Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 313 The Invitation to the Spring Festival Gala (4k)
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"Little brother, are you really not coming? Sister Tao's bed is huge." Liu Tao leaned against the car door, her eyes filled with a mischievous smile, her gaze shifting between Gu Qing and Jiang Xin, who was completely drunk inside the car.

"No, no,"

Gu Qing waved her hands repeatedly, revealing a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment, while glancing at the car her assistant had driven up. "My assistant is here to pick me up. Sister Liu Tao, you should take Sister Jiang Xin and the others home first."

"Taking advantage of someone in distress is not a good thing."

“Little brother, you’re really cute,” Liu Tao chuckled, his eyes sparkling with understanding and teasing. “It was clearly Jiang Xin who took advantage of you by kissing and hugging you while she was drunk.”

She glanced back at Jiang Xin, who was fast asleep in the car, and blinked. "Let's see what I say to her when she sobers up tomorrow."

After dinner, Gu Qing helped Liu Tao carefully carry the three drunk people, Han Hong, Jiang Xin, and Wang Ziwen, back to the car and settled them in.

“Okay, then Sister Tao will head out first,” Liu Tao got into the driver’s seat, fastened her seatbelt, and her smile faded, revealing a hint of seriousness. “About the script…” she looked at Gu Qing with a questioning gaze.

"I will definitely get back to you within three days at the latest." Gu Qing stood outside the car window.

"Then Sister Tao will wait for your good news," Liu Tao said with a smile on her face, waving to him in a light voice, "Bye-bye, little brother."

"Bye-bye," Gu Qing waved goodbye, "Take care on the road."

Watching Liu Tao's car merge into the traffic and gradually disappear into the night, Gu Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and got into the car that her assistant had been waiting for, and drove back to the hotel.

The first thing upon returning to the hotel was...

Gu Qing quickly finished washing up, changed into comfortable pajamas, and couldn't wait to pick up her tablet and lie in bed to read the original novel of "Nirvana in Fire".

This novel was first published on Dianzian.com, updated in 06, and completed in 07.

This is one of the earliest online novels. Crowded layout and outdated interface are inevitable.

Fortunately, Gu Qing was a fast reader with excellent concentration.

He spent two hours quickly filtering through the novel, which was over 700,000 words long.

This gave him a preliminary understanding of the differences between the original novel and the later film and television adaptation of "Nirvana in Fire".

For example, Princess Jingning (in the original novel, she is Xiao Jingyan's younger sister and plays a key role in the incident where Princess Nihuang was drugged by Consort Yue; the film version directly cuts her out).
The way Prince Jing and Mei Changsu recognized each other (in the original novel, the two recognized each other through the code word "hazelnut pastry", but in the TV series, they revealed their identities by confronting each other in the Golden Palace).

And the motives behind Prince Yu's rebellion (in the original novel, Prince Yu rebelled because of his inflated ambition, but in the TV series, it was changed to him betraying the family after learning the secret of his birth).

But the biggest change is in the romantic scenes.

From a modern perspective, the original novel "Nirvana in Fire" contains a clear "female-giving plot".

The original novel emphasizes that Nihuang's feelings for Lin Shu are more of a childhood sweetheart relationship and dependence, while Nie Duo's (the character in the original novel) masculine and forthright nature and tacit understanding on the battlefield make her heart flutter.

The description of their relationship as "warm as the winter sun" represents a bond of trust and companionship forged through life and death.

Therefore, before his death, Mei Changsu personally brought together Princess Nihuang and Nie Duo.

Fortunately, the Zhengwu Sunshine team keenly recognized this and made significant changes during the adaptation, removing the character of Nie Duo.

Its role and function were cleverly integrated into the new character Wei Zheng, who assists Nihuang in breaking the deadlock.

Secondly, in terms of romance, the drama strengthened the relationship between Princess Nihuang and Mei Changsu, allowing their deep affection, which had been separated for thirteen years due to the Chiyan case, to run throughout the entire series.

Although they didn't explicitly get married, their feelings for each other were unwavering, which gave the audience a more satisfying ending.

"I'm going to act out a romantic scene with Sister Tao?" Gu Qing looked at the name of Princess Nihuang on the screen, and the image of Liu Tao's cheerful yet caring demeanor at the dinner table earlier that day came to mind. A strange feeling arose spontaneously.

As a professional actor, he naturally understands that this is just a job. As long as the actress he works with isn't someone like "Aunt Ximen," acting in romantic scenes is simply part of the job.

Having only met him today, Liu Tao gave him the feeling of a reliable and warm patriarch, which made him subconsciously feel a little uneasy about the possible intimate interactions in the drama.

However, he quickly adjusted his mindset.

In any case, the focus of "Nirvana in Fire" is on political intrigue and revenge, with very little romantic drama, mostly consisting of subtle expressions of deep affection and restrained body language, so there's no need to pay too much attention to it.

After reading the synopsis of the original work, Gu Qing felt exhausted from the intense concentration. She turned off the tablet and fell into a deep sleep.

Unbeknownst to him, while he was immersed in the world of "Nirvana in Fire," a huge wave had already been stirred up in the Chinese entertainment industry because of him.

Tonight's Bazaar Gala had so many highlights: the witty banter between Gu Qing and Director Guo, the exorbitantly priced motorcade, fifty buses, and a donation of 3.5 million yuan...

However, the main characters in all these explosive moments all have 'Gu Qing' in them.

The phrase "My brother went berserk!!!" quickly rose to the top of the trending search list.

"He's truly gone berserk! He's absolutely stunning in terms of looks, and his intelligence is on another level. He's incredible!"
This is the first time I've ever seen Teacher Guo suffer such a huge embarrassment in front of others!

Netizens commented enthusiastically.

"Hahaha, serves him right for pretending! He's always showing off how much he read. If he were really that well-read, why would he be in the entertainment industry? He should try showing off in front of a university professor!" Another comment was full of schadenfreude.

"Fifty cars, a total of three and a half million, my brother is really generous, he's really broad-minded!"

"In comparison, some big-name celebrities are too stingy, aren't they? They only symbolically send one convoy each, which is really stingy."

Fans were discussing it passionately.

Those who missed tonight's exciting live TV broadcast were filled with resentment and could only stay up all night to catch up on the entire recording.

But the most discussed and talked-about event for the general public was the grand finale of the evening: the "Beauties Competing for Fans".

"Good heavens! A fan sold for a staggering five million? This is truly spending a fortune just to make my brother smile!"

"The back-and-forth bidding between Zhao Liying and Liu Shishi was making my palms sweat, I never expected there was a hidden expert behind it all!"

"I can understand Yang Mi's final bid; she always knows how to capitalize on trends. But why would Liu Yifei suddenly raise her bid? That's outrageous!"

"Could it be that friends are helping each other raise the price? Just a token gesture?"

"How could that be! Weren't you looking at the camera? By the end, Liu Yifei's expression was clearly off; she was pursing her lips, her eyes were cold, and she was obviously serious and angry!"

"I'm so into this! This is a real battleground! Zhao Liying's persistence, Shi Shi's gentleness, Mi Mi's domineering presence, Liu Yifei's aloofness... With so many couples, I don't even know which one to choose!"

Fans discussed it animatedly, and the forum became a huge hub of discussion.

Amidst the discussions about "glamorous female star x aloof male star," some strange voices occasionally emerge:

"Am I the only one who's a fan of Chris Wu and Gu Qing? The one who actually bought the fan was Chris Wu!"

"An exceptionally aloof and cold prince versus a cool and beautiful Qingqiu fox—I can already picture it in my mind. A clash of titans, the tension is off the charts!"

However, as soon as this cult-like pairing of fans emerged, it was immediately met with fierce "siege" from mainstream fans and casual fans:
"Get the hell out of here! Why don't you go and kowtow to your dad and grandma?!"

"Putting everything on your head will only harm you! Putting everything on your head will only ruin you!" These cult-like CP fans instantly became like rats crossing the street, being scolded and forced to retreat into the gutter, never daring to show their faces again.

For the next two days, almost all the hot topics in the Chinese entertainment industry revolved around the events at the Bazaar dinner.

As the undisputed 'eye of the storm' and the most dazzling 'protagonist', Gu Qing naturally couldn't be idle.

First, he secured a major endorsement contract.

The parent company of White Rabbit Creamy Candy, Guanshengyuan, had its top executives personally approve the deal and quickly contact Gu Qing's management team to discuss an endorsement collaboration.

Classic brands like theirs, with decades of history and household names, don't actually rely heavily on the fame of celebrities. The reputation of their products and the emotional connection they evoke are enough to guarantee impressive sales.

But... Gu Qingtai is an exception.

His two seemingly unintentional "sweet moments" on Happy Camp and Bazaar generated a huge amount of buzz and a massive fan effect.

This directly boosted the sales of White Rabbit milk candy by more than five times compared to the same month!
He himself has practically become a "wild spokesperson" and a seasoned user of White Rabbit candy.

If Guanshengyuan's top management still can't see this huge business opportunity, given its intuitive and explosive sales power and positive image, then they've truly wasted all those years navigating the business world.

Both teams were extremely efficient. The moment the contract details were finalized and officially signed and stamped, Gu Qing suddenly became a trending topic: #GuQingWhiteRabbitMilkCandyBrandAmbassador#.

Not only that,

Guanshengyuan Company also creatively announced a fan interaction activity: fans who follow and like all of Gu Qing's official social media accounts can enjoy a 9% discount when purchasing products from the official flagship store by showing a screenshot!
This pioneering model has created a new approach for Chinese entertainment brands to deeply integrate with artists and leverage the fan economy for innovative marketing. The results were immediate, with the official Weibo account being flooded with enthusiastic fans.

In addition, an even more prestigious invitation came to Gu Qing—CCTV personally invited him to participate as a guest on a key program that promotes traditional culture, and hoped that he could sing another ancient-style song.

The invitation also mysteriously mentioned that a "surprise" had been prepared for him.

How could Gu Qing refuse a 'gift' personally prepared by the central government?

This is not only a recognition of his abilities, but also an excellent platform for publicity.

He immediately adjusted his schedule and called Liu Tao before heading to CCTV to record the program.

"Sister Liu Tao, I've finished reading the original novel and I'm very interested in the 'Nirvana in Fire' project."

Gu Qing's voice came through the phone, clear and sincere, "I just received an important program invitation from CCTV and need to go to Beijing first."

"Let's discuss the contract details when I get back, is that alright?"

Liu Tao on the other end of the phone was naturally very happy that Gu Qing agreed, his voice filled with joy: "That's great, little brother! You can go and participate in CCTV's program with peace of mind, this is a big deal!"

"When you get back, I'll have the production team from Zhengwu Sunshine come over in person so we can have a proper talk about 'Nirvana in Fire.' There's no rush."

So, Gu Qing once again took a plane and landed in Beijing, arriving at the familiar and solemn entrance of the Central Government building.

This time, he received even more attention and enthusiasm than when he promoted "Brotherhood of Blades" last time.

Many of the staff members who gathered around were "sons of high-ranking officials" with powerful backgrounds.

Young women were eyeing him with bright, eager eyes, wanting to add him on social media.

Some of them, with a touch of reserve, wanted to ask him out for dinner in private;
There were also those who wanted to be friends with him under the guise of discussing art...

Pursuing elegance and associating with popular celebrities for leisure and entertainment, as well as to show off one's status, is a tradition that has existed since ancient times.

Gu Qing maintained a polite and appropriate smile, handling the situation with ease.

He always used his assistant's phone to request contact information anyway.
He apologized for the dinner invitation, saying that his schedule was too full and he simply didn't have time.
He readily agreed to requests for autographs and photos, fulfilling them on the spot.

As for those private exchanges that implied deeper social purposes, he had absolutely no thoughts about them and handled the situation perfectly.

The rehearsal for the program proceeded quickly and smoothly.

During the official recording, CCTV's current leading lady, Dong Qing, interviewed Gu Qing on stage, her smile gentle and dignified, asking the usual questions:

"Gu Qing, we know you've composed and sung many popular ancient-style songs, which are loved by many. Could you share with us what you usually like to do to find inspiration?"

The intention is clearly to elicit positive, uplifting answers that are rich in traditional cultural elements.

To everyone's surprise, Gu Qing's answer was surprisingly down-to-earth. He almost blurted it out, with a kind of candor unique to young people: "Uh... watching dramas, reading novels, playing games," he paused for a moment, as if he felt it was too "decadent," and added, "occasionally when I get tired of playing games, I also read a book."

Dong Qing: "..."

Her perfect professional smile froze for a second, a hint of surprise and amusement flashing in her eyes.

Why is this kid completely unpredictable?

Did we bring you on CCTV to promote how to play games and read novels?

A burst of good-natured laughter erupted from the audience.

Fortunately, Dong Qing was a seasoned veteran with a quick reflex. She swiftly adjusted her expression, suppressing a smile that became elegant and tolerant again, and skillfully asked, "So, what kind of dramas do you usually like to watch?"
Or what kind of books do you like to read?

She steered the conversation back on track, but noticeably relaxed her demeanor.

“‘Da Ming Dynasty 1566’,” Gu Qing answered seriously this time. “I also quite like ‘Yongzheng Dynasty’.”

He looked at the camera with sincere eyes, as if he were really recommending it to a friend, "Especially 'Da Ming Dynasty 1566,' which I personally think is the best historical drama ever made. I strongly recommend everyone to watch it."

"Amway?" Dong Qing caught another unfamiliar word, and a hint of confusion appeared on her face, which made her seem even more approachable.

"It means 'highly recommended'," Gu Qing explained with a smile, a hint of smugness from someone in the industry. "That's how we in the fandom say it."

Dong Qing suddenly realized, and nodded with a smile: "Okay... I understand."

She thought to herself: Next time Gu Qing is interviewed, I should still let Xiao Sa do it. That guy can definitely follow the young man's train of thought seamlessly, and maybe we can even play a couple of games together.

We finally finished recording the show smoothly.

Gu Qing found the director in charge of his work backstage, his face filled with the curiosity and anticipation typical of young people: "Brother, what exactly is the surprise you guys were talking about?"

He'd been thinking about it the whole way.

The director looked at him, a meaningful smile on his face, and uttered two words clearly and forcefully: "Spring Festival Gala!"

His eyes gleamed, as if he could already see the young man's reaction upon hearing the news. "So, Gu Qing, is this surprise... big?"

Gu Qing froze instantly, her eyes widening slightly.

The surprise is the Spring Festival Gala?
He...doesn't want to come and make dumplings during the Lunar New Year!

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(End of this chapter)