Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

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Two days passed in the blink of an eye amidst busy preparations and tense anticipation.

As dusk, like deepening blue ink, slowly permeated the skyline of Shanghai, the dazzling night belonging to Bulgari officially began at the "White Horse Manor".

The banquet was held in the largest banquet hall in the manor and the adjacent riverside terrace.

A huge crystal chandelier cascaded down like a waterfall, reflecting off the gleaming marble floor, while the air was filled with a blend of luxurious fragrances and fresh flowers.

Well-trained waiters in uniform carry silver platters, moving like fish among the elegantly dressed women. The crystal glasses on the platters hold amber-colored champagne or deep red wine, with fine bubbles rising gently.

Only the big-name celebrities who came tonight.

Female celebrities include: Zhang Ziyi, Li Binbin, Shu Qi, Ni Ni, Song Jia, Lin Zhiling, Jolin Tsai, Xu Qing, Yang Mi, and Zhang Junmi...

The female stars wore elegant, glamorous, or graceful haute couture gowns, adorned with exquisite jewelry, vying for attention and each displaying their own unique charm.

unfortunately,

As female saleswomen, they were often seen sitting at separate tables, with two or three actresses accompanying a wealthy woman, chatting and laughing together.

and,

The younger and more beautiful a female star is, the less attention she receives, and she can only sip champagne alone to ease the embarrassment on her pretty face.

"These old women are so hard to please!"

"A bunch of stinking old hags, do you really think I want to talk to you?!"

Yang Mi sipped her champagne and sat in her seat. People on both sides were talking to each other, but no one was talking to her. She was inwardly complaining, and her pretty face couldn't hide her embarrassment.

Tonight, she wore a blue haute couture silk gown, with Bulgari emerald jewelry adorning her snow-white earlobes and jade-like neck. Her figure was graceful, and her bust was quite voluptuous.

Upon arriving at the banquet,
It certainly attracted the fiery gaze of some older men.

but,

Without exception, no one dared to approach her and strike up a conversation.

When Yang Mi walked over, everyone pretended to be very serious. After clinking glasses and taking a sip of champagne, they avoided her like the plague.

It really upset Da Mimi.

These seemingly serious older men
Actually,
Everyone comes to the banquet with a female companion or wife and daughters. How could they possibly chat and laugh with a female celebrity in front of them? Wouldn't that be asking for trouble?
If it's in private...

These cargo handlers have been shamelessly groveling for a while now.

But Da Mi Mi isn't stupid.

He doesn't even have the confidence to talk to his mother face-to-face.

Expecting them to contribute money and effort? Are you kidding me?
"Coward!"

Yang Mi took another sip of champagne, feeling depressed; she was almost ready to drown her sorrows in alcohol.

But this is also the usual treatment female celebrities receive at banquets.

She's not the only one experiencing this; many female celebrities have gone through similar experiences.

Even worse off than her is Lin Zhiling from Taiwan Province.

Yang Mi witnessed this sweet and charming goddess, beloved by people of all ages, holding a glass of champagne, before she even walked over...
He received a lot of disdainful looks from wealthy women, and couldn't even get close to them. He could only sit alone in a corner on the edge.

Among these female stars,

Only a few, like Shu Qi, Li Binbin, and Song Jia, can chat and laugh with these wealthy women, holding hands and putting their arms around each other's shoulders, creating an atmosphere like that of friends.

Even Zhang Ziyi (a famous Chinese actress) isn't an option...

Yang Mi secretly observed her surroundings and noticed that even a famous actress was smiling as she clinked glasses with someone, only to be met with a cold response and left feeling resentful. She felt a pang of schadenfreude.

It's naturally quite pleasant to have female celebrities who are more famous and have a higher status than you doing the same thing.

But when Yang Mi turned her beautiful eyes toward the male celebrity, she almost gritted her teeth and lamented in her heart, "Let me be a man in my next life."

In stark contrast to the fierce competition and need for excessive flattery in the female celebrity section, the situation is quite different.
The male celebrity section is like another world altogether.

Although there were far fewer well-known male stars present tonight than female stars, they were all surrounded by enthusiasm, as if they had fallen into a honey pot.

Female celebrities are often surrounded by two or three, or even more, wealthy wives.

For male celebrities, there are usually two, three, or even four or five wealthy women dressed in luxurious clothes and with exquisite makeup, smiling and surrounding one of them.

The most popular male star at the event right now is Chen Kun, who was once one of the "Four Little Fresh Meat" and whose temperament has become increasingly refined.

He sat at the head of a well-positioned round table, surrounded by ladies of various ages, all of whom were well-maintained and possessed refined manners.

They either listened attentively to him or took the initiative to start conversations, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.

Chen Kun's appearance does indeed have a unique charm.

With superior bone structure and deep, three-dimensional facial features, he possesses both the refinement of a mixed-race individual and the unique classical charm of the East.

Especially those famous "peach blossom eyes," with deep-set eye sockets and slightly upturned corners, giving the impression of a loving smile when looking at people.
Combined with his complex temperament, which blends femininity, melancholy, and scholarly air, he is like a dashing young nobleman who has stepped out of a dream of the Republic of China era, possessing a fatal attraction for women of all ages.

however,
Chen Kun's "star-studded" treatment was replaced by an even bigger sensation a few minutes later.

A deliberately suppressed but still barely concealed commotion arose at the entrance of the banquet hall.

A tall, slender, and meticulously sculpted figure appeared under the dazzling lights.

Brother Fan is here, everyone get out of the way!

Chris Wu, with his impeccable entrance aura honed over years of conquering the fashion world, made his entrance.

The moment he appeared, several suppressed, low gasps from women could be clearly heard in the banquet hall, and one or two younger ladies even lost control and let out short, girlish screams.

Countless gazes were fixed intently on him.

Chris Wu clearly enjoys the spotlight.

He paused for half a second at the entrance, tilting his head slightly to listen to the subtle commotion that had arisen for him. His sharply defined profile looked even more handsome under the lights.

His look tonight can be described as "all-out".

The hairstyle was a specially designed side-parted "crown arc" style, with clean and neatly shaved sideburns and hair styled to be fluffy and textured, with a matte, silky sheen.

Wearing a black velvet suit, the original white shirt underneath was replaced by fair muscle, and a high-end platinum and diamond necklace adorned the V-neck, following the smooth lines and exuding tension.

The voluminous top silhouette complements the luxurious feel of the velvet material, like a prince emerging from the night.

Tonight's 'Sign Bro' is just so handsome!

He smiled and strode confidently into the banquet hall.

As soon as he stepped into the main area, five or six ladies who couldn't contain themselves warmly surrounded him, hugging and kissing him on the cheek with familiar smiles.

Seeing this scene,
Many women who were originally scattered at other tables, talking with Chen Kun or other male stars, were also attracted, either getting up to look around or coming over with their wine glasses.

quickly,

A larger and more lively circle of people then formed around Chris Wu.

The female celebrities cast envious glances.

Looking at Chris Wu surrounded by beautiful women, and then at the desolation on her side, Yang Mi could only take another big gulp of champagne.

And the male celebrity section,

Chen Kun's smile faded slightly.
The other male stars either lowered their heads to drink or looked away, appearing indifferent and unconcerned on the surface, but deep in their eyes, they couldn't hide their jealousy.

It's not just female celebrities who compete for favor.

"It wasn't for nothing that I sacrificed so much..."

As Chris Wu hugged and greeted the women who rushed forward, he silently prayed to himself.

He could clearly feel that many gazes were not fixed on his face, but lingered on his open V-neck.

Although this feeling made him very uncomfortable.

But the allure of being a top seller and a global brand ambassador forced him to suppress his disgust and force an increasingly charming smile onto his face.

Comparing looks?

When has he ever lost?!

Chris Wu slightly raised his chin, with a hint of victorious arrogance, his gaze sweeping across the entire arena like that of a king surveying his territory.

He wanted to find the figure he imagined should be feeling disappointed and jealous because he was overshadowed.

Unfortunately,
His gaze swept around once, twice... but the scene he had envisioned did not appear.

"Gu Qing isn't here?"

Chris Wu frowned almost imperceptibly.

immediately,

A thought that made his heart sink even more suddenly exploded:

"I'm actually... not the final performer?!"
I'm scheduled to go on stage before him?!

This realization was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, instantly extinguishing most of his joy and replacing it with a rapidly spreading sense of gloom and panic.

How can this be? !
In the fashion world,

His name, Kris Wu, is a golden brand!

In terms of the number of endorsements, the depth of cooperation, and the frequency of appearances on fashion magazine covers for high-end and top-tier luxury brands,

Even if all the male celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry were combined, they might not be able to compete with him.

In the past, when attending any fashion events,

Without exception, he was always arranged by the organizers to appear in the last and most important position, which was the default rule based on his status.

However today
On Bulgari's top-tier stage, he was actually placed in front of Gu Qing?

This means that in Bulgari's senior management's evaluation, Gu Qing's weight... is greater than his?
"In Bulgari's eyes, I'm actually inferior to Gu Qing?!"

The thought was hard for Chris Wu to accept; a mixture of anger and unease surged in his chest.

He couldn't believe it, and he didn't want to believe it.

But reality doesn't allow him to dwell on these emotions for too long.

A well-maintained woman who looked to be in her early forties and adorned with jewels had already taken his arm affectionately and led him to the best round table in the center of the banquet hall.

"Yifan, come sit here and chat with the older sisters."

The woman's voice was sweet and affectionate, carrying an irresistible warmth.

Chris Wu quickly adjusted his expression, put on a fawning smile, and sat down.

Almost the instant he sat down,

The surrounding seats were quickly filled by wealthy women who had come after hearing the news, as if drawn by a magnet.

Those who arrived late could only watch regretfully from the periphery, but their eyes were still frequently drawn to this focal point.

"Yifan, the necklace you're wearing has a really unique design. Is it Bulgari's latest model?"

The woman on his left, who had been the first to pull him over, spoke with a smile.

While talking,
Her fingers naturally reached out and gently pinched the pendant of the necklace around his neck, playing with it carefully in her palm, her fingertips lightly brushing against the skin on the side of his neck.

"Yes, sis, it's only seven or eight million apiece. Do you want to buy one?"

"My commission is based on the purchase price."

Chris Wu smiled brightly, his eyes deep and captivating; he hadn't forgotten his mission to compete for the top sales spot tonight.

"Sure, consider it my treat for you to milk tea."

The woman was clearly captivated by his handsomeness and immediately agreed.

The first order was a great start!

Seizing the opportunity, Chris Wu immediately turned to another, larger-looking, wealthy woman on his right, his eyes pleading: "Sister, will you support your brother's business too? See if there's anything you like?"

The wealthy woman on the right was not as forthright as the first one. She slowly swirled the wine in her glass, a half-smile on her face: "Yifan, your necklace has already been reserved, what else do you want me to see?"

"Sis, you can order a new one, or take a look at other styles? Bracelets and earrings are very pretty."

Undeterred, Chris Wu moved closer and continued his sales pitch.

"I don't want to wear the same thing as everyone else."

The wealthy woman pursed her lips, but her gaze slid down Chris Wu's face, landing on his open collar and necklace, before slowly moving to his long legs in suit trousers. Suddenly,

She reached out and placed her hand directly on Chris Wu's leg, gently stroking the fabric of his pants.

A look of surprise crossed his face: "Hey, Yifan, what kind of fabric are these pants made of? They feel really special, so smooth. Are you selling them?"

Chris Wu's smile froze instantly, while laughter continued to erupt around him.

He tried hard to maintain his composure, letting out two dry laughs:
"Sister, this is a jewelry gala, mainly selling jewelry. As for clothes... next time I go to Fashion Week to walk the runway, if you come to support me, I'll definitely reserve the runway pieces for you."

Perhaps it was because he was so "dedicated," or perhaps it was because they felt that teasing him any longer would be pointless.
The woman finally relented, saying lazily, "Alright, alright, considering how hard you've worked. I'll order one of these watches."

Just as Chris Wu breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to move on to the next target, another noticeable commotion arose at the entrance of the banquet hall.

"Gu Qing?!"

Chris Wu suddenly looked up and followed the sound.

The first thing that reached my ears was a warm greeting that wasn't offensive, but rather conveyed genuine affection:

"Sissi! Is that Sissi?"

"A celestial being has descended to earth today!"

"Sweetie, come and let Auntie see you, you look so beautiful today!"

The second to last person to enter was Liu Tianxian.

She wore a champagne-colored satin dress adorned with thousands of tiny diamonds, creating a shimmering, iridescent effect as the skirt swayed.

The strapless design and high-waisted cut accentuate her shoulder and neck lines and waist-to-hip ratio, while the slender braided hair draped over her shoulders and Bulgari emerald earrings perfectly blend Eastern gentleness with Western luxury.

They were welcomed as soon as they entered.

However, the atmosphere was different from the intense and desire-driven atmosphere of Chris Wu's work.

More often, older women approached her with admiring or even loving eyes, embracing and exchanging pleasantries, as if she were their own outstanding and beautiful junior.

"That's it?"

Chris Wu caught a glimpse of Liu Tianxian being surrounded by several ladies talking. The gloom in his heart, which had been somewhat dispelled by Gu Qing's performance as the finale, was replaced by a sense of smugness.

The welcome Liu Tianxian received upon her arrival was less than half that of him.

This will show Bulgari who has real commercial value!
Chris Wu was pressed for time and didn't bother to pay attention to Liu Tianxian anymore, continuing to sell jewelry to the other people at the table.

……

The area in front of the banquet hall, near the main stage.

"Sissi~ My Princess Sissi, you look so beautiful tonight! You're like a fairy!"

One of the most excited people to see Liu Yifei enter was Yang Mi.

As if she had seen a savior, she immediately stood up from her seat, her face beaming with the most genuine smile of the evening, and hurried over to greet him.

During this period, the two had not yet broken up and were in the honeymoon phase.

"Honey, is it really that pretty? Don't try to make me happy."

When Liu Tianxian saw her friend, she smiled easily, extended her hand, and hugged Yang Mi affectionately.

"Sisi, you've finally arrived!"

During the hug, Yang Mi leaned close to her ear and whispered, her voice filled with grievance and complaint, "I felt so awkward sitting there by myself, I couldn't talk to anyone."

"It's alright, it's alright, I just came to keep you company."

Liu Tianxian gently patted her friend's back to comfort her. The two walked hand in hand back to the table where Yang Mi had been sitting.

But just as Liu Tianxian sat down,
People started arriving one after another.

"Sisi, it's been so long! Can we take a picture together?"

"Fairy, I'm a fan of yours, may I take a picture with you?"

"Miss Liu, excuse me..."

Among those who came to take photos were socialites of similar age, polite gentlemen, and several wealthy women with kind faces.

Liu Tianxian could only give Yang Mi an apologetic smile, then stood up again, displaying her well-trained and naturally friendly professional smile, and posed for photos with each of them.

She has a strong fan base and is very popular with audiences.

In such situations, this "national popularity" and approachability translate into real attention.

Yang Mi sat there, watching Liu Tianxian being surrounded by people and handling things calmly, and then comparing it to her own previous cold treatment, she felt a mix of emotions.

The desire for higher status and wider recognition reached an unprecedented peak at this moment.

She gripped the wine glass tightly in her hand, her fingertips turning slightly white.

Finally,

After dealing with a wave of requests for photos, Liu Tianxian also managed to sell a few pieces of jewelry.

She sat back down next to Yang Mi in a good mood.

"Finally, I can catch my breath."

Liu Tianxian breathed a sigh of relief and took a sip of water.

She was straightforward and didn't think much of it, so she casually asked her best friend, "Honey, how's it going on your end? How many items have you sold?"

"puff--"

Yang Mi felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart again, this time by her best friend's unintentional attack.

Her smile almost faltered; she forced a smile, her voice dry as she said, "I...I haven't even started yet."

She quickly changed the subject, "XiXi...is Gu Qing really the grand finale tonight?"

"Wow... Bulgari values ​​him that much? I thought you or Chris Oh would be the final act."

Her tone was filled with disbelief and undisguised envy.

In terms of status and experience in the fashion industry, Gu Qing is clearly no match for Liu Tianxian, who has already made a name for herself in the international fashion world, or Chris Wu, who is a "fashionista".

In Yang Mi's mind, the fact that Gu Qing was ranked third to last to appear was already a great affirmation of his current popularity.

The grand finale?

This is absolutely exceptional treatment!

Once the news gets out, it will probably dominate the trending topics for several days.

"Because Gu Qing is the most popular right now."

Liu Tianxian smiled and answered simply and directly, "His popularity, media attention, and commercial value are all high right now. It's not surprising that Bulgari values ​​these things."

"I remember he's only 20 years old this year, right?"

Yang Mi murmured, her eyes somewhat unfocused, "20 years old... the grand finale of the Bulgari gala, a top male celebrity in the Chinese entertainment industry... there's really no comparison between people."

She recalled how she was still working as an extra and playing supporting roles in various film crews when she was twenty, and how much hardship she had endured to get to where she is today, while Gu Qing... became famous at a young age and soared to great heights.

This huge sense of loss made her feel heartbroken.

"Sisi, it's not easy for people like us to become famous. We've all worked our way up step by step."

Yang Mi couldn't help but sigh, "Someone like him... is truly blessed by God."

“Uh… Mimi,”

Liu Tianxian blinked her clear, innocent eyes, tilted her head, and said with a touch of mischief and honesty, "I think... I became famous pretty quickly?"
"I was already well-known when I was 15. Back then, Gu Qing was probably still in elementary school."

"..."

Yang Mi was speechless for a moment.

Looking at his friend's ethereal face, seemingly oblivious to the "Versailles" connotation in his words, he felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart again, bleeding profusely.

It turns out that the clown is actually me?

You and Gu Qing are the same kind of people who are "blessed by God"?
Yang Mi suddenly felt that there seemed to be a thick barrier between her and her best friend.

Do not,
Perhaps this barrier has existed since many years ago, since they started from different points.

But at this moment, it appears so glaring in stark contrast to this scene of profit.

"Sissi..."

Yang Mi sighed softly, half-jokingly complaining, "Do you know, sometimes the things you say... can be quite hurtful?"

"Ah? Is there any?"

Liu Tianxian looked bewildered; she genuinely didn't think there was anything wrong with what she had just said.

Seeing her like this, Yang Mi could only swallow her bitterness and was about to say something more—

"Ah—! Gu Qing, my little brother?!"

A short but extremely loud scream, filled with surprise and disbelief, suddenly shattered the harmonious yet slightly noisy atmosphere of the banquet hall!

The scream was so abrupt that it startled everyone who was engrossed in conversation, wine tasting, admiring jewelry, or secretly competing.

They all frowned in unison, looking towards the entrance with displeasure at being disturbed.

Who's so rude, shouting like that in this kind of setting?

Isn't it just Gu Qing? Everyone's seen him...

But when their gaze truly focused on the ornately decorated arched entrance to the banquet hall,

All the displeasure, resentment, and indifference froze in an instant.

"hiss--"

Immediately following was a chorus of gasps and gasps.

Many people's eyes widened involuntarily.

Gu Qing makes her grand finale appearance.

He lacks the deliberately crafted, aggressive, and sexually charged good looks of Chris Wu, as well as the traditional formality and elegance of a suit and tie.

What he brought was a completely different, almost subversive visual impact.

First and foremost is its exquisitely clean, transparent, and flawless texture.

His makeup was so light it was almost imperceptible; it simply evened out his skin tone and highlighted the natural advantages of his features.

Her skin glowed with a warm, jade-like luster under the light. Her eyebrows were naturally shaped, and her eyelashes were long. Her face was not heavily made up, yet it had a kind of "natural, unadorned" purity.

however,
The boldest design lies in his hairstyle and overall styling concept.

The bangs in front of her forehead were styled into extremely natural, slightly damp and fluffy wispy hairs, which fell lightly over her smooth forehead and delicate brow bone, with a few strands even playfully touching her eyelashes.

The most striking detail is the clever styling and embellishment of the hair at the temples, creating a visual effect resembling the pointed ears of an elf.

Several extremely tiny, iridescent glittering patches, like dewdrops or crushed diamonds, adorn his hair and "ear tips," refracting dreamlike fragments of light with his subtle movements.

This is a unique and rare forest-themed makeup look.

The overall design creates a fresh, natural, ethereal, and transparent "forest-themed" elf prince-like image.

"Gu...Gu Qing?"

Yang Mi nearly dropped the wine glass from her hand. She blinked hard, wondering if she was hallucinating from drinking too much champagne.

"It should be...it should be him, right?"

Even Liu Tianxian was stunned and murmured.

She had only ever seen Gu looking refreshed after washing her hair; she had never seen her after her makeup was done.

This goes beyond being simply "beautiful"; it's an almost artistic, spiritually rich presentation.

this moment,
Without any explanation, everyone present instantly understood why Bulgari had placed Gu Qing in the final position.

"I don't understand!!" (Fenghua accent)

Chris Wu propped himself up on the table.

……

...(End of chapter)