her friends list back then.

They genuinely believed that Gu Qing and that idiot Wang Ersha were close friends.

I'm just staying home and playing with my cats and dogs every day to keep myself company.

He was inexplicably criticized and dragged out to be ridiculed, even trending on social media, and used as a negative example to be mocked and ridiculed.

Who can be happy?

especially,
What they said was the truth, and there was no way to refute it.

Liu Tianxian was truly hurt.

But after she deleted Gu Qing's contact information, she calmed down and began to regret it.

Principal Wang was the one who fired the first shot; she deleted Gu Qing. What kind of nonsense is this?

and,

She was the one who first added Gu Qing as a friend, and when she found out he was in school, she even sent him a message, jokingly calling herself his senior.

This just doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it.

Just as Liu Tianxian was debating whether to secretly add it back, she casually explained that it was her dog who accidentally clicked the delete button, and asked Gu Qing if he believed her.

Unexpectedly,

Two days later, the agent delivered an explanation from Gu Qing's team: "It has nothing to do with me."

Liu Tianxian breathed a sigh of relief; now she wouldn't feel guilty about adding it back.

But unexpectedly,

"A blatant rejection?!"

That night, Liu Tianxian was stunned.

My sister modestly said that she wasn't good-looking, but you really think I'm ugly?

"You little brat, throwing a tantrum, huh? I won't stoop to your level."

Knowing it was just a joke, Liu Tianxian suppressed her laughter and clicked to add another friend request.

I thought,
At worst, Gu Qing will refuse again.
But what Liu Tianxian didn't expect was that...
My friend request went unanswered.

There was absolutely no reply, not even a rejection!

At first, Liu Tianxian didn't think much of it and didn't care.

Staying at home every day, just playing with cats and dogs, is really boring.

As soon as you turn on the TV or your phone,
Gu Qing's "Nirvana in Fire" or news about it are constantly emerging.

She couldn't help but think about it, even if she wanted to.

It's like a small thorn stuck in my heart; it always makes me feel uncomfortable.

After that,

In a media interview, Gu Qing coldly retorted to the reporter who asked the question, clarifying that her relationship with Principal Wang was just so-so and that she had no interest in putting others down.

Then, Principal Wang was bombarded with insults from online fans, and he broke down, saying, "You want me to apologize, but you also have to get Gu Qing to add me back!"

The truth of the matter was then revealed.

"It turns out I misunderstood Gu Qing."

Is he really angry?

"He's not joking, he really thinks I'm ugly?"

Liu Tianxian's mind popped into a triple tap.

Thinking about the anger I felt when I was misunderstood,
Gu Qing because of this matter,

She was not only criticized by netizens who were unaware of the truth, but also by her own fans, Lu Han's fans, and even deleted as a friend by herself.

This is just...too tragic...

This is why today,
The reason why Liu Tianxian felt guilty and ashamed when she saw Gu Qing.

She is guilty!
……

When you take the initiative to greet someone
Liu Tianxian was mentally prepared, but Gu Qing had a cold face and completely ignored her.

but,

"Junior Brother..."

"Senior sister, long time no see."

The expected cold shoulder did not materialize.

When Gu Qing saw her, he nodded and smiled politely, his expression revealing nothing unusual.

As he was leaving, he came to their side.

She even thoughtfully offered, "I've finished my makeup and am about to go back and rest."

"Senior Sister, Manager Xu, you're busy, I won't bother you any longer."

"Oh dear, little brother, you've worked hard. Go back and get some rest and adjust to the time difference. I've arranged dinner together tonight. I'll send someone to call you then, and we can chat about some details of the dinner."

General Manager Xu said with heartache and reluctance.

Liu Tianxian didn't react yet.

Gu Qing's smile

Essentially, it's just muscle memory for a 'business fake smile'.

How could he possibly forget that Liu Tianxian inexplicably deleted him from her friends list?

You added me, then deleted me without saying a word.

If not,
With such a huge public outcry, he didn't want to take the blame for nothing, so he didn't even bother to have his assistant explain.

Therefore,
When facing Liu Tianxian, Gu Qing immediately started with a fake smile, exchanged pleasantries, and then left.

But he overlooked one point.
To outsiders, the so-called fake smile doesn't seem fake at all.

Liu Tianxian was even forcibly controlled.

From her perspective,

Despite being misunderstood, Gu Qing still forgave her and gave her a warm, clean, and sunny smile.

especially,
Gu Qing looked like he had just removed his makeup and dried his hair; he lacked the dazzling brilliance of the spotlight but possessed a more approachable and gentle charm, like a boy next door.

With her fluffy hair that looks so easy to ruffle, she appears well-behaved and non-threatening.

Compared to my previous pettiness...

Liu Tianxian's sense of self-blame swelled up like an inflating balloon.

What should I do... She seems even more guilty now.

Until Gu Qing's figure disappeared outside the door,

General Manager Xu's teasing voice brought her back to reality: "Xixi, what are you daydreaming about? It's your turn."

It seems you and Gu Qing have a really good relationship. You're even senior and junior brothers; it's quite a coincidence.

“Sister Xu, we…we’re from the same school, we’re alumni.”

Liu Tianxian snapped out of her daze, smiled somewhat embarrassedly, and explained.

"That's great. By the way, Sisi,"

General Manager Xu gestured for her to sit in front of the vanity mirror, then casually asked, "At the banquet the day after tomorrow, who do you think has a better chance of becoming our 'top salesperson', Gu Qing or Chris Wu?"

Bulgari has an unwritten tradition at its gala dinners: the artist who performs best and drives the most jewelry sales that night is very likely to gain high recognition from the brand and even land an important endorsement contract.

This year's dinner,
Bulgari is looking for a new global ambassador from the next generation.

As the previous generation's spokesperson, Shu Qi's influence is more among her long-time customers.

Among the new generation, Liu Yifei is almost the pre-selected female spokesperson.

Male spokesperson
The choice will be between Gu Qing and Chris Wu, who is experiencing a second spring in his life.

The dinner the day after tomorrow will, in a way, be a silent contest between the two.

Liu Tianxian was surprised that General Manager Xu would suddenly ask such a direct question.

In this kind of situation, one should usually dodge the question and say something like, "Both of you are excellent; it depends on how you perform that night."

But the words were on the tip of his tongue...
For some reason, Liu Tianxian's mind flashed back to Gu Qing's smile before he left, and the heavy guilt in her heart.
She hardly hesitated.

"Sister Xu, of course I support my junior brother!"

She said in a lighthearted tone, "We'll be shooting commercials together later. Working with my own junior colleague will definitely give us a lot more chemistry than working with outsiders."

"Oh, Sisi, you're really supporting Gu Qing's younger brother? That surprises me."

General Manager Xu's smile widened, and he joked, "If Yifan heard this, saying that you treat him like an 'outsider,' he'd probably be heartbroken."

"I'm not familiar with him,"

Liu Tianxian blurted out directly, "What does it matter to me whether he's hurt or not?"

This unique straightforwardness surprised General Manager Xu for a moment, and then he burst out laughing.

Next,
Compared to Gu Qing's process, Liu Tianxian's makeup was exceptionally efficient, even "quick and easy".

"Sisi, long hair suits you well, so there's no need for too much adjustment. The day after tomorrow, just put the hair at the front of your forehead up to show your whole face, and braid the ends of your hair."

Guo Min looked in the mirror, touched Liu Tianxian's hair, and felt utterly uninterested.

Her hair quality is okay, but the feel of it is nothing compared to Gu Qing's.

It took me about ten minutes to braid the ponytail. After checking the overall effect, I finished the job.

When it was the turn of the two male designers, they were even faster.

The three of them spent a total of half an hour on it, and after the usual compliments like "Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful," it was finished.

Liu Yifei, on the other hand, is used to the fashion industry's harshness and perfunctory treatment of female celebrities, and is happy to finish her makeup as soon as possible.

As she walked out of the dressing room

Hearing the designers inside excitedly discussing the upcoming appearance of Chris Wu, especially since the discussion included some content unsuitable for children,

Liu Tianxian instinctively let out a "Huh?", wrinkled her upturned nose, rubbed her arms, and quickly hurried away from this troublesome place.

Walking down the softly carpeted hotel corridor, the surroundings quieted down.

Approaching the elevator,
Liu Tianxian suddenly hesitated and slowed down.

Before going upstairs,

When Manager Xu chatted with her, he revealed Gu Qing's room number.

It seems... to be quite close to me.

"Should we... stop by and see Junior Brother Gu?"

……

...(End of chapter)