Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 374 Central Bank's Forwarding of Educational Requests Leads to Uncontrolled Outbreak (6k)
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The following day at noon, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the heavy curtains, casting a narrow strip of light onto the carpet in the hotel room.

Gu Qing rubbed her sleepy eyes and slowly sat up in bed, feeling a little dizzy.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door, and Zhao Ya and Xiao Jun walked in carrying several exquisite insulated food containers, immediately filling the room with the aroma of food.

"Boss, did you stay up all night?"

Zhao Ya immediately noticed the faint dark circles under Gu Qing's eyes and his obvious signs of sleep deprivation, which surprised her.

In her memory, her boss always had a regular schedule, so this was a rare occurrence.

"Um,"

Gu Qing yawned, his voice hoarse from just waking up, "Xiao Erduo was in a bad mood last night. Her new drama flopped, so I played some games with her to cheer her up."

As he spoke, he walked to the dining table, sat down, and opened the food box, which contained a pre-prepared nutritious meal.

He first scooped a spoonful of the light vegetable and tofu soup and put it in his mouth, trying to awaken his taste buds.

Is it "Operation Proposal"?

Zhao Ya suddenly realized that she had seen related news in the scraps of the trending topics. "I've seen a few clips, and indeed... well, the response has been rather lukewarm. The chemistry between the male and female leads doesn't seem to be strong enough."

At this point, she couldn't help but chuckle, with a hint of pride from a CP fan, "I still feel that it's not as good as my Xu Yi and Li Er, those are the real white moonlight!"

"I can't even shut your mouth when I eat."

Gu Qing picked up her chopsticks in an annoyed tone and gently tapped Zhao Ya's head.

Seeing this, Xiao Jun, who had been silently eating and focused on his meal, grinned sheepishly, then quickly lowered his head again to continue following his cousin's rule of "eating without interrupting."

Zhao Ya shrank back, ate a few mouthfuls of food, and then got back into work mode, reporting seriously, "Boss, the person in charge of the Kuaishou short video platform contacted me again yesterday."
They officially extended an invitation to join, offering 30 million yuan a year and promising to use the platform's resources to help promote the "Detective Chinatown" movie.

As one of the most influential celebrities in the entertainment industry today, Gu Qing's influence among young people is undeniable.

Kuaishou platform naturally wants to leverage his fame and influence to further enhance its image and status in the mainstream.

after all,

After Gu Qing joined and posted videos, the popularity of a previously unknown website rapidly increased among young users, approaching the top three in the industry.
Second only to blogs and Kuaishou itself.

Such a demonstration effect is enough to make other platforms envious.

"Thirty million a year? That's quite a sum."

Gu Qing raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, propped her cheek up with one hand, and continued chewing the bland vegetables. "Tell me, are there any additional conditions?"

He doesn't believe in free lunches.

"Boss, you're so smart. You guessed the key point right away. Their conditions are indeed quite demanding, and a bit..."

Zhao Ya wrinkled her nose, her tone filled with dissatisfaction, "That's a bit too disrespectful!"

"First, they have a strict rule that you must post one short video every week, and at least five pieces of content related to yourself every month."

That wasn't enough; they even set specific metrics for the number of likes and views for each video!

They said if the requirements aren't met for several consecutive months, the registration fee will be delayed, and might even be reduced proportionally!

Zhao Ya became increasingly angry as she spoke, and her little face puffed up.

"Are they treating me like a streamer who's signed a KPI contract?"

Gu Qing was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this.

These restrictive terms are far more stringent than the conditions when Principal Wang invited him to join Panda TV.

"Boss, there's something even worse!"

Zhao Ya continued to complain, "They require you to cooperate with the platform's promotional activities and participate in at least a few large-scale events organized by the platform within a year."

In addition, once you join Kuaishou, your daily materials, work highlights, etc. must be published on the Kuaishou platform first to ensure that they can get first-hand information.

What's most frustrating is that they specifically emphasized they didn't want you to get too close to Bilibili, clearly stating that the two companies are competitors.

Having been by Gu Qing's side for a long time, Zhao Ya had witnessed the polite attitude of various platforms towards top celebrities. The arrogant "charity" attitude of Kuaishou made Zhao Ya very uncomfortable.

Kuaishou platform, with its first-mover advantage and deep roots in lower-tier cities and among students, has cultivated a large number of original internet celebrities and indeed made a fortune, with the confidence of "a princess who doesn't have to worry about marriage".

They needed Gu Qing's fame to elevate the platform's image, but their attitude was one of condescending arrogance.

According to Kuaishou, it is already unrivaled in the short video field. Although Bilibili is gaining momentum, its community culture and registration mechanism have set up barriers, resulting in a relatively niche user base that does not pose a fatal threat.

“It’s not like you can’t cut ties with Abi’s poor buddies.”

Gu Qing shook her head. "With so few chips, who do you think you are?"

That's incredibly short-sighted.
No wonder Kuaishou was surpassed by a new platform in less than two years.

"Reject it."

Gu Qing picked up a few glistening shrimp and put them in her mouth, her tone indifferent.

He himself had doubts about joining Kuaishou.

Unlike the rising Bilibili, and the "Adou" that is set to emerge next year and sweep the nation.
The reason why Chopsticks will gradually be alienated from more and more young viewers in the next few years is due to one fatal reason—its increasingly prominent "rustic" and "vulgar" labels.

Not to mention the negative content on the platform, such as the emotional disputes, vulgar hype, and even fights among young men and women trying to attract attention, which seriously harms the values ​​of teenagers;

The platform not only fails to strictly regulate those outrageous food broadcasts and self-harming performances that have no bottom line in pursuit of traffic, but also...

On the contrary, the algorithm-driven recommendation system alone is enough to deter many artists who value their image and reputation.

If this continues,

As the initial user base gradually grows, aesthetic fatigue and aversion to "rustic" content will drive them to Bilibili, which offers higher-quality content and a better atmosphere, and the upcoming Adou.

This is where Gu Qing's hesitation lies.

A celebrity's commercial value needs to be carefully maintained, while an idol's commercial value, in addition to maintenance, needs to cultivate a sense of "prestige" and "scarcity".

This "sophisticated" image is inseparable from endorsements of high-end brands, appearances on international red carpets, fashion magazine covers, and the public image of mingling and chatting amiably in "high society."

It aims to instill in fans a sense of superiority, making them feel that "the idol I support is superior to you."

If it becomes deeply intertwined with the Kuaishou platform, it risks being burdened by its reputation for being "rustic" and "vulgar."
He fears that his rivals and online trolls will seize on this opportunity to mock him daily as a "country bumpkin top influencer," dragging him down from his pedestal into the mire, which is something he absolutely cannot accept.

"Okay, boss! We don't need to suffer this humiliation. I'll go and refuse them right away!"

Zhao Ya immediately nodded happily, as if she had gotten rid of a hot potato.

"Jingle Bell--"

Just then, Gu Qing's phone, which was on the bedside table, rang.

"Walk."

Zhao Ya gave her cousin Xiao Jun a wink, and the two of them quickly and deftly cleared the table, cleaned up the lunchboxes, and then quietly left the room.

Gu Qing picked up her phone and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes when she saw the caller ID—"Brother Lu"?
Why would the director, with whom he hadn't been in much contact since filming "Brotherhood of Blades," suddenly contact him?
"Hey bro, what have you been up to lately?"

As soon as the call connected, Lu Yang's voice, thick with Beijing accent, came through, sounding familiar and warm.

"Brother Lu, I just finished eating. You're such a busy person, how come you have time to call me today?"

Gu Qing smiled and sat down on the chair by the window, relaxing her body. "How's the filming of 'Brotherhood of Blades II' going? I've been looking forward to it for a long time."

"Filming is finished! All the scenes were shot yesterday, and we're now in post-production!"

Lu Yang's voice was filled with undisguised smugness.

Can he be unhappy?

His directorial debut, "Brotherhood of Blades," grossed over 600 million yuan at the box office, receiving both critical acclaim and commercial success. It was even praised by CCTV and hailed as one of the best martial arts action films in recent years!

Lu Yang rose to fame overnight, firmly establishing himself as one of the most promising young directors in China.

The investment in "Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield," which is currently being filmed, has increased several times over, easily exceeding 100 million yuan!

Lu Yang was able to fully unleash his talents in costumes, props, sets, and special effects, pursuing the ultimate in realism and fidelity.

He was 100% confident that this second installment surpassed its predecessor in every aspect, from story tension and action design to overall quality!
Of course, the investors were still a little apprehensive, worried that without Gu Qing's golden reputation, the box office appeal would be greatly reduced.

Although Lu Yang regrets that they could not collaborate again, he firmly believes that what truly drives box office success is the quality of the director and the film itself, not a particular star.

Only after his repeated assurances did the investors reluctantly suppress their doubts.

"On the day the movie is released, Brother Lu, please remember to save me a good seat. I will definitely go and support you."

"Absolutely! Even if I have to sit on the floor, I'll save you the best chair!"

Lu Yang laughed heartily, "By the way, Fanzi has been talking about you a lot, he's been wanting to invite you to visit the set of his sci-fi movie."

"Director Guo Fan? I remember I even agreed to make a cameo appearance in one of his movies."

Gu Qing smiled, thinking to herself that Director Guo was reminding her not to forget their promise: "When Brother Lu's movie is released, we can have a proper get-together."

"Sure! I'll treat you then, we'll drink until we drop!" Lu Yang readily agreed.

That concludes the discussion.

Gu Qing thought the pleasantries were over and was about to say goodbye.

"Hey, bro, wait a minute, don't hang up yet!"

Lu Yang quickly called out to him, his tone suddenly becoming somewhat hesitant.

"What's wrong, Brother Lu? Is there something else?" Gu Qing asked, puzzled.

"Well...brother, to be honest, I'm actually here today as a mediator."

Lu Yang's voice carried a hint of embarrassment, "I heard you're planning to pursue further studies at a university? Have you considered coming to the Central Academy of Drama?"

He paused, then his tone became more serious: "My father, who is also my teacher, personally gave me the task of bringing you, this 'outstanding talent,' to the Central Academy of Drama."

Don't worry, once you're at the Central Academy of Drama, you're one of our own. From the teachers to the senior students, they're all insiders, so things will be easier for you!

Moreover, the teaching level of our Central Academy of Drama is recognized as top-notch in the industry, providing the most solid foundation!

Lu Yang began to speak at length about the advantages of the Central Academy of Drama.

"Brother Lu, you've misunderstood,"

Gu Qing chuckled and quickly explained, "Those are all rumors circulating online."

My career is on the rise right now, how could I possibly abandon everything to go back to school? The ultimate goal of going to school is to be able to make good films and become a good actor, isn't it?
Am I not already on my way?

"What if I actually go to school for three years and miss my prime development period? Then it'll be too late to regret it." "Oh, is that so?"

Lu Yang suddenly realized, "I knew it! It's really illogical for someone as successful as you to go to school."

Okay, I got it. We'll talk again later. Remember to come when the movie comes out!

Just as Gu Qing had hung up Lu Yang's call and was about to have some peace and quiet, there was another urgent knock on the door.

"Boss! Boss! Something terrible has happened!" Zhao Ya returned, her face filled with panic, her hands trembling slightly as she held her phone.

"What happened? Tell me slowly."

Gu Qing's heart tightened.

"So many...so many big directors! And their agents, they've all called me, saying they want to see you!!"

Zhao Ya, panting, pointed to her work phone, which was almost bursting with incoming call notifications.

As Gu Qing gradually separated his personal career from his agency, many external collaborations and private contacts began to be handled through Zhao Ya.

But to her utter surprise, in the short time that Gu Qing was on the phone, her phone had become a hotline, ringing almost nonstop!
What shocked her the most was that even the assistants of Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang called one after another!
The voice just fell,

"Jingle Bell--"

Zhao Ya's phone kept ringing again.

She quickly answered the phone, listened for a few words, and her expression became even more interesting: "Oh... okay, okay, my boss is dealing with urgent work right now, I will definitely report to him as soon as it's over."

After hanging up the phone, she looked at Gu Qing with disbelief in her eyes: "Boss, it was...it was Yang Mi's agent who called just now."

What...what terrible thing has happened?

"It's not necessarily a bad thing... but from a certain perspective, it might be considered a 'bad thing' for me."

Thinking back to Lu Yang's unusual phone call, Gu Qing had a vague guess in his mind, and this guess gave him a headache.

This is far too exaggerated.

Zhao Ya became increasingly confused, completely baffled.

"Jingle Bell--"

The phone rang again, like a death knell.

Zhao Ya answered the phone hastily, and after a moment, she put it down, her expression almost numb: "It's...it's Liu Tianxian's assistant..."

"Compile all these caller ID numbers and contact information and send them to me. I will call back personally."

Gu Qing felt a strange unease; the current situation had completely exceeded his expectations.
"Xiaoya, contact Xu Wei right now and tell him that the situation has changed and is much more complicated and serious than he expected! Have him prepare a well-written and firm statement refuting the rumors immediately, and send it to me as soon as it's drafted!"

"Okay! I'll go right away!"

Zhao Ya realized the seriousness of the situation, nodded quickly, and left hurriedly.

Gu Qing paced back and forth in the room, trying to calm himself down and organize his thoughts. Then he took a deep breath and began to call back the people on the list sent by Zhao Ya, one by one.

The first person to be dialed was Master Zhang.

"Hello, Director Zhang, this is Gu Qing. How can I help you?"

Gu Qing said with a hint of gratitude, "I also want to thank Director Zhang for his praise earlier, saying that my acting was passable."

"Oh...hehe, Gu Qing, there's no need to be modest, you are indeed very talented."

On the other end of the phone, Director Zhang's voice was calm, but without exchanging pleasantries, he went straight to the point: "Would you be interested in studying at our Beijing Film Academy?"
Students from Beijing Film Academy are the most united in the industry, and they have extensive resources and connections.

"If there's an opportunity in the future, we can discuss the script and collaborate."

Gu Qing sighed inwardly, "Just as I thought."

He could imagine that for Director Zhang, given his status and age, to personally call and invite a junior, there must have been some unavoidable personal favor or pressure behind it.

Even so, the other party did extend a very tempting olive branch—the possibility of future cooperation.

If it were an ordinary artist, they would probably have been tempted long ago.

"Director Zhang... I am very grateful for your high regard and kindness, I..."

Gu Qing braced herself, carefully choosing her words, and finally gave a tactful but firm rebuttal, stating that she currently had no plans to pursue further studies.

"Good, it's great that a young person has their own plans. Think it over carefully, the doors of Beijing Film Academy are always open for you."

Director Zhang, being a renowned director, possessed a broad mind and magnanimity. He didn't press the issue, exchanged a few polite words, and then hung up the phone.

However, the subsequent call back to director Feng Xiaogang was not so smooth.

When Gu Qing also indicated that she had no plans to go to school for the time being, an unpleasant snort came from the other end of the phone, and the call was immediately disconnected without a single polite word.

Gu Qing could almost picture Director Feng cursing and swearing on the other end of the phone.

After returning the calls to these two heavyweight directors, Gu Qing felt completely exhausted.

He rubbed his temples, dialed Tianxian's number, and said in a weak voice, "Hey, why are you here to join in the fun?"
"We're... not that close, are we?"

"Hey! You're really irritating!"

On the other end of the phone, Liu Tianxian's voice sounded much more lively than on screen, humming and chirping, "We've eaten together, chatted, and even received awards together. How can you say we're not close?"
I'm genuinely curious, with your personality, do you really think any girl would like you? I have my doubts!

She paused, her tone becoming playful, "By the way, I heard you're going to school? Are you coming to Beijing Film Academy? If you do, I can look after you!"

The thought of Gu Qing having to respectfully call her "senior" when they meet again makes Liu Tianxian feel inexplicably smug.

"hehe,"

Gu Qing chuckled dryly, "I definitely won't go to any school where you're located."

After saying that, he quickly hung up the phone without waiting for the other party's reaction.

Liu Tianxian: "!!!"

Facing the beeping phone,

Liu Tianxian found it hard to believe and couldn't accept it.

Is this person a little boy?!

Hang up on her!
It's her phone call!!

She's worked with so many artists since her debut, and every single one of them who sees her can't help but smile.

Liu Tianxian has never met anyone like Gu Qing.

This little brat must not have seen the TV dramas she's in!

……

Then,

Gu Qing dialed Da Mimi's number again.

As soon as the call connected, he didn't give the other person a chance to speak, and directly threw out seven words: "Honey, be good, stop messing around. Busy."

Then, with a "snap," the call was abruptly cut off.

On the other end of the phone,

Just as she had prepared her smile and words, Da Mimi heard the busy tone in her ear, her pretty face showing surprise, then she blushed, "Good girl?"

You brat, I haven't even gotten a chance to rub against you yet!!
……

Before Gu Qing could catch her breath, Zhao Ya's message came in like a bomb, a long list of new phone numbers and contacts.

Gu Qing clicked on it and everything went black.

The list is once again filled with a large number of actors and artists who have met briefly at various events and are graduates of the three major universities. The sheer number of them is astonishing.

among them,

The largest number of stars are graduates of the Beijing Film Academy who are currently active in the industry.

Even Huang Xiaochu and Huang Bo, who had a brief interaction with him on "Go Fighting!" and were somewhat acquainted with him, called him with a smile as "senior friends who had been through it all" and extended a "friendly" invitation.

By the time Gu Qing patiently returned all the calls from these colleagues, some familiar and some only half-familiar, the sky outside the window had already changed from bright afternoon to dusk.

His mouth was parched, so he grabbed the water glass on the table and drank the already cold water in one gulp, feeling as if his throat was on fire.

Having finally gotten a moment of free time, he immediately checked the message sent by Xu Wei.

"Brother Xu! Hurry! Is the statement ready? Send it out immediately!"

As soon as the call connected, Gu Qing's voice was hoarse as she urged urgently, "We can't delay any longer! If we delay another day, I'm afraid everyone in the entertainment industry with a college background will come to give me a pep talk!"

He simply couldn't imagine what would happen if things escalated further by tomorrow, and he had to come out and deny it, saying, "I was just kidding, bro."

How many people would that offend?
Will he be hanged?
"Boss, I'm sorry..."

On the other end of the phone, Xu Wei's voice was filled with bitterness and deep self-blame, "This time... it was my serious mistake and misjudgment."

I never expected things to develop this way, I never thought…

"what happened again?!"

Gu Qing's heart leaped into his throat, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

"It's the central bank..."

Xu Wei's voice was so dry he could barely speak. "Just an hour ago, the official social media account under CCTV... published a public post praising your attitude of 'pursuing progress and never forgetting to pursue further studies.'"

They said you... set a good example for young artists and are a model of 'positive energy idols'..."

Xu Wei paused for a moment, then continued in an almost collapsing tone, "And...our company...the company's official account not only reposted this blog post,

He also... liked the post and captioned it... saying he would fully support the personal development and pursuits of his artists..."

"Now...the entire internet...believes that it's a done deal that you're going to school."

Public opinion has completely swayed in this direction, and we...we seem to...have no way out..."

Xu Wei broke down.

Gu Qing: "..."

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(End of this chapter)