Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 356 The Aftereffects of the Spring Festival Gala (4.5k)
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"Clap clap clap-"

The thunderous applause seemed to lift the ceiling of the studio, mixed with excited screams and cheers.

"Teacher Gu Qing! That's amazing!!"

"Little brother—! This song is so good!!"

"Ahhh! This stage is so beautiful!"

As soon as Gu Qing stepped off the stage, before she even reached the backstage entrance, she was surrounded by a group of enthusiastic young artists, assistants, and staff.

Their faces were filled with genuine excitement, no different from the entranced expressions they had when watching from the audience.

Why is it said that red aura nourishes the body?

This is the most authentic and vivid portrayal.

Against the backdrop of a series of lukewarm, unimpressive, and even slightly awkward performances in the first half,
Gu Qing's performance, lasting only a few minutes, was like a clear and lively stream suddenly flowing into a pool of somewhat dull still water, instantly enlivening the atmosphere of the entire night.

On the grandest and most demanding stage, he delivered a near-perfect performance, making a spectacular debut and garnering the purest applause.

Gu Qing, already possessing a refined and handsome appearance with an ethereal air, seemed to be enveloped in an invisible radiance under the ultimate stage aura.
Her charm level has soared to a new height.

It's not hard to understand why these young masters and ladies flocked to it.

"Xiao Gu! You're too reckless!"

The Spring Festival Gala's chief director pushed his way through the crowd, his tone sounding like a complaint, but his mouth was practically stretched to his ears in a wide grin.

His eyes betrayed his relief and appreciation. "How many times had the process been rehearsed? You just changed it like that?"

He even went down on stage to interact with the audience? My heart nearly jumped out of my throat!

However, surveillance data doesn't lie.

Before and after Gu Qing appeared on stage, the viewership ratings plummeted, and the online real-time popularity index soared.

The top trending topics were quickly dominated by related terms such as "Gu Qing's Spring Festival Gala", "Small Town Ballad", and "Gu Qing's Interaction After Stepping Down from the Stage".

Although there were plenty of negative reviews online, such as "the only watchable/listenable program of this year's Spring Festival Gala," the director was secretly thankful.

Going back a few seasons, it was hard to find even such a "one and only" program.

"Director, I'm sorry. I got too into it and forgot myself. I'll definitely follow the procedure strictly next time."

Gu Qing was sincere and took the initiative to admit his mistake.

"Oh, I was just saying, I didn't mean to blame you."

Seeing this, the director immediately softened, patted him heavily on the shoulder, and said in a very encouraging tone, "Your performance was really good! The effect was excellent!"

Young people, it's good to have ideas! Next time... next time just give me a heads-up!

The performance ended.

Gu Qing's core task at the station tonight has come to a successful conclusion.

If his home were in Kyoto, he might be able to make it home in time for a hot New Year's Eve dinner, or even catch the midnight countdown.

Unfortunately, he is not yet able to buy property and settle down in the core area of ​​the capital.

"Gu! You're amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Zhang Ruoyun suddenly appeared, her face still flushed from the performance; the previous "tragic" atmosphere had long been replaced by excitement.

He lightly punched Gu Qing on the shoulder, his tone full of amazement and admiration, "You dare to go down from the stage to interact? Holy crap! You're really not afraid! My legs would cramp up if I talked to those big shots in the audience!"

"Look how cowardly you are!"

Gu Qing scoffed, deliberately mocking, "And you call yourself the dignified Lord Jing?"

"Even in this city of Beijing, there are different classes, you know?"

Zhang Ruoyun was both amused and exasperated. She stretched out her arm and hooked it around Gu Qing's neck, saying self-deprecatingly, "My buddy, I'm just a 'Third Master Wen' at best, all show and no substance!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he keenly sensed that the gazes cast around him were not quite right.

It was one thing for the girls to stare at him, but why were several men looking at him with...unfriendly eyes?
Startled, he quickly let go and asked cautiously, "Did...did it hurt you?"

"It's okay,"

Gu Qing chuckled and rubbed her neck. "I was just acting. Isn't your home right under the walls of the capital? Aren't you going home to reunite with your family after the performance?"

"Hey! Dude, I was just worried you'd be all alone here, unfamiliar with the place, and looking all lonely and miserable, right?"

Zhang Ruoyun winked and said, "I came here especially to offer my love and warm your heart."

But before he could finish speaking, a fragrant breeze wafted over him.

"Little brother~ let's go eat! We've already made a reservation!"

Liu Tao's gentle voice rang out.

"Come on, come on! We've been waiting for you!" Jiang Xin greeted him directly with a bright smile.

Several actresses, each with their own unique charm, gathered around with smiles and laughter, instantly making Gu Qing the center of attention.

"Fine, forget I said anything."

Zhang Ruoyun froze instantly, her expression crumbling, and she murmured, "Shouldn't I be the one feeling lonely..."

"Little brother, let's go to karaoke after dinner! You have to sing it for us a few more times, this song is so soothing, we haven't had enough!"

Jiang Xin has a cheerful personality. When she got close, she almost habitually hugged and rubbed Gu Qing, clearly smitten. Their intimacy drew envy from those around them.

She genuinely admired Gu Qing's performance tonight.

My younger brother is really something!
"The song is well-written, and the performance is also excellent."

Liu Tao's voice was much gentler; her lips parted slightly, and her elegant and beautiful face shimmered with a soft, watery glow.

She finally couldn't resist and raised her slender hand to gently tidy up a stray strand of hair on Gu's forehead, her movements natural yet carrying a subtle tenderness.

This young man's stage presence and his clean and pure aura offstage are incredibly alluring to women.

While watching the show from the audience just now,
The two young actresses beside her, Yang Zi and Qiao Xin, watched with their mouths slightly open, their eyes wide open, completely absorbed in the story.

Liu Tao could hardly believe that after tonight, with the unparalleled exposure platform of the Spring Festival Gala, the positive word-of-mouth surrounding Gu Qing's performance would continue to grow.
Just how many female celebrities and fans will she "bewitch" both inside and outside the entertainment industry?

The sheer amount of attention Gu Qing was about to receive was astonishing to her.

"Thank you, Sister Xin and Sister Tao. I'm afraid we shouldn't eat here..."

Gu Qing looked embarrassed and said apologetically, "Uncle Long specifically told me beforehand that I must attend his dinner party after his performance."

"Huh? Where are you going..."

Jiang Xinxin is straightforward and almost blurted it out.

"younger brother!"

Liu Tao reacted quickly, gently nudged Jiang Xin, and took over the conversation, his tone gentle yet carrying a hint of seriousness, "It's a good thing that your older brother values ​​you. The fact that he took you to his dinner party shows that he thinks highly of you."

In those situations... well, remember to observe more, listen more, and speak less. If someone makes a joke or tries to get you to drink, just go along with it and try to be tactful. Never start an argument on the spot.

In our circle, sometimes saving face is more important than substance…

She gave a few more detailed instructions on what to pay attention to at the dinner party, then pulled Jiang Xin, who seemed to want to say something more, and said goodbye to Gu Qing with a smile before leaving.

"Xiao Gu, shall I... leave too?"

Watching the goddesses' departing figures, Zhang Ruoyun felt somewhat lost and prepared to say goodbye.

"Don't go,"

Gu Qing grabbed him and said, "Come with me later."

"I?……"

Zhang Ruoyun felt a little weak for a moment, shaking her head vigorously. "How could someone like me, a nobody, be qualified to go to a gathering of big shots like that? Don't cause trouble for you and the big shots." "Don't underestimate me, don't treat Master Wen like dirt,"

Gu Qing patted his shoulder with a smile, "You're someone who grew up in the Beijing circle, what's wrong with going out for a meal?"
"I'll say hello to Uncle Long, no problem."

"I...I think I'll pass..."

Although Zhang Ruoyun verbally refused, the longing and excitement in her eyes were almost overflowing.

He knew all too well what a dinner party of this caliber meant; even just getting acquainted with a big shot could bring immeasurable opportunities.

"Fine, then you can go back to your residence and live out your days alone."

Gu Qing made a move to push him away.

"No, no, no! Ouch!"

Zhang Ruoyun's expression instantly changed. She plastered a fawning smile on her face and fawned over Gu Qing, massaging his shoulders. "Brother Gu! Master Gu! Please take me with you! Please take me to see the world! Please!"

"Why didn't you just be honest from the beginning?"

Gu Qing gave him a disgruntled look.

quickly,

After Brother Chen Long finished his grand finale performance, Gu Qing took Zhang Ruoyun, the "little burden," to find him.

"Ruoyun? What are you doing here, kid?"

"Hey! Not bad, when did you become friends with Gu Qingcheng? You're something else!"

"Not bad, not bad. Young people should make more good friends. Maybe I'll find a suitable notebook sometime and you two can work on it together?"

As they walked along, many industry veterans and investors recognized Zhang Ruoyun's familiar face.

Especially after learning that he had a close relationship with Gu Qing, who was the most popular person that night, his attitude became even warmer, and his teasing also carried a hint of support.

Even the way he looked at Gu Qing had become more intimate and acknowledging, as if she were someone his child's friend.

The dinner afterwards,

With Chen Long, a powerful figure, overseeing the process, and Gu Qing herself gaining prestige and respect through her stunning performance at the Spring Festival Gala, the whole process went quite smoothly.

Gu Qing's demeanor was impeccable; he respected his seniors while retaining the vigor of youth, earning him a thick stack of business cards and much sincere praise.

These resources may not be immediately converted into actual benefits, but at least they pave the way and reduce potential future obstacles. If there is cooperation in the future, it will surely be twice as effective with half the effort.

Zhang Ruoyun was completely at ease. Knowing this was a rare opportunity, he behaved exceptionally cleverly and sensibly at the dinner table, offering toasts with a smile, his attitude humble yet humorous.

He was flushed from drinking and left a good impression on the bigwigs, who added him on WeChat several times.

Just as the atmosphere at the dinner party was getting warmer and the laughter was constant, online discussions about Gu Qing's performance at the Spring Festival Gala began to really take off explosively.

Many young people did not actually watch the Spring Festival Gala live; they either went out in groups of three or five to celebrate the New Year or met up at internet cafes to play games together.

Impressions of the Spring Festival Gala often lag behind by a day, gleaned from trending topics on social media, news feeds, or summary videos from trusted content creators.

then,

The following evening, a well-known Bilibili content creator with millions of followers, known for his sharp critiques of the Spring Festival Gala, released a video offering a scathing analysis of the event.

The video title was extremely impactful, and it quickly rose to the top of the trending charts upon release.

"The Spring Festival Gala? A complete and utter deception! Aside from Gu Qing, it's pure torture!"

At the beginning of the video, the uploader makes exaggerated expressions and speaks very fast: "Friends! This year's Spring Festival Gala is like a beautifully wrapped chocolate..."
You take a bite with high hopes—only to find it's still the dissertation defense inside! (Beep—)

"I simply can't imagine! This year's Spring Festival Gala! If it hadn't had Gu Qing's precious five minutes, what a huge psychological trauma it would have caused to the audience across the country!"

"What? This year's Spring Festival Gala was terrible? I saw Gu Qing trending on social media and thought his reputation had turned around?"

"Brother, only Gu Qing managed to pull off a comeback! The other shows... well, it's a long story!"

"So true! My mom almost fell asleep while watching the scene in front of her, and she didn't look up until Gu Qing came out!"

"+1, my family too, Gu Qing saved our family atmosphere!"

The comments section was also buzzing with discussion.

As the content creator brought up and criticized each of the previous episodes, the comments section was filled with "hahaha" and "awkward" remarks.

When the video switched to Gu Qing's performance, the style changed abruptly, and the barrage of comments was instantly flooded with phrases like "heavenly voice," "saving my ears," and "eye-cleansing," creating a striking comedic contrast.

The video's views exceeded one million in just two or three hours, and the number of likes, coins, and favorites skyrocketed.

Then,

Countless content creators in the吐槽 (tu cao, meaning to criticize or ridicule) and entertainment sections followed suit, and in a short time,吐槽 videos about the Spring Festival Gala exploded.

Regardless of the video's theme, whenever the Spring Festival Gala is mentioned, Gu Qing's performance is invariably referred to as "the only highlight of this year's Gala" and "the pinnacle of what makes it stand out," and is repeatedly mentioned, compared, and praised.

His stage performances and song clips were widely shared and disseminated across various platforms.

The massive influx of traffic had an immediate and noticeable effect.

Originally a relatively niche song in another time and space, "Small Town Ballad" swept the charts of major music platforms overnight, debuting at the top of the new song chart, the hot song chart, and the popularity index chart.

The number of views, comments, and shares all broke the platform's historical records, truly achieving "going viral".

The influence brought about by Gu Qing is only just beginning to show its power.

"It's a hit! It's sold out completely! All inventory is gone!"

"Quickly! Contact all contract manufacturers! Work overtime! Three shifts!"

"Give the experienced chefs a raise! Triple it! No! Five times it at least! We must guarantee the taste and quality!"

Factory owners of Anhui Province's specialty "Four Cakes" were overjoyed at the sales figures, their phones ringing off the hook.

They couldn't wait to carve a longevity tablet for Gu Qing and enshrine it.

The brief product placement during the Spring Festival Gala broadcast, lasting only a dozen seconds, triggered a nationwide buying frenzy, leading to complete stockouts!

The leaders of Anhui Province were overjoyed.

Seeing the hometown promotional song I've been longing for presented on the Spring Festival Gala stage in such a perfect way,
Especially when I heard Gu Qing's clear and sincere words, "This is for the folks in my hometown."
That sense of pride and satisfaction was like drinking an ice-cold spring on a sweltering summer day – incredibly refreshing!
Tourism websites, official WeChat accounts, and short video accounts across Anhui Province responded swiftly and launched a full-scale campaign.

By editing Gu Qing's "Small Town Ballad" together with the beautiful scenery of Hui-style ancient towns, Huangshan cloud sea, and southern Anhui landscape, a series of promotional campaigns were launched.

The results were extremely significant. Inquiries and bookings on major travel platforms, especially during the Spring Festival, surged instantly, and reservation slots for some popular scenic spots were quickly sold out.

however,
Just as the people of Huizhou were celebrating, a powerful "competitor" suddenly appeared out of nowhere—

"The true essence of Jiangnan lies in Jiangsu and Zhejiang! Although the scenery of Huizhou is beautiful, it still lacks a certain something!"

"The imagery of 'willow leaves, small boats, and stone bridges' and 'misty rain' in Gu Qing's lyrics is clearly a true reflection of the scenery of my Jiangnan region!"

"Welcome tourists from all over the country to experience the authentic charm of Jiangnan!"

How could the official cultural and tourism accounts in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions miss out on this sudden surge in traffic?

They quickly followed suit, using Gu Qing's singing voice paired with stunning scenery of West Lake, Wuzhen, and Suzhou gardens filmed by Guan Hang to create a large number of exquisite videos.

With a stronger economic foundation and a more mature publicity network, its voice even overshadowed that of Huizhou for a time.

"Shameless! These bastards!"

"This is outrageous! This is clearly an attempt to ride the wave of popularity and steal business!"

When the leaders of Anhui Province saw this, they were both angry and amused, and they all "rebuked" it.

A fierce online battle has begun, centered around the debate over whether Gu Qing's lyrics represent the "authentic Jiangnan style" or the "attribution of the song's imagery."

Netizens from both sides also joined the fray, making it quite a lively scene.

This unexpected episode actually boosted the popularity of Gu Qinghe's "Small Town Ballad" to a new level, making it the first phenomenal cultural hotspot of the year.

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(End of this chapter)