Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

"Little brother, am I really leaving?"

Yang Mi stood at the edge of the set, her gaze fixed on Gu Qing, her feet hesitant to move. She asked softly once more, "I really went back to the hotel to sleep... Are you sure you can film here alone?"

The evening breeze carried the studio lights onto her face; the relentless filming over the past few days had drained her of most of her energy, and the faint dark circles under her eyes were impossible to hide.

The sudden relaxation of her long-tense nerves made her feel lightheaded, as if she were walking on cotton, bewildered and helpless.

"No problem, Honey. You should go back and rest. I've said it three times already, would I lie to you?"

Gu Qing chuckled and shook her head, raising her hand to gently wave her wide-sleeved theatrical costume. The dark sleeves swept through the air, creating a light breeze.

"Then...then I'm leaving."

Yang Mi turned around, arm in arm with her assistant, taking very slow steps, and couldn't help but look back every few steps.

A complex mix of emotions swirled in her chest. Leaning back in her car seat, her fingers unconsciously twisting the strap of her bag, her mind a jumble of incoherent thoughts.

Why is he taking such good care of me?
During our previous meetings, Gu Qingming was always indifferent, even with a vague sense of distance. Didn't she seem to dislike or hate me?
Could it be... that I misunderstood? Is he just cold on the outside but warm on the inside? He may not say it, but he actually cares about me quite a bit?
An absurd thought disturbed her: Are all younger brothers like this, secretly in love with their older sisters but too afraid to confess, only able to silently take care of them through their actions?

As the car slowly drove away from the film set, Yang Mi leaned against the window, gazing at the receding street scene, her mind wandering.

Meanwhile, the film crew...
Unaware that her pure good intentions had been labeled "unrequited love" by the scheming and manipulative Da Mimi, Gu Qing turned around and approached Lin Yufen.

"Director Yu Fen, with me backing you up, what are you afraid to say?"

Once Yang Mi's figure had completely disappeared from sight, Gu Qing frowned and complained to Lin Yufen, "You're supposed to be one of the top directors in our industry, how could you possibly pass muster with those two scenes?"

"Xiao Gu, I'm innocent!"

Lin Yufen was both amused and exasperated by his words, and pointed at him, "Didn't you act quite well yourself? Your emotions were on point, and your performance was spot-on, so why couldn't I pass?"

"What's the use of me acting well?"

Gu Qing spread his hands, “A scene is a holistic presentation, not something that can be carried by just one person. If the presentation is not good, how can you gain the audience’s approval?”
The audience is watching the entire play, not just my one-man show.

Lin Yufen sighed helplessly and had no choice but to patiently explain to him, "You're just too serious."

Filming a TV series is completely different from filming a movie. Movies have extremely high standards for visuals and acting, requiring meticulous polishing of every single second. But when we film TV series, there are different levels of production.

"The performances of the male and female leads are the most important. If you ask me to reshoot, what if someone else performs better than you and steals your thunder?"

"If you act well and the audience is willing to accept it, that's fine. As long as the supporting actors and extras are passable and don't affect the main plot, that's how it's always been filmed in this industry."

Lin Yufen spoke of the unspoken rules of the industry, his tone revealing a sense of helplessness.

Having worked in this industry for so many years, she has long seen through reality. It's not that she doesn't want to strive for excellence, but rather that she is constrained by layers of capital, schedules, and costs, leaving her no room to do as she pleases.

"If someone is better than me, I'll practice more. If it still doesn't work, I'll film it a few more times until I'm satisfied."

Gu Qing said firmly, "I'm the male lead in this drama. Don't I even have the right to demand that my scenes be polished and the presentation improved?"

Lin Yufen originally thought that Gu Qing was new to the industry and didn't understand the rules of the TV drama industry, but on the contrary, Gu Qing understood it better than anyone else.

He simply couldn't understand how popular celebrities in the TV drama industry could wield such power, making the entire production crew revolve around them.
They can film as many takes as they want without anyone uttering a single complaint. Why are they unwilling to put in more effort to hone their acting skills and make their scenes more perfect?
This is such a great opportunity for actors to hone their skills and gain experience.

"Xiao Gu, you..."

Lin Yufen was speechless for a moment. Looking at Gu Qing, whose eyes were clear and whose values ​​were bright, she felt both soft-hearted and sighed.

Where did this bright and healthy young man come from? He plunged headfirst into the chaotic entertainment industry, yet he remains remarkably clean-cut. It's truly rare to see such a remarkable person.

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Go and prepare for the next match."

Her tone softened considerably, and she reached out to pat Gu Qing's arm affectionately. "Since you've said so, I'll apply the same strict standards I used for you to the other actors, and I won't be perfunctory at all."

"Please use more force, especially Honey."

As Gu Qing walked, she casually added, "She actually has a lot of acting talent, but she's usually too tired and lacks someone to toughen her up and hone her skills. If she were properly honed, she could definitely shine even brighter."

While reviewing the footage just now, Gu Qing's opinion of Yang Mi unexpectedly changed.

have to say,

Putting aside the somewhat poor makeup and styling by the production team, and her haggard appearance due to days of fatigue,
When Yang Mi portrayed the transformation between Bai Qian and Si Yin, she demonstrated impressive expressiveness through subtle changes in tone of voice, nuanced facial expressions, and even unintentional gestures.

Her acting skills are truly solid.

Compared to the actresses Gu Qing had seen in her previous life who were also popular in period dramas, Yang Mi's acting skills were clearly superior. Among actresses of the same age, her acting power was far superior to many others.

It's no wonder that the post-85 actresses have remained popular in the entertainment industry for over a decade. Even now, with the post-00s generation of actresses emerging, they still hold a top position. The audience's eyes are not blind after all.

As Gu Qing walked, she silently thought that she would have to go back to the Beijing Film Academy when she had time to check on her classmates' coursework.

Otherwise, if the film crew ever needs extras or supporting roles, he wants to give his classmates a little treat by arranging a few roles with lines.
As a result, they couldn't even deliver their lines smoothly, which would only humiliate them in public and ultimately harm them.

……

at the same time,

In a classroom at the Beijing Film Academy, a thousand miles away in the capital, a student named "Zhang," who always sat alone in the back row after the start of the semester, was listening attentively to the lecture when suddenly he covered his mouth with his fair hand and let out a quiet sneeze.

She rubbed her nose and looked around blankly: Who is talking badly about me behind my back?
……

Gu Qinggang walked to the rest area, gently twirling the jade fan in his hand twice. Suddenly, he remembered a pitiful, unemployed internet-addicted girl who had been staying at home for more than half a year, spending all her time playing computer games.

"By the way, director, are there any openings for female supporting roles with lines in our production?"

"What, Xiao Gu, you also want to be a sugar daddy and arrange roles for acquaintances?"

Lin Yufen chuckled and teased him, her eyes brimming with amusement, "As long as you ask, even if there's no role available right now, I can immediately come up with a plausible one for you."

"No, no, no, I didn't mean that."

Gu Qing quickly waved her hand, "I was just asking casually. If the roles are basically all decided and the contracts are signed, then forget it. I won't do anything like stealing other people's resources or replacing actors who have already been cast."

"Wait a minute, let me ask the assistant director."

Lin Yufen beckoned to the busy assistant director, asked a few questions in a low voice, and then looked helplessly at Gu Qing: "Xiao Gu, that's all."

Any supporting actress with even a name or a few lines has already been snapped up. Those people are practically fighting tooth and nail to get into the cast when they hear you're going to play the male lead.
The penalties for breach of contract stipulated in the contract are shockingly high, probably to prevent someone from replacing the actor at the last minute.

"It's alright, then forget it."

Gu Qing nodded slightly, not dwelling on it too much, and regretfully gave up.

But then I thought about it again...
Xiao Erduo played a League of Legends exhibition match with him before. With his good game skills and repeated targeting of Kris Wu, he gained a lot of popularity and good reviews from casual players.

Given the nature of capital in the entertainment industry, even without his help, he should still be able to receive some offers for low-budget web dramas, so he won't be unemployed and stuck at home getting moldy for the time being.

Having figured this out, Gu Qing stopped worrying about it and focused on the rest of the filming.

After that, Gu Qing began filming her own scenes.

Filming is progressing rapidly. "Three Lives Three Worlds" is, after all, an adaptation of a female-oriented novel featuring a strong female lead.

He, the nominal male lead, is essentially more like a plot device for the female lead, with the vast majority of his scenes tied to her.

Now that Yang Mi is no longer with him, most of his remaining solo scenes are assembly-line style scenes, explaining the plot and setting the background. They are filmed in a crisp and efficient manner, without much complex emotional control.

"Cut! That's all for today. Lunch will be served soon. Everyone's worked hard, take a rest!"

Lin Yufen picked up the megaphone and called for a halt. He glanced at the darkening sky, then looked down at his watch; it was almost 11 a.m.

"It's troublesome."

Gu Qing took the clean towel handed to her by the staff and wiped the thin layer of sweat from her forehead.

Looking around, the crew members were busy serving him. Some held up parasols, some gently fanned him with small fans, and others brought him warm water and asked him if he was feeling well. Their eagerness and flattery were obvious.

Being surrounded by such a star-studded atmosphere for a long time can easily make artists develop a sense of superiority and forget their true selves.

Gu Qing didn't want to get involved in this bad habit. He wasn't some seasoned feudalist fighter, and he couldn't withstand such excessive praise.

Once you develop a spoiled and undisciplined habit, you'll be digging your own grave if someone starts nitpicking you with a magnifying glass.

Finding something to do to pass the time, and incidentally learning some new skills, has always been Gu Qing's favorite thing to do.

"By the way, where is our film crew's action choreographer?"

Gu Qing looked at the staff member beside her and asked softly.

"Teacher Gu... Teacher Gu Qing, I... I'll go ask for you right now!"

When the male staff member was face to face with Gu Qing, he was so nervous that he stammered, kept his head down, and his cheeks turned red for no reason. As soon as he finished speaking, he ran away.

Gu Qing watched his flustered back and was speechless for a moment: You're a boy, why are you blushing like a teapot?

Not long after,

The staff member who had just run away hurriedly returned, still looking anxious: "Mr. Gu Qing, I'm sorry, the action director hasn't reported to the crew yet. I've already sent someone to contact him and inform him. He's expected to arrive at the crew this afternoon."

Meanwhile, back in his hotel room, the martial arts choreographer, half-asleep in bed, was completely stunned upon receiving the call, his face a picture of utter bewilderment.
Who would be so eager to film action scenes on their very first day on set?!
This guy is insane!
"Okay, thank you for your help."

Although Gu Qing was somewhat disappointed, she did not blame the staff. She smiled gently at him and then turned to walk towards the RV behind the sunshade, preparing to change out of her heavy costume.

After changing into a crisp, loose white T-shirt and casual trousers, Gu Qing still had no intention of staying idle.

Since the action director hadn't arrived yet, he practiced on his own for fun. He had learned a few basic sword moves from the action director when filming "The Imperial Doctress," so he took this opportunity to review them.

In addition to scenes of exchanging magical spells and unleashing divine power, his portrayal of the High God Mo Yuan also includes several real sword fight scenes.

The most classic and anticipated battle is the one-on-one duel with the goddess Yao Guang.

Gu Qing clearly remembered that in her previous life, Zhao Youting, who played Ye Hua and Mo Yuan in this drama, had good acting skills...

However, his swordplay relied entirely on slow motion; his movements were weak and powerless, and his techniques were simple and perfunctory.
In addition, the random switching between close-ups, long shots, and full-body shots makes it look incredibly fake and completely lacks any stage presence.

He still has some standards for himself.
After all, his debut film was "Brotherhood of Blades," and he had real experience with martial arts action scenes, so he couldn't let the genre down.

"Thrusting the sword...slashing the sword, hanging the sword, parrying the sword, pointing the sword..."

Gu Qing stood under the spacious sunshade, closed her eyes, and recalled the key movements taught by the martial arts instructor of "The Female Physician".
He then raised his wrist and stood tall and straight like a pine tree, slowly rising into action.

At first, the movements were a bit clumsy, and each move was slightly stiff, but with repeated practice, the sword moves gradually became smooth and skillful.

His figure was naturally upright and graceful, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, making for excellent proportions. When he wielded the sword, his clothes fluttered, and the sword moves he practiced were flashy. Although they had no practical use in combat, they were aesthetically pleasing enough.

His slashes and thrusts are crisp and clean, powerful yet graceful, each movement flowing beautifully, exuding a refined and sharp aura.

"Wow! Teacher Gu can actually practice sword dancing?!"

"Graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a swimming dragon, this... this..."

"No, you even know sword techniques?"

"Uh... I was just complimenting Teacher Gu on her good looks."

"Did you hear that? Did you hear that 'clang' sound? How did that come about?"

The crew members didn't dare get too close, afraid of disturbing the top male lead and being stared at like monkeys.

I could only stand far away, but I still couldn't help but glance at them frequently and exclaim in surprise.

If it weren't for the strict rules of the production crew prohibiting taking photos and videos without permission, they would have already taken out their phones and filmed this scene to sell to reporters. Lin Yufen, who was checking the subsequent filming plot with the assistant director, heard the exclamations of surprise not far away, looked up, and immediately saw Gu Qing practicing his sword intently under the sunshade.

With his exceptional figure and the swift movement of his sword, he was a sight to behold.
She couldn't help but laugh, and turned to the male assistant director beside her, saying, "Alright, go and inform the actress playing Yao Guang now, and tell her to quickly find time to practice her swordsmanship."

"Director Lin, this..."

The male assistant director looked troubled and hesitated, "No matter how much she practices, she can't pull off the style of Teacher Gu. Besides, she's an actress, so she's naturally not as strong as men, and her movements definitely won't be as sharp."

"Zheng Peipei isn't a woman? Huiying isn't a woman? Yuanqiu isn't a woman?!" Lin Yufen's face darkened slightly, and his tone instantly became stern.

"But they all practiced martial arts from a young age and have a solid foundation..."

"Trained since childhood?" Lin Yufen waved her hand impatiently, interrupting him. "Isn't Zhang Ziyi from the mainland a woman? Didn't she also train in martial arts since childhood? She achieved it through hard work and dedication!"

"Don't give me excuses. I don't care what kind of shady dealings you have with her. Just tell her exactly what you said: 'It's just a few basic sword moves.'"

If they can't train to that level, then just bring in a substitute.

Xiao Gu said he's willing to wait, and you actually dare to make him wait?!

"If you can't handle such a brilliant role, then don't blame me for being ruthless. If you need to replace the stunt double, then replace the stunt double. There's no room for discussion."

"Yes, yes, Director Lin, I'll go and inform her right away."

The assistant director was speechless after being scolded, and could only turn around with a bitter face to find someone.

Gu Qing practiced swordsmanship intently for more than half an hour, with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. Seeing that it was almost lunchtime, he put down his sword, stopped, turned around and went back to the RV to wash up quickly. Then he instructed his assistant Zhao Ya to help him get the crew's boxed lunches.

To his surprise, as soon as he stepped out of the RV, Gu Qing saw an unexpected person sitting on the small stool dining table he had placed outside the RV.

"Sister Honey? You...why are you back?"

Gu Qing walked over, her tone clearly showing surprise.

Yang Mi was sitting on a small stool, her hands cupping her cheeks and her arms propped up, staring blankly at the unopened, still steaming, and fragrant boxed lunch on the table.

Upon hearing Gu Qing's voice, she immediately raised her head, a rare look of genuine shame appearing on her pretty face. She quickly explained, "Little brother, I can't sleep."

After days of intense work, she felt like a tightly strung string, and when she suddenly relaxed completely, she felt uneasy all over.

Lying in bed, I felt restless and empty, as if I would miss something or cause some disaster if I fell asleep.

Returning to the familiar film set, seeing the busy staff and familiar scenes, brought me a sense of peace.

Can't sleep?

Gu Qing looked her up and down, noticing the bloodshot eyes were more pronounced and her whole demeanor was listless. "You weren't secretly playing games again, were you?"

"No, no, no... okay, we only played for a little while, just a little while!"

Yang Mi, her secret exposed, shrank back in embarrassment, clasped her hands together in front of Gu Qing, and begged for mercy with a cute and coquettish gesture.

"Little brother, Honor of Kings is so much fun! I was planning to win one game and then go to sleep, but I kept losing and getting angrier and angrier. I can't sleep at all. Are those teammates even human?!"

"Hehe, that's the real reason, isn't it?"

Gu Qing didn't say much.

He experienced this obsession with "winning one game and then going to sleep" all too well when he was addicted to games back in the day, and he understands all too well that feeling of being both excited and frustrated.

"Little brother, after you finish eating, can you play a couple of games with me?"

Yang Mi's eyes lit up, and she moved her small stool closer. "Help me find the lost star. I promise I'll go back to the hotel and sleep obediently after I finish ranking up this afternoon, and I won't run around!"

The thought of losing several stars from the rank she had worked so hard to achieve made her heart ache.

"Alright, I'll play a couple of rounds with you then."

Gu Qing thought for a moment. The crew had a fixed lunch break in the afternoon, and he had nothing else to do, so it was a good way to pass the time.

Besides, he is also the spokesperson for Honor of Kings, so occasionally logging on to play the game can be considered as fulfilling his endorsement obligations.

"Little brother, Honey sister, you've already started eating?!"

"Why didn't you wait for me...?"

A sweet voice came from afar. Dilraba ran over, her chest rising and falling slightly, and she was still panting. She hadn't even had time to change out of her costume.

Seeing the untouched lunchbox on the table, she breathed a sigh of relief, patted her chest, and said with a look of relief, "Thank goodness, at least I made it in time to eat."

The filming of the other two groups finally wrapped up, and the extras who had been slacking off suddenly perked up, all of them ravenous and lining up excitedly to wait for their meals.

To avoid disturbing the lead actors' rest with noise during mealtimes, the meal area was located far from the main filming area.

Gu Qing's side suddenly became empty, quiet and leisurely, showing the implicit preferential treatment that big-name artists receive on set, and also showing the crew's skillful and thoughtful arrangements.

"Sister Xiaoya, bring another chair over, you can eat with us too."

Gu Qing opened the lid of the insulated box and casually said to Zhao Ya behind him.

"Oh, no need, no need, boss, you guys can eat."

Zhao Ya quickly shook her head and waved her hands, "I've already made plans with the agents of the other teachers to have dinner and chat over there, so I won't bother you any longer."

After saying that, he smiled, waved, and quickly left.

Where is your food?

Gu Qing opened her lunchbox. The dishes inside weren't plentiful, but they were refreshing and delicious: vegetable and tofu meatball soup, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, along with a box of steaming white rice.

He looked up at Yang Mi and Dilraba, who were staring intently at the table, their eyes practically glued to the food, and couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

"Little brother, you...you still eat rice?"

Dilraba swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the box of white rice, her tone full of envy.

Although she presents herself as a foodie, she has developed a craving for food after eating so much in front of the camera.

after all,

As female celebrities, their dietary control is so strict as to be almost obsessive.

The voice just fell,

The two agents came over carrying large insulated bags, put down the food, and then tactfully left.

Upon opening the bag, the food inside was so bland it made one lose their appetite.

Half a box of boiled beef (without salt or oil), two pieces of boiled corn, three boiled eggs, a box of blueberries, and a salad of cucumber, lettuce, spinach, and sweet potato. The only seasoning was a small box of tasteless, unsalted chili sauce.

The dishes looked plentiful, but the actual calories added up were probably less than Gu Qing's box of rice.

It was all bland, cold dishes, not even a hint of warmth.

"As a native of Anhui province, I can't live without rice."

Gu Qing picked up a piece of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, shoveled a mouthful of rice into her mouth with satisfaction, and looked at the two men's miserable meals with a sympathetic gaze. "Good luck to you two."

He usually cooks light meals, and with his regular exercise and fast metabolism, he doesn't have to worry about gaining weight, so he doesn't have to be as strict with his diet as they are.

"Crack...knock..."

Yang Mi bit into the cucumber in her mouth stiffly, but her eyes were fixed on the brightly colored egg on Gu Qing's chopsticks, watching him chew with satisfaction.

"call……"

She let out a soft breath, while Dilraba next to her went even further, covering her eyes with her delicate hands, revealing only her pert nose, and desperately inhaling the aroma of the food, looking as if she was about to cry from craving.

"Damn it, I'm not dieting today!"

Seeing Gu Qing pick up another white and tender fish ball, Yang Mi finally couldn't bear it any longer and uttered a low curse, almost smashing the cucumber in her hand into pieces.

She grabbed Gu Qing's wrist and, without saying a word, viciously shoved the fish ball from his chopsticks into her own mouth.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing?"

Gu Qing was amused by her "fierce" appearance and quickly took out a pair of clean chopsticks that Zhao Ya had spared from the bag and handed them to her, saying, "Here are some new chopsticks, don't take mine."

"I have an extra box of food here. If you want some, you can share it."

"No, no, I absolutely can't eat rice. It's too high in carbohydrates. Some vegetables are enough!"

Yang Mi quickly took the chopsticks, wiped them clean, and eagerly picked up a fish ball, putting it in her mouth. She chewed it carefully, her eyes lighting up instantly, her face filled with happiness.

"Ahhh, Honey, I want some too!!"

Dilraba eagerly leaned over, mouth agape, waiting to be fed.

"Since you've all broken the rules, why not go all the way and eat some rice?"

Gu Qing opened the box of spare rice and pushed it in front of the two of them. The rice grains were crystal clear, steaming hot, and had a fragrant aroma. "This is a small portion of rice. There's not much. You can each have half. It'll be fine."

"I'm only eating a little bit, I shouldn't gain weight, right?"

"Anyway, the manager isn't here..."

Dilraba and Yang Mi exchanged a glance, the struggle in their eyes vanishing instantly. They simultaneously picked up their chopsticks and carefully drew a dividing line in their lunchboxes, as if afraid of eating an extra bite.

As for the pile of tasteless boiled vegetables next to them, they had long since forgotten about them, leaving it to whoever wanted to eat it.

After the meal, the three boxes of home-cooked dishes on the table were completely eaten, almost empty.

Yang Mi and Dilraba touched their warm, flat bellies, looking completely satisfied.

After eating and drinking her fill, Yang Mi immediately perked up, grabbing Gu Qing's arm and urging him repeatedly, "Little brother, little brother, hurry up and log on! Let's play games and climb the ranks quickly, I want to win back all the stars I lost!"

"Honey, aren't you going home to rest this afternoon?"

Only then did Dilraba learn what had happened. She looked Gu Qing up and down repeatedly, but didn't know what to say.
She could only whisper, "Little brother, you're too kind. Sister Mi has been working so hard lately, she really needs to rest."

“Baba Bao, you’re just as tired as I am. The whole company is being held together by the two of us.”

Yang Mi reached out and grabbed Dilraba's hand, not forgetting to belittle her, saying, "Those useless guys!"

"Alright, alright, stop getting sentimental and get on the account already."

Gu Qing shook his head helplessly and took out his phone to unlock it.

"You're going to fight outside? The sun's so strong, it'll be scorching hot. Go fight in your RV!" Yang Mi immediately objected.

"Isn't there a sunshade? It's enough to block out the sun."

"What's the use of a sunshade? UV rays can still get through! We female celebrities can't afford to get even a tan!"

Without saying a word, Yang Mi grabbed Dilraba and stepped onto his RV.

Gu Qing stood there, stunned.

He subconsciously looked around, and thankfully there was no one nearby.

Otherwise, given how quickly gossip spreads within a film crew, who knows what outrageous rumors will circulate tomorrow...

……

...(End of this chapter)