Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

The next day, early in the morning.

The faint light of dawn shone through the gaps in the hotel's heavy curtains, casting a thin, hazy band of light on the dimly lit room floor.

"Ding ding ding— ding ding ding—"

The set alarm on my phone rang persistently, breaking the tranquility of the bedroom.

however,
Unlike Gu Qing, who usually wakes up immediately when the alarm clock rings, today he is unusually huddled in the blankets, his eyes tightly closed, his brows furrowed, showing no desire to get up.

Until five minutes later,
The second, even more urgent alarm rang out, like a death knell.

Gu Qingcai reluctantly struggled to open his heavy eyelids, groped for his phone, and forcefully turned off the alarm.

Gu Qing struggled to sit up, her head bowed, her hands covering her cheeks as she fought off sleepiness.

A few unruly black hairs stuck up, forming tiny antennae that trembled slightly with his heavy breathing.

The culprit behind all this was, of course, the long phone conversation last night.

Da Tiantian was unusually depressed because of his departure after filming wrapped up. Her soft voice on the other end of the phone was filled with tears and reluctance, and the call dragged on from evening until two or three in the morning.

At last,
Completely exhausted, Gu Qing listened to the still energetic and clear voice on the other end of the phone, showing no signs of sleepiness, and had no choice but to take the initiative to say, "Okay, Weiwei, stop thinking about it. Let me tell you a story."

then,

Gu Qing racked his brains and began recounting the events of the Twenty-Four Histories, starting from the creation of the world and the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Using his soothing voice, he talked for what seemed like an eternity.

Finally, I heard even, long breaths from the other end of the phone.

He finally managed to lull Da Tian Tian to sleep with his "power of knowledge".

Gu Qing herself was also almost completely exhausted, and fell into a deep sleep as soon as she lay down.

"This endless phone calls... absolutely cannot continue."

Gu Qing rubbed her cheeks, then, as if making a decision, rolled out of bed, stepped barefoot onto the soft carpet, and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

He is a person whose rationality usually outweighs his emotions.

Temporary indulgence and emotional comfort are understandable, but if they affect one's normal life and work rhythm, then they must be stopped.

Such intense late-night phone calls every night will inevitably have a serious impact on both parties' work performance and mental state the next day.

Jing Tian may not have too many career troubles and pressures. She comes from a wealthy family, and being in the entertainment industry is more like an experience and a hobby for her. She has a solid backup plan and way out.

But he didn't.

Gu Qing was able to very rationally foresee that once the high-pressure work cycle began, he would face a barrage of announcements, back-to-back shifts, and disrupted work schedules.

He finds it hard to guarantee that he can still maintain the immense patience every night to soothe an emotionally sensitive girl, to take care of all her subtle emotions, and even to be responsible for telling stories to help her fall asleep.

This long-term, one-sided output of emotional value can easily lead to an imbalance in mindset and a sense of exhaustion.

It stands to reason,
Given his current conditions, appearance, and status, in a relationship, he should be the one being pampered and cared for emotionally.

This is the more common "ecology" in the entertainment industry and even in real society.

What handsome guy needs to be coaxed?

Good-looking men are often a scarcer and more precious resource than beautiful women.

Those obscure, unknown male idols, whose looks are at best "handsome," can still party every night and be fawned over and pursued by all sorts of rich and beautiful women who are eager to "feed" them and enjoy the pleasure of being kept by their partners.

The examples exposed by the media are already countless, and there are even more hidden beneath the surface.

A super idol like Gu Qing, whose looks, professional skills, and earning power are all at the top of the pyramid,

His mere presence, standing there quietly, was a tremendous attraction; all sorts of beautiful women, plump and slender, would frantically swarm towards him like butterflies drawn to nectar.

If any lucky woman were to "sleep" with him, she would probably feel like she got a great deal and could brag about it to her girlfriends for years.

This is similar to when Chris Wu was exposed for a shocking scandal and even suspected of committing a crime.

Besides the righteous condemnations online, there are also a large number of morbid fans desperately trying to whitewash the situation, one of their core logics being...

He actually thinks that the women who exposed him "got off" and are "ungrateful"?
Even so,
A well-known female debater from the popular talk show "Qipa Shuo" (奇葩说), known for her outrageous remarks, actually dared to make such outrageous statements in public.

They called Kris Wu a "living Buddha" and "approachable to the people."
It's about "giving fans a treat" and "sending warmth."

Do you think they're just playing with abstract concepts and trying to grab attention?
No, to some extent, they really do think so!

Under this distorted filter of fan culture, all of an idol's actions can be rationalized or even sanctified.

Whether male or female, these groups, whose lives are often filled with repressed desires, would be thrilled if they knew beforehand that their idols had the "perk" of "sleeping with fans."
Do you think they are mostly envious and expectant, or disappointed and unfollowing?

If it were truly a case of most fans leaving, then Chris Wu wouldn't have been able to maintain his top-tier status for so long before the scandal broke.

Many people's "hatred"
It often stems from jealousy, like the thought, "Why wasn't I the lucky one?"

……

Gu Qing thoroughly washed away the weariness and the last trace of distraction from his face with warm water. Looking in the mirror, he saw a face that was still handsome, though with a slight bluish tinge under his eyes.

I reached for the unassuming bottle of Dabao, squeezed some into my palm, smeared it haphazardly on my face, and that was it—my daily skincare routine was complete.

No,
He doesn't want to deliberately protect his image; rather, it's unnecessary.

At the age of twenty, he was a ray of light just by standing there.

Skincare products are essentially a waste of money; the only ingredient that truly benefits the skin is glycerin. The other miscellaneous additives are practically ineffective.

Overuse of technology can lead to an overabundance of technology.

Da Bao is enough.

"There's still an hour left... I'll just grab something to eat to tide me over, and save some time for a bigger meal later."

Gu Qing glanced at the time on her phone; there was still an hour until her agreed meeting time with Da Linzi.

Nowadays,

It happened to be during his weekly "indulgence meal" time.

To maintain his physique and on-screen appearance, he is extremely disciplined in his diet, which is typically low-fat, low-sugar, and high-protein.

But I always make time for one or two days each week to allow myself to temporarily shed the shackles of calories and fully enjoy the pleasure that food brings.

Just thinking about being able to eat authentic local food today...

Gu Qing's mood brightened. She took a bottle of milk from the refrigerator, walked to the living room, picked up the remote control, and casually switched to Huangguo TV, intending to watch something to pass the hour of waiting.

This casual glance,
This made him pause slightly, then he smiled and laughed.

"Killer Sister~ Killer Sister is the best~"

On the television screen,
The TV series airing early this morning was none other than the wildly popular fantasy drama from two years ago – "The Journey of Flower"!
In the screen,
Zhao Liying, who plays Hua Qiangu, has a fair and tender face full of collagen. She is currently acting cute and charming with Gu Qing, who plays Sha Qianmo.

Looking at Sister Zhao's 'youthful' appearance on the screen, Gu Qing thought about how Sister Zhao had become more and more composed in reality, always maintaining her sharp and shrewd image as an older sister.

A strong sense of contrast made him chuckle.

Gu Qing picked up her phone, pointed it at the TV screen, and recorded a classic clip of Zhao Liying "acting cute and charming".

Subsequently,

I sent this "dark history" video directly to them.

He didn't forget to add, "Little one, I see you."

The message was sent, but naturally no reply was received immediately. Gu Qing was used to this.

Most entertainers have reversed day and night cycles—their active periods are in the afternoon, evening, and early morning, while the daytime is usually a "quiet period" for catching up on sleep.

Someone like him, who can maintain a relatively healthy and regular lifestyle, is considered an "oddball" and "old-fashioned" in the industry.

"Times... have really changed."

Gu Qing put down her phone and looked back at the TV screen. Watching the familiar scenes from "The Journey of Flower," she couldn't help but sigh softly.

During his childhood, Huangguo TV would rebroadcast the same old TV drama every winter and summer vacation.

Without exception, they are all classic old dramas, with "Princess Pearl" as the leading example. They are rebroadcast almost every year and carry the collective memories of a generation.

However, after the phenomenal success of "The Journey of Flower", its rerun rate and national popularity have quietly surpassed "My Fair Princess", becoming the new "holiday staple".

Behind this,
It is entirely inseparable from the amazing commercial value and industrial chain expansion capabilities created by "The Journey of Flower".

It is one of the very few TV series that can be compared with big-screen works such as Stephen Chow's "CJ7" and Huayi Brothers' "Monster Hunt" to achieve great success in the development of derivative products.

When "CJ7" and "Monster Hunt" were huge hits,

The "Seven" and "Huba" plush toys inside are selling incredibly well and can be found everywhere.

This indicates that the domestic entertainment industry is beginning to adopt a Hollywood-style approach, attempting to move beyond traditional box office/ratings...
We aim to generate continuous profits through derivative product sales, copyright licensing, and overseas market expansion, thereby tapping into the long-tail effect of IP.

However, the derivative development of "CJ7" and "Monster Hunt" mostly stays at the first level, namely the sale of physical dolls, and the money earned is far less than that of "The Journey of Flower".

After the TV series became a hit,

The people in charge of the "The Journey of Flower" IP immediately launched a crazy money-making mode of "film-game synergy" and produced a mobile game of the same name.

Although this game has been criticized by hardcore gamers as a "reskinned cash grab," its commercial success is extremely impressive.
The total revenue reached an astonishing 15 billion RMB, with peak monthly revenue exceeding 2 million RMB!

This marks a milestone in the development of the "film and game interaction" business model in China.

This led to countless subsequent hit TV series imitating it, and they all embarked on their own path of "money-making reskinned" mobile games.

Even last night,

While sorting through the mountain of messages, Gu Qing also came across a collaboration invitation left behind by the producers of the "The Journey of Flower" mobile game.
They asked him if he was interested in endorsing the game.

The price they offered was extremely high—1000 million RMB for shooting one advertisement!

This is similar to how people like Nick Cheung endorsed various "Legendary" web games back then. The core reason is simple: the pay was just too much!

The other party even stated that,

If Gu Qing is willing to create and sing a theme song specifically for this mobile game, then we can add another 1000 million to the 1000 million!
Faced with such an attractive offer, Gu Qing was indeed tempted, after all, no one would turn down money.

But after calming down and weighing the pros and cons, he still chose to decline. It wasn't that he disliked endorsing games, as long as it was a well-made game with a normal operation and player ecosystem.

It's a good thing that Gu Qing's endorsement can be mutually beneficial, and may even attract fans from other sectors to pay attention to the game, or help her increase her own popularity through the game.

However, shows like "The Journey of Flower" rely purely on the popularity of the TV series and have a simplistic format.

He has no interest in "rebranded" mobile games that aim to exploit the nostalgia and wallets of drama fans, and he is also afraid of overdrawing his credibility and the trust of his fans.

If Gu Qing can get ten million, the game company will definitely be hoping to earn tens of millions or even more from his fans and drama fans.

On the contrary...

"I remember when 'Love O2O' aired, it was sponsored by the game 'A Chinese Ghost Story,' right?"

Gu Qing's thoughts drifted to her new drama, which she had just finished filming.

He thought of this MMORPG game that had a certain reputation and player base in the country.

"When 'Love O2O' airs, given its popularity,..."
The team behind "A Chinese Ghost Story" from NetEase will most likely approach me to discuss a collaboration for endorsement or a custom theme song.

Gu Qing felt that this was very likely.

"It would be good to prepare in advance."

He thought to himself.

If it's a collaboration with a mainstream game like "A Chinese Ghost Story" that has a large scale and a stable player base,
Whether it's endorsements or releasing songs, it will seem more "high-end" and more secure.

While watching the familiar plot on TV,

Gu Qing's thoughts drifted uncontrollably toward her future path.

At most by the end of this year,
This vampire company of theirs is doomed.

After being free from any constraints and limitations

Gu Qing is naturally capable of "soaring freely in the sky and leaping freely in the sea," so setting up his own independent studio is an inevitable choice.

But he will have to steer his own course from now on.

How exactly do I get there?
In which direction should we exert our force?
Deep down, Gu Qing couldn't help but feel a little confused and needed to carefully plan ahead.

Currently,

His two hit dramas, "The Journey of Flower" and "The Imperial Doctress", have successfully "gone overseas" and been introduced to some Asian countries.

He seems to be particularly popular with female fans in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand.

When Gu Qing went to film the location for "Detective Chinatown" last time, she was deeply moved and felt the enthusiasm of the local fans.

He even saw the original novel of "The Journey of Flower" translated into Thai in some local bookstores.

As for "The Imperial Doctress"
It was largely thanks to her senior sister's influence that it was introduced to the South Korean market.

However, Gu Qing wasn't really sure about the actual effect and response after the broadcast, since he didn't participate in the overseas revenue sharing for that drama, so the attention it received was naturally not that high.

But the currently airing drama "Nirvana in Fire"
But that's completely different.

Gu Qing clearly remembered that in her previous life, the popularity of "Nirvana in Fire" after its conclusion was phenomenal.

It not only became a hit in mainland China,
Surprisingly, the show achieved impressive viewership ratings in Taiwan and Hong Kong, a province known for its xenophobic tendencies, breaking the long-held record held by mainland dramas.

This truly gave Lao Hu's career a second spring after the Legend of Sword and Fairy series.

and,

The overseas viewership ratings were also extremely impressive.

The show has been introduced to countries in Southeast Asia and even Africa. In China, it has been making headlines in countries like Japan and South Korea, where it has broken viewership records for Chinese-language TV.

of course,

The audience for Chinese-language TV is already small, and the number of viewers each day is not large, but since it has managed to break through, it must be of a certain standard.

and,

It doesn't matter how many people watch it overseas; what matters is making domestic viewers and fans think that there are many overseas viewers.

Essentially, it's about elevating the artist's status and increasing their international recognition.

Overall, Nirvana in Fire

It is the most successful TV series in China's cultural import to the outside world in the past two decades.

Gu Qing felt that once the series reached its peak popularity in the later stages of its run, she could arrange for her own team to take over.
Make a big deal out of this, promote it well, and further enhance your industry status and commercial value.

Making money only domestically is pointless.

He really wanted to earn some foreign exchange; that would be truly satisfying.

only,
Gu Qing's approach is not like that of some artists who rush to "go overseas" before establishing a firm foothold in China, temporarily abandoning the huge domestic market to play a minor supporting role in Hollywood.

In Gu Qing's opinion, this was a choice only a fool would make.

Chinese celebrities, especially top stars, enjoy unparalleled "nobility" in terms of pay, treatment, and fan support worldwide.

Only a lunatic wouldn't want to stay peacefully in this golden nest.

People like Tang Wei, who frequented South Korea, or Wang Jiaer, who broke into the mainstream circles of Europe and America, essentially left for overseas because they couldn't make it in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Tang Wei was limited by certain film themes in her early years.

Wang Jiaer, on the other hand, was completely out of step with the local style.

The exaggerated and outgoing variety show style he cultivated in South Korea is completely unsuitable for domestic variety shows, and even appears awkward.

Gu Qing vaguely remembered that Wang Jiaer later appeared on "Running Man" and was criticized by many viewers for his overly exaggerated reactions and game performance.

In the "naive and innocent" track, their own Lay is already the ceiling.

In addition,

His Mandarin is only so-so, his height and appearance are not a significant advantage in the fiercely competitive domestic film and television industry, he lacks resources, and professional music performance stages in China are practically nonexistent...

With all these factors combined, going overseas became a way out for him.

but,

Wang Jiaer has indeed lived up to expectations, making a name for himself internationally through his music and stage performances, becoming the male artist with the most fans overseas in the Chinese-speaking world.

His concerts attract a large number of white and black fans who are willing to buy tickets to support him, which is a testament to his genuine talent.

Gu Qing's desired path is completely different from those of these people.

Today is different from the past,
In the past, if a big star in China wanted to go to Hollywood, they had to "kneel and lick" their boots, adopting an extremely humble attitude, in order to get a minor supporting role with very little screen time, or even one that might be stereotypical.

However, with the significant improvement of comprehensive national strength and the continuous enhancement of cultural confidence, there is now absolutely no need for you to deliberately speak English, cater to Western aesthetics, or act like a "grandson".

Great Confucian scholars naturally emerged to debate the classics on his behalf.

Idol dramas, games, travel, food, abstract culture, traditional culture...

It has shone brightly on the TikTok platform and become a mainstream phenomenon sought after overseas.

As a minor shareholder of Adou, Gu Qing could have easily taken advantage of the platform to capture the first wave of overseas traffic.

In terms of music, his ancient-style songs are absolutely capable of conquering Southeast Asia.

As for film and television works

Gu Qing felt that she could focus on idol dramas in the next few years.

Historical romance, sweet romance, school romance...

In any case, no matter the subject matter, it always has to be prefixed with the word "idol".

This is the real huge benefit!
With the strategic transformation of the South Korean film and television industry over the next two years, it is gradually abandoning the previously invincible sweet romance idol drama genre.

They turned to Netflix's preferred style of dark, violent, and realistic themes that depict deep aspects of human nature.

The influence of traditional "Korean Wave" idol culture has plummeted.

·
While shows like *Dark Glory* and *The Squid Game* have achieved global success, they attract "TV series fans"—those who appreciate the quality of the shows themselves.

Rather than "fans" with fanatical emotions towards the actor personally.

Without a pretty face and a captivating persona, why would young viewers go crazy for you and keep spending money on you?
On the contrary, actors in mainland Chinese period dramas and romantic comedies, who have been despised and criticized by some domestic viewers for their "industrial saccharin" acting style,

By a twist of fate, they capitalized on the overseas market gap left by the decline of the Korean Wave.

Because of the language barrier and the heavy use of beauty filters, as long as the actors are good-looking and the plot is "sweet" and "exciting," it's acceptable.
Those young people overseas don't care whether the plot logic is rigorous or not.

Mainland Chinese idol actors who have opened accounts on overseas platforms can each amass hundreds of thousands or even millions of overseas fans.
The comments section was filled with "dream men" and "dream women" in various languages, expressing their love and fantasies.

The tips these people give, the celebrity merchandise they buy, the brand value they bring to the celebrities... all of these are real, hard cash!
"We must plan ahead and seize this opportunity!"

After one episode of "The Journey of Flower" finished airing, the TV entered a commercial break. Gu Qing lowered her eyelids slightly, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.
"For every drama we produce from now on, we must find a way to secure overseas revenue-sharing contracts..."

His foresight was also out of necessity.

Following this year's major tax upheaval in the entertainment industry, in addition to the well-known tax audit issues,
In next year,
Another measure that would be a "fatal blow" to all popular artists is about to be introduced—a salary cap.

This will directly lead to a significant reduction in actors' salaries.

Gu Qing must prepare in advance and explore new income channels that are not directly or minimally affected by the salary restriction order.

Overseas copyrights and revenue sharing from derivative products are undoubtedly a crucial part of this process.

"If necessary... we can even invest in acquiring the rights to popular novels and hiring people to adapt them into films."

Or they could bring their own investment to the project in exchange for a higher percentage of profits and more control…

Gu Qing's thinking became clearer, and he began to devise more specific operational plans.

Just then, his phone chimed softly, interrupting his thoughts.

It was a message from Dalinzi:
"Qing-ge, I'm downstairs at your hotel. The car is parked right outside, a black Buick with the license plate ending in 368."

……

...(End of chapter)