Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

"Bing... Sister Bingbing?"

Gu Qing turned around and looked at Li Binbin, who was standing close by with a beaming smile. A perfectly timed look of embarrassment and surprise appeared on her face.

If we say,
In Gu Qing's eyes, Da Mi Mi's flirting skills were just rudimentary and often felt a bit slick.

But this leading lady doesn't use any fancy moves; she's all about being direct.

Gu Qing really couldn't avoid it even if she wanted to.

"Hmm~ Now you know to call me 'older sister'?"

Li Binbin parted her red lips slightly, drawing out the last syllable with a hint of lazy teasing.

Her beautiful face, which was both cold and elegant yet exuded a heroic air, smiled even more deeply when she saw Gu Qing's slightly flustered appearance.

She casually reached out and gently pinched Gu Qing's cheek, the gesture carrying an excessive intimacy.

In the entertainment industry, a place of fame and fortune that is extremely harsh on women's age and appearance, every female celebrity, no matter how high her status, is more or less troubled by "appearance anxiety".

Li Binbin was no exception.

He was able to actively "tease" the hottest young idol known for his handsome and pure looks, and he didn't show any obvious resistance.

This gave Li Binbin a subtle sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

This seemed to prove that her charm had not diminished with the passage of time and that she could still attract the attention of the most outstanding men.

Li Bingbing is feeling very happy.

But Yang Mi and Liu Yifei, who were sitting at the table, suddenly had a rather subtle expression.

They watched as Li Binbin stood behind Gu Qing with practiced ease, intimately covered his eyes, pinched his cheeks as if no one else was around, and whispered in his ear with a beautiful smile.

"Gu Qing...is he that familiar with Li Binbin?"

Alarm bells rang in Yang Mi's mind, and countless speculations surged within her.

She secretly observed the interaction between Li Binbin and Gu Qing, trying to judge the depth of their relationship.

Li Binbin appears to have relatively low media attention and exposure among the "Four Dan and Two Bing" (referring to four top actresses and two top actresses, respectively).

In the eyes of many ordinary viewers and even some media outlets, she always seems to live in the shadow of "Fan Ye" and is jokingly referred to as a "substitute".

however,
As someone in the industry, Yang Mi is all too aware of Li Binbin's influence.

Within the elite circle of "Four Dan and Two Bing" (referring to four top actresses and two top actresses in China), Li Binbin's influence is enough to rank her among the top two in terms of actual connections, resource management capabilities, and business strategy.

Second only to "Princess Huanzhu," who, with her phenomenal works and massive fan base, has already extended her reach into the capital market.

Zhang and Xun, two top actresses, have contrasting styles. One chose to marry into a prominent family and shift her focus to her family; the other enjoys life and romance more, and her output of works is more spontaneous.

Xu Jinglei has already transitioned into directing, and the male lead in his first film was none other than Chris Wu, who was adored by wealthy women.

Bingbing is ambitious and aspires to become a true "elite".

Of the two, "Princess Pearl" and Li Binbin are the most career-minded and commercially ambitious.

former,
He initially profited by exploiting his fans, then transformed into a personal brand, chatting and laughing with internet moguls, and mastering the art of manipulating traffic and capital.

The latter,
Following a childhood friend, he participated in investment businesses and made a fortune. He is now preparing to establish his own agency in the entertainment industry.

Yang Mi saw her idol in Li Binbin.

This is the person she has always dreamed of becoming.

What it will become in the future.

therefore,

Upon discovering the close, even 'unusual', relationship between Gu Qing and Li Binbin,
The impact on Yang Mi was far greater than Gu Qing's stunning appearance as the finale tonight.

"Luckily, I resisted the urge to actually touch her... otherwise..."

Yang Mi belatedly felt a sense of relief, and even consciously put her legs together, making her sitting posture more dignified and obedient, even with a hint of barely perceptible restraint.

She felt a pounding in her heart, fearing that the relationship between Gu Qing and Li Binbin was not the "close" one she had imagined.

"Good evening, Sister Bingbing."

Yang Mi quickly composed herself and took the initiative to greet them.

At this moment, she transformed from a seductive vixen into a docile little fox.

"It's Honey!"

Li Binbin then shifted his gaze from Gu Qing's face to Yang Mi, his handsome eyebrows slightly raised, his eyes lingering for a moment on Yang Mi's alluring curves.
With a smile that held both teasing and a hint of understanding, she said, "You look beautiful tonight; this dress suits you perfectly."

"Bingbing, why did you suddenly come here instead of going to sell jewelry?"

Compared to Yang Mi's caution, Liu Yifei's reaction was much more natural.

She had an unpleasant past with Huayi, but had no direct conflict with Li Binbin himself, and even maintained a superficial friendship on some occasions.

Back then, she had falling out with Tangren Media and Huayi Brothers, and all sorts of outrageous rumors flew around.

The most outrageous rumor is the one about "transgender people," which is actually quite detailed and convincing.

Because of this incident, her career path in the television industry was completely blocked.

after all,

Back then, Tangren and Huayi Brothers accounted for almost 70% to 80% of the high-quality dramas on the market, wielding enormous influence.

Forced
She has no choice but to pursue a career in film; there's no going back.

Of course, there's nothing shameful about being in the film industry.

This is something her team is happy to see.

……

“Sissi,”

Li Binbin turned to Liu Tianxian, his smile unchanged, "Selling jewelry is nothing compared to seeing my brother."

"Gu Qing is your brother? When did you two meet? How come I didn't know?"

Liu Tianxian blinked her clear phoenix eyes and asked in confusion.

Her gaze involuntarily fell again on Li Binbin's hand, which was resting near Gu Qing's cheek, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

“When I met my brother, you two little girls were probably still playing in the mud somewhere.”

Li Binbin deliberately winked, his tone ambiguous, leaving much to the imagination.

"I met Sister Binbin a few years ago at the New Year's Eve party on Moon Terrace. I had just debuted at that time, and it was Brother Chao who introduced us."

Gu Qing found an opportunity to explain, and as he spoke, he raised his hand to remove Li Binbin's hand, which was still resting on his cheek.

When his hand was removed, Li Binbin's smile froze almost imperceptibly for half a second.

She glanced at Liu Tianxian and Yang Mi, two young women in the prime of their lives, each with their own unique beauty, and her sensitive nerve about age was subtly touched.

She mistakenly thought that Gu Qing was disgusted with her.

No matter how well she takes care of herself, upon closer inspection, the fine lines around her eyes and the subtle changes in her skin condition ultimately fall short compared to the two young actresses in front of her, who are full of collagen.

Li Binbin showed no sign of it on her face. Instead, she withdrew her hand and teased with a smile, "What's wrong, little brother? You think pinching me a couple of times will make you lose a piece of flesh from your face?"

Her gaze swept between Gu Qing, Liu Tianxian, and Yang Mi, then she deliberately lowered her voice and asked with a mischievous smile, "Or... are you afraid someone will get jealous if they see this?"

With this remark,
Liu Tianxian and Yang Mi almost instinctively focused their gazes on Gu Qing's face at the same time, both with eyes full of anticipation for a good show.

"I'm afraid Brother Chao will be jealous."

Gu Qing didn't even frown; she simply pulled out a shield.

Then,

He didn't hide his resistance, saying with a hint of complaint, "Besides, Sister Binbin, I'm a grown-up, it's embarrassing to have my cheeks pinched in public, okay?"

"Where are you big?"

Li Binbin burst out laughing at his straightforward complaint, and the subtle discomfort she felt from having her hand removed faded considerably.

"In my eyes, what's the difference between you and a child?"

She smiled and shook her head, her tone carrying the感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, often including regret or empathy) of someone who had been through it all.

“When I was your age, you were probably still running around the yard in open-crotch pants.”

She seemed to remember something, and changed the subject, asking with a smile, "By the way, little brother, after filming, did you still keep in touch with Ono?"

Li Binbin observed Gu Qing's expression, "My little girl, she's been absent-minded all day since she came back from filming. She keeps talking about you every few days. It seems she hasn't completely gotten out of character yet."

I've taught her acting a few times, and it always drives me crazy. You managed to bring Ono into the role; I'm truly impressed.

"We rarely keep in touch. I'm very busy with work, and often I don't even have time to check my messages."

Thinking of that audacious second-year senior, Gu Qing shook her head and said, "As for Ono... she also worked very hard on set."

"She's just putting on an act in front of you."

Li Binbin stopped talking about the silly girl who made him angry every day, and instead reached out his hand again.
This time, he grabbed Gu Qing's wrist, shook it gently, and then turned to Liu Tianxian and Yang Mi with a smile, "Ladies, would you mind borrowing this handsome young man next to you? I have something I'd like to discuss with him privately."

"Sister Binbin, just tell me what's going on. Why do I need their approval?"

Gu Qing stood up, somewhat oblivious to the romantic gesture, and spoke bluntly.

Li Binbin laughed so hard he was shaking.

"Straight men! Extremely straight men!"

"He has absolutely no romantic sense, how did he become famous?!"

Watching Gu Qing's departing figure, Yang Mi and Liu Tianxian were practically grinding their teeth to powder. If looks could kill, they would have torn this brat to pieces long ago.

……

As they walked through the bustling crowds, people would greet Gu Qing and Li Binbin from time to time.

finally,
Li Binbin led Gu Qing to a relatively secluded viewing balcony connected to one side of the banquet hall.

Separated from the main hall by exquisite glass doors, this area offers panoramic views of the Bund's dazzling nightscape while allowing guests to enjoy the cool evening breeze, with the noisy crowds filtered out and made distant.

Gu Qing followed Li Binbin to the railing, the fresh air brushing against her face.

The suffocating feeling in my chest, caused by the mixture of perfumes, food, and the scents of people, finally dissipated considerably.

Throughout the dinner,

From the moment you step inside, it feels like you're in a giant, mobile perfume display case, where you can smell the perfume on everyone from ten meters away.

Gu Qing's nose was almost completely irritated by the fumes.

"Little brother, it seems you don't really like the atmosphere inside?"

Li Binbin noticed Gu Qing's relieved expression and was slightly surprised.

In her view, this kind of top-tier fame and fortune scene is something that countless artists would do anything to get into, and being able to navigate it with ease is itself a symbol of status.

Who would like this... feeling like a 'grandson'?

Gu Qing tugged at the corners of her mouth, revealing a slightly self-deprecating bitter smile. She raised her hand to rub the facial muscles that had become stiff from maintaining a perfect smile for so long.

"If I hadn't been unable to refuse, I would have preferred to sleep in my hotel room or read the script."

"Yeah...who likes to be inferior or have to put up with other people's attitudes..."

Upon hearing this, Li Binbin remained silent for a moment.

She gently swirled the champagne glass in her hand, her gaze fixed on the dazzling night view of the Bund in the distance, her voice carrying a genuine sense of emotion and a hint of barely perceptible weariness.

Gu Qing glanced at her but didn't reply, though he wondered to himself, "You also attained enlightenment in Longchang?"

but,

Li Binbin remained silent, content with the peace and quiet. Leaning against the railing, he savored the rare tranquility and fresh air. A moment of silence fell over the balcony.
Only the faint sound of ship horns on the distant river and the soft rustling of the breeze could be heard.

It wasn't until Li Binbin spoke again that his voice stood out clearly in the silence, "Little brother, you and your current agency... don't seem to have a very good relationship, do you?"

This question came rather abruptly.

Gu Qing's heart stirred slightly, and she turned her head to look at Li Binbin.

"Sister Binbin, it's not very good,"

Gu Qing withdrew her gaze and said succinctly, "It's very bad."

"In this case,"

Li Binbin turned around, her tall and slender figure leaning lazily against the cool railing. She parted her red lips slightly and offered a highly tempting suggestion, "How about coming to my company?"

Before Gu Qing could answer,

She continued to outline the blueprint, "My sister and I have almost finished preparations and have set up a new agency."

We are not inviting newcomers who need to be trained from scratch, but rather first- and second-tier artists who already have a certain foundation and reputation in the industry.

The goal is simple and direct—we're no longer working for anyone; we're going to be our own bosses!

"Here, there are no exploitative announcements that disregard your wishes; no bad scripts that are forced upon you just to make money;
You don't need to force yourself to attend those random dinners and drinking parties, or to smile and drink along!
You have the ultimate say in all aspects of career planning, portfolio selection, and business collaborations!

Li Binbin's voice was not loud, but every word was clear.
"Little brother, as long as you're willing to join, I can give you original shares in the company directly. We're not in an employer-employee relationship, but partners fighting side by side!"

She carefully observed Gu Qing's reaction, and seeing that he remained silent, she threw out an even more significant offer:
"You don't need to worry about the penalty for breach of contract at all. Your sister will take care of it and make sure you come here cleanly and smoothly without any legal risks or troubles."

At last,
She added, seemingly casually, yet also deliberately, "In addition... Liying has also agreed to join us."

at last,

She saw that Gu Qing, who had been calm all along, now clearly reflected surprise and doubt in his eyes, which were usually clear or smiling.

Li Binbin felt both happy and sighing.

"Sister Liying...is she not planning to renew her contract with Huayi?"

Gu Qing's voice was filled with obvious doubt.

"You do not know?"

Li Binbin was genuinely surprised this time. "Didn't Liying mention it to you?"

"No."

Gu Qing shook her head, her brows furrowing slightly. "Has something happened?"

He quickly retrieved his past memories.

But I haven't seen any news about Sister Liying and Huayi falling out.

"Liying... maybe she didn't want you to worry."

Unable to suppress his urge to share, Li Binbin disregarded his promise to keep the secret and said:
"Little brother, you should know about Director Han Han's new movie 'Riding the Waves' that he's currently preparing, right?"

"I know."

Gu Qing nodded, a vague guess forming in his mind. "Sister Liying initially approached me for this role, wanting me to play the male lead."

But I was filming "Love O2O" at the time, and the schedule completely conflicted, so I really couldn't take the role.

"Yes, you refused, but Liying... she found a way to keep the project going for now."

Li Binbin spoke slowly, observing Gu Qing's expression.

Gu Qing paused, waiting for her to continue.

"Since you and Liying can't film together as originally planned, the company naturally wants to transfer this project to other artists."

Li Binbin said helplessly, "I don't know what that silly girl Ke Liying was thinking. In order to keep the script, she went to communicate and fight with the company's senior management..."

Faced with Gu Qing's gaze, Li Binbin suddenly felt a little pressured, and took another sip of champagne before saying, "Initially, the company agreed that if Li Ying finished her three-month schedule, they would give her this script."

"A three-month notice?"

Gu Qing's brows gradually furrowed.

The messages that Sister Zhao had sent intermittently over the past few months involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

[I've been to three cities today, my legs are killing me... What are you doing, little brother?]

Just got off the plane, so sleepy, but I still have to shoot an ad... I just want to lie down and sleep right now.

[I saw that your drama "Nirvana in Fire" is trending again, that's great! When I'm done with this busy period, will you come visit me on set?]

[I encountered a bizarre customer at today's event who tried to trick me into drinking. Dream on.]

"Little brother, when do you think we can film together again?"

Lately, I keep dreaming about being on the set of "The Journey of Flower" and "The Mystic Nine"...

[I'll have a surprise for you when I'm done with this! I guarantee you'll love it!]

……

Those seemingly ordinary complaints, whining, sharing, and expectations are now like scattered puzzle pieces, strung together by Li Binbin's words.

So the "surprise" she was talking about...
It's about keeping the script that she thinks is best suited for the two of them...

"younger brother,"

Li Binbin's voice pulled him back from his turbulent thoughts.
"Just recently, Liying finally finished three months of work, and the deadline was approaching... but the company breached the contract."

"Breach of contract?!"

Gu Qing suddenly raised her head, her calm expression finally breaking. "A company as big as Huayi would use such methods to deceive an artist?"

“Little brother, the bigger the company, the better they know how to ‘reasonably’ utilize the rules and advantages.”

Li Binbin twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a cold, self-deprecating smile, "Because they are so large, they are not afraid of the backlash from individual artists, so they are even more unscrupulous when doing these kinds of things, and they are too lazy to even cover up."

Otherwise, why do you think I'm so determined to go it alone? If I don't want to be a fish on the chopping block, then I have to jump out and fight for it.

"Sister Liying... how are you now?"

Gu Qing calmed her fluctuating emotions and her voice returned to normal.

"Liying is... alright. The company's reneging on its promise this time has completely broken her heart and made her decide to become my partner and leave Huayi."

Observing Gu Qing's reaction, and seeing that he did not show the intense emotions he had expected, Li Binbin couldn't help but ask another question: "Little brother, don't you want to know who the company ultimately gave this script to to film?"

"Could it be Brother Chao?"

Gu Qing couldn't get angry; he knew perfectly well who played the role of the character in his previous life's "Riding the Waves."

"What does Guan Chao want?"

Li Binbin chuckled and shook his head, his tone tinged with amusement and obvious disdain: "The company gave the script to Xiaoming and his girlfriend."

The one who was paired with you on "Running Man" before, is her name Yang Ying?

Xiao Ming personally went to the company to get the script, seemingly planning to put on a "good show" with his girlfriend to solidify their relationship and elevate her "movie star" image.

Gu Qing was silent for a moment, then asked after a few seconds:

"Since they both knew that Sister Liying wanted to keep the script, they still went to the company to get it back?"

"Of course."

Li Binbin nodded matter-of-factly, "Who in the entire company with even a little bit of inside information doesn't know? How could Xiaoming not know?"
He not only knew, but he specifically went to ask for it precisely because he knew.

She pursed her lips, looking as if she knew everything about him, "I know him too well."

He can be quite loyal at times, but he can also be incredibly petty.

I reckon that his insistence on having this notebook stemmed partly from his desire to promote his young girlfriend.

On the other hand... I'm afraid I'm also trying to 'annoy you' a little.

It's obvious he's jealous of the time his girlfriend and you were paired up on a TV show, and he feels embarrassed by it.

Look at him, so spineless. He's making things difficult for himself and for others.

"..."

Gu Qing did not respond.

He turned around and faced the pitch-black night beyond the railing.

The evening breeze ruffled the carefully styled stray hairs on her forehead, revealing a smooth forehead and a straight nose.

Gu Qing's profile was exceptionally clear and serene in the light and shadow.

But it was precisely this calmness that made Li Binbin, who was standing next to him, feel uneasy.

The more popular an artist is in the entertainment industry, the more they tend to act like a child, unable to control their emotions.

She had never seen an artist like Gu Qing before.

"younger brother……"

Li Binbin tentatively spoke again, returning to the original topic, "What are your thoughts on joining our company?"
Liying really hopes you can come with us. The three of us working together will definitely be able to achieve great things.

She also brought up Zhao Liying in an attempt to increase the persuasiveness.

"Will Sister Liying ask me to come over?"

"It's a liar."

Gu Qing shook her head inwardly.

He looked at Li Binbin with a hint of apology in his eyes. "Sister Binbin, I've actually already made some plans myself."

Once my contract with my current company expires, I plan to start my own independent studio and work solo.

He explained, "Although it may be a bit tough in the early stages, in the long run, this may be more suitable for my personality and career plan."

In terms of returns, it can also be maximized.

Hearing that Gu Qing wasn't making excuses but honestly explaining his plan, Li Binbin was somewhat disappointed, but also more able to understand and accept it.

She nodded and said regretfully, "Oh, it's alright, I understand."

Indeed, given your current momentum and circumstances, establishing an independent studio is the best choice, offering the greatest freedom and the most direct benefits.

"It's because my older sister didn't think things through enough; she always wanted to bring all the best people together."

She chuckled self-deprecatingly, "When Liying joined the company, she privately asked me for a favor."
She said she hoped I could talk to the company and see if it was possible to get the script for "Duckweed" back... After all, she really put a lot of effort into this project.

Li Binbin sighed: "But Xiaoming and I are quite close, and he is also a shareholder of the company, so his attitude is firm."

I was caught in the middle, unable to persuade him otherwise, and it wasn't worth the trouble of completely falling out with him over this.

"Little brother, please don't mind this."

"Sister Binbin, what's there to mind?" Gu Qing waved her hand, a gentle, seemingly carefree smile returning to her face, her tone relaxed.
"He is a shareholder of Huayi Brothers and one of the 'bosses.' No matter how popular Sister Liying is, she is ultimately just an artist signed under the company."

It's normal for employees to lose when they try to compete with their boss for resources; it's unusual for them to win.

As the middleman, you're friends on both sides, so it's the right thing to do is not to interfere, I understand.

His overly understanding reaction made Li Binbin feel somewhat uneasy.

She couldn't help but confirm again and again: "You...you're really not angry with Xiaoming? He's obviously trying to steal the deal, and it seems like he's targeting you."

"gas?"

"He did the right thing, why should I be angry?"

"If you have the ability to snatch scripts, why not?"

Gu Qing smiled brightly, his handsome face appearing even more striking against the backdrop of the night and lamplight.
"If I had the ability, I'd go and rob it too!"

……

...(End of chapter)