Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

finally,
This epic 54-episode series, *Nirvana in Fire*, ended with a tragic ending where "everyone got what they wanted, except for Mei Changsu who died."

The massive online discussion it sparked has continued for a full week without stopping.

The "beautiful, strong, and tragic" male protagonist is always the golden formula that most earns audiences' tears in film and television history.

From the tragic fates of heroes in the Four Great Classical Novels to the phenomenal "Chinese Paladin" series at the beginning of the century...
Then there's the "prosperous era of ancient idol dramas" that will flood the market in the next few years.

It seems that if the male and female protagonists don't have white hair and don't vomit blood three or five times in each episode in a tragic and heartbreaking way, then they can't be considered "profound" or "sophisticated".

However, the difference with "Nirvana in Fire" is that its "tragedy" is not a formulaic act of torture for the sake of torture, but an inevitable choice built on strict logic and national sentiment.

Mei Changsu's death was not a suicide for love, but a suicide for his principles; it was not an abandonment, but a return to his roots.

The sublime quality of this tragedy strikes the heart far more deeply than a simple separation of life and death.

What was even more unexpected was that
The popularity and influence of "Nirvana in Fire" after its finale have shown an astonishing long-tail effect.

Every actor in the drama, regardless of the size of their role, experienced an unprecedented surge in attention throughout their careers.

Even actors known for their roles being more famous than themselves, such as Liu Yijun, veteran actor Ding Yongdai, and supporting actor Wang Jinsong, have achieved similar success.

Simply posting a heartfelt farewell essay on a blog can easily garner hundreds of thousands of likes, and the comment section is overflowing with fans' heartfelt confessions.

This was unimaginable in the past—it was already rare for these talented actors to get more than a thousand likes on their posts.

"Is this... what it feels like to be promoted?"

Late at night, Ding Yongdai, wearing his reading glasses, repeatedly refreshed his post bidding farewell to "Emperor Liang," watching the ever-increasing interaction data as if he were in a dream.

My phone kept vibrating with congratulations and invitations from old friends I hadn't contacted in years, directors I'd worked with before, and even some well-known producers.

He took off his glasses, rubbed his sore eyes, but couldn't help but smile.

Also experiencing the "dreamlike" feeling,

There are also Liu Yijun, Wang Jinsong, and even young actors who play "Yan Yujin" and "Lie Zhanying" in the drama.

Their social media followers skyrocketed at a visible rate, and their inboxes were flooded with script offers and variety show appearances.

Before accepting the role in "Nirvana in Fire," it wasn't that he didn't have an agent...
They analyzed: "Cooperating with Gu Qing could lead to 'progress'."

There's a kind of mystical phenomenon in the industry: projects Gu Qing participates in always seem to make a group of people famous.

But no one expected that the magnitude of this "progress" would be so exaggerated and so unreasonable!

Once is luck, twice is coincidence, but what about three or four times?

Crazy, really crazy!

Those actors struggling in the second or third tier, desperately seeking a breakthrough;

Those idols who have good looks and a lot of popularity, but whose acting skills are constantly criticized;
Those investors who hold resources but struggle to find the "right way to utilize them"...

All eyes were fixed on one name, like searchlights.

Within the entertainment industry, an almost obsessive consensus is forming:

"I want to improve too, Gu Dingliu!"

then,

Artists and their teams with any connections or influence in the industry have already taken action.

Phone calls, dinners, personal connections... all channels were activated simultaneously.
The core objective is singular: to find out about Gu Qing's next project at all costs, even if it's just to get an audition opportunity.

Everyone knew that when news of Gu Qing's next project was announced, it would inevitably trigger a bloodbath even more brutal and naked than the casting process for "Nirvana in Fire".

That will be more than just a competition of acting skills.
It's an all-encompassing crushing of resources, connections, background, and even luck.

Even more dramatically,
"Fighter of the Destiny," an "S+ ancient costume drama" that aired around the same time as "Nirvana in Fire" and also had 56 episodes, also came to its "finale" amidst a lot of awkwardness.

Two works with similar themes, both featuring top-tier leading actors, competing against each other at the same time, and ending one after the other, naturally attracted repeated comparisons from the media and audiences under a microscope.

The result of this comparison is tantamount to a public execution for "Fighter of the Destiny" and its team.

Ironically,

The fans of Lu Han and Nazha, who had been blaming each other and tearing each other apart for more than half a year due to the collapse of the drama's reputation,
On the night that "Nirvana in Fire" ended, an unprecedented "strategic reconciliation" was achieved.

They all turned their guns on each other, directing all their anger and disappointment at the same target—the production team of "Fighter of the Destiny" itself.

"Garbage production! What a waste of my brother/sister's acting skills and good looks!"

"Look at the production quality of 'Nirvana in Fire' next door! What kind of team is Zhengwu Sunshine? What kind of rotten fish and shrimp are you?!"

"The script is terrible, the editing is messy, and the costumes and props are cheap! Besides the lead actor's face, what else do you have?!"

The logic is simple and brutal:
Our idol is fine, the problem is with your production team!
Instead of fighting amongst themselves and making a fool of themselves in front of their rivals, they should unite against external forces and shift the blame to the production company.

win!
This move of "shifting the blame" was extremely skillful, instantly putting the production team of "Fighter of the Destiny" in a very difficult position.

The production team was furious at the overwhelming criticism on social media, but they had no way to express their grievances.

Want to argue?
Fans immediately countered by posting interview clips from the cast and crew, from the director to the producer: "The director clearly praised our older brothers and sisters for their natural acting talent and hard work!"

"Look how expressive the older brother/sister's eyes are in this scene! It's all because of your post-production editing that it was ruined!"

The production team wanted to yell, "That was just polite talk! It was mutual flattery! Can't you tell the difference?!"

But they cannot.

In an era where traffic is king, offending a fan base with a huge voice is extremely unwise.

not to mention,
Fans are blaming the production company, which may temporarily affect the artist's relationships within the industry and cause investors to worry about the uncontrollability of their fans.

From a more realistic perspective of "film and television resources," as long as the artist has enough popularity, the production company will still reluctantly hand over the script.

The "Fighter of the Destiny" production team is determined to suffer this injustice.

after all,

They themselves are indeed not clean.

Poorly made costumes and props, cheap special effects...

As a Tencent S+ project, no matter how much money the artists are paid, it's impossible to produce this level of quality.

As for where the money actually went?

Only the newly purchased luxury mansion probably knows.

……

outside world,

The immense popularity of "Nirvana in Fire" acted like a powerful "makeup remover," washing away the heavy "filters" and "facades" that had plagued Chinese period dramas for years.

Its most direct impact is:
The audience has become more "awakened" and is increasingly harder to "fool".

In the past, viewers might have been able to console themselves by watching historical romance dramas:

"So what if the plot is stupid? At least the male and female leads are good-looking." "So what if the logic is flawed? As long as it's sweet."

but now,
After watching the intricately plotted storyline, the vividly portrayed characters, and the meticulous details of "Nirvana in Fire,"

Looking back at those poorly made dramas, viewers will only feel insulted.

They would naturally bring up "Nirvana in Fire" as a benchmark: "Look at that!" "That's what a period drama should be like!"

This is what makes a truly excellent drama so formidable—

It not only wins immediate applause, but also permanently raises the audience's aesthetic threshold and reshapes the industry's evaluation standards.

This undoubtedly encroaches on the interests of certain capitalists.

For a long time,

Some investors believe in the following formula: use popular celebrities + intellectual property + fast-food production to quickly produce "commercial dramas".
By using overwhelming marketing to guide the market, lower audience expectations, and cultivate their tolerance for "explosive" content.

On a certain day
Among a pile of "shit," there is a barely passable "chocolate-flavored shit."
The audience will then be grateful and shout "masterpiece" and "divine work".

in this way,

Capital then firmly grasps the initiative in "defining good and bad," mass-producing and safely reaping profits without bearing the risks of innovation.

Gu Qing's appearance, and his insistence on pursuing a high-quality approach despite being a top star, acted like a sharp wedge, driving it firmly into this "harvesting assembly line" that had been running for many years.

He proved that traffic and quality can coexist, the market is willing to pay for truly good content, and the audience has not lost their judgment.

It stands to reason,
Such individuals who "break the rules" should have been strangled and blocked by capital long ago.

But no matter what...

— Headquarters and Data Center of iQiyi TV.

The lights were on, and the atmosphere was both solemn and exciting.

All the top executives gathered here.

What they are waiting for is the final number of new members that "Nirvana in Fire" will bring to the platform from its premiere to its finale.

For video platforms, vague ratings and online viewership can all be "manipulated".

Only membership growth that translates into real money is the most valuable hard indicator, directly related to stock price, financing, and future strategy.

The numbers on the big screen finally stopped jumping and froze.

"It's out! Total new members—"

The data manager's voice trembled with excitement.
“421!!!”

"President Wang! President Gong!"

He turned around abruptly, his face beaming with barely suppressed elation, “With these 421 million, our platform’s total membership has officially surpassed 5000 million!”
They have surpassed Tencent!
Now, we are undoubtedly the No. 1 among the four major long-form video platforms!!

"Okay! Okay! Okay!!!"

The CEO slammed his hand on the table, exclaiming "Great!" three times, his face beaming. "All technical, operations, and marketing departments, your bonuses this month will be doubled! And there will be huge red envelopes at the annual party!"

The meeting room erupted in deafening cheers and applause.

"Hahaha, those arrogant guys at Tencent insisted on investing in 'Fighter of the Destiny,' they must be kicking themselves now, right?"

"The success of 'Nirvana in Fire' is not just a victory for the drama itself, but a victory for our entire platform strategy!"

"Gu Qing... Gu Qing is truly our lucky star! She's so admirable!"

This is the core reason why Gu Qing has remained steadfast amidst the vortex of capital.

Who would target a money tree that can produce gold?
He's incredibly good at making money!

Not only can it earn fame and status for itself, but it can also bring visible and huge amounts of real money to its partners.

Faced with absolute interests, all unspoken rules and all forms of exclusion and suppression appear pale and powerless.

Capital may not like "disobedient" artists.

But capital always loves artists who can "make money".

Gu Qing has long transcended the category of "artist" and become a priceless "golden brand" that everyone is vying for.

at the same time,

Another controversy, amidst the overwhelming popularity of "Nirvana in Fire," is quietly drawing to a close.

The so-called "collective diss war" in the hip-hop community targeting Gu Qing.

With its overwhelming popularity on the day "Nirvana in Fire" ended, it has long since become a laughing stock that no one cares about.

Like a pebble thrown into water, it sinks into the sea of ​​information on the internet without even making a ripple.

"Who?"

"Who?"

"Who?" Gu Qing's three nonchalant answers to the reporter's question became the best diss rebuttal.

Every hip-hop artist who saw the interview clip felt a sense of powerlessness.

How can we fight with that?
Are we really on the same level?
That temperament, that aura...

Why do we feel so flattered when people actually look at us?
Many of the rappers involved have experienced a subtle shift in their mindset.

From initial anger and provocation, to later confusion and frustration, and now... a faint sense of self-consciousness has even arisen.

Before the battle even officially began, morale had already crumbled.

Just as the hip-hop scene was preparing to silently swallow the bitter pill, flee in disgrace amidst ridicule and humiliation, and admit defeat—

"Don't be afraid, I'm here!"

Chris Wu, with his brand new single, a "painful and groundbreaking work" that he poured his heart and soul into during his seclusion at home, made a fierce appearance at the recording site of "The Rap of China".

He's going to confront Gu Qing head-on!
……

—Inside the private rest room of the recording studio for "The Rap of China".

The air was filled with a sophisticated fragrance and a faint smell of gunpowder.

Chris Wu sat casually on the central sofa, his hands resting on his knees, which were spread apart. He was dressed in expensive trendy clothes, and his sunglasses covered half of his face, revealing only his sharp jawline.

He held a sheet of music between his fingers, while his other hand unconsciously tapped his knee, revealing his inner excitement and fighting spirit.

The show's director, Che Che, sat opposite him, took off his monitoring headphones, and looked at the top mentor in front of him.

"Yifan,"

Che Che hesitated before speaking, his tone suggesting a discussion, "Are you sure... you want to sing this song at the end of the show? And under the guise of 'representing the rap community's response'?"

"Can't you?"

Chris Wu slightly raised his chin, pushed his sunglasses up to his nose with his fingertips, revealing cold eyes, "It's time to settle things between Gu Qing and me."

The younger members were beaten badly, and the rap scene was brought to its lowest point by public opinion.

If he, the nominal "big brother" of the hip-hop scene, doesn't stand up, how will he survive in the scene in the future?
'rap',
But that's the foundation of his comeback!

How could we allow ourselves to be trampled underfoot by Gu Qing in just a few words!
Who hasn't become famous at a young age and become an overnight sensation?
Who isn't called a "musical prodigy" or a "trendsetter" by fans?
Adding together old and new grudges
Chris Wu lowered his head, watching his hands tremble slightly as he clenched them tightly—it was the excitement of an adrenaline rush!
"Car guide,"

Chris Wu leaned forward, pushed the sheet music forward, and asked casually, "What do you think of this song of mine?"

"New song..."

Che Che quickly glanced at the sheet music, then recalled the demo he had just heard. His face instantly lit up with a broad smile, and he nodded vigorously, "It's beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!"

"Yifan, your song is so creative! It blends traditional Chinese style with rap and R&B melody, creating a very rich and layered sound!"

I think that, in terms of musical exploration and breakthroughs alone, it's in no way inferior to Gu Qing's popular ancient-style songs!

Che Che's words were nine parts flattery and one part truth.

Chris Wu's song, at least in terms of its "form," has indeed put effort into it.

It attempts to combine Chinese-style melodies and classical Chinese lyrics with popular Western trap rhythms and Auto-Tune effects.

Combined with Chris Wu's signature "grainy voice," this creates a "fusion of East and West" and "subversive" new Chinese-style rap.

In the first episode of the show aired
During the mentors' performance,
Chris Wu stunned a group of rappers who were still excited about "Mr. Almost" with a fully charged Auto-tune performance.

Faced with this bewilderment and skepticism,
Che Che had previously defended Kris Wu in a post-show interview, praising him: "Yifan, this is a trend. Auto-tune is currently the most popular electronic rap in the international rap scene."
I've heard him sing without the power cord on; every line was sung perfectly, without a single flaw.

As for why he didn't sing?
Don't ask, the answer is Fanfan doesn't want to sing.

They claimed it was to "open up new territory, challenge new difficulties, and create a new chapter for the Chinese rap scene."

……

"Not worse than him?"

Chris Wu's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, indicating that he was not entirely satisfied with the assessment.

He didn't want "not bad", he wanted "crushing", he wanted "complete victory"!
He poured so much effort into this song.

The goal is to deliver a fatal blow to Gu Qing in his most prized area of ​​"traditional style"!
He believed he had figured out Gu Qing's "Achilles' heel": his works were simplistic, heavily reliant on traditional opera singing styles, and lacked diversity and an international perspective.

What kind of "talented person" is someone who only dares to hide in their "comfort zone" and repeat themselves?
to this end,

Despite his discomfort, Chris Wu listened to almost all of Gu Qing's songs since her debut.

The conclusion made him even more disdainful: 90% of the songs were in the style of ancient Chinese opera with opera singing, and of the occasional two pop songs, one was given to someone else to sing, and the only one he sang himself.

What is this if not stagnation and complacency?
Nowadays,

He intends to use this song to force Gu Qing out of that "greenhouse"!
The logic is very simple:
I sing traditional Chinese style songs, to challenge you in your territory.
If you want to fight back, the only way is with rap music.

If you can't fight back, you're a noob!

Kris Wu knows all too well that rap, especially authentic, rhythmic, and impactful rap, cannot be mastered overnight.

Many professional singers with excellent singing skills instantly transform into "rhyming ballads" when they start rapping, exuding a rustic and unsophisticated vibe.

He could almost picture Gu Qing, hailed as a "talented scholar of ancient style poetry," being forced to rap—how ​​clumsy, stiff, and perhaps even tongue-tied he would look...

Just imagining that scene makes Chris Wu's blood boil and his anticipation soar.

Soon, the recording of the program officially began.

Inside the enormous recording studio, the lights shone brightly, and the atmosphere was bustling with activity. Everywhere you looked, you saw faces that would shake up the Chinese rap scene in the coming years:

Tech-savvy representatives include Magneto, folk music genius "Crooked Mouth Bro," and the mysterious big shot Hip Hop Man; Free Star's Little Green Dragon,

Bridge, WaWa, Aifugen, Huang Xu, Your Boy TT, Da Sha... it was a veritable "martial arts tournament" of underground rap.

During the rest of the recording, Kris Wu seemed somewhat distracted, focusing entirely on the song he was about to sing.

The intense battles between the contestants and the sharp comments from the mentors all appeared to him through a "fake" filter.

Just like every variety show has a script.

The Rap of China is no exception.

The live recording of the show included a Battle round.

It looked exciting and full of tension.

However, the contestants' paths to advancement, conflicts, and even some "golden quotes" are all carefully designed.

The best proof is that,

Che Che, the show's director, owns his own music and rap label, and he has already signed any promising singers present.

Those rappers who already had their own labels and were quite talented have long since either left or gone their separate ways, and almost none of them get any screen time.

Of all the contestants, Che Che's favorite is the guy with the crooked mouth from Chongqing.

His unique folk rap style and down-to-earth charm made Che Che sense his huge commercial potential.

Considering the current "traditional Chinese style" craze sparked by Gu Qing,
He felt that the guy with the crooked mouth was fully capable of being crowned the champion of this season, replicating or even surpassing a certain path to success.

Unfortunately, the problem is that...
As a top mentor on the show, Kris Wu also has his own favorite candidate – Magneto.

He had long regarded him as his "disciple" and was determined to help him reach the top.

No matter how much power the chief director has, he can't compete with the top influencers who drive the show's ratings.

Che Che's brows furrowed more and more as the recording of the program progressed.

He had to find a way to both appease Chris Wu and achieve his business goals.

Time passed during the recording, and many contestants looked tired, covering their mouths and yawning.

The high-intensity, highly dramatic recording process is extremely taxing on both physical and mental strength.

Just when everyone thought the recording of this episode was about to end.

"Contestants and mentors, please wait a moment."

Che Che's voice rang out through the venue's speakers, "At the end of the program, we have a special 'gift'."

Our mentor, Yifan, has created a brand new song in response to recent comments and to express his support for rap culture.

"Holy crap, Fan Bingbing released a new song?"

"Representing the rap scene?"

"Hiss... Could it be that thing?!"

"Which one? Don't play riddles, man!"

The scene immediately erupted into noise, with rappers whispering among themselves.

The camera also captured this wonderful moment.

Since Chris wanted to publicly retaliate against Gu Qing and confront him head-on.

They are naturally willing to capitalize on this popularity.

The other three mentors—

"Time to work overtime again..."

The puppy and A-Yue exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing understanding and a hint of helplessness behind their sunglasses.

"My food..."

Wilber Pan rubbed his stomach, inwardly groaning.

As veterans in the industry, they have their own judgment on Kris Wu's "music".

Those silly rappers will still be fooled.
How could these seasoned veterans of the rap scene not know what electronic rap is?

She simply has no singing skills and can only rely on the help of an electric microphone to improve her singing.

There are indeed some truly good electronic rap tracks.

But they had never seen anyone like Chris Wu, who could maintain an electric charge throughout the entire process, reaching the level of an electric eel.

But anyway,
There's always something good to watch.

They were also curious about what this song, which Chris Wu had high hopes for and used to challenge Gu Qing, would actually be like.

On the stage,

Chris Wu went to great lengths to prepare for this moment.

A dedicated makeup and hair team creates a perfect look, paired with trendy outfits, showcasing a handsome and dashing appearance.

The stage lighting was reprogrammed, using cool blue and dark red as the main colors to create a mysterious and conflicting visual atmosphere;

A live band even quietly took to the stage, blending Chinese and Western instruments in a stunning display.

Everything is designed to create the ultimate sense of "high-end" and "atmosphere".

Chris Wu slowly stood up and walked to the center of the stage.

He closed his eyes, pressed his forehead against the microphone, and gathered his emotions.

Offstage,

Some of the female contestants, their faces already flushed, couldn't help but scream.

The on-site director gestured for the end.

The host's passionate voice resounded throughout the venue:

"Please welcome our mentor—Kris Wu! He'll be performing his brand new original single—"

"Part Two and Three!"

……

...(End of chapter)