Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

……

……

Just as Gu Qing's blog, which had been silent for many days, suddenly updated with a picture of a bowl of wide noodles and a caption,

The next season of "The Rap of China" will also be recorded.

As the competition enters the intense team elimination rounds, very few players remain under the guidance of the three mentors.

Chris Wu's "Class 3-2" team still retains its hope of competing for the championship.
All that remains are: Magneto, your boy TT, Little White, the mysterious Hip Hop Man, and the twin brothers whose presence is somewhat faint.

They huddled in the team's private lounge, the air thick with the lingering smell of takeout, the sweet scent of hairspray, and the boredom and anxiety of waiting so long for the recording to begin.

Some people were scrolling through their phones, some were wearing headphones and resting with their eyes closed, and some were quietly discussing strategies for the upcoming match.

Magneto lay half-reclined on the sofa, his hat pulled low, his fingers rapidly swiping across his phone screen, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He didn't expect that

These glamorous female celebrities, whom we used to only see on TV, are actually quite 'enthusiastic' in private...

This often makes him lose his temper!
The boy with dreadlocks casually put his feet up on the coffee table, swaying his body to the rhythm of the music in his headphones, occasionally letting out a few unintelligible hums.

"Holy crap?!"

A slightly abrupt, incredulous voice broke the tranquility of the lounge.

It was Xiaobai who spoke. This honest-looking, sturdy young man was staring wide-eyed at his phone screen, his body leaning slightly forward in surprise.

He seemed to have seen something extremely unusual, so much so that he couldn't control his volume.

"What's wrong, Brother Bai? Did you see a ghost?" The dreadlocked boy lazily pulled off one of his earphones and tilted his head to look.

Xiao Bai looked up, his face filled with astonishment, "Gu...Gu Qing released a song, it seems to be his response to Fan Ge's diss!"

"What the heck??"

The boy with dreadlocks immediately sat up straight and put his feet off the coffee table.

"Gu Qing? He actually dared to reply? He's got guts!"

Even Magneto, who was nestled on the sofa enjoying "fan worship," immediately put down his phone upon hearing this, his eyes narrowing in surprise under his hat brim. "Little White, what kind is it? Rap?"

In an instant, everyone's attention in the lounge was drawn to it.

Apart from the yet-to-arrive Hip Hop Man, TT and the twin brothers all gathered around Xiaobai, their eyes focused on his small phone screen.

"I don't know either. He just released it, and I haven't heard it yet."

Xiao Bai shook his head, hovered his finger above the play button, and clicked on Gu Qing's post. He saw the steaming bowl of wide noodles, accompanied by the words "The noodles are delicious."

"Hahaha!"

The boy with dreadlocks was the first to see the picture and burst into exaggerated laughter. "A bowl of noodles? What does Gu Qing mean by this? Is he mocking Fan Ge's freestyle?"

His words were full of mockery and satire of Kris Wu.

"He doesn't know anything about freestyle."

Magneto scoffed, his tone dismissive.

These rappers, who have worked their way up from the underground, have often complained about Kris Wu's "electronic rap" which relies entirely on Auto-Tune and his poor improvisation skills.

of course,

These words were only used for private complaints among the brothers. In front of Chris Wu and the camera, they were still respectful as "Teacher Wu" and "Brother Fan".

"Brother Wan, TT, you can't say that."

Xiao Bai found it a bit jarring, frowned, and couldn't help but speak up in defense, "Brother Fan... at least understands rap culture and really likes it."

Moreover, without him and this show making our industry popular, all of us brothers would still be starving.

Xiao Bai comes from a wealthy family and was born into a rich family. He plays rap purely out of love and is not so sensitive to money.

But he clearly remembers what the domestic rap scene was like less than a year ago.

The brothers were struggling to make ends meet and couldn't even afford cigarettes.

For example, "Crooked Mouth Bro" once revealed that his income from performing at a bar was generally between 30 and 300 yuan, which was pitifully meager.

Even Magneto, who is quite famous in the underground rap scene, only earns a maximum of eight hundred dollars a night for a performance.

But now?

After the first episode of "The Rap of China" became a huge hit, Magneto's value skyrocketed, with his commercial performance fee reaching 3 yuan per show, and his income increased dozens of times.

The income and social attention of these contestants who enter the show and have screen time have increased exponentially.

We should remember the source of our blessings.

Xiao Bai believes that regardless of Kris Wu's actual abilities, the traffic and attention he brings have indeed injected a powerful adrenaline into this once niche, almost underground circle.

He keenly sensed that some of his friends, after their sudden rise to fame and the influx of wealth, had become somewhat arrogant.
That arrogance of "I am the best in the world" was almost undisguised.

In the past, it was just a matter of not having the money to install it, but now it really feels like they're acting lawlessly.

"Brother Bai, what you're saying is meaningless."

The dreadlocks boy's tone became aggressive, clearly showing his displeasure, "The rap scene needs to take off, this is the trend of the times!"

Fan Ge played a key role in driving the show's success, but without the hard work and competitive spirit of our brothers on stage, would the show have been so popular? The credit can't all go to him!

future,

He also inherited his mentor Wu's 'fine tradition' and left everyone else in the race of cheating on his wife.

"Alright, why are you saying all this?"

Magneto raised his hand and patted the back of Whitey's head. "Play some music and let's see what level this 'ancient style sissy' is at in his 'rapping'."

"understood."

Xiao Bai scratched his head helplessly, stopped arguing, turned up the phone volume, and gently tapped the play button on the audio link.

Magneto and the dreadlocked boy leaned back on the sofa, their faces bearing expressions of anticipation for criticism and mockery.

however--

"Wow~"

A clean, clear sound, like a drop of water falling into a deep pool, unexpectedly flowed from the phone's speaker.

Then,

It's a minimalist yet spatially rich electronic beat that sets the stage, accompanied by a voice:
"[Talking to the moon, the reason why I can't let go...]"

Are you worried about turning into a wild beast?

Walking on the roof, to the rhythm of my heartbeat.

Will it pause at the end of the world...?

Cool, aloof, with a perfectly balanced, grainy, husky tone.

There are no deliberately flashy high notes, no overly forceful angry notes, and none of the "electronic sound" that Kris Wu relies on effects pedals to create.

The sound was like a stream flowing under the moonlight, cool and calm, yet possessing a strange, captivating magic that reached deep into the eardrums.

"Click."

Magneto's fingers, which were casually resting on his knees, unconsciously tightened slightly.

The mocking smile on the dreadlocks boy's face froze, and his eyes widened involuntarily.

The two people, who had just been sitting on the sofa, suddenly straightened up as if springs had been installed in their backs, looked at each other in astonishment, and saw disbelief in each other's eyes.

"Is this...melody rap?"

The air in the room seemed to have been cleansed by the sound of dripping water and the cool voice, becoming unusually quiet.

Just the intro and the first few lines of the verse are enough to draw them into the song's story.

A chilling premonition, like a falling drop of water, struck the heart of every discerning person.

Brother Fan... this time, things are probably going to get bad.

"[Immersed in a ten-liter bottle,]"

I just want to breathe; I hate being in a fog.

Haunting forgotten drawers,
Your past writings revealed a discrepancy between your true feelings and your words.

It also uses electronic sound effects and Auto-Tune.

However, Gu Qing's usage stands in stark contrast to Chris Wu's.

In Gu Qing's handling, the electronic music serves to create atmosphere without overshadowing the main sound, and her own vocal quality remains distinct and prominent.

The sound is silky smooth and comfortable, like the first sip of ice-cold sparkling water on a summer day—refreshing and slightly sweet, with a stimulating, tingling sensation that goes straight to the top of your head.

As for Chris Wu's "Er San", the first few lines are relatively low in power, but the song, which is more than 5 minutes long, is full power for more than 4 minutes.

With Auto-Tune turned up to the maximum, the treble is so powerful it sends chills down your spine.

They attempted to create a sense of sophistication and emotional impact by using jarring "electricity" and collages of "ancient-style phrases".

Just like Baihua Shecao Water, it's also sparkling water, but when you drink it, it tastes like a rotten mat and smelly feet, and the aftereffects are unpleasant.

"【Now I don't care whether it's night or day】"

Like a lost swan adrift on the water.

Try your best to capture fragments from the nightmare.
I don't need your song to help me fall asleep.

As the lyrics continued, when the last two lines were heard, the rappers in the lounge all gasped in unison.

Then a very interesting expression appeared on his face—he grinned and rubbed his arms, which instantly broke out in goosebumps.

They haven't forgotten that this is a diss track!
"Damn! Man!"

The boy with dreadlocks exclaimed, "These lyrics are way too harsh!"

“Fragments of a nightmare… Is this saying that Fan Ge’s ‘Parts 2 and 3’ is a nightmare?” Magneto clicked his tongue.

"I don't need your songs to help me fall asleep... Can you really be this harsh without using any profanity?"

Xiao Bai could also sense the tension in the conversation.

"Uh... to be honest,"

One of the twin brothers, who hadn't said much, spoke up weakly, "If I listen to Fan Ge's kind of electronic music at night... it's really hard to sleep soundly."

“Listening to it a few times does make it easy to have nightmares,” another brother chimed in.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

Recalling Kris Wu's energetic and high-pitched performances on stage, if they were played late at night...

The scene was too beautiful to imagine.

Gu Qing's use of "nightmare" and "hypnosis" is a precise and biting satire.

Just as the song was about to enter the chorus, and everyone pricked up their ears to hear the more exciting part—

"Bah bang bang!!"

The door to the lounge was banged on roughly, and before anyone inside could respond, it was pushed open with a loud bang.

A huge crowd surged in, all of them rappers from other teams!

Crooked Mouth Bro, Little Green Dragon, Aifugen, Bridge... almost every contestant whose name you could name who wasn't eliminated this season crowded at the entrance.

Everyone's face was filled with excitement, exhilaration, and disbelief.

"Brothers! Have you listened to the song yet?! Quick, listen to Gu Qing's new song!!" "Holy crap! 'Heart Like Still Water'! It's amazing!!"

"Compared to this, Fan Ge's 'Two or Three' is simply... unbelievable!"

"How can we even compete with this? It's like a complete dimensional reduction attack!"

They were all talking at once, creating a noisy cacophony.

"I'm listening, I'm listening, keep your voice down."

Xiao Bai helplessly raised her phone, "You guys are making so much noise we can't hear you!"

The crowd quieted down slightly, but remained huddled together, ears perked up, immersed in the continuing melody.

"[Endless things to say, endless excuses to find.]"

Will you be so cruel as to dissect my pride...?

Even after the last note of the song fell, the lingering melody seemed to still resonate in the air along with the fading sound of dripping water.

“Ahhhhhh——!!!”

A sharp, clear female scream shattered the silence. It was Wawa, the only remaining female player on the team. She covered her burning ears with her hands, feeling a tingling sensation throughout her body.
"How can there be such a beautiful voice?!"

For the first time, she truly experienced the tangible feeling of the internet slang term "ear pregnancy".

Gu Qing's voice is clear and cold like a spring, distant like mist, but under the packaging of psychedelic electronic beats and smooth melody rap, it produces a unique charm that is both ascetic and seductive.

This is completely different from the irritability, anger, and ostentation commonly found in underground rap; it is a more restrained expression that touches on delicate emotions.

"This is real love song rap! It's even better than Time! The melody and atmosphere are amazing!"

"Hey, kid, calm down."

One male rapper couldn't stand it anymore and jealously reminded him, "Don't forget, Gu Qing's song is dissing our industry. We're enemies!"

"Where did they diss our rap scene?!"

Wawa immediately retorted, looking as if she had been "turned to the side" by a song, "I already figured it out online, it was Xiao Ba who started this mess to ride the wave of popularity!"

Gu Qing didn't say anything about our industry at all; it was the media and some rappers looking for clicks who took things out of context!

"You're only after Gu Qing's looks, and you're even speaking up for him? Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm speaking up for justice!!"

"Holy crap, looks are everything, right?!"

As the atmosphere in the dressing room became subtle and tense, it seemed that the room was about to "split apart" because of a song.

"Wow, it's so lively here! What are you all talking about?"

A familiar, smiling voice came from the doorway.

Everyone turned their heads and their expressions instantly became extremely strange.

Chris Wu was standing there, having just taken off his sunglasses, revealing a handsome face that looked radiant and triumphant due to his recent "victory in public opinion."

He was clearly in a great mood, opening his arms in a hugging gesture and laughing, "Why are you all looking at me like that? Do you have some good news to share?"

These past few days have indeed been the most comfortable period of his life in recent years.

He stepped on Gu Qing's face, beating him into becoming a coward.

Chris Wu was smug and felt he had finally outmaneuvered his opponent; he was so happy he could laugh himself awake in his sleep.

He was enjoying the pleasure of being a "victor" and planned to come and cheer on his team members to solidify his "leader" image.

"Fan... Brother Fan."

Xiao Bai swallowed hard, steeled himself, and tentatively asked in a low voice, "Have you...have you been listening to music?"

"Listen to music?"

Chris Wu raised an eyebrow, his smile widening with a hint of smugness. "Of course, I've been listening to 'Er San' on repeat several times a day lately, even when I'm sleeping."

"No...no."

Xiao Bai's voice was even lower, almost like a mosquito's hum, "It's...it's Gu Qing. He released a new song."

In an instant.

The bright, confident smile on Chris Wu's face froze on his lips, as if it had been frozen in time.

He seemed not to have heard clearly: "What? Who sent it?"

"Gu Qing has released a new song."

Xiao Bai took a deep breath and went all out, "The song is called 'Heart Like Still Water,' it seems... to be a response to you."

"She sang...quite well."

The lounge was deathly silent.

Approximately three minutes and five seconds later.

"Bang!!!"

The door slammed shut with a loud thud.

……

The commotion that ensued after Gu Qing's retaliation was just beginning.

The song "Heart Like Still Water" is a phenomenal hit rap song that Gu Qing covered in his previous life.

It has no complicated or obscure lyrics, no flashy vocals, and even the arrangement is simple.

With its memorable "water droplet" sound effect, smooth and catchy melody, and the singer's cool yet story-filled voice, the song "captured" the listeners' ears.

Just how popular was this song in your past life?
In 2019, if you opened Douyin, almost every few videos you watched would feature the melody or a snippet of "Heart Like Still Water" in the background music.

It dominated the background music charts on short video platforms for months, making it the undisputed "announcement of the year".

On NetEase Cloud Music, it consistently topped the list of most-watched videos late at night, and the comment section was filled with various emotional stories.

It is known as the "Battle Song of the Night".

and,

The accolades received by "Heart Like Still Water" also attest to its dual success in terms of commercial appeal and critical acclaim: one of the Top Ten Songs of the Year at the Tencent Music Entertainment Awards, and one of the Top Ten Hottest Songs of the Year by A Yin.

And most importantly: Best Rap Single of the Year!
When such a mature pop rap song, tested by the market and time, is casually released by Gu Qing at this point in time, it's like "just throwing out a bowl of noodles."

The impact it generated was no less than that of dropping a depth charge on a calm lake.

……

Inside the familiar luxury villa,

"Xiao Lu, Gu Qing has released a song!!"

"Come listen, come listen! It sounds like he's responding to Yifan's diss!"

After waking up groggily, Masu was idly scrolling through her phone when she saw Gu Qing's tweet quickly trending on social media. Her sleepiness dissipated a bit, and she was surprised to shake her best friend, who was still hungover from the previous night, awake.

"Hmm...a new song?"

Xiaolu turned over, buried her face in the soft pillow, and said in a muffled voice, full of sleepiness, "What good diss could a little kid like him write?"

Su Su, just put it down for a moment, don't disturb my sleep..."

She was clearly not fully sober from the effects of alcohol.

"I'll sleep a little longer, my head still hurts..."

Masu yawned deeply, feeling sleepy as well.

She lay back down, closed her eyes, and fumbled on her phone screen, tapping the audio link. Then she tossed the phone aside on her pillow, intending to doze off again with the music playing.

"Tick tock~"

A clear, quiet sound of water droplets gently flowed through the phone's speaker.

"Ok…?!"

As the babbling water sounded as the prelude began, and hearing the captivating singing voice, Masu and Xiaolu simultaneously shuddered and opened their eyes.

"That's... Gu Qing's voice?"

"It can't be real, how could he possibly sing that?"

Masu sat up, rubbed her eyes, and wondered if she had misheard.

The two women exchanged a glance, then immediately huddled together, picked up their phones again, and pressed their heads together, staring intently at the screen, as if that would allow them to hear more clearly.

"[A magnificent red room, with moldy old records.]"

There's no need to listen to everything; the play button is chipped.

You'd rather risk it and sleep next to him.

I don't have the patience to figure out how far each person can go...

The melody lingered in my ears, and Gu Qing's cool yet subtly textured voice, like chilled velvet gliding over my skin, brought a shivering sense of comfort.

"How...how can it sound so good?"

"The lyrics are so touching!"

Xiaolu instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes widening slightly.

She suddenly felt,
Gu Qing's beauty actually stems from her own aesthetic sense.

As a more deeply ingrained hip-hop fan, Masu was more directly and intensely impacted. In 2017, most domestic listeners' impressions of rap were still at a rudimentary stage, limited to "fast rapping," "rhyming," and "attitude."

Melodic rap and ambient rap have not yet become mainstream aesthetics.

Gu Qing's song "Heart Like Still Water" instantly surpassed all the rough "staple foods" she had ever tasted before.

Comparing faces?

Gu Qing's exquisite and flawless bone structure and skin would be top-tier even in the entertainment industry.

Magneto has never taken off his hat, and we don't even know if he's ever washed his hair.

Comparing talents?
This song, "Heart Like Still Water," demonstrates what "dimensional reduction attack" means in every aspect, from lyrics and music to arrangement and production.

Comparing popularity?
Gu Qing is already a top star, plus this song has the potential to become a hit...

Even...in terms of wealth?

After several quick comparisons, Magneto, who had shone brightly in her heart due to the program's filter, seemed to have instantly become shrouded in a layer of gray, becoming somewhat... bland and uninteresting.

"How...how can he be good at everything?"

Masu muttered to herself.

If we say,
Gu Qing's ancient style track has completely outmaneuvered a host of female celebrities in the entertainment industry who prefer an artistic and literary style.

Then,

This time, the switch to the rap genre has once again swept through the remaining female stars!
Gu Qing has everything you like.

Aside from those who are naturally attracted to ugliness.

Who could resist such charm?!

……

...(End of chapter)