Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 318 Da Mi Mi's Lifelong Rival (4k)
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"Eh? Brother Gu Qing, you know me?"

Young Wu Lei, with undisguised surprise and liveliness on his face, looked at Gu Qing with bright, sparkling eyes, full of youthful vigor.

"Looking at the cast list, you're the youngest here, of course I know you."

Gu Qing smiled gently and handed the signed photo back to Wu Lei.

His deepest impression of Wu Lei didn't come from "Nirvana in Fire," but from the later uproar over the "pure young actress" controversy—he was brutally attacked by the female actress's fans, yet he still had to apologize. Fortunately, neutral netizens spoke up for him, finally giving him some vindication.

"Little brother, come, sit here with me." Liu Tao's voice came, and she smiled and waved to Gu Qing.

As the male and female leads of the film, it is only natural that they sit together.

Gu Qing then walked over and sat down in the empty seat next to Liu Tao.

Soon, Hou Hongliang and his group entered the conference room.

He looked around with a smile on his face: "Is everyone here? Then our reading session will officially begin."

"Producer," a staff member quickly walked up to him and whispered, "it seems we're still missing one artist."

"Who?" Hou Hongliang frowned slightly.

"Sorry! Sorry! There was a traffic jam on the way! I'm so sorry, teachers!"

A slightly hurried female voice rang out. A middle-aged female agent walked in, followed by a stunningly beautiful actress.

The female agent apologized repeatedly, "I specially bought drinks for all the teachers, and they will be delivered later."

"It's her..."

Upon seeing the female celebrity enter the room, a hint of surprise flashed in Gu Qing's eyes, and his expression became somewhat strange.

"Teacher Ou is here? Please have a seat! We haven't even started yet, it's not too late!"

Hou Hongliang immediately put on a smile and warmly greeted him with a handshake and pleasantries.

"Where should I sit...?"

Wang Ou glanced around the conference room, her gaze sweeping over the group of actors whose fame was less than hers, without lingering.

When she landed in the middle between Gu Qing and Liu Tao, her beautiful eyes lit up, and a bright smile bloomed on her stunning face. She walked straight over and exclaimed, "Sister Tao! I absolutely loved your performance in 'Ode to Joy,' Andy was so cool!"

"Oh, it's been a long time." Liu Tao smiled and stood up, giving her a gentle hug.

Wang Ou then turned to Gu Qing, extending his fair hand with a perfectly measured surprise on his face: "It really is Gu Qing! I thought my agent was lying to me. With you in this drama, it's bound to be a huge hit!"

Her tone was enthusiastic, with a hint of fan excitement, "Little brother, I've watched all your variety shows, songs, and movies and TV dramas. I'm a loyal fan of yours!"

"Thank you, sister. I really enjoy watching your dramas."

Gu Qing humbly stood up, politely shook hands with her fingertips briefly, and then let go.

He was already used to this excessive enthusiasm and simply ignored it.

"Really?"

Wang Ou seemed pleasantly surprised, leaning forward slightly as he asked, "Little brother, which of my dramas do you like to watch?"

"Uh... reckless."

Gu Qing almost blurted out the name 'Mang Huang Ji', but quickly swallowed it back and added, "'The Disguiser' is very good. You and Sister Mintao both acted very well."

Upon hearing this, not only did Wang Ou's smile widen, but even Liu Mintao, who had maintained a dignified demeanor, revealed a gentle smile.

Gu Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Five months have passed since the infamous "script reading in the dark" incident, which, based on the timeline, was probably shortly after Wang Ou finished filming "Nirvana in Fire".

The other protagonist in this incident...

Gu Qing wanted to laugh a little, and Yang Mi's bright face appeared in her mind.

Thinking back to her actions at the Bazaar Gala not long ago, where she deliberately raised prices on me and then bought trending topics to gain attention, a sense of anticipation for a good show quietly arose within me.

Gu Qing thought to herself: Wait until your crystal is stolen, then let's see how you'll still be laughing.

Upon hearing Gu Qing mention "elder sister," Wang Ou took the opportunity to catch up with the actors she had worked with during "The Disguiser."

Everyone wore polite smiles, but what they really thought was another matter entirely.

"Little brother, there's an empty seat next to you."

After greeting everyone, Wang Ou returned to Gu Qing's side, pointing with her slender finger to the empty seat on his right, and asked with a charming smile, "Do you mind if I sit here?"

"Of course, go ahead."

Gu Qing paused for a moment, then subconsciously moved to her left, towards Liu Tao.

Liu Tao naturally noticed Gu Qing's little action. Her sense of humor was peculiar, and she seemed to have thought of something interesting. She quickly lowered her head, her shoulders shrugging slightly, trying to hide the laughter that was about to burst out.

As Wang Ou sat down, she caught a glimpse of Liu Tao, who was bowing her head and trying to suppress a laugh. A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment flashed across her beautiful face, and her smile became slightly stiff.

"Sister Tao, stop laughing..." Gu Qing cried out inwardly, feeling so embarrassed that her scalp tingled. She couldn't help but secretly reach under the table to pat Liu Tao's hand, hoping she would tone it down.

But the next second,
Liu Tao grabbed his hand in return. She looked up, her beautiful and dignified face slightly flushed as she suppressed a laugh. She lowered her voice and said with a hint of comfort, "Little brother, don't be afraid, I'll protect you."

Gu Qing: "..."

Wang Ou: "..."

What are you protecting?
Is there a bad guy in this room?
"Alright! Now that all the teachers are here, let's officially begin our 'Nirvana in Fire' reading session!"

Hou Hongliang cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before landing on an actor who seemed eager to try out the role. He smiled and said, "Mr. Jin, would you like to start by talking about your understanding of your character?"

"Since Producer Hou has chosen me, then I shall make a fool of myself."

Jin Dong replied in a refined manner, opening a thick notebook he carried with him—the handwriting on it was all in neat traditional Chinese characters.

He cleared his throat and began in a melodious voice: "The character I play is Lin Chen, originally the young master of Langya Pavilion. He is a free-spirited, handsome, dashing, and unconventional man who lives a carefree and unrestrained life."

"At the same time, he is also Mei Changsu's closest friend..." He paused here, smiled and nodded towards Gu Qingfang, and joked self-deprecatingly, "However, judging from our ages, the audience might think we're playing 'friends despite the age gap'."

"Teacher Jin, I'm not old, I'm not old!" Gu Qing quickly waved her hand to clarify, her expression innocent.

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback at first, and then burst into laughter.

Liu Tao laughed so hard he was shaking, tears streaming down his face. He tilted his head and leaned on Gu Qing's shoulder.

Jin Dong chuckled and shook his head: "Fine, so according to you, I'm the one who's in charge?"

After the joke,

Jin Dong began his lengthy discourse. He not only provided an in-depth analysis of Lin Chen, but also meticulously analyzed all the characters in the drama who had interactions with Lin Chen.
When talking about a particular actor's role, they would pause and chat with the actor for a few minutes.

The details are undeniably rich, but they're so detailed that they're almost unbearable to listen to.

The smiles on everyone's faces gradually disappeared.

The eldest sister, Liu Mintao, was clearly experienced. She closed her eyes the moment Jin Dong spoke, and her breathing became even, as if she had entered a meditative state.

Liu Tao couldn't help but yawn and quickly covered his mouth with his hand.

Gu Qing, standing to the side, also felt her eyelids heavy, struggling to fight off sleepiness.

The one who is most "ignorant" is Wang Ou.

She pulled out her small portable mirror and started touching up her makeup and applying powder, completely oblivious to everyone else, rolling her eyes so hard they almost reached the ceiling—

Anyway, Jin Dong is immersed in her own world and doesn't need to worry about being seen.

"Enough, enough! Teacher Jin!" Hou Hongliang's legs were numb from standing, and he couldn't help but interrupt, "You're practically writing out character biographies for the other teachers. How are we supposed to continue this meeting? We need to leave some room for the other teachers to elaborate, shouldn't we?"

"Well, I'm also worried that I won't be able to keep up with everyone's pace when we're acting together, so it's better to be well prepared."

Jin Dong seemed to appreciate this indirect "praise" quite a bit, and reluctantly closed his thick notebook.

"Clap clap clap—Brother Jin is too modest!"

"You're a veteran actor! We have so much to learn from you!"

To avoid being subjected to the torment of "academic reports" again, everyone quickly applauded, finally persuading Jin Dong to step down from the "stage".

Having learned from the previous experience, the actors who spoke later generally kept their remarks brief and to the point.

When it was Gu Qing's turn, he succinctly summarized his understanding of Mei Changsu: "Intelligence, Illness, and Tranquility."

“‘Wisdom’ refers to Mei Changsu’s brilliant and unpredictable strategies, which enable him to stir up the political storm in the court single-handedly.
'Illness' refers to Mei Changsu's pale complexion, which is as white as paper, and his sickly yet beautiful appearance.

'Tranquility' is the composure and confidence brought about by the former's 'wisdom'.
As described in the original work, he always carried a folding fan, his demeanor elegant and composed, like a solitary and noble white crane standing alone in the world.

In stark contrast to those around him who were either dignified, cunning, or powerful, he exuded an extraordinary and refined aura.

No matter how great the danger, how thrilling the confrontation, or the psychological battle with the enemy,

Mei Changsu is always calm; you can never see the word "panic" in him.

"Teacher Gu is absolutely right."

Screenwriter Hai Yan was the first to applaud, her face full of admiration. "This is exactly the core trait of Mei Changsu that I created. I understand it so thoroughly."

She thought to herself with admiration, no wonder it was widely rumored online that Gu Qing respected the original work and rarely made major changes to the plot without permission.

That fat guy, Third Uncle, always praises him in front of the media, so it seems he's not lying.

As an author, she most admires actors who can deeply understand and respect the "soul of the character".

Every work is like a child to the author.

Since Gu Qing respects the author so much, she should at least help promote the work among her old friends.

Soon, with the last actor finishing his speech, today's reading session came to a close.

Hou Hongliang announced that starting tomorrow, all actors will need to receive professional training in etiquette and ancient customs from instructors.

"Teachers, you can go back to your rooms to change your clothes first. We have already made reservations at the restaurant. We would be grateful if you would do us the honor of joining us for a welcome dinner!"

After the show ended,
Gu Qing and Liu Tao walked out side by side with their scripts in hand, smiling and acknowledging the actors who greeted them.

The production team arranged for the actors to stay in a star-rated hotel. As the male and female leads, Gu Qing and Liu Tao were naturally assigned to the same floor.

"Sister Tao, little brother, what a coincidence! I live on this floor too!" Wang Ou quickly caught up and closed the small mirror in his hand.

"What a coincidence! Then let's go back together." Liu Tao invited him warmly.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony," Wang Ou replied with a smile, naturally following along.

The three of them took a car back to the hotel together.

On the way,

Gu Qing got into the car first and sat by the window, while Liu Tao sat in the middle.

Gu Qing rested her head against the car window, gazing absently at the fleeting street scenes outside.

"younger brother,"

Wang Ou's voice broke the silence in the car. She leaned forward slightly, looking past Liu Tao at Gu Qing, her face showing just the right amount of admiration and curiosity. "I didn't expect that you, at such a young age, would have such a profound and unique understanding of the character. It feels like your grasp of the character is even more accurate than mine."

She paused, softened her voice, and asked in a slightly inquiring tone, "What methods do you usually use to interpret scripts? Could you teach me?"

"..."

Gu Qing felt the conversation was going in a strange direction the more she listened.
He turned his head, his eyes filled with confusion and surprise:

"...How do you teach?"

He felt that there was something wrong with the script he received.
"Little brother, teach him however you want!"

Wang Ou smiled brightly, her red lips slightly upturned, her eyes sparkling, and said, "No, I should call you teacher now, Teacher Gu~ Please, have mercy and teach me~"

"Sister Ou, I was just locking myself in my room and thinking about it randomly,"

Gu Qing shook her head hastily, then shrank further towards the window. "There really isn't any special way."

"Alone in a room?"

Wang Ou seemed to have caught the key phrase, "Can't it be two people? I'm alone... I'm afraid of the dark."

Gu Qing: "..."

No wonder she's the kind of woman who can send hats to Yang Mi; she's truly extraordinary.

He definitely wouldn't dare to read it.
Who knows?
Could one of the top paparazzi in China be lurking around the hotel?

There must be something fishy going on behind the scenes for her to be targeted.

Gu Qing felt it was best to leave this hat to Yang Mi safely.

Afraid of the dark?

Liu Tao, who had been watching with great interest, finally spoke up to "save the day." She looked at Wang Ou with a smile and cleverly brought up the plot of the drama, "Ou Ou, you should ask Prince Yu for help. In the drama, you two are a couple."

"I'm sure he'd be happy to help you if you're having trouble, right?" she said teasingly, her tone suggestive.

"Uh... Sister Tao, what are you saying? I don't even know him now, are you kidding me?"

Wang Ou agreed verbally, but his heart skipped a beat. He quickly glanced at Gu Qing and Liu Tao standing close together.

What do you mean?
Have you two already started studying?
This is too fast!

Wang Ou, who was unable to "read the script together" for the time being, was not discouraged. After all, everyone was staying in the same hotel, and the crew would be filming for several more months, so there would be plenty of opportunities.

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Back at the hotel, everyone changed their clothes and then headed to the dinner location together.

For the next week, Gu Qing devoted herself entirely to learning etiquette and ancient manners.

In his spare time, he would lock himself in his room and repeatedly study the character's expressions and find the right feeling in front of the mirror.

Time flies by like a white horse.

Finally, the day when "Nirvana in Fire" officially began filming has arrived!

Gu Qing immediately faced a major challenge.

Today's filming scene is a crucial moment from the second episode of the original series: Mei Changsu, using the alias Su Zhe, reunites with the Empress Dowager (his grandmother) at her birthday banquet after a long separation.

At the same time, it was also his first formal meeting with his childhood sweetheart, Princess Nihuang, after twelve years of separation!
On one side is her beloved grandmother, with whom she shares blood ties and deep affection; on the other is her childhood sweetheart, with whom she harbors deep feelings and unspoken emotions.

Two completely different emotions, yet both profound and weighty.
It needs to be expressed precisely and restrainedly within the same scene, or even within a few shots...

This is undoubtedly a huge test of the actors' acting skills!

The Zhengwu Sunshine production team arranged this pivotal scene right from the start, and their intention was self-evident—they wanted to test this young man, who was touted as a "representative of the new generation's top acting skills."
In front of truly seasoned veteran actors, can he really capture the spirit and essence of Mei Changsu?

This is not only a touchstone for Gu Qing, but also a crucial gamble for the entire production team to see if the show can stand the test of time!
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(End of this chapter)