Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

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—Inside a high-rise luxury apartment building in Shanghai with a superb view.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, there is a dazzling city night view and the winding river with its flowing light, but inside, only a few ambient lights are turned on, and the light is soft.

The light from the ultra-thin LCD TV screen shone on the large, comfortable, off-white sofa in the center of the living room.

"Welcome to the fifth season of 'Running Man,' sponsored by Lando Mobile. This is Danian Bangchui Island..."

The familiar and energetic opening remarks came from the television.

"Baba Bao—come here quickly, your variety show with Gu Qing has started."

Yang Mi's languid call, with its uniquely sweet and sheep-like voice, came from the sofa.

She wore a high-quality champagne-colored silk loungewear set with loose sleeves that accentuated her slender wrists.

The clothes clung softly to her curvaceous body, accentuating her fullness where it should be and her slenderness where it should be, gleaming with a pearly luster in the dim light.

"Here she comes, Honey."

Dilraba's clear voice rang out in response.

She walked out of the open kitchen carrying a crystal-clear bowl of fruit, filled with freshly washed, purplish-red grapes and sliced ​​honeydew melon.

She was also wearing loungewear, but it was a light pink cotton suit with cartoon patterns. She looked less charming and mature like Yang Mi, and more like a fresh and innocent girl next door.

Even with no makeup, her face remained delicate and radiant under the screen's glow, glistening with the moisture from freshly washed fruit.

One is charming and mature like a blooming rose, the other is beautiful and fresh like a rose with dew; the two together are a feast for the eyes.

Yang Mi naturally reached out and wrapped her arms around Dilraba's slender yet supple waist. With a little effort, Dilraba obediently sat down beside her.

Yang Mi adjusted her position and rested her head on Dilraba's firm, shapely thighs, letting out a satisfied sigh. She even rubbed against her like a cat, finding the most comfortable spot.

She tilted her head back and opened her cherry lips: "Ah—"

Dilraba skillfully picked up a plump grape, carefully peeled off the skin, and gently offered it to Yang Mi's lips.

Yang Mi rolled the grape with the tip of her tongue, put it in her mouth, and chewed it with her eyes half-closed, enjoying the juicy taste.

She would occasionally give instructions: "I want a honeydew melon, the big one."

Dilraba then used a fruit fork to pick up a piece of sweet honeydew melon and fed it to him.

Yang Mi was enjoying the pleasures of being an empress.

Dilraba also enjoys this unique intimacy between her and her friend.

In the fiercely competitive and fickle entertainment industry, Yang Mi is not only her boss and mentor, but also a family member she can completely trust and rely on, who is also like a teacher and a sister to her.

These moments of complete relaxation after work, watching their own shows together in a close embrace, are rare and heartwarming for her.

"By the way, Honey,"

While continuing to feed them, Dilraba asked curiously, her voice slightly naive, "You specifically asked me to come over tonight, it's not really just so I can watch my variety show with you, is it?"

Although she was happy to go, she still felt it was a bit of an "overreaction".

"Baba Bao, I miss you, is that not allowed?"

Yang Mi swallowed the melon, blinked her peach blossom eyes, and spoke in a voice so sweet it could drip honey, with just the right amount of grievance.

"Really?!"

Dilraba's eyes lit up, and she peeled the grapes with a lighter touch.

"Of course it's fake."

Yang Mi's sweet smile vanished instantly, replaced by the slightly aloof demeanor she usually displayed when handling official business. "I'm looking for you, of course, to discuss serious matters—work."

Dilraba: "..."

She pouted and glared at her boss, whose mood changed faster than flipping through a book.

"Okay, okay, I was just teasing you. Look at you, you poor little thing."

Seeing Dilraba's face instantly fall, Yang Mi couldn't help but laugh again. Her delicate hand, with its light pink nail polish, gently pinched Dilraba's smooth, delicate cheek in an affectionate gesture.

"However, there is something I really need to tell you about work."

"What's up, Honey?"

Dilraba was used to her boss's "split personality," so she picked up a grape again and ate it herself, asking questions as she chewed.

"The production team of 'Three Lives Three Worlds' has temporarily suspended operations."

Yang Mi made a surprising statement, speaking as calmly as if she were explaining what to have for breakfast the next day.

"what?!"

Dilraba abruptly stopped chewing, a small puff forming on her cheek from the grapes. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Why...why? Wasn't everything almost ready?"

Costumes, props, locations, other actors... even the date for the press conference has been tentatively set!

She had finally managed to coordinate her schedule for filming "Keep Running" and was just waiting for them to notify her to join the production.

"How can I film without a male lead?"

Yang Mi spat out two tiny grape seeds, her tone still indifferent.

"But Sister Honey,"

Dilraba was even more confused, "Didn't the company already decide on Mark Chao? The contract is almost signed, right?"

She recalled that they had previously discussed Teacher Zhao's availability and suitability for the role in a meeting.

"He can't do it."

Yang Mi spoke concisely, her red lips slightly parted, yet her words carried undisguised sarcasm.
"I saw the official photos. She looks old and ugly, not good enough for my face, let alone the role of 'Ye Hua'."

The audience has discerning eyes; they won't accept it.

I protested to the company and resigned.

She casually chirped about her business partner behind his back, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"But Sister Honey..."

Dilraba frowned, trying to process the information. "Why wouldn't the audience accept it? Mark Chao... he's actually not ugly, and his acting is very good."

She genuinely felt that Mr. Zhao was a man of refined taste; perhaps not stunning at first glance, but very charismatic.

"It's all because of that brat Gu Qing!"

Yang Mi spoke through gritted teeth, as if she were chewing not grapes, but someone's bone.

"Gu Qing's younger brother?"

Dilraba was even more confused.

"That's exactly because of him!"

Yang Mi grew angrier as she spoke, two small flames igniting in her beautiful peach blossom eyes. "It's all his fault for spoiling the audience's taste in period dramas! He's made them so arrogant!"

She began listing the "crimes" on her fingers: "The Journey of Flower, The Imperial Doctress, Legend of Nine Tails Fox, The Mystic Nine, Nirvana in Fire..."

Yang Mi finished speaking in one breath, her chest rising and falling slightly: "Look at this! It's all period dramas! Each one is more popular than the last, and each one has received rave reviews!"
What's most infuriating is that his period drama costumes in every single one of his works have gone viral, from 2015 to this year, for two years!
He's practically monopolized all the classic roles and heartthrobs in period dramas on screen!

He's practically monopolized the ancient costume drama market all by himself!

When audiences watch period fantasy dramas now, the first person they compare him to is Gu Qing!

She became more and more agitated, and more and more helpless, as she spoke, her peach blossom eyes always filled with affection...
He showed a rare hint of fatigue and weariness, and even a little bit of... defeatist dejection.

"You want me to go and act as a male actor... well, someone with a more mature and steady demeanor, to film a period drama that's also a fantasy romance, and which audiences will inevitably compare to hits like 'The Journey of Flower'..."

Yang Mi shook her head and gave a wry smile, "What can we use to reduce the heat? What can we use to guarantee the ratings?"

She wasn't the only one who thought this way. In the past two years, countless production teams, investors, and even top-tier actors who didn't believe in Gu Qing's dominance in the period drama genre have tried to challenge or "piggyback" on her success.

The results of it?
Whether it's the script, the production, or the actors themselves, almost everything is being scrutinized and compared to Gu Qing by the audience.

Then they lost out in terms of reputation or popularity.

Even Lu Han, another top-tier celebrity, starred in "Fighter of the Destiny," which, despite its considerable popularity,

However, in terms of public opinion and recognition of the role, it has been ridiculed mercilessly.

In the entertainment industry, being bad isn't scary, because when everyone is bad, a strange balance can be formed.

What's frightening is that when everyone is more or less "bad" or "mediocre," suddenly an outlier appears who is excessively "good" in every aspect and consistently produces high-quality works.

The damage from this comparison is devastating, enough to suffocate and despair any competitor on the same track.

Every new male actor in a period drama inevitably gets compared to the classic characters already created by Gu Qing by the audience or media, and the result is often that "none of them survive".

"Sister Honey... but if this happens, what about the company..."

After recovering from her shock, Dilraba's first concern wasn't about her delayed start to the filming, but rather Yang Mi's situation.

She knew about the harsh performance-based agreement between the company and Yang Mi, and she also knew how much pressure the company's senior management was putting on Yang Mi's performance.

"Don't worry, Bababao,"

Yang Mi concealed her fatigue and put on that shrewd, slightly mischievous smile again.

She raised her hand and lightly patted Dilraba's round thigh, which even her lounge pants couldn't hide.
"I've been in this industry for so many years, and I'm not just doing this for nothing. I have my own methods."

She turned to her side to make herself more comfortable lying on Dilraba's lap, and continued, "I have already consulted a professional legal team privately."

The contract for my participation in the "Three Lives Three Worlds" project was finalized during the signing of that performance-based agreement.

Therefore, strictly speaking, as long as this drama is not ultimately broadcast, it cannot be considered a 'completed project' within the period of my performance-based agreement.
Therefore, I cannot directly determine my defeat based on its current 'incomplete' state.

"The key to the success or failure of the betting agreement lies in the actual market performance of the show after its broadcast—whether it flops or becomes a hit."

I only lose if it's broadcast and then flops;
I only win when it airs and becomes a hit.

Before it airs...theoretically, I still have time and room to maneuver."

She looked at Dilraba, her tone filled with a desperate resolve:

"Whether Sister Honey lives or dies, whether we continue to treat you to the best of everything or whether we sisters end up starving, it all depends on whether this drama succeeds."

Therefore, I must do my best, at least have the potential to explode, instead of being like this, looking weak at first glance.

"But Sister Honey, do you think the company will let you keep dragging this on?"

Dilraba's worries did not lessen. Having been by Yang Mi's side, she understood the true nature of capital all too well. "They probably can't wait for you to finish the project as soon as possible, or even... they can't wait for you to lose the gamble so they can further control you, right?"

Her voice trailed off, tinged with reluctance.

"Of course they want me to lose,"

Yang Mi sneered, a chill flashing in her eyes, "But they want me to make money, to make a lot of money."

If I lose the betting agreement, they will get more shares and control; but if I win, with huge profits and blockbuster projects, they will also make a fortune.

When faced with greater interests, temporary waiting and compromise are not out of the question.

She tilted her head back, held up two slender, white fingers that were as well-maintained as works of art to Dilraba, and curled her lips into a smug smile: "Two months. I've secured two months of buffer time."

"Two months?"

Dilraba was surprised, "Is the company... really that 'kind'?"

She found it hard to believe that the company's shrewd and calculating executives would be so easy to talk to.

"My personal face isn't that big, of course."

Yang Mi chuckled softly, a laugh tinged with self-deprecation and a different kind of meaning. She turned slightly, her amorous peach blossom eyes shifting from Dilraba's face to the television screen playing the program in front of her.

Dilraba followed her gaze and was taken aback.

On the screen,
The opening commercial for Running Man has just ended, and the main program has begun.

The camera happened to give a close-up shot—

Wearing a dark green camouflage combat uniform and standing tall and straight like a pine tree, Gu Qing steadily walked down the rusty iron steps from the top of the warehouse.

The sound of his Doc Martens boots clicking on the metal plate was clear and powerful. The backlighting accentuated his clean-cut jawline and straight nose, while the camouflage uniform perfectly balanced the delicate features of his face, highlighting his imposing masculinity and coldness.

He frowned slightly, his eyes scanning the area below with a scrutinizing gaze. At that moment, his aura was completely different from his usual gentle demeanor.

"Gu Qing's younger brother?" Dilraba asked in surprise.

"Tsk tsk, she looks good in anything, she's a natural beauty."

Yang Mi's gaze was fixed on the screen, and she uttered a sincere exclamation, mixed with a hint of...envy?
"Wearing a school uniform, he's a refreshing school heartthrob; wearing ancient costume, he's a dashing young gentleman; wearing a suit, he's an elegant gentleman; and now, wearing camouflage, he's become a cold and aloof abstinence... His versatility in appearance is just too strong."

Liu Shishi must have had a lot of fun filming with him, right?

She spoke without restraint, her pink tongue unconsciously pursing her lips, a glint of desire flashing in her eyes, which then turned into a soft sigh of envy.

This answered Dilraba's question earlier:

"Yeah, it's all thanks to this 'top celebrity's younger brother's influence."

Yang Mi's tone was a bit mocking and smug, "I confronted those bastards in the company and said: Give me two months, and I can get Gu Qing to play Ye Hua."

Their eyes lit up when they heard that. After weighing the pros and cons, they reluctantly agreed to postpone the project and wait for my news.

"Oh my god, Honey!"

Dilraba's eyes widened in surprise, and she even forgot to eat the grapes in her hand. "You really managed to get Gu Qing to come over?! He... he agreed?!"

If we can collaborate with Gu Qing, the attention and quality of "Three Lives Three Worlds" will increase exponentially!
Her heart raced just thinking about it.

"I didn't agree."

Yang Mi replied casually, her eyes still fixed on the scene of Gu Qing interacting with Deng Chao and Liu Shishi on the TV.

Dilraba: "..."

The surprise on her face froze instantly, slowly turning into a speechless, choked-up expression.

Sister! My dear sister! Are you kidding me?!

Why are you making such grand promises to the company when you haven't agreed to anything?!
Two more months?!
Seeing Dilraba's dazed expression, Yang Mi finally took her eyes off the TV, glanced at her, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Look at you, so pathetic, you're so disappointed."

Yang Mi stretched out her fingertip and gently poked Dilraba's plump, collagen-filled face. "You've only met her once and recorded one episode of a show, haven't you?"

What, is it really like those cheesy novels, where they put on a love-at-first-sight scene for me?

"I didn't! Honey, don't talk nonsense!"

Dilraba blushed and quickly denied it.

Yang Mi rolled her eyes and looked back at the TV, her tone returning to its shrewd and calculating tone: "I mentioned it to him on the phone last time, and he said his schedule was full and he didn't have time."

That's why the release schedule for "Three Lives Three Worlds" is now free because I pushed the male lead out of the show.

For the next two months, my primary task, and indeed my only serious matter, was to relentlessly and persistently invite him out—without giving up until I achieved my goal!

"Sister Honey, is this... all done?"

Reba recovered from the blow, picked up a grape and slowly peeled it, asking with a mixture of anticipation and worry, "Gu Qing's younger brother's current salary... must be very high, right?"
Moreover, he must be receiving a mountain of scripts for movies.

Is the company... willing to give up enough profits?

She knew the company was always stingy with actors' salaries, especially since Yang Mi was under pressure from a performance-based agreement this time.

"Benefit?"

Yang Mi snorted and said firmly, "For this movie, as long as he comes, I won't take a single penny of my salary; I'll give it all to him!"

As long as this show becomes a hit because of him, and helps my sister win the bet, that's more important than anything else!

She swallowed the grape, a desperate glint in her eyes: "If all else fails... I'll pay you to stay!"

"Paying out of pocket?"

Dilraba blinked, her gaze unconsciously sweeping over her boss's curvaceous figure—a figure that, even under his silk loungewear, still possessed a breathtaking silhouette—with her eyes lingering on a particular prominent area for a few seconds.

Then, with a wicked grin, he leaned close to Yang Mi's ear, lowered his voice, and asked in a suggestive tone, "Sister Mi, what kind of 'paying for someone' you're talking about...?"

"Hey, Baba Bao, you've been following your sister for years, and you haven't learned anything else, but you've certainly picked up this 'rogue' vibe perfectly?"

Yang Mi raised an eyebrow, showing no shyness, but instead responding with an even more charming and provocative smile, her eyes radiating allure.
"Which kind of 'paying the bill' you want, I can do that kind of 'paying the bill'."

What, it sounds like you're quite interested too?

How about... you and your sister 'stick' it together?

She paused, then looked mischievously at Dilraba's instantly flushed face, and continued to tease, "I saw you calling him 'Gu Qing' so smoothly and sweetly on the show."

The last time I called him that, he immediately replied with a 'vomit' emoji!
What, you think it's okay just because you yell?

It seems our Bababao has quite the charm!

Towards the end, Yang Mi's tone unconsciously carried a hint of sourness that she herself didn't quite realize.

Could it be... that I'm really getting old?

Has your charm level decreased?

Aren't they more attractive than these pretty young girls?

But she clearly felt fine!

Those in the same age group as her, such as Zhao Xiaodao, or even Liu Shishi in the show now, aren't they also chatting and laughing with Gu Qing and interacting intimately?

Why should we be treated differently?

"Sister Honey, Gu Qing is definitely joking with you! Don't you always tease him like that?"

Dilraba was both embarrassed and annoyed, so she simply reached out her "claws" and gently tickled Yang Mi's waist and armpits, areas that were prone to tickling.
"And please don't overthink it. Of course I'm happy to be able to act with him!"

"That's because working with him will make me famous! I'm doing this for my career! For my job!" "Dishonest! Stubborn!"

Yang Mi giggled as she was tickled, dodging and retaliating at the same time.

The two immediately started joking around on the spacious sofa, the silk and cotton fabrics rustling as they rubbed together, interspersed with cheerful laughter and coquettish complaints.

After a while of playful fighting, both of them were slightly sweaty and panting, their hair and clothes were a little disheveled, adding to their languid and alluring charm.

They lay side by side, taking a temporary break, and turned their attention back to the TV screen to continue watching Running Man.

In the program,
The show happened to air a scene where Dilraba saw Gu Qing being "ostracized" by Deng Chao and Liu Shishi, and then mustered up the courage to wave and invite them over.

"Handsome guy! Look here! Look here!"

Dilraba's smile on the screen was radiant, and her eyes sparkled.

"hehe,"

Yang Mi, leaning on Dilraba's shoulder, let out a cold laugh with an ambiguous meaning, glancing sideways at the person next to her, "I think you're just infatuated. Look at that smile, so bright and radiant, like a sunflower."

"Sister Honey!"

Dilraba playfully bit Yang Mi's shoulder, though not hard. "Didn't you tell me to get closer to Gu Qing during the show and try to get more screen time and goodwill?!"
I was strictly following the boss's instructions!

"Yes, yes, I taught them all. It's because our Bababao has strong execution skills."

Yang Mi rolled her eyes again, but didn't continue arguing.

As the show progresses, the tension of the games and the chemistry between the brothers gradually become apparent.

Especially after Gu Qing's return, it was obvious that the atmosphere of the whole team was activated. Everyone seemed to have found their best state, resulting in many funny moments and plenty of highlights.

Even Yang Mi, who was constantly on edge, overwhelmed by the betting agreement and the project, was affected.

Looking at the familiar yet funny interactions on the screen, I couldn't help but laugh. My tense lips curled up slightly, and I let out a few soft laughs from time to time, temporarily putting my worries aside.

however,
When the show reached the first "Speed ​​and Choice" challenge with the large ball on the slope, Yang Mi's brows gradually furrowed.

"Isn't this game... a little too dangerous?"

Watching Wang Zhulan being run over by the giant ball and her wig flying off, and Deng Chao being knocked over, she asked with obvious dissatisfaction, "What was the production team thinking?"

Especially when you see Zheng Kai being sent flying sideways by the impact while attempting the 30-meter challenge, his back slamming hard against the iron railing, even bending it slightly, it's quite a sight.
Yang Mi's pretty face showed a clear expression of shock, and she subconsciously sat up straighter.

"Sigh, that's pretty scary."

Dilraba nodded in agreement, recalling the scene at the time, "I don't know what's going on this season, but it feels like the challenges designed by the production team are more dangerous than before."

I fell twice during this running game, and it hurt so much!

"Baba Bao, you fell too?!"

Yang Mi immediately turned her head, her peach blossom eyes filled with worry, and looked Dilraba up and down, "Are you alright? Where are you hurt? Why didn't you tell your sister?"

"It's okay, it's okay, Sister Honey, I'm really fine!"

Dilraba quickly waved her hand, a reassuring smile on her face, "I just accidentally got hit on the head by the ball. I was a little dizzy at the time, but I got better quickly, and the skin wasn't even broken."

Look behind us, Kai succeeded on his second try, and Gu Qing was even more amazing, he got it in one go, and he ran so cool!

She pointed at the television, trying to change the subject.

"Gu Qing, Gu Qing... are you alright?"

Yang Mi squinted her eyes, and said sourly, as if she had eaten a plum, "Have you ever counted how many times you've muttered 'Gu Qing's little brother' since the beginning of the show?"

Huh? My ears are practically calloused from hearing this.

"I...I didn't!"

Dilraba blushed, knowing she was in the wrong, and simply raised her hand to her mouth as if zipping up a zipper, saying in a muffled voice, "I'll shut up, I won't say anything more, okay?"

"Look how anxious you are. I didn't say you couldn't mention it."

Yang Mi chuckled and refocused her attention on the show.

quickly,

It was Gu Qing's turn to take the challenge.

Watching his focused expression at the start, his agile figure as he ran, his clean and efficient movements as he bent down to pick up the flag, and his final thrilling yet powerful sprint...

The screen even displayed the words "A Boy Like the Wind" along with special effects.

"It's so good to be young..."

Looking at the vibrant, sweat-drenched, handsome face on the screen, Yang Mi couldn't help but sigh.
Her tone carried a complex emotion she herself was unaware of—perhaps envy, or something else entirely.

After that,

The program's camera work and editing seemed to clearly favor the couple Gu Qing and Liu Shishi.

Before Liu Shishi went on stage, she nervously reached out and gently grabbed the sleeve of Gu Qing's camouflage uniform, a small gesture that was clearly captured and magnified by the camera.

Gu Qing tilted his head slightly, leaned close to her ear, and seemed to whisper something.

Liu Shishi's tense expression instantly relaxed, and she even smiled, her eyes crinkling. Her reliance and trust could be felt even through the screen.

"Wow...it's so sweet."

Dilraba couldn't help but cup her cheeks in her hands, her eyes sparkling, with an expression of "I'm totally smitten," saying, "Senior Shishi and little brother Gu Qing look so good together."

"hehe,"

Yang Mi let out a cold laugh, staring at the screen, and said sarcastically, "Where are they compatible? Are they even age-matched? I think the production team just forced them together."

As former best friends who used to be inseparable but later drifted apart for various reasons, even to the point of almost going their separate ways, Yang Mi's current state of mind is extremely complicated.

What people often find most unbearable is those who were once on the same starting line as them, or even those who were perhaps less capable.
They seem to be living a "happier" and "more comfortable" life than I am now.

especially,
When she was overwhelmed by the performance-based agreement in her career and suffered a major setback in her marriage, she was utterly betrayed.

It was a time of internal and external troubles, a time of utter chaos and confusion.
Seeing Liu Shishi on the screen, radiant and with a sweet, bright smile like a young woman in her late teens, standing next to the now incredibly popular and outstanding Gu Qing, the scene was so harmonious and beautiful, it was like a screenshot from an idol drama...

The sense of disparity and frustration brought about by that comparison almost burst Yang Mi's chest.

She thought sourly to herself: Why?
Dilraba keenly sensed that her boss's mood was off. She moved her lips, but swallowed back the words she was about to say, such as "They do have a lot of chemistry."
Keep quiet obediently to avoid upsetting Honey, who is clearly not in a good mood at the moment.

"Wow, you're running pretty hard."

Yang Mi continued to watch Liu Shishi's challenge with a critical eye, "This slow motion... and even a close-up of Gu Qing?"

Tsk, the camerawork, the editing rhythm... This is definitely a publicity stunt!

"Dad, did you guys have a script for this episode, specifically arranging for Gu Qing and Liu Shishi to interact and create buzz?"

She pointed to the scene on the screen where Liu Shishi looked back at Gu Qing as she ran, and the two gazed at each other "affectionately" in slow motion, her tone resolute.

"At your age, why are you putting on this melodramatic soap opera act of 'true love in adversity' and 'love at first sight'? How pretentious!"

"Uh...we each do have a general framework for action and a defined role,"

Dilraba answered cautiously, not daring to provoke trouble, "But I really don't know whether the specific interactions between Gu Qing and Liu Shishi... uh, Liu Shishi's senior were written in the script."

She secretly prayed that Sister Honey would stop asking questions.

"It must be scripted! Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence? So 'sweet'?"

Yang Mi made a definitive judgment.

Immediately afterwards, the program featured Dilraba's appearance.

"Director, I want to challenge myself to 27 meters!"

Dilraba's eyes on the screen were firm, showing an indomitable spirit.

"Good! Bababao, you've got guts! Well done!"

Yang Mi perked up, temporarily setting aside her displeasure with Liu Shishi, and cheered on her artist, "That's how it should be! Give it your all and outshine her!"

"Sister Honey..."

Dilraba whispered weakly beside her, "I...I failed the challenge twice..."

Yang Mi's excited expression froze on her face. She slowly turned her head and looked at Dilraba with a look of disappointment.

"What use are you?!"

She glared at Dilraba angrily and then lightly tapped her forehead with her slender finger.

But when the show aired footage of Dilraba falling for the first time and her knee scraping the ground,

Yang Mi immediately felt sorry for him, her brows furrowing: "You should be careful too! Don't you know how important knees are for female celebrities? What if you get scars? They'll look terrible on camera!"
Just you wait, after this episode airs, there will definitely be people online criticizing them for disregarding the safety of the artists!

On the screen,
Dilraba, "never giving up," embarked on her second challenge.

Yang Mi vaguely remembered that Dilraba had mentioned to her that the second fall was more severe, and she hit her head.

really,

In the scene, Dilraba had just picked up the flag and taken only a few steps when she was hit hard to the side by a black ball that was accelerating downwards, causing her to lose her balance instantly.

She screamed and fell to the side, her head about to hit the iron railing!
At this point in the program, the pace suddenly quickened, and the camera became somewhat shaky and showed signs of editing.

Dilraba stumbled and fell to the ground. Immediately afterwards, the anxious and concerned faces of Deng Chao, Li Chen, and others rushed into the frame, surrounding her and blocking most of her view.

The whole process happened extremely quickly; the audience only saw Dilraba fall and the crowd rush to her aid.

The most crucial and thrilling collision and buffering details in the middle were cleverly edited and simplified.

"wrong……"

Yang Mi narrowed her perceptive peach blossom eyes. She seemed to have caught a fleeting, discordant detail in the scene.

"That person is Gu Qing?"

Yang Mi's heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head to look at Dilraba behind her, who was looking at the screen with a "touched" expression.

"Sister Mi, Brother Chao and the others are really good to me. They always take good care of me on the show. They would run over as soon as they saw me fall."

Dilraba's eyes were slightly red, clearly moved by the way her fellow cast members rushed over to check on her immediately.

"Yes... how could I not treat you well?"

Yang Mi muttered to herself, "How many people can instinctively make that kind of protective move in that split second?"

"No wonder you called me so affectionately..."

Just then, perhaps to ease the tension or to create another "highlight," the production team suddenly cut the scene.

The scene shifts abruptly from the noisy, concerned, and somewhat chaotic "accident scene" to a tranquil, beautiful, and even romantic and poetic one:

In the distance, there was a clear blue sea and a golden beach; closer by, Gu Qing and Liu Shishi stood side by side, facing the sea.

Gu Qing's back was straight and tall, while Liu Shishi turned her head slightly as if she was saying something, the sea breeze blowing her hair and the hem of her clothes.

The sunlight outlined their beautiful silhouettes, and the whole scene was as quiet as a movie poster, which contrasted sharply with the faint, noisy voices of the brothers caring for Dilraba in the background.

This editing and camera transition may be intended to show "relaxation after a tense game" or "the worry and calm of others after a teammate is injured."
But to the audience—especially Dilraba at this moment—it created a subtle, even somewhat uncomfortable sense of "disconnection" and "contrast".

The expression of emotion on her face, which had just been moved by the concern shown by the brothers, froze slightly. Then, a barely perceptible dimming flashed in her bright eyes.

Dilraba pursed her lips, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welling up inside her.

When I fell and got injured, everyone gathered around to show their concern and offer their help.

Gu Qing and Liu Shishi, however, were watching the sea from the side.

I felt a little uneasy.

"It looks like... the injury is quite serious, isn't it?"

Yang Mi stared at Gu Qing's slightly hunched back on the screen, looking somewhat tense, and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache and worry.

Knowing Gu Qing's stubborn and prideful nature, if it really was just a minor bump,

He would never reveal such a subtle, restrained demeanor in front of the camera.

"Sister Honey, it's alright, it's not serious at all, it'll be fine in a bit."

Behind Yang Mi, Dilraba reached out and touched her smooth, undamaged forehead, then smiled and answered in a relaxed tone.

"It's good that you're not injured."

Yang Mi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

The two ended their nonsensical conversation.

On the screen,
The members received memory cards, and then the scene shifted to the car journey.

The camera then switches to the view from inside the car's fixed camera. Dilraba and Gu Qing are sitting side by side in the back seat of the SUV.

The agent knocked on the door and handed in a large bag of snacks. Dilraba took it and generously shared it with Gu Qing, who was standing next to her.

When the show aired, many details of the dialogue were edited out, including the part where Dilraba asked Gu Qing about his injured finger.

Clearly, the production team may have cut this part of the content for their own safety.

However, the camera cannot completely lie.

When Gu Qing reached out and took the box of popcorn chicken from Dilraba, the close-up shot inevitably swept across his hand.

That hand had long, slender fingers, distinct knuckles, and fair skin; it was a very beautiful hand.

However, the middle finger, especially the second knuckle, had noticeable redness and swelling, with a bruise much darker in color than the surrounding fingers.

Against the backdrop of fair skin, it looked particularly glaring and out of place!

This contrasted sharply with Gu Qing's relaxed expression and the way she easily accepted the food.

Although the shot was brief, it was enough for the observant Yang Mi to capture the key information.

"Baba!"

Yang Mi abruptly sat up straight from Dilraba's lap, turned around in shock, pointed at the TV screen, and raised her voice eight octaves, "This is what you meant by 'not seriously injured' and 'will be fine in a moment'?!"

"Why are his fingers so swollen?!"

Yang Mi's peach blossom eyes were filled with disbelief and urgency.

"You...you were sitting next to him in the car, didn't you see him? Didn't you even care?!"

"Uh... Honey, I already asked!"

Dilraba was startled by Yang Mi's sudden excitement and quickly explained, "I asked Gu Qing what happened to his finger, and he said he accidentally bumped it while doing a mission and it was nothing serious."

"And..." she recalled the scene of "watching the sea" she had just seen, her tone unconsciously carrying a hint of grievance and a small complaint, "When I fell just now, he... he didn't really care about me either, he went to watch the sea with Senior Liu Shishi..."

Before she could finish speaking—

"Snapped--!"

Yang Mi slapped her smooth forehead hard, making a crisp sound.

"It's over, it's over..."

She closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and took a deep breath, her teeth chattering.
"My God..."

Yang Mi forced out a few words through gritted teeth, and when she opened her eyes again, her gaze towards Dilraba was filled with a desperate "you're hopeless" look.

"Dilraba, are you a pig?!"
Is your head filled with grapes?!

"Honey... what's wrong?"

Dilraba was even more confused by the scolding, and also felt a little wronged, "Gu Qing's finger is injured... what does that have to do with me? He himself said it was from a bump..."

"I'm truly impressed by you!"

Yang Mi was furious. She grabbed Dilraba's shoulder and shook her violently, as if trying to shake the water out of her brain.

"When you fell down the second time, didn't you realize that what you finally hit wasn't the iron railing at all!"
"Is that Gu Qing's finger?!"

"what?!"

Dilraba was completely stunned.

"If he hadn't instinctively put his hand in front of the railing to shield you from that blow, your head would have made intimate contact with that metal lump!"
"There's a real chance something bad could happen!"

Yang Mi spoke rapidly, her tone both urgent and angry, "Just now I asked you if you were injured, and you told me 'it's not serious'!"
Are you trying to drive me crazy?!

The more she talked, the more frightened she became, and a cold sweat even broke out on her back.

Based on her understanding of the fan culture and online public opinion, if this matter were to be exposed by Gu Qing's fans, who are incredibly dedicated and currently distressed about their idol's predicament at the airport...

It was Dilraba who "caused" Gu Qing's finger injury.

However, in the program and subsequent interactions, Dilraba seemed to be "completely unaware" of this, and even "made no comment"...

Yang Mi shuddered, unable to imagine what kind of devastating online violence storm that would ignite against Dilraba!

This is enough to instantly destroy the goodwill and career prospects that Dilraba has worked so hard to build up!
"I...I bumped into something? Was it his hand?"

Dilraba's face instantly lost all color.

She suddenly recalled the fleeting details of the scene before she fell while watching the program...

The hand that swiftly reached out from the edge of the frame, the way Gu Qing silently walked towards the beach with a somewhat stiff back as the program was edited and everyone gathered around...

And in the car, when he took the popcorn chicken, his middle finger was noticeably red and swollen, and he casually said, "I bumped into it accidentally"...

All the details, like scattered puzzle pieces, were instantly connected by Yang Mi's words at this moment, forming a complete and clear picture!

In an instant,
She was instantly overwhelmed by immense shock, disbelief, lingering fear, and overwhelming guilt!

Not only did I fail to notice and express my gratitude and concern immediately, but I even had a childish misunderstanding and complained...

Only one thought was on Dilraba's mind at that moment:
"I...I...I deserve to die!"

……

...(End of this chapter)