Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

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It has to be said that the entertainment industry is both very large and very small.

Through twists and turns, connections and resources intertwine, and people who seem to be from different parts of the world and have no connection often come together again in an unexpected way at some point.

And this time, it was Gu Qing who brought everyone together.

All three directors who co-directed this drama had some connection with Gu Qing.

Before taking on the big-budget production "Three Lives Three Worlds," Yu Cuihua and Ren Haitao were co-directing "Lost Love in Times," starring Liu Shishi.

That drama was also a big-budget historical drama with a star-studded cast and consistently high popularity. In the crew, from the lead actors to the production assistants, Gu Qing was always a frequent topic of conversation.

On set, they often heard the actors talk about the legend of this top star.

Even during breaks or occasional meals, Liu Shishi would make video calls to Gu Qing, her tone familiar and natural.

Yu Cuihua and Ren Haitao also took the opportunity to peek out from the edge of the camera and say hello, just to get to know this currently most popular celebrity and become familiar with him.

As for the third director, there's not much more to say.

Lin Yufen was a well-known female director of hit TV dramas in her previous life. She had many phenomenal works and enjoyed both critical acclaim and popularity, making her position as stable as Mount Tai.

now,

She and Gu Qing are deeply intertwined, having collaborated on several hit dramas, each of which achieved both high ratings and critical acclaim.

With Gu Qingyi's support, Lin Yufen's reputation has grown even more, and her influence in the directing circle has also increased, making her the most sought-after female director in the ancient costume idol drama genre.

Even to outsiders, their relationship has long since transcended that of a typical collaborator; it has almost become a bonded arrangement between a go-to director and a go-to actor.

Any drama starring Gu Qing and directed by Lin Yufen is practically guaranteed to be a hit.

"Sister Yufen, it's been a long time. I'm so glad to have you here."

When Lin Yufen appeared, no one was more excited and happy than Da Mimi. She immediately stepped forward and warmly embraced her with open arms.

The two had already collaborated extensively on the classic TV series "Chinese Paladin 3" and have a close friendship.

For this drama, "Three Lives Three Worlds," Lin Yufen was only confirmed after Yang Mi personally asked the company's senior management to repeatedly invite her.

The other party directed "The Journey of Flower" in 2015, which burst onto the scene that year, achieving soaring ratings and dominating the internet.

It undoubtedly ushered in a golden age for fantasy romance dramas and set a benchmark for an era.

As a story with the same theme, "Three Lives Three Worlds" naturally has great reference value.

"Honey, have you been sleeping poorly lately? You look terrible."

Lin Yufen gently hugged her, then carefully examined the faint dark circles under Yang Mi's eyes after letting go. His tone was teasing: "Logically speaking, being able to work with Xiao Gu, you should be happy and full of energy every day, right? Why do you look so haggard?"

"Where's the happiness, Sister Yufen?"

Yang Mi subconsciously raised her hand to touch her cheek, her tone full of grievance and complaint, "Since joining the crew, I've only seen him once, on the day of the press conference, and I haven't seen him since."

She paused, then lowered her voice and continued complaining, "I went to see him in person, but his assistant blocked me from getting close, saying that Gu Qing is an experiential learner who goes into seclusion once he joins a production and doesn't allow outsiders to disturb him... Is that true?"

"It's true, Xiao Gu follows the experiential learning approach."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu smiled knowingly and looked at Yang Mi with a hint of warning: "Mi Mi, you really need to be serious this time. Don't let Xiao Gu easily overpower you, or you'll be in for a world of hurt."

"Could he outact me?"

Yang Mi immediately took Lin Yufen's arm, and the two walked side by side into the film set. Her tone was somewhat dismissive, "I've been in the industry for over twenty years, my acting experience speaks for itself. How could I possibly be outdone by a little kid like him?"

Lin Yufen simply smiled and shook his head, without saying anything more.

Gu Qing's seriousness isn't just about being strict with himself...

It was exactly 3 p.m.

In the film crew's meeting room, all the lead actors, co-directors, executive producers, screenwriters, directors of photography, and behind-the-scenes personnel from various departments were present, without exception.

The long-awaited reading session with the creative team has officially begun.

All the actors received the notification early in the morning and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

According to the schedule, after the reading session, there was a dinner party for everyone in the evening. Everyone took the opportunity to get to know each other and become familiar with each other, laying the groundwork for the official start of filming the next day.

—Inside a luxurious and spacious single room.

"Director Yu Fen is here?"

A professional makeup and styling team was surrounding Gu Qing, meticulously tidying up his look, ironing his clothes, combing his hair, and adjusting his collar, striving for perfection in every detail.

Even though she had been staying in her room for the past few days studying the script and immersing herself in the role, Gu Qing did not exude any gloomy or depressed aura.

in contrast,

He turned down all irrelevant social engagements and announcements, free from the fatigue and pressure outside of work. He maintained a regular schedule, was in excellent condition, and exuded a vibrant and handsome aura.

"Yes, boss,"

Zhao Ya stood aside and reported softly, "Besides Director Yu Fen, there is another female director named Yu Cuihua and a male director named Ren Haitao. They previously collaborated on Teacher Shishi's 'Lost Love in Times'."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but steal glances at her boss from the corner of her eye every now and then.

During this time, she also had some free time.

Once Gu Qing decides to fully dedicate herself to a film, she will turn down all non-essential business engagements, retaining only a very few events that she cannot refuse.

She rarely had such free time, so she took the opportunity to read the original novel of "Three Lives, Three Worlds" from beginning to end, and already had a concrete impression of the main characters in the drama.

Looking at Gu Qing's expression, Zhao Ya almost already knew the answer.

"The role the boss is currently playing is probably... Master Mo Yuan, right?"

The once gentle and cheerful eyes, with their faint smiles, have softened somewhat now, yet they are not aloof or unapproachable. Rather, their brows are slightly furrowed, and a faint trace of melancholy seems to be hidden deep in their eyes, making them calm and reserved.

That aura instantly reminded Zhao Ya of Hua Ze Lei's melancholic yet clean-cut handsomeness, so refined that it was impossible to look away.

He's obviously not that scumbag Ye Hua!
This was her most genuine feeling after reading the original work.

“I remember.”

Gu Qing nodded slightly, her voice calm and composed, still retaining a sense of tranquility as she immersed herself in the role.

Once the makeup and styling team had finished, he slowly stood up and stretched his slightly stiff shoulders and neck.

This was the first time he had stepped out of his room since he had been in seclusion for a week after joining the production team.

"Teacher Gu! Teacher Gu!!"

"Good afternoon, Teacher Gu!"

"Teacher Gu, you're finally out!"

As soon as I stepped out of the lounge corridor, the stagehands, lighting technicians, makeup artists, costume team members, and prop team members I encountered along the way immediately lit up. They were all so excited that their eyes shone, and their tone was full of barely suppressed enthusiasm and flattery.

As we walked along, greetings rose and fell in an endless stream.

Despite the enthusiasm of the crowd, Gu Qing maintained a gentle yet respectful distance, calmly and politely nodding slightly, responding to each greeting with a soft "Good afternoon" or "Thank you for your hard work."

Their steps never faltered, their demeanor remained calm and composed.

It wasn't until the accompanying staff quickly stepped forward and gently pushed open the conference room door that the situation changed.

As soon as Gu Qing stepped inside, the room, which had been filled with insincere politeness, fake smiles, and laughter, instantly fell silent.

The air seemed to have been paused.

"Gu Qing's younger brother is here?!"

Someone whispered something first.

Almost instinctively, all the actors who had already taken their seats turned their heads in unison, their gazes falling on the figure at the door.

Next second,
Everyone's eyes widened instantly, a mixture of surprise, excitement, nervousness, and admiration flashing across their faces, and they all stood up in unison.

Some people were so enthusiastic that they wanted to rush over immediately to shake hands and hug; some stood there awkwardly, at a loss, even holding their breath; and a few young artists had fervent eyes, practically wearing the word "admiration" on their faces.

The whole scene had a strange sense of déjà vu, as if the entire audience fell silent and stood up the moment Li Dakang entered.

Without needing to say much, Gu Qing's mere presence and status were immediately apparent.

The celebrities present, regardless of gender, all rushed to shower her with attention, showering her with cheesy yet sincere compliments as if they were free:

"Little brother! You look even better in person than on camera!"

"I've finally met you in person! Gu Qing, I'm your fan!"

"With you here, this show is sure to be a huge hit! We're all benefiting from your success!"

"

All sorts of flattery and fawning surrounded them.

Fortunately, Gu Qing is a seasoned veteran in the industry; otherwise, an artist with weaker mental fortitude would have been overwhelmed and at a loss for what to do.

He glanced around the room and silently wondered to himself:
Jiahang has... crammed in every artist the company could bring in?

The once spacious and bright conference room was now packed with people and felt a bit crowded.

A rough count revealed that nearly twenty artists gathered together, almost encompassing all the artists under Jiahang, both those whose names were known and those whose names were not.

Gu Qing glanced around and realized that only three or five people looked familiar and whose names she could name.

An Lexi, who once co-starred with Zhao Liying in "The Journey of Flower", played the daughter "Tang Bao" in the drama.

Zhang Binbin and I recently finished working together on "Love O2O," and we're quite familiar with each other both on and off screen.

The last one is Yu Menglong, who debuted as a contestant on Super Boy and then transitioned into acting.

Gu Qing doesn't usually watch talent shows, but she did watch the wildly popular drama "Go Princess Go" back then, and still has some impression of his face, which is very recognizable in period dramas.

But if we're talking about status—

Most of the artists present were not very famous, at best third-tier or lower, and many were even obscure figures, practically unknown in the entertainment industry.

Gu Qing sighed silently to herself.

Jiahang's vision and planning are not as good as Queshi's.

The two most popular artists in the entire company are Yang Mi herself and Dilraba, whom she personally mentored and supported all the way up.

"Sister Lexi, Brother Binbin, it's been a long time."

Gu Qing walked over to An Lexi and Zhang Binbin, whom he knew well, and extended his hand, exchanging a few pleasantries with a smile.

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

"Knowing that you are in seclusion studying your role, we dare not disturb you."

The two were flattered and quickly reached out to shake hands, unable to suppress their smiles.

Especially when he caught glimpses of the envious, jealous, and almost fiery looks from his colleagues, he felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

Being greeted and remembered by a top celebrity like Gu Qing is already an invisible boost to their status.

"I'm not practicing cultivation, I just calmed down and looked at the script."

Gu Qing relaxed her hand, "Whether a drama becomes a hit or not is never the achievement of one person; it requires the joint efforts of all of us."

His gaze swept across the room again, and he immediately noticed that three rows of chairs had been deliberately left empty in the very center of the conference room.
The nameplates were neatly arranged, clearly indicating that the central positions had been reserved in advance for the core creators.

Gu Qing didn't hesitate and walked straight over to sit in the middle.

After a while

The three directors from the show also walked in together.

Gu Qing immediately stood up and walked towards Lin Yufen first, giving him a light hug and greeting him familiarly: "Director Yufen."

“Come on, Xiao Gu, let me introduce you,” Lin Yufen said with a smile, pulling over the middle-aged female director wearing glasses beside her. “This is my good friend Yu Cuihua. We’ve worked together on many dramas before.”

"Director Yu, hello."

Gu Qing extended her hand with a gentle smile. "I remember we've met before and exchanged greetings." Her simple words, polite and considerate, instantly bridged the gap, making her appear like a gentle "friend of women," which greatly increased people's goodwill towards her.

As for the male director Ren Haitao standing at the back, Gu Qing did not neglect him in the slightest, nor did he put on any airs of a top star. He took the initiative to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with him.

Actually, Gu Qing had a deeper impression of Director Ren than Yu Cuihua.

He remembers clearly that after filming the super hit "Three Lives Three Worlds"
Ren Haitao has two more quite good historical romance dramas to follow – one is "Agarwood Like Crumbs" and the other is "Lotus Pavilion".

Both dramas achieved remarkable success in the ancient costume romance genre. Although they were not nationwide hits, they were still among the top-rated dramas, with stable word-of-mouth and high popularity.

Later, it caught the wave of short videos on Douyin (TikTok), generating considerable viewership and influence overseas, showing great potential.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm not late, am I?"

Just as Gu Qing and Ren Haitao were exchanging pleasantries and contact information, a clear yet somewhat flustered voice came from the doorway.

Reba rushed over, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. As soon as she entered and saw Gu Qing, Lin Yufen and the others, she quickly put her hands together and apologized repeatedly: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was delayed on the way, I'm late."

"Sister Dilraba, I just arrived not long ago either."

Gu Qing released Ren Haitao's hand, nodded slightly to her, and turned back to her seat.

"Little brother, I'm really sorry,"

Dilraba quickly walked to his side, gently sat down next to him, raised her hand to touch her freshly styled, still slightly damp hair, and said with a hint of embarrassment, "My styling took too long, which delayed things."

Actually, she didn't intend to dress up so deliberately at all.

The room was full of artists from Jiahang, and it was just a small reading session. They could come in with no makeup, let alone with elaborate styling.

In her mind, these people were not worth the effort she put into maintaining a good image.

But unfortunately—

Gu Qing will be there.

Having not seen him for a whole week, Dilraba didn't want to embarrass herself in front of such a handsome and dazzling young man, nor did she want to appear sloppy or casual.

Even if it's just a reading session, she wants to show her best side.

"It's alright, Sister Reba,"

Gu Qing gestured lightly to the empty spot on her left, "The later ones haven't arrived yet."

"Little brother, you're teasing your sister again."

Dilraba instantly understood his unspoken meaning, and couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, her shoulders trembling slightly.

This scene, witnessed by the young artists from Jiahang, almost made them envious.

Especially the female celebrities, their gazes towards Dilraba were like needles, filled with intense hostility and resentment.

They already harbored resentment towards Dilraba.

Why is it that, despite being artists from the same company, you are the only one who gets promoted by Sister Mi and lands such a great second female lead role?

In terms of looks, figure, and face, how are we inferior to you?

not to mention,
This drama features Gu Qing, a well-known lucky charm in the industry who becomes famous for whatever she acts in. She might just soar to new heights and completely turn her career around.

Why is it that only Dilraba can sit openly next to Gu Qing, chatting and laughing?
On what grounds?!

Jealousy, resentment, envy, bitterness... a variety of emotions surged in his eyes, almost impossible to hide.

Dilraba could certainly feel the piercing gazes from all around her.

But she didn't care at all. Instead, she hummed a cheerful tune, her smile towards Gu Qing becoming brighter and brighter, and she spoke sweetly.

Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

The atmosphere in the meeting room gradually became subtle, and Da Mimi was still nowhere to be seen.

The high-ranking executives accompanying Jiahang were sweating profusely, and they kept glancing at Gu Qing's expression. Seeing that he looked indifferent and showed no emotion, they felt even more uneasy.

He forced himself to stand up and said with a forced smile, "Um... Mr. Gu, directors, how about... we start? Mimi probably had some urgent business to attend to."

"Need not,"

Gu Qing raised her eyes and said calmly, "When Sister Mi arrives, I'll ask her what happened."

His master arrived on time, but his apprentice, Da Mi Mi, was so late. What kind of behavior is that?
If he doesn't secure the lead role, who knows what kind of trouble Yang Mi might cause him during filming.

"Then... then wait a little longer, just a little longer, Teacher Gu, please don't rush, I... I'll go out and make a phone call to ask now!"

Upon hearing his nonchalant tone, the executives at Jiahang were so frightened that they stammered, forced a stiff smile, and turned to flee as if their lives depended on it.

The meeting room, which had just been filled with whispers, gradually quieted down.

All the celebrities were quite sensible; they simply sent messages via their phones, intending to watch the show unfold.

Dilraba sat beside her, her delicate hand clenching slightly, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

She actually wanted to subtly smooth things over for her friend and say a few kind words.
But when he looked up and saw Gu Qing's slightly cold face, he swallowed back the words he was about to say, and inexplicably began to have second thoughts.

At this moment, she truly felt it clearly—

What does it mean for celebrities to have vastly different levels of fame?

When your status, popularity, and influence reach the level of a top celebrity, your aura and temperament can easily bring a huge sense of pressure to people whose magnetic field is far inferior to yours.

The entertainment industry is always realistic. When a top-tier celebrity throws a tantrum or puts on a cold face, the entire crew has to keep quiet and not dare to utter a sound, let alone someone like Gu Qing who stands at the top of the pyramid.

The impact and pressure that would result from even the slightest change in his expression is unimaginable.

in the end,
Lin Yufen couldn't bear the oppressive atmosphere any longer, so she gently got up, sat down next to Gu Qing, and broke the silence with a smile: "Gu, Linong's script was recently revised and sent to me. I read it once and sent it back."

"Director Yu Fen, are you talking about... 'Wu Xin: The Monster Killer'?"

Gu Qing was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised.

He never expected that this wildly popular web series, which suddenly appeared at the end of 2015, would be delayed again and again, and has not yet been officially launched.

"Yeah, what else could it be but this one?"

Lin Yufen smiled and said, "Li Nong signed a contract with me a long time ago. I will still be the director of this drama."

"If we collaborate on this drama again, we'll have worked together five times, right?"

"That's true."

Even Gu Qing's cold and gloomy face couldn't help but curl into a slight smile, which eased the atmosphere considerably.

He then asked curiously, "Director Yufen, why did you send the script back? Was there something that wasn't revised properly?"

Dilraba, who was standing next to her, immediately perked up her ears and eavesdropped, her face full of curiosity.

"The male lead's character isn't compelling enough; the second male lead is much more attractive and steals the show."

Lin Yufen bluntly and sarcastically commented, "An immortal mage speaks in a glib and frivolous manner, makes a fuss over the smallest things, and his romantic scenes with the female lead are inexplicable and illogical. I think it doesn't fit your temperament and image at all."

She gestured lightly with her hand and added with a smile, "Besides, I'm playing a mage. Do you think I'd ask you to shave your head or get a buzz cut for the role?"

As Lin Yufen spoke, she couldn't help but raise her hand and gently touch Gu Qing's hair before smiling and withdrawing her hand: "I couldn't bear to part with it, so I directly asked Lin Nong to take it back and revise it again, trying to transfer the good qualities of the second male lead to the male lead, so that he would be worthy of you."

"I see..."

Gu Qing looked at Lin Yufen's withdrawn hand, but inexplicably felt a heavy weight on his head. He turned around in surprise.

"Um... little brother, your hair is so beautiful..."

Dilraba sighed enviously, her hand still suspended in mid-air, feeling the soft and smooth texture of the hair, so good that she didn't want to let go.

She smiled awkwardly and embarrassedly, and quickly and silently put her hand down.

Lin Yu glanced at Dilraba, then at Gu Qing, her mind racing with unreadable thoughts, and her smile deepened.

"Here she comes! Mimi's here!"

Just then, the senior executives of Jiahang were overjoyed and rushed in, their voices full of relief.

Gu Qing glanced at the phone that was sitting quietly on the table.

I was late, by a full half hour.

Perfect, just the right amount, not too much, not too little.

The next moment, Yang Mi made a grand entrance.

She looked exhausted, as if she hadn't slept well. There were obvious dark circles under her eyes, and her hair was dry and messy, casually draped over her shoulders. She kept covering her mouth and yawning as she walked. She only wore simple light makeup, but it couldn't hide her fatigue and weariness at all.

Even so, the moment she appeared, a chorus of exaggerated praise immediately erupted around her:
"Wow! Honey, you're so beautiful!"

"It's so beautiful! Our goddess Bai Qian has arrived!"

"Honey looks great!"

A chorus of praise and flattery poured in, with everyone vying to send it over.

Good afternoon, good afternoon.

Da Mimi waved casually, rubbed her sore and tired eyes, nodded perfunctorily to everyone, and slowly walked over.

"Honey, you're already acting like a diva on your first day here?" Lin Yufen said with a smile as she prepared to get up.

"Sister Yufen, I'm so tired. I've been having severe insomnia lately and can't sleep at all. I'm so sorry."

Da Mimi quickly apologized sincerely, then her gaze shifted and she saw Gu Qing sitting in the center. Her eyes lit up instantly, and her heavy sleepiness dissipated a bit. "Little brother, you've finally decided to leave the seclusion?"

She approached with a smile, her tone relaxed: "How's it going with the role? Have you gotten into character?"

"found it."

Gu Qing pulled Lin Yufen, who had just gotten up, back to her seat, and coldly pointed a finger at the empty seat in the distance, saying, "There's no seat for you here. Go over there."

In an instant—

The entire conference room was eerily quiet.

All the artists gaped, their eyes wide, some even instinctively covering their mouths, their faces filled with shock.

Holy crap! That's brave?!

Giving Honey the cold shoulder to her face?!
Can Honey handle this?!

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

"..."

Yang Mi's smile froze instantly. Her signature peach blossom eyes were fixed on Gu Qing. Her chest heaved slightly, her breath hitched, and she couldn't utter a single word.

"We've been waiting for you for half an hour, Si Yin."

Gu Qing met her gaze without flinching, his tone calm yet each word clear: "Would you like to experience it from her perspective?"

"call--"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Yang Mi let out a soft sigh of relief, avoiding his gaze.

Next second,
Her demeanor suddenly changed; she gracefully placed her hands on her right lapel, bent her knees slightly, and performed a standard ancient Chinese curtsy, her voice sweet and soft, like a lamb admitting its mistake.
"Yes, Master. I was wrong. I will accept the punishment."

He gave himself a way out, not giving anyone a chance to feel embarrassed.

After saying that, Da Mimi immediately straightened up, turned around, and walked briskly towards the empty seat that Lin Yu had left, her posture so obedient it was unbelievable.

Everyone originally thought that a top star and a first-tier actress were about to clash head-on, a shocking scene like a volcano colliding with the earth.

result--

The scene was unusually calm.

Many celebrities stood frozen in place, their minds filled with the same thought: the constant barrage of posts flooding social media.

Honey... she actually backed down like that?!
……

...(End of this chapter)