Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 259 The Female Doctor Kills the Qing Dynasty (3.3k)
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When Liu Shishi learned that Gu Qing was about to return to the group, her heart, which had been hanging low, began to rise again.

In a corner of the film set,

She sat alone on a small hard wooden stool, her back ramrod straight, maintaining the demeanor of a well-bred young lady, yet she could not hide the weariness in her eyes and a hint of barely perceptible anticipation.

The scenes these past few days have been filled with misunderstandings, cold stares, heart-wrenching arguments, and ruthless alienation. The screenwriter's "torture of the protagonist" plot has repeatedly pushed Yunxian, the character she plays, into an emotional abyss.

This torment not only belongs to the character, but also lingers in the actor's body.

Liu Shishi's already beautiful face, under the deliberately created haggard makeup, gained an added sense of coldness and fragility, and her eyes, like autumn water...
At this moment, he stared blankly in the direction of the film set entrance, as if trying to see through the door.

Her fingertips unconsciously twisted the plain handkerchief, revealing the anxiety in her heart—both on and off screen, she was waiting for that person to return.

Finally, that familiar figure came into view.

Gu Qing walked over with slightly tired but still upright steps.

Liu Shishi sprang up from the stool almost instantly, her carefully maintained dignified demeanor crumbling the moment she saw him.

She stepped forward and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, threw herself into his arms, overwhelmed by the pent-up grievances and longing of the past few days.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, her voice trembling with barely perceptible sobs: "Qi Yu! You're finally back... Where have you been all these days?"

The name "Qi Yu" is both the character's name and seems to carry her own unspeakable dependence.

Gu Qing was slightly taken aback, then a gentle ripple spread across her eyes.

He gently embraced her, his hands soothingly stroking her meticulously styled hair with tenderness and care.

His voice was clear and gentle, with a hint of coaxing laughter: "It's only been three days."

Back to the crew,

Gu Qing immediately threw herself into the intensive filming process.

The aftereffects of being away from the set for three days quietly began to appear—the feeling of being immersed in the character of Zhu Qiyu seemed to be veiled by a thin gauze.
It is necessary to rediscover that complex temperament, which is a blend of imperial nobility and deep-seated sickness and melancholy.

It took him an entire day to immerse himself back into that turbulent dynasty, back into the body of that dying emperor.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the intense filming, and another half month passed in the blink of an eye.

The Chinese entertainment industry seems to have experienced a rare period of calm.

The only topic that stirred up some discussion was the ratings of the new drama "Legend of Nine Tails Fox".

On the day of its premiere, the ratings were close to those of "The Journey of Flower" at its mid-term, which delighted Boss Cai so much that he held a celebration banquet in advance, thinking that another phenomenal hit was about to be born.

However, the good times didn't last long. The ratings plummeted the next day, followed by a deluge of criticism.
"RNM—Refund! Is this an advertising scam?"

"Where's my brother Gu Qing? The trailer was full of amazing scenes, but this is all I get in the actual episode? His scenes together don't even add up to five minutes!!"

"Damn Tang Dynasty! This is an eyesore!! Are you serious about the male lead cast?"

"Could these male actors be any uglier?! Debonair? Pshaw! They're so greasy they made me throw up my dinner!"

Slow pacing, chaotic narrative, and lack of a main storyline... these are not fatal flaws for an idol drama.

Its biggest flaw is that it's not "idol-like" enough!
Actresses such as Jin Cheng, Chen Yao, Xiao Caiqi, and Tang Yixin, with their makeup and clothing, are able to maintain an above-average level of attractiveness, thus avoiding being labeled as "ordinary girls".

However, the camera then shifts to the male actors—Wang Kai, Zhang Ruoyun, Wu Yuge, and Zhai Zhiwang—and their portrayals of the "charming and debonair" characters.

This makeup and styling couldn't hold up at all; it either made her look old-fashioned or was criticized as "uniquely ugly."

Zhang Ruoyun, with her unique "ugly-handsome" charm, barely managed to be the one who received the least criticism among the four.

Gu Qing's immense popularity brought unprecedented attention and buzz to "Legend of Nine Tails Fox".
However, this has also inadvertently raised the aesthetic threshold of the audience, fans, and even rival artists, making the criticisms even sharper.

The end result was that although the ratings barely maintained the top position in the time slot, the reputation had plummeted and was met with a barrage of criticism.

Overwhelmed with problems, Boss Cai launched an emergency marketing campaign, releasing stunning stills and trailers of Gu Qing in her fox fairy makeup, declaring, "Gu Qing's story premieres tonight!"

This barely stabilized the precarious viewership ratings and reignited fans' anticipation for watching.

Meanwhile, a heavy and poignant atmosphere permeated the set of "The Imperial Doctress" in Hengdian.

Gu Qing's character, Zhu Qiyu, was about to finish filming his final scene—a tragic farewell to his lover, Yunxian, on his sickbed.

Inside the magnificent bedchamber, ambergris burned quietly in the brazier, filling the air with a somber atmosphere.

On the bright yellow brocade bed, Zhu Qiyu, played by Gu Qing, lay quietly. His handsome face was devoid of color, appearing almost translucent, a jade-white.
His eyes were tightly closed, and his long, slender eyebrows were furrowed with pain from the disease raging within him, revealing a heartbreaking vulnerability.

A few strands of jet-black hair broke free from the jade crown and fell loosely beside his pale, paper-like face, adding to his desolate and forlorn appearance.

Dressed in a magnificent blue robe and wrapped in a snow-white sable fur coat, Liu Shishi walked slowly but heavily to the bedside.

She has been staying by his side every day these past few days.

At this moment, seeing my beloved person so emaciated from illness, their former spirit and vitality completely gone, my heart aches.

She reached out her trembling hand and gently brushed away the stray strand of hair from his cheek, her movements careful as if touching a fragile dream.

Those bright, clear eyes were already brimming with tears; a single blink would bring them to a head.

"Is Shishi's emotion... coming too early? The confrontation hasn't reached its climax yet, and there are already tears in her eyes..." An assistant next to director Li Guoli muttered quietly.

"Shut up!" Li Guoli hissed, his eyes glued to the monitor. "I feel like crying just looking at Xiao Gu looking like he's about to break, let alone Shi Shi!"

Qi Yu was her pillar of support. Now that the sky has fallen and her pillar is about to collapse, how could she not be heartbroken to the core?

The strands of hair were gently brushed aside, as if disturbing the painful dream of the person on the bed.

"Yunxian...Yunxian..."

Gu Qing suddenly opened her eyes, her pupils dilated from the nightmare, revealing deep fear and panic, her hand unconsciously reaching out to grasp at the void.

"Qi Yu! I'm here! I'm right here!"

Liu Shishi immediately bent down and tightly grasped his icy hand, her voice trembling with suppressed sobs, "Don't be afraid, you'll be alright, I will definitely heal you! I definitely can..."

"Yunxian..." Gu Qing's tense nerves relaxed slightly when she saw the person in front of her.

He twitched the corners of his mouth, trying to force a reassuring smile, but only managed a utterly bleak arc. "This illness... is beyond the reach of medicine."

I… am the Son of Heaven, possessing the wealth of the four seas, with the power of life and death… cough… cough cough… yet in the end, I couldn’t even keep my own life… this is all fate…”

He was breathing heavily, his gaze fixed on Yunxian's face, filled with reluctance and worry, "But... Yunxian, the one I worry about the most... is you."

The Empress Dowager has always disliked you. If I were to leave... you would surely..."

"Qi Yu! I'm not afraid! I'm really not afraid!"

Liu Shishi could no longer hold back her tears, which rolled down her beautiful but sorrowful face like broken pearls.

She desperately held Gu Qing's frail body tightly in her arms, as if protecting the last glimmer of a flame, her voice broken, "Just focus on getting better, okay? Please... don't say anymore... you'll get better..."

"No..."

Gu Qing shook his head with difficulty in her arms, forcing up the last bit of his imperial composure, his eyes filled with deep affection and heavy responsibility, "Yunxian, I promised you... I would protect you for the rest of your life, how could I break my promise..."

With all his might, he raised his equally pale hand, trembling as he cradled Yunxian's tear-stained face, his expression resolute and unwavering, "My...my final decree...is to make you Empress!"
Even though the Empress Dowager tried to stop me, this... is my last will and testament!

It is the Emperor's last edict!
She...has no right to change it!

Every word seemed to have exhausted the last of his life force.

"Qi Yu..."

Liu Shishi sobbed uncontrollably, shaking her head desperately, her tears soaking his clothes. "I don't want the Empress's title, I don't want anything, I just want you to live, I just want to be with you... to watch over you..."

Wealth, honor, and the title of Empress were far less important to her than the dying man before her.

"allow……"

Gu Qing wanted to say something, but a sweet taste suddenly came from his throat. His expression changed drastically, and he used his last bit of strength to push Yunxian away from his arms!

"puff--!"

A mouthful of scalding blood, like vivid cinnabar, gushed from his mouth, splashing onto his snow-white face and staining the bright yellow brocade quilt.

The glaring crimson, in stark contrast to his bloodless face, created an extremely cruel scene, gripping everyone's breath.

He seemed to have all his strength drained away, and he slumped back onto the pillow, barely breathing.

"Qi Yu—!!"

Staggered from the push, Liu Shishi screamed, her shrill voice shattering the deathly silence of the bedchamber.

Looking at the glaring bloodstains on Gu Qing's face and clothes, and his rapidly paling complexion, she was instantly overwhelmed by immense panic and grief.

She rushed back to the bedside without a care, her clean sleeves instantly stained red with blood, but she didn't care. She grabbed a handkerchief and frantically wiped the blood off his face, while her other hand gripped his cold hand tightly, as if she could hold onto his life as it slipped away.

"Yunxian...I'm leaving..."

Gu Qing's gaze was beginning to unfocus; the last vestiges of clarity allowed him to raise his bloodstained hand again with great difficulty and extreme slowness.

With fingertips trembling, filled with endless pity and deep guilt for failing to keep his promise, he reached out to wipe away the blood splattered on Yunxian's cheek, as if wanting to cleanse her of the filth. "I'm...sorry, I still...couldn't..."

Before she could finish speaking, her raised wrist suddenly lost all support, and, carrying unfinished regret and love, fell heavily onto the cold edge of the bed.

"Qi Yu—! Qi Yu!!"

Liu Shishi's world collapsed completely at that moment. She let out a heart-wrenching cry and desperately threw herself onto his still warm but lifeless chest.

His shoulders trembled violently, and his suppressed sobs turned into heart-wrenching cries that echoed through the silent palace, lingering for a long time.

“Cut——”

Director Li Guoli's voice rang out in a low voice, accompanied by a long sigh. Behind the monitor, many staff members already had tears in their eyes.

However, the play ended, but the emotions continued.

Liu Shishi remained draped over Gu Qing, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, tears soaking her costume.

She seemed trapped inside Yunxian's body, trapped in the immense grief of losing her beloved, unable to break free for a time.

The set was completely silent, except for her suppressed, intermittent sobs that filled the air.

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(End of this chapter)