Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

The next day.

When Gu woke up, it was already nine o'clock in the morning.

He rubbed his temples; his head didn't really hurt, he just felt a little sleepy.

He turned over and picked up his phone, but there was no reply from Chen Sicheng or Wang Baoqiang, so they must still be sleeping.

Gu Qing's lips twitched.

Those two guys are sleeping soundly.

He got up and washed up immediately.

I have important business to attend to today—reporting my program to the Spring Festival Gala.

……

Two and a half hours later, the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport.

The sunlight outside the window was lovely, streaming in through the porthole with the dryness characteristic of the North.

Gu Qing leaned back in her seat, looking out the window at the approaching terminal building, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

For this Spring Festival Gala, he prepared two song demos in advance and sent them to the production team long ago.

One is a folk-style, leisurely, and tranquil ancient-style song called "Life Is Not Worth It".

Although the song title is "Not Worth It," the core message of the song is the optimistic belief that "life is worth living."

Most songs use joy to contrast with sorrow, but this song "Life Is Not Worth Living" is the opposite—it uses a seemingly negative title to sing about positive and uplifting content.

Of course, Gu Qing herself knew that the chances of this song being approved by the Spring Festival Gala were only 30%.

Even if it passes, there's a very high chance they'll be required to change the song title.

The phrase "Life is not worth living" sounds like negative energy on the Spring Festival Gala stage.

As for the remaining song—

"Ten Thousand Frontiers".

The "red song" that went viral on the internet in its previous life was shared and promoted by everyone from short video platforms to official media, and its influence was enormous. Upon release, it garnered over 20 billion views in a very short period of time.

From lyrics to music, everything is uplifting and inspiring.

In particular, this year's Spring Festival Gala, the Year of the Dog, had the theme of "Celebrating the New Era and Building the Chinese Dream Together".

Gu Qing didn't even know how she lost.

He was 90% certain.

……

Meanwhile, at the airport entrance.

A black van with the CCTV logo was parked on the side of the road, and two people inside were idly scrolling through their phones.

The young man in the driver's seat was named Li Zhe, about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. He was wearing a casual jacket of unknown brand, but on his wrist was an expensive watch.

The passenger in the front seat was named Wang Lei. He was about the same age as Wang Lei, wore gold-rimmed glasses, and looked very refined, but there was a hint of arrogance in his eyes.

Both of them are newcomers to the TV station this year—not just ordinary newcomers, but the kind of newcomers who "have connections."

Li Zhe's father is a mid-level leader at the station, and Wang Lei's uncle is the director of a certain channel.

The two of them came in just to get some experience; they'd work for two years and then be transferred to better places.

"Why aren't they out yet?" Li Zhe glanced at his watch impatiently. "What time is it? Haven't Xu Zi and the others picked up that guy yet?"

Wang Lei leaned back in his seat, crossed his legs, and said casually, "What's the rush? It's not like we're the ones picking them up. Xu Zi is probably still waiting inside."

"Is an actor worth us making this special trip?"

Li Zhe curled his lip, his tone clearly disdainful, "When have I ever driven for anyone in my life? If you're going to drive, give me a supervisor!"

Wang Lei smiled and pushed up his glasses: "Alright, alright, stop complaining. Since we're already here, let's just treat him like a leader."

"Can he compare to the leaders?"

Li Zhe scoffed, "A brothel worker, does he really think he's someone important?"

He had certainly heard of the name Gu Qing.

He's a very popular pretty boy in the entertainment industry.

But he doesn't watch dramas or follow gossip, so who cares about these things?

What left him speechless was that...

When he learned yesterday that he was to be sent to pick up Gu Qing, his female colleagues at the station, who were usually extremely aloof, suddenly became very friendly towards him.

Some even pleaded with him to give them an autograph.

It's one thing if it's a woman, but there are men too!
Some male colleagues volunteered to do it for them.
Among those people were young masters whom he usually had to fawn over.

After all, who can get by here without some kind of background?
"What the hell is Gu Qing's style?"

Li Zhe was completely baffled. "Is he really that popular?"

Wang Lei shrugged: "I don't know either. Anyway, all my cousins ​​are watching his shows."

"I'm sick and tired of hearing about 'Love O2O', 'Nirvana in Fire,' and all that 'Xiao Nai the Great God' and 'Mei Changsu.'"

"Tch, a bunch of infatuated girls." Li Zhe shook his head dismissively.

Just then, his phone rang.

Li Zhe glanced at the caller ID—it was Xu Zi, who was there to pick someone up.

He answered the phone: "Hey, Xu Zi, have you picked them up yet?"

"Ahhh-"

Instead of Xu Zi's reply, what came from the other end of the phone was a chaotic, high-decibel scream.

Li Zhe's ears were ringing from the noise, so he quickly held the phone further away: "Hey! Say something! What's going on with all this noise over there?!"

"We can't get out!"

Xu Zi's voice finally came through, tinged with obvious panic, "We can't get out of here! Gu Qing's fans are too many! They've blocked my way!!"

Li Zhe was stunned.

"Contact the station!"

Xu Zi shouted on the other end, "See if you can arrange an escort convoy! Otherwise, we won't be able to get our cars out of here!!"

"Huh?" Li Zhe looked bewildered. "We need to arrange a convoy to escort them?"

The call was disconnected.

He turned his head and looked at Wang Lei; the two stared at each other.

"Is it really that outrageous?" Li Zhe murmured.

In all the years of the Spring Festival Gala, he only seems to remember one artist who had a motorcade leading the way – Teacher Cai Guoqing.

The other party is not just an artist; their military rank is frighteningly high, which is why they receive this special treatment.

Gu Qing?

Where does he get the nerve?
"Let's go take a look." Wang Lei pushed open the car door.

The two entered the airport.

Then, they were stunned.

In that instant, it felt like entering a clearance sale market—no, no, it was even more exaggerated than that.

The crowd stretched from the arrival gate all the way to the plaza outside.

The densely packed heads, layer upon layer, surged like a tide.

Some people were screaming, some were waving light sticks, and some were taking pictures with their phones.

"Gu Qing—!!!"

"younger brother--!!!"

"Xiao Nai, the Great God—!!!"

Screams rose and fell, deafeningly loud.

Li Zhe and Wang Lei stood at the edge of the crowd, their mouths agape as they watched the scene unfold before them.

They saw Xu Zi.

The colleague who was sent to pick up the person was now squeezed to the very edge of the crowd, his face contorted in a grimace as he struggled to squeeze back in, but he couldn't get in at all.

In the center of the crowd, surrounded by numerous bodyguards, Gu Qing could hardly move.

Are those people crazy?

Li Zhe and Wang Lei exchanged a glance and swallowed simultaneously.

Then, they quietly withdrew.

"Let's call the station," Li Zhe said.

Wang Lei took out his phone and started dialing.

……

An hour and a half later.

Gu Qing finally emerged from the airport.

It's not that he doesn't want to be fast, it's that he really can't be fast.

It only took two and a half hours to fly from Shanghai to the capital.

But it took him a full hour and a half to walk from inside the airport to outside.

For one hour, I was stuck in the VIP room and didn't even dare to leave the room.

The fans' enthusiasm exceeded everyone's expectations.

Gu Qing was prepared, having learned from the lesson of almost having his car overturned last time, and specially brought eight bodyguards.

Airport staff also worked tirelessly to maintain order.

However, they still underestimated the enthusiasm of the fans.

The entire airport, inside and out, was completely blocked.

At last,
The airport urgently contacted the police, who, for public safety, sent personnel to maintain order and barely managed to open a passage.

Gu Qing took off her mask and let out a long sigh of relief as she got into the car.

"Sorry I'm late."

He fastened his seatbelt and said apologetically, "Thank you for your hard work. You must have been waiting for a long time."

Li Zhe and Wang Lei sat in the front row, looking through the rearview mirror at Gu Qing, who had just taken off her mask in the back seat.

Then, the two of them froze at the same time.

This...this is a human?

When I saw him on TV, I just thought he was handsome, but I didn't have any other special feelings.

But is it possible for someone to actually look like that in real life?

The animated posters seem to depict characters from another dimension stepping into reality.

Those eyebrows, those features, that aura—

No wonder all the girls at the station have gone crazy.

If an actress really looks like that, she might become a source of trouble!
"Uh... not long ago, we just arrived."

Li Zhe quickly put on a smile, his tone unconsciously softening, "Teacher Gu...Teacher Gu Qing, shall we set off now?"

"Okay, thank you for your help."

Gu Qing said with a smile, "Also, just call me Gu Qing."

"No way!" Wang Lei quickly interjected, "You have to call me 'teacher,' it's work! You have to use titles when you're working!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Li Zhe nodded repeatedly.

"Teacher Gu, you are really beautiful."

As Wang Lei drove, he spoke with a hint of genuine admiration, "No wonder the women at our station..."

He paused, then added, "My dad is so-and-so, and my uncle is... We've been assigned to intern at the station."

Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality.

Gu Qing smiled and nodded, her expression remaining largely unchanged.

Having grown up together, the two were very talkative, smiling constantly as they chatted with Gu Qing.

Just then, Gu Qing's phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and answered the phone:

"Hey, Director Lü. I'm fine, I'm not injured, I'm on my way to the station."

A middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the phone, tinged with concern.

"Do you still address each other so formally in private?"

Gu Qing smiled: "Brother Lü. Is it about the song? Okay, I understand..."

The two people in the front row immediately perked up their ears, their expressions instantly freezing.

Director Lü? Brother Lü?
Holy crap, isn't that our boss?!

Why did I call him myself?!
Holy crap! Holy crap!

Li Zhe and Wang Lei exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting from shock to terror.

Thank goodness I didn't put on airs just now.

Otherwise, wouldn't everything be over?
……

As the chief planner and director of the 2017 Spring Festival Gala, Director Lü's experience is quite legendary.

Last year at the Spring Festival Gala, he should have made a humiliating exit because of an awkward segment about "dumplings in the snow".

However, Gu Qing, who followed closely behind, redeemed most of the audience's opinion with her ancient and lively song "Small Town Ballad".

Compared to previous editions, this one at least garnered some positive feedback from the audience.

As a result, Director Lü was unexpectedly re-elected and will continue to host this year's Spring Festival Gala.

In his eyes, Gu Qing naturally became a lucky star and a koi fish.

Since July, he has been urging Gu Qing to submit the program as soon as possible.

Gu Qing couldn't resist bothering him, so he sent over the demos of those two songs ahead of time.

now,

The three people in the car were each lost in their own thoughts and unusually silent.

Gu Qing was still thinking about the song and didn't notice the reactions of the two people in the front row.

The two people were too frightened to speak, their mouths tightly shut, not uttering a single word.

We remained silent the whole way until we finally arrived at the TV station building.

As soon as Gu Qing got out of the car, she was surrounded by a group of people.

"Brother Gu Qing!"

"Little brother, it's been a long time."

"Have you missed us?"

They were all staff members from the station, mostly young women, who enthusiastically rushed over to ask for autographs and photos.

Gu Qing maintained a polite smile and responded to each question.

"Gu Qing, do you remember me? I saw you during your rehearsal last year!" "Little brother, your birthday is coming up soon, isn't it?"

What gift do you want? I'll get it for you!

A young girl, blushing, stared at him intently, her eyes seeming to say: I'll give you anything you ask for.

Gu Qing smiled bitterly to herself.

In the Records of the Grand Historian, this situation can be summarized in one sentence: "He served others with his beauty, but when his beauty faded, his love waned."

She was no different from the famous courtesans who were sought after in ancient books.

He absolutely did not want to get involved in this matter.

He also has no intention of marrying into a wealthy family.

The dramatic contrast between the lives of female celebrities after marrying into wealthy families is striking, and male celebrities who aspire to instant stardom are no better off.

There are quite a few bloody examples in the entertainment industry.

"Thank you, everyone, but no, thank you."

He maintained a shy smile, politely declining every gift and trying his best to save face for everyone. "I appreciate everyone's kindness, but gifts are really not necessary. A happy birthday is more important than any gift."

As soon as he finished speaking, another round of screams erupted.

After much difficulty, I squeezed through the crowd and arrived at the director's office.

Gu Qing pushed open the door and went inside.

The clamor behind me was finally shut out.

……

"Xiao Gu, you're here? Have a seat."

Director Lü was sitting behind his desk when he saw Gu Qing enter, and a smile appeared on his face. He was in his forties, wore glasses, and had a refined air, but there was a hint of fatigue between his brows.

Gu Qing sat down on the sofa, and before she could speak, she heard Director Lü say:

"Xiao Gu, are there any new songs?"

Gu Qing was stunned.

"what?"

He was a little puzzled: "Brother Lü, are those two songs not good? I think they fit quite well."

"It fits, but it's not outstanding enough."

Director Lü sighed and rubbed his temples. "I want you to reach the level of last year's program, or even surpass its influence, which would be even better."

He took out a few sheets of paper from the drawer; they were printed lyrics.

“Look, this song, ‘Life Is Not Worth Living,’ has a bad title from the start.”

He pointed to the lyrics with his pen, "The lyrics are somewhat interesting, written in a childlike style, which young audiences will like. But middle-aged and elderly audiences won't understand them!"

He read it aloud:
"The bamboo horse goes to find the bamboo horse, the green plum is no longer interested."

Bo Ya broke the string of his zither, and Shu Ye broke off his friendship with Shan Juyuan.

He looked up: "The beginning was fine, but then a random sentence came up at the end:"
True friends often part ways halfway through life, and those who have been married often find new love elsewhere.

The young couple happened to meet; the magpie wasn't at work.

It's too abrupt! Older generations of viewers can't process it.

How come they were Bo Ya and Zi Qi one minute, and then suddenly they're a young couple?

Gu Qing: "..."

"Then 'Ten Thousand Frontiers' should be fine, right?"

He couldn't help but say, "It has a clear theme, it's family-friendly, and the melody is catchy, suitable for all ages."

"Wanjiang is good."

Director Lü nodded, then shook his head. "The focus of the Spring Festival Gala is on patriotism, but it lacks the family-friendly themes of reunion, celebration, and progress that the Spring Festival Gala is all about."

He sighed and said earnestly:

"Xiao Gu, the people, you must have the people in your eyes."

Clang—

Gu Qing suddenly stood up, her rosy cheeks turning pale.

His eyes widened, he stammered, and he was almost crying with fear:
"Director Lü! Brother Lü! I was wrong! Please don't scare me like that!"

"What have I done wrong lately? Tell me, and I'll definitely change!"

Director Lü was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Sit down, sit down, sit down!"

He waved his hand and said, "Look how scared you are. I just said that this song is not suitable for singing on the Spring Festival Gala, a night for family celebration. It would be more appropriate for other holidays."

His tone became serious:
"Moreover, even if one can sing, these kinds of programs featuring revolutionary songs are just a safe option and not particularly outstanding."

I paid special attention to your performance because I wanted you to shine and make a name for yourself on this year's Spring Festival Gala!

Gu Qing remained apprehensive, only half-sitting down.

"Brother Lü, tell me, what kind of program do you want?" He took a deep breath. "I'll write it."

Director Lü's eyes lit up.

That's exactly what I've been waiting for!
"As expected of a young prodigy, he's truly talented!"

He stood up and paced back and forth in the office, saying as he walked:

"I don't ask for much at all!"

He turned around, looking at Gu Qing with eager eyes:
"Could you write a song similar to your 'Small Town Ballad' from last year? It's catchy and spreads quickly. Since we have successful experience with it, why should we take the risk?"

Gu Qing nodded.

"Aren't you from Anhui Province? The background of the song should ideally be set in Jiangnan. You are one family, past and present, and it can also contribute to the promotion of your hometown."

Gu Qing continued to nod.

"As for the song, it should evoke the imagery of a spring day in the Jiangnan region, ideally depicting a hazy, moist spring scene to create a tranquil and slightly cool atmosphere."

"..."

Gu Qing nodded hesitantly.

"The lyrics should be poetic and not too obscure. The allusions used should be more common. Oh, and add some opera singing you know to promote traditional culture."

"..."

Gu Qing nodded slowly after a long while.

But Director Lü started talking and got more and more excited as he went on:

"Also, as a young person, you understand that many young people nowadays face a lot of work pressure and are too addicted to the internet, neglecting their family and loved ones."

"Your song would be better if it expressed a leisurely and contented attitude towards life, appreciating the present moment, and conveying a sense of 'slow living'."

"Oh right, as for the song, it would be better if you could capture the feeling of a young couple in love."

And incidentally, it might help the country encourage childbirth. Just be careful with the scale; it can't be too dramatic or tragic, it needs to be a bit light and refreshing.

After speaking in one breath, Director Lü's mouth was a little dry.

He picked up the teacup filled with tea leaves, took a sip, then spat it out with a "pui!" and placed the cup back on the table, smiling slightly.
"Xiao Gu, that's all I ask. You should be okay with that, right?"

Gu Qing: "..."

That's all... requirements?
Are you even speaking human language?!

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't say anything.

"Ugh."

Director Lü sighed, sat back down in his chair, and tried to appeal to people's emotions, "Xiao Gu, you're an artist I'm protecting. I don't want to put all the burden on your shoulders."

He rubbed his temples and said wearily:
"But there's nothing I can do. The reputation of the Spring Festival Gala has plummeted in recent years. The station urgently needs to produce results, and I can't do anything about it."

Gu Qing had nothing to say.

Director Lü was indeed very good to him.

Few celebrities receive this treatment; generally speaking, it's good enough if they aren't verbally abused.

Last year at the Spring Festival Gala, he insisted on having Gu Qing perform despite opposition, and he didn't get angry even after she improvised. Not many directors can do that.

"Just write with confidence."

Director Lü raised his head, his eyes firm, "Once the song is written, you don't need to say anything about what set design is needed."

I'll arrange the most magnificent set for you, even if it's just to bring the entire ancient Jiangnan region to the stage exactly as it was!

Gu Qing was silent for a moment, just about to speak,
Director Lü suddenly remembered something, opened the drawer, and took out a roll of something.

"Here, a shy little girl asked me to give you a birthday present."

It was an antique-looking scroll, tied with a silk ribbon.

Gu Qing took it with a puzzled look, untied the ribbon, and slowly unfolded it.

The scroll was very long, more than three meters wide, and couldn't fit on the entire table.

He had no choice but to stand up and, together with Director Lü, look at it section by section.

The figures, scenes, and costumes in the painting all exude a classical charm.

Gu Qing's gaze fell on the figures in the painting.

Then, he froze.

He recognized the painting.

The Night Banquet of Han Xizai.

"The Night Banquet of Han Xizai".

Director Lü said from the side, "They specially commissioned a famous master in China to make a copy, and it took them a full six months to paint it."

He chuckled and said, "You seem to attract quite a few young girls."

She said she saw your program and thought you really liked it, so she specially commissioned someone to paint it for you. She just hadn't had a chance to give it to you until now.

Gu Qing stared at the figures in the painting, her thoughts somewhat chaotic.

Who is the little girl?
Was he one of the people outside who said they wanted to give him a gift?
As for the program...

A scene suddenly flashed through Gu Qing's mind—

That was an episode of "Running Man".

He and Chen Duling participated together to promote the film "The Left Ear".

In the final name tag ripping segment...

They were in an attic, where a mural hung on the wall.

The mural depicts "The Night Banquet of Han Xizai".

He gave Chen Duling a brief explanation and showed his appreciation.

"This painting is very interesting. It depicts a night banquet during the Southern Tang Dynasty. The host, Han Xizai, deliberately portrays himself as indulging in sensual pleasures to avoid arousing the emperor's suspicion..."

As he spoke, his gaze lingered on the painting.

Chen Duling, standing beside her, listened quietly, her eyes shining.

That happened in an instant.

He himself had almost forgotten.

Surprisingly, someone remembered it, took it seriously, and even found a famous painter to paint it for half a year.

Gu Qing's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He looked down at the scroll in his hands. The figures in the painting were lifelike, with delicate details in their clothing and varied expressions.
Suddenly, the scroll in my hand felt very hot.

"Director Lü, I..." He opened his mouth.

"Don't give it to me!"

Director Lü quickly waved his hand, "I'm afraid of being driven crazy by the noise! ​​Just keep it. If you don't like it, you can just put it aside or throw it away."

He paused, then added, "However, this painting is quite well copied. I know this master too; it's not easy to get him to paint."

Gu Qing remained silent, looking at the scroll in her hand.

The Night Banquet of Han Xizai.

The figures in the painting are enjoying a banquet, clinking glasses and laughing merrily.

Gu Qing suddenly didn't know what to say.

Director Lü looked at him, then glanced at the contents of the first volume of the scroll, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

Then, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

"That's right!"

Gu Qing was startled and looked up.

How was your performance as Lang Can at the Spring Festival Gala?

Director Lü's eyes lit up, and he paced back and forth in his office. "I'll recreate the entire set for you based on 'The Night Banquet of Han Xizai'! I guarantee it will be a highlight!"

He got more and more excited as he spoke, and his pace quickened:
"Think about it, the Night Banquet of Han Xizai is a famous painting from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, which has been passed down for thousands of years."

In the painting, you portray Lang Can, the top scholar in the imperial examination, sitting at a banquet, reciting poems and composing verses, showcasing the elegance of ancient literati!

He turned around, looking at Gu Qing with eager eyes:
"At that time, the stage will be the painting, and the painting will be the stage!"
I'll have the lighting technicians and set designers all work together to bring the ancient banquet scene to the stage exactly as it was!

"Great! Okay!"

Director Lü became more and more excited as he spoke, pacing back and forth in his office. "The top scorer of the Spring Festival Gala, what a blessing and good fortune!"

"Moreover, the meaning is also good! It can showcase the style of ancient literati and promote the concept of traditional cultural relics!"

He stopped and looked at Gu Qing:

"Didn't you want to write a song? Use this as the background! Write a song about a banquet, about literati, about Jiangnan!"

"Oh right, the 'Night Banquet of Han Xizai' was painted during the Southern Tang Dynasty, and the capital of the Southern Tang Dynasty was Jinling, which is now Nanjing."

The misty rain and water towns of Jiangnan perfectly capture the atmosphere we were just describing!

Gu Qing looked at the painting in her hand, then at Director Lü.

Director Lü was completely absorbed in the role, muttering to himself:

"The figures in the painting, such as Han Xizai, Lang Can, and Li Jiaming, were played by actors, who took turns appearing on stage."

You sit in the very center, dressed in a blue robe, playing the zither and composing poetry…

"When the lights come on and the smoke rises, the entire stage becomes a living banquet!"

"It would be best to build you another door. This side is Han Xizai's night banquet, and beyond that side is the scenery of the Song Dynasty. The audience below the stage is like a viewer outside the painting, experiencing a thousand years in a glance!"

He turned around abruptly, looked at Gu Qing, and his eyes were frighteningly bright:
"Xiao Gu, what do you think?!"

Besides being the director of the Spring Festival Gala, he is also the chief producer of the well-known program "National Treasure"!
The program's meaning is to connect the stories of each guardian and ignite the brilliant spark that continues the Chinese civilization.

For this purpose, many actors have been filmed portraying ancient figures to promote traditional culture.

This is one of Director Lü's specialties!

"It seems... to be quite interesting."

It has to be said that Gu Qing was very tempted.

only,
"We want to recreate the painting using a song..."

Gu Qing stared at the painting in his hand, lost in thought.

Does he have the song library for this song?
……

...(End of this chapter)