Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 364 "The Jin Xing Show" (5k)
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Gu Qing was invited to participate in what is currently the most popular and talked-about talk show in China – "Jin Xing Xiu"!
This show is a household name, undoubtedly the ace of ace for Dongfang TV.

Since its premiere in 2015,
The show quickly rose to fame as a dark horse, and after two years of dedicated development, it has become a "phenomenal" program that spans three generations of viewers and has a huge influence.

Its success is inseparable from the unique personal charm of the show's core figure—the host, "Sister Jin".

First and foremost is her incredibly legendary life story: an outstanding dancer, a transgender person…

In addition, his seniority and high status in the industry give him almost the privilege of "speaking freely".

Her writing style is known for its sharp and incisive language, often employing direct and pointed expressions. When criticizing the lack of professional ethics among popular celebrities and satirizing the superficiality and fabrication in the entertainment industry, she is particularly adept at this approach.
She often creates vivid and ironic metaphors such as "PPT-style whitewashing," "nine-headed Photoshop expert," and "performance artist (ironic)."
It delivers precise critiques through witty humor, perfectly capturing the current audience's widespread aversion to the phenomenon of "young idols" and "traffic stars" who are unworthy of their positions.

What truly propelled "Jin Xingxiu" to the peak of public opinion and made viewers eagerly anticipate each episode were Jin Jie's exclusive revelations, which could be described as "nuclear bombs."

From top superstars to award-winning actors and actresses, there are many "dirts" that are taboo and little known within the entertainment industry.
She had revealed these things on the show in a half-joking, half-serious manner, sometimes with such sharpness that it was almost like pointing a finger at someone and questioning them directly.

Some of the more well-known incidents include: relentlessly criticizing the relationship between one of the "Four Heavenly Kings," Aaron Kwok, and Ms. Xiong, stating bluntly that he "used her and then dumped her," before marrying an internet celebrity;
The article playfully refers to Chen Long, who is known for being a "good father" and "hoping his son will succeed," as "Chen Long Wangzi" (meaning he frequently visits his son in prison) due to his son's imprisonment.
The article exposes the behavior of a successful movie star who "lived off his wife" in his early years and then cheated on and abandoned his wife after becoming famous.

They even sharply criticized a certain idol actress who wore a deep V-neck dress to an event but covered her chest the entire time: "Why wear it and then cover it up? What are you pretending to be innocent for? Why don't you cover it up when you're showing it to rich people?"

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Such sharp and incisive remarks have made this program a fearsome and venomous presence in the minds of many celebrities in the entertainment industry.

They were in a delicate situation of "both hating and fearing" each other.

Many people wish the show would be canceled immediately, but if they actually met Sister Jin on the street, they still had to smile and greet her warmly.

Most artists, even if they are extremely unwilling, dare not easily refuse the program invitations sent by Sister Jin.

Today, Sister Jin is almost revered as a "deity" especially among middle-aged and elderly audiences because of her outspoken and courageous image and her willingness to speak out for the people.

Some netizens joked, "If Jin Jie went to livestream and sell health products, she could probably easily become the richest person in Asia."

If she casually makes a few negative comments about an artist on a show, the resulting negative public opinion storm could leave the person involved "unable to clear their name even if they jump into the Yellow River."

"Jin Xingxiu" represents a huge and not to be underestimated market of "public appeal".

Therefore, many big names in the industry, even if they have to grit their teeth, will still smile as they complete this "ultimate challenge".

When it came to Gu Qing, it was no exception.

He hopes to use this show, which has a wide audience of casual viewers, to further boost the reputation of "Detective Chinatown".

However, the person who reacted most strongly upon learning that Gu Qing was going to participate in "Jin Xing Xiu" was actually his "Brother Chao"—Deng Chao!
"Take care, little brother!!"

On the other end of the phone, Deng Chao's voice was filled with the heavy advice of someone who had been through it all, "I can only tell you one thing, 'Jin Xing Xiu' has absolutely no script!"
All the questions were improvised by Sister Jin, so please be mentally prepared!

"No matter what she asks you later, no matter how tricky or embarrassing it is, you have to hold back!"
You absolutely mustn't lose your temper, understand? Do you hear me? Never! Never go against Teacher Jin!

"If you show even the slightest impatience or anger on the spot, countless rivals in the industry will be waiting for this opportunity to fan the flames, hoping to see you argue with her!"

Deng Chao was clearly worried that the hot-blooded Gu Qing wouldn't be able to handle Sister Jin's direct and incisive questioning style.

He kept nagging on the phone, wishing he could go there in person to oversee things.

He had recently experienced firsthand the power of Sister Jin's "sharp tongue".

If there's one sore spot on Old Deng, it's undoubtedly his long-buried past romance.

Normally, if any clueless reporter dares to mention this during an interview, he will definitely turn black on the spot, or even start cursing.

But Jin Jie deliberately went all out against him on the show, hitting his weak points with every question.

He started by asking with a smile, "How many girlfriends has Empress Sun been to you?"

Deng Chao was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. He managed to salvage the situation thanks to his high emotional intelligence, and replied, "The last one."

Before he could catch his breath, the topic suddenly jumped to last year's Golden Horse Awards: "You lost to Feng Xiaogang's 'Mr. Six' and didn't win Best Actor. How did you feel at the time?"

Jin Jie, always eager for drama, fanned the flames, saying, "A professional actor losing to a director who's crossed over from another field must be incredibly resentful, right?"

To know,
The conflict between Deng Chao and Feng Xiaogang goes beyond what happened at last year's Golden Horse Awards. It can be traced back to the movie "Assembly" in 2006, and the two have had a long-standing grudge.

Will Deng Chao accept this?

Of course he was dissatisfied, but how could he dare to openly oppose Feng Kuzi?
He could only act like a coward and admit defeat on the spot.

Finally, the conversation circled back to his ex-girlfriend who had starred in explicit films, pressing him about the specific reasons for their breakup...

The entire variety show recording,

Deng Chao felt like he had fought a high-intensity battle, and was exhausted both physically and mentally. His clothes were soaked with cold sweat, and it was even more tiring than recording more than a dozen episodes of "Running Man".

"Brother Chao, don't worry."

Sitting in the car on the way to the TV station, Gu Qing comforted the anxious Old Deng on the other end of the phone in a relaxed tone, "I'm not stupid, how could I dare to go against Teacher Jin?"

He's very self-aware. Sister Jin is a legendary figure, piled high with "buffs" (powerful abilities/status).

He's not a "Walmart shopping bag" or an "armed helicopter"; only a madman would want to confront her head-on.

Furthermore,

He had watched the show "Jin Xingxiu" quite a bit in his previous life, and he knew all too well the unique reputation of Sister Jin as "sharp-tongued yet fair" in the hearts of the general public.

Even though she later caused controversy due to some abstract behaviors, it did not shake her core supporters in the slightest.

"Okay, I'm relieved that you know what you're doing."

Upon hearing this, Deng Chao finally breathed a sigh of relief and then asked with concern, "Which city will the next movie promotion be in? I'll be there to support you and Chichi."

"In Ming City."

Gu Qing gave the name of a city, chatted with Deng Chao for a few more minutes, and then hung up the phone.

The plane landed smoothly, and the special car arranged by the organizers had been waiting for a long time.

"Let's go straight to the recording site. We have to catch a flight to the next city for the roadshow tonight."

Gu Qing said to the staff who came to pick her up at the airport.

"Okay, Teacher Gu," the staff member replied respectfully.

Gu Qing got into the car, rubbed his temples, and stretched his stiff limbs, his face showing undisguised fatigue.

From last year until now, for more than a year, he has hardly had any proper rest.

Especially after participating in the rehearsals and performances for two consecutive Spring Festival Galas, and then rushing to the promotional period for "Detective Chinatown," he was so busy that he barely had time to breathe, and his sleep time was almost entirely compressed into his commute.

Fortunately, he was young and in good health, had excellent sleep quality, and regularly practiced Tai Chi and Five Animal Frolics to maintain his physical fitness; otherwise, he probably would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.

More than an hour into the drive, the assistant gently woke Gu, who was in a light sleep.

After a short rest, he felt much better, and the vehicle had arrived at the Dongfang Satellite TV building.

Gu Qing was quite familiar with this place. He had worked with the TV station a lot during the filming of "The Mystic Nine," and he even remembered the faces of some of the staff.

Faced with the ever-present grand welcoming procession at the television station entrance, Gu Qing appeared increasingly at ease.

He smiled and politely responded to everyone's enthusiasm, shaking hands with those he could, and cleverly tilting his head back slightly to avoid overly intimate contact when hugs were unavoidable.

Having experienced many such situations, he naturally developed his own set of "experiences" for dealing with them.

Gu Qing gradually understood why so many actors who debuted with a "pretty boy" image often failed to achieve their full potential once they encountered a suitable opportunity to transform their image.

Even if it means risking everything, they'll still try, even if it means gaining weight, growing a beard, becoming unkempt and unkempt.

The reason is that when you are too good-looking, the attention and covetousness you receive (whether well-intentioned or malicious) will increase exponentially.

In the past, when social norms were more conservative, female celebrities probably faced more of these kinds of problems.

However, in today's increasingly open-minded society, male celebrities with outstanding looks seem to have fallen into a more difficult "dangerous situation".

"I have to rush to the roadshow right after recording the show, and I really don't have time to eat. I'll definitely do it next time, next time."

Gu Qing maintained an impeccable smile as she laboriously pulled her hand away from the enthusiastic group of executives, secretly resolving to wash her hands thoroughly when she got back.

Fortunately, no further complications arose, and Gu Qing was successfully led to the recording studio of "Jin Xing Xiu".

it's here,
He met the show's two core hosts: the charismatic Sister Jin and her partner Xiao Nan.

"Hello, Sister Jin." Gu Qing took the initiative to step forward and greeted her politely.

"Oh my, our handsome young man has arrived?"

Jin Jie is also a typical looks-obsessed person. When she saw Gu Qing, who was handsome and bright as the moon, her eyes lit up slightly. She smiled and stepped forward to give him a firm hug.

"My sister's pectoral muscles are a bit hard."

Gu Qing mentally complained.

"Hello, Teacher Xiao Nan. Your outfit..."

Gu Qing then turned to Xiao Nan beside her and noticed his clothes.

"Hello, Teacher Gu! Hello, Teacher Gu! You can just call me Xiao Nan!"

The short-statured Xiao Nan was very polite. He had specially dressed in an outfit similar to Qin Feng's style in "Detective Chinatown," clearly having prepared carefully.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries,
Knowing that Gu Qing had a tight schedule, and not one to dawdle, Sister Jin promptly and decisively announced the start of the recording.

"They really didn't have a script at all..."

Watching Sister Jin already speaking eloquently in the center of the stage, improvising her warm-up and introductions to topics,
Gu Qing sat down on the sofa in the backstage rest area, listening to the commotion outside while quickly sorting out possible questions in her mind and devising appropriate responses.

The recording process of "Gold Show" is usually divided into three parts:

First, it was Jin Jie's solo performance, commenting on recent hot topics; then the guests came on stage and gave interviews; finally, there was a Q&A session open to the audience.

Before we knew it, Sister Jin had steered the conversation toward the main topic.

"The entertainment industry these days is something else!" she said in a loud voice, with her characteristic teasing tone. "Back in our day, the most popular male and female artists were called the 'Four Heavenly Kings' and the 'Four Heavenly Queens'."

A few years ago, the popular style was "Four Dan and Two Bing".

Now, the entertainment industry has come up with a new title: "The Four Top Celebrities!"

She turned to the audience and asked, "Do you all know?"

"Know!!!"

The young audience members sitting below the stage were extremely excited, shouting deafeningly.

"You know them all?" Sister Jin feigned surprise and continued to ask, "Then, among these four top celebrities, who do you think is the most popular right now?"

"Gu Qing! It has to be Gu Qing's younger brother!!"

"Lu Han!! Chris Wu!!"

Shouts rose and fell from the audience, the vast majority of them chanting Gu Qing's name.

A few spectators, eager for a good show, shouted the names of the other two.

As for Li Yifeng, who was once among them, he now seems to have completely disappeared.

"What a coincidence!"

Sister Jin clapped her hands and raised her voice, "Today's guest is none other than the most popular of these four top celebrities—Gu Qing!"

The voice has not fallen,

"Ah ah ah ah ah--!!"

The crowd erupted in screams and applause.

Amidst enthusiastic cheers, Gu Qing smiled, waved, and strode onto the stage. "Hello, Sister Jin! Hello, Xiao Nan!"

"Oh, the handsome young man is here?"

Sister Jin smiled and repeated her opening remarks, then stepped forward and hugged him again, saying, "You're really good-looking, no wonder you're so popular."

The familiar process is playing out once again.

After taking their seats, Sister Jin pointed to the two famous red sofas next to her: "Come on, pick one to sit on first."

This is a rather famous "metaphysical" tradition on the show "Golden Show." The sofa on the left symbolizes "marriage," and it's said that celebrities who have sat on this sofa...
Many of them announced their relationships or marriages shortly after the show aired;
The sofa on the right symbolizes "giving birth," and celebrities who have sat on it have an astonishingly high probability of soon becoming pregnant or having a new addition to their family.

The entertainment industry is superstitious, and quite a few big stars are willing to appear on shows just because of these two "mystical" sofas.

"One is about marriage, the other is about having a child. Gu Qing, which do you think is better?"

Sister Jin raised her eyebrows slightly, looking at him with great interest.

For many of the guests, this was indeed a somewhat delicate choice.

"Sister Jin,"

Gu Qing gave a perfectly measured helpless smile. "I feel like neither seat would be quite right for me."

"Oh? How so?" Sister Jin asked curiously.

"I'm not of legal marriage age yet, so I definitely can't get married. If I can't even get married, how am I supposed to have children?"

Gu Qing spread his hands and explained logically.

"Hahaha."

Sister Jin was amused by his answer and tapped him lightly with her cue card. "You little rascal, you've passed!"

A knowing laugh erupted from the audience.

Gu Qing ultimately chose to sit down on the sofa closest to her.

"Gu Qing, are you really only 20 years old?" Sister Jin asked.

"I just turned 21 after the New Year," Gu Qing replied obediently.

"That really is a little brother,"

Jin Jie nodded. "No wonder so many viewers and fans call you 'little brother'."

"It's not entirely due to age,"

Gu Qing patiently explained, "It's mainly because I participated in a program before, and Sister Qingxia called me that once on the show, and then everyone started calling me that too."

"So that's how it all started."

Sister Jin said she understood, and then sincerely praised, "But to be honest, for a boy like you, you are indeed handsome, with such delicate features."

She paused for a moment, then said, "I think he's even better looking than Leslie Cheung back in the day."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qing's eyes widened slightly in shock, and she was instantly wide awake.
"No, no, Sister Jin, please don't say that. My brother is a unique legend. Compared to him, I'm nothing."
I'm here today to promote the movie, not to get myself killed!

He knew that while his brother was alive, his reputation was mixed, but after his death...

Its status among fans and the public has become increasingly lofty, even being elevated to a divine status.

If he dares to accept this comparison openly, he will probably be drowned in the spittle of some extreme fans after the show airs.

"Look how scared you are."

Sister Jin was amused by his overly nervous reaction. "Sister Jin, I always tell the truth. If anyone's going to scold someone, it's me. Why would I scold you?"

She smiled and waved, then placed her hands on the cue card on the table and got to the point: "By the way, before you came today..."
Deng Chao specifically messaged me, repeatedly urging me to be careful what I said about you. What do you think about this?

"Brother Chao..."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qing immediately clasped her hands together and bowed towards the camera, saying, "Thank you so much!"

"But,"

Jin Jie changed the subject, revealing her signature mischievous smile, "Jin Jie, well, I just like to do things the opposite way."

She leaned forward slightly, smiled at Gu Qing, and posed her first pointed question:

"I'm sure you heard it yourself. Just now, many audience members said that you are the most popular one among the 'Four Top Celebrities' right now."

Gu Qing, do you think you are?

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(End of this chapter)