Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 363 Parents: I'm reporting this! (5.3k)
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After the premiere of "Detective Chinatown"
The film's outstanding performance sent all the media present into a state of excited excitement.

Reporters jostled each other, holding microphones almost shoving them in the faces of the cast and crew. Flashbulbs popped and rang out, illuminating everyone's smiles with exceptional clarity.

"Baoqiang! Baoqiang, look this way!"

A loud-voiced male reporter successfully caught Wang Baoqiang's attention. "How was your experience working with Gu Qing this time? Also, with the movie a huge success, what's the first thing you want to do right now?"

Wang Baoqiang, with his usual honest and simple smile, reached out and patted Gu Qing's shoulder twice.

"Nothing's different!"

He spoke in a loud, clear voice with a distinctive accent, “I’ve known Xiao Gu since we were on Running Man. He’s always been like this – serious, reliable, and a good younger brother!”

Wang Baoqiang paused, as if suddenly remembering something important, his eyes widened, and he shouted at the camera, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "As for what I want most? Of course, it's that I hope Sicheng will pay our salaries as soon as possible!"
I still owe Xiao Gu three million!

I can't sleep soundly until this money is returned!

"three million?!"

This number exploded like a bombshell among the reporters. Everyone was stunned, and after a brief silence, an uproar erupted.
Countless microphones were thrust forward urgently, and questions rained down like a machine gun: "Baoqiang, why do you owe so much money?"

"Is it payment for the film or television work? Or is it a private loan?"

Could you elaborate?

Gu Qing, who was standing to the side, was clearly not expected that Wang Baoqiang would suddenly self-destruct, and his expression changed slightly.

He turned his head to the side, lowered his head slightly, covered his mouth with his hand, and lowered his voice: "Brother Baoqiang, why are you saying this... I'm really not in a hurry."

Wang Baoqiang did not immediately answer the reporters' questions, but instead patted Gu Qing's back twice with his thick palm, a gesture of reassurance.

He knew exactly what was going on.

Wang Baoqiang was aware of the escalating conflict between Gu Qing and Chris Wu, and he also knew that he didn't have any powerful financial backers.
As a purely grassroots actor, there's very little he can do to help his younger brother.

The only help he can offer is the audience appeal and public goodwill he has accumulated over the years.

In his own way, he exposed Gu Qing's character and kindness to the public, winning him more public support and recognition.

then,

Wang Baoqiang's smile faded slightly, and his tone became sincere, even somewhat heavy.

He recounted his helplessness and confusion during the darkest moment of his life last year, and his relationship with Gu Qing and Chen Sicheng—one a good younger brother, the other a good brother.
She recounted exactly how she unhesitatingly extended a helping hand during his most difficult time, providing him with not only financial support but also emotional support and care.

He said emotionally that having such a friend during his most difficult time was the greatest fortune of his life.

The reporters listened with shining eyes, their nostrils flaring slightly with excitement, and their pens flew across their notebooks as they jotted down notes—big news!

This is absolutely big news that will ignite social media!
The fans who had not yet dispersed were deeply moved by this heartfelt expression.

They felt sorry for the hardships Wang Baoqiang had endured, and were also moved by the deep brotherhood between them. It's unclear who started it.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic and sustained applause, interspersed with shouts of encouragement: "Baoqiang! Keep going! We'll always support you!"

the other side,
Chen Sicheng was also busy:

"In my eyes, Xiao Gu is absolutely an extremely outstanding actor!"

Chen Sicheng spoke with certainty and did not hold back his praise, saying, "I know there is a trend online now where many people instinctively feel disgusted when they see labels like 'young heartthrob' or 'traffic star,' believing that the quality of a movie will decline if they are involved."

He raised his voice a few decibels: "But I think Xiao Gu is not in this category at all!"
When he was on set, his serious attitude towards acting was so admirable that I admired him.

When he encounters something he doesn't understand, he humbly seeks guidance and squats in front of the monitor to watch the playback repeatedly.

Some shots, which I thought were already perfect, he would still have higher standards for himself and would proactively ask, "Director, I feel the emotion wasn't quite there just now, could we do another take?"

This kind of dedication is something many seasoned actors may not possess.

Chen Sicheng practically raved about Gu Qing.

Xiao Yang and Tong Liya, who were standing nearby, also joined the "praise group" with smiles.

Xiao Yang joked, "Yeah, and my brother has an amazing memory, he never has to worry about his lines, which puts a lot of pressure on us!"

Tong Liya added gently, "He's also the life of the party on set. Every day is especially joyful when he's around."

Under this offensive, the premiere seemed to have turned into Gu Qing's exclusive awards ceremony.

Hearing these exaggerated praises,
Gu Qing herself was already embarrassed and held her forehead with her hand.

A burst of good-natured laughter immediately erupted from the audience.

During the Q&A session, an excited fan grabbed the microphone and shouted, "Director Chen! You've been keeping us in suspense, saying that Gu Qing and Qin Feng have one incredibly amazing thing in common..."

They've kept this from us for so long! Now that the movie's out, surely they can reveal the answer, right?

Upon hearing this, Chen Sicheng smiled and spread his hands: "I've already revealed that in the movie, haven't I?"

"You've already revealed it?"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then one of the moviegoers suddenly realized and exclaimed in surprise: "Could it be... the photographic memory that Qin Feng used when solving the case at the end of the movie?!"

"Holy crap! Really?!"

In an instant, everyone's eyes in the entire theater were focused on Gu Qing, like a spotlight.

Gu Qing, feeling somewhat uncomfortable under the intense gaze of the entire audience, gave a slightly shy smile:
"Uh... it wasn't as exaggerated as Qin Feng's performance in the movie."

Gu Qing carefully considered her words, afraid of hurting anyone, and added softly, "At most, I just have... a better memory than the average person, I'd say... a photographic memory?"

Everyone: "..."

I'll hurt you my ass!

Have a photographic memory?

At most?!

The crowd immediately erupted in a chorus of boos, a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

……

……

"What the hell? Gu Gou claims to have a photographic memory? Do they not even need to think before they start bragging these days?!"

"This is hilarious! It's the funniest joke of the year. How could he dare to do that?"

"Are movie marketing campaigns this over-the-top now? Do they really think we're fools?!"

The "Meigny" sisters, a large and imposing group, were just about to come to Gu Qing's blog to "bombard her with their criticism" and complete their team-building task.

Watching helplessly as the hashtag #GuQingPhotographicMemory# suddenly topped the trending searches, forcefully pushing #ChrisWuJourneyToTheWestTheDemonsStrikeBackFirstDayBoxOffice1.56Million# off the top spot,
I was so angry I was practically fuming; it was unbelievable.

"Uh...speaking of which, could Gu Gou really have this kind of talent?"

"I remember that he was really amazing in the 'Flying Flowers' game segment of the Chinese Poetry Competition. He recited more than 200 poems without stopping."

"Wasn't it already discovered that they used a teleprompter? It's all scripted!"

"Where did they dig up the evidence? I haven't seen any solid proof..."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I absolutely do not believe that Gu Gou has such an ability!"

"Whose photographic memory genius is trying to make it in the entertainment industry?! This is illogical!"

No wonder the "Megnis" were so devastated and broke down.

What does "photographic memory" mean? It's a superpower that allows you to dominate the entire show "The Brain" and be studied as a miracle of human cognition!

Gu Qing has no merit or ability; how could he possibly possess such talent?

What angered them the most was
After "photographic memories" topped the trending searches, countless positive entries about Gu Qing sprang up like mushrooms after rain:

#Wang Baoqiang lent me three million when I was in my most difficult time#
#Chen Sicheng's Gu Qing is not just a popular actor, but a talented one#
#Brother Chen Long praises Gu Qing for her talent and good looks and looks forward to collaborating with her#
……

"shameless!!"

"These people are just afraid of Gu Gou's crazy fans, so they only dare to say nice things to coax him!"

"How disgusting is that! Isn't my prince a talented actor?"

"What? Chen Long is involved too? Aren't he and Gu Gou competitors for the Spring Festival film season?! This world is surreal!"

The "Megnis" are absolutely furious.

So you think only your family knows how to brag?

They hurriedly ran to find the interview videos from the premiere of "Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back".
Eager to see how Stephen Chow and director Tsui Hark would praise their own brother, they tried to regain their composure.

A leaked clip from the scene,
A reporter asked, "Kris Wu, why do you think Stephen Chow and director Tsui Hark chose you to star in 'Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back'?"

With his signature cool and aloof expression, Kris Wu tilted his head and thought for a moment, then answered in what he thought was a humorous tone, "Because... I'm a good actor?"

After saying that, he himself was amused by the "joke" and laughed.

The most interesting part is the reaction shots of Stephen Chow and Tsui Hark.

The two bigwigs first exchanged a glance, their expressions indescribable.

Xu Ke was expressionless, wearing a deadpan expression, his eyes vacant, as if he were lost in thought. Stephen Chow, on the other hand, twitched the corners of his mouth and chuckled twice, saying in an extremely sarcastic tone, "The reason we invited Mr. Wu to act in this movie is, of course, for his popularity. He's a top-tier celebrity, you know."

"Oh!"

Table - HP1.

"Stephen Chow, you think you're funny?!"

The enraged Megan sisters are eager to confront their own director and producer.

But neither of them had a number.
They had no choice but to proceed with the original plan and charge at Gu Qing and Lu Han.

Three days before the movie's release
Major film critics typically don't publish sharp criticisms or in-depth reviews immediately.

Because the initial online environment was overwhelmed by various online trolls and fan emotions, it was difficult to make effective judgments.

Most people are taking a wait-and-see approach, watching the "Four Heavenly Kings" of the Spring Festival film season battle it out.

In the marketing battle these past few days, the one that has done the best and generated the most buzz is clearly "Detective Chinatown".

"Gu Qing is practically Qin Feng himself! It's an absolute natural performance!"

"Director Chen himself said that 'Detective Chinatown' is a love letter he wrote to Baoqiang and Gu Qing!"

"Highly recommended! The movie is really good! I laughed until my stomach hurt during the first half, and then I was sweating bullets during the second half. The mystery part was super serious, and the plot twists gave me goosebumps!"

"Yes, yes, yes! That little girl's smile at the end was absolutely amazing! It was incredible!"

On one hand, they were drawn in by Gu Qing's various amazing trending topics, and on the other hand, they were enthusiastically recommended by a large number of organic fans.
In addition, the high quality of "Detective Chinatown" made it the best film of the Spring Festival season, and its box office momentum soared all the way up:
1.48 million on the first day, 1.64 million on the second day, and a whopping 1.74 million on the third day!
Although its current total box office is still neck and neck with "Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back," which firmly holds the top spot thanks to the strong appeal of Stephen Chow and Tsui Hark.

However, as more reviews from real film critics and casual viewers began to surface, "Detective Chinatown" quietly climbed to the top of the screening schedule.

The off-site marketing campaign has not diminished at all.

The film's official account released a large amount of behind-the-scenes footage, but the video that generated the most buzz was a screen recording posted by Tong Liya on her personal blog.

The content shows Gu Qing on set, holding a guitar and singing Jay Chou's "Sunny Day".

In the screen,
Chen Chichi, Xiao Shenyang, Zhao Yingjun, Xiao Yang, and Chen Sicheng gathered together, chatting and singing happily.
Then they started egging Gu Qing on to "sing a song."

that's it,
The boy awkwardly held the guitar, his fingertips lightly brushing across the strings, producing a few clear, melodious test notes.

He lowered his eyes slightly, adjusted his posture, and the surrounding noise seemed to pause with this subtle movement.
The prelude flows out with the familiar and gentle melody of "Sunny Day".

"【The Little Yellow Flower of the Story,
I've been drifting since the year I was born.

Swinging on a swing in childhood

It's been swaying with my memories ever since.

The boy's clear voice, like spring water bathed in moonlight, flowed slowly, carrying a unique, comforting warmth and sweetness.

“【Re So So Si Do Si La，

So La Si Si Si Si La Si La So……]”

The humming wasn't loud, but it strangely pierced through the slightly hazy air of the summer night, like a cool evening breeze carrying the scent of grass, gently brushing against everyone's cheeks and soothing their hearts.

The sounds of quiet conversation and clinking glasses that had been taking place completely disappeared.

Everyone was listening to the song quietly.

The dim light cast a small shadow under his lowered eyelashes, highlighting the clean and soft lines of his profile. His figure, holding a guitar, was both upright and somewhat languid.

The serene and beautiful scene gently cleanses everyone's soul.

"Good job!!"

"Wow...I'm going to cry. It's like seeing Jay Chou when he was young."

"Who says my brother can only sing traditional Chinese songs? He's absolutely charismatic when he sings modern songs!"

"Even better than the original singer!!"

"This person is a hater of the Chris Wu family. Don't believe what she says. Gu Qing and Jay Chou are good friends. We don't compare ourselves to each other!!"

The comments section was buzzing with activity, with many Jay Chou fans even going to Gu Qing's blog to ask for the full version.

at the same time,

Jay Chou himself, who is currently resting at home, actually liked and shared this video, adding the caption: "Hey, you sang pretty well~ The movie is also great, everyone should go support it~ (PS: Can you come be a guest at my concert sometime?)"

"Wow—"

The superstar's personal endorsement and invitation were like pouring hot oil on the already popular "Detective Chinatown," completely igniting its popularity!

One week after its release,

The cumulative box office of "Detective Chinatown" has reached a staggering 6.79 million yuan!
This number instantly shook the entire film and television industry.

—It's worth noting that "Monster Hunt," which set a phenomenal box office record a couple of years ago, only grossed 6.68 million yuan in its opening week!
"Is 'Detective Chinatown' going to surpass 'Monster Hunt'?!" Industry insiders exclaimed in surprise.

however,
Just as "Detective Chinatown" was enjoying great success and making great strides, a "bomb prevention" battle against it quietly began.

Gu Qing was the first to be attacked.

"Exposing Gu Qing! On the surface, he's a young man with a traditional Chinese style, but in reality, he's a Western worshipper!"

"He actually wore a suit and played the piano at such a solemn occasion as the Spring Festival Gala for traditional opera? I don't need to say more about his background, do I?"

"It's disgusting! His outfit in 'Detective Chinatown' makes him look exactly like a Japanophile high school student! I'm no longer a fan!"

Countless marketing accounts and online trolls began to use the same rhetoric to stir up trouble.

The major companies in the industry, especially the investors behind the other blockbusters competing with "Detective Chinatown" during the Spring Festival season,
They simply cannot accept that a film from such a small workshop could suddenly rise to prominence and frantically devour the box office share that originally belonged to them.

Seeing their own films' box office growth slow down significantly, or even decline, due to the soaring reputation of "Detective Chinatown,"

They quickly joined forces and launched a fierce attack and fueled the flames.

Unfortunately,
They greatly underestimated the immense popularity Gu Qing had built up through numerous events and works.

"What? Gu Qingchong is a Westernizer? Am I seeing things?"

"If I remember correctly, this guy started out by wearing Hanfu and singing traditional Chinese songs, right?"

"It's obviously fake; the marketing copy from this account is way too obvious."

There was no need for fans to anxiously clarify things everywhere; many casual netizens spontaneously began to refute these rumors.

But what truly dealt the fatal blow was the fate of the central bank.

The official platform timely released a carefully edited clip of Gu Qing and Brother Chen Long discussing things backstage.

"Hahaha, that's hilarious! That was a slap in the face, quick and hard!"

"Isn't that being a Western worshipper? Mom would be the first to disagree!"

The "Gu family members" were finally able to hold their heads high, while the marketing accounts that had been jumping around earlier all slunk away, deleting their posts and leaving in defeat.

Director Chen Sicheng also seized the opportunity to promote the "shocking reaction" editing technique, which he had used during the preview screenings and which had a great effect, to the entire internet.

Videos of various viewers reacting with fright, screaming, and jumping up from their chairs when they saw the eerie smile at the end of "Snow" went viral.

"Holy crap? Is it that exciting? This girl is terrified? Isn't Detective Chinatown a comedy?"

"Wow, could it really be a masterpiece? No way, I have to go see it for myself!"

The allure of this "shocking" marketing is boundless, greatly stimulating the curiosity and herd mentality of passersby.

As a result, the box office of "Detective Chinatown" not only did not decline in the second week, but continued to rise against the trend, firmly securing its position as the box office leader during the Spring Festival!
On its tenth day of release, the box office has strongly surpassed the 1 billion yuan mark!

The "reeds" wilted, and the "Megnis" collectively became withdrawn.

Is "Detective Chinatown" truly about to become a legend?

"I disagree!!"

With public opinion and box office numbers spiraling out of control, the competitors finally unleashed their "ultimate weapon"—

The "parents" have been mobilized!

A group of people began to file a large-scale report against the TV series "Detective Chinatown" under the guise of "protecting teenagers".

"The film contains excessive content! It involves murder, perverse emotions, and terrifying scenes, which seriously affect the mental health of teenagers!"

"This is not a family-friendly movie at all! The advertising is misleading!"

"My child had nightmares after watching it! I demand it be taken down!"

"Why is there such a disgusting film in the Spring Festival film season?"

Immediately, a barrage of criticisms came at director Chen Sicheng and the content of the film "Detective Chinatown".

And at this delicate moment

To promote her film, Gu Qing was invited to participate in one of the most popular talk shows in China at the moment...

Facing the most feared "sharp tongue" among celebrities!
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(End of this chapter)