Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

As the film ended, before the lights were fully on, the end credits scrolled slowly against a dark background.

First, a few scattered claps tentatively rang out, which quickly merged into a warm and sustained wave of sound that engulfed the entire theater.

Amid applause,
Amidst the unrestrained cheers of the audience: "Great!" "Awesome!", there were also faint sobs, barely suppressed but still leaking from between their fingers or from their throats.

"This movie is really going to be a hit..."

Even with a mask on, Yang Mi, sitting in the middle or back row, keenly observed every subtle emotion in the scene through her signature peach blossom eyes.

Seeing a familiar reporter turn around, seemingly looking for the celebrity's reaction, she quickly took off her mask, then quickly put it back on.
But in that brief moment, her eyes were already red, and she clapped her hands vigorously, her eyes glistening with tears at just the right moment.

What welled up in my heart, besides the direct feeling of the film's success, was a complex and indescribable envy.

Having worked in the entertainment industry for so many years, from actress to boss, Yang Mi believes that her eye for choosing scripts and projects has been honed to a very sharp level.

Which of the five films in the "Tiny Times" series starring her wasn't criticized as a "bad movie" by film critics and some viewers?
However, the box office figures have repeatedly astonished the market, making the company incredibly wealthy.

why?
Because she understands it all too well—she understands what that core audience wants: a dreamlike, unreal experience, an intimate emotional connection, and instant emotional consumption.

She precisely tapped into a certain collective psychology of that era.

After watching the two-hour-plus film "Wolf Warrior 2," she had to admit, from her professional perspective, that its plot was not a groundbreaking or mind-blowing "masterpiece."

Essentially, it remains a well-rounded, fast-paced, and high-quality "superhero" blockbuster, a fine popcorn movie.

But why?
Why did it make these well-informed, even somewhat picky, media reporters around it willingly stand up and express their respect with applause?
Why is the air filled not with the relaxed chatter of the evening, but with this intense, overwhelming excitement and emotion?

Her gaze inadvertently swept across the side of the front row, where a burly middle-aged man in an ordinary polo shirt stood.

He was roughly wiping his eyes repeatedly with the back of his hand, and his shoulders were twitching slightly.

Normally, Yang Mi might have inwardly scoffed, thinking it was a bit "shameful" for a grown man to cry like that while watching a movie.

But at this moment,
Strangely, she felt no disgust whatsoever.

"Perhaps it's because...they're scarce."

She sighed softly to herself.

In 2017, looking at the entire Chinese film industry, there has never been a superhero movie that truly features Chinese people.

once Upon a time,

Many artists who have already achieved great success in the country would do anything to get a chance to appear in a Hollywood movie.
Even for a minor supporting role, or even just to get on the red carpet at an international film festival, they're willing to lower themselves.
To cater to those outdated or even distorted images of the East from a Western perspective—

With exaggerated "squinty eyes," ugly makeup, playing dogs and wolves, wearing braids, and walking on the margins of a deliberately placed, dirty and chaotic environment.

Consequently, in international settings, domestic media reporters often find themselves subtly at the bottom of the social ladder.

The appearance of "Wolf Warrior 2" was like a bullet whistling past, precisely shattering the long-standing pent-up emotions in many people's hearts.

After watching the movie, a certain thought in Yang Mi's mind became clearer, more resolute, and even tinged with a sense of urgency:
No matter the cost, I must bring Gu Qing into my production team!
The theater lights finally came on completely, dispelling the dreamlike atmosphere created by the screen.

But the audience did not leave immediately, because after the end credits finished, the familiar theme song of "Wolf Warrior" started playing again, and a short bonus scene appeared.

"咚咚-"

A slightly dull knocking sound.

The scene shows Leng Feng, unshaven and reeking of alcohol. He kicks away an empty bottle at his feet, his eyes unfocused, and he staggers as he opens the door.

The light from the hallway outside flooded into the dimly lit room, illuminating the face of the person who entered.

The moment Leng Feng saw the person who had appeared, his slightly drunk and listless eyes suddenly lit up with a dazzling light, like dry tinder thrown into a spark.

"master,"

Gu Qing's portrayal of Zhuo Yifan is characterized by a clean and radiant smile that seems to dispel all the gloom in the world.

He stood in the light, tilting his head slightly, his smile a mix of roguish charm and youthful energy. "Did you miss me?"

As he spoke,

He took the familiar wolf-tooth bullet pendant from his neck and gently waved it in front of Leng Feng. The metal refracted a faint glimmer in the light.

Leng Feng's facial muscles twitched, his complex expression finally settling into a single sentence.
"Stinky boy."

He grabbed the bullet and clenched it tightly in his hand.

Just then, his cell phone vibrated at an inopportune moment, emitting a piercing ringtone.

The master and apprentice exchanged a glance instinctively.

Leng Feng took out his phone, and Zhuo Yifan curiously leaned over.

On the phone screen,
The program begins playing a short, shaky, and dimly lit video that was clearly shot with a handheld device.

The camera focused on a figure bound to a chair. Although the face was not clearly visible, the figure and vague outline...

"Xiaoyun?!"

"Master's wife?!"

The two blurted out the words almost simultaneously, their pupils shrinking sharply.

The camera quickly zooms out at this moment.
At the same time, the rousing background music suddenly intensifies, indicating that the new story is not yet over.

After the post-credits scene, the screen went completely black.

"Wow—! Huh?! Holy crap, there's a sequel?!"

"This pace! This Easter egg! Are they really going to turn this into China's 'Rush Hour' series?!"

"When will Wolf Warrior 3 be filmed?! With the original cast?!"

"Will Gu Qing still be there?! She absolutely has to be!"

The audience, who had felt empty after the movie ended, were instantly injected with new excitement by this short post-credits scene.

Cheers, chatter, and expectant shouts once again filled the theater.

The cheers reached a fever pitch when the main creative team, led by Wu Jing and Gu Qing, returned to the stage at the invitation of host Zhang Shaogang.

There weren't many people on stage; apart from Gu Qing, none of them could even be called "stars."

But amidst the enthusiastic atmosphere spontaneously created by the audience, every actor felt incredibly excited and proud.

This is a source of pride that my work has been recognized.

Gu Qing, on the other hand, was already used to being the center of attention and surrounded by a cacophony of voices. He was the calmest one on stage, simply smiling and nodding to the audience in all directions.

Standing next to him, Wu Jing, as the director, lead actor, and even, to some extent, the bettor who "gambled everything" on the film, was far more emotional.

The hardships and joys along the way, the difficulties in financing, the injuries during filming, the anxiety before the release... countless images flashed through his mind.

He took the microphone from the host, opened his mouth, and tried to say something to express his gratitude as usual, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

With just a breath, tears welled up in her eyes without warning, and before she could speak, she let out an uncontrollable sob.

"Waaaaah... This was so damn hard!!!"

Wu Jing suddenly turned around, grabbed Gu Qing beside him, buried his head in his shoulder, and burst into tears.

The reporters in the audience were no strangers to this situation.
They responded with good-natured, understanding laughter and even more enthusiastic applause.

Gu Qing was taken aback at first, then smiled helplessly.

He gently patted Wu Jing's back with one hand, while holding the microphone in the other, his tone tinged with complaint, "Brother Jing, that's enough."

My sister-in-law is sitting right there in the audience. Go hug her and cry, what kind of behavior is it to hug me? My clothes are very expensive.

"Hahahaha!"

The audience laughed even harder, and Xie Nan, sitting in the audience, was both amused and distressed, wiping away tears.

The sound of reporters' camera shutters filled the air as they captured this heartfelt moment; there was certainly no shortage of headline material for today.

"Alright, alright, Director Wu, Director Wu! Let's control our emotions!"

The host, Zhang Shaogang, had to step forward and abruptly but effectively interrupt this "touching" scene.

"The interview must continue; the audience and journalists are all waiting."

"Come on, let's hear from the audience first, what their most immediate feelings were after watching the movie!"

Zhang Shaogang took control of the pace and randomly selected a few media reporters who raised their hands enthusiastically.

Most of the questions revolve around the film itself:

How are grand and breathtaking war scenes filmed?
How does Wu Jing evaluate Gu Qing's performance in his first large-scale action film?

What unforgettable fun or difficulties did you encounter with Gu Qing during filming?

And what everyone cares about most is whether the post-credits scene clearly indicates the start of "Wolf Warrior 3", when it will be on the agenda, and whether Gu Qing will continue to star in the film.

Of the ten questions, nine more or less revolved around Gu Qing.

Reporters are well aware of the principle that "when you're looking to fleece someone, you should target the fattest one."

Gu Qing was getting a little exasperated by the questions. Taking advantage of a break in the conversation, he reached out and pulled Professor Wu Gang and Professor Ding Haifeng, who were standing a little further away, to his sides. He smiled into the microphone and said:

"Dear media friends, let's not forget that we also have so many outstanding seniors and actors in our film."

Since even the top celebrities have spoken out, the reporters could only ask a couple of casual questions.

After Wu Jing calmed down a bit, he began to shower Gu Qing with praise, from his professionalism to his acting talent, from his willingness to endure hardship to his box office appeal, making him sound like the best in the world.

Then, changing the subject,
When asked about a sequel, he wiped his eyes and gave a signature,憨厚 (honest and simple) yet shrewd smile:

"As for whether my brother will return for the sequel? Well... we'll have to see how well 'Wolf Warrior 2' performs at the box office."

"If the box office doesn't meet the target, I won't have the money to hire him, right?"

I can't keep letting my brother do me favors for nothing; I have to reciprocate in some way too.

"Director Wu, what box office level do you think you need for 'Wolf Warrior 3' to be on the agenda before it's even possible to start filming?"

A reporter followed up with further questions.

Wu Jing frowned, deep in thought, seemingly finding it difficult to speak: "It would have to be at least... ten..."

He glanced at the composed Gu Qing beside him, gritted his teeth, and uttered a number he had never dared to dream of before: "It has to be at least 1.5 billion!"

"1.5 billion? That's promising! Gu Qing's brother's 'Detective Chinatown' broke 3 billion!"

"Director Wu, what if 'Wolf Warrior 2' also breaks 3 billion? What would you say then?"

Reporters then joined in the laughter and cheers, creating a lively atmosphere.

Stimulated by the atmosphere, and still feeling a bit hot-headed from crying, Wu Jing blurted out, "If it really breaks 3 billion, I'll immediately start preparing to film 'Wolf Warrior 3'!"

"Hey! Brother Jing! Stop! Please, don't make promises you can't keep!"

Gu Qing, who had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, was so shocked by these words that she made a meme-worthy expression. "My schedule is completely full. Even if you break 50 billion, I still can't film it."

"Fifty billion?! Why aren't you bidding?!"

The audience was taken aback for a moment, then burst into even louder laughter.

Everyone took it as a joke Gu Qing made to interrupt Wu Jing's "bold words" and to liven up the atmosphere.

joke,

What does a box office of 5 billion yuan mean?
Don't treat RMB like it's nothing!

If they really achieved that, they might be able to break into the top 100 in the history of world cinema.

Without exception, all the works that made it into the top 100 are masterpieces that are well-known worldwide.

"Alright, alright, let's hear what our celebrity friends here today have to say about the film!"

Zhang Shaogang aptly brought the interview to a close and began the guest commentary segment, showering the interviewers with compliments.

Jing Tian, ​​who was sitting in the front row, praised the film's patriotism and excellent production in a generous manner.

Chen Sicheng and Wang Baoqiang, as colleagues and friends, analyzed the film's success from a professional perspective.

Li Chen from the Running Man cast was even more moved, seemingly still immersed in the movie, and his voice choked up again when talking about several touching scenes.

Finally, the microphone was handed to Yang Mi.

She smiled radiantly, first praising Gu Qing's performance profusely, and then...
immediately,

Before the host could respond, she naturally handed the microphone to Dilraba, who looked slightly nervous.

Dilraba took the microphone, took a deep breath, and sincerely refuted the rumors circulating online, explaining the situation to Gu Qing.

“Gu Qing’s younger brother didn’t just stand by and watch me get hurt. He was protecting me when my head hit his finger. I’m the one who caused him to get hurt.”

"Huh? Is that so?"

"This is the real big news!"

The press area instantly stirred, eyes gleaming, and many quick-thinking reporters were already working on their press releases.

So far,

The premiere of "Wolf Warrior 2" concluded successfully amidst applause, tears, laughter, and new headline topics.

Meanwhile, preparations for the victory celebration banquet were already complete.

"Don't go! Don't go! Everyone who came to support me today is my family. No one is allowed to leave. You have to give me face and have a meal with us!"

Wu Jing stood near the exit from backstage, his face flushed, shaking hands and hugging everyone, his gratitude overflowing. He warmly invited everyone to the banquet. "Old Wu, I really have no choice. I still have to go to 'Love O2O'."

Although Principal Wang really wanted to stay, he had to handle personal matters privately while also fulfilling his official duties.

However, before leaving

He didn't forget to shout, "Gu Qing, don't forget to pull me back!"

"Otherwise, I'll definitely teach you a lesson in next week's league game!"

"What are you pretending for, you diamond-level player? And are you even going to play?"

Gu Qing waved her hand speechlessly, "Okay, okay, you can go now."

"Damn it..."

Having fallen short in skill level, Principal Wang left grumbling.

In the lounge,

"Master, I have to go now, I can't have dinner with you."

Jing Tian tugged at Gu Qing's sleeve, her pretty face filled with reluctance. "There's a brand event tomorrow, and I have to fly there now. Time is tight."

The recent surge in popularity
Jing Tian seems to be enjoying herself.

After years of being relatively unknown, she suddenly became a sensation. She enjoys every time she appears on stage, with fans screaming and CP fans showering her with rainbow bubbles.

She had finally managed to see Gu Qing, but now she had to leave again, and her disappointment was palpable.

"I'll see you off."

Gu Qing said softly.

He noticed the subtle fatigue beneath Jing Tian's makeup, and realized that she had specially adjusted her schedule to come to the premiere just to give him a surprise.

After greeting Wu Jing, Gu Qing accompanied Jing Tian outside.

Zhao Ya and Jing Tian's assistants and others naturally followed a few steps behind.

In the back-end channel,
Occasionally, staff members or media personnel who had not yet left would encounter them, and they would all widen their eyes in surprise, or cover their mouths in excitement, or whisper among themselves, their gazes focused on the hands that were naturally clasped together.

"Master, is this... really okay?"

A faint blush rose to Jing Tian's cheeks, and she gently opened the black bamboo fan she always carried with her with her other hand.
She half-covered her face, revealing only a pair of smiling eyes that curved into crescent moons. She secretly glanced at the hand that Gu Qing was holding, her voice filled with barely suppressed sweetness.

"We're a top-tier couple now, what's wrong with that?"

Gu Qing turned her head and smiled at her, "Being natural and open-minded is fine. Just let them take the pictures."

"A popular couple?"

Jing Tian couldn't hold back her excitement any longer; her lips curled up high, a blush spreading to her ears. The joy in her heart surged out like bubbling soda.

Without hesitation, she asked, "Is our popular couple even more popular than your 'sibling couple' with Yang Ying back then?"

She paused, then seemed to remember something, and pouted slightly:

"And she's the same. She knew we filmed a TV series version of 'Love O2O,' but she turned around and went to act in the movie version. She's clearly trying to compete with our 'Qingcheng Couple'!"

"My little darling... could you please say less?"

Jing Tian's assistant, who was following behind, was terrified and could only pray frantically in her heart, "I hope the goodwill I just built up isn't squandered again!"

Zhao Ya silently covered her face, inwardly lamenting:
That's it, love-struck thinking is both her strength and her weakness.

The Empress's vote decreased by one, while Zhao Xiaodao and Liu Shizi gained one vote each.

Zhao Ya ranked them in her mind.

"Master, do you think... our TV dramas will lose to their movies in terms of both critical acclaim and popularity?"

Jing Tian looked up at Gu Qing with anticipation.

"of course not."

Gu Qing shook his head firmly and led her steadily out of the side door of the cinema.

as predicted,

Outside the cinema, there were still many reporters and fans with keen senses of smell, waiting in place.

"Ah—!! It's Gu Qing and Jing Tian! They came out holding hands?!"

"Wow! Is this the start of an official announcement?!"

"Haha, I really came to the right place today! Big prizes are popping up one after another! Quick, take pictures!"

The reporters were ecstatic, and after a brief moment of astonishment, they began taking even more photos.

A barrage of flashes briefly illuminated the night outside the cinema.

Gu Qing and Jing Tian seemed to have anticipated this scene and remained calm.

They smiled at each other, then waved naturally towards the media and fans.

The night was just right.

The early autumn evening breeze was slightly cool, gently lifting Jing Tian's loose long hair and the wisps of hair on Gu Qing's forehead.

She wore a well-tailored black modified cheongsam that accentuated her graceful figure, exuding elegance and dynamism.

He was dressed in a navy blue youth suit, standing tall and straight like a pine tree, with a scholarly air about him.

The two stood side by side, one with a graceful figure and the other with a tall and straight posture. Against the backdrop of flashing spotlights and the hazy night, they created a scene full of story and atmosphere.

The relaxed and unhurried gesture, the unspoken understanding, captured by countless cameras, are destined to become another batch of viral "divine images" circulating online.

"Alright, get in the car, and be careful on the road."

Gu Qing escorted Jing Tian to her nanny van and whispered some instructions.

Jing Tian stopped in front of the car door, bit her lower lip lightly, and then, as if acting coquettishly, gently stretched out her arms.

Looking at her like this, Gu Qing tilted his head and smiled, then obediently opened his arms and gave her a gentle hug.

He gently stroked her soft hair twice with his palm, and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Don't just keep busy all the time, get some rest and take care of yourself."

After all,

He released her hand, took a step back, and waved at her.

Jing Tian blushed and got into the car, waving vigorously at him through the car window.

The car slowly started and drove into the night.

Gu Qing watched the car drive away until its taillights disappeared around the street corner before turning around.

Faced with the still noisy reporters trying to swarm him with questions, he simply smiled politely, nodded slightly, and then lowered his head, quickly walking back to the cinema accompanied by Zhao Ya and security personnel.

"Boss, um... don't be angry."

As soon as they entered the relatively quiet backstage corridor, Zhao Ya quickened her pace and moved closer to Gu Qing.

She carefully observed his expression and whispered, "Sister Tian... is sometimes just straightforward and says whatever comes to mind, without any malice."

"angry?"

Gu Qing stopped and looked at her, somewhat puzzled. "Why am I angry with her?"

"Well... Sister Sweetie, you mentioned that person, right?"

Zhao Ya stammered and only hinted at the point.

"Oh, you mean her?"

Gu Qing understood, then chuckled and gently pushed Zhao Ya's head back. "That's so long ago, I've long forgotten about it."

You guys, don't make such a fuss, as if I'm petty.

"Forgot...forgot?"

Zhao Ya rubbed her forehead, which had been shoved, and stood there, watching Gu Qing's retreating figure. She muttered to herself softly and with confusion, "But boss... you're known for having a photographic memory..."

……

Back in the slightly messy but festive lounge.

"Xiao Gu! You're back!" Wang Baoqiang's distinctive honest smile and accent rang out first.

"Brother Baoqiang! Brother Sicheng!"

Gu Qing smiled and stepped forward, giving Chen Sicheng and Wang Baoqiang, who had stood up, a big hug and patting each other on the back. "Long time no see! Why are you two the only ones left? Where are Brother Chen and the others?"

"Chen and the others have to rush to Deng Chao's event, so they don't have time to eat."

Wang Baoqiang smiled, his eyes narrowed, and said with a silly grin, "They're afraid that if they stay here too long, Deng Chao will get jealous."

"I'm afraid they really should be jealous, since they've all come to support me."

Gu Qing nodded with a smile.

"Hey, Bababao, let's go. No, we're not human, we should be ghosts. Let's float away."

Suddenly, he heard a soft sigh from a woman.

Gu Qing turned her head at the sound and saw Yang Mi and Dilraba still sitting on the sofa over there.
Yang Mi crossed her arms, turned her face arrogantly, and looked like she was "very unhappy," while Dilraba smiled to herself.

"Sister Mi, Sister Dilraba, I'm so sorry, so sorry,"

Gu Qing jogged over and sincerely thanked them, "Thank you for coming to support the movie today."

This gratitude is genuine.

Yesterday, Yang Mi took the initiative to post on Weibo to indirectly clarify the rumors surrounding him, even amidst the controversy.
Tonight, Dilraba explained the whole story in front of all the media, clearing his name, and with their personal support,
Gu Qing kept this favor and the gesture of support in her heart.

This certainly saved him a lot of time and energy dealing with pointless rumors.

"Are you really thanking me, or just pretending?"

Yang Mi initially wanted to keep a straight face, but seeing Gu Qing's refreshing yet slightly anxious youthful spirit as he ran over,

Hearing his apology, which was clearly meant to comfort but also sounded sincere, I couldn't help but smile.

She habitually reached out her hand, her tone teasing like an older sister teasing her younger brother: "Jing Tian isn't here now, give your older sister a hug, and I'll forgive you for what happened earlier."

Gu Qing seemed not to hear, and turned directly to Dilraba, extending his hand with a warm smile: "Sister Dilraba, don't be shy about ordering whatever you like at the banquet later. Jing-ge is treating today, let's help him 'bleed' a bit."

"Okay!

Dilraba's eyes lit up, and she nodded happily, extending her hand to shake hands with Gu Qing.

Yang Mi: "..."

His outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and his expression instantly fell apart.

"Little brother, come here for a second, something's up."

Just then, Wu Jing waved to Gu Qing.

"Sister Mi, Sister Reba, please have a seat. I'll be right there." Gu Qing smiled apologetically and turned to walk towards Wu Jing.

As soon as Gu Qing left, Dilraba couldn't help but nudge Yang Mi's arm and excitedly asked, "Sister Mi, when are we going to officially invite our little brother? I think the atmosphere was really good today."

"Heh, you get all confused just from shaking hands with someone?"

Yang Mi rolled her eyes at Dilraba, crossing her arms over her chest, which accentuated her already impressive curves even more.
She turned her head to the side and said unhappily, "I'm not in a hurry at all, but you're acting like you're in a huge rush."

"Honey, I was wrong!"

Dilraba quickly hugged Yang Mi's arm and pleaded, "I promise! I swear! I will never forget my boss for the sake of beauty again!"
You will always be my number one most beautiful woman and wonderful boss!

"Alright, alright, stop with the nonsense."

Yang Mi was so flustered by Dilraba's swaying that she lost her temper, and her expression softened slightly.

She glanced at Gu Qing, who was talking quietly with Wu Jing not far away, then looked away and said to Dilraba seriously:

"Baba, let me teach you something more today."

Our circle may look glamorous, but it's actually the most pragmatic and realistic.

However, the more important the request, especially to a top figure like Gu Qing, the less one should show their 'self-interest' on their face.

She lowered her voice slightly: "Do you think that just coming to support him by watching a movie and saying a few words on his behalf is enough to get him to act in our film?"

"Then... Sister Honey, what should we do?"

Dilraba asked in bewilderment, feeling that the interpersonal relationships in the entertainment industry were indeed complex and profound.

A sly glint flashed in Yang Mi's beautiful foxy eyes. She parted her red lips slightly and softly uttered two words: "Face recognition."

"Face recognition?"

"Yes, continuously and naturally increase the frequency of your presence in his sight and create a positive impression without causing offense."

Yang Mi raised her chin slightly, "Didn't that guy Sicong just say that?"

Gu Qing is going to participate in an e-sports event next week.

What a coincidence! I, your dear sister, am also a player who calls herself a 'genius e-sports girl'.

How could I be absent from such an occasion to support friends and showcase shared interests?

...(End of this chapter)