Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

"Little Ears, did I disturb you? What are you doing?"

As soon as the call connected, a clear and pleasant voice came through the receiver.

The voice carried its usual gentleness, yet seemed to have gained a touch of magnetism due to the conduction of electricity, with a slight upward inflection at the end, containing a clearly discernible smile.

Chen Duling felt her ears suddenly heat up, and her mind went blank for a moment.

She almost frantically stood up from the computer chair, her slender fingers unconsciously clutching the corner of her nightgown.

"No...no disturbance!"

She responded quickly, her voice lower and hoarse than usual due to nervousness, and she spoke faster, "I...I just woke up not long ago."

As she spoke, she wandered aimlessly back and forth in the not-so-spacious room, her pale fingers occasionally brushing against her smooth forehead.

As Chen Duling reached the door, she instinctively reached out and clicked it shut from the inside, locking the slightly ajar door.

She herself was taken aback; who was she trying to guard against?

Chen Duling took a deep breath, trying to keep her tone steady and her deep voice slightly raised, attempting to make her voice sound gentler.

"Xu Yi, congratulations!"

Chen Duling sat down on the edge of the bed, grabbed the brown teddy bear, and unconsciously curled its ears with her fingers. "I saw the news about your new movie's opening day box office."

"That's really impressive, 470 million... In just one day, it's almost half of the total box office of our film 'The Left Ear'."

"It's mainly thanks to Brother Jing and the whole team; the film itself is of excellent quality."

Gu Qing chuckled on the other end of the phone, "By the way, are you free this afternoon? Let's play a few duo matches together to get back into sync. The competition starts next week."

"Yes! I'm free!"

Chen Duling agreed almost without hesitation, her voice filled with barely suppressed joy, and she unconsciously hugged the coffee bear in her arms even tighter.
But the next moment, a sense of worry rose in his heart.
"Xu...Xu Yi, won't this affect the promotion of your new movie? Your movie has just been released, isn't this the busiest time of your life?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Chen Duling wished she could bite her tongue off.

What am I even saying?!

She wailed inwardly.

Xu Yi took the initiative to ask her to play games, but she actually turned around and "advised" him to go to work?
She nudged the bear in her arms with her forehead in frustration, wishing time could turn back a few seconds.

"Don't worry, it won't have any impact."

Gu Qing's voice was still full of laughter, as if she didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said. "I have basically completed the preliminary publicity tasks. Jing Ge can handle the roadshow and subsequent interviews."

As he spoke, he turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping past the city streetscape outside the car window.

In fact,
The festivities and excitement of yesterday's premiere have not yet completely subsided.
When I woke up today,

Gu Qing quietly left the center of attention, where the media and the public were focused, and made a quick getaway.

The popularity of "Wolf Warrior 2" did not actually exceed his expectations.

In my past life memories, this movie's opening day box office had already exceeded an astonishing 420 million, creating a miracle in the history of Chinese-language films.

Now, with his addition as a "variable," his popularity has been boosted, and the pre-launch hype has been even stronger.
The daily box office hit a new record, exceeding 50 million yuan, almost reaching the ceiling of the current daily capacity of the film market.

Gu Qing knew very well that this number was already very close to its limit, and to increase it significantly, it would require a longer period of positive word-of-mouth and a wider reach.

The more popular "Wolf Warrior 2" becomes, and the more its box office soars, the more complex the attention it attracts, and the more hidden storms and sabotage it faces.

Before the film's release, Gu Qing had already experienced a significant "dark tide."

From fabricated dating rumors that could disqualify him from being an idol, to malicious smear campaigns that attempt to demean him and escalate to personal attacks.

Those comments were so harsh and the angles so peculiar that if he himself hadn't been truly upright and honest, and his history hadn't been so clean that it was almost unremarkable, he might have been truly distorted and mired in a quagmire.

Even so, it was enough to make Gu Qingxin wary.

He understood all too well how this industry operated: when a work or a person is placed under absolute spotlight, any minor flaw will be examined with a magnifying glass hundreds or thousands of times.

As long as you remain in the public eye, your adversaries will always find an angle to attack you, either by taking things out of context or by fabricating facts, making it impossible to defend against.

"Brother Jing, I managed to draw and withstand the first wave of firepower aimed at me personally."

As for his younger brother?

Of course, taking advantage of the temporary shift in public opinion, they made a "strategic retreat" to avoid the limelight and enjoy a few days of peace and quiet.

"Xu Yi, so... what time do we start playing this afternoon?"

Chen Duling quickly pressed for details, fearing that her "unromantic" question might ruin this precious appointment.

"Around two o'clock. I'll be home soon, and I haven't had lunch yet. After I eat and rest for a while, I'll go online and call you on time."

Gu Qing calculated the time.

"Mmm!" Chen Duling nodded vigorously, even though the other person couldn't see her.

"That's all for now? I'll get back to work."

"Okay! Good!"

The call ended, and the phone screen went dark.

Chen Duling held the slightly warm phone, her heart still pounding wildly in her chest.

Her gaze fell on the plate of weight-loss meal on the computer desk in front of her, which had long since gone cold and was now somewhat dull in color.

Chen Duling picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of cold broccoli, hesitated for a moment, and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly.

Huh?
Has Mom's cooking improved?

Sweet and crisp, with the purest flavor of the plant itself, it's surprisingly not bad?

Even as the slightly cool, sweet taste melted in her mouth, Chen Duling couldn't help but smile sweetly with a touch of coquettishness.

My previously gloomy mood was instantly brightened up, as if sunlight had streamed through a window, and even my taste buds seemed to become more sensitive and joyful.

This is probably the power of emotions.

Even this usually bland lunch seemed to be infused with a secret, sweet feeling unique to a young girl's heart.

Chen Duling ate in small bites, her eyebrows and eyes carrying an unconsciously soft smile.

……

the other side,
Gu Qing returned to the upscale villa he rented in Shanghai.

The housekeeping service I booked in advance was very responsible. The room was spotless, with everything neatly arranged and even a faint lemon scent of cleaning agent lingering in the air.

however,
This excessive tidiness, on the contrary, highlights a desolate atmosphere lacking human presence.

The space was so vast and quiet that you could hear the echoes of your own breathing and footsteps.

The gleaming white marble tile floor, even when stepped on in soft slippers, exudes a cool, refreshing sensation that belongs to the spacious room.

but,

For Gu Qing, who had just gone through months of intensive filming, promotion, and social engagements, this sudden loneliness and tranquility was not uncomfortable at all, but rather a luxurious enjoyment.

However… looking around at this exquisitely decorated “showroom” that showed no trace of personal life, Gu Qing couldn’t help but sigh.

"They make money from rent way too easily."

He muttered to himself, feeling a pang of regret.

They pay hundreds of thousands of yuan in rent every month, but they live like migratory birds, only staying for a few days at a time.

This kind of pure consumption made him feel it was not worth it at all.

An impulse to "just buy a house in Shanghai" arose spontaneously.

But after calming down,
After checking out Shanghai's incredibly strict, almost inhuman, housing policies in 2017, that impulse deflated like a punctured balloon.
1. Non-local households are limited to purchasing one unit.

2. Must be married.

3. No family member can have a Shanghai household registration.

4. The most crucial point is that you must have paid social security or individual income tax for five consecutive years.

Gu Qing didn't match any of them.

Unless you take the "special talent introduction" route to quickly settle down and thus obtain the qualification to buy a house.

This is also the approach many established celebrities choose.

In fact, some well-known celebrities have made huge "sacrifices" to successfully change their household registration, as revealed by the media.

……

But Gu Qing had hardly considered this path.

It's not that I'm high-minded, but I feel there's no need to tie household registration to career in such a way.

Earlier, when he participated in the variety show "Up Idol" and received an endorsement offer from Shanghai Airlines, they subtly mentioned that they could help him get a Shanghai residency permit, which he politely declined.

"I really envy Uncle Long. He's like a 'half-Earthling' wherever he goes, so free and easy."

Gu Qing muttered a soft "cricket" to the name of that international superstar, as a form of self-deprecation.

Immediately putting aside these distracting thoughts, I picked up my phone and skillfully selected fresh ingredients on the food delivery app.

Rarely have some free time.

He decided to cook for himself to treat his stomach and add some warmth to his otherwise quiet "mansion".

The ingredients arrived quickly.

The kitchen was filled with the sounds of running water, chopping vegetables, sizzling oil hitting the pan, and the low rumble of the range hood.

These sounds, full of life, instantly dispelled the silence and coldness in the room. As the spatula stirred, the aroma began to spread.

Before long, three simple stir-fries were placed on the table: golden and tender tomato and egg stir-fry (sweet), crisp and green celery stir-fried with shredded pork, and fragrant and spicy stir-fried beef.

Steaming hot, with vibrant colors, and an irresistible, home-style aroma that makes your mouth water.

Gu Qing looked at her work with satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment welling up within her.

He picked up his phone, adjusted the angle, and snapped a picture. He intended to post it on his blog and share it with his fans.

But after hovering her fingertip over the send button for a moment, Gu Qing gave up.

Forget it.

At this critical juncture, any private activity could be over-interpreted, not only wasting public resources but also potentially being exploited by malicious individuals.

For example, there are slanderous and abusive comments such as "They got carried away by the big box office of their movie" and "They even made it to the trending topics list just by cooking a dish..."

The less trouble, the better.

"Then let's post it on WeChat Moments."

Gu Qing uploaded the photo and added the caption: "So, I guess I can cook now? [Sunglasses smug]"

Click send.

Gu Qing placed her phone on the dining table, then turned and went to the kitchen to get rice and chopsticks.

When he returned to the table with his bowl and chopsticks, and just as he picked up his phone to browse the news while eating, he casually glanced at WeChat—

Wow, my WeChat Moments exploded!

The red notification numbers are rising rapidly.

He clicked on it and saw that the comments and likes had already flooded the screen:

Little Ears: "It smells so good! [Drooling]" (Instant comment) Brother Chen: "Wait, shouldn't scrambled eggs with tomatoes be savory? [Question]"

Chen Chichi: "Big Black Bull, shut up! Tomato and egg stir-fry is of course sweet! Sweet is the way to go! [picking nose]"

Zheng Kai: "I'm on the side of the 'Salty Party,' Black Bull, I support you!"

The artists below quickly split into two camps, the "sweet" camp and the "salty" camp, arguing fiercely and creating a hilarious sudden change in the atmosphere.

Until Deng Chao's commentary appeared, the battlefield was instantly "unified":

Deng Chao: "Shouldn't scrambled eggs with tomatoes be spicy? [Confused][Confused]"

Chen Chichi: "Get out!! You're the heretic!!"

Li Chen: "Brother Chao, don't tell anyone you're from Xijiang when you go out..."

Zheng Kai: "Spicy? What the hell?! Can you even eat spicy tomato and egg stir-fry?!"

Old Deng was successfully targeted and eliminated.

Gu Qing looked at her phone, laughing so hard her shoulders shook. She enjoyed the lively comments from these witty people while eating, and her appetite was whetted.

He would occasionally reply with a few words below, making a joke.

Then, more professional comments emerged:

Chef Huang: "Gu, look at the picture. You overcooked these eggs a little; they look a bit too tough."

Authentic tomato and egg stir-fry requires a hot pan and hot oil. The egg mixture is quickly poured in and scrambled to ensure its tenderness, then the tomatoes are added and stir-fried until they release their juices…

Chef Huang: "And for this celery stir-fried with shredded pork, you can add some egg white and cornstarch when marinating the shredded pork to make it more tender... As for the stir-fried beef, cut it against the grain for a better texture..."

Chef Huang: "However, for someone your age, to be able to cook such a decent meal is already quite impressive and deserves praise! [Thumbs up]"

Chef Huang: "Come to my house for dinner sometime, let's have a cooking competition, and I'll invite Lao He too."

Teacher He: "..."

At that moment, Teacher He, who was recording a program in a studio, suddenly shivered and felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

This is strange, am I going to die?

Teacher He rubbed his arms, muttering to himself in fear.

……

Gu Qing suppressed a laugh and replied, "Okay, Teacher Huang, I'll definitely visit you when I have time to learn from you and let Teacher He have a 'delicious meal' too. [Grinning]"

After that,

The comments section began to feature more names, some familiar and some only met once, and the comments became increasingly "social," even somewhat exaggerated.

"My little brother is amazing! It looks so delicious!"

"Wow, that's amazing! I didn't know you could cook!"

"It looks delicious, smells amazing, and tastes amazing! Gu Qing is truly an all-rounder! (heart emoji)"

If you didn't know better, you'd think he'd just learned how to serve rice.

Later, comments from some more distant or bolder individuals began to become somewhat nuanced:
"Little brother, it must be so lonely eating alone. Can I come to your house for a meal? [Pleading]"

Send me your address, I'll bring the drinks! [Smirk]

"I'm also in Shanghai. Can I help you taste-test your recipes next time you cook? [Cute]"

Gu Qing glanced at it, turned off the phone screen, and suddenly realized that the backup number was very important.

After finishing his meal and cleaning up the dishes, he took a short rest for more than half an hour.

I logged into League of Legends at 2 PM sharp.

I discovered that Chen Duling was already online, practicing heroes in the training ground mode, which had only been online for six months.

Wearing black-rimmed glasses, Chen Duling was seriously focused on practicing her skills when she was suddenly startled by a voice call invitation coming through her earpiece.
Upon seeing the name, she excitedly switched screens and answered the call, before she could even utter a word.
"Little Ear, that's way too much! You've played 1800 ranked games since January?!"

Gu Qing was stunned when she saw Chen Duling's career record. "What are you going to do? You really want to go pro?"

"Xu Yi, I'm nowhere near as good as a professional player. I've played so many games, but I'm still stuck in Diamond I and can't climb any higher. My rank is the same as yours."

Sensing Gu Qing's shock, Chen Duling was secretly happy, but her voice was tinged with grievance as she said, "Every time we advance, we only win two out of three matches, and my teammates are always terrible in the crucial games. I'm really about to break down."

"The ELO system is taking effect, it's not your fault, and it's very difficult for support players to climb the ranks in solo queue."

Gu Qing offered a word of comfort and invited Chen Duling to the room. The two then confirmed their positions and began arranging their seats.

The Chinese server, currently at its peak, allows for almost instant login.

"Xu Yi, what combination should we play today?"

Chen Duling was eager to try, her voice full of anticipation.

Gu Qing thought for a moment, "How about Little Cannon and Leona?"

He really wanted to give his soon-to-be opponent, Chris Wu, a unique "surprise" in advance.

A small cannon paired with a "cannon king"—what a perfect match!

As a "spectator" who had followed the league's games in his previous life, Gu Qing knew an "insider story" that was only revealed later.

The well-known commentators Wawa and Miller, who were commentating on the All-Star Game back then, made some joking revelations during a live broadcast after Chris Wu's later downfall:
At the time, Kris Wu's agency had explicitly "requested" from the event organizers and broadcasters before the competition that the hero "Torrent Gunner" be banned from appearing in the match.

Not only can't they be selected, but during the commentary, even the nickname "Little Cannon," and any hero or word containing the character "cannon," are excluded.

It's best to avoid mentioning them.

This demonstrates the sensitivity and taboo surrounding this matter within his team.

Since he was so "worried" about his family, Gu Qing could naturally be a little "outrageous" and pay a small "tribute".

after all,

He had heard plenty of stories about Chris Wu's team sabotaging him behind his back and buying dirt on him.

"Xiao Kai said he's already practicing his three-shot (Xerath) combo for next week's match,"

Gu Qing added with a smile, "It'll pair perfectly with your Leona's hard CC initiation, allowing you to pinpoint and eliminate squishy backline targets in team fights, especially those without mobility skills. It should make things much easier."

"Uh-huh!"

Chen Duling nodded vigorously, her voice filled with a shared sense of righteous indignation, "I'll keep an eye on Chris Wu Kai in every wave of battles!"

Xu Yi, I'll get revenge for you! I'll teach him a lesson for always making sarcastic remarks about you in front of the media!

"Little Ears, calm down, calm down."

Gu Qing chuckled, but felt a warmth in her heart. "There's no need to deliberately chase after him to kill him, making it seem like we're targeting him."

Play normally, and if you have the chance, give him a little "care," just try to... utterly crush him.

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

Chen Duling happily agreed.

Upon entering the hero selection screen, the two locked in their heroes.

While waiting for the game to load, Gu Qing could still hear faint muttering coming from Chen Duling's end of the line through his headphones.
They seem to still be figuring out the design of the level 1 team fight, the placement of wards, and how to roam the mid lane to "take care" of the opponent.

Listening to her incredibly serious, even somewhat "over-prepared" attitude,

Thinking back to those crazy 1,800 ranked matches, Gu Qing suddenly felt a complicated sense of guilt.

"Little ears,"

He spoke, his tone much gentler than before, "Actually... you don't need to be so nervous."

Next week's event is ultimately just a commercially-sponsored exhibition match; entertainment is the main focus, and winning or losing isn't that important.
There's no need for you to lock yourself at home and train so intensely every day.

He paused for a moment, carefully choosing his words: "You... should go out more and explore job opportunities."

I remember your agent was your mother?
When it comes to script selection, perhaps we could pay more attention to the historical idol drama genre.

I feel that this is likely to be a consistently popular topic for the next few years.

Gu Qing outlined her career path after gaining some fame in the Chinese entertainment industry.
"Your image and temperament are actually quite suitable for period drama roles. You should be able to find a market for playing characters like fairies or elegant ladies."

Of course, modern dramas are also an option, for example... e-sports themed dramas are quite good, and right now there's the popularity of "Love O2O".

It aligns with your current interests.

"You could use next week's exhibition match as an opportunity to have your team prepare some related promotional materials to reinforce the 'e-sports girl' and 'gaming pro' persona. That would be a good starting point."

After he finished speaking, there was a brief silence on the other end of the earpiece.

Gu Qing was somewhat confused and was about to ask again,

But then I heard a very soft voice coming from the earphone, sounding cautious and tinged with a hint of embarrassment:

"Xu Yi...I...I don't have a job."

Chen Duling paused, as if gathering her courage.

"Next week's competition... is the only business job I've received in the past six months."

Her tone became urgent and sincere again, as if afraid he would misunderstand: "So, I really, really thank you for introducing me to this opportunity!"
Without this announcement, I might... I really might not have been able to hold on much longer.

Gu Qing was stunned.

He suddenly realized how frivolous and impractical his earlier suggestion, which sounded like "Why don't they eat meat porridge?"

For 99% of artists, how can they possibly have the right to choose scripts?
Having "something to film" is a luxury in itself, so how can one have the right to "select" themes or "plan" routes?
"Sorry, little ears,"

Gu Qing lowered her voice, "I was just being presumptuous and said some unrealistic things."

"No, no! Xu Yi, don't misunderstand, I didn't mean that!"

Chen Duling hurriedly explained, trying to force a slightly upbeat and optimistic tone into her voice, hoping to dispel the gloomy atmosphere from just moments before.

I really appreciate your advice! Really!
You said there's a market for historical romance dramas and e-sports dramas, I've got it!

If I ever have the chance to encounter a script like that in the future, I will definitely fight tooth and nail for it! I will never give up!

She seemed to be making a promise to him, and also encouraging herself.

"Well, I believe you."

Gu Qing softened her voice and quickly steered the conversation back to the game, "Alright, let's not think about that now, the game is about to begin."

Play this game well, let me see the results of your 1,800 training matches!

"it is good!"

Chen Duling cheered herself up and refocused her attention on the game screen.

The game began. Gu Qing controlled the hero, last-hitting, trading blows, roaming... giving commands and communicating from time to time.

But a small part of his thoughts drifted away.

Historical dramas...e-sports dramas...

In my memory, there seem to be several phenomenal blockbusters in the next few years that come from these two themes.

They not only boosted the popularity of the series itself, but also propelled the popularity of the lead actors to new heights.

perhaps……

……

...(End of this chapter)