Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 340 Visiting Li Bo, The Female Doctor's Ending (4.8k)
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Returning to work

From that day on,

Gu Qing gave two days of media interviews, most of which focused on his performance at the Poetry Competition.

For example: How did you do it?
What kind of education did you receive when you were young?
Gu Qingdong rambled on for a while, but didn't directly admit to his photographic memory.

After filming Detective Chinatown, Chen Sicheng asked him for his thoughts on whether he could use his "talent" to market the movie and secure the role of "Qin Feng".

Gu Qing naturally did not refuse.

After "The Imperial Doctress" finished airing, it was almost the New Year.

At that time, the publicity and promotion for Detective Chinatown will also begin.

This film is the first film to truly feature him as the protagonist.

"The Mystic Nine" is as significant as a TV series.
Furthermore, in the film industry, where status is more important, the quality of performance is even more crucial!
Gu Qing also attached great importance to it.

previous life,

Although the first Detective Chinatown film received good reviews, its box office performance was only 8.12 million yuan.

Of course, that was already extremely high for that time.

Gu Qing still believed that with his joining the team, the box office of Detective Chinatown might give everyone an unexpected "surprise".

of course,

The more important thing right now is to focus on the drama itself.

Whether or not Gu Qing can maintain the good reputation and public goodwill until the release of "Detective Chinatown" is the most important thing she needs to consider now.

Although we have temporarily overcome the difficulties.

However, the viewership ratings for "The Female Doctor" have not yet shown a significant increase.

Most people's focus is entirely on him personally.

It didn't significantly boost the show's popularity.

So, not two days later,

Gu Qing then forcibly stopped working at the company, took a book on the history of the Ming Dynasty, and a set of writing implements sent from his hometown as a gift. He then contacted Professor Li Bo and went to his home the next day to "listen to his lecture".

When the door is opened,
Upon seeing Gu Qing, Li Bo was truly shocked, his face filled with disbelief.

Although he had already contacted her by phone beforehand, he still couldn't believe that Gu Qing would actually come.

Li Bo felt a mix of emotions as he looked at the young man in front of him with a complicated expression.

A history professor and a popular celebrity seem completely unrelated to each other to outsiders.

Gu Qing keenly noticed Li Bo's hesitation and broke the silence: "Professor Li, you wouldn't be unwelcome to me, would you?"

Upon hearing this, Li Bo immediately snapped out of his daze, quickly stepped aside to make way, and a slightly apologetic smile appeared on his face: "How could this be, how could this be!"
Please come in, please come in!

He waved as he spoke, his tone warm and welcoming.

After entering the house,
“Professor Li, these are specialties of our Anhui Province: Xuan brushes, Xuan paper, and Hui ink. They were made by hand by an old master craftsman from my hometown. He especially loved the 'Lecture Room' program you hosted in your early years, and when he learned that I was coming to visit, he asked me to bring this gift with him.”

Gu Qing raised her hand.

Li Bo instinctively wanted to wave his hand to refuse, but the words of polite refusal were already on the tip of his tongue: "How could I possibly accept this..."

But Gu Qing's words, especially his respect for the old master craftsman, touched his heartstrings as a scholar.

His refusal stuck in his throat, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, and fine lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. His serious expression softened instantly, replaced by a heartfelt joy.

Seeing this, Gu Qing took a step forward and said sincerely, "Teacher Li, please accept this gift."

In ancient times, when one became a disciple, there was always a gift of money. I have come today to seek your guidance, and it would be extremely impolite to arrive empty-handed.

Having said that,

Li Bo finally stopped refusing and accepted the gift with both hands, his smile becoming even warmer and more amiable. "Alright... since that's the case, I'll accept it without hesitation."

"However, it's agreed that you can't bring gifts next time you come." His tone was gentle but firm, carrying the air of an elder's admonition.

"I'll do whatever Teacher Li says." Gu Qing nodded and smiled readily.

at this time,

The side door creaked open. A young woman in her early twenties, still sleepy-eyed, her long hair slightly disheveled, yawned and mumbled, "Dad... who are you talking to..."

Her gaze casually swept across the living room, and when it landed on Gu Qing, it froze instantly!

He froze on the spot as if he had been frozen in place, all drowsiness vanished, his eyes widened suddenly, and his pupils contracted due to extreme shock.

The next second, an incredulous scream pierced through her throat: "Aaaaaah—!!"

The scream instantly shattered the tranquility of the home in the early morning, as if injecting boundless energy.

"Gu Qing!! It's Gu Qing?"

"Dad! You didn't lie to me!!"

The girl covered her mouth with her hand in great surprise, her eyes sparkling with excitement, her gaze fixed on Gu Qing, unwilling to look away for even a second.

But then she suddenly realized her disheveled appearance, with her clothes in disarray and her hair in a mess. Her cheeks flushed red, and she quickly turned around and rushed back to her room, slamming the door shut.

Li Bo looked in the direction where his daughter had disappeared, shook his head helplessly, sighed at Gu Qing, and said with a hint of apology and fatherly affection, "Sigh, this is my daughter, so impulsive and clumsy, I'm sorry you had to see her like this."

He explained, "Ever since that episode aired the day before yesterday, she hasn't stopped asking me anything about you... My ears are practically calloused."

His tone was full of loving affection, yet also carried the jealousy of an elderly father.

Gu Qing smiled knowingly, indicating that she didn't mind. Then, she turned her gaze towards the study, her expression becoming serious and expectant: "It's alright, Professor Li, shall we... begin now?"

"Okay, okay, come to my study."

Li Bo smiled and nodded, leading Gu Qing toward the study.

Inside the study, the walls were lined with books, and the air was filled with the faint scent of ink and the unique smell of old paper.

Several calligraphy and paintings hang on the wall, creating an elegant and tranquil atmosphere.

Gu Qing's gaze was drawn to a calligraphy work on the desk. He took two steps closer, examined it carefully, and his eyes revealed admiration: "Teacher Li, is this your work? Such beautiful regular script, strong and upright, with a broad and open style. Is this Yan style?"

Upon hearing this, Li Bo's eyes lit up, and his face radiated the joy of having found a kindred spirit.

He pointed to the chair in front of the desk, warmly inviting Gu Qing to sit down, his tone filled with surprise and curiosity: "Oh? You figured it out at a glance?"

Gu Qing, you also study calligraphy? Did you practice it when you were a child?

"No, it's just that I was watching videos the other day and saw someone teaching the Thin Gold style of calligraphy. I tried to learn it a couple of times, but..."

Gu Qing scratched his head awkwardly.

"So that's it."

Li Bo shook his head and smiled, "The Slender Gold style emphasizes agile and swift brushstrokes, with slender and vigorous strokes that are thin yet full. It's almost impossible for a beginner like you to master it."

Moreover, the Slender Gold style is not practical, and its status in the traditional system of calligraphy art criticism is quite special, even...not particularly high.

"Not high status? I've always thought the Slender Gold style of calligraphy was very popular."

Gu Qing leaned forward slightly, her face showing curiosity and a humble expression of seeking knowledge: "Teacher Li, why is that?"

"The reasons are multifaceted."

Li Bo patiently explained: "Firstly, the most prominent characteristic of the Slender Gold style is its 'sharp and unrestrained' strokes, each one like a knife. This contrasts sharply with the traditional calligraphy's emphasis on the beauty of 'concealed sharpness and restraint,' and 'balanced and harmonious'."
In particular, this directly contradicts the Confucian aesthetic ideal of "gentleness and kindness."

As he spoke, he gestured with his fingers in the air, demonstrating the force of brushstrokes. "Secondly, it has limitations in practicality. The strokes of the 'Slender Gold' style are too delicate and sharp, making it difficult to execute in practical settings requiring solemn and clear official documents or inscriptions on stone tablets," he explained.

Writing large characters is especially prone to appearing loose and weak, lacking the robust and inclusive feel of styles like Yan Zhenqing's. Furthermore…

Li Bo paused slightly, his tone carrying a hint of historical assessment, "It is also related to the fact that the founder, Emperor Huizong of Song, was a 'ruler who lost his country'."

This has inevitably led some people, both in ancient and modern times, to subtly link his artistic achievements with the symbolic meaning of the decline of a dynasty.

"I see." Gu Qing suddenly realized.

Just then, the study door was gently pushed open a crack.

Li Bo's daughter cautiously peeked in; she had quickly tidied herself up, even putting on makeup.

Her face showed barely suppressed excitement and a hint of nervousness; her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her voice was much softer and more delicate than before.
His gaze was almost impossible to take off Gu Qing: "Dad... um... Gu... Gu Qing, would you... want some fruit? I... I'll go wash it!"

She spoke with a slight stutter.

Gu Qing turned to her, offering a friendly smile, and gently declined, saying, "Thank you, but there's no need to trouble yourself."

"Oh...okay, okay...no trouble at all..." She quickly waved her hand, both surprised and delighted to see Gu Qing talking to her.

"Close the door, we are giving a lecture."

Li Bo said in a slightly serious tone, with a hint of fatherly authority, "Remember, you're not allowed to secretly film videos, and you're not allowed to send messages to your friends to brag about it, understand?"

"Okay... Dad..."

The girl sighed, then quickly stole a glance at Gu Qing before reluctantly closing the door.

After the study returned to silence, Li Bo turned his gaze back to Gu Qing and asked with a gentle smile, "Alright, Gu Qing, which aspect of Ming Dynasty history would you like to start learning about today?"
Or, could it be about the drama you filmed, focusing on the character Zhu Qiyu?

After that episode was recorded,
He also looked into the drama Gu Qing starred in, and was quite shocked by it, and had a lot of opinions to share.

"Teacher Li, you can just call me Xiao Gu."

Gu Qing opened the "History of Ming" he had brought, his gaze earnest and focused: "As for where to start, I have a favor to ask."

While the people are important, I would like to first systematically understand the customs, systems, and social environment of the Ming Dynasty.

Then, starting from the early and mid-Ming Dynasty, we can gradually sort out the personalities and governing styles of the emperors before Zhu Qizhen, as well as the life stories of some representative civil and military officials of that period.

I believe that with this broader context, we can better understand specific individuals, including Zhu Qiyu, his choices, and his fate.

Gu Qing came today not only to resolve the public opinion surrounding "The Imperial Doctress", but also to share his own vision for the future.

After listening, Li Bo's face showed a hint of surprise, and he raised an eyebrow: "To understand such a vast amount of content? This is not something that can be done overnight, your time..."

He knew all too well how busy a popular actor's schedule was.

"That's why I'm bothering you so early this morning, Professor Li. I hope you don't mind?"

Gu Qing said shyly.

"Of course not, how can being eager to learn be a bad thing?"

Li Bo laughed heartily: "Alright, then let's start with the overall situation in the early Ming Dynasty..."

After saying that, he immersed himself in the historical context and began to recount it eloquently.

Once he entered the field he had been deeply involved in, Li Bo displayed an astonishing brilliance.

When he got to the exciting parts, he would sometimes beam with excitement, and at other times sigh with regret. Gu Qing listened attentively the whole time, sometimes nodding to show understanding, and sometimes asking sharp or insightful questions to discuss with him.

The two engaged in a question-and-answer session, their interaction becoming increasingly tacit, and their discussion growing more in-depth and enthusiastic, filling the study with the passion of academic exchange.

From sunrise to sunset, time flies by in the flow of knowledge.

Their discussion extended from macro-level systems to specific individuals.
When discussing Hai Rui's integrity and Yu Qian's loyalty, Li Bo's expression turned solemn.

When analyzing the gains, losses, and difficulties of Zhang Juzheng's reforms, he became even more emotional, recounting how the reforms were met with a backlash from the old system and ultimately ended with Zhang's death.
She even couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed, and her voice became hoarse and choked with emotion, full of regret and indignation.

unconsciously,

As the sun sets, today's "Lecture Room" program has come to a successful conclusion.

Gu Qing had gained a lot and thanked Li Bo for saying goodbye before boarding her return flight.

……

on the plane,
Gu Qing forwarded the photo of herself and Li Bo to the publicity team, and naturally someone would be responsible for editing the copy and carrying out subsequent positive marketing.

He put on an eye mask to block out the light, but his mind kept replaying what he had absorbed that day, preparing to summarize it in detail and write it down with pen and paper when he returned to his lodgings at night.

"How about we find a screenwriter and learn how to write a script?"

Gu Qing thought to herself.

at the same time,

That night,

A tweet appeared on Gu Qing's official account, including a photo of him with teacher Li Bo, as well as a still from his drama "The Imperial Doctress".

"Today was very successful. I specifically consulted with Professor Li and learned about the history of the Ming Dynasty, which gave me a deeper understanding of Zhu Qiyu."

Sigh, I feel I didn't portray the character fully and three-dimensionally enough. I truly hope I'll have another opportunity to reinterpret this complex and profound role in the future.

"My little brother is working so hard! I'm about to cry!"

"Who said you didn't act well? Little brother, you need to be more confident, you acted really well!"

"That's right, that's right. It's clearly a problem with the script. Gu Qing, don't blame yourself. Hugs."

"I just want to ask, which popular celebrity in the Chinese entertainment industry is this dedicated?"

"The show had problems, the production team shut down, the investors pretended to be dead, and it was all thanks to my brother who brought it back on track. It's infuriating!!"

"Little brother, don't blame yourself..."

The blog's tweets were filled with heartfelt comments from fans.

This undoubtedly drew public attention back to "The Imperial Doctress" itself.

Sun rises and moon sets.

Time slips away quietly. A month has passed in the blink of an eye.

After fluctuating, the viewership ratings for "The Imperial Doctress" finally stabilized at around 2.5%.

While this result may not be considered a phenomenal blockbuster, it has already firmly surpassed the success of "The Interpreter," starring Yang Mi.

They became the champions for the second half of the year!
The show was the top-rated show in the first half of the year, and that show happened to be Gu Qing.

Online discussions have gradually shifted, and the show's reputation has steadily improved.

"Putting aside some plot holes, the production and acting in this show are pretty good."

"The actors are all very good-looking, and the costumes and props are also very exquisite. I think it is the pinnacle of Ming Dynasty costumes."

"Sigh, I just can't get into the romance between Zhu Qizhen and Yunxian... Judging from this trailer, will the screenwriter force them to be a couple?"

"A warning about a Tauren storyline? I can't accept that!"

"The pre-broadcast promotion clearly focused on the younger brother and Liu Shishi as the male and female leads, so why is Brother Hua's character such a distraction?"

"If Yunxian and Zhu Qizhen really end up together, I'll really be heartbroken!"

More and more drama fans are discussing the complex emotional entanglements between Tan Yunxian, Zhu Qizhen, and Zhu Qiyu, and their words generally reveal their concerns.

Driven by the popularity of the TV series "The Imperial Doctress," many history popularization bloggers have also taken the opportunity to capitalize on the trend and explain the relevant history of the Ming Dynasty, especially the life stories of several emperors.

This also allowed many viewers who were not familiar with the history of the Ming Dynasty to learn in advance about the true historical fate of the brothers Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Qiyu.

"My God! Zhu Qiyu's fate in history seems to have been quite bad?!"

"Is my younger brother going to get killed off in the show too?! No way!"

"I really don't want to be tortured anymore!!"

As the plot progresses to the scene where Zhu Qiyu, played by Gu Qing, collapses from exhaustion after working tirelessly, coughing up blood.
Discussions and concerns about the fate of his character surged rapidly within a week, captivating the audience.

Finally, a new week has begun.
Countless viewers and fans had already been glued to their television sets, holding their breath in anticipation of the finale of "The Imperial Doctress."

And Gu Qing is about to officially receive her "lunchbox" (death sentence)...

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(End of this chapter)