Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 299 The Betrayer's 'Alliance' (4.3k)
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Passing through your world,
Live out the fullest of love.

Please keep moving forward and don't look back.

"I'll be the one waiting for you at the finish line..."

On the stage of a large company's celebration, Gu Qing quickly finished singing this song that was already etched into her bones.

Amidst a flurry of flashing lights and enthusiastic cheers, he maintained a professional smile, graciously signing autographs and posing for photos.
Without stopping, they quickly jumped into the waiting van and headed to the final battleground for the name tag ripping game – the Ziyun Pavilion in the Tang Paradise.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was completely different from the hustle and bustle outside.

"Make sure to change this song when you go to Bazaar for rehearsal."

Gu Qing rubbed her temples, her voice revealing an undisguised weariness, even a hint of physical discomfort.

He finally understood the words of those singers from his previous life—when a signature song is repeated countless times, especially when it is mechanically performed in commercial settings.

That feeling can really make you want to vomit just by hearing the intro.

He's actually done quite well; every song he releases is a small masterpiece, and he doesn't just stick to one song.

But even so,
Every time a song becomes a hit, it means that he will be forced to perform it repeatedly in various occasions for a period of time until the popularity fades.

It's a happy kind of trouble.

"Xiao Gu, since you're tired of singing, why don't you write some new songs?"

Li Li put on a smile, trying to liven up the atmosphere, "If we can collect two or three more songs, we can make a new album. The company will fully support its release and guarantee that it will be a huge hit!"

"Putting old songs into a new album and reselling it?"

Gu Qing opened her eyes, a hint of sarcasm on her lips, "You dare to think it, but I dare not do it."

Which celebrity would dare to do that? They'd be drowned in a sea of ​​criticism.

If our rivals found out, they'd probably laugh their heads off.

It exploded on its own without doing anything!

"Oh, Xiao Gu, what's there to be afraid of?"

Li Li clearly didn't understand the deeper meaning behind his words, and instead earnestly tried to persuade him, "How much your fans long to own a physical album to support you!"
We call this resource integration!

Compiling all the best songs released into a collectible album would definitely win over fans! Besides,

She changed her tone, with a hint of inexplicable superiority, "We're not like some celebrities who create trendy brands or open online stores, selling cheap goods from OEM factories at high prices to their fans to fleece them!"

That's shameful! We're just giving our fans a treat!

"Giving benefits?"

Gu Qing looked at her with a half-smile, "Then why not just give it away completely? How about a 50% discount on the album price?"

"50% off?! That's practically working for free!"

Li Li's face immediately fell. "This...this won't even cover the costs! How about...a 10% discount? Xiao Gu, how about a 10% discount? The fans will understand..."

"Not good." Gu Qing was too lazy to get entangled with this short-sighted thinking any longer. She simply closed her eyes, waved her hand, and indicated that she needed to rest.

The contract signed in 2014 will not expire until 2020.

Six years may not seem long compared to some "indenture" contracts.

But for Gu Qing, who longs for more autonomy at this moment, each day feels like an eternity.

He pondered whether there would be an opportunity in the future to break free from this constraint without breaching the contract.

……

An hour later, at the Ziyun Pavilion in the Tang Paradise, night had fallen and the lights were on.

"Xiao Gu! You're here? Finished work?" Deng Chao greeted Gu Qing warmly as she rushed over.

"Yes, I just finished. Sorry I'm late." Gu Qing nodded apologetically.

"It's alright, it's alright! We've only been here a few minutes." Everyone expressed their understanding.

Once the members had all assembled, director Lu Hao picked up a megaphone, and the sound echoed through the empty ancient building complex:

"Next up—the main event of the night! The name tag ripping game!!"

Your ultimate goal is to find the correct food label representing the third-ranked dish on the Anxi Food Ranking!

"The winning team will have one chance to switch the order of the food! This will directly determine whether you can win tonight!"

"Come on, come on, it's been so long since I've done a name tag ripping game."

Li Chen excitedly flexed his wrists and ankles, eager to try, his eyes gleaming with a fighting spirit.

Since Lu Han joined the show and caused a stir, the production team has significantly reduced the number of name tag ripping segments.

The main issue was that after the first episode aired, the "off-script tearing name tag" incident was secretly filmed and leaked, which caused a huge uproar.

The content in the video,

It happened when Zheng Kai was fiercely tearing off name tags with Deng Chao, but Lu Han ambushed him and tore off his own name tag, which made Zheng Kai so angry that he threw his hat down.

Not only did Zheng Kai's face darken and he had to re-record, but countless loyal viewers were also greatly disappointed, never expecting that their favorite name tag ripping segment was actually scripted, with even the outcome predetermined.

The ratings plummeted at one point, and in the first few episodes, it was even overtaken by "Go Fighting!"

Ironically, the episode where Go Fighting! first surpassed Running Man was the same episode where Gu Qing was a guest promoting The Mystic Nine.

The chaotic battle between the two fan groups pushed the hype to its peak, and the name tag ripping segment was temporarily suspended.

Lu Hao is under immense pressure to restart the name tag ripping game.

But he didn't care. With Gu Qing's "golden brand" and the buzz he naturally generated, even if the sky fell, the Gu family would be there to support him.

"However, before we officially start tearing off the name tags, we need to perform a... little ceremony!" Lu Hao smiled mysteriously and gestured for the staff to come forward.

"A ceremony? What ceremony?" Everyone looked at each other, puzzled.

Several men in black quickly stepped forward and swiftly tore off the name tags of everyone except Gu Qing and Chen Duling, then replaced them with name tags that were two sizes larger than the originals!

"Why are the brand names so big? Won't they tear off easily?"

"What are you doing?!"

Wang Baoqiang was the first to jump up, pointing at the still small name tags on Gu Qing and Chen Duling's backs, his eyes wide, "Why don't Gu Qing and Chen Duling have to change them?!"

"Undercover agent!!!"

Chen Chichi suddenly slapped his forehead, letting out a frustrated wail, and pointed at Gu Qing, "I knew it! I knew you were acting strange today!"

You've been acting suspiciously since this morning. Is your hidden mission to tear off all our name tags? Huh?!

"Brother Chichi," Gu Qing's face lit up with a bright yet slightly mischievous smile as he gave Chen Chichi a thumbs up, "Genius! Too bad... too late!"

He smiled smugly, finally able to reveal his identity and bare his fangs, "Tonight, the hunt begins!"

The situation is reversed instantly!

The purple team, with its small name tags, will have an absolute advantage in the name tag ripping game.
"Little Gu!" Deng Chao rushed forward, grabbed Gu Qing's hand tightly, and forced a "sincere" smile on his face. "We are allies, the Iron Alliance. You won't lie to me, right?"
We agreed to play 2v2 together!

“Yes, Qingqing,” Yang Ying chimed in, blinking her big eyes and speaking with a pitiful tone, “You’ll protect us, right? We’re a family, the Blue Team and the Purple Team!”

You absolutely must latch onto a powerful figure!

however……

Gu Qing remained silent for a few seconds, then slowly withdrew her hand. Looking at the hopeful eyes of Deng Chao and Yang Ying, she sighed softly.

A perfectly timed "apology" appeared on his face: "Brother Chao, Sister Baby, I'm sorry. Actually... I'm an undercover agent."

"Fuck your grandpa!!!" Deng Chao instantly "exploded in rage," his acting skills were off the charts, and he grabbed Gu Qing's neck with both hands and shook him violently, "You brat, you actually learned to betray me, how could you do this to me?!"
"Brother Chao, please calm down."

Gu Qing was so dizzy from being shaken around that she still couldn't resist being cheeky, "Brother Baoqiang has betrayed you for fifteen terms, and I've only betrayed you for one term... Is that too much to ask?"

"Fine! You just wait!" Deng Chao released his grip in a fit of rage, pointing at Gu Qing and threatening him.

"Whatever, tonight I'll show you what a real superhuman is."

Gu Qing had already switched into villain mode, turning to Lu Hao and calling out, "Director, do you have a bell? I could get one."

Upon hearing this, everyone was on edge.

"You brat! You're too arrogant!!"

"I can't take it anymore! I want to tear him apart right now!"

"Gu Qing! You just wait—!!"

The crowd was furious and ready to fight. Faced with this overwhelming "resentment," Chen Duling panicked a little and quietly tugged at Gu Qing's sleeve, "Xu Yi...we...were we being a bit too arrogant?"

This has absolutely enraged the public!

"fine,"

Gu Qing didn't take it seriously, her tone filled with strong confidence, even a bit childish, "Watch my performance later, one in each hand!"

He allowed the man in black to put a blindfold on him and headed to a random starting point.

When the blindfold is removed, the whistle blows to officially start the game!

Xu Yi,

Looking at the deep, winding corridor and the faint sound of footsteps approaching from afar, Chen Duling chose to play it safe. "Should we... find a place to hide first? Let them tear each other apart?"

"Hmm...that makes sense." Gu Qing calmed down a bit from his "Great Demon King" state and nodded. "Although we have the advantage, we can't fight against so many opponents. We'll wait until they eliminate one or two teams before we take the initiative!"

He led Chen Duling on a leisurely stroll through the magnificent Ziyun Pavilion, taking the opportunity to admire the night view of this Tang-style building.

Upon arriving at a spacious hall, Gu Qing's attention was drawn to the huge murals on the walls.

"Huh? This mural... something's not right."

He stopped and frowned slightly.

"what happened?"

Chen Duling looked at the mural with a puzzled expression.

Her knowledge of history did touch on a blind spot.

The figures in the painting are lifelike, with strange rocks, officials, ladies, daylilies, musical instruments, flower vases, and screens, as if they were at a banquet.

"This painting is 'The Night Banquet of Han Xizai.' Han Xizai was a man from the Southern Tang Dynasty. It's a bit too far removed from the Tang Dynasty to try and establish a connection with him."

Gu Qing approached, admiring the murals on the wall, and took the opportunity to share some historical knowledge: "Of course, it's not that there's no connection. Li Bian (Xu Zhigao), the founding emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty, once claimed to be a descendant of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and changed his surname to Li in 939, posthumously honoring himself as Emperor Gaozu of Tang."

"Han Xizai? Is he the one in the red robe?" Chen Duling asked, pointing to a dignified figure in the painting wearing a bright red official robe.

“No,” Gu Qing shook his head, pointing to a composed and slightly arrogant figure beside him, “This is Han Xizai. The one in the red robe is the newly appointed top scholar, Lang Can.”

His gaze was drawn to the top scholar, whose carefree and smug demeanor was vividly depicted by the painter.
"It's beautifully drawn..." Gu Qing exclaimed sincerely.

at this time--

"Black Bull! Where are you—?"

"Chao—, I'm here."

"Guards! Zheng Kai! Let's form an alliance—!"

The shouts, rising and falling, growing louder as they approached, were like horns blaring to haunt the dead, instantly shattering the tranquility of the hall!
"Something's wrong."

Gu Qing's expression changed drastically, and a strong sense of foreboding welled up in her heart.

"Little Ears, come here."

Gu Qing led Chen Duling out of the palace gate and leaned on the railing of the corridor to look down.

"Haha, they're up there! Xiao Gu and the others are up there!"

Chen Chichi, with his sharp eyes, spotted a figure and excitedly pointed to the second-floor corridor, shouting.

Downstairs, Deng Chao, Li Chen, Wang Baoqiang, and Zheng Kai's four teams instantly converged, all looking up with ferocious and unified "Avengers" smiles on their faces!
"Chase--!!!"

You're an ability user, right?
A bell, right?

"I'll let you tie me up!"

"Run!!!"

Gu Qing's previous arrogance vanished, and he dragged Chen Duling into the maze-like corridors, starting a life-or-death race against time!
The atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic battle royale was instantly ignited!
"Hahaha, run! Run faster!"

"Hehehe... Little Gu, stop hiding, we've seen you~"

"Where's the bell? Where's your superpower?! Don't run away if you dare!"

Wild laughter, sinister banter, and fierce shouts came from all directions, as if people were surrounding the building both upstairs and downstairs. Footsteps echoed in the empty halls like the urgent beat of a death knell.

After a series of intense escapes and hiding, Chen Duling, exhausted, turned pale and her lips lost their color. She leaned against a pillar, panting heavily.

This is too scary!

How can human laughter be so terrifying?
"Huh...huh..."

Gu Qing was also panting, looking around—in all four directions, like four guardian deities, with “kind” smiles, they approached step by step, completely blocking all escape routes.

"..."

Gu Qing glanced at Chen Duling, who was almost exhausted, and then at the "Avengers" who were closing in and sharpening their knives. In despair, she raised her hands and said, "We... surrender."

A cold, detached broadcast immediately echoed through the night:

"Gu Qing, OUT—!"

"Chen Duling, OUT—!"

The desolate "prison" area had only a few solitary lights.

Gu Qing and Chen Duling sat in their chairs, looking at each other in silence, a sense of desolation permeating the air, as if they had "died before achieving their goal."

The script... seems to have a mistake.

The good news is,

With their elimination, the once unbreakable alliance crumbled.

'Tear—'

Chen Chichi was the first to betray Li Chen, tearing off Li Chen's name tag.

'Chen Chichi, you—'

Chen's mother was injured again, in immense pain and disbelief.

How many more times are you going to betray me, you bitch?!

"I have no choice, Black Bull, I want to win!"

Chen Chichi, along with Zheng Kai, violently tore off Wang Zhulan, who was lying on the ground.

And on the other side,
Deng Chao and Wang Baoqiang acted simultaneously.

'Hehe, Bao Bao, what are you planning to do?'

'No... I didn't intend to do anything. What do you want to do, though?'

Deng Chao and Wang Baoqiang chuckled awkwardly, grabbed each other's name tags, and instantly began to wrestle.

Yang Ying also started arguing with Tong Liya.

Relying on combat strength,

Deng Chao and Yang Ying both won.

The final battle has begun.
Deng Chao faces Chen Chichi, while Zheng Kai confronts Yang Ying.

Chen Chichi thought he would win easily.

Who would have thought,
Zheng Kai was defeated by a wicked woman, Yang Ying, who tricked him into tearing off his name tag.

Caught in a pincer attack, Chen Chichi could only lose the final battle.

"Zheng Kai, you're completely hopeless!"

"Are you even a man? How could you be bewitched by a woman?"

"You'll definitely die at the hands of a woman someday!!"

Chen Chichi was dragged away in a state of utter grief and indignation.

But dramatically,
Deng Chao, from the winning team, chose the 'roujiamo' (Chinese hamburger) originally chosen by Li Chen's team.

When the third most popular food was announced:
""Pita Bread In Mutton Soup"!"

Gu Qing and Chen Duling opened their mouths at the same time. The situation had taken a dramatic turn, and they had won!
This episode marked the return of the show, and also its dramatic conclusion.

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(End of this chapter)