The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 225 Invincible, Unrivaled, and Unrivaled by Top Stars! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The heavy snow fell softly on the capital city...

"Maknae, you've finally come out."

Half an hour later, Jackson Wang unlocked the car, and Gong Cheng got into the SUV, brushed the snowflakes off his head, and then looked behind him: "There's nothing I can do, the fans are too enthusiastic."

Kim Dae-woo and his bodyguards followed, getting into vehicles sent by the company to pick them up from China.

Gong Cheng rolled down the SUV window, waved to the fans still standing outside, and then reached out to accept a few letters from fans.

Jackson Wang glanced in the rearview mirror and said, "Be careful, we're about to leave, maknae."

Zhang Yixing greeted many fans from the passenger seat, and then the two closed the windows and the SUV drove away.

Zhang Yixing turned around and asked with a smile, "Going to a restaurant? I just booked a private room... Let's get together as a group of three today, and then we'll go to the venue for a rehearsal tomorrow. After that, I'll introduce you to some senior figures in the industry, and we'll have a meal together."

“Sigh, the three of us have been really tired lately. It’s been tough with that talent show, ‘Idol Producer.’ Maknae, when are you going to go and do an episode?” Jackson Wang said as he drove on the ski slopes in Beijing.

As a mentor on this talent show, I can only say that some of the trainees' abilities are simply indescribable.

Zhang Yixing took a sip of water and suddenly remembered what Gong Cheng had mentioned earlier about "PRODUCE 48". "What about that show, PRODUCE 48? Have you decided to participate?"

"It's decided, but it hasn't been officially announced yet, it's still early," Gong Cheng replied. Then he heard Zhang Yixing laugh and say, "Since you've decided to participate, why don't you come and play a season of our 'Idol Producer' first?"

He and Jackson Wang acted as lobbyists together...

Gong Cheng thought for a moment and smiled, "Okay, let's do it in a few days. I'll go take a look after the rehearsal. But Lay, you guys still need to have the production team coordinate with Dayu. The procedures still need to be followed."

"Understood." The two people in the front row smiled.

"By the way, there are quite a few talent shows in China this year? I heard there's even a Produce 101?"

"..."

Gong Cheng chatted with them as the SUV pulled up in front of a restaurant in the Dongcheng District. The restaurant had an old-fashioned and antique-style exterior, and red plum blossoms peeked out from the corner of the courtyard wall, adding a unique charm under the heavy snow...

"A time-honored brand recommended by a friend..."

……

[Pop superstar Tarot returns to Korea, the "Tarot effect" is taking hold]

Compared to Tarot, all the top stars are utterly insignificant.

[Bombardment Meteor, China Line gathers in the capital]

【…】

One hour after Gong Cheng returned to China, the entire domestic entertainment sector and social media platforms were ablaze with the trending topic of "Tarot" and the hashtag #Tarot#, which quickly brought domestic social media platforms to a temporary standstill...

Photos of the airport were uploaded online by fans and media who came to greet the passengers.

Meanwhile, the "Tarot Club" has hundreds of fans and big-name fans in China who have paid for their own time to display Gong Cheng's image on LED screens in the high-rise buildings of major business districts and CBDs in the capital.

[Sina Weibo reports: Chinese pop singer Tarot arrived in Beijing at noon today to participate in the fifth rehearsal for the Spring Festival Gala. On the way to the airport, we spotted Chinese artists Zhang Yixing and Jackson Wang there to greet him.]

Yang Yang, one of China's "Four Top Celebrities," also arrived in Beijing today.

【video】

In the footage...

Gong Cheng, dressed in a simple black coat, with snowflakes falling on his shoulders, still voluntarily stopped in front of the terminal, calmly and generously removing his baseball cap and mask amidst the swirling snowflakes. With a smile in his eyes, he waved and interacted with fans holding up support signs.

【video】

In another video, the different styles of the two groups of artists create a stark contrast against the snow-covered backdrop in front of the terminal...

Among the relatively small fan base, a certain "top-tier" celebrity, completely covered up, quickly walked through the crowd and got into his van. If you didn't see the name and photo on the fan support sign, you might not recognize him as Yang Yang, one of the "Four Top tiers" of today.

The moment Tarot reappeared upon his return to China, all I can say is that all the top celebrities pale in comparison to him! If you know Tarot, you'll realize that in today's entertainment industry, it's rare to find an artist with his passionate and sincere heart, a heart that connects with fans on a two-way basis.

Sincerity begets sincerity; it begins with appearance, but ends with character.

While many celebrities cultivate a "boyfriend" persona to gain popularity and money, they often treat their fans coldly. Tarot, however, has never established any persona since his debut. In an interview with QG, he said, "Any side you see is me..."

[Sincere and genuine, despite the constant stream of "Tarot's scandals." However, it's understood that Tarot has the most fan sites (fan clubs) of any artist in K-pop and even across Asia, with over a thousand sites of all sizes. This doesn't include fan sites from the West.]

【…】

This post, which quickly went viral online, was widely shared on various social media platforms, and its popularity continued to rise. The content, which was suspected of being disparaging or belittling other celebrities, angered many fans of the artists, who wanted to confront them.

"The top four celebrities? Haha, you'd better pray that your idol doesn't go back to China to develop his career..."

"Holy crap? I'm a Yang Yang fan, and I'm speechless. I was there to pick her up at the airport today! Damn, how many times has this happened? In this heavy snow, we waited for over two hours, and she didn't say a word before jumping into the heated van?"

"What makes these four top celebrities so arrogant? Putting aside looks, in terms of talent and popularity, who can compare to Tarot? And they don't even treat their fans properly? When we asked them to support and vote for you, why was their attitude different?"

"Sisters, don't be fooled by Tarot's fans! Tarot has a terrible reputation and is a complete jerk. Almost every female K-pop artist has dated him. Would you dare to be a fan of someone like that?"

"Exactly, don't generalize. Yang Yang is Yang Yang, and my Saike is quite good to his fans... Besides, Tarot's work attitude is really problematic, isn't it? Aren't you fans saying it yourselves?"

"Fuck your mother! That guy, Saike, is a fan, okay? They're even in bed together! Idiot! Believe it or not!"

"Hey upstairs, believe it or not, my pigeon will sue you for defamation! Defamation! Don't spread rumors!"

"Enough talk, you brainless idiots! Just wait, the four top stars will be performing at the Spring Festival Gala next month, right? Don't accuse us of putting others down, just look at them in the same frame. Your idol will be so overshadowed that he won't dare to look up. I advise you fans to think of some excuse to save face for your idol. Don't unfollow us and then come back to support our oppa. Let me tell you this, we at Tarot Club never accept traitors!"

"..."

……

The next day, at 7 a.m.

In the underground parking garage of No. 11, Fuxing Road, HD District, Beijing, artists one after another got out of their vans and came to Studio 1 of the old CCTV building at the Media Center to prepare for the fifth rehearsal of this year's Spring Festival Gala.

Gong Cheng sat in the van. The room he booked last night was in the same hotel as Zhang Yixing and Wang Jiaer, making it convenient for getting around... The three of them were essentially developing their careers abroad and had returned to China halfway through...

However, compared to Zhang Yixing's frequent activities in China over the past two years, Gong Cheng and Wang Jiaer have had relatively few trips in China; in fact, Gong Cheng's trips can be described as very few.

Zhang Yixing's future development is almost predictable, and he himself has mentioned while drinking that he wants to pursue C-POP in the future. Apart from activities and comebacks with Bombardment Meteor, he will almost always focus on developing his career in China...

Jackson Wang, on the other hand, will focus on developing his career in China, but his general plans will remain similar to what he's doing now: traveling between Seoul and China, though he'll likely have more overseas commitments...

After getting out of the car, Gong Cheng put on a baseball cap. Many celebrities who got out of their vans looked at him. He caught a glimpse of a familiar figure, and the person walked over laughing: "Xiao Cheng."

"Brother, long time no see." Gong Cheng hugged Hu Ge who was walking towards him, greeted him with a smile, and then turned around to introduce the two members beside him: "Lay, Jackson."

"Yixing, we've met before." Hu Ge said to Zhang Yixing with a smile, then looked at Wang Jiaer, "Jackson..."

Although Jackson Wang has participated in several variety shows in China in the past two years, he hasn't met Hu Ge much and they've never even crossed paths. They only saw each other a few times during rehearsals, but they're not close...

The smiling Hu Ge before me, after his roles in "The Disguiser" and "Nirvana in Fire," can currently be considered the top male lead in Chinese television dramas.

"Going back to China for a few days?" After exchanging pleasantries, Hu Ge asked Gong Cheng beside him, "I happen to have a few friends filming in Beijing, how about we grab a bite together?"

As Gong Cheng walked toward the venue, he said, "I'll be staying for quite a while this time. I've been quite active in China this year, and I'll probably stay until the Spring Festival Gala airs."

The group chatted as they entered the elevator in the underground parking garage. The elevator wasn't very spacious, and it looked like it could only accommodate eight or nine people. Gong Cheng, Zhang Yixing, and Wang Jiaer greeted many familiar faces inside with smiles. Even though they didn't know them, they still showed the proper politeness and manners.

Inside the ascending elevator, Jiang Shuying, Jing Tian, ​​Zhang Xiaofei, Yang Yang, and other celebrities from the Chinese entertainment industry stood in a corner. Hu Ge, who is usually lively and a bit of a goofball in private, simply smiled and nodded before turning around with Gong Cheng to face the elevator doors that were about to open.

The elevator doors opened, and Gong Cheng deliberately slowed his pace, letting the artists behind him head towards the lobby of the venue. He nudged Hu Ge's arm, "Bro, I didn't expect you to be so awkward, haha..."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Jiang Shuying, who was wearing a red dress in front of him. Coincidentally, Jing Tian, ​​who was wrapped in a black down jacket next to her, turned around and glanced at him. Underneath the bulky coat, she wore a black skirt that reached her calves and black high heels...

"Come on..." Hu Ge said irritably. He had dated Jiang Shuying, but they broke up more than two years ago. Domestic media and fans knew this, so it was normal for Gong Cheng to be so gossipy...

The group arrived at the hall together. Yang Dongsheng, the chief director in charge of this year's Spring Festival Gala, immediately put down his work and walked over with a smile when he saw Gong Cheng enter the hall.

When the staff and agents saw that tall figure appear in the venue, they started whispering among themselves, and many artists cast curious glances in his direction.

A tall, slender figure wearing a baseball cap stood under the warm yellow light. Outside the window, the sky over Beijing was just beginning to lighten, and it was snowing heavily.

When Jackson Wang and Lay Zhang noticed that almost everyone in the audience was looking at them, they instinctively took a few steps to the side. Jackson Wang, in particular, went straight to greet his partner from the previous stage, Chen Long.

He really didn't want to stand next to this maknae (youngest member), not because it was easy to be compared to her, but because it would be so easy for people to use them as a basis for comparison...

However, when he saw the "Four Top Celebrities" who were marketed by many fans and media in China were present, he smiled and said, "Top Celebrities?"
To put it bluntly and boastfully, any one person from Bombardment Meteor alone would have a greater global profile than the "Four Top Stars"...

Just because they are Bombardment Meteor!

Gong Cheng looked at the two who had run away speechlessly. He smiled and greeted the artists present: "Hello everyone, I am Gong Cheng."

A self-introduction was still necessary, so Yang Dongsheng quickly walked up to him and said with a smile, "Oh, Xiao Cheng, I've been waiting for you for so long, I'm so glad you're here."

"..."

After a brief chat, Yang Dongsheng glanced at the time and then went to a meeting with the Spring Festival Gala's chief planner, artistic director, and other staff.

Zhang Yixing, Jackson Wang, and Hu Ge introduced themselves to Gong Cheng and many other friends from the entertainment industry. Among the attendees were prominent figures such as Jackie Chan, Faye Wong, Pan Changjiang, and Joey Yung, all veterans of the entertainment circle.

Gong Cheng greeted them with neither arrogance nor servility, and exchanged contact information with some of them on the spot.

"Brother Bo, Brother Honglei..."

"Brother Chao..."

With Zhang Yixing's introduction, Gong Cheng greeted several regular guests from the two most popular variety shows in China, "Go Fighting!" and "Running Man," some of whom hadn't appeared on the Spring Festival Gala.

Kim Dae-woo carried Gong Cheng's backpack, his eyes scanning two figures not far from the venue. They looked incredibly familiar! Both were artists who had debuted on the Peninsula Entertainment platform, though their contract terminations had caused quite a stir…

A short while later, Lu Han also came over, and many celebrities turned their attention to him again.

Many people are curious about what artists who debuted on the peninsula talk about, and they speculate whether Gong Cheng, who is in the spotlight, will return to China to develop his career like them.
Leaving aside Tarot's achievements worldwide so far, his numerous high-end endorsements are enough to make anyone envious. LV, Armani, Burberry—he's been a brand ambassador for so many...

According to artists at Peninsula Entertainment, his resources there are ridiculously good. His singing career is well-known, but as an actor, he won the Peninsula TV King award after only two dramas, and the huge success of "Goblin" even set a trend across Asia...

Some celebrities have inquired about just how good Gong Cheng's resources are on the peninsula.

However, the only result was, "Look around, besides him, which green card holder actor can land a leading role in a film or television drama on the Peninsula? Especially in a script by writer Kim Eun-sook..."

Gong Cheng greeted Lu Han with a smile, "Brother Lu."

"Tarot, want to exchange contact information?" Lu Han said, taking out his phone. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Last year, JYP Entertainment had sent him numerous offers, and the project they were offering was to join Bombardment Meteor...

Now that Bombardment Meteor is so popular and hot, it would be a lie to say he doesn't regret it. But so far, he feels that his development in China is still pretty good, and he also officially announced his relationship two months ago.

"Okay." Gong Cheng didn't have any particular impression of Lu Han. Strictly speaking, he didn't have much interaction with this guy. No matter how fiercely the fans argued, such as "new and old runners," Wu Saike, and Kung Fu Panda Tao, he didn't know anything about them.

But I overheard Oh Sehun and Park Chanyeol talking about it, and they all still keep in touch privately, just not as frequently as before...

After exchanging a few words, Gong Cheng yawned, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Wu Saike standing not far away, secretly watching him, but he ignored him. Last year, Wu Saike had participated in that show, *The Rap of China*, and the production team had even invited him to work with them, saying it would definitely generate explosive viewership…

He didn't go, otherwise he almost got rubbed off...

It's not that he has any issues with Wu Saike, but they're simply not familiar with each other and there's no need for them to interact. At least Lu Han took the initiative to make friends, so if they get along, there's nothing wrong with becoming friends...

……

An hour and a half later, the fifth rehearsal at the main venue began.

Gong Cheng took a sip of water, wearing a knitted cardigan, and sat in the audience below the stage. Hu Ge and Jackson Wang sat next to him, while Zhang Yixing, whose performance was earlier in the program, was backstage preparing for his rehearsal.

During rehearsals, the artists participating in the Spring Festival Gala can rest backstage or watch the performance from the audience in the front row, which gives them a relatively high degree of freedom.

Hu Ge put away his phone, turned his head and asked, "Do you know Liu Shishi?"

"Long Kui!" Gong Cheng rolled his eyes. Did they really think I hadn't seen the Legend of Sword and Fairy...? He really hadn't, but clips of the show were very popular in China, and he'd seen quite a few...

Where is Tang Yan?

Seeing Gong Cheng nod, Hu Ge quietly suggested, "They are your fans, why don't you take some time these next couple of days to have a meal together? Get to know each other and make friends."

"By the way, aren't you going to do a world tour this year? And the first stop is the Bird's Nest..."

Gong Cheng immediately understood what this guy meant, "How many tickets? Call me when you come to the venue, and I'll have my agent deliver the tickets to you before the show starts."

As he spoke, he turned to look at the skit performance on stage. Meanwhile, a steady stream of artists arrived from the aisle to watch the rehearsal, including many of the country's most popular male and female performers…

According to Gong Cheng's understanding, among the younger generation of artists in China, the most popular are known as the "Four Big and Three Little," which refers to the four top idols and a boy band consisting of three members...

Female celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry are categorized into tiers based on age and popularity. Currently, the most popular are the post-85 actresses: Yang Mi, Zhao Liying, and Liu Yifei. These three are considered the top tier, while Liu Shishi and Tang Yan are just a step behind...

Slightly less prominent are the rising stars born in the 90s, such as Dilraba Dilmurat and Yang Zi...

In the aisle of the audience seats, Jing Tian lifted the hem of her black dress and sat down, right to Gong Cheng's right. She first greeted Hu Ge and Wang Jiaer, then sat on the cotton red cushion and extended her fair hand to Gong Cheng: "Hello, Tarot."

Gong Cheng shook hands with her. She wore a low-cut V-neck black dress with a clever design. The white flower heart was tied into a bow by the black dress fabric. Her tall figure made him appear several points taller than the average person even when he sat down, and his gaze inevitably fell on the deep V-neck.

"Can we take a picture together backstage later?" Jing Tian asked casually. She was wearing a black dress and didn't have a pocket to put her phone in, as it was with her manager. So she made the request. "Your song is very good."

As she spoke, she chuckled and gave a thumbs-up.

"Thank you." Gong Cheng smiled. Since arriving at the rehearsal venue this morning, he had lost count of how many artists had said this to him. As for whether they were genuine or not, whether they were his fans or not, he didn't really care. Perhaps they were true fans, or perhaps they were just being polite...

A little while later, Zhang Yixing finished rehearsing and came over. Jing Tian smiled and reminded him, "Tarot, see you backstage?"

"Okay." Gong Cheng knew she was talking about taking a group photo, so he responded.

The group sat in the audience chatting idly. Before long, Zhang Yixing and Wang Jiaer were gossiping about the juicy gossip surrounding Wu Saike's variety show "The Rap of China" from last year. Gong Cheng found it quite explosive...

The incident escalated further this week, and just last night, the well-known celebrity posted a long article on Weibo, reflecting on her feelings about the matter. The gist of the article was roughly four words: "I believe her..."

Regarding this matter, Zhang Yixing feels it's probably true, because in the past two days, rumors have been circulating in the Chinese entertainment industry that the rapper will be banned, but no one knows the specifics, so we can only wait for further developments.

Gong Cheng was deeply shocked by what he heard...

……

In the afternoon, the fifth rehearsal for the Spring Festival Gala concluded.

Gong Cheng and his friends had a meal with Huang Bo and Sun Honglei, and they drank quite a bit of alcohol.

At 10 p.m., the three returned to the hotel. Zhang Yixing and Wang Jiaer's managers helped them with their luggage and put it in the trunk of the van.

The two were so drunk they could barely stand in the snowstorm, but their minds were still clear. Jackson Wang, supporting himself on his knees, half-squatted on the ground, and Gong Cheng patted his back for a long time, but he still couldn't vomit...

Zhang Yixing, holding a bottle of water, said, "Maknae, we're going back to record now. Call ahead when you come in a couple of days. Cheng Xiao and Zhou Jieqiong said they haven't seen you in a long time and hope you can come and visit."

The fifth rehearsal recording has ended, and the next rehearsal is in a week, at which time the two will have to come to Beijing again. However, the filming of "Idol Producer" doesn't stop. Unlike other variety shows and reality shows, besides necessary scheduled activities, they have to be at the filming location all the time to keep an eye on the trainees' practice progress…

The trainees were all housed and trained in a community-like setting.

"Okay, bro, I'll call you guys from Langfang." Gong Cheng nodded. Cheng Xiao and Zhou Jieqiong, these two also debuted in the Peninsula group, one is WJSN and the other is IOI. They met quite a few times in Seoul in 16. Because they both have green cards, they are quite familiar with each other.

Then, Jackson Wang straightened up and waved his hand, saying, "I can't go now, maknae. We've had a bit too much to drink today."

"Be careful." Gong Cheng watched the two get into the car, and then their agent greeted him before driving off to Langfang.

The filming location for "Idol Producer" is Dachang Film and Television Town near LF City, Hebei Province. Specifically, it was filmed at the Langfang Genesis Film and Television Education Base in the town, with the program mainly recorded in Studio 5, which is about 3000 square meters.

Not far from Beijing, only a few dozen kilometers away, this film and television town has built three world-class film studios, three world-leading 4K high-definition television studios, and three set-making workshops, possessing complete film and television production conditions. Transportation is also convenient; it can be reached by car.

……

On the night of the fifth rehearsal...

Leaked photos of Gong Cheng participating in the Spring Festival Gala rehearsals have surfaced, and the trending topic "Tarot" has refreshed the daytime trending searches related to him.

On Sina Weibo, a mainstream social media platform for Chinese artists, the artists who participated in the rehearsal posted photos with Gong Cheng and stated that they were his fans.

In the eyes of many Akana users, this behavior is nothing short of pure opportunism! Riding the wave of popularity and attention! They have no shame whatsoever!
Of course, there are also a few celebrities who are indeed fans of Gong Cheng, such as Dilraba Dilmurat. She has stated on shows more than once that she is a fan of Gong Cheng, and last year she frequently posted photos of Gong Cheng's albums and photocards...

However, although she participated in this year's Spring Festival Gala, she was not at the main venue, so she couldn't take a photo with Gong Cheng during the fifth rehearsal in Beijing. She could only post a "crying" emoji on Weibo...

There are quite a few artists like her in the industry. Many have openly stated during variety show recordings, particularly during game segments, that their favorite singer is "Tarot," and that their most desired friend in the industry is "Tarot"...

These kinds of topics may initially affect the image of individual artists, but with the attacking power of anti-fans and Akana, the traffic will surge. They are not afraid of becoming popular because of negative publicity, but they are afraid of not having any topics or discussion.

Akas don't criticize everyone. They can distinguish between celebrities who genuinely appreciate their idols and those who attack them. As for the attacks? That's called a reckoning, severely punishing those who are just trying to ride on their coattails, and deliberately making the topic ambiguous...

Besides the group photos that went viral online, an "unknown person" also leaked photos of Gong Cheng with top celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry. These were completely unedited photos, leading many to suspect that they were deliberately taken by the rival companies of these top celebrities to ruin their companies...

More than a dozen unedited photos have surfaced online, generating considerable buzz.

The four top celebrities—Yang Yang, Lu Han, Wu Saike, and Li Yifeng—were all defeated by Gong Cheng…

Instantly killed!

From beginning to end, height, body proportions, looks, and temperament—merely external factors—were completely overshadowed. In high-definition photos, even passersby could clearly see that Gong Cheng was completely without makeup, while the top celebrities were fully made up...

Even with full makeup and styling, the unedited photos of top celebrities aren't bad, but without comparison, there's no harm done.

【image】

In the picture, Gong Cheng stands in the row of seats in the meeting room, his black, tousled hair lazily brushing past his eyebrows and eyes. He wears a blue and white knitted cardigan with a winter snow and deer pattern embroidered on the bottom, brown trousers, and white sneakers. At first glance, he gives a soft, sunny, and handsome impression.

There wasn't any deliberate posing... On the contrary, the top celebrities next to them were sitting in chairs with their legs crossed, or with their hands in their pockets, their bodies stiff...

"Holy crap? Yang Yang is supposed to be over 180cm tall, right? How much shorter is he than Tarot? It's so obvious... I don't dare let my girlfriend see this picture, I'm afraid she'll be shocked..."

"6. Even without makeup, she's completely outshone by the four top celebrities... Her aura is so much stronger than Wu Saike and the others, it's like they're on completely different levels..."

"Uh, is this the latest tactic used by rival companies to tear each other apart? Taking photos of their rival and Tarot together? To ruin their reputation? Judging from the angle of the photos, they seem to have been taken from several different angles. Could it be that all the Big Four agencies are trying to put their rival and Tarot together to put each other down?"

"As a result, all four of them exploded... Haha!"

"I'm impressed, even I, a guy, think Tarot is handsome...tsk tsk, and I heard he's not photogenic, damn it..."

"What? Still trying to ride on his coattails? Have you no shame? Isn't it normal for Tarot to blow up the Big Four? They're not even in the same league! A few months ago, Taylor Swift personally came to his door to invite him to collaborate on producing an album. What makes the Big Four compare to Tarot? Looks, movies, or music? They should feel honored to even be in the same frame as him! And he's just humiliating himself!"

"..."

……

The following day, Gong Cheng stayed in the capital for a day...

Hu Ge booked a hotel in Chaoyang District and had dinner with two friends, Liu Shishi and Tang Yan. The four of them got to know each other.

In the afternoon, Gong Cheng sat in an office with a department in Beijing and chatted, mainly about the concert at the Bird's Nest later this year, and the concert in Shandong in May...

The concert in Shandong has little to do with the departments in Beijing. They are not in charge; the main person in charge is the department in Shandong, but it still needs to be approved by the departments in Beijing.

"..."

As darkness fell, Gong Cheng got up to say goodbye. After an afternoon of conversation, in addition to matters concerning the concert, the relevant departments also hoped that when he releases a new album and shoots a music video, he could try filming in China. If he had this idea, the departments in various regions would do their best to cooperate.

Using his global influence, he can promote the motherland, boost the cultural and tourism industries in various regions, and truly showcase my country's image to the world.

Since Gong Cheng's debut in the past two years, countless tourists from all over the world have flocked to Seoul because of him. According to statistics from relevant departments, Gong Cheng's fans accounted for a high percentage of foreign tourists visiting Seoul last year.

For example, the filming location for Gong Cheng's first solo debut album, "YDP," is in Yeongdeungpo-gu, which has now become a must-visit spot for his fans. The graffiti wall of that abandoned factory has witnessed the visits of many fangirls...

The wall, which was originally covered in graffiti of audio tracks, is now filled with words of blessing, as well as the convenience store where he used to work, the bar he frequented, the JYP building, and the filming locations for his music videos...

Gong Cheng readily agreed, stating that when a suitable opportunity arises to shoot a music video, the filming location could certainly be within China.

Putting everything else aside, the natural scenery in China alone is far superior to that on the peninsula...

……

On January 11, Gong Cheng arrived in Jinan, Shandong, and held a meeting with the planners, directors, and officials in charge of the May concert to discuss and exchange ideas.

There were quite a few people accompanying the meeting around the brown-red conference table, as well as an official photographer who wanted to record some of the stories behind the concert for future promotion.

"Xiao Cheng, regarding what you mentioned last time about wanting to hold a concert by the sea, after we looked around Shandong, we think there's a great venue in Yantai, Longhu Libeng Island."

"This is a staff member from a local department in Yantai..."

An official pointed to someone sitting on the side of the table and introduced the site, after which images and details of the selected location were displayed on the large screen in the conference room.

Gong Cheng looked up at the local scenery: a beach and the sea. He heard the person in charge explaining the size of the site and its approximate capacity. He nodded. "It looks quite suitable, but I'd like to go there after this meeting. If it's feasible, we can finalize it and start construction..."

"Are you so anxious?"

"Yes, I have to go back to Beijing soon to participate in the sixth rehearsal." Gong Cheng smiled, which was why the time was so tight.

……

That afternoon, it got dark.

Gong Cheng and his team landed at Yantai Laishan Airport and went to Longhu Libeng Island for a site visit.

“This piece of land has been abandoned for the past few years, and it faces the sea…” said the person in charge from Yantai, standing on a hillside near the beach.

Gong Cheng walked around the area and thought the place was quite suitable. "However, the road may need to be renovated, the trash on the beach needs to be cleaned up, and most importantly, there are some sharp stones and glass under the sand..."

"Otherwise, it could easily cause injury to fans..."

He offered some suggestions, but seeing a dozen or so people from the same group staring at him, he asked, "What's wrong, bro? Am I wrong?"

The person in charge in Yantai looked at him with a complicated expression. This was a real artist! He spoke of caring for his fans so naturally! It wasn't a show; he genuinely cared about their safety. He patted Gong Cheng on the shoulder, "Okay, then it's decided to be here?"

"If it's decided, we can start work tomorrow. First, we'll have the beach turned over again, and we'll clear out the trash and sharp rocks... As for the people to set up the site, they're all ready and waiting to start work."

He stated truthfully that when Gong Cheng was invited to hold a concert here, the entire cultural and tourism department attached great importance to it. After he confirmed that he could perform, all the venue setup personnel and equipment were ready, and the site selection was finalized to start construction.

Inside the camera recording the event, Gong Cheng stood in the wind and snow, his hands shivering as he breathed warm air on them and rubbed his numb hands. "This is it, bro. I'll have to trouble you guys to come back and scout out the location and supervise the construction. I'm quite busy with my own schedule..."

He explained twice and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

The local official replied cheerfully, "Of course, this concert is a two-way collaboration between our cultural tourism department and you."

"..."

After scouting the location, everyone had a simple meal together, and Gong Cheng rushed back to the capital overnight...

……

When Gong Cheng appeared in Shandong, he was spotted by many local fans who took pictures and videos and uploaded them online, sparking a lot of speculation in China about "What is Tarot doing in Shandong?"

Some say he might hold a fan meeting in Shandong, or perhaps he'll be doing personal activities or commercial endorsements there...

As for the show "Idol Producer" mentioned by Zhang Yixing and Wang Jiaer, Gong Cheng has been too busy to go recently and can only go when he has time.

His song "Heaven and Earth Dragon Scales," originally scheduled to be performed at the Spring Festival Gala, was unexpectedly included in the national anthem. This was his second song to be included by the state, following "Fake Love."

……

January 15th, the sixth rehearsal for the Spring Festival Gala...

……

On January 18, the Aston Martin cars returned to Seoul and were temporarily parked in the company's garage.

At first, Gong Cheng was so busy shooting LV commercials in Shanghai that he was unaware of the situation.

It was all photos taken by the members of KakaoTWICE in their group chat, tagging him...

The new Aston Martin models, as well as the DBS Superleggera and Vanquish Zagato shooting brake versions that Gong Cheng particularly likes, are all quietly lying in the garage...

"Aigoo oppa, did you really land the Aston Martin endorsement?"

In the group chat, Yoo Jeongyeon took the lead, and the rest of the members started copying and pasting. Lim Nayeon had known about this not long before Gong Cheng returned to Korea, but she didn't say anything and looked like she had just found out.

"Daefa, there are so many cars that there's no way to park them all~ The cheapest one must cost around 1 billion won, right?"

Gong Cheng sat on the set with a smile and replied, "Didn't you all see it? Why are you still asking?"

"Oppa, your reply is so distant. Are you too popular and looking down on us?" Jeongyeon teased...

"Oh, we're filming right now. Let's talk back in Seoul." Gong Cheng smiled helplessly, then clicked on their question about the car price and replied, "Just a piece of cake (sunglasses)."

"..." x9
"Is there still a sense of distance?" Gong Cheng smiled and turned off the screen. He suddenly remembered that Wu Sehun had mentioned wanting to buy an Aston Martin last year. Perfect timing, he's the spokesperson now, let's buy one this year...

To boost sales.

So far, only the members of TWICE know about his Aston Martin endorsement. The members of Bombardment Meteor are unaware of it. He really wants to see what Sehun's expression will be when he finds out.
Aston Martin's official announcement, however, will not be made until the end of February. This is partly because he is currently not in Seoul, and partly because, in addition to the DBS Superleggera launching in the summer, the Vanquish Zagato will officially begin deliveries and sales in March...

……

On January 25th, as the Lunar New Year approached, the snow in Beijing intensified...

The van drove out of Beijing and headed towards the film and television town in Langfang. The navigation system indicated that it would arrive at its destination in one hour and fifteen minutes.

Gong Cheng unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, took a sip, and lay back in the back seat, watching some video clips playing on his tablet. The show hadn't aired yet, and these video clips were sent by the production team of "Idol Producer" to let him understand the abilities of the trainees participating in the recording.

"What's up!"

"Born in 1996 ~ Dreaming of becoming a rap leader ~~~"

"Cough cough..." Gong Cheng almost choked on the water he hadn't swallowed yet as he watched the trainees' rap self-introductions in the video...

What is this?
"Are you alright, Xiao Cheng?" Jin Dayu asked with concern from the passenger seat.

Gong Cheng shook his head, calmed his breathing, and regretted his decision to participate in the first episode. He even considered turning back on the spot.

"Hello everyone... I'm from BBT..."

He quickly swiped to the next video... Putting aside the rap, the sudden expressiveness in the video, was he a sign language interpreter?
"This is aka... kid... ayo... So today the director asked me to introduce myself... Actually, there's not much to say... I've done all sorts of things in my life... except for laxatives..."

"..." Gong Cheng was speechless. Next.

"I've been a trainee for two and a half years... I like singing, dancing, rap, basketball, and music~..."

"..." Gong Cheng felt helpless yet also wanted to laugh. After shouting "Music!", the trainee in the video actually took off his jacket, wearing black and white overalls, took a basketball, and started dribbling it between his legs on the spot...

"Is this a sports talent show?" he muttered... Then the random dribbling sounds finally stopped in the video, and music started playing.

"Chicken~ You're so beautiful~ Baby..."

A low-brow, DJ-like accompaniment started playing, and the trainee in overalls turned around and bounced around for a while, leaving Gong Cheng speechless...

Where's your rap?
"You walking towards me make me feel so restless... I've never felt this way before..."

Wow, that's a really long wind-up... Gong Cheng decisively swiped away from the video, next one...

"I'm a little cutie..."

"So, am I handsome enough to impress you?"

"..."

Gong Cheng turned off the tablet. Were these people here to be funny? After looking through them all, the opening "what's up!" and "You're so beautiful~baby" were actually the most normal ones?
There were also trainees demonstrating Muay Thai and imitating zombies from "Train to Busan."
Now he finally understood why Lay and Jackson said it was difficult... For a moment, he couldn't help but wonder if taking on PRODUCE 48 in the middle of the year was a mistake.

"..."

An hour later, Gong Cheng arrived at the film and television town in Langfang. He felt that the snow in Langfang was much heavier than that in Beijing.

Soon, staff from the "Idol Producer" program came over and picked up Gong Cheng.

He didn't tell Jackson Wang or Lay Zhang about his one-day guest appearance; only the production team knew. They said it happened to be filming today, and they wanted to give the trainees and mentors a little surprise—to put it bluntly, it was for the sake of the show…

Gong Cheng didn't object, since the money had already been paid...

“It’s filming now, we’ll go in from here…” The staff member who came to pick up Gong Cheng was a woman with a ponytail and glasses, wearing a production assistant badge in front of her. She pulled back the thick curtain in front of the door and explained.

The main hall inside the gate was rather deserted, except for a few photographers who were responsible for filming Gong Cheng entering the "base".

Gong Cheng waved to the camera and greeted them, while the production assistant standing off-screen guided him according to the script: "Tarot, are you here to visit the set?"

Gong Cheng nodded and chuckled, "I have some travel plans in China recently, so I came to visit my two older brothers and friends."

"Friends?" The voice-over from the production assistant seemed surprised.

"Yes, besides Lay and Jackson being members of the group, when we were active in Seoul, I debuted around the same time as WJSN and IOI. We often met on shows, so I also met Cheng Xiao and Zhou Jieqiong..."

I actually know Cheng Xiao and Zhou Jieqiong, we're friends, but not very close. It's just that we're on camera together...

Gong Cheng's tall figure stood in the empty corridor, his smiling eyes sparkling with reminiscence in the camera's lens. Cosmic Girls debuted in February 2016, and IOI in May...

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye...

"..."

(End of this chapter)