Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 380 Off-Campus Turmoil (7k)
……

……

"Gu Qing, little brother! Gu Qing, little brother! It really is you!!"

"Ahhh—can I get your autograph? I'm going to cry, little brother, I really love you so much!"

"Gu Qing! My idol! It was because of watching your performance that I decided to study acting!"

"An autograph? I want one too! Gu Qing, look at me!!"

The two had barely walked a short distance out of the teaching building when, as if triggering some invisible switch,
Instantly, an excited crowd surged in from all directions like a surging tide, carrying immense enthusiasm, irrepressible excitement, and the emotion of seeing their idols, quickly surrounding Gu Qing and Zhang Jingyi in the center.

"Puff-"

Zhang Jingyi was disoriented by the sudden crowd and was pushed and shoved around against her will.

Her bulky black down jacket was deformed by the crowd and clung tightly to her body.

She felt like a lone boat on a stormy sea, about to be capsized and swallowed by the next wave.

At this moment, she finally truly understood the deeper meaning behind Gu Qing's words, "You need to be careful."

These people... are absolutely insane!

Their eyes seemed to be fixed solely on Gu Qing; their burning gazes and relentless pushing filled her with an unprecedented sense of panic.

"what--!"

The once spacious corridor instantly became extremely narrow as more and more people poured in.

The dense crowd of people not only restricted movement but also caused a suffocating feeling due to poor air circulation. Zhang Jingyi's pretty face turned pale, her breathing became rapid, and she stumbled, almost being pushed to the ground by the force surging from behind.

The suffocating pain and the fear of falling made her scream in panic.

however,
Her screams were so faint amidst the frenzied shouts and noise of the crowd that they were almost instantly drowned out.

More excited students rushed over after hearing the news, holding up their phones to film and record.

Seeing that the students in front of them had successfully gotten autographs, they pushed forward even more excitedly, completely ignoring the petite figure in the black down jacket who was almost squashed in the crowd.

Fortunately,

Gu Qing, who had just finished signing autographs for a student, caught a striking, swaying black figure out of the corner of his eye among the colorful clothes.

Almost reflexively, he reached out and grabbed Zhang Jingyi's down jacket sleeve tightly.

With a forceful pull, he dragged Zhang Jingyi, who was about to fall, from the dangerous crush to the relatively safer inner side of his body.

Then,

Gu Qing looked up at the students who had just received autographs and were still excited but had managed to stay rational, and pleaded earnestly and urgently, "Excuse me, could you please help me maintain order? This is too dangerous!"

"Okay! Gu Qing, we'll help you!"

"Students! Don't push! Don't push! Be careful!"

"Listen up, everyone! Step back a little! Be careful of stampedes!!"

After receiving the signatures, the students regained their composure and realized the chaos and potential danger at the scene.

They immediately responded to Gu Qing's call and spontaneously spread their arms to form a thin human wall around her.

There were also some student fans who genuinely loved Gu Qing and were clear-headed, shouting at the top of their lungs in the crowded throng, trying to calm the restless crowd.

Fortunately,
University students are generally of high quality, and once they break free from the blind herd mentality, they quickly realize the seriousness of the problem.

With the guidance of some classmates and Gu Qing, the chaotic scene, though still noisy, did not escalate further, preventing a more serious loss of control.

however,
Even this brief period of chaos was enough to make everyone, including the school administration, clearly realize the situation.

They had previously underestimated Gu Qing's terrifying influence and appeal among young people.

In the past, the Beijing Film Academy has had famous artists or child stars studying there, but never before has anyone caused such a large and enthusiastic spontaneous gathering on their first day of school.

"How are you? Are you okay?"

Taking advantage of the brief lull in the crowd as several classmates helped maintain order, Gu Qing immediately looked down at the still-shaken girl beside her, her tone filled with concern.

"No...it's okay."

Zhang Jingyi's ears were still ringing, filled with all sorts of noises, and her mind was still somewhat blank due to lack of oxygen and shock.

Her fair hand unconsciously touched her chest, her mouth slightly open, and she tried to breathe, calming her heart which was about to leap out of her throat.

"There are too many people here. Find a safe spot and wait for me to sign my name before I come back to you."

Gu Qing looked at her pale face and made a suggestion.

"No, no, no!"

Zhang Jingyi immediately shook her head, her voice still trembling, but her eyes were unusually firm, "It's more dangerous for you to stay here alone!"

Compared to what she had just experienced, she dared not imagine what terrible consequences would occur if her delicate and beautiful classmate fell in the chaos.

The thought of that scene sent chills down her spine.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, quickly surveyed her surroundings, and suggested, "Let's try to get downstairs first!"
The large atrium or plaza space downstairs makes it less likely to cause congestion.

With the help of several enthusiastic classmates, they managed to move with difficulty to a more open area outside the teaching building.

The fresh air and the no longer cramped space invigorated everyone.

"Classmates, please don't push, everyone please be careful! I'm a student at Beijing Film Academy, I can't run away, there will be many more opportunities to meet in the future."

Gu Qing took the paper and pens handed to her by her classmates and quickly signed her name on various books, notebooks, and even clothing tags.

While maintaining a relaxed tone, he tried to ease the excitement and tension of the atmosphere.

His signature movements were fluid and swift, clearly the result of years of practice.

Between the strokes of his brush, the unique font faintly carried the strokes of the Slender Gold style that he had admired and practiced in his previous life.

It is highly recognizable and stands out among the many signatures in the entertainment industry, possessing a unique aesthetic appeal.

Zhang Jingyi, along with several other volunteer classmates who offered to help, worked hard to maintain basic order around Gu Qing and guide those who came later to line up.

however,
Out of the corner of her eye, however, she couldn't help but glance at the figure who was focused on signing his name, and a strange sense of bewilderment and excitement welled up in her heart.

Observing a top-tier celebrity at the height of their popularity is a completely different experience from seeing them on screen or in news reports.

He seemed to possess a magical ability to stabilize the field; even in such a chaotic environment, his core remained calm and composed.

Even her already successful boss, Mr. Zhou, never seemed to have given her this feeling of being purely and passionately loved and surrounded by countless people.

He was faced with one excited student after another, who was so excited that he was incoherent and his face was flushed.

Gu Qing's face never betrayed the slightest impatience. Her lips maintained a perfectly curved, slightly upturned shape, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes seemed to hold glimmers of starlight.
It was a captured, gentle, and all-encompassing light, like the first rays of dawn.

The afternoon sun pierced through the gaps in his soft hair, casting flowing golden spots of light on his flawless, porcelain-white skin. It was so beautiful that even the wind seemed reluctant to disturb it, for fear of breaking this fleeting brilliance.

Strangely,

Those students who were screaming and out of control, once they stood close to him and met his calm gaze and warm smile,

They would unconsciously quiet down, blush, cover their mouths, and become shy and hesitant, only whispering their requests with utmost care.

just,

As Gu Qing's signatures increased, the number of students watching actually increased.

The news spread like wildfire across campus, and more and more people rushed over from the library, dormitories, and cafeteria.

Looking around, the number of people gathered has already exceeded one hundred, and it continues to increase.

This large-scale gathering of over a hundred people finally attracted the attention of the campus security department.

Upon receiving the report, the police station mobilized its entire force. The security guards were sweating profusely and rushed over at almost breakneck speed, thinking that a large-scale student brawl had broken out.

Even some passing teachers were attracted by the commotion and gathered around with furrowed brows.

"Scatter! Scatter, all of you!!"

"What are you all doing here?! What are you all doing here?!"

"Garlic Bird, Garlic Bird, everyone, don't be impulsive, let's talk things out."

The security guards' anxious shouts were like a savior descending, and the crowd instinctively parted to make way for them.

Seeing this, Gu Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief and took the opportunity to move her wrists, which were already a little sore.

"Teacher, we didn't fight! We just wanted autographs!" a student quickly explained to the teacher who had rushed over.

"You want an autograph?"

A male teacher who looked quite experienced walked into the center of the crowd with a dark face and a suspicious tone, "Who are you trying to fool? Do I look like someone who's easy to fool?"

Who at the Beijing Film Academy has such a big name that hundreds of people would surround them asking for autographs?!

His stern gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on Gu Qing, who was surrounded in the center, following the direction the students were pointing.

Gu Qing: "..."

teacher:"……"

The air seemed to fall silent for a moment.

Gu Qing silently put the pen she was signing back into her down jacket pocket.

"Take out the pen."

The teacher walked up to Gu Qing with a strange expression, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Teacher, I'm sorry, I..."

Gu Qing thought he was going to be criticized, so he silently took out his pen again, his attitude sincere.

But the next second,
The teacher grabbed the inside of his coat collar, his icy expression instantly melting into a kind and even expectant smile: "Come on, Gu Qing, it makes sense now that it's you."

"We at Beijing Film Academy have never accepted an artist of your caliber before. Could you please sign one for me? My daughter is a huge fan of yours, and I can use him to make her happy."

"Teacher! You cut in line!!"

"This isn't fair! We've been waiting in line for so long!"

Upon seeing this, the students in line immediately protested in unison, instantly turning the tense atmosphere into something somewhat comical.

"Nonsense!"

After receiving the autograph, the teacher contentedly straightened his coat, then put on a stern face.
He "scolded" the students who were still queuing up, "With so many of you gathered here, doesn't Gu Qing need to rest? Or doesn't she need to eat?!"

"It's the first day of registration for new students. Can't you act like upperclassmen and show some consideration and care for your juniors?"

He looked around and said in a more serious tone, "What kind of behavior is this, surrounding her like this! Gu Qing is shy, how could she possibly refuse you?!"

These words were so reasonable and persuasive that everyone felt a little embarrassed.

Only then did everyone notice that Gu Qing, despite being dressed in a thick down jacket in the cold winter, was still wearing a mask due to her continuous signing and responses.
Her bangs were damp with fine sweat, a few strands of hair stuck to her smooth forehead, and her face showed a hint of fatigue that was not easily noticeable.

"Gu Qing, we're so sorry, we just like you so much, we couldn't control ourselves..."

"Have you eaten? I know a really good food stall in the cafeteria, shall I treat you?"

"I'm so sorry, we'll disperse now..."

The students all looked ashamed and apologized in unison.

"It's okay, it's okay."

Gu Qing quickly waved her hand with a smile, her tone gentle and sincere, "I truly appreciate everyone's warmth and welcome, and I'm very touched. It's just..."

He looked at the still large crowd with a slight trouble in his eyes, "I do have some things to take care of later, so I probably won't be able to sign my name for every student here today."

Okay, I promise, if you see me on campus from now on, feel free to ask for my autograph anytime. As long as conditions allow, I'll definitely sign it! Okay?

"Really?! Thank you, Gu Qing!"

"Then you go ahead and get busy! We won't bother you anymore!"

"Goodbye, little brother Gu Qing! See you later!"

Although the students were still reluctant to part, they understood Gu Qing's sincere words and began to disperse on their own. Many of them turned back again and again to wave goodbye.

"Excuse me, student, please wait a moment. Your pen is still here."

Gu Qing called out to the girl who had initially brought him the paper and pen. "Oh, thank you!" The girl blushed and ran back to take the pen.

"I should be thanking you,"

Gu Qing sincerely thanked her and the other classmates who helped maintain order, saying, "Thank you all for helping me just now. You've worked hard."

These words of gratitude moved the students so much that they blushed and their hearts pounded. They waved their hands repeatedly, saying no thanks, before reluctantly saying goodbye and leaving.

The crowd finally dispersed completely, and the surrounding area returned to the tranquility that the campus should have.

Gu Qing let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if he had just finished a tough battle.

He turned around and looked at Zhang Jingyi, who had been standing quietly to the side and seemed a little lonely, and said with a hint of apology, "Zhou, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Let's go."

"Um...uh...Zhou?"

Zhang Jingyi's pretty face froze for a moment, keenly catching the form of address. She walked to Gu Qing's side, hesitant to speak, as if wanting to explain something.

"what happened?"

Gu Qing asked, puzzled, unaware of the problem with her form of address.

however,
Before Zhang Jingyi could explain, his phone rang in his pocket.

Gu Qing took out her phone and saw the words "Sister Binbin" displayed on the screen.

"Hey, Sister Binbin, what's wrong?"

Gu Qing answered the phone with a puzzled look on her face.

"Brother~"

Li Binbin's cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone, "Did my Xiaoye come to see you? Was she late? I hope that girl doesn't let me down."

"You're not late!"

Gu Qing answered naturally, while handing her phone to Zhang Jingyi's ear, "Zhou Ye is right next to me."

Come on, let your boss know you're safe.

"..."

Zhang Jingyi froze on the spot, her expression blank and dazed. Her lips parted slightly and moved a few times, but she couldn't make a sound. Her pretty face was filled with helplessness and embarrassment.

Li Binbin on the other end of the phone was also taken aback:
"What? Right next to you?"

A surge of anger, feeling mocked, rose within her. "This little brat, she's right here with you, and she just messaged me crying that you ran off with someone else? Are you kidding me?!"

“Gu…Gu Qing,”

Zhang Jingyi finally mustered her courage, looked up at Gu Qing, bit her lower lip lightly, and explained in a soft but clear voice,

“I… my name is not Zhou Ye.”

My name is... Zhang Jingyi. My boss is... Sister Zhou Xun.

"what?"

Gu Qing was completely stunned, her mind unable to process what was happening for a moment.

"Haha, Gu Qing, you must have mistaken me for someone else, right?"

The teacher who hadn't left yet witnessed the whole thing and couldn't help but burst into laughter. He enthusiastically helped explain, "There is indeed a student named Zhou Ye in the 16 class of Beijing Film Academy who looks quite similar to this Jingyi."

It's not just you; many teachers who don't often substitute for students occasionally confuse the two of them. It's quite a well-known fact at our school, a popular topic of conversation among students.

"Oh, so she's an artist under Zhou Xun's company. No wonder..."

Li Binbin, on the other end of the phone, also heard the explanation through the speakerphone, and his tone immediately became relaxed, even with a hint of suppressed laughter.
"They do look quite alike. Alright, little brother, since it was a misunderstanding, where are you now?"

Tell me your location quickly, I'll have my little Ye come find you right away, don't mistake you for someone else this time!

After Gu Qing reported his current location, Li Binbin smiled, gave him a couple of instructions, and then hung up the phone.

"Gu Qing, then I won't bother you any longer,"

The kind teacher smiled and patted Gu Qing on the shoulder, "I hope you have a wonderful and fulfilling student life at Beijing Film Academy. Enjoy it and study hard."

"I definitely will, thank you, teacher."

Gu Qing shook hands with the teacher and thanked him.

After the teacher left, the area finally became completely quiet, leaving only Gu Qing and Zhang Jingyi, as well as some students standing and watching in the distance.

A subtle silence fell over the room.

Gu Qing was extremely embarrassed.

We chatted for a whole morning, and I actually mistook him for someone else?
What puzzled him even more was that...
How did they manage to have a seamless conversation without revealing any flaws, when they were completely on different wavelengths?

Zhang Jingyi felt a surge of indescribable bitterness and loss, mixed with a strong sense of shame.

It turns out... all his gentleness, kindness, and even that joke about "people as good-looking as us" were not directed at her.

He mistook someone for someone else; he was dealing with the "Zhou Ye" he had imagined.

Unwittingly, I became someone else's "stand-in".

"Senior Gu Qing!!"

Just then, a sweet and energetic female voice came from not far away, breaking the awkward silence between the two.

After finishing his phone call, Zhou Ye rushed over from another teaching building and immediately spotted the tall and outstanding figure standing under the willow tree.

A bright smile immediately bloomed on her face, radiating the youthful energy unique to young girls. She practically skipped and waved as she ran over, her long black hair flying behind her.

"Senior Gu Qing! Hello! My name is Zhou Ye, and I'm an artist from Sister Binbin's company!"

Zhou Ye stopped in front of Gu Qing, slightly out of breath, and introduced himself with a bright smile.

The moment she saw Gu Qing's face up close, a look of amazement flashed uncontrollably in her eyes, and she silently screamed in her heart, "Handsome! So handsome!!"

"Hello, Zhou Ye,"

Gu Qing snapped out of her daze, trying to maintain a natural expression, and nodded. "Just call me Gu Qing, no need to be so polite and call me senior."

While talking,
His gaze involuntarily swept back and forth between Zhang Jingyi, who was bowing her head beside him, and Zhou Ye, who was smiling brightly in front of him.

It must be admitted that the two do look about 50-60% alike, especially in their eyebrows, eyes, and facial contours.

But upon closer inspection, their overall feel is completely different:
Zhou Ye is lively and youthful, a typical sweet girl next door.

Zhang Jingyi, on the other hand, is cool and mature, leaning more towards introversion and quietness.

"Senior Gu Qing, that won't do. Sister Binbin will scold me for not knowing the rules if she finds out."

After shaking his head, Zhou Ye curiously turned his gaze to Zhang Jingyi beside Gu Qing, scrutinizing her closely.
With a tone of curiosity: "Wow, you must be Jingyi, right?"

I'd heard everyone say we look alike, but I never expected... seeing us up close, we really do look alike! It's such a strange feeling!

"Hello, Senior Zhou Ye."

Zhang Jingyi looked up, forced a smile, and greeted them in a low voice.

Looking at the person in front of her, dressed smartly, smiling confidently, and "on a date" with Gu Qing, she felt extremely uncomfortable.

She turned to Gu Qing, lowered her eyes, and said softly, "Gu Qing, now that Senior Zhou Ye is here, there's nothing more for me to do here... I... I'll be going now."

After all,

Before Gu Qing could respond, she quickly pulled down the hood of her down jacket, almost covering most of her face, then turned around, lowered her head, and hurried away.

"Senior Gu Qing, where would you like to go next? I know the Beijing Film Academy very well, I promise I'll take you to all the great places!"

Zhou Ye's attention quickly shifted to Gu Qing, who had her hands behind her back, leaned slightly forward, and hopped closer, smiling brightly as she asked, trying her best to show her liveliness and friendliness.

Gu Qing withdrew her gaze, looked at Zhou Ye, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's go to...the library. I heard there's a lake there, and the scenery is quite beautiful."

"library?"

Zhou Ye glanced at Gu Qing's expression, but he had some doubts in his heart.

She hadn't forgotten her boss Li Binbin's repeated instructions—to gain attention quickly, she had to create enough buzz and exposure.

Although the environment around the library is nice, it is usually deserted at this time of day, and no one takes photos or videos. Wouldn't that greatly diminish the effect of the "chance encounter" and "traveling together"?
She hesitated for a moment, then explained softly and with a hint of suggestion, "Senior, the environment over there is quite nice... but at this time, there might not be many students there."

She emphasized the words "there weren't many classmates".

Gu Qing understood her unspoken meaning—no one meant no "publicity effect".

He remembered Li Binbin's phone call and what he had promised, so he readily asked, "It was my oversight."

"Where do you think would be a good place to go now?"

"The cafeteria!"

Zhou Ye's bright eyes lit up instantly, and he said in a light tone, "It's lunchtime right now, the cafeteria will definitely be packed! What do you think, senior?"

"Okay, let's go to the cafeteria then."

Gu Qing nodded and said nothing more. He subconsciously rubbed his still slightly sore wrists, then put his hands into the pockets of his down jacket, gesturing for Zhou Ye to lead the way.

……

at the same time,

The world outside the campus is also bustling with activity.

The various "spectacle" events surrounding Gu Qing's first day at Beijing Film Academy have begun to gain traction online.

Countless media reporters, like bees drawn to a fragrant flower, were eager to obtain firsthand information and exclusive footage about top-tier students and to uncover news hotspots.

However, the Beijing Film Academy has strict campus management, and they simply cannot break in to conduct interviews and reports—unless they want to completely ruin their careers.

but,

Just because they can't take pictures doesn't mean that students inside the campus can't.

In a short time, numerous videos about Gu Qing's activities on campus, filmed and uploaded by students of the Beijing Film Academy, sprang up on major online platforms, especially the Kuaishou platform which focuses on short videos.

The hype spread almost like a virus!
[Top Student Attendance! Gu Qing's Appearance at Beijing Film Academy's Teaching Building Causes a Sensation!]

[Gu Qing was "besieged" by enthusiastic classmates for autographs on her first day at Beijing Film Academy!]

[A sea of ​​people! Real footage of Gu Qing being surrounded by thousands of Beijing Film Academy students!]

Experience top-tier looks up close! Gu Qing looks stunning even without makeup!

[Revealing Gu Qing's Class: Experimental Class of the Performance Department at Beijing Film Academy!]

[Lucky girl! Who is the girl sitting next to Gu Qing? Her identity remains a mystery!]

These videos, shot from the students' perspective and featuring shaky phone footage and background noise, are actually more realistic and impactful.

They were wildly shared and commented on, their popularity growing exponentially. Soon, several related topics skyrocketed to the top of the trending lists on major social media platforms.
This once again firmly attracted the attention and discussion of the entire Chinese entertainment industry and countless netizens.

Meanwhile, Gu Qing's rivals, who had just finished a long day of work and were comfortably lying in their hotel room, ready to have some fun, were...

Seeing the trending topics sweeping the entire internet, without exception, everyone's face darkened.

especially,
Chris Wu and Li Yifeng harbored the most resentment towards Gu Qing.

I was initially looking forward to ordering takeout, but seeing these messages instantly put me at a loss.

"Holy crap!! Fuck!!"

"Didn't they say that Gu Qing would lose interest if she went to school?"

"What the hell is going on?!"

They cannot accept this!!
What they least expected was...

Sending Gu Qing to school would be like dropping a bombshell among young people.

And now, the happiest and most profitable ones are...

It's obvious that a contract wasn't finalized with Gu Qing:
"Chopstick hands"!
……

……

(End of this chapter)