Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 330 Gambling Agreement
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Having just finished a long day of non-stop work, Yang Mi dragged her body, which felt like it was filled with lead, back to her empty home.

A deep weariness lingered in her signature peach blossom eyes, almost drowning out any spark of life in them.

She kicked off her high heels and collapsed onto the large sofa as if she had exhausted her last bit of strength. She didn't even have the desire to turn on the lights; only the neon lights of the city outside the floor-to-ceiling windows shone through the dim light.

Summoning her last bit of energy, she fumbled to turn on the TV and tuned it to CCTV-4.

As the opening credits of the Diamond Exclusive Theater finished, the premiere screen of "The Imperial Doctress" lit up.

Yang Mi casually picked up the tablet next to her, skillfully opened the social media platform, and swiped her finger to search for trending topics and reviews about the show in real time.

This attention wasn't from a sudden infatuation with Gu Qing's humor, nor was it out of a desire to secretly compete with her former best friend Liu Shishi.

The root of it all is a heavy "bet".

Having worked in the entertainment industry for many years, Yang Mi knows all too well that no matter how dazzling a star is, they cannot escape the "control" of capital.

The only difference lies in the degree of control and urgency; ultimately, everyone becomes a cog in that massive machine.

Even someone as talented as Liu Yifei and as popular as Gu Qing might be able to turn down a few scripts she doesn't like, but at the end of the year, she still has to make money for the company by filming.

The real power has never been in the hands of the artists.

Therefore, she didn't want to be just an entertainer anymore.

She wants to become "capital" itself!
Last year, with great ambition, she joined forces with several partners to start her own company – Jiahang Media.

However, the game of capital is far more complex than acting.

Not long after the company was founded, the turmoil brought about by the change in equity caught her off guard, and she was eventually forced to sign a harsh performance-based agreement: from 2015 to 2017, Jiahang Media must accumulate a net profit of no less than 3.1 million RMB within three years.

If she fails to meet the target, she will have to repurchase the shares of Jiahang held by another film and television giant at a high cost of 15% per annum.

At first, Yang Mi thought that as long as everyone worked together, earning 300 million yuan in three years was not an unattainable goal.

But reality dealt her a heavy blow—her partners seemed to have given up early on, and almost all the pressure to make a profit fell on her frail shoulders alone.

Three hundred million!
These heavy numbers weighed on her like a mountain, making it hard to breathe. Her recent schedule was so packed it was suffocating; she felt like a machine that had been running non-stop and was about to fall apart.

Tired? More than tired, exhausted!

A chance to rest? That's a luxurious delusion.

She has to make sure she films enough dramas, takes on enough commercials, and gets high ratings!
The new drama "The Interpreter" premiered on Dongfang TV not long ago, and thanks to intensive marketing and its appeal, the ratings barely climbed above the 2% passing mark.

If things can stabilize afterward, it will give her a much-needed breather.

However, before they could catch their breath, a piece of "bad news" struck like a bolt from the blue—"The Imperial Doctress," starring Gu Qing and Liu Shishi, premiered on Huangguo TV!
This was not only a potential impact on ratings, but what really made her furious was Huangguotai's "betrayal"!
It had all been agreed beforehand that "The Interpreter" would premiere on Huangguotai TV.

However, with the sudden emergence of "The Imperial Doctress", Huangguotai immediately changed its mind and spent a lot of money to buy Gu Qing's drama.

Her new drama, by a twist of fate, ended up on Dongfang TV, a channel with slightly less influence.

"Gu Qing..."

Yang Mi's ample bosom heaved violently, her soft voice suppressing her anger as she gritted her teeth and muttered a curse, "You little bastard!"

She grabbed a cushion from the sofa and punched it twice. "So what if you have a lot of data traffic?"

"And then there's Shishi, that girl..."

Thinking of Liu Shishi's seemingly indifferent demeanor but actually passive attitude, she felt even more resentful. "Why do all the good things fall on her head? What's wrong with me?"

A strong sense of self-doubt welled up inside me.

She went to great lengths to create a marketing pact with Gu Qing, but Gu Qing didn't even respond, causing her to be ridiculed by netizens for "paying for her own benefit." At this moment, she is both envious and jealous.

Of course, if Gu Qing had responded at that time,

She's probably cursing him now as a "little rascal".

Forcing herself to swallow her churning emotions, Yang Mi refocused her gaze on the television screen.

The opening credits of "The Imperial Doctress" have begun.

She opened the wine cabinet, took out a bottle of high-end red wine, poured it into a glass, and Yang Mi took a big gulp, trying to suppress the frustration in her heart and enjoy this stolen moment of relaxation.

The theme song "The Rain Is Coming" began to play.

"The song is just so-so."

Yang Mi pouted, a hint of schadenfreude in her voice, "It wasn't Gu Qing who sang it."

It seems that my "best friend's" charm isn't as great as I imagined.

Zhao Xiaodao, who was previously unknown, was able to get Gu Qing to write two theme songs (in her opinion), but Liu Shishi didn't get a single one.

"That's really lame."

Yang Mi couldn't help but giggle and took another sip of wine.

Having been immersed in the entertainment industry for a long time, she subconsciously began to ponder people's preferences and psychology.

“That little rascal Gu Qing,” she tilted her head, recalling the scene at the Bazaar gala, “was cold to my sister, barely spoke to Liu Yifei or Ni Ni, but chatted and laughed with Song Qian all the time…”

Thinking of the similar sweet and lively temperament of Zhao Liying and Song Qian, Yang Mi took another sip of wine thoughtfully, "Does he like this type? Sweet girls?"

"He's still just a little kid."

She scoffed, a hint of disdain in her voice, "You don't understand how good your older sister is."

but,

If she has the chance to see Gu Qing again next time, she wouldn't mind changing her style and testing her guess.

The television screen then transitioned to the main drama.

As the opening scene appeared, Yang Mi's hand, which was lazily resting on her cheek, suddenly froze, and her peach blossom eyes widened instantly: "It's Gu Qing? How is that possible!"

The first character to appear in the scene is none other than Zhu Qiyu, the Prince of Cheng, played by Gu Qing!
He received the imperial edict with a furrowed brow and a solemn expression, and set off for the capital on the secret decree of Empress Dowager Sun.

Yang Mi's astonishment was not without reason.

"The Imperial Doctress" is a standard "female-centric" drama!

First-person perspective and opening appearance are usually the best proof of establishing the female lead's leading role.

But right now, Gu Qing's perspective at the beginning means that Tangren has actually handed over its "prestige" to outsiders!

"Are the Tang people... really that stupid...?"

Yang Mi silently swallowed the second half of the sentence, "吗" (ma).

Based on her understanding of Tang people, it seems she really could do something as "stupid" as pushing good things away; otherwise, she wouldn't have tricked her back then.

"Tsk..."

Yang Mi adjusted her posture and looked at Gu Qing's appearance on the screen. She had to admit, "But this appearance... is really good-looking. No wonder he can charm those young girls."

The Prince of Cheng on the screen was dressed in a moon-white silk robe, with a lustrous jade belt around his waist. He was elegant and naturally noble.

The character's name, "Qi Yu," truly reflects his personality, and he portrayed the character perfectly.

This fleeting appearance instantly captured the audience's attention.

Yang Mi finally understood why Tangren was willing to put him first – it was a guarantee of high viewership ratings!
but,

She didn't forget her "task" and quickly looked down at the tablet in her hand.

As expected, the hashtag #GuQingchengPrince# has already topped the trending search list!
Upon clicking in, the real-time comments are refreshing at a visible speed:

"My little brother's outfit is absolutely amazing!!"

"The chosen one, the epitome of a handsome man in period dramas!"

"Your Highness, Prince Cheng! Look at me! Marry me!!"

"That aura, that figure, I'm completely smitten..."

The screen was filled with fangirls' infatuated comments.

"It seems even top celebrities can't avoid relying on online trolls to control the online community."

Yang Mi smiled leisurely, turned her body to the side, lazily rested her cheek on her hand, and continued watching the drama, pondering her opponent's trump card.

Screen switching.

A panoramic shot shows Gu Qing, who plays the Prince of Cheng, galloping on horseback. His gentle, scholarly demeanor is now imbued with a touch of heroic spirit, making him appear majestic and imposing.

suddenly,

An assassin strikes! A flash of cold light!
Gu Qing instantly drew his sword to meet the enemy.

Thrust, chop, point, flick... the movements are clean and crisp, and although they are only basic sword moves, they carry a solid sense of power.

The camera followed Gu Qing's movements closely, with almost no dizzying effect from the random switching to cover up the stand-in; it was as smooth as flowing water!
"Am I watching a TV series?"

Yang Mi was stunned, forgetting to put down the hand that was supporting her cheek, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

All she wanted to ask was: Was it really necessary?!

It's just acting in a period drama, isn't it?
Why would you, Gu Qing, personally ride a horse into battle?
Why would they engage in such a high-difficulty, real fight?

What about those fight scenes where the upper body is faked riding and slow motion is used to fool people?

The quality, the camera work... from the imperial court scene of receiving the imperial decree to the battle in the wild, how does it look like a TV series?

This has the quality of a live-action movie!
"What else do I have to compare with?!"

A strong sense of powerlessness and frustration instantly gripped her.

The meager viewership ratings she painstakingly maintained for "The Interpreter" seemed utterly insignificant in the face of such a devastating blow.

On the tablet screen, the frenzy among Gu Qing's fans had completely exploded:
"Ahhh, my little brother is so handsome! Is this action scene real?!"

"Just look at the Chinese entertainment industry! Which other young artist can film this kind of full-body, no-stunt-double fight scene?! This guy is one of a kind!"

"My family was moved! It reminded me of what the director of 'Brotherhood of Blades' said: my brother had no martial arts background at the time, and he relied entirely on practicing for more than ten hours a day to develop his skills! That's the true attitude of an actor!"

"Who says martial arts are dead? My brother has given us a new life! It's so exciting!"

The fervent comments from Gu's family members almost flooded social media.

Fans of the opposing team felt incredibly frustrated watching their idols' videos filled with flashy but ineffective moves or stunt doubles, yet they were powerless to refute them.

Because their "pigeon" really can't do that!
Yang Mi is just as upset as her fans are right now.

The quality of the series is so high that she can't even find a starting point to hire online trolls to stir up trouble.

Just as she was feeling extremely depressed and was about to take another swig of wine to calm her nerves, the scene finally changed.

The camera then moves to the residence of Minister Xu. Liu Shishi, playing Hang Yunxian, Jin Chen, playing Wang Meilin, and her maid Yu Shasha make their appearance.

Watching the young ladies of the manor vie to perform their talents and begin their 'acting contest'.

Witnessing this, Yang Mi's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed, and she chuckled with relief, "That's just right!"

What was just moments ago had a cinematic quality, but it was instantly reduced to a familiar, melodramatic ancient costume drama with a touch of cliché.

While the actors' performances were passable, they were somewhat immature overall, and their expressions were a bit exaggerated.

While the makeup, costumes, and makeup are exquisite, the core formula remains the same as that commonly found in ancient costume dramas on the market.

"His acting skills... haven't improved at all."

Looking at Liu Shishi's big eyes, which habitually looked around in front of the camera and seemed somewhat listless, Yang Mi finally regained a sense of superiority and happily curled up the corners of her mouth.

Among the four young actresses, her acting skills were recognized as the most talented in the early days. In most cases, Liu Shishi's performance was indeed not as good as hers.

However, this pleasure did not last long.

As the plot unfolds, Yunxian enters a cave in search of medicine, but her maid Zisu is kidnapped by a blood-covered stranger!

As the figure staggered out of the shadows, the hand gripping Zisu's neck was stained with blood, and the cold dagger pressed against her skin...

Yang Mi's heart skipped a beat.

It's Gu Qing!
But at this moment, he was completely different from the gentle and refined Prince Cheng he had been before!

On the screen:
A long, slender hand, covered in blood, gripped the maid Zisu's neck like an iron clamp!

The blade of the dagger, inlaid with pearls and jade, pressed tightly against the delicate skin on the side of her neck, its bone-chilling coldness seemingly able to penetrate the screen!
"Quiet down!" a low, hoarse warning rang out, accompanied by heavy breathing and a strong smell of blood.

Zisu was instantly terrified and fell silent, her eyes wide with fear.

Gu Qing staggered out of the shadows and emerged fully. His face was ashen, his lips dull and lifeless, and only his bloodshot eyes were fixed on the Dendrobium officinale that Yunxian had just picked—his only chance of survival.

Large patches of dark red bloodstains spread like eerie flowers on his pale silk robes, making him appear even more emaciated and fragile, yet exuding a dangerous aura like a dying beast.

"Give me the medicine!"

His voice was hoarse and broken, filled with an undeniable determination and a dying madness, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

The hand holding the dagger trembled violently from the deadly poison and excessive blood loss, the knuckles turning a ghastly white from the force.

This shocking and heartbreaking scene made Yang Mi's heart skip a beat as she sat on the sofa. She unconsciously bit her lower lip and held her breath.

Oh no... This fragile yet dangerous tragic beauty setting is exactly what she's looking for!
What surprised her even more was that, under Gu Qing's powerful aura and dramatic tension, even Yunxian, played by Liu Shishi, seemed to come alive.

That unwavering compassion of a healer and the kindness that defies authority were unexpectedly conveyed clearly.

Instead of backing down because of the threat, she embraced the person after they fell into a coma from the poison and offered help without holding a grudge, giving them the life-saving Dendrobium officinale to detoxify them.

The subsequent plot seems to have lost some of its appeal as the character of Prince Cheng, played by Gu Qing, is temporarily sidelined.

The Eastern Depot stormed into the Xu residence to search for people. In the chaos, Madam Xu suffered a stroke. Yunxian remained calm and used acupuncture to save her... The plot returned to the usual rhythm of ancient costume dramas and domestic intrigue.

Yang Mi swirled her wine glass, regaining some composure: "It's alright. There are quite a few plot holes, but my 'The Interpreter'... isn't completely hopeless."

She seemed to have regained a bit of fighting spirit.

however,
A clear and melodious guzheng prelude, like pearls falling on a jade plate, suddenly rang out!
Yang Mi's finger, which was about to press the remote control, suddenly stopped, and she froze.

On the television screen, along with the end credits, several lines of clear subtitles slowly appeared:

Ending theme song: "Spring Snow in the Courtyard"

Lyrics and music: Gu Qing

Singer: Gu Qing
At this moment, all the passersby who had just picked up their remotes to change the channel, the fans who had been anxiously waiting for the end credits to deliver a post-credits scene, and the "Little King of Beasts" who was stunned by this sudden turn of events...

All eyes were glued to those few lines of text on the screen!

"Gu Qing (the younger brother) wrote a song?!"

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(P.S.: There's one more chapter in 4K format)
(End of this chapter)