Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 269 [Farewell - Memories of the Nine Gates]

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—In a room in a certain residential complex,
The evening news just ended on TV.
"Twenty minutes left..."

"Let's get started..."

Chen Yao lazily curled up on the sofa in the living room, her long legs casually crossed, tightly hugging a plush toy in her arms.

With slender fingers, she lightly tapped the remote control, switching the channel to "Frozen TV" at exactly 8 PM.

Her baby face was full of anticipation, her eyes fixed on the television screen.

As a loyal member of the Gu family, she naturally had to contribute to the ratings of the premiere of "The Mystic Nine".

Don't assume that celebrities don't watch TV dramas.
When Korean dramas were all the rage a couple of years ago, countless actresses went crazy for them, posting messages on their blogs every day to show their support, and even going offline to meet their idols.

The ages also decrease from oldest to youngest.

Just like how men will always love eighteen-year-old girls,

Every woman loves the perfect male lead in idol dramas.

Chen Yao felt that she was different.

She is: 'Attracted by talent, loyal to looks'!
The song "Puppet Show" that Gu Qing released is still her phone ringtone.

From Running Man, The Journey of Flower, Brotherhood of Blades, Up Idol...

Gu Qing's official press releases, and even the times she trends on social media.

Chen Yao's works are so consistent that they contain 99% purity.

She didn't want to be such a 'pervert,' like a weirdo, but Gu Qing's performance on screen was just too captivating.

Appearing on variety shows guarantees laughs and emotional intelligence, making them the perfect choice for watching while eating.

Every time she appears, she inevitably becomes the focus of attention, radiating brilliance and captivating everyone's eyes.

The editing may have played a part, but the character created was extremely charming.

Chen Yao embodies this kind of worshipful fan mentality.

When will I be able to see my younger brother Gu Qing again?

Chen shook his chin on the cushion, looking a little dejected.

She felt hopeless about her future.

After the broadcast of "Legend of Nine Tails Fox" ended...
The only thing that generated discussion about the drama online was the "Word Spirit CP" between Gu Qing and Gulnazar.

She and the other actresses, including Jin Cheng, did not achieve a significant leap in status. At most, they gained some recognition among the general public by riding on Gu Qing's coattails.

The scripts that followed were nothing more than small-scale productions from third or fourth-tier cities.

Chen Yao envied Nazha, or rather, she felt a little jealous.

Which of the actresses in the crew wouldn't be envious and jealous?
Naza's acting skills are not as good as hers and Jin Cheng's.

Ke Ke Ke gained so much attention because of her collaboration with Gu Qing.

A little bit of lively acting, starry eyes, it's really just 'being a fangirl'.

Chen Yao felt that if she played the role, she could be even more infatuated!

It's really easy; anyone who works with Gu Qing becomes famous.
"I don't know if what Sister Cai said is true..."

"I really could work with Gu Qing's younger brother in a drama... as his female lead?"

Thinking of the promises Mr. Cai made to her, Chen Yao couldn't help but feel a sense of longing and hope, burying her burning cheeks in the cushion.

"Ding Ding Ding-"

The alarm clock woke Chen Yao from her wandering thoughts.

"【The Mystic Nine】is about to premiere!"

Chen Yao turned off the alarm she had set in advance, perked up, and used her tablet to access the iQiyi platform.

as predicted,

Web series are released even faster than television dramas.

Chen Yao couldn't wait to click play. Faced with the pop-up ads, she quickly recharged her membership, skipped the ads, and entered the main content.

She also habitually turns on the bullet comments, enjoying the feeling of watching a show with a group of people.

"The Gu family is here!"

'Little brother, little brother, little brother!!!'

"Fans of the original work came here specifically to take a look."

Amidst the massive barrage of supportive comments from Gu Qing's fans, there were also a few fans of the original novel.

"I wonder if my younger brother wrote the theme song for this drama..."

Chen Yao swiped her fingers expectantly.

The vast majority of fans in the live chat did the same thing, pulling back the skipped intro.
after all,

Gu Qing has even written a song for "The Lost Tomb," so there's no reason why he wouldn't write a song for the TV series he stars in.

But as you scroll to the beginning of the credits, "There's no theme song..."

Chen Yao and her fans let out a disappointed groan. They were a little disappointed, as only tense and exciting music played, and the main feature was introduced through edited clips.

"No songs are fine, it won't affect watching the show."

Chen Yao comforted herself.

The main feature of 【The Mystic Nine】begins.
The camera slowly zooms in on the bustling streets and alleys of Yangzhou's ancient city.

First, it depicts the diverse lives of people in the old Republican era, with the shouts and calls of various waiters.

The camera gradually pans to a window seat in a teahouse.

First, the elegant hem of her dress; then, the slender fingers holding the folding fan; finally, the image focuses on a close-up of Gu Qing raising her eyes.

A carefree and dashing young man appeared before everyone's eyes.

"Ahhh, that look up is killing me!"

"Why are you taking a screenshot? Just stand there!"

"My mom asked me why I was kneeling and licking the screen."

The number of bullet comments suddenly surged.

"Little brother, you're so handsome!"

Chen Yao sent a comment following the queue, then buried her face in the doll, only revealing her bright eyes as she continued to stare at the screen.

Gu Qing's portrayal of Er Yuehong exudes charm in every gesture, and even the subtle detail of her Adam's apple bobbing while drinking tea makes her heart race.

The plot progresses to a scene where human traffickers parade the 'girl' through the streets.

When the disheveled Zhao Liying raised her head and met Gu Qing's gaze in the teahouse, she called out, "Brother."

The style of the comments suddenly changed:
"Little Zhao called her younger brother 'Brother,' hahaha!"

"That 'brother' made me laugh so hard I almost cried."

"The screenwriter is definitely up to something!"

Chen Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud, but quickly became serious again.

She turned off the funny comments and focused on appreciating Zhao Liying's performance—those tearful eyes, filled with despair and hope, truly made it easy for viewers not to feel out of place.

"She acted so well. No wonder 'The Journey of Flower' became such a hit..."

Chen Yao sighed softly, "Not everyone can easily pull off the naive and innocent character."

If you're not careful, you could be portrayed as a scheming woman.

Chen shook his head, dismissing these thoughts.

She continued watching the show.

The rest of the plot is a cliché hero rescuing the damsel in distress.
Gu Qing leaped down from the teahouse, chased away some harassing hooligans, and then spent a large sum of money to redeem the maid.

Although it's a classic hero saving the damsel in distress,
After filming, Gu Qing specifically instructed the director not to use slow-motion replays, so as to fully showcase the action scenes.

So, from the moment he leaped down to chase away the thugs, Gu Qing and Zhao Liying didn't exchange a single glance.

Lacking the "love at first sight" moments from classic TV dramas,
The entire process of rescuing the "girl" was less ambiguous and more filled with sympathy for those in need, making it very enjoyable to watch.

The two episodes aired back-to-back and quickly reached their climax.

After the passing of the old troupe leader, the audience grew cold and indifferent, and as the troupe declined, everyone left.

Only his apprentice Chen Pi, his devoted maid, and a few remaining old colleagues from the opera troupe remained.

Gu Qing's portrayal of Er Yuehong marks a departure from his previous playboy persona. He decides to personally perform and save the opera troupe, thus beginning his journey as a leading man.

He drew his eyebrows and did his makeup, while the maidservant virtuously tidied his clothes.

This scene is full of charm, reminiscent of the Leslie Cheung and Gong Li in "Farewell My Concubine".

When Gu Qing put on makeup and appeared on stage in theatrical attire, Chen Yao held her breath.

On the screen, Er Yuehong's eyes sparkled, her water sleeves fluttered, and she sang "Zhaojun's Departure from the Frontier" with a melodious and poignant voice.

The maid below the stage and the second master in the stands exchanged glances unintentionally, a sweetness that made one's lips curl into a smile.

"Aaaaaah!! My brother's gone berserk!!"

"Second Master!! Marry me!!"

"This singing is so professional! How is it different from a traditional opera performer?"

"The way that girl looks at Second Master is exactly how I am!"

"I'm begging my brother to hold a concert!!"

The conclusion of episode 2 marks the end of today's premiere.
Chen Yao was half-awake from a dream, and just as she was about to lament how suddenly it had ended, the clear and melancholic sound of a xiao (a type of vertical bamboo flute) suddenly rang out in the play!

"Is this the ending theme song?!"

Chen Yao slightly widened her eyes.

[Farewell: Memories of the Nine Gates] is here!
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(P.S.: There are still two chapters left. I was a bit stuck with the writing, so the update is a little late.)
(End of this chapter)