Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

“Teacher Yi, our boss said that we can ask about anything except family matters.”

Zhao Ya's voice came from the other end of the phone.

Yi Lijing held the microphone, her eyes, hidden behind her black-rimmed glasses, slightly narrowed.

"and many more."

Her voice was as cold as ever, her tone so calm it was almost indifferent. Coupled with her expressionless face, even over the phone, one could feel the invisible pressure emanating from her.

"You mean—all the problems? Is that true?"

In the editor-in-chief's office, the afternoon sun streamed in through the gaps in the blinds, casting long, thin shadows on the floor.

Yi Lijing sat behind her desk, dressed in a smart dark gray suit, with neat short hair and simple makeup, exuding a cool and intellectual aura.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.

Zhao Ya, on the other end of the phone, swallowed hard even though she could only hear the voice.

She could imagine how terrifying that expressionless face and those emotionless, dead fish eyes must be.

After calming herself down, Zhao Ya forced herself to say, "Yes, Teacher Yi. The boss said—it's all the problems."

She paused, then hurriedly pleaded, "However, Teacher Yi, it would be even better if you could be a little gentler."

Am I not gentle?

Yi Lijing asked back with a blank expression, her tone devoid of any emotion.

Zhao Ya: "..."

There was a two-second silence on the phone.

In that silence, there seemed to be a silent answer: What do you think?

Ignoring the silence, Yi Lijing continued, "Will you set the time or should I?"

"Teacher Yi, we've already taken a plane back to China."

Zhao Ya quickly said, "If the interview is convenient, we can schedule it for 3 pm today. We'll try to finish it before 6 pm, as the boss has other work to do afterwards..."

"it is good."

Yi Lijing replied briefly, "Do you need me to send someone to pick you up?"

"No need, we all have our own drivers."

I'll send you the address later.

"Okay, thank you, Teacher Yi!"

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Ya let out a long sigh of relief, as if she had just fought a tough battle.

Just by listening to the sound,
She recalled the strict headmaster from her school days, which could easily leave her with psychological trauma.

Meanwhile, after hanging up the phone, Yi Lijing leaned back in her chair and looked out the window.

Outside the window is the city skyline, with towering buildings and bustling traffic.

Gu Qing.

I've been hearing this name way too much lately.

He's everywhere – trending topics, news, social media posts, discussions among colleagues…

This young man in his early twenties seemed to become a top celebrity in the entertainment industry overnight, becoming the focus of everyone's attention.

But Yi Lijing has never been particularly interested in these things.

She has interviewed far too many so-called "top celebrities".

Those idols who shine brightly in front of their fans often can't withstand more than three questions in front of her. Some tear up, some lose their temper on the spot, some become incoherent, and some evade the question.

Those carefully crafted personas often crumble like paper under her persistent questioning.

All that's good looks, all that's good for you is empty talk—that's how she describes many celebrities.

What about Gu Qing? Will things be different?

she does not know.

But the phrase "you can ask any question" did pique her interest in this young man.

Celebrities who dare to say such things are either genuinely honest or incredibly stupid.

She hoped it was the former.

……

The next morning.

The plane passed through the clouds and landed smoothly at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Gu Qing is in good spirits.

During his time in Balti, he didn't attend those time-wasting parties and social events, only participating in one fashion show, and spent the rest of his time resting and adjusting.

For him, this fashion week trip was less of a job and more of a paid vacation.

No, every day feels no different from being on a paid vacation.

he thought with a smile.

but,

Even with the packed work schedule ahead, he still dared not relax.

After getting off the plane, he first asked his assistant to buy some breakfast at the airport—a cup of soy milk and a sandwich, simple but healthy.

After having a meal, he didn't go straight back to the hotel to rest, but went to the gym first.

More than an hour of aerobic exercise made him feel refreshed.

After returning to his room and washing up, he planned to take a nap.

But before going to sleep, he asked Zhao Ya to come to his room.

"Sister Xiaoya, this is a collection of autographs that Shishijie wants to give to Teacher Hanxue." Gu Qing handed over a stack of autographed photos.

That was something Liu Shishi had asked him to get a few days ago, saying she wanted to give it to Han Xue, an actress in the same drama.

"Good boss."

Zhao Ya took the autograph and carefully put it away.

Gu Qing then pointed to the two gifts on the table—one large and one small, both beautifully wrapped.

The larger one was a limited-edition handbag given to me by the organizers when I attended an LV event.

The official website price is US$25, which is more than one million RMB.

The smaller one is much cheaper; it's a standard wallet style and costs around $3.

“This limited edition bag is on your way, so you can send it to your senior sister as well,” Gu Qing said.

Zhao Ya nodded and noted it down.

"As for this small bag..."

Gu Qing thought for a moment, "Could you send it to Beijing Film Academy for me, to Jingyi? I'll send you her phone number in a bit. She gave me an LV belt last time, and I haven't given her a gift back yet."

He added, "By the way, if she asks me what gift I should get for my birthday, tell her not to spend too much money."

Focus on your studies, hone your acting skills, and wait until you get acting roles and earn some money before worrying about anything else.

"Okay, boss."

Zhao Ya accepted the gifts one by one, her expression hesitant, but she held back.

She truly admired her own boss.

You might call him a straight man, but he truly is.

The limited-edition LV bag, worth millions, was given only to Liu Shishi.

Where are Zhao Liying? Where is Jing Tian? Where is Liu Tao?

Can these three people forget each other?
Aren't you afraid of your harem going to catch fire?!
Zhao Ya was extremely anxious.

If it were her, wouldn't she give one to everyone and make the most of the central air conditioning?

She didn't believe it was her own boss who thought it was too expensive.

If they really thought it was too expensive, they wouldn't have casually given away a bag worth millions just because they said "it's on my way".

You could say the boss isn't romantic, but he is genuinely romantic in a way.

He remembers every single detail of his life perfectly.

Just like that little bag that was specially given to Zhang Jingyi.

Zhao Ya felt that if she were Zhang Jingyi, she would probably have fallen completely for her.

What are you doing? What are you doing?
Gu Qing, do you have to be so gentle?

What young girl could resist a glamorous TV star who treats her with the gentleness and kindness of an older brother?

Mary Sue stories are so unrealistic, yet this has actually happened.

Converted to other values,

He was a film student who hadn't even entered the industry yet, hadn't even acted in a film, when he suddenly encountered Liu Yifei, who had just finished filming "The Return of the Condor Heroes," enrolling in school.
They'll sit next to you, smile at you with radiant smiles, care about your basic needs, patiently teach you acting, and even give you gifts.

Frog Fun...

Zhao Ya's thoughts were churning wildly in her mind, conjuring up countless wonderful scenarios, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

"Sister Xiaoya, what are you grinning about?" Gu Qing asked, looking at her in confusion.

"No, no, no!"

Zhao Ya quickly wiped the smile off her face, swallowed hard, and said, "Boss, you should rest now, I'm leaving!"

She hugged the gift, gave a silly smile, and turned to leave quickly.

Gu Qing was completely confused. She shook her head, turned around, and went to wash up and rest.

……

I slept until noon.

When Gu woke up, sunlight streamed in through the gap in the curtains, casting a warm shadow on the floor.

He stretched, picked up his phone, and glanced at the time—12:47.

I slept for almost four hours, which is enough.

He got up, washed up, changed into casual clothes, and then had the hotel send him lunch.

The nutritionist's suggested, unappetizing lunch consisted of boiled chicken breast, stir-fried broccoli, a small bowl of brown rice, and a glass of unsweetened lemon water.

Gu Qing finished eating expressionlessly, feeling like a rabbit on a weight-loss diet.

After eating, he was no longer sleepy—sleeping for too long had actually made him more energetic.

He sat on the sofa, read some ancient poems, practiced some opera, and also read a book introducing Huizhou cuisine.

He's going to record "Chef Nic's Taste of Life" in a couple of days, and as the host, he needs to make some preparations in advance.

Time flew by, and it was already two o'clock in the afternoon.

Gu Qing changed his clothes and, together with Zhao Ya, took a car to the Kiwi Fruit studio.

On the road.

Zhao Ya sat next to Gu Qing, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Finally, she couldn't help but speak up:

"Boss, I know why you only gave Teacher Shishi the bag!"

She pondered for a whole morning and finally figured out the reason, her tone filled with excitement.

Gu Qing was looking down at his phone when he heard this. He looked up with a completely bewildered expression.

"?"

“Boss, you must be worried about Teacher Li Chen, right?” Zhao Ya had a look on her face that said, “I see right through you.”

Gu Qing: "...What?"

"Teacher Li Chen!"

Zhao Ya said excitedly, "He's been giving away love stones everywhere, and now he's getting so much hate from netizens! If you gave everyone a bag, wouldn't netizens be cursing you to death too?"

The more she thought about it, the more she realized it made sense, and her face was filled with admiration and relief.

"Thank goodness, thank you for realizing it in time, boss, otherwise we would have been in real trouble! Your PR awareness is top-notch!"

Gu Qing couldn't help but chuckle after hearing this.

"Sister Xiaoya, what are you talking about?" He shook his head with a smile. "Didn't I say we were going the same way?"

"On the way?"

"Yeah, since we're sending something to Senior Sister anyway, we might as well send the bag along with it. Why bother buying one for everyone?"

Gu Qingli said matter-of-factly, "Besides, I gave him a gift a long time ago. Chen Ge was scolded, not because he gave him a stone."

If he remembers correctly,

This scandal was probably exposed by someone.

after all,

This kind of thing is by no means an unfamiliar secret within the industry.

Zhao Ya was stunned.

It really was just... a casual gift?
She was stunned for several seconds before she came to her senses.

She was genuinely worried and wanted to ask, "Boss, you're only giving bags to Teacher Shishi. What if Teacher Liying and the others see this and get jealous and angry?"

But Zhao Ya froze when she tried to say it.

Jealous? Angry?
What does this have to do with my own boss?
The one who should be suffering is clearly the boss!

In the past three years, she has sent out countless gifts, going from feeling heartache at the beginning to feeling numb now.

Seeing Gu Qing's casual and natural attitude, she once felt that her boss was being taken advantage of.

Interpersonal relationships in the entertainment industry are inherently hypocritical and indifferent, so what's the point of giving these gifts?
But later she realized that Gu Qing didn't care about any of that at all.

He thought the gifts took up too much space, so he gave them to his celebrity friends with whom he had a good relationship, never expecting anything in return.

I give gifts whenever I feel like it, without reason or explanation, and I don't expect anything in return.

It's that simple.

Gu Qing was only 19 years old when he debuted, and it can be said that Zhao Ya watched him grow up.

initial,
When she saw Gu Qing being "kidnapped" by Zhao Liying, she was so angry that she couldn't sleep at night.

Back then, Zhao Liying was embroiled in scandals and was voted by netizens as "the most hated female celebrity in the entertainment industry."

Zhao Ya was heartbroken, thinking that her boss was young and easily deceived, and that he might be seduced by a bad woman and suffer a great loss.

Fortunately,

She only let go of her resentment after "The Journey of Flower" became a huge hit.

after all,

It's perfectly normal for the male and female leads to fall in love on set; once filming wraps, they can go their separate ways.

But Zhao Ya never expected this—

The leading ladies who have worked with their boss are all fiercely persistent, relentlessly pursuing their suitors, and they are all the ones who take the initiative.

Young, handsome, vibrant, and wealthy.
As one of the top celebrities in the entertainment industry, which female artist is worthy of him?
"Yeah, a bunch of vixens! My boss isn't a scumbag!"

Zhao Ya suddenly understood, and everything became clear to her.

"How dare you be jealous and angry when you both covet my boss's good looks and take advantage of his gifts for free?!"

"I should be the one who's angry!!"

She suddenly realized what was happening and cheered herself up.

So all these years, it's always been her own boss who's been taken advantage of, and she's even worried that the fishpond might explode one day and cause trouble.

In the end,
The boss is the real "fish" trapped in the fishpond!

Those vixens outside are all waiting to be snatched away.

Zhao Ya felt more and more that she had worried for nothing all these years. She was both angry and amused, and her expression changed unpredictably.

Gu Qing looked at her expression and became even more puzzled.

"Sister Xiaoya, are you alright?"

"It's alright!" Zhao Ya waved her hand, her face resolute. "Don't worry, boss. If anyone dares to call you a scumbag again, I'll be the first to rush up and yell at them!"

Gu Qing: "..."

How did I become a scumbag again?
……

Meanwhile, in the iQiyi studio.

The staff began setting up the set in a relaxed manner, chatting excitedly while slacking off.

"Gu Qing, it really is Gu Qing's little brother coming!"

A young female employee clutched her chest, extremely excited, "I really wanted to get his autograph, but the boss said we can't even take out our phones..."

"These are all minor matters."

The male employee next to him looked on with gossip, "I'm even more excited to see what kind of explosive questions Yi the Devil will ask. Just thinking about it is thrilling!" "This is Gu Qing, you know, would she dare ask her something like that?"

"What's there to be afraid of?"

The male employee said with certainty, "The more popular an idol is, the more ruthless Editor-in-Chief Yi will be! Haven't you watched her shows?"

The way those so-called top celebrities were rendered speechless by her questions was truly fascinating!

"Please, witch Yi, spare my brother!" several female employees prayed, clasping their hands together. "Please, have mercy on him!"

The male employees were generally looking forward to the gossip, while the female employees were worried, fearing that Gu Qing would be tormented and break down by Yi Lijing.

Just then, the dressing room was also bustling with activity.

"Editor-in-Chief Yi, hurry, is your makeup done? Teacher Gu is coming soon!" A staff member rushed in to urge him.

Yi Lijin sat in front of the vanity mirror and calmly glanced at the clock on the wall.

"It's only 2:40, what's the rush?"

She lightly touched her left eyebrow with her fingertip, and the stylist next to her quickly continued to deepen the outline of the eyebrow.

Of all the celebrities she interviewed, very few arrived on time; the rest were always late.

Which of those so-called top celebrities doesn't drag their feet and put on airs before finally arriving late? She's gotten used to waiting, and she's used to using the time while waiting to adjust her state.

"Oh dear, Editor-in-Chief Yi, Professor Gu is different!"

Standing next to him was a senior leader dispatched by iQiyi, surnamed Wang, in his early forties, with a friendly face. "He has worked with our platform on dramas before, and he is very approachable and polite."

We sent people to visit the set, and even the director said that they were never late for filming; they were extremely dedicated and serious.

"It would be so impolite if Teacher Gu arrived early while we were still putting on makeup."

"Is it really that strange?" Yi Lijing frowned slightly.

If it weren't for orders from above, who greatly admired the message of "Wolf Warrior 2," as a journalist and media professional, I would naturally have followed the trend and gone with the flow.

Yi Lijing didn't even think about putting on a show.

"Boss! Editor-in-Chief Yi!" An employee rushed in, panting. "Professor Gu's team called and said they're on their way!"

Yi Lijing glanced at her watch subconsciously—it was still 10 minutes until the agreed 3 o'clock.

Did they really arrive ahead of schedule?
This is truly unique to scorpions pooping!

She paused for a moment, a subtle feeling welling up inside her.

"Let's go," Mr. Wang quickly said.

Yi Lijing stood up, straightened her clothes, and followed him outside.

……

At the entrance of the studio.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, casting a warm golden glow on the steps at the entrance.

A black van slowly came to a stop.

The car door opened.

The first thing that catches the eye is a pair of white sneakers, followed by a simple pair of black casual pants, and then a loose white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up to the forearms.

Gu Qing got out of the car.

In that instant, a thought suddenly popped into Yi Lijing's head:
Isn't this body a bit too expensive?

He stood there, the sunlight bathing him, as if coating him with a soft glow. His features were handsome and refined, his eyes gentle and warm, his skin so clean it was almost translucent, and he exuded a refreshing youthful energy.

There was no heavy makeup, no fancy outfits, and no deliberate attempt at fashion.

It's the simplest and cleanest combination.

But ironically, it's so captivating that you can't take your eyes off it.

Yi Lijing was stunned.

She considers herself an intellectual and has always looked down on idols who are all show and no substance.

She likes intelligent people, thoughtful people, and people who can calmly answer her questions.

But she never imagined that a person could be this beautiful.

The kind of beauty is not aggressive or ostentatious, but rather a gentle, just-right beauty that makes people feel like they were born to be beautiful.

Like...like a person who stepped out of a painting.

"Teacher Gu! It's been a long time!"

President Wang greeted her warmly, his face beaming with joy. He reached out and shook Gu Qing's hand vigorously.

"I am Wang Quan, the content director of iQiyi. I was the one who received you when you visited our platform last time!"

Gu Qing smiled slightly, a smile even gentler than the sunlight.

"Brother Wang, I know you."

He said, "You were the one who picked me up when I went to Kiwi last time. Just call me Xiao Gu, no need to call me teacher."

"How could I dare!" Mr. Wang grinned from ear to ear. "I'll just take the liberty of calling you 'brother' to make it seem more intimate!"

Gu Qing smiled and nodded, without refusing.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Mr. Wang was so delighted that he was completely oblivious to everything else.

Gu Qing's gaze passed over President Wang and landed on Yi Lijing behind him.

He tilted his head slightly, then stepped over.

"This must be Editor-in-Chief Yi, right?" He extended his hand, his tone gentle and polite. "Hello, I'm Gu Qing."

Yi Lijing snapped out of her daze and reached out to hold his hand.

"Hello...

His voice sounded strangely hoarse, and his usually indifferent tone now showed a slight fluctuation.

She was startled herself.

Subconsciously, she sniffed.

It doesn't have the overpowering perfume scent that celebrities usually have.

It doesn't have a strong cologne scent, nor a cloyingly sweet fruity fragrance, nor that pungent smell that makes you want to soak in perfume.

There was only a very faint, clean scent of soapberry, mixed with the warm aroma of sun-dried soap.

Yi Lijing suddenly felt a little dazed.

Which old woman could withstand that?

She hadn't smelled this scent for a very, very long time.

"Editor-in-Chief Yi?" Gu Qing gently reminded her when she saw her lost in thought.

"Ok?"

Yi Lijing snapped out of her daze, quickly withdrew her hand, and resumed her expressionless face. "Please come in."

……

A crowd surrounded Gu Qing as she entered the studio.

Inside the studio, the staff were all ready. Lights, cameras, sound equipment—everything was tested and set up.

Two simple chairs are placed facing each other, with a small round table between them.

A glass of water was placed on the table, prepared for the guests.

Gu Qing looked around, a faint smile on her face.

Yi Lijing walked beside him, glancing at him from time to time out of the corner of her eye.

She noticed that he nodded to every staff member, and if someone secretly glanced at him, he would return a gentle smile.

That smile wasn't perfunctory or polite; it was a genuine smile.

This reminded her of the "top celebrities" she had interviewed.

When those people walk into the studio, their eyes never land on the staff.

They were arrogant and haughty, as if everything here should naturally serve them.

But Gu Qing is different.

He seemed to actually see these people.

With her strong willpower, Yi Lijing quickly returned to her usual state—a blank expression and a cold voice.

“Professor Gu, I might call you by your first name during the upcoming interview. I hope you don’t mind,” she said.

"of course can."

Gu Qing smiled. "I quite like it when people call me by my name. I'm actually not used to people calling me 'teacher' or 'brother'."

Tch, what are you pretending for?

Does anyone dislike being fawned over?
Yi Lijing didn't believe it.

She glanced sideways, wanting to see the hypocrisy on Gu Qing's face.

But when I turned around, I was met with a pair of clean, bright, and gentle eyes.

look at each other.

silence.

Yi Lijing quickly looked away.

She pointed to the two simple chairs under the light.

"Please sit down."

Because of the time constraints, they didn't exchange many pleasantries and went straight into the interview.

……

The two sat down facing each other.

The light shone on Gu Qing's face, making his features even more defined.

He leaned casually against the back of his chair, relaxed, with a faint smile on his lips. His relaxed demeanor made one think that this was not a tense interview, but an ordinary chat.

Yi Lijing pushed up her black-rimmed glasses and looked at his face.

She suddenly felt a pang of pity.

"Teacher Gu."

She began, "I'd like to confirm again, can I ask any of the questions besides the one you mentioned?"

She said earnestly, "My interview might be presumptuous. If you've watched my show, you'll know that."

This was a rare display of her gentleness.

Faced with this impossibly clean-looking young man, she gave him a chance to "confirm" for the first time before the interview.

Gu Qing looked at her and smiled.

"Of course, I don't think there's anything I can't say."

Yi Lijin remained silent for two seconds.

"Gu Qing,"

She said, "You have a lot of courage."

then,

She turned her head to look at the recording camera and nodded slightly.

The red light on the camera turned on.

"Welcome to this episode of 'Standpoint'." Yi Lijing said in her signature cold tone, her face expressionless. "I am your host today, Yi Lijing."

Her gaze shifted to the young man opposite her.

"Today we have invited a special guest—Gu Qing."

The camera then turns to Gu Qing.

He smiled and waved at the camera, radiating youthful energy and sunshine.
"Hello everyone, hello Teacher Yi, I am Gu Qing."

Yi Lijing didn't give him much time for small talk.

"Gu Qing, I hope we can get straight to the point and begin the interview."

She looked directly into his eyes, her tone calm yet authoritative:
“Before the recording of the show, you told me that I could ask you any questions today. I admire your courage. Many of the artists I've interviewed have never dared to say such a thing.”

Gu Qing looked at her and suddenly blinked.

"Teacher Yi,"

He said in a serious tone, "Can I take back what I said before?"

A hint of panic suddenly appeared on his handsome face, and he raised his hands as if to surrender.

Yi Yi knew he was joking.

The corners of her mouth turned up almost imperceptibly.

But soon,
She suppressed her emotions again and resumed her expressionless demeanor.

“It’s too late,” she said.

Gu Qing sighed, looking as if he was prepared to die a heroic death.

"Okay, let's go. I'm ready."

He took a deep breath, sat up straight, and his eyes became serious.

Yi Lijing looked at him and suddenly had a strange feeling.

This young man doesn't seem afraid at all.

That's interesting... I wonder if you'll be scared later.

"it is known,"

Yi Lijing began, "You became famous overnight because of 'Running Man.' But later, you left the show for some reason."

She paused, looked directly into Gu Qing's eyes, and asked, word by word:
"I want to ask—is it that you really didn't want to continue participating, or were there some factors that forced you to leave the show?"

The voice just fell,

Gu Qing's expression clearly showed that he was stunned.

The air in the studio seemed to freeze instantly.

The staff held their breath, their eyes all fixed on that young face.

Some were worried, some were expectant, and some were so nervous their palms were sweating.

Yi Lijing just looked at him, her eyes calm as still water, waiting for his answer.

one second.

two seconds.

three seconds.

Gu Qing remained silent.

The light shone on his face, making his eyebrows and eyes exceptionally clear.

A complex emotion flashed across those warm eyes, but it quickly returned to calm.

He spoke.

"This problem..."

His voice was a little hoarse. He paused and cleared his throat.

"They did ask me that."

He gave a wry smile. "Teacher Yi, you're really ruthless."

Yi Lijing didn't speak, she just looked at him.

Gu Qing took a deep breath, leaned back in her chair, and looked at him with a complicated expression.
"Running Man is a very important program for me."

He said, "It made me known to more people and liked by more people. I am very grateful for that experience and for everyone on the production team."

"But some things can't be continued just because you want to."

Yi Lijing narrowed her eyes slightly.

Could you elaborate?

Gu Qing looked at her and suddenly smiled, "Of course, because I was so famous. Back then, the company that hadn't gone bankrupt planned for me to develop into an actress."

Therefore, unable to resist the company's demands, I had no choice but to leave the show; I had no right to refuse.

The somber atmosphere vanished, replaced by joy.

Yi Lijing's expression froze; she had been caught off guard by the sudden reversal and hurt her back.

You think you can pull this on me?

She narrowed her eyes and nodded.

"Okay, I see."

Then she asked her second question.

"So, there are many rumors circulating online about your relationship with Yang Ying..."

...(End of this chapter)