Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 419 Zhang Songwen: I'm here to help you! (7.3k)
……

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Inside the RV, as the melodious ending theme of the first episode of "Nirvana in Fire" gradually faded away, it was replaced by the somewhat noisy sound of advertisements.

Gu Qing was the first to avert his complicated gaze from the screen. He adjusted his posture and looked at the three girls beside him who seemed somewhat confused.
He asked, "You've finished watching the first episode, what did you think?"

"Uh...it's...it looks pretty good, isn't it?"

Jing Tian blinked and was the first to speak, but her tone was clearly hesitant and uncertain.

"Hmm... the filming... feels very well done, but it's a bit profound, with too much information, I didn't quite understand it."

Zhou Ye was still a little dizzy.

"Senior,"

Zhang Jingyi's focus was somewhat different. She tilted her head and asked in confusion, "You're clearly the male lead, so why do you seem to have less screen time in the first episode than the advisors around the Crown Prince or Prince Yu?"

"Alright, alright, why are you being so insincere?"

Seeing their attempts to make amends, Gu Qing couldn't help but laugh out loud and bluntly stated, "I know what I'm doing in my own drama."

The narrative style of "Nirvana in Fire" is inherently slow and deliberate, especially in the first few episodes, which feature a large number of characters and complex plot lines.

For viewers encountering this type of subject matter for the first time, or those accustomed to fast-paced narratives, it is indeed difficult to be immediately captivated.
It's perfectly normal to feel that you 'don't like it' or 'don't understand it,' so don't force yourself to.

He takes it all in stride.

Gu Qing knew perfectly well that in his previous life, when "Nirvana in Fire" first aired, its ratings and online popularity were indeed lukewarm.

It's not the kind of fast-paced drama that grabs attention from the start with strong plots and conflicts. The charm of "Nirvana in Fire" lies in its gradual build-up and the interconnected climaxes in the later episodes.

The real word-of-mouth buzz and viewership surge often occur in the later stages of a series' run, or even after it has ended.

It was only through word-of-mouth recommendations and repeated appreciation from viewers who were moved by its excellent production and profound meaning that it finally achieved a comeback and became a classic.

"Alright, that's enough for today."

Gu Qing stood up.

"Hey? Xiao Nai, where are you going?"

Seeing that he was about to leave, Jing Tian subconsciously reached out and grabbed the hem of his clothes, tilting her delicate face up and asking suspiciously.

"I'm going back to sleep, I'm a little sleepy."

Gu Qing stretched.

He was actually a little afraid to watch any longer.

In just the first episode, the familiar background music, visuals, and Mei Changsu's heavy and repressed emotions were immediately apparent.

They tried to drag him back into the role of someone burdened with a blood feud and struggling in a vortex of power struggles.

He was quite afraid of the feeling of being unable to extricate himself from the character's grief.

"Go to sleep? Isn't there still one episode left? It's only a little past nine!"

Jing Tian, ​​who hadn't been involved in the drama, didn't understand. "Besides, don't you even care about the premiere ratings of your new drama? That's a top priority!"

"I don't care, it'll become popular anyway."

Gu Qing answered crisply and decisively, even with a hint of nonchalant certainty.

"You really are...confident!"

Jing Tian looked at him with a mixture of envy and speechlessness.

She pulled hard, dragging Gu Qing, who was about to get up, back down into the booth.

"Let's watch it first before we talk. The theme of our gathering today supports your 'Nirvana in Fire' series."

You left the three of us girls alone in the RV to watch your show. Do you think that's reasonable? Is that even acceptable?

"Big sister, I beg you, please let me go. You're an actress too, it must be painful for you to see the characters you've played before. If you keep watching, I'll go crazy."

Gu Qingsheng slumped onto the table, clutching his hair, and said weakly, "Sometimes I can't even tell if I'm Xiao Nai, Gu Qing, or Mei Changsu anymore."

"Okay, okay, we won't watch anymore, we won't watch anymore. I didn't know you were upset."

Jing Tian's heart softened, and she hurriedly picked up the remote control: "Then...then can I change the channel and watch 'Fighter of the Destiny'? I can keep an eye on your competitor."

"That's fine!"

Gu Qing's eyes lit up, and she perked up, looking up. "Perfect, I'm also quite interested to see how they turned it out."

"you…"

Jing Tian blinked, somewhat amused and exasperated. She had just been so distressed.

Without any choice,

I switched the channel to Huangguo TV, which was broadcasting "Fighter of the Destiny".

But whether luck is good or bad is unknown.

Just as I switched to Huangguo TV, the second episode of Fighter of the Destiny officially aired.

Gu Qing also dropped her joking expression, leaned forward slightly, and focused her gaze intently on the screen.

to be frank,
In his previous life, he had heard a great deal about this "big-budget" production that was supposedly heavily invested in but which flopped in terms of critical reception.

However, for various reasons, he never actually went to see it.

He had read the first part of the original novel, though.

Gu Qingyi vaguely remembered,
The opening of the original work is quite classic, following the "annulment of engagement" route.

The protagonist, Chen Changsheng, descends the mountain to find his fiancée, with whom he has been betrothed since childhood, with the aim of annuling this marriage that is deemed unequal in social standing.
However, he was instead severely humiliated by his materialistic mother-in-law, which ignited his fighting spirit.

however,
The second episode of "Fighter of the Destiny" was playing on the TV screen, but its content was far different from the original novel he remembered.

There stood Chen Changsheng, played by Lu Han, dressed in a rather elegant white ancient costume, in front of a very fake waterfall. He gathered his strength and shouted loudly into the empty valley, "I will defy fate!"

She tried hard to appear resolute, but it always felt somewhat incongruous with her overly delicate, even somewhat gentle, face.

then,

He then descended the mountain with an almost innocent, curious look in his eyes.

In all fairness,

Lu Han's period costume look is impeccable, definitely top-tier idol level, with his good looks on point.

Even many fans of the original work who had just turned on their TVs expressed satisfaction when they first saw the still images or promotional photos.

however,
As the plot unfolds, when Chen Changsheng arrives at the so-called Divine Capital, those book fans who are truly familiar with the original work and have been watching with anticipation...

His face began to turn green at a visible speed, and eventually turned completely black.

"What the hell is this plot?!"

"He's only halfway down the mountain, and he can already casually play the hero and save Xu Yourong from being besieged by demons?! Screenwriter, come out here, let's have a talk about life!!"

"Holy shit!! What happened to all the wonderful groundwork I've built up over the past ten years of spiritual connection and correspondence?! Did you eat it all up?!"

"And another thing! How did I, Xu Yourong, who was noble and aloof, possessed the bloodline of the Heavenly Phoenix, and was like a goddess from the Nine Heavens, become a chivalrous woman who goes around righting wrongs and fights with people at the drop of a hat?!"

"Screenwriter! You son of a bitch!! Give me back the original story!!"

This is far from the most outrageous modification.

In the original work, the plot of "a marriage certificate that affects the nerves of various forces in the capital and triggers undercurrents of intrigue" is a hidden story of power struggles.

In the TV series, it was handled in a simple and crude way—Chen Changsheng pulled out the marriage certificate on the street, and then... tore it up!
Xu Yourong's maidservant jumped out like a shrew from the marketplace, pointing at Chen Changsheng's nose and cursing, "You country bumpkin, don't you even look in the mirror and see what kind of person you are! How dare you covet our young lady? You're just a toad trying to eat swan meat!"

What should have been a dramatic scene of a noble family annulment, full of wit and strategy, was reduced to a street brawl, losing all its elegance.

and,

Even the adorable and endearing aspect of the original work, where the popular demon princess, using the alias Bai Luoheng, persistently waits outside the National Academy and relentlessly pleads to become Chen Changsheng's disciple.

It was also altered to portray him as skipping school, fighting with Jin Yulu of the Divine General's Mansion, and even rolling on the ground and throwing a tantrum, turning him into a completely unreasonable brat, devoid of any spirit.

The plot is absurd, the characters are poorly designed, and the special effects, which, despite being advertised as a 400 million yuan investment, still look cheap and seem to be stuck in the style of more than a decade ago...

Fans of the original novel of "Fighter of the Destiny" felt like they had a mouthful of blood stuck in their throats and wished they could spit it out onto the screen.

Meanwhile, those fans of the original work who had already watched the first episode and were thoroughly shocked could only silently respond in their hearts: "Brother, while you were spitting out that first mouthful of blood, we... had already spat it out."

With the end of episode 2,
Inside the RV,
Jing Tian, ​​Zhang Jingyi, and Zhou Ye watched "Fighter of the Destiny" on the screen, their expressions indescribable.

"It feels... not as good as Nirvana in Fire."

Jing Tian muttered to herself, with a hint of disdain, "These special effects are so fake. They're not even as good as the ones in 'The Great Wall' that I made."

"Her acting is so artificial,"

Zhang Jingyi, unusually sharp-tongued, said, "It feels like Chen Changsheng is deliberately acting cute all the time. He stares wide-eyed at everything, and his mouth is slightly open."

It seems she's trying very hard to prove she's even cuter and more innocent than Xu Yourong.

"Something feels... off to me?"

Zhou Ye tilted his head and pointed out another problem, "Some plots and scenes feel like they're deliberately trying to sell bromance, right? The interactions between the male lead and the male supporting character feel a bit like they're intentionally trying to seduce the male lead."

At the same time,
Online discussions and heated debates about the two dramas had already erupted after their premieres.

Lu Han's fans, known as "Reed Sisters," naturally kept a close eye on "Nirvana in Fire," relentlessly mocking it for its "slow pace," "incomprehensible plot," and "aged actors."

But Gu Qing's fans, the "Gu Family," were not to be trifled with. They immediately launched a fierce counterattack.

"Pah! Disgusting!! And they still have the nerve to brag about their acting skills?"

"You're 27 years old already, and you're still marketing yourself as 'youthful' all the time, always talking about 'youth,' 'youth,' why don't you just say you're a 30-year-old youth?!"

"They portrayed Chen Changsheng, who was so charismatic in the original novel, as a dim-witted idiot. And they can praise this acting to the skies? Where's their shame?!"

Putting aside these two groups of fans who are biased and blindly defend their idols, let's ignore the online arguments.

Some casual viewers also expressed their opinions, which were more objective and insightful:
"I fell asleep watching 'Nirvana in Fire,' but I wanted to die watching 'Fighter of the Destiny'!"

"Is this it? They dare to boast about a 400 million investment with this level of quality? The special effects are worse than those of Journey to the West from decades ago. I bet all the money was spent on hiring popular celebrities and marketing!"

"To be fair, compared to the epic adaptation and cheap special effects of 'Fighter of the Destiny,' 'Nirvana in Fire' is actually quite conscientious."

Although the first two episodes feature many characters and complex plot lines, with patience, viewers can still piece together the story and understand its central theme.

"Exactly! At least 'Nirvana in Fire' doesn't have those ridiculously smoothed-out filters that make your own mother unrecognizable. You can see the actors' stubble and skin texture, and the texture is very realistic!"
"It's just... some of the actors are too ugly, so there's no sense of immersion in the character at all."

"If you ask me, if Gu Qing had more screen time, the ratings for 'Nirvana in Fire' would definitely be even higher."

The atmosphere in the first two episodes was indeed too oppressive and heavy, and the dialogue was also too literary and a bit confusing.

Only when Gu Qing, playing Mei Changsu, appears, does his appearance and demeanor bring a refreshing feeling, like a gentle breeze, truly captivating the viewer.

"There's no denying it, he's absolutely stunning. Especially that scene in the second episode where he slowly appears on the river in a small boat, amidst the vast expanse of mist and water, dressed in white as snow—it's so evocative, exuding an ethereal aura!"

"It's a pity, though. I don't think she and Liu Tao have any chemistry. When I saw them looking at each other, I almost burst out laughing for some reason..."

"Haha, I feel the same way. A mature woman and a boy next door, and the script says they were once engaged? I burst out laughing."

"Hey? You guys don't understand, that's what makes it interesting. I love big carts and little horses."

After only a few words, the conversation inevitably started to veer in a strange direction again...

In the following days,
The online battle of opinions has not only not stopped, but has intensified.

According to the official ratings data released on the first day, "Fighter of the Destiny" undoubtedly occupied the top spot thanks to the strong viewership base of Huangguo TV and the tireless online promotion by Tencent.

however,
Gu Qing's "Nirvana in Fire" followed closely behind by an extremely narrow margin, with the viewership difference between the two being less than 0.3 percentage points!

In the eyes of many, this is almost a draw!

But Lu Han's team didn't care about any of that. They immediately seized on the title of "first to air" and began to promote the drama extensively. The press releases were full of attempts to put down Gu Qing and solidify the claim that "Lu Han's new drama is superior to Gu Qing's".

Even though the online criticism of "Fighter of the Destiny" for its drastic script changes, awkward acting, and cheap special effects is growing louder and louder,
But in their view, a win is a win! Data speaks for itself!

Furthermore, many marketing accounts that sensed the potential for increased traffic, as well as industry rivals who had long coveted Gu Qing's resources and wished for his immediate downfall, quickly followed suit.

They all rushed in upon hearing the news, joining the fray to stir up trouble.

Various press releases criticizing and questioning Gu Qing began to emerge one after another:
"Gu Qing's lucky charm attribute is gone, her meteoric rise has failed, is she finally going to fall from grace?!"

"If you ask me, Gu Qing has gotten too arrogant. Why doesn't she stick to making good idol dramas and instead chooses to act in political intrigue dramas?"

"Putting aside whether you have the acting skills, we live in a fast-paced society now. Who wants to watch a show with seven or eight characters and various storylines right from the start?" "After a long day at work, people just want to see handsome men and beautiful women, not brain-teasing plots."

"I think Gu Qing has become a bit out of touch with the masses. She's too focused on her own ancient-style persona, using classical Chinese all the time. Can't she just speak in plain language?"

The entire piece appears to express regret, pity, and deep sorrow, but in reality, every word and sentence is a veiled attack on Gu Qing, attempting to label him as "outdated," "blind," and "out of touch with the masses."

As a top-tier male celebrity with a near-complete absence in the current Chinese entertainment industry, Gu Qing's existence undoubtedly blocks the path of too many of his peers and even younger generations.

His resources and influence make countless people envious.

They found it terrifying when they thought about it carefully.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Lu Han's "Fighter of the Destiny" topped the premiere charts; the cost behind it was terrifying.
With a production cost of 400 million, the full-scale promotion by internet giant Tencent, and prime-time promotion by national television station Huangguo TV...

With this kind of setup, the ratings should theoretically be far ahead!

But the result?

Gu Qing's "Nirvana in Fire" managed to maintain a very close viewership rating, relying solely on his personal appeal and the presence of two satellite TV channels with slightly less coverage.

and,

There isn't much negative feedback about Gu Qing personally on the internet; most of the criticism focuses on the director's narrative pacing or the appearance and styling of other supporting characters.

You might not be able to find a single comment that is truly harsh and abusive towards Gu Qing.

This terrifying level of public appeal and audience tolerance is enough to make all industry peers green with envy and driven to madness with anxiety!

"As long as Gu Qing lives, no one else can rise to the top!"

This is a shared sentiment that is almost an unspoken understanding among many competitors in the industry.

Just as these people were eager to take advantage of the "unfavorable" start of "Nirvana in Fire" to unite and besiege Gu Qing, determined to shatter his "lucky charm" myth of making everything he filmed a hit...

A quiet turning point has begun to brew and emerge.

……

After a few days,
On the campus of Beijing Film Academy.

"Click."

"Xiao Nai, have you been too tired from the recent promotions? Do you want to take a break?"

Faced with Gu Qing's distracted state and repeated NGs, Lin Yufen said gently, "We'll film it later."

"Director, why did you yell at me so harshly when I made a mistake?"

Feeling the stark contrast in how she was being treated, Jing Tian couldn't believe it.

"Weiwei, how can that be the same? Xiao Nai is very tired."

Thinking of the recent online discussions, even Gu Man gave her a slightly reproachful look.

Jing Tian felt a lump in her throat and fell silent.

"Director, I'm not feeling well. How about I rest this afternoon and we film tomorrow?"

Gu Qing rubbed her face.

These past few days, he's either had to go out to help with promotions or record video clips, so he can't get into character at all.

He doesn't care about the criticism online.

If fans don't criticize, and passersby don't criticize, what else is there to care about?
"Okay, you should rest well and don't rush. We're making good progress."

Lin Yu replied.

"Master, what are you planning to do this afternoon? How about I take you out for a walk to clear your head?"

During the meal, Jing Tian couldn't help but ask with concern.

"No, I want to go teach a class and get a feel for what it's like to be a student."

Gu Qing shook her head and chewed the broccoli in her mouth.

"Then I will accompany you."

Jing Tian also remembered that she hadn't been back to the classroom since filming began.

I wonder if my stool is covered in dust.

Before the afternoon class bell rings,
Gu Qing appeared at the classroom door of the first-year students in the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy.

The moment Gu Qing appeared at the classroom door.
The previously noisy classroom fell silent for a second, then erupted into huge cheers and commotion!
"Brother Gu?! You're back?!"

"Welcome back to your loyal first-year experimental class in the Acting Department, Mr. Gu!"

"God!! We've missed you so much! You're finally back!!"

The boys shouted excitedly, while the girls covered their mouths in surprise, their eyes filled with excitement and disbelief.

Almost all the students in the class swarmed around Gu Qing, surrounding her and expressing their welcome and joy in a flurry of chatter.

Gu Qing's somewhat depressed mood suddenly disappeared by more than half.

A smile appeared on his face as he walked in, greeting his familiar classmates with practiced ease.

He walked with practiced ease to his usual spot by the window, where the light was excellent.

"Senior!"

Zhang Jingyi was equally surprised, her eyes shining like stars, never expecting Gu Qing to suddenly appear in the afternoon.

"Erxi".

Gu Qing smiled and nodded at her, then sat down behind her and habitually put her backpack into the drawer.

There was still an empty seat behind him.

Jing Tian yawned and slowly walked into the classroom just before class started.

Her appearance naturally caused a small commotion and a few greetings.

Just as Jing Tian sat down, Gu Qing suddenly remembered something, turned around sharply, and said, "I'm warning you, don't touch me. I really like this hoodie."

"Am I such a bad person? Honestly, what do you think I am?"

Jing Tian had just raised her hand to play a prank when she heard this, and immediately froze in mid-air. She then lowered her hand sheepishly and tried to explain herself guiltily.

however,
After she sat down, her gaze inadvertently swept over the seat in front of her.

Seeing Zhang Jingyi and Gu Qing sitting so close, with Zhang Jingyi occasionally turning her head slightly, her face showing undisguised shyness and joy.

Jing Tian still found it quite glaring.

"Erxi, Erxi, shall we switch seats?"

Jing Tian made up an excuse: "Sitting here, I can't help but want to poke the back of the person in front of me."

"Uh...okay...okay, senior sister."

Zhang Jingyi paused for a moment, then obediently nodded and began tidying up her books and pencil case on her desk, preparing to get up and change seats.

"Don't change, she's definitely up to something. Just sit here and don't move."

Gu Qing suddenly reached out and gently pressed on Zhang Jingyi's slender shoulder, stopping her movement, and turned around alertly to say something.

Zhang Jingyi felt the strength and warmth from the warm hand on her shoulder. Her delicate body stiffened slightly, her heart skipped a beat for no reason, and she lowered her head and said nothing more.

"Hey! Gu Qing! What do you mean?! I'm angry!"

Jing Tian, ​​embarrassed and annoyed, poked Gu Qing's back hard with her finger through his clothes.

"See? I knew it."

Gu Qing, with an "I knew it" expression, accurately grabbed her mischievous finger and slammed it onto the table.

at this time,

Today's teacher, Zhang Songwen, walked into the classroom with his lesson plan and water cup.

"Hello, Teacher Zhang!" The students immediately stopped playing around and greeted him in unison.

"Hello students."

Zhang Songwen smiled and nodded in response, his gaze sweeping across the classroom. When he saw that familiar figure in the back row, a look of obvious surprise appeared on his face, which quickly turned into a delighted smile. "A-Gu? You're back?"

"Yes, Teacher Zhang."

Gu Qing released Jing Tian's hand, turned around, and replied with a smile, "I've been filming for quite a while, and I feel like I need to let things settle down, so I came back to listen to your lectures and continue learning and recharging."

"lecture?"

Zhang Songwen smiled and shook his head, "I'm afraid we won't be able to cover much theory in today's class."

Based on the "strong requests" of most students in the class, today's lesson will be about watching...a play.

As he spoke, he skillfully turned on the multimedia equipment at the front of the classroom and clicked on the video website icon on the computer with the mouse.
Then he turned to look at Gu Qing, his smile deepening: "And, what I'm watching is exactly your... 'Nirvana in Fire'."

"Teacher Zhang, is this... really necessary?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qing felt somewhat embarrassed and ashamed.

He thought this was a special arrangement by Zhang Songwen to support his new drama.

"This takes up too much of the students' class time. Let's continue with the original schedule. We can't let my show interfere with everyone's studies."

He didn't want to disrupt the normal teaching order because of his own actions.

however,
As soon as he finished speaking, the students in the class protested loudly:
"Brother Gu! No way! We don't want to go to those boring theory classes!"

"Exactly! Some classes have already watched your 'Nirvana in Fire' during their free time, and we want to watch it too!"

"Who says you can't learn acting skills by watching dramas? Didn't Teacher Zhang say before that many of our acting techniques are 'extracted' and analyzed from the performances of those predecessors in classic film and television works?"

"We begged Teacher Zhang for so long! It was only with great difficulty that he finally approved it!"

"We also want to see your performance in 'Nirvana in Fire,' Brother Gu, so we can learn from it!"

The students all chimed in, eagerly offering their explanations.

They were afraid that Gu Qing's words would ruin their rare "watching the movie and slacking off" perk.

Looking at the enthusiastic students below the stage, Zhang Songwen smiled and gestured for everyone to be quiet. Then he said seriously, "Alright, students, be quiet."

I've already watched the first two episodes of "Nirvana in Fire" in private.

It must be admitted that this is an excellent production with a very high level of production quality, a strong cast, and especially the presence of many highly respected senior figures and veteran actors with superb acting skills in our entertainment industry.

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the class, and said in a guiding, lecturing tone: "Since you all want to watch it, then today we'll use this play as a starting point, combining it with specific scenes..."
Let me explain and analyze in detail how "Nirvana in Fire" lays the groundwork, builds character relationships, and uses cinematic language to create atmosphere and suspense in the opening.

This might be unexpectedly helpful for your future understanding of scripts and character development!

"Yes, yes! Teacher Zhang, we will definitely listen carefully!"

"My phone is all ready! I promise to record the whole thing so I can watch it and learn from it repeatedly when I get back!"

Some students even took out their phones, adjusted the angle, and started recording.

However, the camera's focus would occasionally and unconsciously shift to Gu Qing in the back row.

I can ride on Gu Ge's popularity again.

Putting everything else aside, once the video is posted,

It's easy to get hundreds of thousands or even millions of views, making some pocket money quite effortlessly.

"This scene... why does it feel strangely familiar?"

Gu Qing felt something was off.

Teacher Zhang personally took to the stage to analyze and explain "Nirvana in Fire" frame by frame.
Isn't this exactly the kind of in-depth commentary videos that film and television content creators on video platforms like Bilibili often make?

Moreover, it was a teacher from the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy who personally provided commentary, which is much more valuable than that of ordinary content creators!

This is definitely an in-depth analysis from an "academic" perspective!
at this time,

Zhang Songwen had already pressed play on the first episode of "Nirvana in Fire," cleared his throat, and officially began his unique "Nirvana in Fire Film Analysis Class"!
As everyone knows,
His move will also bring about a huge change in his acting career.

……

……

(End of this chapter)