Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

"Congratulations to the ERW Invincible Team!!"

Wawa's voice resounded throughout the Wukesong Arena. His hoarse roar was filled with undisguised excitement, even more so than when he was commentating on the LPL finals.

Congratulations to Teacher Gu Qing and her team on their victory!

Miller picked up the thread, his voice equally enthusiastic: "Their performance tonight deserved a victory; this is the spirit that esports players should have!"

From beginning to end, give it your all, respect your opponents, respect the game, and respect the audience!

He deliberately emphasized the words "e-sports spirit," almost pronouncing each word clearly.

Those familiar with Miller know that this veteran commentator, who has been in the esports scene for many years, is genuinely angry.

Chris Wu's last two minutes of AFK farming in the fountain, and his timely surrender at the 20-minute mark, were, in his eyes, an insult to the sport.

Yes, you're a big star, you have millions of fans, and you can easily trend on social media with just a blog post.

But you can't expect to make a living in esports, smile before you start, and then complain about how bad it is after you've finished, right?

The spirit of esports, at this point in 2017, has not yet been completely stigmatized.

The LPL officials have even gone to great lengths to prevent players from surrendering during matches – because surrendering means giving up, admitting defeat, and betraying the spirit of competition.

And what Chris Wu did tonight...
The actions of his group of hip-hop buddies during the competition—including their constant trolling, shifting blame, and complaining to each other—were practically dancing on a minefield for esports fans.

"ERW is awesome!!"

"Kris Wu, may you die!!"

"Damn it, I've never seen anyone AFK and surrender during an exhibition match! Who are they trying to disgust?!"

The most furious people were undoubtedly the esports spectators at the scene. The boys and girls, dressed in various team uniforms and holding up all sorts of support signs, made no attempt to hide their emotions and began to hurl insults.

In the live stream, the chat was completely out of control:
Chris Wu's "Meigeni" fans tried to control the comments, but their comments were immediately drowned out by the sea of ​​esports fans.

Tonight, this is esports' home ground!
……

On the other side of the stage.

The ERW team members were firmly locked onto by the director's camera. When the camera switched over, the five of them were huddled together, their faces showing undisguised excitement and joy.

"Zhang Wei! Zhang Wei! Zhang Wei!"

Chen Chichi hugged Li Jiahang tightly, jumping for joy, his cheeky laughter echoing around him.
"Wasn't that spinning kick awesome?! Awesome?! He kicked the crow back and took it down instantly!"

"He's quite handsome, he's quite handsome."

Li Jiahang chuckled sheepishly, scratched the back of his head, and added with great enthusiasm, "But I wasn't bad either, right? I used my ultimate to flank and bind three of them! Malphite, Kha'Zix, and Swain, I bound them all! That team fight directly sealed the victory!"

"Yeah, yeah, you're awesome too!"

Chen Chichi patted his shoulder hard, "I didn't expect you to be so good at playing with trees. You must have been secretly practicing a lot, right?"

"Of course, I can't let Xiao Gu down."

After finishing the game, Li Jiahang was sweating profusely, but he felt incredibly satisfied. This kind of cross-disciplinary victory was even more exhilarating than winning awards for acting.

"Brother Gu is awesome!!"

Wang Junkai rushed up to Gu Qing, clapped his hands hard, and his eyes shone like two little stars.

This teenage idol, who always maintains a "little adult" image in front of the camera, has completely shed all his burdens at this moment, his smile as bright as a child who has just received his favorite toy.

"Ah, this feels so good! Lying here feels so comfortable!"

He exaggeratedly clutched his chest, making a blissful expression as if he had been "carried away," saying, "I just waited for Brother Gu to give me directions the whole time, and he did exactly what I asked. It couldn't be easier!"

"Xiao Kai, you played really well too."

Gu Qing stood up, smiled, and ruffled his hair. She knew that Kai was extremely lacking in love because of his family situation, and his parents simply used him as a money-making tool to support their younger brother.

He offered encouragement in a gentle tone, saying, "Your positioning and skill predictions in the mid lane are better than many Diamond players I've seen. Keep practicing, and you might actually reach Master rank someday."

"Really?!" Wang Junkai's eyes lit up even more.

"real."

"Hey hey hey..."

Kai chuckled a few times, then skipped off to find Chen Chichi and Li Jiahang to celebrate.

Gu Qing's gaze fell on the girl beside him who had just taken off her headphones and was about to get up.

Chen Duling.

She sat in the gaming chair, her slender fingers still resting on the mouse, seemingly not yet fully recovered from the intense battle. Stage lights shone down from above, casting soft shadows on her fair cheeks.

She seemed a little reserved and at a loss.

Her clear almond-shaped eyes were slightly lowered, her eyelashes casting faint shadows on her eyelids, and her jade-like cheeks were flushed with a light blush, whether from excitement or nervousness.

She didn't know what to do.

Should we cheer and celebrate like everyone else?

Should I go over and give my teammates a high-five and a hug?
Or... should I sit quietly and wait for someone to come to me?

She was the person with the least "status" in the entire team.

Chen Chichi is a top variety show personality, Li Jiahang is an actor, Wang Junkai is a popular idol, and Gu Qing is a top superstar.

And what about her?
A "washed-up artist" who came from a family workshop, had no company, no team, and had not received any work for more than half a year.

The more you think, the more chaotic your mind becomes.

Until their gazes met another pair of eyes.

Chen Duling raised her head and met Gu Qing's clear and gentle eyes.

Those eyes still reflected everyone's image like clear spring water.

Gu Qing looked at her and smiled slightly.

Then he reached out his hand.

Chen Duling's heart skipped a beat.

Without hesitation, she raised her left hand.

A light touch with fingertips.

Warm, dry, with a slightly hot temperature after playing games.

A very light hug.

It was also a very short moment.

It might only last two or three seconds.

But enough.

"They played exceptionally well."

Gu Qing's voice rang in her ear, very low and soft, like a spring breeze, carrying a reassuring warmth.

"Little Ears, thank you."

"Thank you for practicing so hard, playing nearly two thousand ranked games."

"Thank you... for being willing to compete with me."

Chen Duling did not speak.

Her mind went blank; all her thoughts ceased to function at that moment.

She could only feel her cheeks burning, the heat spreading from her cheeks to her ears and then to her neck, as if her whole body was enveloped in a warm fire.

Worth it.

The thought jumped out of my blank mind, clear and firm.

Being attacked? Being insulted? Being ridiculed?
Worth it.

None of that matters.

The important thing is that at this moment, Xu Yi is holding her and whispering thank you in her ear.

She knew what this meant.

In the entertainment industry, every action is magnified, interpreted, and attacked.

Targeting Kris Wu—even just in the game—will provoke a frenzy of retaliation from his fans.

Not everyone can profit from negative publicity, especially a small-time artist like her who doesn't have a company or team.

Those fans can flood her blog comment section, dig up her past, and attack her with the most vicious language.

she knows.

She knew it from the beginning.

But when she controlled Leona, and the golden sword was pointed directly at Kris Wu, she did not hesitate at all.

Because he wanted to win.

Because he wanted to beat that person.

That's enough.

This is enough.

The hug ended.

Gu Qing released her hand, took a step back, and looked at her.

Chen Duling raised her head and met his gaze.

Her face was still red, but her eyes were bright.

There was no fear, no regret, not the slightest wavering in it.

There is only one kind of light... foolish, reckless, yet incredibly determined.

Looking into those eyes, Gu Qing suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

In the end, he just smiled again and gently patted the top of her head.

"Let's go."

He said.

Chen Duling nodded vigorously.

……

Front row of the audience.

Yang Mi clapped gracefully, a perfectly timed smile playing on her lips.

She was poised and elegant, with a polite smile, perfectly playing the role of a "senior in the industry who came to support her friend".

But her peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly.

Her gaze fell on the figures embracing on the stage.

Yang Mi's eyelashes trembled slightly.

It's impossible to tell what emotion it's expressing.

After a moment, she chuckled softly and shook her head.

"The little girl is quite lucky."

She murmured to herself, her voice so soft that only she could hear it.

"Knowing how to seize opportunities..."

It was impossible to tell from the tone whether it was praise or something else.

She wasn't particularly envious.

after all,

She has an exhibition match at the end of the month where she will play against Gu Qing—although, as his opponent.

But at least, it was "playing games together," wasn't it?
If I can lure Gu Qing to the film crew, I can hug her for as long as I want.

"Honey, are you going backstage?"

Principal Wang's voice rang out at an inopportune moment, continuing his persistent invitation.

"Isn't my younger brother supposed to have a performance later?"

Yang Mi interrupted him indifferently, her gaze still fixed on the stage, "I'll leave after I'm done watching. You can go by yourself."

After being rejected time and again, Principal Wang's smile froze, and he finally couldn't hold back anymore.

He glanced at Yang Mi, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

His back view revealed a stiffness tinged with embarrassment and anger.

Yang Mi didn't even lift her eyelids this time.

……

In the commentary booth, Wawa and Miller were still passionately reviewing the game.

"Today's exhibition match can be described as one of the most exciting in recent years!"

The doll, still full of excitement, exclaimed, "Gu Qing's performance completely exceeded everyone's expectations! No, it should be said that it exceeded everyone's imagination!"

Miller nodded in agreement: "That's right! From the details of the level 1 team fights to the timing of roaming and supporting, every step was perfectly timed! This is absolutely a top-level performance!"

"I feel like even Jay Chou wouldn't be able to beat them on the other side."

The doll raised an eyebrow mischievously, "Unless you bring out his Sword Saint!"

"Haha, don't mess with me, bro!"

Miller laughed, "Jaylen and our little brother Gu Qing are also very good friends. They often play games together in private. Maybe one day we'll see them team up for a competition."

After laughing, the child suddenly winked and said, "But besides my brother's wonderful performance, Teacher Dudu, who was paired with him, was also amazing!"

"They truly are great friends."

The little girl giggled, her tone as if she'd just stumbled upon something, "When I watched 'The Left Ear' in the theater back then, I thought that little ear and Xu Yi were a perfect match..."

The baby started to dart around.

In the live stream chat, the comments section exploded with activity:
[Hahaha, kid director, that's enough!]

[Qingling CP is locked in!!]

[Little Ears was absolutely amazing today! That E-flash was incredible!]

……

Backend access.

Chris Wu walked quickly, followed by a group of taciturn rappers.

No one speaks.

No one dared to speak.

Magneto lowered his head, pulling his hat brim even lower, as if he wanted to hide his entire face inside.

Aifujni hunched his neck, trying to make his massive body look smaller.

The others didn't dare to breathe too loudly, afraid of accidentally incurring bad luck.

They stumbled through the passage and disappeared into the night, not wanting to linger for even a moment longer.

After tonight, some things are destined to be different.

……

"Summoners, please don't go away—"

The doll's voice rang out again, this time with a mysterious smile.

"The grand finale tonight will feature a song performed by our beloved Gu Qing! Please stay tuned!"

The scene instantly erupted in cheers.

"Gu Qing is going to sing?!"

"I especially love his song 'Heart Like Still Water'! It's so much better than those freestyle songs by Electric Eel!"

"Dude, what kind of taste do you have? You listen to rap? You should listen to traditional Chinese style! 'Spring Snow in the Courtyard' is the best!"

"Bullshit about ancient style! If you come to a League of Legends competition, shouldn't you sing a song about the League? Otherwise, it's so insincere!"

"I just hope it's better than Jay Chou's 'Hero'... To be honest, the lyrics are really a bit lousy..."

The audience was abuzz with discussion, their expectations reaching their peak.

In fact,
The league officials did indeed invite Gu Qing to write a song for tonight's performance before the game.

However, it's not some kind of S-series theme song—that level of resource isn't something you can get from a single exhibition match.

It's just a song for tonight's live performance, just for fun and excitement.

But this actually relieved Gu Qing of her psychological burden.

Should we use those heavyweight S-series songs from the future?

Not only is it a waste of talent, but the occasion is also inappropriate.

He thought for a long time and actually remembered two songs that were somewhat well-known in the league.

One of them is "Still Split" sung by the Noxian princess.

However, this song mainly describes the inner journey of a top laner, especially Darius, which is completely unrelated to his main bot lane role. The other song, which is less well-known, is closer to his own experience—and is more likely to resonate with ordinary players.

"The One Behind Me"

The lyrics of this song describe the bond between AD carries and supports, and the support players who work silently and are often overlooked.

It doesn't use any profound words or have any fancy musical arrangements, but it succeeds because it's realistic and resonates with everyone who has played the game.

This is enough.

Isn't the reason he participated in this event to expand his network?
"Hey, Sister Dudu, aren't you going back?"

Wang Junkai's voice suddenly rang out from the edge of the spectator area. He was about to return to the rest room with his teammates.
But then they saw Chen Duling lagging behind, standing hesitantly in a corner by the stage.

Chen Duling was stunned for a moment, and before she could answer, Kai's eyes darted around, and he suddenly gave her an "I understand" smile.

That smile, how to put it... was sly, with a hint of mischief, a hint of mockery, and a hint of smugness, like a child who has seen through an adult's secret.

"Hey hey hey-"

He lowered his voice and winked, saying, "I understand, I understand, Sister Dudu, you stay here and listen, we'll go first!"

"What do you know?" Chen Duling was a little confused by his laughter and asked blankly.

She just wanted to be in the audience and listen to Gu Qing sing a song up close.

The match is over.

She knew that when the spotlight went out and the audience dispersed...

This meeting between her and Gu Qing is also coming to an end.

Perhaps... we'll never see each other again.

"Oh, those who know, know—"

Kai just chuckled, waved his hand, and ran off in a flash, saying, "Sister Dudu, you're busy, you're busy!"

Chen Duling watched his retreating figure, biting her lower lip in frustration, her slender fingers on her hips, unsure of what to say.

She turned around, looked up at the stage.

On stage,
Gu Qing was focused on adjusting the in-ear monitor. He had his head down, and the lines of his profile looked particularly soft under the light.

His slender fingers would occasionally fiddle with the headset or adjust the microphone's position; every movement exuded composure and focus.

Chen Duling stood quietly at the edge of the dimly lit stage, watching him.

A faint hint of sadness flashed in her beautiful eyes.

At least... everyone has a good memory tonight, right?

She told herself that.

At least, she played a game with him.

At least, she helped him win against that annoying person.

At least, he hugged her and whispered thank you in her ear.

This is enough.

Is that... enough?

……

On stage,
Gu Qing tested the microphone, fixed the position of the in-ear monitor, raised her head, and nodded slightly to the camera.

The large screen in the live stream instantly switched to a close-up of him.

The audience erupted in the loudest screams of the night.

The comments scrolled by wildly, so fast that the text was almost impossible to read.

Gu Qing did not start singing immediately.

He held the microphone, a gentle smile playing on his lips. Facing tens of thousands of people, he showed no nervousness, appearing completely relaxed and at ease.

Good evening, Summoners.

His voice was clear and gentle, spreading throughout the venue through the speakers, carrying a magical power that made people unconsciously quiet down.

"Does anyone know what position I play?"

"AD (Marksman) -!!"

The audience responded in unison, showing great cooperation.

"That's right, I play the AD carry position."

Gu Qing nodded, his smile deepening. "However, as everyone knows, every AD player in a duo lane needs the sacrifice and dedication of their support."

The noise at the scene gradually subsided.

“Support players are actually discriminated against and treated coldly in ranked matches.”

Gu Qing's voice was calm and sincere, and every word clearly reached the ears of the listeners.

"Support players have to provide vision, protect the AD carry, roam and provide support, initiate team fights, and sometimes deal damage... Support players bear too many responsibilities, but often do not receive the recognition they deserve."

More than half of the audience members here today are girls.

The vast majority of girls who play this game choose the support role.

Every word Gu Qing said struck a chord with them.

And what resonated most was...

Chen Duling, who was standing in the corner of the stage, suddenly felt a little anxious and nervous, and became flustered.

And just so happens,
Her still figure was captured by the sharp-eyed director, and the camera gave it a close-up, causing a slight commotion and screams from the audience.

Gu Qing turned her head to look at the screen, spotted Chen Duling's figure, her expression slightly startled, then she chuckled and looked away.
"So today's song, 'You Behind Me,' is dedicated to every support player who has worked silently."

The words had barely left his mouth—

"Huh?! A new song?!"

"Gu Qing wrote a song just for me?!"

"Holy crap, as a veteran player who's been playing support for ten years, hearing this almost brought tears to my eyes!"

Before the audience could recover from their shock, the prelude to the music had already begun.

The arrangement is minimalist, with only piano and guitar as the core accompaniment, plus a layer of soft synthesizer.

There are no fancy tricks, no overpowering rhythms, only the purest and warmest melodies, like a gentle breeze, softly brushing across everyone's heart.

"The One Behind Me"

The original song was "Embrace" by Xu Binglong, which was later adapted and covered by a Bilibili streamer who loves the voice of Paimon from the game League of Legends.

The lyrics and melody are simple, but the emotions conveyed are so sincere that they are truly moving.

Focus on developing your character and getting to the late game.

[You've secured the enemy kill, and the assist is yours.]

I'll stay with you again, until the mid-lane showdown.

Don't act impulsively, hold on tight to my arm—

The lyrics are too simple.

It's so simple that anyone who has played this game can immediately picture the scene in their mind.

Once in the game, tell the support to drag it out until the late game, and wait for me to get my three core items.

I'll take the kill and give you the assist.

Don't be impulsive, don't be impatient, stay close to me.

This isn't some earth-shattering vow; it's just the most ordinary conversation between an AD carry and a support player in every ranked game.

But why does it... sound so touching?
The lyrics, delivered in Gu Qing's pure, woody voice, evoke a heartwarming and touching feeling.

"【The you behind me, the chaotic you.】"

You are my greatest motivation.

You who protect me and worry about me.

A belated apology.

Upon hearing this, Chen Duling was completely stunned and disoriented.

She is stupid.

Is Xu...Xu Yi...singing this to me?

Chen Duling recalled how nervous and flustered she was every time she played duo queue with Gu Qing, her hero constantly wobbling around.

But that gentle voice would always reach my ears, encouraging me: "Little Ears, don't be nervous, take it slow."

And the following few sentences
Are you my greatest motivation? Protecting me, worrying about me, and offering belated apologies?

Is this a confession of love?
How could this be... how could this be...

She doesn't believe it!

For the first time, Chen Duling felt her heart pounding, a suffocating sensation as if it were about to burst out of her chest.

"【You behind me, you who are causing trouble.】"

My affection for you goes far beyond just this one sentence.

The canyon is so vast that it never asks when one will return.

You've always been in my heart.

But Gu Qing's subsequent performance dealt her the biggest blow.

The field of vision covers every area of ​​the river, and the scan also helps you eliminate all suspicions.

I'm listening to every word you say...

How could I not love you, the one who protected me and took the blame for me?

Chen Duling: "..."

She wanted to tell herself that this was just a song, a song that Xu Yi wrote for all the support staff, not for her.

But when you put each lyric together...

How could she not think of herself?
I'm a support player too!

The entire experience of playing duo queue for more than half a year is contained in this song.

Chen Duling raised her head and looked at Gu Qing, who was singing on the stage.

The spotlight shone on him, outlining his features so clearly and dazzlingly.

Her health bar is empty...

……

"Is it too late for me to switch to support?"

This was the first thought that popped into Yang Mi's mind while she was in the audience.

Even she, a seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry, hard-hearted and accustomed to all sorts of tricks and schemes, almost melted upon hearing these words.

Not to mention the ordinary female audience members at the scene.

The camera panned across the audience, revealing countless pairs of eyes glistening with tears, each person lost in their own emotions.

Although they can be really annoying in real life, you can still apply the emotions in the song to them.

Even the most hardcore straight men in various live streaming rooms were moved by the song and couldn't help but express their gratitude for having encountered good support players in the past.

"This is the most romantic song I've ever heard in Summoner's Rift."

Without a doubt, after tonight, a large number of players specializing in support roles will emerge in League of Legends.

The canyon is so vast, it never asks when one will return.

You've always been in my heart—

Gu Qing's voice slowly faded, the last note drifting away in the air.

……

It was already late at night outside the Wukesong Sports Center.

The early autumn evening breeze, carrying a cool dampness, gently caressed the departing crowd.

Players walked out in twos and threes, their chatter, laughter, and cheers mingling and drifting through the night sky.

"Tonight was totally worth it! That game was so exciting to watch!"

"Gu Qing is so handsome! I declare that from today onwards, I am a fan of his looks!"

"Did you record his last song? Send it to me quickly! I want to listen to it on repeat!"

"Recorded! I had to record it! This is the best League song I've ever heard!"

Some people were excitedly discussing the game they had just played, some were busy posting on social media to show off what they had seen and heard that night, and some were still debating who should be awarded the MVP.

But most people are discussing the song Gu Qing sang at the end.

"The One Behind Me"

Starting tonight, this name will be remembered by countless League of Legends players.

The League of Legends sixth anniversary celebration has come to a perfect close.

But for some, the aftermath of tonight is just beginning.

……

The following day, it appeared on the blog's trending topics list.

#Gu Qing's Little Cannon is Superb#
#Gu Qing's "The One Behind Me"#
#ChenDulingLeona#
#KrisWu0-7#
#QinglingCP is giving us sweet moments#
#ERWVictoryTeam#
Of the top ten trending topics, seven were related to Gu Qing.

And Kris Wu's name was listed seventh. The "0-7" that followed was like a scar that would never heal, glaringly obvious.

The comments section is a microcosm of human nature:
[77777! Our factory never misses a day! The factory manager is overjoyed!]

Gu Qing is so handsome, and he's so good at games too. No wonder he's the real-life incarnation of the great Xiao Nai!

[I'm absolutely blown away by Leona with her little ears! She's the best female celebrity I've ever seen at gaming, bar none!]

[Kris Wu really can't accept defeat. He just AFK'd in the fountain for two minutes, then surrendered after twenty minutes. It's hilarious!]

[0-7? I could do that too! It's just feeding, right?]

I listened to this song by my brother on repeat all night. It's so gentle, it made me want to cry...

Some have received high praise, and their reputation has reached new heights.

Some people have become infamous and ridiculed online.

Fortunately,

Someone with too many lice isn't afraid of being bitten; they just keep pretending to be dead.

……

Xiamen.

In Chen Duling's room, the curtains were half-drawn, and the afternoon sunlight streamed in through the gaps, casting several slanted shadows on the floor.

She sat in front of the computer, watching the replay of last night's game over and over again.

The light from the screen shone on her face, illuminating her slightly bright almond-shaped eyes.

When she saw her E-flash, she couldn't help but smile.

When she saw Kris Wu being targeted, she gave a soft "humph".

When I saw the final hug, the coffee bear in my arms became a terrible substitute.

My phone vibrated.

Chen Duling picked it up and saw that it was a message from Gu Qing.

[Xu Yi: Little Ears, did you see today's trending topics? You're famous.]

Chen Duling stared at the screen, her heart skipping a beat.

She types, deletes, types again, and deletes again.

In the end, only one reply was given:
Thank you, Xu Yi.

After thinking about it, I added another point:
I will...try my best to see you again!

After sending the message, she held her phone to her chest and took a deep breath.

The sea breeze outside the window blew in gently, carrying a slightly salty, damp scent, brushing against her cheeks and ruffling the stray hairs on her forehead.

She looked up at the group photo of the film "Left Ear" on the table.

Looking at the person in the photo who is helping her make a peace sign,
Chen Duling suddenly smiled.

That smile was light and faint, yet brighter than the sunlight outside the window.

And steadfastness.

We will definitely meet again...we will definitely meet again.

She told herself that.

"Next time, I want to personally hand out the candy!"

……

...(End of this chapter)