Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 43: Adding money to lay people
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"Qingqing, is it really okay to go out like this?"

"How about we bring a few more bodyguards? You'll be in danger if the fans recognize you!"

The assistant, Zhao Ya, was extremely worried. Even the slightest movement in the hotel corridor made her very alert, fearing that a stalker might sneak out and take advantage of Gu Qing.

"You've only just gained a little fame and you're already bringing several bodyguards everywhere you go? Do you think the online criticism of me for being arrogant and pretentious isn't enough?"

Gu Qing put on a mask and a baseball cap, paired with a white long-sleeved shirt with lettering, jeans, and sneakers—a very simple outfit.

A celebrity doesn't have glamorous filters, exquisite makeup, or gorgeous clothes.

If you walk on the street wearing a mask, who will recognize you?
Do you really think that after a long day at work, people are so bored that they want to peel off people's masks to look at handsome guys?

"Let's go."

Gu Qing pushed his assistant's shoulder and got into the chauffeur-driven car to go to his teacher's house.

After quite a while, we arrived at a farmhouse in a remote suburb.

Celebrities don't usually come here, and the surrounding area is mostly made up of elderly men and women. They glanced at the vehicle with curiosity and then started chatting idly at the village entrance.

"Teacher, I've arrived."

After sending the message, Gu Qing gave Zhao Ya and the driver half a day off, telling them to come back when needed.

"Ah Gu—"

A gentle male voice came from the courtyard.

"teacher."

Gu Qing stood outside the iron gate, smiling and waving.

"Come in, come in."

Zhang Songwen looked at his student, Gu Qing, and saw that even though she had become a top star, she still felt no sense of estrangement from him. So he warmly led Gu Qing into the courtyard.

The surrounding area is planted with flowers, trees, and shrubs, with lush vegetation that is refreshing and delightful.

"Teacher, you have so many plants in your house."

Gu Qing sighed.

"There's no other way. With no acting jobs, I have to grow some flowers and plants to pass the time."

Zhang Songwen speaks of the helplessness of middle-aged actors.

But he was optimistic by nature, and pulled Gu Qing into the room, saying, "Come here, Gu, let me introduce you to one of my good friends."

Inside sat a thin, middle-aged man sipping tea. When he looked at Gu Qing, he was first surprised and stunned, then nodded in a taciturn manner as a greeting.

"Add... no, Mr. Zhou Yiwei?!"

Gu Qing almost misspoke, accidentally calling out the name of that famous actor from her past life: "An actor who goes unnoticed for ten years, but becomes famous overnight after a pay raise."

'Add Money Layman'!
"Gu, do you know Yiwei?"

Zhang Songwen is unbelievable.

Even Zhou Yiwei, who was sipping his tea, suddenly looked up, a look of confusion in his eyes.

How could this ordinary little actor be recognized by the hottest celebrity right now?
As a retired cadre, Zhou Yiwei doesn't pay much attention to the content on his phone.

But he couldn't resist his wife, the top female host on the TV station, who would watch the Running Man show every night, blushing and screaming like a little girl, shouting things like, "Qingqing's mom loves you."

Zhou Yiwei was jealous for a long time because of this.

"Uh... I've seen some of the plays that Senior Yiwei has acted in."

Gu Qing's mind raced, and he said, "I have a deep impression of you because you played Pan Wenjie in The Legend of Zhong Kui."

"Gu, these are all movies from 09, how can you still remember them?"

Zhang Songwen said in surprise.

"Teacher, I have a photographic memory."

Gu Qing replied.

"Being young is great..."

Zhang Songwen, however, assumed that the young man had a good memory. He smiled and led Gu Qing to a chair, then personally brewed tea and handed her a cup, saying, "Gu, have a taste."

"Thank you, teacher."

Gu Qing carefully took it, lowered her head and took a small sip. The fragrance of tea, accompanied by a faint bitterness, lingered on the tip of her tongue. "It's very delicious."

"Gu, did you come to see me today to ask me some questions about acting?" Zhang Songwen asked.

"Yes, teacher, I have written the character biography as you requested, but when I act it out in front of the mirror, I always feel a sense of disconnect."

Gu Qing handed over the printed character biographies and script.

“Sha Qianmo?” Zhang Songwen flipped through the papers, examining them closely.

Zhou Yiwei, who was sitting next to him and was a theater fanatic, couldn't help but glance curiously at the script.

"Second male lead?"

Upon seeing this, a look of envy couldn't help but appear in my eyes.

To be able to play the second male lead in his very first role is something that many actors, including himself, have never played such an important role.

But then I thought,
Those who are top stars like Gu Qing all landed their first roles as male leads in movies, working alongside A-list actresses, which is even more outrageous.

In comparison,

Gu Qing's treatment is rather pitiful.

"Yiwei, take a look too, and help me give it a try for A-Gu's opinion."

Out of consideration for his old friend, Zhang Songwen handed him the biography and script he had finished reading.

Half an hour passed,

Gu Qing was enjoying her tea and didn't find it boring at all.
recently,
He was constantly facing screaming fans and crowded masses, and he couldn't stop smiling, but inside he was actually very anxious.

Therefore,
He enjoyed the quiet time in the courtyard, feeling that the whole world was peaceful.

"Let's act it out."

Zhou Yiwei closed the script and looked at Gu Qing seriously: "It's that part, the dialogue where you face Bai Zihua and ask him to take Hua Qiangu away."

Like Zhang Songwen, he had served as a performance teacher at a film academy, so his tone inevitably carried a hint of command.

"Yiwei..."

Zhang Songwen, who has higher emotional intelligence, felt something was amiss and was about to explain.

"Okay, Teacher Zhou."

Gu Qing didn't care. He was asking for a favor, so he wouldn't put on such an air.

Gu Qing got up and walked to the center of the room, her fingers hanging down by her trouser seams slightly curled.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, he slightly raised his chin, trying to imitate the arrogant demeanor of Sha Qianmo in the script.

"Who dares to stop me from taking those I intend to take away—"

The last syllable abruptly caught in his throat. Gu Qing raised his right arm like a rusty mechanical arm, and his shoulder shrugged as his fingertips poked at the void.

What should have been graceful, delicate fingers were now curled into fists as if burned.

"Uh...this..."

Zhang Songwen's teacup stopped in mid-air, his brows furrowing tightly.

He saw the student suddenly tilt his head, widen his eyes, and glare fiercely at the 'Bai Zihua' in the air, but he was completely harmless.

"Don't be afraid, little one."

When Gu Qing turned around, her left foot tripped on the rattan chair, and she staggered, only managing to avoid falling by grabbing the coffee table.

He forced down his panic and continued reciting his lines, but his voice was as flat as an AI reading: "With my sister here, I will definitely protect you."

"call--"

Zhou Yiwei took a deep breath, the script in his hand making a creaking sound as it was gripped tightly.

The air seemed to solidify in the steam rising from the teacup, and the barking of dogs outside the village suddenly became piercing, penetrating the wooden lattice windows covered with newspaper.

"Teacher Zhang, Teacher Zhou, I'm done performing."

Like a child being punished for making a mistake, Gu Qing asked expectantly, "What do you guys think?"

"How about it…"

Zhou Yiwei opened his mouth, then closed it again.

You have absolutely no acting skills!

If Gu Qing were his student at the performing arts academy, he would have been eager to fire him.

It is conceivable that,
Zhang Songwen had talked to him about Gu Qing, who was just a singing and dancing idol who was inexplicably tied to acting by the company, and they were unwilling to spend money to hire a teacher for him.

They'd rather spend their own money to continue learning; their attitude is absolutely fine.

"Um...you...you did a good job on that step."

Zhou Yiwei hesitated for a long time before he could think of something to praise.

Gu Qing: "..."

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(End of this chapter)