Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 379 Gu Qing Ran Away (8k)
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"Come on, let's start with you. Give a brief self-introduction so that the teacher and your new classmates can get to know you."

On the platform, Zhang Songwen composed himself, turned around, and wrote his name on the blackboard with chalk.

Then his gaze swept gently across the classroom, finally settling on a seemingly outgoing male student in the first row by the aisle.

Most of those who are able to get into the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy are naturally cheerful, outgoing, and not shy. They will be developing their careers in the film and television industry, which requires strong expressive abilities, so they will not feel shy or reserved in such situations.

"Okay, Teacher Zhang! Hello, students!"

The boy whose name was called stood up casually, tall and straight, with a sunny smile on his face and a loud voice, "My name is Xu Feng, Xu as in two people and Feng as in maple leaf."

I have a wide range of interests; I enjoy playing basketball and guitar, but my favorite is acting. I hope to grow together with everyone in the coming years and pursue our film dreams together!

In the last row of the classroom, in subtle contrast to the enthusiastic self-introductions at the front, were two quiet classmates sitting in the corner.

Hearing the introduction coming from ahead, Zhang Jingyi finally recovered slightly from the sudden "beauty attack" she had just experienced.

She realized that staring at someone was very impolite, so she quickly looked away, lowered her head, and almost buried her face in the collar of the large black down jacket, keeping her eyes on the book.

She was so nervous that her fingertips unconsciously twirled the edges of the brand-new acting theory textbook lying open on the table, crumpling the smooth paper into wrinkles.

"How will you be here?"

Gu Qing kept an eye on the new classmates introducing themselves, trying to remember their names and appearances. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked in a very low voice, barely moving her lips, in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"what?"

Zhang Jingyi thought she was hallucinating, and her heart skipped a beat.

She secretly and quickly raised her eyelids to glance at him, and her eyes met those extremely beautiful, clear eyes.

"We've been...discovered?"

Zhang Jingyi's mind went blank, with only this thought swirling wildly within her.

"It was...it was our boss...who sent me."

Under immense pressure, Zhang Jingyi almost instinctively and stammered out the culprit.
"She...she said she would try her best to arrange for us to sit together in the new semester..."

After saying these words, she didn't dare to look at Gu Qing again.

She had only just met him, yet she was already labeled as someone who "approached with ulterior motives." Although she wasn't the mastermind, as a beneficiary and executor, she still felt incredibly ashamed.

"Was it really arranged by Sister Binbin?"

Gu Qing silently counted a "six" in his mind, feeling admiration for this seemingly all-encompassing operational capability.

He was impressed that even details like his deskmate could be arranged so precisely.

He even began to suspect that the two male classmates who "just happened" to come over to help move the tables and chairs and "just happened" to put the tables and chairs next to Zhang Jingyi were also "plants" arranged in advance.
"Indeed, in the martial arts world, there are only wrong names, not wrong nicknames."

Gu Qing's lips moved slightly, her tone teasing, without the expected anger, "As expected of the legendary 'Four Dan and Two Bing', your boss has really gone to great lengths to promote you."

Last night, she specifically called me to tell me about you beforehand.

"Oh? Our boss...she called you too?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingyi's almond-shaped eyes widened in shock, her pretty face filled with astonishment.

Why didn't Sister Xun give her a heads-up?!
She thought it was just a matter of company-level resource allocation, but she never expected the boss to get involved personally.

"Yes,"

Gu Qing said, "She gave me a general overview of your situation. Otherwise, how would I have known that my new deskmate is actually the famous 'campus belle' of Beijing Film Academy?"

"Those are all press releases that the company paid for for publicity... I'm not as good-looking as they say."

Zhang Jingyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it turned out her boss had indeed had formal communication with that person.

It wasn't the kind of ruthless, unscrupulous advances she had imagined, which greatly eased her guilt.

But when she heard Gu Qing say the word "school beauty" herself, she still felt embarrassed, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she mustered up her courage to steal another glance at Gu Qing.
Then, embarrassed, she explained and apologized in a low voice: "I'm sorry... the boss mainly wanted to take advantage of the new semester's seating arrangement so that I could sit closer to you."
I'm just trying to get a little bit of your attention and popularity so I can show my face in public later... Doesn't that cause you trouble?

If you feel uncomfortable, after class, I... I'll find an excuse to move to another seat, okay?

Her voice trailed off, filled with obvious trepidation and sincere apology.

"No need to change it, it's okay."

Gu Qing shook her head, her tone calm, "I owe your boss a favor, so consider this a way of repaying it. Just sit here and relax."

Hearing Gu Qing's straightforward answer, Zhang Jingyi was momentarily at a loss, unsure how to respond in a way that would express her gratitude without seeming forced.

However, the next second,
Her gaze froze as she caught sight of flashing lights not far ahead. She froze, and her pretty face instantly turned bright red.

"Snap..."

The extremely faint shutter sound still seemed somewhat abrupt in the relatively quiet classroom.

Almost out of professional instinct and conditioned reflex, Gu Qing instantly turned his head and scanned the front with precise eyes.

as predicted.

The student's self-introduction on the podium seemed to have lost all attention; the eyes of over 90% of the students in the classroom were drawn as if by an invisible magnet.

All eyes involuntarily drifted towards the last row.

Many people couldn't resist secretly pointing their phone cameras at him, recording videos or taking photos, their faces showing an excited yet cautious expression.

Faced with this scene that could be described as "collective surreptitious filming,"

Gu Qing, who had already experienced countless battles, did not show any displeasure or embarrassment.

He paused for a moment, then a natural, bright, and sunny smile bloomed on his face.

He even cooperatively and generously raised his hand, pointing in the direction of several people who were obviously filming him, and made a peace sign, his movements smooth and friendly.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell perfectly on his refined profile, his long eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath his eyelids.

That smile that bloomed in that instant seemed to encapsulate all the beauty of youth, carrying an indescribable and highly impactful "pretty boy" aura that was incredibly captivating.

He didn't need to deliberately avoid talking to the person sitting next to him.

Since Li Binbin had already assured them that there would be no rumors or hype, the students could simply take the photos.

After the video was leaked, the other party's agency would naturally try to guide public opinion and control the narrative.

In such situations, the more open and composed you appear, the safer you are, and the less likely you are to trigger unnecessary speculation and rumors.

"Wow--!"

"Ahhh! He looked over here! He even gave a peace sign!"

Seeing that Gu Qing was not angry at all, but responded so kindly, the students who were "secretly taking pictures" were the ones who "lost control" first.

Some people quickly put down their phones in embarrassment, their faces flushed with the embarrassment of being caught; others covered their mouths in excitement and let out suppressed screams.
One girl was so excited that her hand trembled and her phone fell to the ground with a "thud".

The classroom, which had just begun to regain some order, was once again thrown into a small state of chaos and agitation.

"Students! Please put down your phones!"

Zhang Songwen had to speak up again to maintain order; his tone was both serious and deeply helpless.
“I hope this is the last time I see you using your phones to take pictures of others in class without permission. This not only disrupts the class but also disturbs others.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the "source" of the commotion and sighed: "And Gu Qing, could you please... put your mask back on and cover your face a little?"

Please be understanding and stop distracting the other students because of your "face," okay?

This humorous remark immediately drew a burst of good-natured, understanding laughter from the classroom, instantly easing the tense and awkward atmosphere.

"Okay, Teacher Zhang."

Gu Qing readily complied. Amidst the protests of her classmates, she took out the black mask from her down jacket pocket, put it back on deftly, leaving only her bright, smiling eyes visible.

"My name is Hu Yang. Hu is from the ancient Yue Hu, and Yang is from the poplar tree. My hobby is..."

The students' self-introductions continued under Zhang Songwen's guidance.

As time ticked by...
The commotion outside the classroom did not subside; on the contrary, it seemed to be escalating.

Many students who had quickly completed the registration process learned about Gu Qingzheng's status in the first-year experimental class through class groups, campus forums, or word of mouth, and they all flocked over with great enthusiasm, as if on a pilgrimage.

The windows of the left corridor were soon filled with curious and excited heads, a dark mass that even seemed a little eerie due to the sheer number of people.

"Clap clap-"

Some overly excited students couldn't help but bang on the windowpane, trying to get Gu Qing's attention in the classroom.

Gu Qing was somewhat glad that she was sitting in the innermost seat against the wall.

Because of the building's structure, their windows overlook a six- or seven-meter-high wall, making it virtually impossible for anyone to climb up and watch, except perhaps for geckos. It's a rare, quiet corner.

A loud "Boom!"

Hearing the sound of knocking on the window,
In Gu Qing's mind, Teacher Zhang Songwen had always been a very gentle and refined person.

Finally enraged by the continuous interference from outside the window, he turned ashen-faced, slammed his hand on the podium, turned abruptly, and flung open the classroom door.

"What are you doing?! Huh?!"
His booming voice instantly drowned out the noise outside the window, "What kind of behavior is this! Which class are you in? Who is your homeroom teacher? Who is your dean of students?!"

"Who was banging on the window just now? Step forward!"

"The Beijing Film Academy is a prestigious institution for nurturing future artists, not a place for you to come and chase after celebrities and act recklessly!!"

"Disperse! Immediately! Right now!"

"I'll count to three! If anyone is still here, I'll immediately contact your class teacher and department head to come and get them! One! Two...!"

Zhang Songwen's extremely stern rebuke was like a bucket of ice water in the dead of winter, instantly extinguishing the students' enthusiasm outside the window.

The students, who had been huddled together just moments before, scattered like startled birds, leaving the corridor much emptier in an instant.

Gu Qing's mouth unconsciously opened slightly under her mask as she looked at her usually gentle and refined teacher with some surprise at her outburst of anger.

At that moment, the undeniable authority and oppressive aura emanating from Zhang Songwen was indeed quite similar to the ruthless style he later displayed when eating fish as "Gao Qiqiang" in "The Storm," exuding a powerful presence.

“Gu…Gu Qing, classmate.”

The soft, hesitant female voice reached my ears again.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Gu Qing turned her head in confusion and looked at her deskmate, whose cheeks were still flushed.

"Um...would you like to sit here in the next class?"

Zhang Jingyi stretched out her slender finger and quietly pointed to her seat against the wall, "This seat is close to the wall and corner, so it's more secluded and relatively quiet."

I'll sit outside; I can... I can block your view a little.

"You'll shield me?"

Gu Qing found this amusing. "You look so thin and small, you probably can't stop me, can you?"

"I... I can fill out the down jacket!"

After several brief conversations, Zhang Jingyi consistently perceived Gu Qing as easygoing and kind.

Just like the approachable image of the boy next door he portrays on screen, my nervousness dissipated considerably, and I even became a little more lively.

As she spoke, she stretched out her slender arms, trying to support her already bulky black down jacket, attempting to prove her "size".

"Who knows, people might mistake me for you from a distance!"

Looking at Gu Qing's down jacket, Zhang Jingyi's tone became lighter, and she inexplicably felt a little excited, "Look, we're both wearing school uniforms."

"But you're a big star, I thought you'd come to school wearing expensive designer clothes, but I didn't expect you to be so...down-to-earth, coming in your school uniform."

She paused, looked around, and added in a low voice, "In the whole class, we're the only two wearing school uniforms."

"Uniforms?"

Gu Qing was taken aback for a moment, then subconsciously glanced down at the small but exquisite dragon embroidery on the collar of her down jacket.

Then she glanced again at the clearly visible Beijing Film Academy badge on the chest of Zhang Jingyi's down jacket. That down jacket of hers… it couldn't have been cheap, could it?
"Well then... thank you for your kindness."

Gu Qing naturally wouldn't point this out, but simply responded with a gentle smile and said, "Wearing clothes is important; staying warm and comfortable is the most important thing. The weather in the capital is too cold."

Moreover, clothes are meant to flatter people; it all depends on who's wearing them.

People as good-looking as us would look good in school uniforms.

"me…"

Zhang Jingyi's heart seemed to skip a beat.

"Bang—!"

The classroom door was slammed shut again, and Zhang Songwen returned to the podium, still seething with anger.

He forced down his anger, tried to soften his expression, and pointed to another student who was waiting to be introduced: "It's your turn, this student, please continue."

However, Teacher Zhang's attempt to calm down did not last long.

Within minutes, as if by magic, a new batch of students who had heard the news gradually gathered outside the classroom.

Whispers and footsteps approached again from afar.

"Ahhh! Look! Gu Qing! I see Gu Qing! He's in the last row, the one wearing the black down jacket!"

"Gu Qing, little brother! Hello! Look this way! I'm your fan!!"

"Clap clap-"

The annoying knocking on the window started again!
The students in the classroom wanted to laugh but dared not, and could only try their best to hold it in, looking at Zhang Songwen on the podium with strange expressions as his face visibly darkened.

The veins on Zhang Songwen's forehead throbbed uncontrollably, his breathing became heavy, and he even felt his vision blurring.

A deep sense of powerlessness and premonition welled up inside him—it seemed he could already foresee that as long as Gu Qing was there, every day...
What kind of chaotic scene will I face every time I teach this class in the future?

He took a deep breath, took another firm step, and walked towards the classroom door, ready to engage in a new round of "dispersal battle".

"The situation is getting a bit complicated."

Gu Qing watched the commotion outside the window, her brows furrowing slightly.

He turned his head and found that his deskmate was once again like a frightened bird, suddenly lowering his head and pretending to be engrossed in studying the performance textbook in front of him, but his bright red ear tips betrayed his thoughts.

It was as if this would prevent Gu Qing from guessing that she had been peeping.

Gu Qing felt it necessary to give her a friendly reminder about the upcoming arrangements, so she said, "After class, you can take me for a walk around the campus."

Don't walk too long, and don't go to any secluded places. I'm worried that too many people will gather, and things could get out of control and become dangerous. Please be careful."

"Oh...ah? O-okay!"

Zhang Jingyi subconsciously responded at first, then realized the meaning behind Gu Qing's words. Her almond-shaped eyes widened slightly, and she tilted her head blankly with a hint of confusion and surprise.

Her thick, black hair gently brushed against half of her face, which was burning hot from nervousness and shyness, as she moved.

Why does she feel... a little dizzy?
Gu Qing... took the initiative to invite me to show him around the campus?
What...what does this mean?
Is it out of politeness, or...?
An ordinary, freshman drama school girl, on her first day of school, is shocked to learn that the most popular male idol in the entertainment industry has become her classmate.

Then, incredibly, she became his deskmate, and now, this top idol has even offered to have her accompany him on a tour of the campus…

"Am I...am I some kind of chosen one?"

Even though she doesn't usually consider herself a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur), Zhang Jingyi couldn't help but secretly conjure up outrageous scenarios that only appear in romance novels or idol dramas.

Seeing that Zhang Jingyi didn't reply immediately and her eyes were somewhat unfocused, Gu Qing assumed that she was worried about not being able to explain herself to the company, or was afraid of causing trouble.
He further explained, "It's not that I'm unwilling to cooperate, but I'm mainly worried that if something unexpected happens, it could be very dangerous."

Don't worry, if your boss needs an explanation, I'll handle it.

We'll just walk around in crowded areas; people will definitely take videos and photos along the way, enough for your company to use as promotional material. It won't affect your marketing plans.

"Uh... Oh? Is that so..."

Zhang Jingyi understood.

Xun Jie had already discussed all of this with Gu Qing. She wanted Gu Qing to "cooperate" with her, go through the motions, and increase exposure and buzz as part of a business transaction.

Could this be just another publicity stunt in the entertainment industry?
Zhang Jingyi's heart was pounding.

At the same time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for my boss, Mr. Zhou.

For a top star like Gu Qing to agree to cooperate, even if it's just to repay a favor, the company must have paid a considerable price or used extremely deep connections.

The unrealistic fantasy and inexplicable joy that had just risen in my heart deflated instantly, like a balloon punctured by a needle.

Indeed, fairy tales are all lies.

In the real world, especially in the entertainment industry, there are no "chosen leading ladies" without a reason. More often, it's a carefully calculated exchange of interests and resources.

When Zhang Songwen finally dispersed the "monkey troop" and returned to the classroom exhausted and helpless, he had completely lost the will to have his classmates continue introducing themselves.

He was afraid that if he continued to introduce things like this, he wouldn't be able to do anything else during the class and would just have to "fight" at the door.

"Classmates, let's end our self-introduction session here for now."

Zhang Songwen rubbed his temples, his tone clearly weary, "We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other in class."

I will send the detailed class schedule to the class group later, please check your messages.

Tomorrow is Monday, remember to come to class on time, and don't let there be another scene like today... well, overly 'enthusiastic'.

After all,

He waved weakly in Gu Qing's direction, indicating that he would leave first, then picked up his lesson plan and left the classroom with slightly heavy steps.

No sooner had Zhang Songwen left than the students in the experimental class swarmed to the last row, completely surrounding Gu Qing and Zhang Jingyi's seats.

"Gu Dingliu! Gu Dingliu! Can I add you as a friend? I'll add you to our class group so we can keep in touch!"

"Gu Qing, I'm such a longtime fan! I've liked you ever since you debuted on Running Man! Could... could I get your contact information? I promise I won't bother you!"

"Brother Gu! It's already noon, are you hungry? How about I treat you to some food from our school cafeteria? The taste is so-so, but it's good for experiencing life!"

"You expect a top celebrity to eat cafeteria food? Is that even fair?!"

There's a newly opened private restaurant near the school gate. The ambiance is nice, and the food is delicious. My treat! Gu, would you do me the honor of coming along?

The students offered a barrage of invitations, their enthusiasm almost overwhelming.

"Excuse me, everyone, thank you for your kindness."

Gu Qing stood up, a polite smile on her face, and bowed slightly with her hands clasped together. "However, I already have an appointment for lunch today."

Next time, if there's a chance, I'll treat everyone to milk tea or something to eat, as a way of thanking you all for your hospitality today.

After he finished speaking, he looked at his deskmate and said, "Let's go."

"All right."

Zhang Jingyi felt the stunned and shocked looks from her classmates.

I felt the heat that had just subsided on my face surge back up with a "boom," and the burning sensation was extremely noticeable.

She frantically zipped her down jacket all the way up, then pulled the hood up over her head, almost covering half her face.
Then, with her head down, she quickly walked to Gu Qing's side and whispered, "Gu...Gu Qing, shall I take you to the Lakeside Library for a stroll?"

There's an artificial lake next to the library; it's quite beautiful and relatively quiet.

Several film crews used this location for location shooting last semester.

"Okay, please lead the way."

Gu Qing nodded.

then,

Under the watchful eyes of the entire class and amidst the quiet exclamations and camera flashes of the lingering fans outside the classroom, the two walked out of the classroom one after the other.

Watching the two of them walk away side by side, and the small commotion that erupted outside the classroom again because of Gu Qing's appearance,
The students who remained in the classroom looked at each other, their faces filled with bewilderment, disbelief, and a complex sense of bitterness.

"They... they've only known each other for a few minutes? Has it been more than ten minutes in total?"

"I...I can't accept this! Does being handsome really mean you can do whatever you want?"

"No, brother, you also need to add the two prerequisites of 'being famous' and 'being rich'."

"Let alone our school beauty Zhang... honestly, just for Gu Qing's face, even I, a guy, feel like... it might not be so bad to throw myself at him..."

"Get out! How disgusting! If you're so capable, go say it to their face!"

The male students were so envious and jealous that they almost wanted to beat their chests in despair, looking at the "goddess" school beauty they had pursued so diligently last semester, yet who remained unmoved.
In less than a class period, she seemed to have been "easily defeated" by this newly arrived top star, leaving her feeling an indescribable sense of frustration and bitterness.

The female students, who were already in a delicate competitive relationship, felt a mix of emotions.

A complex mix of emotions—jealousy, resentment, envy—was intertwined, making it difficult to describe in words.

With Gu Qing, the "eye of the storm," leaving, the once bustling and crowded classroom doorway and corridor seemed to have instantly lost all their vitality.

It quickly became deserted, creating a stark contrast.

However, in this sudden moment of silence—

"咚咚-"

There was a gentle knock on the classroom door.

A girl with flowing, smooth hair, dressed in youthful and beautiful clothes, and dressed very elegantly and appropriately, panting and with her face flushed, poked half her head in.

She had delicate features and a clean, refined air; she was clearly well-groomed.

"Jingyi? Why are you back so soon?"

"Holy crap, wait a minute, you... how come you changed your clothes and got a new hairstyle in the blink of an eye?"

"Where's Gu Dingliu? Didn't he come with you?"

The students were stunned when they saw the girl at the door who bore a resemblance to Zhang Jingyi but dressed completely differently. Their faces showed confusion.

"Uh... sorry."

The girl at the door brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her tone hesitant and uncertain, "Which one of you is Jingyi? I don't know her."

My name is Zhou Ye, and I am a sophomore majoring in performing arts.

Excuse me... is Senior Gu Qing in this class?

I had arranged to meet him today..."

Her voice was clear and crisp, with a hint of nervousness.

"My God! You're Senior Zhou Ye?!"

"I know you! That famous campus belle from the class of 16!"

"Wow! Senior, you look so much like Zhang Jingyi from our class! Some upperclassmen have joked that you look like twins!"
I thought it was an exaggeration, but when I compared the real people, there was a really strange resemblance!

"Gu Dingliu... he just left with Jingyi from our class, saying they went to the Lakeview Library for a 'date'."

The students offered their explanations in a jumbled fashion, their eyes darting back and forth between Zhou Ye and the seats Zhang Jingyi had just sat in, their faces filled with excitement and curiosity at having stumbled upon some juicy gossip.

"They...they left? Were they...on a date?"

Zhou Ye's delicate and pretty face was instantly filled with astonishment, and he was a little slow to process what was happening.

This is completely different from the mission instructions she received!

She quickly bowed apologetically to the students in the classroom: "Thank you, students, I'm sorry to have disturbed you."

Subsequently,

She quickly took two steps back, closed the classroom door, and hurried towards the lakeside library while frantically pulling out her phone. Filled with anxiety and frustration, she sent a message for help to her boss.
"Sister Binbin! Something's happened! Senior Gu Qing... he ran off with someone else!!"

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(End of this chapter)