Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

"Xu Yi, what would you like to eat for lunch? I'll have someone prepare it right away!"

Having successfully persuaded Gu Qing to stay, Ma Sichun jumped off his back with satisfaction, clapped his hands, and his face was filled with pure joy.

She tilted her head, her striking eyebrows relaxing, and said cheerfully, "Or, shall we go out to eat? I know a really authentic restaurant in Hengdian that you'll definitely like!"

I'll go ask the director for leave right now!

Saying,

She turned around and rushed towards the director, her eagerness suggesting she was afraid Gu Qing would change her mind and leave.

"It's only a little past nine o'clock, why are we having lunch?"

Gu Qing, with lightning speed, reached out and grabbed the back of her costume by the collar, pulling her back like a kitten, and said helplessly.
"I just happened to be passing by and came to visit you on set. I'm not here to cause trouble for your crew or affect the filming schedule."

"Just focus on finishing filming. We can talk about lunch after we wrap up at noon."

Ma Sichun was pulled so hard that she stumbled. After regaining her balance, she did not immediately "retaliate" as usual.

She stood there, stunned, her clear eyes fixed on Gu Qing beneath the slightly sharp eyebrows she had deliberately drawn for her role as Ye Zhao.
A suspicious blush slowly appeared on his handsome face, and his eyes changed from simple happiness to something... inquisitive and subtle.

"what?"

Gu Qing felt uncomfortable under her gaze, subconsciously loosened her grip, and took a small step back. "Is there something on my face?"

Ma Sichun didn't answer immediately. Instead, she crossed her arms and looked him up and down carefully. She even took a half-step around him, her eyes filled with increasing doubt.

at last,

She stopped, raised her hand to touch her chin, her eyebrows arched, and asked slowly in a hesitant tone, as if she had discovered some earth-shattering secret:
"Xu Yi...you...you wouldn't happen to have a crush on me, would you?"

Gu Qing: "…………"

The air seemed to freeze for a second.

Next second,
Gu Qing took a deep breath and said firmly, "Sorry, I don't like men."

Upon hearing this, Ma Sichun was not discouraged at all; instead, he became even more confused.

She subconsciously looked down at her chest—to fit Ye Zhao's "woman disguised as a man" character, the costume designer used a tight-fitting bodice, and at this moment it was indeed completely flat, even flatter than an airport runway.

She even reached out and gestured through the heavy outer robe of her costume, muttering to herself in a low voice, but clearly audible in the quiet rest area:
"That shouldn't be the case... I remember Dudu's figure was about the same as mine now when I'm all tied up..."

"I'm so 'approachable,' shouldn't you like me more according to some theories?"

After muttering to herself, she looked up at Gu Qing with a serious, academic look in her eyes, as if she were genuinely seeking to verify a serious topic.

"..."

Gu Qing's temple throbbed with delight.

He took a deep breath and told himself not to stoop to the level of this "female brother" with her peculiar way of thinking.

however,
While he was still trying to calm himself down, he caught a glimpse of another, even more speechless scene out of the corner of his eye—

Wang Churan, who was standing to the side and behind Ma Sichun and trying her best to be a background figure,
After hearing Ma Sichun's muttered "I'm so flat-chested" and seeing her gesture, she subconsciously and quickly glanced down at her own flowing white dress that still accentuated her figure.

immediately,

A visible hint of struggle flashed across her pretty face.

Am I...too big?

This thought made her even more bewildered, and she even secretly used her slender wrist to press, with a little force, and tried to subtly press on a certain overly "prominent" area.

While pressing the button, she timidly looked up to steal a glance at Gu Qing's reaction.

result,

They met Gu Qing's eyes, which happened to be turning towards them.

Eyes facing each other.

Time seemed to freeze again.

Wang Churan froze on the spot. Her cheeks, which had been slightly flushed, instantly turned bright red at a visible speed, spreading from her forehead all the way to her neck. Even her small, delicate ears were so red that they looked like they were about to bleed.

Her feelings at that moment were no less than those of someone experiencing social death; she wished the ground would immediately crack open so she could crawl into it.

Gu Qing: "..."

He quickly looked away, pretending not to have seen anything, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly involuntarily.

Who are these people? Do you all think I like ordinary, unremarkable people?
"cough,"

Gu Qingqing cleared her throat and forcibly steered the conversation back on track, "Stop fooling around, go back to filming your scene. I'll sit here and rest for a while, and see if your acting has improved recently."

As he spoke, he walked back to the director's chair and sat down, rubbing his forehead with one hand, looking utterly exhausted.

"Sister Sichun, shall we... shall we go and get ready first?"

Wang Churan finally found her voice, but it was barely audible. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Gu Qing again.

He quickly stepped forward, took Ma Sichun's arm, and tried to pull her away from the "accident scene".

"Cousin, wait a moment."

Ma Sichun stood still and patted Wang Churan's hand, signaling her to calm down.

Then, she strode to the chair where Gu Qing was sitting, her tall figure instantly blocking most of the sunlight in front of Gu Qing.

"What are you doing again?"

The faint scent of jasmine lingered around his nose. Gu Qing lowered his hand and looked up, annoyed. "Playing a man and you still pay attention to wearing perfume? Thumbs down for the details, General Ma."

"I'm a woman dressed as a man, not a real man!"

Ma Sichun offered a rebuttal, but clearly that wasn't the point.

Next second,
She suddenly bent down and slammed her hands on the armrests of Gu Qing's chair, trapping him in a small space.

She leaned closer, and his dashing face suddenly magnified in Gu Qing's eyes, their noses almost touching.

The expression on her face was no longer the playful laughter of before, but a rare, complex look that mixed pain, pleading, and seriousness. Her voice was also much lower, filled with earnestness:

"Xu Yi! Help me!!!"

"help you with what?"

Gu Qing was completely bewildered by her sudden seriousness and instinctively leaned back.

But his gaze still unconsciously fell on her face, which was so close to his.

So close,

Gu Qing could clearly see the fine, almost invisible downy hairs on Ma Sichun's cheeks, which shimmered softly in the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves in the courtyard.

Have to admit,
Putting aside her current "manly" attire and carefree personality, Ma Sichun's appearance is highly recognizable and uniquely charming among female celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry.

I haven't experienced emotional trauma yet.

At the peak of her beauty, her face shape is not the currently popular oval or heart-shaped face, but rather a square jaw with a slightly "rugged" and powerful look, with clear and strong lines.

His nose bridge was high and straight, with slightly wide nostrils, yet it gave him an exceptionally confident and upright appearance. His lips were full, and when he smiled, the curve was clean and crisp, without any affectation.

What's most special about him are his eyes. They are bright and expressive, with slightly upturned corners. When he's not smiling, they exude a natural air of heroism and aloofness, but when he smiles, they instantly become warm and cheerful.

This kind of beauty blends heroism, wildness, freedom, and a kind of simple vitality reminiscent of the Loess Plateau.
In today's entertainment industry, where the ideal of being fair-skinned, young, and thin is prevalent, she is a breath of fresh air.

"Xu Yi, that ugly monster has corrupted my aesthetic sense! My eyes are being subjected to inhumane torture every day!"

Ma Sichun practically spat out these words through gritted teeth, her brows furrowed and her expression one of utter agony. "Xu Yi, please, smile at me and let me regain some sanity, otherwise I might actually throw up during the next scene."

"what……"

Gu Qing's first reaction was that she was doing abstract art, or some new prank.

But if you look closely into her eyes, you can see that they are not joking, but genuine, overflowing breakdown and pleading, which doesn't seem like an act at all.

Gu Qing's mind involuntarily conjured up Sheng Yilun's face again.

She wore a long, delicate pink and white robe, yet had a mean-looking, horse-like face with small eyes.
Her skin is also extremely poorly maintained; her face is bumpy and uneven after applying makeup, and she still has to speak to you in a high-pitched, coquettish voice...

It's almost as terrifying as Aunt Ximen's.

This... it seems like no one could tolerate this.

Even Jiao Shu, back in the day, portrayed a look of despair and hopelessness in his performance, let alone the young Ma Sichun.

When has she ever suffered like this?

hiss--!
Gu Qing couldn't help but gasp, suddenly understanding Ma Sichun's pain.

"You've suffered, brother."

Gu Qing couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. He sighed, his gaze softening. He reached out and gently ruffled Ma Sichun's hair, which looked a bit stiff from wearing a wig.

This gentle touch opened the floodgates of Ma Sichun's emotions.

She knelt down, placing her hands on Gu Qing's knees, which were pressed together, and looked up, her lips pursed, tears welling up in her eyes. Her voice was filled with deep grievance.

"Xu Yi, do you know that every night before I go to sleep, all I see when I close my eyes is that face smiling sweetly at me? I'm starting to have nightmares!"

"I understand, I understand, I understand."

Gu Qing nodded repeatedly, "Then... what kind of smile do you want?"

"This...this can be ordered?!"

Ma Sichun was stunned. The grievance on her upturned face was instantly replaced by great curiosity, and her eyes widened.

Wang Churan, who was still feeling embarrassed, was also drawn to the conversation. Her cherry-like mouth opened slightly, filled with disbelief.

She quietly moved her feet, clad in embroidered white shoes, adjusted the angle, tilted her head, and found a position where she could see Gu Qing's face clearly but not too conspicuously. She held her breath, ready to "observe and learn."

An idol's smile... can be customized?
"sure."

Gu Qing nodded naturally, his tone very calm.

As an artist who has been "baptized" by South Korea's top idol industry system, charming fans with a smile is just one of the basic courses of the art of tea ceremony.

In advanced courses, students will also learn how to use makeup: for example, applying a light blush to the exposed joints of the arms or legs to create a "pink, fresh, and delicate look".

This includes subtle cues in dance moves to enhance the infectiousness of the smile and the "fishing" charm.

This system requires all trainees, regardless of gender, to undergo rigorous training.

Gu Qingping naturally neither needs nor uses such techniques with a strong purpose.

Of course,
Just because he doesn't use it doesn't mean he can't.

"Then... I'll order the 'warm and healing' one first! Like... like Xu Yi's initial smile in 'The Left Ear,' the kind that can brighten up the gloom and make people feel that the world is still a beautiful place!"

Ma Sichun immediately placed her order with excitement, her eyes filled with anticipation.

As soon as she finished speaking,
Then they saw something on Gu Qing's face change instantly.

He simply and casually raised his right hand and, with the side of the back of his hand, gently and quickly brushed along the contour of his cheek from bottom to top.

The movement was as light as a breeze brushing against flower petals, yet it carried a sense of ritual, like a magician unveiling a curtain.

The expression on his face changed the instant his hand brushed past.

The previous sense of relaxation, tinged with helplessness, banter, and a touch of weariness, vanished instantly, replaced by a clean, gentle, and non-aggressive youthful spirit.

His eyebrows curved slightly, not in the arc of a big laugh, but in a shy, reserved way, as if he were blushing from the sunlight.

Her eyes are crystal clear, filled with tiny starlight, and when she looks at you intently, she can make you forget all your troubles.

The curve of his lips was just right, not too much, not too little, exactly the "Xu Yi" I remembered, wearing a white shirt and turning around to smile in the sunlight of the library!
Warm, healing, and pure, it carries a youthful charm that softens your heart.

"what--!!!"

Ma Sichun couldn't help herself. She covered her mouth with one hand, almost letting out a scream, her eyes wide. "Xu Yi! You really know how to do that?! When did you learn this move?! It's amazing!"

She was so excited that she forgot she was still half-squatting, and reached out to grab Gu Qing's sleeve, like a child who had discovered a new toy, shaking it and begging, "One more! One more!"

I want to see the 'clean and handsome' type! Like Xiao Nai, the great god!

"Alright, alright, that's enough."

Gu Qing quickly suppressed her smile, regained her normal expression, coughed slightly awkwardly, and gestured with her eyes to the area behind Ma Sichun.

The 'cousin' who was staring in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape and cheeks flushed,
"Your cousin is watching, so be mindful of your image. Go film your scene now."

"Oh, my cousin isn't an outsider."

Ma Sichun persisted, wanting to continue, "Smile one more time, just one! I promise this is the last one!"

"What are you laughing at?"

Gu Qing remained unmoved. "Trade secret, not for public performance. Want to see it? Sure, one million per time."

"I'll transfer you ten million right now! Ten of them, please!"

Ma Sichun was clearly a bit carried away; he immediately pulled out his phone and was about to transfer money.

"..." Gu Qing was taken aback by her "arrogance". "If you dawdle any longer, I'm leaving right now."

This trump card worked!

Ma Sichun immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, drooping her head and reluctantly letting go, muttering under her breath things like "stingy" and "disloyal."
But he still obediently stood up.

"Chu Ran, let's go, let's go filming."

She called out to Wang Churan, who was still lost in thought, and dejectedly pulled her little cousin toward the filming area.

Director Wen returned just in time, and the crew quickly got back in position to film the scene that had been reshot several times.

"Oh my god... why is it that face again..."

"Did he get hyaluronic acid injections? Why does his facial expression look so stiff?"

Seeing Sheng Yilun adjust his demeanor and once again adopt that "shy prince" posture as he walked towards her, Ma Sichun felt a wave of dizziness.
My eyes, which had just been soothed by Gu Qing's smile, started to ache again.

If I hadn't just recovered some sanity, I might have fallen into the abyss of darkness.

"Like...like a zombie with too much powder on it, not very agile..."

Wang Churan stood beside her and whispered a reply in a voice only the two of them could hear, her tone carrying a sense of alarm as if she had just made a new discovery.

Originally, as a newcomer, she had more of a respectful and learning attitude towards senior actors. Even if she felt that Sheng Yilun's image was slightly different from the character, she would not think of him as "ugly".

But after Ma Sichun's merciless "self-destructive" rant, and after seeing Gu Qing's stunningly beautiful face with his own eyes...

Without comparison, there is no harm.

After the two faces formed a stark and brutally contrasting image in her mind, a certain aesthetic barrier was instantly shattered.

Wang Churan suddenly couldn't hold back anymore.

This "Brother Yujin"...

It seems, maybe, perhaps... it really isn't very good-looking.

Why couldn't Liu Xiyin in the drama compete with such a "beautiful" prince?

For some reason, Wang Churan suddenly had a flash of inspiration and felt that she instantly understood the deep-seated "resentment" and "unwillingness" of the character Liu Xiyin.

"My dear brother Zhao, with your handsome features and extraordinary martial prowess, how could you marry this...this pretentious and affected slut?!"

"In what way is there that I, Liu Xiyin, am inferior to him?!"

A complex mix of emotions—love, jealousy, confusion, and resentment—naturally rose within Liu Xiyin.

His gaze also changed, and when he looked at Sheng Yilun, the hidden hostility and scrutiny almost became tangible.

……

"Strange……"

Behind the monitor, Director Wen stared at Wang Churan's suddenly incredibly nuanced, even brilliant, micro-expressions and eye acting on the screen, and couldn't help but scratch his increasingly thinning hair.

He glanced at the screen, then turned his head with a look of surprise and uncertainty, stealing a glance at Gu Qing, who was sitting leisurely beside him.

"What's wrong, director? I... have something growing on my face?"

Gu Qing felt a little uneasy under Director Wen's probing yet somewhat intense gaze, and couldn't help but turn her head and ask.

"No, no, Teacher Gu, please don't misunderstand!"

Director Wen quickly waved his hand, put on a smile, and tentatively asked, "I'm just curious...did you give Sichun and Churan some acting advice in private just now?"

Or perhaps I offered them a few words of guidance?

"Talking about the play? No, I didn't."

Gu Qing looked completely bewildered.

"How come those two suddenly seemed to have a breakthrough?"

Director Wen was even more bewildered.
Especially Chu Ran,
He clearly remembered that this little girl, who was acting for the first time, couldn't even find the camera properly. When acting with her, her eyes were lifeless, and he didn't know if it was because of her high myopia, but she had no emotions at all.

There's a strange feeling about her inheriting Liu Yifei's face and Liu Shishi's eyes.

But now,
He felt completely at ease facing Ye Zhao's shy, timid, and adoring girlish demeanor!

What's even more impressive is her seemingly polite yet subtly sharp jealousy and dissatisfaction with Zhao Yujin, which is practically emanating from her eyes, instantly elevating the character's depth!

It’s amazing!

Director Wen's thoughts began to wander uncontrollably: "Could it be... the legendary 'lucky charm'? Just by staying on set and not saying a word, I can bring positive acting support to those around me?"

As he thought about it, he unconsciously moved the stool under his bottom, quietly and little by little, moving closer and closer to Gu Qing.

"I'm inhaling! I'm inhaling!!"

……

"Click! That's a good take! Excellent!"

Director Wen called "cut" with satisfaction, a bright smile on his face, clearly very pleased with the effect of the previous take.

He picked up the walkie-talkie and began to arrange the next scene: "Stunt doubles and lifeguards, get ready. Director B, take your positions. The outdoor water scene is yours. Be careful!"
Group A is preparing to move to an indoor scene. I'll be filming the kissing scene myself. The production crew should clear the set, and all unrelated personnel should leave temporarily.

"Kissing scene?"

Sitting next to her, Gu Qing caught the key words and asked curiously, "Who's with whom?"

"Teacher Gu, of course it belongs to Ye Zhao and Liu Xiyin."

Director Wen smiled broadly, "Would you like to observe from the sidelines?"

Gu Qing was genuinely surprised upon hearing this and subconsciously asked, "Director, are you sure... this kind of filming will pass censorship? Have the standards been relaxed that much now?"

He knew that the standards for web series would be relatively more lenient in the future, but why did this one become such a hit?
"Oh, Teacher Gu, don't worry!"

Director Wen waved his hand, looking like a seasoned veteran, "Wasn't the plot of 'Go Princess Go' back then more 'explosive' and more creative than ours?"

It still aired and became a hit, didn't it?

This is 'artificial respiration,' an emergency rescue. When saving someone's life, who cares about gender... oh no, I mean gender or social status, right? Life comes first!

After he finished speaking righteously, he chuckled and lowered his voice, "No one understands the art of skirting the line better than those of us in the industry."

Gu Qing: "...Uh, that's true."

He chuckled dryly, unable to refute.

He silently complained to himself: "It's because they were too good at 'wiping' that they were wiped out by the food supply now."

quickly,

After finishing filming the previous scene, Ma Sichun led Wang Churan toward the monitor.

Gu Qing had just stood up, ready to greet him, when he heard Ma Sichun, who was walking ahead, covering his face with one hand and muttering something in an almost hypnotic tone:
"Zhao Yujin is Xu Yi... Zhao Yujin is Xu Yi... Zhao Yujin is Gu Qing... Yes, yes, yes, it's Xu Yi, it's Gu Qing, good-looking, handsome, the most handsome man in the world..."

Gu Qing: "..."

He paused in his act of standing up, and subconsciously looked up to see behind Ma Sichun.

Sheng Yilun, who had just finished filming, was walking over here with a smile on his face, seemingly intending to greet Gu Qing.

Ma Sichun's not-so-quiet "hypnotic incantation" clearly drifted into his ears.

Sheng Yilun's face, already somewhat stiff due to his makeup and recent state, visibly stiffened even more after hearing Ma Sichun's mutterings.

The color also changed from normal skin tone to a dark purple.

Ashamed, Sheng Yilun flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

"Sister Ma, please keep your voice down..."

Gu Qing felt her "embarrassment at impersonating others" was about to flare up again, "It seems like they heard it."

"Huh? He heard you?"

Ma Sichun lowered her hand, a genuine look of surprise on her face. She even turned to look at Sheng Yilun's indignant departing figure.

Her tone was even more shocked, "How could he have heard me? He was eavesdropping on me?!"

"Sister Sichun,"

Wang Churan whispered a reminder from the side, "He...he's been following us not far behind..."

"Forget it,"

Ma Sichun waved his hand dismissively, the surprise on his face fading, replaced by a "what's the use" expression. "So what if I heard it? I've put up with him for a long time anyway."

"This is a good opportunity to have a stand-in film the kissing scenes later on. I just can't bring myself to do it."

"Then for your next scene,"

Seeing her like this, Gu Qing was both annoyed and amused. She deliberately pointed at her and Wang Churan, "Do we need to use stunt doubles for this 'first aid' scene?"

His words were clearly sarcastic.

Wang Churan's face flushed red again.

She instinctively lowered her head, staring at the tips of her embroidered shoes, not daring to look at anyone.

This was her first on-screen kiss.

"Of course not!"

Ma Sichun raised an eyebrow and answered confidently, "Whether this show becomes popular or not depends entirely on my dear little cousin and me 'relying on each other' and 'saving each other'!"

As she spoke, she grinned and stretched out her arm, pulling the shy Wang Churan into her embrace in a rather "bold" manner.
With a slight tilt of his chin, he said smugly to Gu Qing, "Right, cousin? You won't mind me filming this kind of scene with your 'cousin', will you?"

"Will not……"

Wang Churan's heart pounded like a drum, but she finally nodded almost imperceptibly, squeezing out a sound as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk,"

Gu Qing crossed her arms, shook her head repeatedly, and looked at Ma Sichun's "debonair" and roguish appearance with a complicated expression.

She sighed, "Sister Ma, it's a good thing you're a woman, and an actress at that. If you were a man, with your behavior, you'd be sent to a labor camp sooner or later. You're so greasy and sleazy."

"You're the greasy one! You're the sleazy one!"

Ma Sichun immediately retorted and even tried to pounce on him.

Fortunately,

The makeup artists quickly stepped forward to make final adjustments before the shoot, sprinkling finer water droplets on their faces, necks, and hair, and adjusting the curve of their "wet hair" against their cheeks.

He deepened the bluish-black under his eyes and the paleness of his lips, striving to convey the weakness and fragility of someone rescued from drowning.

Taking advantage of a break from the makeup artist's busy schedule,
Gu Qing touched her nose, but couldn't resist her curiosity and asked, "By the way, Sister Ma, when you're filming that... uh, 'first aid' scene later, can I... watch from the sidelines?"

I'm quite curious about how these kinds of scenes are scheduled and filmed.

Two more years,

The Chinese entertainment industry is about to enter a period of unsavory and bizarre behavior, and it's unlikely that any artist will be able to avoid such tricks.

He always gives an early warning.

"Look around as you like, don't even mention looking,"

Ma Sichun was tilting his head back while the makeup artist touched up his powder when he heard this. Without thinking, he blurted out, "I wouldn't mind if you came up and acted out my role yourself."

"Pfft-cough cough cough!!!"

Wang Churan, who was sipping mineral water to moisten her throat, tried her best to maintain a ladylike demeanor.

Upon hearing this, she choked violently, spraying a mouthful of water all over her handkerchief. Then she burst into a terrible cough, her little face turning red, tears streaming down her face. The image she had painstakingly maintained was completely destroyed.

"What kind of talk is that?!"

Gu Qing's face darkened.

"What did I say?"

Ma Sichun was completely bewildered, but the next second, seeing their expressions, she instantly realized what was happening and shouted angrily:
"Xu Yi, I never said you had to kiss my cousin. What are you thinking? What I meant was, you can lie down, and I'll kiss her."

After she finished speaking, seeing the two still having strange expressions, she suddenly realized something and her eyes widened.
She raised her finger, pointed at Gu Qing, then at Wang Churan, who was still catching her breath, her voice suddenly rising, filled with incredulous accusation:

"You two!!! What on earth are you thinking?!"

"Is there something wrong with my thinking, or is it that both of you have unhealthy thinking?! Huh?!"

Sister Ma was angry and felt very wronged.

Gu Qing: "..."

Wang Churan: "..."

Wait...wasn't he supposed to kiss me?

……

...(End of chapter)