Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

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"Qing-ge'er, over here!"

Guo, wearing black round-framed glasses, was leaning against a black SUV, waving his arms vigorously.

His cheeks were rather round, and when he smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits. He was a handsome and cheerful chubby boy, and very popular with the audience.

Xiao Guo's gaze was precisely fixed on the young man outside the hotel, who, despite being fully armed, still stood tall and exuded an outstanding aura.

Xiao Guo recognized Gu Qing at a glance.

"Dalin, why are you being so polite? I'll take the passenger seat."

Gu Qing walked over in a few steps, smiling as she gently patted Xiao Guo's sturdy shoulder.

He didn't ask Xiao Guo for help; he deftly opened the passenger door and got in.

Only in the relatively private space inside the car did he finally remove his "armor," taking off his sunglasses, mask, and hat one by one.

As the true face was revealed, a face that seemed to have been meticulously sculpted by the Creator appeared before our eyes.

Every line of his facial features is perfectly proportioned, and when combined, they create a breathtakingly handsome appearance.

Especially her eyes, clear as black jade soaked in a stream, with slightly upturned corners, yet when she smiled, they rippled with gentle tenderness.

"Qing-ge'er, you are so handsome."

Xiao Guo hurriedly got into the car from the other side, and upon seeing Gu Qing's face up close and without any obstruction, his breath caught in his throat, and he exclaimed sincerely,

"In all my life, this is the first time I've ever seen someone who looks like you."

"Dalin, being handsome can't put food on the table. I didn't even eat breakfast properly, and I'm just waiting for you to make arrangements on an empty stomach."

Gu Qing skillfully steered the conversation toward today's topic.

"Qing-ge'er, don't worry. I wouldn't dare boast about anything else, but when it comes to eating, I wouldn't say I've eaten my way through every nook and cranny of Beijing, but I'm definitely one of the best!"

Dalin thumped his chest loudly, and then humorously patted his rather large belly, which obligingly jiggled with his movement.
"Look, this is the best proof. These are all valuable experiences and 'wealth' accumulated over the years."

"Okay, then I'll go with you today."

Gu Qing was amused by his honest appearance and laughed out loud. She fastened her seatbelt and said, "Let's go."

"Ah...just the two of us?"

Xiao Guo skillfully started the car and was about to step on the gas when he suddenly realized something, paused for a moment, and turned to look at Gu Qing, "Brother Qing, aren't you bringing an assistant? Where are the bodyguards?"

He specifically rented this spacious SUV, thinking he would need to carry at least three or five staff members.

"Why bring assistants and bodyguards to a private gathering with friends? It feels so uncomfortable. Just the two of us."

Gu Qing adjusted his posture and spoke casually.

"Qing-ge'er, you're really different from all the big shots I've met."

A casual "friend" made Xiao Guo feel as if a warm breeze had blown through his heart, making him feel very comfortable.

As he smoothly drove the car into the lane, he remarked, "Back when I went out with my mentor for social events, all the celebrities I met, regardless of their status, were always accompanied by their managers, assistants, makeup artists, and bodyguards..."

A huge, imposing group, shouting and yelling—quite a grand spectacle!

"By the way, Dalin, have you seen Brother Ruoyun recently?"

Gu Qing asked with a smile.

"Him?"

Xiao Guo, holding the steering wheel, said with a hint of complaint, "He's either filming on set or inseparable from his girlfriend, they're practically Siamese twins. He's completely forgotten about us brothers."

"Qing-ge'er, let's not talk about that ungrateful fellow today. Let's focus on what I'm going to do first and take you to taste the most authentic flavors of old Beijing!"

"The food in Beiping is not about high-end cuisine, but about the roadside stalls that ordinary people loved during the late Qing Dynasty, such as roast duck, braised pork offal, tripe, fried liver, hand-cut hot pot meat, braised noodles, fried sauce noodles, fried meatballs, boiled mutton head... all of which are top-notch."

"Qing-ge'er, what would you like to eat first?"

As expected of a crosstalk performer, Xiao Guo recited the names of the dishes without pausing at all, which whetted Gu Qing's appetite.

"Let's have something light for breakfast first, and then we can have some meat at noon."

Gu Qing said hesitantly.

"Alright, the best tofu pudding in Beiping is Zeng Sheng Kui's, right? We should be able to catch it if we go now."

Xiao Guo immediately accelerated.

along the way,

He also introduced Gu Qing to many authentic local delicacies in Beiping, which greatly broadened his knowledge.

Gu Qingchang thought that Quanjude roast duck was a famous brand, but Da Linzi belittled it to the point of being worthless.

"Hey, who from Beijing eats at Quanjude?"

"This is all a scam to fool tourists from other places."

"Qing-ge'er, next time you come to the capital to eat Peking duck, either go to Siji Minfu or Bianyifang."

"Siji Minfu's roast duck is roasted in an open oven, resulting in crispy skin, firm and tender meat, and a rich aroma. Paired with thin, chewy lotus leaf pancakes and a perfectly balanced sweet and savory sweet bean sauce, wow, the flavor is truly exceptional!"

Bianyifang is no less impressive. Don't let the cheap name fool you; the taste is truly excellent. The duck skin is thick and crispy, the meat is tender and juicy, and the flavor is milder, making it suitable for those who prefer a less greasy taste..."

Xiao Guo transformed into a seasoned gourmand, sharing and explaining at length:

Examples include: braised pork offal at Beixinqiao, fried liver at Yuanzhaoji, hand-cut hot pot at Ya'er Liji, and braised noodles at Changranju…

Precise down to a single store.

Gu Qing then ate her fill at each restaurant she visited.

When there are no cameras, no assistants, and you are completely covered up, no one will know who you are.

Aside from attracting some suspicious glances from people in Chaoyang District, Gu Qing enjoyed her meal with Xiao Guo, feeling comfortable and happy.

From the school's vibrant energy to the everyday life of the city,
This truly healed Gu Qing's anxious and depressed mood.

We strolled along, stopping frequently, and tried our way through seven or eight small shops. It was getting close to afternoon.

Both of them were feeling a bit full, so they found a famous teahouse called "Zhang Yiyuan" and asked for a quiet private room on the second floor to have some flower tea to help them digest.

The aroma of tea wafted through the air, creating a tranquil atmosphere in the private room.

Looking at Gu Qing, who was sitting opposite him with her eyes closed and a smile on her lips, Xiao Guo felt that the time was about right.

He hesitated for a moment, then rubbed his hands together and said cautiously, "Qing-ge'er, tonight... how about you come to my house for dinner?"

"Go to your home?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qing tilted his head slightly, his impeccable profile appearing even more handsome in the soft light of the teahouse.

He chuckled and said, "Aren't you afraid I'll get into a verbal fight with Teacher Guo?"

"Uh...it's not him, it's not his house."

Xiao Guo quickly waved his hand and explained, "It's my master, Teacher Yu Qian's house."

I spent most of my childhood growing up with my master, so it's become a habit that whenever I think of home, that's where I think of him.

He scratched his head sheepishly, "It's my master. He knew you were coming and specifically told me to invite you to his home for a casual dinner tonight."

"Did Teacher Yu invite me to dinner?"

Gu Qing sat up straight, picked up the white porcelain covered bowl in front of her, and gently stirred the floating leaves. The elegant fragrance of oolong tea and osmanthus was refreshing.

His face showed obvious surprise. "Why?"

"This one……"

Xiao Guo was quick-witted and knew that it was pointless to try to outsmart someone as clever as Gu Qing; it would only make him look bad. So he spoke frankly, "I guess my master thought I got along well with you."
He wants me to formally acknowledge you as his elder brother, and hopes you can take care of me in the industry in the future.

He didn't take Gu Qing for a naive fool. Da Linzi knew exactly what was going on.

My Qing-ge is so young, yet he has managed to achieve such status, reputation, and wealth in the complex entertainment industry. His intelligence, vision, and methods are all indispensable.

Rather than hiding things and making the other person suspicious, it's better to be honest and tell them the truth, which will earn you genuine goodwill.

This is true.

Gu Qing didn't feel uncomfortable hearing such frank and undisguised truth.

"all right."

Gu Qing put down his teacup and readily agreed, "I'm also a fan of Teacher Yu's crosstalk, so I'll bother you tonight."

He then asked, "By the way, Dalin, what kind of tea does Teacher Yu usually like to drink? Longjing? Pu'er? Or Tieguanyin?"

We'll be at the tea shop later, so I'll bring a few as a small gift.

"Uh...this..."

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Xiao Guo's face. "Brother Qing, my uncle likes to drink alcohol, but he doesn't like to drink tea."

Gu Qing was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and shook her head, "This...this is indeed Teacher Yu's usual style."

Considering that Mr. Qian is perceived by the public as a playful, enjoyable, and unrestrained person, his fondness for wine is indeed more in line with his public image than his love for tea.

but,

We should still observe proper etiquette.

Before leaving, Gu Qing carefully selected several high-quality flower teas with different aromas to pack and take with her.

"Qing-ge'er, don't worry, I've already told my uncle a thousand times to make sure he and Uncle Wu don't team up to get you drunk."

Xiao Guo helped Gu Qing put the packaged flower tea into the trunk, and thoughtfully added a note.

"I just don't like drinking with people I don't know well in social situations. But it's fine to have a couple of drinks occasionally with trusted friends in a safe environment to relax."

Gu Qing fastened her seatbelt and looked up to ask, "By the way, who is this Uncle Wu you mentioned earlier?"

"Wu Jing, Uncle Wu Jing, do you know him?"

Xiao Guo returned to the driver's seat and started the car while explaining, "He is my Uncle Qian's best friend. I heard that our families have known each other since our ancestors' time, and we have a very close relationship."

Uncle Wu Jing started his career as a martial arts star and spent many years developing his career in Hong Kong and Guangdong, where he filmed numerous action movies.

Later, as he got older and accumulated too many injuries, he could no longer play sports, so he transitioned into directing.

The wildly popular movie "Wolf Warrior" from a few years ago was written, directed, and starred by him.

"Qing-ge'er? Do you... know Uncle Wu Jing?"

When Xiao Guo didn't hear a response, he turned his head in confusion and found that Gu Qing seemed a little distracted, staring out the window with an unfocused gaze. So he called out softly again.

"Teacher Wu Jing?"

Gu Qing snapped out of her daze, turned around, and wore a peculiar expression that was a mixture of realization and subtlety on her face. "I know him, of course I know him."

"His wife had even added me in the phone number before."

"ah?!!"

In an instant,
Xiao Guo's eyes widened and his mouth opened so wide it could fit an egg, as if he had heard some earth-shattering news that could ignite the entertainment industry!

real or fake? !
If this were true, wouldn't Uncle Wu Jing bring a tank and fight Qing Ge'er to the death?!

Xiao Guo was terrified.

"Dalin, stop! What nonsense are you thinking?"

Gu Qingyi immediately realized that the chubby boy had misunderstood when he saw Xiao Guo's utterly dismayed expression.
She was immediately at a loss for words, explaining, "It was at an event where Teacher Xie Nan was the host, and she asked for my autograph. It was that simple, just a normal work-related interaction."

"Oh... I see..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Guo let out a long sigh of relief, looking as if he had just been shaken. "I thought Uncle Wu was going to leave with nothing this time."

halfway,
To ease the awkwardness from before, and to give Gu Qing a "preview" in advance, Xiao Guo started to talk non-stop about Wu Jing's various interesting stories and anecdotes.

For example, Wu Jing is known as a "henpecked husband." His wife, Xie Nan, is very strict and doesn't allow him to touch alcohol at all.

When he craved alcohol, he could only sneak over to his Uncle Qian's house, where the two brothers would lock themselves in and have a few drinks to satisfy their cravings.

For example,
Uncle Wu Jing's alcohol tolerance is actually not very good, but he just loves to drink, and when he gets drunk, he behaves in all sorts of strange ways.

Sometimes she would cling to Uncle Qian's arm and cry, and other times she would get excited and start bragging about everything under the sun.
He always boasted that his family was a legitimate martial arts champion, and that he practiced genuine family skills that he rarely showed to others.

Then he started giving his opinions, commenting on the martial arts stars he had worked with in the past, saying that they were all just flashy but ineffective and easily defeated... In short, a whole bunch of interesting stories.

Xiao Guo spoke vividly, and Gu Qing listened with great interest.

Amidst these lighthearted and enjoyable conversations, the car drove through the bustling city center and into a relatively quiet residential area.

Before we knew it, the sun had already begun to set in the west, and the sky was tinged with large patches of orange-red, heralding the arrival of dusk.

Xiao Guo led Gu Qing upstairs in the elevator. He had just taken out his key and inserted it into the lock, but before he could even turn it, he could faintly hear a slightly noisy sound coming from inside the door.

As soon as he opened the door with a "click," the sound became clearer and flooded into their ears like a tidal wave.

"Brother! My dear brother! My heart is breaking! I'm so sad!!"

A middle-aged man's voice, clearly drunk and filled with sobs, was wailing loudly and emotionally.

"Waaaaah... Brother Qian, please help me again!"
I poured my heart and soul into this lousy movie, risking everything, even mortgaging my house to the bank!

"If this project doesn't turn out to be filmed and we end up losing everything... I... I'd rather just stay there and feed the lions. I wouldn't have the face to come back and see you!!"

The wailing, filled with grief and indignation, was extremely penetrating and resounded throughout the entire living room.

Gu Qing and Xiao Guo stood in the entryway, looking at each other in bewilderment.

The scene seems a bit too "enthusiastic".

"Cough-cough-"

Xiao Guo deliberately made his footsteps heavier and coughed twice at the same time, calling out into the room, "Grandpa, I'm back, and I've brought Qing-ge'er along as a guest!"

His words had an immediate effect.

The earth-shattering wailing in the living room stopped abruptly, as if someone had choked it!

Then,

Then came a flurry of slightly chaotic and hurried movements—the crisp sound of bowls and chopsticks clattering together, and the screeching of chair legs scraping against the floor.

And there was a rustling sound, like someone quickly tidying up something.

"Oh, you two have already started drinking?"

Xiao Guo suppressed a laugh and led Gu Qing towards the living room.

In the center of the living room stood a solid wood dining table, its surface littered with cups and plates, and several classic appetizers: peanuts, braised beef, and cold shredded pig's ear.

Two men, one middle-aged and one older, sat facing each other. One was Yu Qian, who had a smiling face and a slightly flushed expression.

another,
Wu Jing, on the other hand, was flushed red, whether from being unable to hold his liquor or for some other reason, it was unclear.

"Good evening, Teacher Yu and Teacher Wu. I apologize for bothering you."

Gu Qing placed the flower tea gift bag on the cabinet next to her, stepped forward, and greeted them politely.

"Hey, you must be Gu Qing?"
"Come on in, come on in! You're too kind, child. You've already come all this way, why did you bring anything?"

Yu Qian's eyes lit up when he saw Gu Qing.

The young man before me was tall and handsome, far surpassing the ordinary in appearance. What was even more remarkable was his calm and gentle demeanor, which made people feel good at first sight.

He quickly and warmly greeted them, while craning his neck and calling out towards the kitchen, "Huiming! Huiming! Stop what you're doing, Dalin has brought a friend back!"

"Dalin is back?"

With a gentle voice, a woman wearing a floral apron, with a kind face and eyes that bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Guo, came out of the kitchen carrying the last plate of fruit.

She placed the fruit plate on the table, wiped it on her apron, and then noticed the gift on the shelf. She gave Gu Qing a slightly reproachful look, but still smiled and took it, placing it aside. "You must be Gu Qing? Oh my, this child… he's so handsome! Much better looking than on TV or in photos!"

The woman looked Gu Qing up and down, her eyes filled with undisguised fondness and amazement, her tone warm and natural.

"Hello, Auntie, I'm sorry to trouble you."

Gu Qing smiled shyly.

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all, please have a seat, please have a seat."

"You and Dalin, go and talk to your master and the others for a bit. I'll go cook a couple more hot dishes, they'll be ready soon!"

The woman looked at the handsome and well-mannered young man in front of her and liked him more and more.

She thought to herself that her son, Dalin, should make more friends with such outstanding and upright children.

After she finished greeting everyone, she turned around and hurried into the kitchen.

"Master's wife, do you need my help?"

Dalin asked a question out of habit.

"No need, no need. You young people chat as you please, keep your master and Uncle Wu company and have a good talk. I'll be here soon!"

The woman's voice came from the kitchen, accompanied by the crisp sound of chopping vegetables.

"Sister Huiming, that's really unfair of you!"

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wu Jing quickly interrupted, trying to divert attention and ease the embarrassment of his earlier outburst.

"Why is it that when I come, you only stir-fry cucumber salad, but as soon as Gu Qing arrives, you want to add more dishes? The difference in treatment is too obvious!"

Every time you come here, you arrive empty-handed, eating and drinking for free and even taking things away. Every time you bring my husband, Lao Yu, who's completely drunk!
I was being polite by not letting you eat peanut shells with your drinks!

The woman's dissatisfied voice rang out.

"Hahaha--"

Yu Qian burst into laughter at his wife's words, clearly already used to this way of getting along.

He again invited Gu Qing and Xiao Guo to sit down next to him.

Xiao Guo deftly brought a chair for Gu Qing, then got up, picked up a wine bottle, and refilled Yu Qian and Wu Jing's empty glasses with practiced ease.

As he poured the wine, he said with a smile, "Uncle, Uncle Wu, Qing-ge has work scheduled for tomorrow and can't drink. I'll make him some of the flower tea we bought today; it tastes really good."

If you two have had enough to drink, you can try some more while you're sobering up, just to change things up.

"Drinking tea? Drinking tea is so boring!"

Wu Jing was clearly quite drunk. He waved his hand with a sorrowful expression, "The sorrow in my heart is like a tangled rope. Only wine can burn it off. A good drink can wash away a thousand sorrows!"

"Dalin, your Uncle Wu... he's been having some trouble filming lately."

Yu Qian took a sip of baijiu, picked up the conversation, and offered an explanation.

"Filming?"

Gu Qing pricked up her ears curiously, showing a bit of interest in watching the drama unfold.

"What difficulties are you facing, Uncle Wu? Look how worried you are."

Following up on the conversation, Xiao Guo asked a question, providing Wu Jing with an outlet to confide in him.

"Difficulties? There are plenty!"

Wu Jing felt as if a switch had been flipped, and the alcohol mixed with his sorrow surged up.

He excitedly counted on his fingers, listing each item one by one, "Investment, actors, filming locations, permits, security..."

Everywhere is a mess, nothing is going smoothly!

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and suddenly slapped his thigh: "Dalin, you have no idea, I'm almost bankrupt because of making this movie!"

Saying,

Wu Jing picked up the wine glass that had just been filled and drank it all in one gulp.

The strong liquor burned his throat, causing him to let out a suppressed cough.

His eyes were red, and his voice was hoarse with a barely perceptible sob: "If this continues... the film won't be finished, the funding will dry up, and your sister-in-law... your sister-in-law might really break up with me!"

This is by no means an exaggeration.

This was indeed the lowest and most difficult period of his life.

After his first self-directed and self-starring film, "Wolf Warrior," achieved good reviews and box office success, earning him a small fortune, he was ambitious and resolutely launched the even larger-scale "Wolf Warrior 2."

however,
This script was too ambitious, requiring filming on location in Africa and coordinating a large amount of military equipment and explosion scenes. The production cost snowballed and quickly soared to over 2 million!
To know,
His film "Wolf Warrior 1" only cost 2700 million yuan to produce. This is almost ten times that amount!
This is just the production cost; the subsequent marketing and distribution expenses are astronomical.

The subject matter he chose was modern military action films, which are relatively niche and not well-regarded in the domestic market.

Savvy investors, faced with such high costs and an uncertain market outlook, quickly backed out.
They either refuse outright or relentlessly try to drive down the price, with conditions so harsh they're unacceptable.

If we hadn't been forced into a corner...
He wouldn't have the heart to mortgage his only house to the bank and beg for money everywhere, almost to the point of desperation.

"Uncle Wu, you can't drink like that anymore, it's too bad for your health."

Xiao Guo was startled by Wu Jing's reckless drinking and quickly comforted him, "If there are any difficulties, we can all work together to find a solution."

"A solution? I've already begged my good brother to think of a solution!"

As Wu Jing spoke, he stared at Yu Qian beside him with his bloodshot, pleading eyes.

Yu Qian didn't speak, but frowned and slowly sipped the baijiu in his glass, his expression unusually serious.

After a long silence, he sighed heavily, as if he had made up his mind, and slammed his wine glass on the table with a crisp sound.

"Kyoko!"

Yu Qian's voice carried a sense of recklessness, "Alright, look at your tearful state, I'm going to risk it all this time."

Seeing Wu Jing's eyes suddenly light up, he said in a deep voice, "Okay, I'll come find you after I've settled these things on my plate!"

“Where are you going?!”

Da Linzi asked, puzzled.

“Africa,” Yu Qian repeated.

"Africa?!!!"

Xiao Guo's voice suddenly rose, becoming shrill and cracking, "Grandpa! What kind of international joke are you making! How old are you? Is that a place you can go?"

With war and plague raging, are you out of your mind?!

He was so anxious he almost jumped off his chair.

Wu Jing opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but in the end it turned into a helpless sigh.

Actually, the climate there is quite comfortable, not as unbearably hot as the internet makes it out to be.

however,
It is an undeniable fact that the medical conditions there are poor, the sanitation is inadequate, and life is difficult.

Several of the staff he recruited have fallen ill due to acclimatization issues, malaria, and other reasons.

Even some actors who had signed contracts couldn't bear the hardships and potential dangers on location and preferred to pay penalties to return home.

Wu Jing is truly backed into a corner. His request for Yu Qian to play a cameo role in the movie wasn't just out of brotherly affection;
It was a desperate measure taken when all other options were exhausted.

He needs Yu Qian's fame and popularity to add a "star quality" to the film, thereby attracting investors who won't invest until they see results.

Many people believe that the investment in making a movie is all transferred to the production team's account before filming begins.

Actually it is not.

Investors are shrewd as monkeys; their investment in a film is phased and heavily reliant on assessing the project's prospects.

One of the most important criteria for evaluation is the film's cast, commonly known as "star power."

With many celebrities and big names around, investors are willing to pour money in, and they're quick to provide it.

If there are few celebrities or they are not well-known enough, then investment will be stingy, or even withdrawn midway.

To exaggerate a bit,

Sometimes, whether a movie can start filming smoothly, or even be released in the end, depends on whether there are enough actors with enough influence to nod their heads or even help pull strings.

Without actors who can carry the show, you can't even get the production crew together.

Wu Jing's plan was to recruit Yu Qian, the "Queen of Crosstalk" who enjoyed immense popularity among the public, into her team.
Even if it's just a guest appearance for a few days, they can use Yu Qian's name to "fool"... no, to persuade those investors.
Let them see the project's potential, and then trick them into investing.

to this end,

He even asked the screenwriter to add a rich second-generation character to the script.

I originally wanted to invite Mr. Wang from Dawan Company to make a cameo appearance.

As long as this old man goes, what investment can't he get?

But when Principal Wang heard that he was going to that godforsaken place, the grasslands, to feed mosquitoes and possibly face all sorts of uncertain risks, he immediately refused.

He's used to a life of luxury; would he be crazy to go and suffer like that? Naturally, he wouldn't even want to see Wu Jing.

"That's right! Gu Qing...!"

Just as things were looking gloomy and dejected, Wu Jing's gaze inadvertently swept over Gu Qing, who was sitting quietly to the side.

Those eyes, which had been somewhat dim, suddenly burst forth with an astonishing light, like two high-powered searchlights, instantly locking onto the young "treasure" before them!
"Professor Wu."

Gu Qing felt the almost tangible, burning gaze and had no choice but to turn her head away.

Meeting Wu Jing's burning gaze, she forced a polite yet awkward smile and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Hey! Why call me teacher? That's too formal!"

Wu Jing practically dragged the stool over to sit next to Gu Qing, his face beaming with a smile that seemed especially "bright" due to the alcohol and his eagerness.
"Just call me 'Brother,' or 'Brother Jing,' it'll sound more intimate!"

He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and asked tentatively and expectantly, "Gu Qing, I heard... you and that young master Wang from Dawan Company... have a pretty good relationship?"

He was desperate and grasped at any possible lifeline.

Looking at the undisguised longing in his eyes, Gu Qing sighed softly and chose to tell the truth:

"Teacher Wu, you may have misunderstood."

My relationship with him is very bad.

He used me to generate buzz before, which I found very offensive, so I deleted his contact information.

Our relationship is far from as good as the rumors online; in fact, you could say it's... a bit strained.

"This...is like this..."

Wu Jing's expectation vanished instantly, turning into a bitter sigh.

He shook his head, not pressing the matter further, and instead asked, "Then... Gu Qing, what brings you to the capital this time? How come you're hanging out with Da Lin?"

He remembered that Gu Qing and Da Guo seemed to have some disagreements.

"Guo and I only have some differences in our ideas. We had a brief exchange, and it's nothing like any deep-seated hatred between us."

Gu Qing explained with a smile, "I just finished filming a movie in the capital and had a few days to myself, so I asked Da Lin to show me around and help me relax."

"Just finished filming?!"

Wu Jing caught this key word; his nostrils flared slightly with excitement, and he seemed to sober up considerably from the alcohol. His voice unconsciously rose in pitch.

"So...you're going to take a break for a while afterward?!"

His heart was pounding wildly!
To hell with Young Master Wang! What kind of rich, handsome guy is that?!
The person in front of you is the real walking god of wealth, the universally recognized box office lucky charm in the entertainment industry!

As long as we can find a way to "trick" Gu Qing into joining our production team, even if it's just for a cameo role, we're not afraid of investors coming to us with money in hand.
Why worry about insufficient funding?!

Those investors who are superstitious about feng shui and luck have almost blind faith in Gu Qing, a "lucky charm" whose works have all been box office hits since his debut and who has never failed!
In Wu Jing's fiery passion,

Gu Qing paused for a moment, then nodded frankly: "Yes, I just finished filming a movie, and I do plan to take a break and rest for a while."

I might travel around, go on trips, and relax.

He watched as the excitement that instantly ignited in Wu Jing's eyes, almost forming a tangible flame, flashed through them.
With a vague suspicion in mind, she added, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Teacher Wu, the way you look at me... you wouldn't happen to be trying to lure me into your film crew, would you?"

He paused, then his tone became more serious: "I don't mind traveling abroad and experiencing different customs and cultures."

But, Ms. Wu, I'm very expensive.

Gu Qing made a gesture.
"After filming the last movie, I received a share of the 300 million yuan salary. Even without the share, my salary would still start at 50 to 60 million yuan."

"Mr. Wu, you should understand my current commercial value; I'm not showing off."

As soon as these words came out,
Not only was Guo, who was trying to persuade Grandpa Qian, stunned, but even Wu Jing was given a cold shower.

"Qing-ge, you really have 3 million?!"

Xiao Guo was stunned. "I thought it was just something made up online."

"No, I didn't make that up. I get a 10% cut."

Gu Qing said, "If 'Detective Chinatown' had flopped, I would have flopped too. But I was lucky. 'Detective Chinatown' made money and grossed 30 billion yuan at the box office."

"Three billion in box office revenue?"

Wu Jing's throat bobbed, his envy almost bursting out of his throat.

Three billion!

If his movies could reach even half the level of "Detective Chinatown," he'd be laughing in his sleep.

"Qing-ge'er, you're too modest. I've seen the movie too, and your performance was brilliant."

Xiao Guo said admiringly, "Many of my friends went to the cinema because of you. You can say that your fans are all over the country now."

Upon hearing this,
Wu Jing's breathing quickened, his expression shifting and conflicted. Finally, he made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and said, "Gu Qing, if Brother Jing can really come up with this money, would you be willing to make a cameo appearance in my film crew?"

"Uncle Wu, you're not going to sell your kidney, are you?"

Xiao Guo was taken aback.

The house is already mortgaged, so what else can they sell besides people?
"I'll tie you up and sell you!"

Wu Jing said irritably,
Then he looked at Gu Qing and said with a pained expression, "To be honest, if it really comes to money, I really can't come up with it."

"But... my Wolf Warrior series has a good reputation. The first one cost more than 2000 million yuan to produce and grossed 5 million yuan at the box office. It definitely has a solid audience base."

"I've invested so much money in this film, the production cost has increased tenfold, the sets and script are definitely better than the previous one, and the box office will certainly not be worse than the first one!"

Wu Jing spoke with great passion and fervor.

Gu Qing remained calm and listened quietly.

That's what every director tells investors.

If money could really buy good productions, there wouldn't be so many terrible dramas.

Gu Qing's reaction was perfectly normal.

Wu Jing could understand, so this time, he had no choice but to bleed money outright. "I'll use my film's profit share to offset your salary, how about that?"

"Just for Da Lin's sake, do me a favor. My crew is really short of an actor."

"I know life in Africa is tough, but I promise, I'll finish filming all your scenes in 10 to 15 days at most!"

"Ten days to half a month?"

Gu Qing hesitated, then asked, "Teacher Wu, you're not lying to me, it's only 10 days to half a month?"

"Really, it'll only be half a month at most. If I lied to you and stayed an extra day, I'd lose 100 million in box office revenue."

Wu Jing looked at Gu Qing with utmost sincerity.

...(End of chapter)