Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 366 Publicly Announcing Their Relationship? (6k)
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"Don't be shy about admitting it, tell me, what type of girl do you like?"

Sister Jin leaned forward slightly, a mischievous smile on her face that could be described as that of a "professional matchmaker," and tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "Tell me a secret, maybe I can even help you set up a match!"

"Sister Jin, I really didn't lie to you,"

Gu Qing felt a chill run down her spine and quickly pretended to be clueless, trying to get away with it. "The girl I've worked with... well, strictly speaking, I only know one. Her name is Zhang Zifeng, and she's a very cute little sister."

She played Si Nuo in "Detective Chinatown." Although young, her acting was superb; she's a very professional actress.

He steered the conversation toward work.

Although I had a feeling I would be asked about my love life, what media outlet would be so direct and intrusive as to ask me so many questions?

This is like dancing in a minefield.

"Alright, alright, stop advertising for me here!"

Sister Jin waved her hand impatiently, interrupting his evasive talk, and then offered an enticing offer.

"Okay, if you answer this question honestly and satisfy me, I'll give you all the remaining time to promote the movie. I keep my word!"
And when you're doing your roadshow, I'll be there to cheer you on if I have time!

This is a classic case of giving a slap on the wrist and then offering a sweet treat.

"Sister Jin, I really..."

Gu Qing tried to explain, "My work schedule is so packed that I don't even have time to check my phone. I really don't know what kind of rumors are circulating outside..."

He put on an act of "I know nothing" and resolutely refused to fall into the trap.

"So, you're playing the 'I don't know anything' game with me, huh?"

Sister Jin raised an eyebrow, clearly prepared. She suddenly bent down and actually pulled out a printed A4 sheet of paper from under the table. The paper unfolded with a rustling sound, quite impressive.

She cleared her throat twice and straightened her posture with an air of seriousness.
He even picked up his reading glasses from the table and put them on before raising his eyes and looking at Gu Qing with a half-smile.

She tapped the paper with her fingertip: "You won't tell, huh? No problem, if you don't tell, I'll just read them all aloud, okay? These names are all more interesting than the last..."

Seeing this, Gu Qing immediately raised her hand, making a tight "zipping" motion, then clasped her hands together.
He made a pleading expression at Sister Jin, which drew another burst of laughter from the audience.

"Here we go, first of all..."

Sister Jin glanced at the paper, deliberately drawing out her words, then clicked her tongue twice as if in self-condemnation, and shook her head, "No, this is too explosive, it has to be saved for last."

Her feigned indifference skill effectively piqued the curiosity and anticipation of the audience.

"Let's start with the young lady you've collaborated with the most and who's also the one with the most rumors: Zhao Liying."

Sister Jin pronounced the name slowly and deliberately, the last syllable rising in her voice with a clear hint of teasing. She looked up at Gu Qing, her gaze sharp, "So? Do you like Liying?"

Before Gu Qing could answer,

She immediately added "evidence," making it sound very convincing: "When Liying came to my show last time and mentioned you, her little smile was so sweet..."

They kept praising your dedication, your intelligence, and your great personality—it was like a confession of love!

"Impossible, Sister Jin, you're just bluffing me!"

Gu Qing shook her head vigorously, her face clearly showing her disbelief.

Based on his understanding of Sister Zhao,

Although she speaks faster than she thinks, her firm stance of not admitting to a relationship is almost unparalleled among celebrities.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have lost a large number of fans back then because of the splits incident.

"Come on! I knew you wouldn't believe me!"

With an expression of "I expected this," Sister Jin suddenly turned to the side, raised her arm high, and pointed to the large screen hanging above the studio. "Staff, please switch to the VCR! Let our top star Gu see it with his own eyes, see it for himself."

Gu Qing subconsciously raised her head and looked at the screen.

……

Screen switching,

Jump to a clip of Zhao Liying's previous appearance on the show "Jin Xing Xiu".

"Liying, now that we've finished talking about work, we'll have to ask you about your love life," Sister Jin's voice came from off-screen.

"Ah? No, Sister Jin..."

In the shot, Zhao Liying instantly transformed into her familiar "baby face," her eyes darting around, appearing somewhat guilty and timid, her hands unconsciously twisting together.

"How can I not want it? You're not getting any younger, you should start thinking about your marriage."

Jin Jie's offensive was as forceful and direct as ever: "Tell me, what specific requirements do you have for your future boyfriend? Maybe I can even help you find someone!"

"Of course, the most important thing is... he's handsome!"

Zhao Liying seemed to have thought of something and couldn't help but chuckle to herself, looking a little silly.

"What kind of handsome? Do you like the rugged type? The masculine type?" Sister Jin asked, guiding the conversation.

"No no no,"

Zhao Liying quickly shook her head, stretched out her slender fingers, and began to count them carefully, one by one, "I like pretty boys!"

And you have to be at least 1.8 meters tall!

As for one's demeanor... it can't be too aloof, that would create a sense of distance. It needs to be sunny, approachable, and make people feel comfortable just by looking at it...

"Hmm, it would be even more perfect if it also had a touch of scholarly refinement!"

"Oh, so this is your type!"

Jin Jie suddenly realized, and then asked bluntly, "So, do you accept an age difference?"

"I...I should be alright."

Zhao Liying's voice noticeably lowered.

"What about relationships where the woman is older than the man? Would you accept that?"

"……accept."

She gave her answer almost in a daze.

"It's settled! I've got someone in mind!"

Off-screen, Sister Jin clapped her hands, her voice filled with the excitement of "it's done."

"Who is it?" Zhao Liying looked up and blinked curiously.

"That Gu Qing you worked with! That young man is so great! Doesn't he meet all the requirements perfectly?"

A classic pretty boy, with a bright and sunny smile, a gentle and clean demeanor, and a touch of scholarly air…

"Sister Jin, I..."

In the video, Zhao Liying's pretty face instantly turned red, her eyes were flustered, her mouth was open as if she was eager to explain something, and she became restless.

however,
The video stopped "just in time" at this crucial moment, and the screen went dark.

"Hey, hey, stop reading! That's it! Want to know what happens next? Go home and find the full version online!"

Sister Jin stretched out her palm and waved it in front of Gu Qing's eyes, a smug smile on her face. "How about it? Now the evidence is conclusive, right?"

"Come on, tell me, what are your feelings for Liying? Do you like her?"

"Sister Liying, she..."

Gu Qing subconsciously pursed his lips. He paused, seemingly carefully choosing his words, "Sister Liying is a... very good person."

She...she's very energetic, incredibly hardworking, has excellent acting skills, and...she's definitely very beautiful.

He spoke slower than usual, and even stumbled slightly.

"Hahaha! My little brother is stuttering! He's panicking!!"

"Something's fishy! Something's definitely fishy!"

"Gu Qing's reaction is a bit off! She's usually so quick to answer questions! So sweet! I'm shipping them!!"

The audience was in an uproar, with everyone beaming with excitement at having "gotten some big news," their lips curling into wide smiles.

"What's the use of just saying someone is good? Boys should be straightforward! Whether you like someone or not, what's there to be afraid to admit!"

Sister Jin, always eager for drama, kept fanning the flames, practically wanting to personally force him to admit it.

"Uh... of course I like it!"

Gu Qing felt like an ant on a hot pan, almost cooked through.

"You see, Sister Liying has so many fans who like her, which in itself shows that she has many outstanding qualities that make her worthy of everyone's love."

So... so I am also one of the many 'fireflies'.

Even though she knew this wasn't the answer she most wanted to hear, Sister Jin still smiled exceptionally brightly.

She looked Gu Qing up and down with an extremely amused and all-knowing gaze, and said slowly, "You and Liying... really do have perfect chemistry."

"what?"

Gu Qing's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition rose within her.

But before he could ask what this "tacit understanding" meant,
Sister Jin quickly changed the subject, as if it had just been a casual remark: "Alright, alright, that concludes Liying's segment. Let's move on to the next female guest."

Her gaze swept over the A4 paper in her hand, and she read out the next name: "What do you think of... Liu Shishi?"

"Sister Jin,"

Gu Qing couldn't help but interrupt her, her tone unusually serious, "They're not tools, why do I have to comment on them one by one? Asking them one by one like this is very disrespectful to them."

He sat up straight, his expression serious:
“Every actor I’ve worked with, regardless of gender, is outstanding, and I’ve learned a lot from them.”

I genuinely like and respect each and every one of them. They have all given me invaluable guidance and support on my acting journey, and they are my very grateful seniors and friends.

"..."

Seeing his suddenly serious expression, Sister Jin paused for a moment, then decided to stop while she was ahead and nodded readily, "Okay, it was Sister Jin who didn't think things through and asked the wrong question. What you said is very good; you respect women very much."

"No, it's not a matter of gender,"

Gu Qing shook her head and earnestly corrected, "I respect everyone who is genuinely good to me and deserves my respect, and this has nothing to do with gender."

"Okay, you're right. I was being narrow-minded. I can't always make you critique them like you're choosing concubines."

Sister Jin readily accepted good advice.

Gu Qinggang was about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that this difficult time was finally over.

But did not expect,

Jin Jie's next offensive followed, with questions more directly targeting him: "Let's not talk about others, let's talk about your personal relationship issues. What exactly is your ideal type?"

Gu Qing: "..."

He felt speechless for a moment.

Seeing that Gu Qing was silent again, Sister Jin assumed he was embarrassed, so she began to list things on her own initiative.
Trying to "broaden his thinking": "Is it the cute and lively type like Li Ying? Or the gentle and dignified type like Shi Shi? Or the beautiful and exquisite type like Nazha? Or perhaps..."

"I like...people with sound values."

Despite the throbbing pain in her temples, Gu Qing gave an extremely "safe" yet crucial answer.

He knows all too well what an "idol" means.

For countless fans, idols are the perfect "partner" template in their imagination, objects of emotional projection and blind worship.

Moreover, he has such a large and diverse fan base.

Even a casual remark about a preference for a particular physical characteristic (such as body shape or face shape) could trigger unpredictable consequences.

There will definitely be some impulsive fans who actually go for plastic surgery, and a large number of fans will be heartbroken and leave the fandom because they feel they don't meet the requirements.

He must be extremely careful.

"Gone?"

Sister Jin widened her eyes slightly, clearly dissatisfied with this overly perfunctory answer.

"besides……"

Gu Qing tried to list some positive and uplifting words that guide inner qualities, such as "self-discipline, positivity, and the ability to show strength and optimism when facing difficulties and setbacks."
Don't cry all the time, don't be negative and complain, and reject low energy. I really admire and enjoy being around girls like that.

He hopes that by emphasizing these wonderful inner qualities, he can guide fans to focus more on their own growth rather than their outward appearance.

"So, how many girls have you dated who met these criteria?"

Upon hearing this, Sister Jin immediately seized the opportunity and launched a lightning-fast attack.

"I've never been in a relationship," Gu Qing replied quickly.

"impossible?!"

Sister Jin's tone instantly rose, her face clearly saying "You're kidding me." "You're so good-looking, from childhood to adulthood, wouldn't girls line up to throw themselves at you?"

Never even been in a relationship? Who would believe that!

Not only did Sister Jin not believe it, but the audience members below the stage also showed skeptical expressions, whispering among themselves, feeling that this was simply a hoax.

"I swear, I've never been in a relationship."

Gu Qing's tone was very certain; he was willing to guarantee that the original owner's knowledge was indeed blank.
"I went to South Korea alone to become a trainee when I was 14 years old. The management of the company there is very strict."

During daily training, male and female trainees are not even allowed to make eye contact; if a teacher discovers this, they will immediately be physically punished.

"Even if there is corporal punishment, when the hormones of puberty come, they will still secretly date, right? I don't believe that there isn't a single trainee in your company who is in a relationship."

Jin Jie expressed her doubts, saying that such high-pressure policies often backfire.

"Yes...it is true." Gu Qing had to admit it.

"Then why didn't you talk to her?" Sister Jin pressed.

"Because I have no money." Gu Qing shrugged, giving an incredibly realistic yet unexpected reason.

"No...no money?"

Jin was completely stunned; this answer was far beyond her expectations.

however,
Many male audience members instantly showed expressions of understanding and comprehension, and some even couldn't help but laugh out loud.

I totally empathize with that.

"yes,"

Gu Qing's expression was completely calm, showing no sign of shame.

"The cost of living in South Korea is very high. My family's financial situation is very average. I was able to become a trainee because I was spotted on a talent show when I was a child. I was able to go through the show with some sponsorship from the production team and the company."

With such intense training, I often don't get enough to eat and am always hungry. How could I possibly have the time or energy to think about dating?
At that time, I only had one thought in my mind: practice desperately, try to debut, then make money to buy lots and lots of delicious food to fill my stomach.

His description was calm and natural, yet it made the audience feel a pang of sadness and a deep sense of authenticity.

"But you're so beautiful,"

Jin still found it hard to understand, "I think there must be girls who would be willing to spend money on you, right?"

"I was young and naive back then, and I had a very strong sense of pride, so I couldn't accept it."

Gu Qing raised her hand and said with a smile, "But if it were now... I would definitely accept it!"

He deliberately spoke the second half of his sentence in a joking tone, which lightened the heaviness of the first half and drew a burst of laughter.

"Okay, I'll give you a good reason."

Sister Jin was amused by him, "And now? Now that you're rich and famous, why aren't you dating?"

"Sister Jin, I'm an idol now."

Gu Qing's expression turned somewhat helpless. He pointed to himself, his tone blunt and almost cruel.

"If an idol falls in love, wouldn't that be tantamount to career suicide? My fans... would never accept that."

“But I think you have a lot of talent for performing. You have a wide range of career options and there’s no need to limit yourself to the ‘idol’ category.”

Sister Jin offered her sincere advice.

Gu Qing shook his head. He raised his hand and gently ran his fingertips across his face. "With this face, no matter what I act in or what achievements I make, in many people's eyes, I am first and foremost an 'idol'."

But he then said seriously, "Moreover, I never think that being an 'idol' is a shameful thing."

An "idol" can transform into a "talented" actor through hard work and solid work, but a "talented" actor rarely returns to being an "idol."

Like my brother Chao, he debuted as an idol, but now who doesn't acknowledge him as a highly skilled and talented actor?

Worried that his words might be taken out of context, he added a sentence, citing Deng Chao as an example.

"That's true. Deng Chao is a good actor, and his transition has been very successful."

Jin nodded in agreement, but she quickly returned to her original point, "But you can't possibly never date, can you? That's not realistic."

"Of course not,"

Gu Qing laughed, "I don't want to be lonely in my old age, a lonely old man."

His smile became wistful, yet also carried a solemn promise: "I will date. But only if my achievements are strong enough to live up to the initial expectations and love of my fans."

When most of them are no longer attracted solely by their looks, but are instead loyal to their talent and character,

I will only consider personal feelings when my work becomes my strongest foundation.

"Do you hope to receive understanding and blessings from your fans by then?" Sister Jin pressed.

"No,"

Gu Qing's answer surprised everyone once again. He calmly said, "I will not go public with our relationship."

"Not going to announce the relationship?"

Jin Jie repeated it in astonishment, almost thinking she had misheard. In the entertainment industry, which advocates "honesty" and "sharing," this is simply an anomaly.

"Yes, why should it be made public?"

Gu Qing's counter-question seemed perfectly reasonable, even tinged with a hint of bewilderment: "Besides hurting, saddening, and even causing my true fans to leave after I go public with our relationship, what other meaning does it have?"

He looked at the audience, his eyes sincere and clear: "What they like is the packaged, perfect 'Gu Qing' on screen."

Some fans enjoy shipping me with various other people; that's their pleasure.

Some are my career fans, happy for every step I take;
There are also fans who are like mothers and older sisters, and they love me like family.
Of course... there are also 'girlfriend fans,' which is a very complex emotional projection.

I know all of this; I've read countless comments and messages from them.

His voice was soft, but carried a heavy sense of responsibility: "I will try my best to maintain this best image in their minds, and then repay them with better works."

My fans have spent so much money, effort, and emotion on me; they've brought me to where I am today.

It's not to see me put on a show of 'fighting the whole world for some girl.'

He paused, then his tone became more serious: "This may sound a bit cheesy, but for me, my fans are my bread and butter."

I can't eat this rice and then do something like smashing my rice bowl and cursing my mother.

"Gu Qing in private is my personal life, and I have the right to retain my privacy and my personal life."

But on screen, in the public eye, is 'Gu Qing'—"

It belongs to all members of the "Gu family".

I will not, and absolutely cannot, let them down.

……

The recording ended with a notification sound.

Gu Qing jumped up from the sofa almost instantly, let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if she had fought a tough battle, and her back was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

He quickly stepped forward, shook hands with Sister Jin, and said goodbye: "Sister Jin, your show was really terrible. Next time... I will never dare to come again!"

After saying that, ignoring Sister Jin's smiling attempts to persuade him to stay, he left the studio almost without looking back, with a hint of "fleeing in panic."

Hey! You little rascal! Why are you running so fast? I'm not going to eat you!

As Jin watched his retreating figure, she couldn't help but laugh and scold him.

She shook her head, turned around, and began to tidy up the scattered cue cards and documents on the table.

Suddenly, she stopped moving, slapped her forehead, and exclaimed with extreme annoyance, "Oh dear! How could I forget the most important thing!"

I haven't asked him about Yang Ying yet!

"This 'sibling couple' topic is a well-known 'traffic code' and 'taboo topic' in the Chinese entertainment industry!"

She sighed in regret, "If we had asked that out loud, the ratings would have been off the charts! Ugh, it's really... how could we let that kid get away like that!"

however,
At this moment, neither Gu Qing, who hurriedly "escaped," nor Sister Jin, who was filled with regret, had anticipated this.

Next week, after this episode of "Golden Show" officially airs...

The topic of "older sister-younger brother couple"
In yet another way they never expected, it suddenly appeared on the trending topics list, triggering a new wave of massive waves!

……

……

(End of this chapter)