Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 319 National First-Class Actor (5.3k)
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Upon learning that Gu Qing's first major scene was about to be filmed, all the actors from "Nirvana in Fire" tacitly chose to stay and watch.

Among them are many veteran actors, such as Ding Yongdai who plays Emperor Liang, Wang Jinsong who plays "Uncle Dong", and Liu Yijun who plays Xie Yu. Their acting skills are firmly in the first tier.

At this moment, they all focused their scrutinizing and curious gazes on that young top star who had stirred up the entertainment industry and received rave reviews, wanting to see the true level of his on-screen portrayal of the character.

"Old Jin, how about a bet?" The old friends from the Disguiser crew naturally gathered together, and Wang Kai spoke first, "Guess how many takes Gu Qing will need to get this scene right? The loser treats us tonight."

"Then how much of a loss did I suffer?"

Jin Dong wasn't fooled. He glanced at Wang Kai and said, "Didn't you work with him in some 'fox' drama? You must know his capabilities. Do you think I can guess your worth?"

"That's called 'Qingqiu Fox'! What kind of fox drama is that!"

Wang Kai explained impatiently, "Besides, we were filming in several groups. By the time he arrived, I had already finished filming, so I hadn't even seen him act on set! To bet or not to bet? It's about to start!"

“I…” Jin Dong stroked his chin, hesitating.

"Two grown men dawdling like that!"

The eldest sister, Liu Mintao, impatiently interrupted. She had a strong liking for Gu Qing, not only because of the casual compliment she had made during the reading session.
And who doesn't like a handsome young man?

"I bet Xiao Gu can do it in three tries!"

"Big sister, how did I dawdle? Wasn't it second brother who dawdled?" Wang Kai quickly begged for mercy, then offered his guess, "I'll bet ten times!"

"Ten times? You really underestimate him." Jin Dong said with a chuckle, surprised. "Then I'll bet I'll get it in one go!"

"You want to treat us?" Wang Kai was speechless.

"Please my ass!" Jin Dong laughed confidently. "Don't you know that for the first scene of a film crew, it's all about getting off to a good start and avoiding any retakes?"

"You're celebrating too soon!" Wang Kai mocked mercilessly. "Is Zhengwu Sunshine another production crew? They did a lot of takes for the first scene of 'The Disguiser'! It's just that you weren't on set then!"

"I..." Jin Dong's face turned green, and he tried to change his words, but it was too late.
The extras had all taken their positions as instructed by the director.

Meanwhile, the lead actor, Gu Qing, had changed into Mei Changsu's signature plain white robe and stood quietly under the eaves outside the palace.

His eyelids were lowered, as if isolated from the surrounding noise, and he was immersed in a near-frozen silence, silently adjusting his breathing and emotions.

"This little kid is already a star!"

Ding Yongdai, the actor with the longest acting career, had his eyes light up when he saw Gu Qing's appearance and immediately praised her.

Gu Qing was dressed in a plain-colored long robe made of cloud and water satin. The fabric was light and flowing, and when he moved, it was like mist moving around without stirring up any dust.

The collar and cuffs are embroidered with very faint silver lines, resembling bamboo shadows or rippling water. Only when the light shifts does it subtly reveal its understated elegance.

A frosty sash was tied around his waist, with a jade pendant hanging from it. The jade pendant made a clear, tinkling sound as he moved, like a clear spring dripping into a secluded pool in the distance. This further accentuated his slender and graceful figure and distinguished demeanor.

"Wow--"

"Fuck!"

"This is so beautiful!"

Their appearance was absolutely stunning, and the staff and extras watching couldn't help but gasp in amazement.

"He has a scholarly and noble air about him, a quality and appearance that are rare among young actors today."

Wang Jingsong couldn't help but nod in agreement, then revealed a knowing smile, "No wonder he likes watching historical dramas. He probably reads a lot, otherwise he wouldn't have such a calm and reserved temperament."

"Jinsong, from what you're saying, you know him?"

Liu Yijun was somewhat surprised, "I've never heard of you ever caring about popular celebrities in the entertainment industry."

"I do not know him."

Wang Jinsong shook his head, but his tone carried a hint of smugness typical of middle-aged men, "But he likes watching my shows."

He was one of the main actors in "Da Ming Dynasty 1566".

Although Gu Qing's interview during a recent recording of a program on CCTV has not been broadcast, his statement that "Da Ming Dynasty is the best historical drama in my opinion" has already spread across the internet as a trending topic, bringing both the classic work and actors like him back into the spotlight.

This "enthusiasm" naturally made him develop some affection for Gu Qing.

"Tch, so what if I've only seen your shows? What are you pretending for?"

Liu Yijun pursed his lips and said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "I'll ask him another day to see if he's seen my show."

"Old Liu, don't go and humiliate yourself."

"I'll take your XXX!"

The two veteran actors started hurling insults at each other.

In the scene ahead, director Kong Sheng personally held up the clapperboard:

"Scene 1, Scene 1 of 'Nirvana in Fire': Action!"

With a crisp "snap," the set fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on the front of the hall.

Gu Qing, playing Mei Changsu, led his young bodyguard Fei Liu up the steps from outside the main hall and stopped in front of the hall gate.

As he was about to meet the Empress Dowager who had once doted on him the most, this usually calm and collected genius found his breathing becoming slightly disordered.

A barely perceptible hint of unease and tension flickered across his handsome face. He was speaking softly and patiently to Fei Liu, whose mind was like that of a child, repeatedly offering his instructions:
"In a little while... we're going in to see an old lady."

"If she calls you, you have to answer."

"I'll hold your hand, and you're not allowed to pull away."

"Here's some snack for you, so take it. You can't refuse."

"why?"

Fei Liu puffed out his cheeks, looked up at Mei Changsu, his little face full of reluctance and confusion, "Didn't you forbid me from eating things given by strangers?"

“She’s different…” Mei Changsu’s voice lowered, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the depths of the hall, a hint of daze in his eyes, as he murmured, “She is… the kindest old lady in the world. You must be good, you must listen to her.”

"Alright..." Fei Liu was still somewhat reluctant, but facing his most trusted brother Su, he finally agreed reluctantly.

"You acted well, and you didn't even have to do any retakes."

Wang Kai muttered to himself.

"Mingcheng, can't you wish people well?" Liu Mintao said reproachfully.

"Get ready to treat us," Jin Dong whispered to Wang Kai, with a hint of anticipation.

The trio led by Ding Yongdai, whose acting skills are at a higher level, observed things even more closely.

Liu Yijun raised an eyebrow and said, "Wow, this young man's performance is quite nuanced."

"That fleeting glance he gave into the hall just now was quite something,"

Wang Jinsong nodded slightly, "He captured the nervousness and anticipation of someone about to face the Empress Dowager."

"The transitions between layers could be smoother,"

Ding Yongdai added with a smile, "You can add a layer when you first step towards the front of the hall, and another layer when you stop and adjust your breathing. It would be even better if you could make the transition between these two points more natural."

"Teacher Ding, how many years have you honed your acting skills to this level?"

Wang Jinsong couldn't help but speak up for the young man, saying, "This young man has only been acting for a few years. He hasn't even had formal training. It's already very rare for someone so young to have such talent and expressiveness."

"Never even had formal training?"

Ding Yongdai was even more surprised upon hearing this, and his gaze turned back to the arena with a more solemn expression. "To have such comprehension and talent is truly remarkable."

At this moment, the eunuch's announcement came from inside the hall, and everyone straightened their clothes and filed in.

Princess Nihuang, played by Liu Tao, had already taken her place beside the Empress Dowager.

As Mei Changsu and his entourage entered the hall, her gaze inadvertently swept over them, and the moment it touched the figure in pure white, her pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

Why... do I have this lingering sense of familiarity?
Her spirited brows and eyes seemed slightly furrowed, but she quickly suppressed this unusual expression and regained her usual calm and dignified demeanor.

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager, may the Empress Dowager live a long and peaceful life." The crowd entered the hall, knelt respectfully, and performed the ancient rituals.

After the ceremony, the two imperial grandsons (Xiao Jingrui and Yan Yujin) stood up with smiles, while Fei Liu remained expressionless.

Only Mei Changsu (Su Zhe) lowered his eyelids, his gaze fixed elsewhere, seemingly unable to look directly at his increasingly aged relative seated on the throne.

Upon seeing this, the eunuch beside the Empress Dowager's eyes flashed with satisfaction, thinking that this renowned Mr. Su was indeed well-mannered and knew that looking up at the emperor was disrespectful.

"Alright, alright, get up, all of you, get up."

The elderly Empress Dowager, whose memory was failing and who was even somewhat confused, smiled kindly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd with a hint of bewilderment. "Whose children are these...?" "Great-Grandma, I just paid my respects to you two days ago!" The lively Yan Yujin said with a touch of grievance and coquettishness. "I'm so beautiful, don't you remember me?"

"Hmm? You came here a couple of days ago?" The Empress Dowager struggled to make out who you were. "And you? Whose family are you?"

“Grandmother, this is my child, Jingrui.” The eldest princess gently reminded him, “Jingrui was born on Ruishan Mountain.”

"Oh!"

The old man suddenly realized, a flash of clarity appearing in his cloudy eyes, "It's Xiao Rui."

The next second, her thoughts jumped to another point, and she asked with concern, "Are you married?"

"Uh... um, I... I haven't..." Xiao Jingrui was caught off guard by the question and felt a little embarrassed.

"If you're not married yet, you'd better hurry up," the old man said with a smile that held a hint of regret and concern.

“Great-Grandma, now you should remember me, right?” Yan Yujin approached with a cheerful smile.

"Ozu, Ozu," the old man turned his gaze to him, persistently repeating his concern, "Are you married?"

"I haven't done it yet either," Yan Yujin shook his head.

"Hurry up!" the old man repeated, but his smile faded and his expression became serious.

A scene of joy and harmony unfolds before us, with children and grandchildren surrounding us, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

Mei Changsu remained motionless after getting up, as if separated by an invisible barrier.

Only upon hearing the old man's familiar laughter did his eyelashes tremble almost imperceptibly, and he finally mustered the courage to raise his eyebrows and look up at the highest seat.

Once you see it, you can't take your eyes off it.

His expression remained calm, but the lines of his face were noticeably tense.

Watching Xiao Jingrui and Yan Yujin bend down and chat with the old man, a trace of indescribable sadness flashed deep in his eyes, as if he were isolated from the warm fire, making people feel a little bitter and heartbroken.

The old woman was older than he remembered; the years had etched deeper marks on her.

She... is becoming increasingly forgetful.

The Empress Dowager's gaze pierced through the bustling crowd and landed on Mei Changsu and Fei Liu, who stood quietly in the distance, her eyes filled with kind curiosity: "And you? Whose family are you?"

Mei Changsu's lips moved slightly, but his first sound was hoarse in his throat, and his heart was instantly filled with turbulent waves.

He fell off a cliff and was disfigured, and was poisoned with a strange toxin. He had already changed his appearance and was no longer recognizable.

Even his grandmother, who once doted on him and cherished him, could not recognize that the pale and sickly strategist before her was her Xiao Shu.

"The micro-expressions here are handled wonderfully,"

Ding Yongdai's eyes were full of admiration. "First came the subtle joy of being watched, then the cowardice of not being able to express his identity, and finally settled into a deep sorrow."

The emotions build layer by layer, and the performance is very powerful. This young man is truly excellent!

For actors of Ding Yongdai, Wang Jinsong, and Liu Yijun's caliber, there is limited room for improvement in their acting skills simply by taking on film and television scripts.

The ultimate stage for actors to hone their skills is undoubtedly participating in stage plays!
Because stage plays are live performances with no chance for retakes, the actors' original voices must be used throughout, and the performances often need to be more expressive.

If an actor shows even the slightest weakness, the performance will be disastrous.

Therefore, stage actors must develop the ability to "control their emotions"—one second they may be laughing exaggeratedly, and the next they may be calm and composed; one moment they may be heartbroken, and the next they may need to restrain their sharpness.

This kind of instantaneous transformation and high-tension performance is the true embodiment of skill.

Gu Qing benefited from the conflict with the company and the "seclusion" after her residence was exposed this week, which actually gave her a lot of time to be alone. She was able to focus on refining her character in front of the mirror in her hotel room without any distractions.

The effect was immediately apparent.

Old acquaintances are no longer recognized, and even the closest relatives are no longer acknowledged.

Even the renowned Mei Lanfang of Jiangzuo, a brilliant strategist with unparalleled wisdom, must have felt a grief that was forcibly suppressed, enough to tear his heart apart.

"Great-Grandma, it's me, Lin Shu!"

The moment the old man asked the question, this was almost the thought that was about to burst out of his mouth.

However, at this moment, he could only suppress this surging emotion deep within his heart.

He lowered his head, and a few strands of dark hair fell gently with the movement, brushing against his pale and handsome profile, as if silently soothing the unspeakable pain.

"This humble citizen... Su Zhe!"

Mei Changsu took a deep breath, suppressing all his surging emotions, and respectfully bowed again, his voice steady but with a hint of barely perceptible hardness.

"Oh, get up, get up quickly." Upon hearing the word "Su," the Empress Dowager's cloudy eyes seemed to brighten, and she beckoned to me affectionately, "Come to me."

Mei Changsu followed the instructions and stepped forward slowly.

As he drew closer, the blurry figure gradually became clearer in the old man's eyes.

When the old man saw the handsome yet unfamiliar face, he couldn't help but chuckle a few times, a chuckle as pure as a child discovering their most beloved treasure: "Little Shu."

The name "Xiao Shu" was like a stone thrown into still water, instantly plunging the once bustling hall into an eerie silence.

The eldest princess, Princess Nihuang, and the others were all taken aback, and then exchanged a helpless look.

Confused again… The princess smiled to herself, unconcerned.

Nihuang lowered her eyes with a complicated expression. The source of that inexplicable sense of familiarity she had felt earlier was finally found—it was the shadow of her brother Lin Shu!
But this name had long been a taboo in the palace.

Everyone assumed the old man was just confused again, but the taboo name that had been sealed away left everyone speechless, creating a subtly tense atmosphere.

"Come on, Xiao Shu, come a little closer to Great-Grandma." The old woman seemed oblivious to the strangeness around her and continued to beckon kindly.

Mei Changsu didn't move immediately, his feet seemingly rooted to the spot. He raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the palace servants on either side, a gesture that seemed to invite them to do so.

Only after receiving tacit approval did she seem to be freed from invisible shackles, taking heavy steps and slowly kneeling on the soft cushion beside the old man.

At this moment, his face seemed calmer than before. He lowered his head slightly, hiding his expression in the shadows, not letting anyone see the slightest ripple.

But just at this moment——

"Xiao Shu, you've lost weight."

The old man's withered hand gently stroked his arm, and a seemingly ordinary word of concern was like a sharp, tempered blade, piercing Mei Changsu's heart!
The feigned composure crumbled instantly!
Mei Changsu's body stiffened abruptly, as if struck by an invisible force. He abruptly raised his head and stared blankly at the old man who was so close to him. His eyes were filled with disbelief, shock, and helplessness. He was frozen in place, as if he had been frozen in place by a spell.

Seeing this, the imperial concubine covered her mouth and chuckled, breaking the awkward silence with a touch of deliberate flattery: "Empress Dowager, this Mr. Su is a renowned genius known throughout the land!"
Only someone like you could call someone "Little Su" the moment you meet them; it really caught Mr. Su off guard.

The saying "A genius like a unicorn can bring you the world" carries weight even among the women in the inner palace. Who wouldn't want this talented man to assist their prince?

The old man seemed not to have heard what the imperial concubine was saying at all; he just chuckled to himself and, as if by magic, picked up a delicate pastry from the plate beside him.

He tremblingly handed it to Mei Changsu, his cloudy eyes filled with childlike joy and pure affection: "Here, Xiao Shu, this is your favorite food."

"Teacher Zheng's acting was truly... superb."

Ding Yongdai was deeply impressed and praised it in a low voice.

The fact that Ding Yongdai respectfully addresses her as "Teacher" speaks volumes about the stature of Teacher Zheng, who plays the Empress Dowager.

This is a true national treasure-level artist, a national first-class actor.

Liu Yijun and Wang Jingsong watched intently, a thought flashing through their minds simultaneously: "Can Gu Qing... handle this role?"

……

What am I supposed to do?!

Looking at the old man's pure, childlike smile, and the pastries handed to him that seemed to carry countless warm memories,
Gu Qing felt a chill run down her spine!
Just that one smile, that one gesture, contains the kindness and unreserved trust honed over the years. How many more years of honing his skills would it take for him to learn and act it so convincingly?
The only good news is,
As someone who witnessed it firsthand, his emotions were completely stirred by the old lady's precise and powerful performance—

However, it was a bit too overwhelming, almost out of control.

After a moment of visibly shock and disorientation, Gu Qing almost instinctively buried her head deep, almost in a disheveled state.

He clasped his hands together, and with utmost respect and care, lifted the pastry, which seemed to weigh a ton, and steadily caught it.

Immediately afterwards, in an almost concealing manner, he swiftly tucked the pastries into his wide sleeves.
At the same time, he pulled his hands back into his sleeves, covering his slightly trembling fingers and all the emotions that might be revealed at that moment.

"Cut!"

Director Kong Sheng's shout to stop the show was like a lifeline, suddenly echoing in the silent hall.

The camera lingers on Gu Qing's lowered head and hands hidden in her sleeves, as well as Teacher Zheng's still kind smile.

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(End of this chapter)