Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 354 Jia Bing: Dumplings are here! (6k)
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March 1, 27:7 p.m.

Backstage at Studio One of CCTV.

Only half an hour remains before the Lunar New Year Gala of the Year of the Rooster officially begins.

The backstage area has now transformed into a miniature, glittering arena of fame and fortune, and a social hub.

Looking around, almost all of them are well-known male and female celebrities in the entertainment industry, with extremely high popularity and traffic.

It can truly be said that "A-list celebrities are as common as dogs, and top-tier stars are everywhere." If any sign falls down, it could hit a currently popular and wealthy star.

For many of the artists present, this was not just a performance, but also a wonderful platform for socializing and reconnecting.

Acquaintances, friends, and even competitors who usually find it difficult to meet due to busy schedules all gather here at this moment.

They gathered in twos and threes, their faces beaming with professional smiles, exchanging pleasantries, discussing industry trends, or engaging in unspoken resource probes.

however,
In this seemingly harmonious atmosphere, many artists who were exchanging polite conversation couldn't help but glance at each other with undisguised surprise, uncertainty, and complex envy.

I glanced at the prominent sofa in the center of the rest area.

"Did you see that? The one next to Brother Chen Long... Gu Qing's momentum is too strong, isn't it? It hasn't been long, and he's already on par with Brother Chen Long?"

"So the rumors are true? Is Gu Qing really being heavily promoted by Brother Chen Long?"

"That makes sense! Without someone promoting him, how could an artist with no background and from a small company become famous so quickly and steadily!"

"Tsk tsk, I feel like there's going to be a good show. Chris Wu practically sold himself into the Beijing circle to get such a huge amount of resources."

Now that Gu Qing has emerged with even greater momentum and seems to be more favored… these two are bound to fight even more fiercely!

"Hahaha, vying for favor, huh? I know this plot well, is he replicating what his good brother Deng Chao did with Huayi Brothers back then?"

"Shh... Keep your voice down, the main characters are here, don't cause trouble."

……

Amidst these unnoticed yet secretly surging whispers of gossip, Gu Qing, one of the key figures in the incident, had no way to express his bitterness.

As soon as he arrived backstage, before he could even catch his breath, the enthusiastic Brother Chen Long pulled him to sit down on the sofa next to him, and they continued to discuss the pieces they would be collaborating on for the upcoming opera gala.

"Gu Qing, the melody you changed, the few little notes you added, it's really good, so well changed!"

Brother Chen Long was clearly still immersed in the passion of music creation; as he spoke, his fingers were unconsciously tapping out a rhythm on his knees.

He would occasionally hum a line or two of his unique singing style, his eyes shining, looking as if he loved it dearly and was savoring it endlessly.

"Uncle Long, I'm glad you like it. The main thing is that your idea is good and gave me inspiration."

After Gu Qing finished responding, she subtly tried to stand up.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Brother Chen Long reacted quickly and pressed him back onto the sofa.

"Brother, it's not that I'm being polite."

Gu Qing gave a helpless wry smile and lowered her voice, "Sitting in this 'core position' with you, I feel a lot of pressure."

Believe it or not, in five minutes, you'll definitely see hordes of celebrities coming over to greet you, say hello, and ask for photos.

With my limited skills, I'm afraid my face will freeze from smiling before I even get on stage, my muscles will twitch, and it will affect my facial expressions during the performance.

"Hahaha, look how scared you are."

Brother Chen Long burst into laughter at his description, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Gu Qing, that won't do. In this industry, interpersonal relationships and social interactions are part of your job. You can't just hide from the peace and quiet. You need to practice more!"

Before he finished speaking, he happened to catch a glimpse of several female stars dressed in gorgeous gowns and with exquisite makeup walking towards him in a group.

As a well-known veteran in the industry, Brother Chen Long immediately put on his habitual, friendly, and enthusiastic smile, and leaned forward slightly, preparing to stand up to greet him—

Although I am getting older and my strength is waning, my enthusiasm for appreciating beautiful things and exchanging ideas with outstanding younger generations has never diminished.

"Brother Chen Long, Happy New Year!"

Happy New Year, brother! Wishing you a successful performance!

A series of sweet and melodious greetings rang out.

With a broad smile, Brother Chen Long was about to stand up and open his arms to show his seniority when...
But then he saw the tall, beautiful woman at the head of the group walk briskly past him—

Then, he pounced straight on Gu Qing, who was sitting next to him!
"Little brother! I've missed you so much!"

"Sister Jiang Xin... slow down."

Faced with Jiang Xin's sudden hug, Gu Qing steadied himself and endured this enthusiastic "attack" with a wry smile.

Subsequently,

Gu Qing released Jiang Xin, then hugged "Teacher Liu" and "Ye Wenjie" who were watching the scene with smiles.
"Sister Tao, Sister Ziwen, it's been a long time."

The opening program of this year's Spring Festival Gala, "Beautiful Chinese New Year," featured the "Five Beauties" from last year's hit drama "Ode to Joy"—

Liu Tao, Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi, Qiao Xin, and the three members of the "Go Fighting Boys" performed together.

After greeting the three beauties she knew, Gu Qing noticed two other girls who were relatively younger and had a more youthful and lively temperament.

The two people were standing a little behind, their bright eyes fixed on Gu Qing.

"Hello, Qiao Xin."

Gu Qing turned to Qiao Xin, who had a sweet and gentle appearance, and smiled as she extended her hand. "Yang Yang secretly messaged me a long time ago, repeatedly asking me to take good care of you if I saw you backstage."

"Huh? Yang... did Yang really say that?"

Qiao Xin's face flushed red instantly, like a ripe apple, with a hint of shyness and surprise.

"Of course, you can ask him yourself if you don't believe me."

Gu Qing lightly touched and released her fingers, maintaining a gentle smile and a natural tone.

After filming a new movie with Zhang Tianai and breaking up shortly afterward, Yang Yang was depressed for a while and sent him many messages crying.

did not expect,
Before I knew it, I had found a new girlfriend.

At last,
Gu Qing turned her gaze to Yang Zi, who was standing next to Qiao Xin and seemed a little awkward.

"Teacher Yang Zi,"

He also extended his hand, his tone serious, "I've long admired your name. I grew up watching your 'Home with Kids,' and Xiaoxue is a part of my childhood memories."

"Hello...you..."

Yang Zi awkwardly extended her hand and quickly shook hands with Gu Qing.

"Oh dear, my silly little sister!"

Seeing this, Liu Tao couldn't help but laugh and tease loudly, "Who was it that was chattering away in the car before we came, shouting that we would finally see the real Gu Qing?"

She also said she would definitely try to get her phone pressed against his face to take a close-up picture later, to see if he was really that good-looking.
"How come you can't even speak a complete sentence now that you've actually met him?"

"Big sister! I never said that..."

Yang Zi awkwardly covered her forehead with her hand, but couldn't help but peek through her fingers at Gu Qing's almost perfect profile.

That gaze contained a deep envy, a hint of barely perceptible inferiority, and a complex emotion that was hard to describe.

This gaze made Gu Qing feel inexplicably strange.

He had this strange feeling that the way Yang Zi looked at him didn't seem like a girl looking at an admired man; rather, it was more like…

With a strong desire to "possess" or even "reproduce" it?

It's as if they want to peel off his face, examine it closely, and then put it on their own face?

The thought flashed through Gu Qing's mind, and even she herself felt it was somewhat outrageous.

But recalling some of Yang Zi's experiences from his past life, he seemed to understand some of it.

There's no way around it; the entertainment industry, a place of fame and fortune, is never short of handsome men and beautiful women.

Every year, countless new faces emerge one after another like leeks, and with the increasingly advanced medical aesthetic technology, the competition for beauty has reached a fever pitch.

Yang Zi's acting skills are definitely among the best of her peers. She has formal training, solid skills, and strong empathy.

However, her appearance is a significant disadvantage in the entertainment industry, where beauties abound.

She's not the stunningly beautiful type, nor does she have a high-fashion face; she's more like the kind of approachable, friendly girl next door that you often see in everyday life.

This kind of appearance was a huge advantage in the film and television market a few years ago when realism, family dramas, and serious dramas were preferred. It was very down-to-earth, and the actors could play any role convincingly without any sense of incongruity.

However, with the full arrival of the era of internet traffic, capital has poured into costume idol dramas, urban romance dramas, and other fields, making the market's requirements for the appearance of female leads extremely demanding.

She must be beautiful in a way that is aggressive, distinctive, and capable of living up to the "peerless beauty" description.

Yang Zi's girl-next-door and cute appearance makes her particularly vulnerable in this competition, making it difficult for the audience to believe that she is the "femme fatale" who could make countless heroes fall for her.

Therefore, in order to avoid being eliminated by the market and to secure better scripts and roles, she had no choice but to compromise with reality...

Gu Qing recalled a few months ago,

This was a complaint that "Sister Zhao" vented to him during a phone call. The two of them had previously collaborated on a TV series adapted from the wildly popular male-oriented novel "Zhu Xian".

After reading the original novel, Sister Zhao used her professional eye for scripts to choose the role of Lu Xueqi, a character who is aloof, cold, and has unparalleled beauty.

Unexpectedly, he lost the competition with Yang Zi.

In order to win Lu Xueqi
Yang Zi made a huge decision and even made significant changes to her appearance, personally undergoing cosmetic surgery to match Lu Xueqi's appearance as described in the original novel.

Thus, he secured the role.

This move immediately broke Sister Zhao's defenses, and she admitted defeat.

Ultimately, she opted to settle for second best and played another female lead, Biyao.

Unfortunately, after the series aired, it received unexpectedly poor reviews, with widespread criticism and a complete mess. However, this ordeal wasn't entirely without merit; at least it brought Yang Zi back into the public eye and garnered significant attention and discussion.

This also helped her gain some attention when she later became popular again with "Ode to Joy".

After a brief exchange of pleasantries and catching up,
As the opening act, Liu Tao, Jiang Xin, and their entourage didn't dare to linger and quickly returned to their respective dressing rooms to make final preparations, urged by the staff.

however,
Before Chen Long, who had been "neglected" to the side, could even offer a few sour comments to Gu Qing—

"Happy New Year, Brother Chen Long!"

"Hello, brother! I wish you a successful performance!"

Another wave of celebrities who came to offer their greetings have arrived.

Hello everyone, Happy New Year!

Brother Chen Long immediately beamed with a smile.

Unexpectedly,

"Gu Qing! I've reached Platinum I!! Just one more promotion match away!!"

After greeting Brother Chen Long, Brother Kai excitedly approached Gu Qing, gesturing animatedly.

"Happy New Year, Brother Gu Qing."

Yuanzi followed obediently behind, smiling and greeting Gu Qing.

After that,

As if a switch had been flipped, Zhang Jie, Zhang Ruoyun, Chen Weiting, Guan Xiaotong, and Deng Ziqi, whom we hadn't seen for a long time,

Even the little sheep who had just finished filming a movie with Brother Chen Long came over one after another.

Although their first words were always a formality, they all extended their greetings to the highly respected Brother Chen Long.
But after a brief exchange of pleasantries, the conversation naturally turned to Gu Qing. They talked about music, their recent lives, or simply greeted each other to get acquainted. The atmosphere was warm and friendly.

Even Ms. Dong Qing, one of the hosts of this year's Spring Festival Gala, who is known for her elegance and poise, stopped in her tracks after greeting Mr. Chen Long as she passed by.
Smiling, she chatted with Gu Qing for a few more minutes, asking about his preparations for the show, her words full of appreciation and encouragement.

Chen Long, who had been unwittingly sidelined, watched Gu Qing being surrounded by the younger generation like a star being fawned over.
He was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, his face showing a complex expression of mixed feelings of amusement and relief.

So you think I'm here to put on a good show for you?

Is this right?
Without allowing the veteran performer to wallow in self-pity any longer, the director on set began loudly reminding all the artists to take their positions.

Soon, the clock on the wall pointed precisely to eight o'clock in the evening!

The 2017 Spring Festival Gala has officially begun!

The familiar "Spring Festival Overture" resounded throughout the studio, and dazzling lights illuminated the entire stage.

Amidst thunderous cheers and applause from the audience, Zhu Jun, Dong Qing, Kang Hui, Nigmat, and other top-tier national hosts, dressed in formal attire and full of energy, walked onto the stage.

"The golden rooster crows to bid farewell to the old year, and countless lights illuminate homes to celebrate reunion! Respected leaders, distinguished guests, and dear viewers across the country—"

Teacher Kang Hui opened the evening's program with his most standard, steady, and magnetic broadcasting voice, enunciating each word clearly and precisely.

"Fellow Chinese compatriots around the world, and our fellow countrymen watching on television—" Dong Qing continued, her voice gentle and dignified, her smile full of warmth and friendliness.

All: Happy Chinese New Year!

"This is the live broadcast of CCTV's 2017 Spring Festival Gala! I am your host, Nigmat."

"At this moment, we are joining audiences across the country and Chinese people around the world in waiting for the first chime of the Lunar New Year of Dingyou!" Xiao Ni's voice was full of energy and passion.

After the opening remarks, the first program of the Spring Festival Gala officially began. It was the opening song and dance "Beautiful Chinese New Year" performed by the five beauties from "Ode to Joy" and the three members of TFBOYS.

"Mediocre."

As one of the VIP audience members closest to the stage, Gu Qing watched the monitor along with many other artists backstage and internally gave her evaluation.

The show was lively and festive, with attractive performers, meeting the basic requirements for an opening dance. However, it lacked any truly eye-catching new ideas or exciting moments, making it a safe choice.

The feedback from viewers in front of the television and online was largely the same:

"It's alright. I feel like the opening of this year's Spring Festival Gala was a bit more lively than last year's."

"Ahhh! Xiao Kai! Yuan Yuan! Mommy loves you both!!"

"Teacher Liu is so beautiful! Jiang Xin looks gorgeous in that dress too!"

"Qiao Xin and Yang Zi are in good spirits tonight!"

Besides the fans of each group showing their support in the comments and on social media, most ordinary young viewers, after watching the first program, developed a slight interest and anticipation for this year's Spring Festival Gala.

however,
To their utter surprise, the nascent spark was quickly doused with cold water by the second program.

The second program was a dance called "The Golden Rooster Crows at Dawn," performed by children from a certain Blue Sky Kindergarten dressed in fluffy, bright yellow chick costumes.

Logically speaking, even if a child's performance is terrible, it can be excused by saying they are "cute".

But rather,
The show's creators had a unique idea: they arranged for the "chicks" to turn around in unison midway through their dance, presenting their backs—wearing costumes with fluffy chick bottoms—to the audience.
Then—the "egg-laying" performance begins!
That's right, it's "laying an egg" in the physical sense!
There were round "egg" props, each about the size of a cantaloupe, moving as the children squatted and wiggled their bottoms.

It fell out with a "plop plop" from the hidden opening behind the "chicken's butt" and rolled onto the stage.

The most outrageous thing was the dozen or so "chicks" in the front row, lined up in unison, sticking their butts out and performing an "egg-laying" performance for the audience and the camera.

When the close-up shot panned across the screen, it even captured the indescribable, complex expressions on the faces of some audience members in the front row, with their lips twitching slightly.

But this is not the end.
The ultimate "torture" is yet to come!
As the show ended and all the "chickens" hopped off the stage, a hand was seen sticking out from behind each of them.

They quickly and accurately retrieved all the "eggs" that had just been laid!

It was stuffed back into the "chicken's butt"!

The egg…it shrank back again!

In an instant,
It was as if a depth charge had been dropped on social media and bullet comments:
"A generous gift of crab!! My eyes!!!"

"Help!!! What kind of horrible program design is this?!"

"You're the one who planned this! Can't you be taken out and shot for five minutes?!"

"Ugh! I'm so embarrassed I could dig my toes out of a three-bedroom apartment! I shouldn't have had any hope for anything other than the comedy sketches on the Spring Festival Gala!!"

"My mom asked me why I was kneeling while watching TV, and I said I was kowtowing to the Spring Festival Gala director, begging him to be a decent human being!"

Many young viewers in the family covered their eyes in anguish, wishing they could snatch the remote control from their parents and change the channel immediately.

However, due to his position as the "youngest" brother in the family on this night of family reunion, he could only suppress the waves of embarrassment and continue to "enjoy" this annual visual feast.

But the real "enjoyment (torture)" has only just begun.

After the song and dance performances, comes the Spring Festival Gala's "traditional strength"—the skits.

The first skit, "Big City, Small Love," is now available! Performers: Liu Liang, Bai Ge, and Guo Jinjie.

The content is very simple: Guo Jinjie is Bai Ge's older cousin, and Liu Liang is Bai Ge's wife.

One day, Liu Liang was cleaning windows on a high-rise building when Bai Ge mistook him for a thief. The two argued and then showed affection, and then they both flew up.

Liu Liang grabbed the cloth he used to clean windows high in the sky, pulled his wife along, and the two of them, like stage actors, flew up into the sky and danced gracefully.

Live audience:"……"

If I remember correctly, the scene is set at a high altitude, right?

Aren't you afraid of dying?
"I'm begging you two! If you're going to commit suicide together, can you hurry up and do it?! If you don't die soon, we, the audience, will die of embarrassment first!!"

"Gu Qing, when are you going to come and save my eyes and my heart! I can't take it anymore!"

"Little Deer, I will always love you! But I've decided to love you again in the next life! My eyesight might have to go out of order in this life!"

"Hahaha! Can the storm rage on? I love watching this! (Got crazy)"

The comments section was filled with heartbroken fans, rabid entertainers, and countless young people who were forced to sit in front of the TV by their elders, looking utterly hopeless.

Even the artists waiting backstage, when watching these shows on the monitors, generally started to stare blankly and yawn repeatedly.

Everyone could only forcibly cover their mouths with their hands or pretend to bend down and adjust their clothes to hide their expressions, trying their best to manage their facial expressions, for fear that some camera in the corner would capture an inappropriate reaction.

The shows came one by one, and time passed little by little.

When Pan Zi and Cai Cai Zi performed their skit "Old Couple," the audience seemed to have entered a state of "meditation," transforming into expressionless clapping machines.

The core plot of this skit can be summarized in one sentence:

Cai Min thought Pan Zi had Alzheimer's disease and asked him to play the role of her husband. In reality, Cai Min had Alzheimer's disease and Pan Zi was playing the role of her husband.

In reality, Pan Zi was Cai Min's husband. He played the role of her husband so that Cai Min would remember that he was indeed her husband.

After a chaotic mess, the audience has developed dementia.

"You... have the guts to continue!!"

Some young viewers, unwilling to admit defeat, were secretly competing with themselves, feeling that they had a lot of health and could endure a few more shows.

"Next, please welcome Jia Bing, Qin Lan, Zhang Ruoyun, and other actors to bring you the skit 'Dumplings in the Snow'!"

The host, Nigmat, finished his introductions and left the stage.

at the same time,

A staff member wearing a work badge quickly walked up to Gu Qing and whispered, "Gu Qing, it's your turn for the next show. Please come with me to the backstage entrance to prepare for your turn."

"ok, I know, thank you."

Gu Qing, who was dozing off, suddenly jolted awake and quickly got up, following the staff to the waiting area.

On stage, Jia Bing was holding a bowl of prop dumplings and calling out to the audience with great emotion:

"Dumplings! Here they come!"

……

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(End of this chapter)