Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 355 "Small Town Ballad" (6.3k)
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"Oh dear, I was in such a rush! I rolled out dumpling wrappers at home, and my hands are all raw and calloused!"

At the start of the show, Jia Bing, with his signature Northeastern accent and slightly exaggerated expression of distress, showed the camera his supposedly "severely injured" hand.

This attempt to create a sense of everyday life and comedic effect, under the guise of overly deliberate performance, only revealed a strong sense of awkwardness.

"Business is booming during the Lunar New Year! All the dumplings are sold out! There's only this last plate left on the table, which I specially saved for my wife. Nobody is allowed to touch it!"

Jia Bing waved his hand, looking towards the empty dining table with a mix of emotions, as if it had truly been a bustling and lively place.

"Boss, a serving of dumplings, please."

Just then, the first "customer" appeared – Qin Lan, dressed in a smart coat, with a tone of slightly distant expectation unique to urban women.

"Excuse me, miss, the dumplings... are sold out."

Jia Bing raised his hand, a business-like smile plastered on his face, but his tone was utterly insincere.

"It's Chinese New Year, and I can't go home. All I want is a hot bowl of dumplings, and I can't even have that?"

Qin Lan frowned slightly and began to argue according to the script, "Besides, isn't your family a dumpling restaurant? Don't dumpling restaurants have dumplings?"

"Yes! Isn't this a dumpling restaurant?"

Immediately afterwards, another customer, played by Zhang Ruoyun, appeared, perfectly transforming into a broken record, pointing at the plate of "prop" dumplings, "Isn't that a dumpling?"

“This…this, this, this…”

Jia Bing stammered instantly, his eyes darting around as if he were frantically fabricating a reason, "This is...this is a specimen of dumplings! Yes! A specimen! For viewing, not for eating!"

"I don't care! I just want dumplings!"

"Dumplings! Dumplings!!"

"Boss, an order of dumplings, please!"

……

The 14-minute skit featured four or five different groups of NPC customers, but the core conflict and dialogue remained unchanged, with the word "dumplings" being shouted a staggering 71 times.

The actors' awkwardly delivered lines that made them dig their toes into the ground, their overly exaggerated expressions, and their stiff, repetitive body language...

Coupled with the ear-piercing, endlessly looping word "dumplings," it created an ultimate test of the audience's patience.

The cameras swept across the audience, capturing faces with forced smiles, vacant eyes, and even those wearing masks of pain.

The atmosphere in the entire studio plummeted to freezing point, and the final applause was sparse and perfunctory.

Older viewers might be able to maintain a smile out of habitual tolerance, but many middle-aged and younger viewers find it incredibly difficult to even fake a smile.

Some of the children, in particular, couldn't control their expressions at all. Their little faces stared blankly at the stage, their eyes so empty that they seemed to have seen through the vicissitudes of life.

The actors on stage felt the audience's reaction most directly. In the latter half of the performance, the lead actors clearly realized the show's disastrous effect and became increasingly panicked.

This caused the already mediocre lines to be delivered haltingly, resulting in a precipitous drop in the quality of the performance.

After stepping down from the stage, the heavy, oppressive atmosphere was almost palpable. Gu Qing had originally intended to politely raise her hand a couple of times to offer encouragement.

did not expect,
As soon as Zhang Ruoyun stepped off the stage and saw the familiar face, her mental defenses crumbled instantly, and a tall man rushed over and hugged Gu Qing.

She buried her face in his shoulder and burst into tears, her shoulders shaking as she cried like a two-hundred-pound child.

"So bad...the acting was terrible...it's over..."

He repeated himself incoherently, overwhelmed by the immense pressure and sense of defeat.

Not only him, but even the experienced comedian Jia Bing had red eyes and was barely holding back his tears, but his regret and frustration were undeniable.

Performing a comedy sketch on the Spring Festival Gala, a top-tier stage for a nationwide audience, carries an invisible, overwhelming pressure that is unimaginable to outsiders.

Especially when you can clearly feel the audience's enthusiasm gradually cooling down, or even their eyes showing signs of annoyance, it is a huge torment and torture for the performer's mind and body.

The backstage staff seemed to be used to this, silently handing over tissues with a hint of sympathy in their eyes, but mostly with a routine calm.

The person most stressed and sweating profusely at this moment is undoubtedly the chief director of this year's Spring Festival Gala.

The real-time viewership data curves on the monitor and the feedback from the online public opinion monitoring platform showed an almost entirely bleak red alert.

"Completely unremarkable!"

"There isn't a single show worth watching!"

"We used to be able to enjoy comedy sketches and have a good laugh, but are even comedy sketches this awkward now?"

"It's utterly awful! It's destined to be the worst Spring Festival Gala in history!"

Thinking about these harsh comments and the immense pressure he might face, the director felt like he was sweating profusely.

"Alright, alright, stop crying, it's just a performance."

Gu Qing gently patted Zhang Ruoyun's back and whispered comfortingly, "When you have time, I'll go fishing with you to relax."

"Really?"

Zhang Ruoyun raised her face, which was streaked with tears.

Fishing was his greatest hobby, and Gu Qing's promise finally brought a glimmer of hope to his utterly miserable mood.

"Gu Qing, get ready, it's your turn to go on stage soon!" A staff member jogged over and reminded him urgently in a low voice.

"Okay, thank you."

Gu Qing nodded to the staff.

Zhang Ruoyun, realizing the urgency of the situation, quickly let go, hastily wiped his face with his sleeve, and stepped aside.

The assistant immediately stepped forward and quickly tidied up Gu Qing's slightly wrinkled clothes and hair, ensuring that every strand of hair and every corner of her clothes was perfect.

At this moment, the host's announcement came through the speakers clearly:
"Next, please enjoy the song 'Small Town Ballad,' performed by the outstanding young actor and singer, Gu Qing!"

"Wow! My little brother is finally here!!"

"Small Town Ballad? Is it a new song?! I've never heard of it!"

"Oh my god! It's definitely a new song! What a surprise! It was worth all the mental torture I endured!"

"My savior has arrived! Brother Gu Qing, save me!"

Compared to the cheering fans who were instantly revitalized,

Most ordinary viewers were already numb at this point, and dared not have any expectations anymore.

The series of terrible programs that followed, especially the devastating blow of "dumplings," had already worn away their enthusiasm for watching the Spring Festival Gala, leaving them heartbroken like dumpling filling.

however,
As the platform slowly rose and Gu Qing's figure appeared in the center of the stage, almost all the audience members' eyes lit up involuntarily.

For this appearance at the Spring Festival Gala, the renowned Chinese-style costume designer, Mr. Guan Qiwen, was extremely excited and devoted a great deal of effort to creating a stage outfit tailored to Gu Qing.

The main body of the clothing uses a fresh and elegant turquoise green, like the budding willow leaves in early spring, bringing a refreshing sense of natural vitality and vigor.

The hem and collar are meticulously embroidered with subtle patterns of intertwined flowers and pavilions, which shimmer with a delicate luster under the light.

This outfit perfectly accentuated Gu Qing's elegant and refined demeanor, as if it were a breath of fresh air, instantly cleansing the eyes and minds of the audience who had been "polluted" by the previous episodes.

The key is,

Gu Qing did not stand up to sing.

He lifted the hem of his blue robe slightly with both hands and sat gracefully in front of a carved guzheng.

The surrounding stage design is also very ingenious:
Not far away, an old-fashioned stage rises, next to which are antique-style taverns with flags bearing the character "酒" (wine) and pastry shops exuding sweet aromas.
Children chased after kites, laughing, while flower sellers with flowers pinned to their ears carried their wares on shoulder poles.

The background is a blend of virtual and real-world scenery of spring in Jiangnan: green willows surround the embankment, stone bridges lie across the water, and a light boat gently sways in the breeze on the lake.

All of this, together with Gu Qing who was in the midst of it, constituted a vivid and beautiful ink painting of Jiangnan.

It was as if the audience was instantly transported from the noisy studio to the dreamlike Jiangnan region, where apricot blossoms bloom in spring rain and the scenery is gentle and leisurely.

Before the audience could fully recover from this visual feast, they heard the clear sound of flowing water and a few distant birdsongs.

Then,

Gu Qing's long, slender, and fair fingers, with their distinct joints, gently touched the strings of the zither.

A series of clear, melodious, and cheerful zither notes, like a mountain spring, flowed out, instantly captivating everyone's ears.

"This intro! It's so soothing and therapeutic!"

"Oh my god, finally it's not those preachy theme songs and awkward skits anymore!"

"It's Chinese New Year, we should be happy, can you please stop trying to lecture us?"

The viewers watching the live stream finally showed their interest after a long time, and their eyes revealed genuine anticipation.

Gu Qing did not disappoint anyone.

As the zither prelude ended, he slightly turned his head, moved closer to the microphone, and spoke in a clear, pure voice, as if washed by a mountain spring.

Through high-end audio equipment, the sound was clearly transmitted throughout the studio and to countless households:

"【When I returned, it was the third month of spring in the old city, and the gentle breeze fluttered the wine flags and tea banners, obscuring people's vision.

The aroma of flower cakes filled the air, a long-lost sweetness, as children flew kites…

The self-discipline I've maintained over the years by strictly abstaining from alcohol and spicy foods to preserve my voice and skin has finally paid off.

Gu Qing's voice is clean and clear, with just the right amount of warmth and magnetism, as if it possesses a magical power that can instantly soothe anxiety and cleanse the soul.

The lyrics depict simple and beautiful moments full of childlike fun and everyday life; they are easy to understand yet full of artistic conception.

The camera work at the scene also cleverly switched according to the mood of the song:
A gentle breeze stirs, causing wine and tea banners to sway softly; the enticing aroma of pastries seems to waft from the bakery; children, holding strings, laugh and chase after kites soaring high into the sky…

All these delicate visuals blend perfectly with the singing, bringing a heartwarming and touching experience.

"On the stage across the street, a romantic song is being sung, but as time passes and circumstances change, the song ends and the lovers' mutual affection fades away."

Who can hear the lingering, melodious tune and sigh that time should be cherished? The camera then pans to the antique-style stage, where opera actors gracefully dance with flowing sleeves and expressive eyes, performing a classic scene of talented scholars and beautiful women.

Many audience members were completely immersed in the beautiful and enchanting atmosphere created by the song, and relaxed smiles unconsciously appeared on their faces.

"[Standing by the pavilion in my dreamlike state, swallows flit past the green eaves. Emerald curtains encircle the embankment, varying in shades, as if recalling bygone days…]"

At this point in the song, Gu Qing's clothes fluttered slightly, and she calmly rose to her feet. With elegant and leisurely steps, she walked gracefully to the artificial willow tree on the side of the stage.

He reached out, his fingertips gently brushing against the drooping, tender green willow branches. His eyes were warm and deep, as if he too was immersed in the memories and beautiful scenery depicted in the lyrics, carrying a touch of longing and tenderness.

The song's emotions gradually build, the joyful and sweet atmosphere intensifies, and the climax of the chorus arrives as expected:

"The willow leaves bend and brush the water, the water ripples swirl and the little boat rocks."

A small boat rocked gently past the south side of the stone bridge, where she walked gracefully, holding an umbrella.

As the song played, ripples appeared on the "lake" on one side of the stage, and a delicate little boat with a black awning gently rocked and docked at the "shore".

A graceful woman dressed in an elegant cheongsam and holding an oil-paper umbrella walked lightly and gracefully from a small boat onto the "stone bridge," her eyes sparkling with charm.

"【Two dark eyebrows are shrouded in light smoke, like willow leaves curving, and the willow leaves are adorned with a golden sparrow hairpin.

The golden hairpin accidentally slipped into my arms, causing her to look at me shyly…

Gu Qing reached out his hand to the woman.
The woman then cooperatingly feigned shyness, covering her face with her sleeve. As if by accident, a delicate golden sparrow hairpin slipped from her hair and landed right in Gu Qing's palm.

Upon seeing this, the woman was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear. She turned and left hastily, leaving behind a silhouette that left much to the imagination.

"What a beauty……"

Why do my lips unconsciously curl into a smile, like an auntie's?

"Gu Qing is simply a refined nobleman who stepped out of an ancient painting, gentle and elegant! That young lady from earlier was also beautiful, with such a graceful demeanor, like a lady from a distinguished family."

"Mom! I'm so touched! My soul, which had been tormented all night, has finally found peace!"

"Gu Qing is a god! Absolutely the best performance of tonight's Spring Festival Gala so far! Without a doubt!"

As the first chorus ended, Gu Qing could clearly see the genuine smiles and relaxed expressions on the faces of the audience in the front row.
You can even see people nodding slightly in rhythm.

This made him relax, and he became more and more natural.

His relaxation caused the director in the backstage monitoring room to jump to his throat, almost shouting into the walkie-talkie:

"Little rascal! What are you doing?!"

In the interlude of the second verse,
Gu Qing was perhaps infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere at the scene, or perhaps she was reminded of Brother Chao's "shenanigans" in livening up the atmosphere at the Spring Festival Gala in the future.
He felt he couldn't "lose" either.

So he made a bold decision—he naturally walked to the "pastry shop" by the stage and picked up a plate of rather tempting-looking "flower cakes" from the prop table.
And then... he actually walked off the stage step by step!
He continued singing as he walked along the edge of the stage:

"On the stage across the street, a romantic song is being sung, but as time passes and circumstances change, the song ends and the lovers' mutual affection fades away."

Who can hear the lingering, melodious tune and sigh that fleeting time should be cherished...?

Gu Qing was aware of the situation and didn't dare to disturb the potentially special guests in the front row of the audience. His target was the hosts on the side stage.

however,
To his utter surprise, his departure from the stage immediately ignited the enthusiasm of the audience!
"We want it too!"

"Give me one!"

"Brother, I want some pastries! Look here!"

A burst of enthusiastic cheers and requests erupted from the audience, especially from families with young children, whose shouts were particularly energetic and sincere.

They were really craving those delicious-looking pastries!

With the help of beautiful singing and stage effects, the props and pastries seemed to be endowed with magical power, making them look incredibly tempting.

Even the usually dignified and elegant Dong Qing showed a surprised and delighted expression when she saw Gu Qing carrying a plate towards the host area, and took a small piece of pastry.

She smiled gently at the camera and Gu Qing, then took a small bite and savored it.

This scene made viewers in front of their televisions hungry and envious.

Gu Qing then distributed a piece to Kang Hui, Xiao Ni, and the others standing next to her.

Faced with the increasingly enthusiastic audience and countless outstretched hands, he was no longer intimidated.

With a warm smile on her face, she simply carried the plate into the audience, found a few children who were shouting the loudest, and carefully handed the pastries to their little hands.

"Waaaaah... I want some too! Wow—!"

But there were only a limited number of pastries on the plate, and a little girl who hadn't received any watched as the last piece was taken by the boy next to her.

She paused for two seconds, her little mouth twitched, and tears instantly streamed down her face as she burst into loud sobs, which her parents couldn't soothe no matter how they tried.

Gu Qing was momentarily flustered. He quickly knelt down, gently stroked the little girl's hair, then turned and hurried back to the stage.

Then, a new plate of pastries was brought out from the "shop" and distributed to the children who were eagerly watching but hadn't received theirs yet.

This scene, filled with unexpected childlike innocence and interactivity, amused the entire audience.

Especially the little girl who had just been crying loudly immediately stopped crying when she saw Gu Qing return with the new plates.
Sobbing and hiccuping, she stretched out her little hand and looked longingly at the handsome and gentle older brother.

Gu Qing smiled and placed a piece of pastry in her palm. Seeing how cute she was, he opened his arms and gave her a gentle hug.

Unexpectedly, the little girl stopped crying and started laughing. She hugged his neck and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, leaving a glistening drool mark.

"Hahaha--"

The entire audience erupted in even more enthusiastic and joyful laughter, bringing the atmosphere to a small climax.

The parents nearby found it both funny and a little embarrassing, and quickly took their child back.

Unexpectedly, the little girl, who had just been satisfied, started crying again because she was no longer in the arms of her "handsome older brother".

The song drew to a close amidst this charming little interlude, and Gu Qing, amidst good-natured laughter, with a touch of "panic" and embarrassment, quickly "escaped" back to the center of the stage.

"The golden hairpin accidentally slipped into my arms, making her blush and look at me..."

With a slightly helpless yet amused expression,
Gu Qing finished singing the last line, bringing her performance to a surprising yet incredibly heartwarming close.

"it is good!!!"

"awesome!!!"

"Pah, pah, pah—!"

The audience responded with the most enthusiastic, longest, and most sincere applause and cheers of the night.

The applause was the most enthusiastic it had been in recent years for the Spring Festival Gala!

Who would have thought that what would bring the gala to its climax tonight wouldn't be the comedy sketches that are traditionally strong points of the Spring Festival Gala, nor would it be any grand narrative songs?
Instead, it was a new Chinese-style song brought by a young person, full of childlike fun and a sense of everyday life, and that unexpected, heartwarming interaction full of everyday life.

After the performance, Gu Qing will have a brief interview and a chance to send her blessings to the audience, as scheduled.

This can be considered a special favor and recognition from the Spring Festival Gala production team.

"Thank you so much, Gu Qing, for bringing us such a beautiful, cheerful, and healing song, 'Small Town Ballad'!"

Nigmat, who was in charge of the interview, walked forward with a smile. He held a microphone in one hand and the pastry that Gu Qing had just given him in the other, and he seemed a little at a loss for what to do.

Seeing this, Gu Qing naturally reached out, seemingly wanting to help Xiao Ni hold the microphone so he could eat more easily.

Xiao Ni felt relieved and gratefully smiled as she handed the pastries to Gu Qing, thinking he was going to help her hold them.

did not expect,
Gu Qing took the pastry and very naturally put it directly into her mouth.

"Eh eh eh?!"

Nigmat's eyes widened immediately, and he made an extremely exaggerated, incredulous "shock" expression at the camera.
Pretending to panic, she exclaimed, "This...this was for me! Why did you eat it yourself?!"

"Little Nicholas,"

Gu Qing chewed the bulging pastry in her mouth with difficulty, using her hand to slightly shield it from the crumbs, her voice a little muffled, "I saw you holding it in your hand for a long time without eating it, and I thought you weren't hungry."

This impromptu "quick joke" and Gu Qing's stuffed-up appearance once again amused the entire audience.

Especially older viewers watching on TV felt that this kid had no airs of a big star, was genuine and lively, and was particularly likable.

"I just didn't have time to eat!"

Xiao Ni had a "crying" face, his expression both aggrieved and funny, instantly maximizing the variety show effect.

"It's alright, it's alright, I'll get you another one!"

With a smile in her eyes, Gu Qing turned around and took the last plate of pastries from the stage, not forgetting to take the opportunity to give the camera a quick plug.
"Dear viewers, these are the four famous local specialties of our Huizhou region: sesame seed cake, baked cake, 'cunjin' (a type of pastry), and boiled white slices."
It's said to have originated during the Northern Song Dynasty, and it tastes delicious. Everyone is welcome to try it if they have the chance!

"Just saying it's delicious isn't enough! We need to try it ourselves to know if it really is!"

"Exactly! It only counts if you eat it!"

Enthusiastic audience members cheered loudly, making the atmosphere even more lively.

"Alright alright."

Gu Qing wore a reluctant expression as she and Xiao Ni distributed the last few pieces of pastry on the plate to several audience members in the front row who had been reaching out their hands.

However, the timing of the Spring Festival Gala is extremely strict, and not a single second can be off.

Xiao Ni quickly received a prompt from the director through the in-ear monitor and hurriedly led Gu Qing back to the center of the stage to say a few words of blessing.

Gu Qing stood still, facing the camera, with a warm smile and a sincere and clear tone: "This song, 'Small Town Ballad,' is also a New Year's gift I wrote for my hometown and all those who miss their hometown."

As the new year approaches, I wish all viewers across the country a prosperous and auspicious Year of the Rooster!

Wishing all children healthy growth and carefree happiness! Wishing all grandparents good health, longevity, and endless smiles!

After offering his blessings, he smiled and waved goodbye in all directions. Under the still enthusiastic and reluctant gazes of the audience, his figure slowly disappeared at the stage's rising platform.

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(End of this chapter)