Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 496 Wu Jing: I Jumped Off the Building

……

After a flurry of activity, Wu Tong finally breathed a sigh of relief upon confirming that Dilraba was unharmed except for a slight redness and swelling on her forehead.

He secretly rejoiced that nothing serious had happened.

His "career" and "personal safety" are temporarily saved.

He composed himself, picked up the megaphone again, and his tone regained its usual air of control:
"Alright, the first round of the [Speed and Choice] challenge is over! Now, members who have successfully completed the challenge, please come forward one by one to receive your 'partial memories'!"

Gu Qing walked towards the prop table set up by the production team with a normal expression, even wearing a relaxed smile after completing the task, showing no signs of anything amiss.

However, my middle finger still felt a burning, swollen, and stinging pain, especially the knuckle that had been subjected to the greatest impact when I instinctively gripped the railing.

Gu Qing naturally slipped his left hand into the pocket of his camouflage pants, trying to distract himself a little.

"So this is what it feels like to injure your finger joints."

He silently experienced it in his mind, "First came the intense pain of the impact, then the burning, swollen sensation..."

When I move, there's a sharp, tearing pain; when I'm still, it's a dull, persistent, throbbing pain.

Whether it was the sensitivity brought about by her acting profession or the thinking habits developed from long-term immersion in roles, Gu Qing subconsciously began to "analyze" and "memorize" the layers and textures of this pain at this moment.

He slightly withdrew his attention from the pain itself, and like a calm observer, savored this unfamiliar physiological experience.

"If I ever need to act out scenes of injury or pain in the future, this kind of real experience might come in handy."

This almost "occupational hazard" way of thinking allowed Gu Qing to find a strange point of focus amidst the pain.

He took a specially made tablet computer from a staff member. The screen lit up and played a short, suspenseful VCR clip.

The footage appears to be from a laboratory surveillance camera, and it is somewhat shaky and blurry.

A pair of hands wearing sterile gloves were rapidly operating in front of a computer with flashing warning signs, the keyboard clicking rapidly.

"Warning! The system has been compromised by an unknown hacker! Protection protocol failed to activate! 'City of Light' data stream is being forcibly copied!"

The video is short and contains limited information, but its message is clear.

“It seems… my identity is that of a ‘Guardian’.”

Gu Qing's mind raced as she quickly analyzed the information revealed by this "memory".

He raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over Deng Chao, who was chatting and laughing with others not far away.

Following the common formula of variety show scripts, if someone is the good guy promoting one movie, then Old Deng, who is promoting another movie, is very likely to be the bad guy.

"What's up, little brother?"

Deng Chao keenly caught Gu Qing's gaze and felt a chill run down his spine. "What kind of look is that? Huh? Are you the 'snatcher'?!"

"Everyone be careful, Gu Qing's identity is suspicious!"

Gu Qing didn't reply, but continued to smile, adding to Old Deng's psychological pressure, before handing the tablet back to the staff member.

The four members who gained the "memories" each had their own initial plans.

The program schedule was tight, leaving little time for them to have in-depth conversations or probes. The production team urged everyone to get on the bus immediately and head to the next mission location.

The members began to pair up and ride in the car, either following the hints from the production team or spontaneously. This served as both a break and a time to record interactive segments in the car and deepen their understanding of their "roles".

Liu Shishi actually really wanted to ride in the same car as Gu Qing, even if they didn't talk, just being by his side would make her feel at ease.

But she did not forget one of her most important responsibilities on this trip—to cooperate with the promotion of the movie "The City of Light".

Both publicly and privately, traveling in the same car as Deng Chao would have been a more reasonable choice.

Li Chen and Wang Zhulan, this combination of "Big Black Bull" and "Little Zhuge Liang," came together, one as the strength provider and the other as the cunning provider, forming a wonderful complementary pair.

Chen Chichi and Zheng Kai, these two college roommates, naturally became inseparable.

As one vehicle after another carrying its members started up and drove away from the beach, Gu Qing was thinking of going to find Guo Jingfei, who was alone, to join them.

He had a great fondness for this senior actor who possessed solid acting skills and a wide range of roles.

The other party's works, such as "Longmen Express," are also happy memories of his student days. It would be a good opportunity to chat about acting and learn from each other during the car ride.

"Xiao Gu, wait a minute." Director Wu Tong called out to him.

Gu Qing stopped and turned to look at Wu Tong questioningly.

“Little brother, you and Dilraba are in the same car. A handsome man and a beautiful woman sitting together makes for a beautiful shot.”

Wu Tong stopped Gu Qing and offered to make arrangements.

He's reaping the bitter fruits of the previous season's "yellow-haired couple" situation.

Now that Gu Qing has finally come all this way, he naturally wants to subtly create some buzz and media attention.

"Brother Gu Qing, I might have to trouble you to wait in the car for a moment. I'll be right there!"

Not far away, Dilraba, who was having her makeup artist touch up her makeup and fix her slightly messy hair from running and falling, heard the director's instructions and her eyes lit up slightly. She immediately raised her voice and spoke, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible excitement and eagerness.

She was just worried about not finding a suitable reason to spend more time with Gu Qing, and the director's suggestion was like a divine intervention!
"Sister, please hurry up, hurry up!"

While slightly tilting her head to cooperate with the makeup artist's movements, Dilraba couldn't help but urge him in a low voice, her gaze frequently drifting towards Gu Qing, who had already opened the car door and sat in the back seat of the SUV prepared by the production team.

"Director, am I not handsome?"

At this moment, Huang Zitao, who was applying eyeliner, shouted.

Startled, his makeup artist's fingers trembled, and she misapplied the eyeliner. She quickly apologized with a wry smile, wiped it off, and started to redo it.

"Zitao, you're so handsome."

Wu Tong replied helplessly.

"Then why don't you match me with a beautiful woman?"

Huang Zitao said with dissatisfaction.

He threw a little tantrum.

"Sister, that's fine! It's good enough!"

Dilraba almost stopped the makeup artist from touching up her lip gloss, said something hastily, and strode towards the black SUV where Gu Qing was, not wanting to stay a moment longer.

With a soft "bang," the car door closed, temporarily shutting out the noise from the outside world.

What's going on outside?

The car windows were covered with dark sun-protective film, and the sound insulation was also good. Gu Qing could only vaguely hear some noisy voices, but he couldn't make out the specific content.

He asked Dilraba, who had just settled down and was still slightly out of breath, with some curiosity.

"Uh...it's nothing, it's nothing."

Without even thinking, Dilraba immediately shook her head.

She didn't want to bring Huang Zitao's childish remarks and petty thoughts into the car and ruin this rare moment of being alone with Gu Qing.

"Teachers, may we begin recording the interactive segment inside the car now?"

The cameraman, who was sitting in the passenger seat and had already adjusted the camera angle, turned around and politely inquired.

"Okay, okay."

Dilraba nodded quickly, then subconsciously smoothed a few strands of hair that had been ruffled by the sea breeze on either side of her forehead with her fingers, sat up straight, and adjusted herself to be in the best position for the camera.

Gu Qing also relaxed and leaned back in her chair.

The camera's red light comes on, recording has begun.

"Sister Reba, based on the 'memory' fragments we just obtained, and everyone's reaction today, what do you think is the likelihood that Brother Kai is the 'snatcher'?"

To avoid an awkward atmosphere, Gu Qing took the initiative to start a conversation.

However, before Dilraba could even organize her thoughts to answer—

"Boom boom boom!"

The car window was knocked on.

Dilraba paused for a moment, then rolled down the car window.

Standing outside the door was her executive agent, who handed in a large bag filled with food.

"Dilraba, here, have something to eat if you get hungry on the way. There are also some of your usual snacks."

The paper bag was stuffed into Dilraba's hand, and the agent gave Gu Qing a bright smile in the car before hurriedly leaving.

Gu Qing stared at the rather heavy bag, her expression clearly faltering for a moment. Her eyes widened slightly, and a look of astonishment flashed across her face.

"Little brother, do you want some? I have plenty here..."

Dilraba blushed slightly, and she forced herself to open the bag, trying to defuse the awkwardness by sharing it.

The bag was indeed "richly stocked": two still-steaming hot hamburger meals, several boxes of different flavored popcorn chicken and fries,

Two bottles of yogurt from the program's sponsors, along with some individually packaged nuts, cookies, and other snacks, filled the entire container.

Gu Qing peeked inside and couldn't help but ask, as if to confirm, "You... can you eat all of this?"

This level of influence is beyond what a female celebrity could achieve.

Even a grown man with a good appetite might not be able to finish it in one meal.

"I can eat it! I can eat it!"

Dilraba nodded quickly, trying to make her tone sound natural, "I...I can eat a lot!"

As she spoke, she deftly took out a bottle of yogurt and a box of golden, crispy popcorn chicken, and handed them to Gu Qing. "Here you go, little brother. You must be hungry after running around all day."

Gu Qing was indeed a little hungry; she had used up a lot of energy that morning.

He thanked him, took the yogurt and popcorn chicken, but couldn't help asking, "Aren't you afraid of getting fat eating so much?"

"I...I'm the type of person who can eat anything and not gain weight!"

Dilraba gave a guilty smile, trying her best to sound confident, but her eyes flickered.

As she spoke, she prepared to grab a box of popcorn chicken for herself, her gaze inadvertently falling on Gu Qing's outstretched hand as she took the food.

Gu Qing's right hand has long, slender, fair fingers with distinct knuckles; it's very beautiful.

But Dilraba keenly noticed that his middle finger, especially the second knuckle, was noticeably more red and swollen than the other fingers.
The color was also darker, a purplish-red tinged with bruises, which contrasted sharply with his otherwise clean and beautiful hands.

"younger brother,"

Dilraba put down her food, pointed at Gu Qing's finger, and asked with genuine concern, "What happened to your finger? Why is it swollen?"

"Oh, this. I must have accidentally brushed against something while doing the mission earlier. It's nothing, a minor issue."

Gu Qing brushed it off lightly, then naturally picked up a popcorn chicken with her left hand and put it in her mouth.

The vehicle drove smoothly along the coastal highway leading to the next destination, with lush green trees and occasional glimpses of the azure sea flashing past the window.

The car fell silent for a moment, with only the slight hum of the air conditioning and the occasional soft sounds of Gu Qing eating.

The atmosphere was slightly awkward.

Dilraba ate the popcorn chicken one bite at a time, her cheeks puffing out slightly.

There's a bit of an awkward silence now.

She hesitated for a moment, then decided to bring up a safe topic again, which was also part of her "persona".

"younger brother,"

She swallowed the food in her mouth, blinked her big eyes at Gu Qing, and asked curiously, "You're also... the type who can eat without gaining weight, right?"

I saw you eating a lot on the show in the first season.

"I?"

Gu Qing had just taken a sip of yogurt when she heard this and couldn't help but laugh. Her smile was a mix of helplessness and honesty. "At most, I can only 'indulge' a little bit more when I'm recording a show."

Because the assistants and agents couldn't keep an eye on what was on camera at that time, they could only stand by and watch anxiously.

"I eat grass every day in private. If I eat even a little bit more carbs, they can kill me with their eyes."

"what……?"

Dilraba was stunned, and even her chewing slowed down.

This...this isn't right, is it? This isn't how the script was written!
Aren't we all supposed to be foodies?!
The first season of Running Man
Gu Qing and Yang Ying both indulged in eating during the food-related tasks. Naturally, the audience perceived them as having a "superhuman" physique that "never gains weight" and the endearingly naive image of "foodies."

So far,

All the celebrities in the entertainment industry have undergone a major overhaul of their public personas.

It seems like everyone has suddenly become able to eat a lot.

Dilraba is the same.

In order to create a more approachable and likable image, and to make up for the sense of distance that her overly bright and aggressive features might create for some female viewers.

Her team did put a lot of effort into marketing labels like "foodie" and "dumb beauty".

after all,

The domestic entertainment market, especially with a predominantly female audience, seems to be easier.

For "ordinary girls" like Zhao Liying with her round and cute face.
Or, one might naturally feel a fondness for the pure and graceful types like Liu Tianxian and Liu Shishi.

With her striking, exotic features and striking looks, she needs to work harder to soften her image.
"Foodie" and "a bit absent-minded" became important entry points.

Therefore,
That's why her team went to such lengths, even sending her a large bag of food during breaks in filming, repeatedly emphasizing that she "can eat" and "needs to be fed," all to solidify this persona.

Gu Qing's unconventional answer at this moment directly broke through this barrier.

He said this because he noticed the changes in audience tastes and public opinion earlier than many others.

He knows that future audiences will become increasingly savvy and increasingly averse to deliberately crafted, cookie-cutter "personas."

The more aggressively a brand is marketed with terms like "silly beauty," "foodie," and "sharp-tongued and straightforward," the more severe the backlash will be when the brand collapses.

What audiences ultimately prefer are vibrant, three-dimensional individuals with flaws but also shining qualities, rather than packaged labels created on an assembly line.

therefore,

Gu Qing had given his team clear instructions long ago: do not market any specific personality or persona to him.

You can create an image that suits his true interests and hobbies, such as traditional Chinese culture and e-sports games, because these things are rooted in him.

Dilraba secretly glanced at Gu Qing beside her out of the corner of her eye. He was focused on eating popcorn chicken and taking a sip of yogurt, looking relaxed and satisfied. His pure enjoyment of food was truly infectious, making anyone who saw him feel hungry.

He was genuinely enjoying the pleasure that these ordinary foods brought him, rather than doing it to complete a "mukbang" task.

Looking at the popcorn chicken she was chewing, Dilraba suddenly felt that the taste was a little bitter.

With each bite of crispy fried food, her mind automatically calculated the extra sweat she would need to shed on the treadmill after the show, the potential increase in training intensity from her fitness coach, and the anxiety she would feel before stepping on the scale again.

This kind of eating, done with a "mission" and "calculation," is clearly inferior to Gu Qing's natural enjoyment.

"If I had known... he would be like this..."

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Dilraba's heart—a little annoyed, and a little envious.

If they had known beforehand that Gu Qing only enjoyed food "to a limited extent" on the show and that she also needed to be strictly self-disciplined in private, her team might have created a more flexible and realistic persona for her: a "glutton who needs to work hard to maintain her gluttony."

Instead of the bottomless pit of a "foodie" he is now.

That way, she can at least be more relaxed and less stressed in front of the camera.

But what's done is done. The persona has already been established, the team has invested in promotion, and the audience has formed a fixed impression. There's no going back.

Dilraba could only channel her grief and anger into her appetite, and during the rest of the car ride, she tried her best to eat, bite after bite.

I ate three boxes of popcorn chicken and a hamburger in a row.

"Sister Dilraba,"

Watching her "rapid" eating speed and the gradually disappearing hamburger, Gu Qing sincerely exclaimed with a touch of admiration, "You...you are the female celebrity who can eat the most I've ever seen. Really."

He spoke sincerely, without any sarcasm; he was simply astonished by the amount of food the man was eating.

"Hehe... It's alright, I didn't actually eat that much."

Dilraba responded with a forced laugh, but tears were silently streaming down her face.

Looking at Gu Qing's innocent yet admiring face, she internally screamed, "A large part of the reason I'm working so hard now is because I 'borrowed' your early approach, okay?!"
And you, the 'founder,' are telling me it was a limited-time trial?!
They lured us newcomers in here to 'rip us off,' didn't they?!

of course,

She dared not say these words aloud, but could only cast a resentful glance at Gu Qing.

suddenly,

Dilraba's big eyes lit up, as if she had thought of a brilliant "counterattack method".

She suddenly lowered her head and began rummaging through the bag that resembled a treasure trove.

"younger brother!"

When she looked up again, the smile on her pretty face became exceptionally bright, even carrying a hint of cunning and seduction. "Would you like to try this? It's a specialty from my hometown, and it's incredibly delicious!"

She took out a sealed, transparent little bag containing several milky white, slightly yellowed, dry-looking, hard, round lumps.

"Yogurt Curds?"

Gu Qing read out the handwritten label on the bag and examined it curiously.

He had never seen this before.

"Is it a dairy product?"

He does quite like dairy products.

"Yes, yes, yes! It's made with fermented milk, so it's especially rich and fragrant!"

Dilraba enthusiastically recommended it, pouring out a yogurt curd that looked like a large green grape and handing it to Gu Qing, "Here, have a taste!"
If you like, I'll give you a few more bags; I brought a lot this time!

She was telling the truth this time; it really is her favorite product and an essential item for business trips.

at the same time,

Her beautiful big eyes were fixed on Gu Qing's face, with a mischievous anticipation and a hint of nervousness hidden deep within them.

She knew all too well the power of this "Yogurt Curd".

Dilraba has enthusiastically shared her experiences with her colleagues on set, fellow artists she has worked with, and even friends she met on shows on more than one occasion.

Everyone's reaction was almost identical—after the first bite, either their face contorted and their features shifted, or they gagged directly; the most extreme cases could feel unwell for several days.

Even her closest boss, Yang Mi, gagged for a long time after curiously trying a bite, almost "expelling" her from the school and giving her the cold shoulder for several days.

They said she "used biological weapons to murder her boss."

Dilraba was actually quite aggrieved and disappointed.

She's eaten this since she was a child, and she finds it to be sour, fragrant, and sweet, a taste of home.

But why doesn't anyone appreciate it?

Everyone looked at her tastes as if she were a monster.

Gu Qing took the hard milk lump, naturally put it to her mouth, swallowed it whole, and took a bite.

In an instant, his expression froze.

Dilraba's big eyes lit up, her heart leaping with excitement, "Am I going to throw up? Am I going to throw up?"

Gu Qing frowned and continued chewing. The taste of the milk curds in his mouth was something he had never expected.

Fishy, smelly, salty, sour

This is the first bite, the stimulation it brings to the mouth and nasal cavity.

After chewing a few more times,

The soft and chewy dough melts away, releasing the rich, milky aroma of dairy products and a slight sweetness that completely dispels the previous sourness and saltiness.

Gu Qing's brows gradually relaxed. "It's quite delicious."

After getting used to bland boiled vegetables, this strong flavor feels all the more precious.

"Huh? It's delicious?"

Dilraba was bewildered and stunned.

"Sister Dilraba, why do you look so surprised?"

Gu Qing looked at her suspiciously, "Did you deliberately give me some terrible food?"

"No, no, I really think these yogurt curds are delicious."

Dilraba quickly shook her head, then picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth. She chewed while gesturing to Gu Qing, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed, her words muffled.

“When I shared it with other celebrities before, they all thought it tasted terrible and couldn’t stand it. Some even vomited after just one bite.”

"The first bite is indeed quite strong, but it becomes quite fragrant after chewing it a few times."

Gu Qing said.

"Right, little brother? This smells delicious!"

Dilraba was overjoyed, feeling a sense of warmth as if she had found a fellow townsman. She was inexplicably moved and felt ashamed of her earlier prank.
"You are the first celebrity I have ever seen who can eat all the yogurt curds."

It's just a snack flavor we both like.

Suddenly, Dilraba felt that Gu Qing in front of her was not as stressful and tense as before, and suddenly became extremely friendly, as if the barrier between them had melted away.

She started talking, "Little brother, how did you and Sister Honey meet?"

"We met once when I was on a business trip, and that's how we got to know each other."

Gu Qing responded with a smile.

Upon hearing this,

Dilraba lowered her head and turned off her microphone. She moved closer to Gu Qing, having completed her boss's task, and whispered, "Little brother, Sister Mi was urging me to tell you yesterday..."
She wants you to play games with her, so don't pretend you didn't see the message; she knows you can see it.

Gu Qing laughed and said, "You didn't pick my wheat."

Dilraba: "..."

With her eyes closed, she painfully slapped her smooth forehead with the back of her hand, then covered her cheeks, utterly despondent. "Am I a pig?"

Dilraba blushed and looked at the cameraman in the passenger seat, "Teacher, can we not include this part in the cut?"

"Don't broadcast this part, I'm afraid people will misunderstand."

Gu Qing also spoke with a smile.

"understand."

The cameraman took note.

Dilraba breathed a sigh of relief. "Little brother, will you play games with Sister Mi? She said she has something to tell you."

"Just tell her she's too bad at the game, and I don't want to play with her."

Gu Qing shook her head. "As for what it is, just let her send a message. I'll decide whether to reply or not after I see it."

"Poor Honey..."