Every so often in China, there are grand ceremonies where celebrities showcase new fashion resources, and during summer, these events become even more frequent.
Bowen Client, a platform specializing in rankings, organized its own event, inviting popular film and television production teams from each quarter, along with singers and groups who released music this year, and even variety show production teams were included.
Last month, they released the nomination list for this awards ceremony, and in the past two weeks, they officially confirmed the invited teams.
Although Bowen Client is a new platform, it's backed by a large company, so all domestic entertainment companies need to show respect. As the official announcements were wrapping up, Jiang Juyou's name was also added to the list. They even published a separate Weibo post for Random Entertainment, detailing which categories their artists and works were nominated for.
"Wow, someone else just did Random Entertainment's half-year summary for them."
"Hilarious, every variety show they made got nominated!"
"The Hangover Cure is coming too! So excited!"
"Such great resources, getting events right after debut."
"Wait... all these are Random Entertainment's artists?"
Random Entertainment's idol groups are so famous that all young people today know them, and the idol group label is firmly attached to Random Entertainment. Only after today's official announcement did people realize there were so many actors under Random Entertainment as well.
On this poster, the most eye-catching was AIcho, listed alongside Timetrain, a four-member girl group selected from this year's most watched variety show. Their name comes from the word "Echo," with the 'E' changed to 'AI' for similar pronunciation, creating a concept that aligns with Random Entertainment's overall cyber galaxy theme.
There's only one reason they're getting attention: they got their first resource less than two weeks after debut, while Timetrain had to wait a whole month back then.
Just as the Little Jasmines were about to express their dissatisfaction, they were drawn away by Timetrain's official blog suddenly coming online.
Just like that day when they posted a random date and disappeared, today they posted a puzzling video and vanished again.
Just as Jiang Liuxing walked out of the classroom after class, she heard the entire corridor buzzing—
"Ahh! The preview is out!"
"Quick, quick! Timetrain released a preview!"
"I can't with Random Entertainment anymore, why so sudden? I still need to grab lunch!"
More than being surprised at Timetrain's preview timing, Jiang Liuxing was more shocked that there were so many Timetrain fans hidden around her.
Standing on her tiptoes while holding two books, she looked around. All the girls who were originally rushing downstairs had slowed down, walking while looking at their phones, all holding their phones in the same way.
Jiang Liuxing went back to the classroom, put down her books, and opened her phone too.
She clicked on her special follow feed on Weibo and turned her phone horizontal, waiting for the video to play.
A grey-blue filter first came into view, with the oppressive atmosphere of an office building hitting viewers immediately. The sound of keyboard typing and phone rings rose and fell, creating an irritating ambiance.
Chi Qiao appeared in the frame wearing a suit, sitting at his workstation with a cold expression, forming a stark contrast with the busy employees around him.
He wore a smoke-gray suit, his broad shoulders filling out the suit's cut, making it impossible not to notice his physique.
The scene switched to a close-up, and Chi Qiao, wearing silver-framed glasses, created a visual impact with his appearance for the first time.
The glasses served as emphasis, magnifying Chi Qiao's facial features infinitely. His high bridge nose and clearly defined jawline exuded masculine pheromones. With his small head, narrow face, broad shoulders, and tanned skin, these consecutive visual hits left fans completely unable to focus on the preview's plot.
"...Holy crap?"
"Watched it several times and kept focusing on Chi Qiao."
"Is this really our visuals-last Chi Qiao? Are you sure? Huh? This is our Chi Qiao?"
"Oh god... I feel guilty, he's only seventeen... but I really..."
"Swallowing every time I watch."
"Well, now you've really made Timetrain an all-visuals group."
Chi Qiao's eyes were lifeless, carrying the exhaustion of being worn down by corporate life. In the final few seconds, he yanked off his work badge, stood up and threw it on the desk, then strode towards the elevator area. The entire office fell silent for just a second before returning to its chaotic state.
Fans didn't let a single moment of tall, long-legged Chi Qiao go to waste, repeatedly dragging the progress bar to watch him walk in his suit pants, observe his long strides, and look at his narrow waist.
"I really... I really just..."
"Don't even feel like doing the streaming numbers anymore... it's all your fault!"
"Sister's getting paid soon, don't worry, I'll send it right over!"
The preview was only twenty seconds long, but it completely captured everyone's attention. On Douyin, this twenty-second preview had an even bigger impact, gaining hundreds of thousands of likes within just fifteen minutes of release, with comments even exceeding the number of likes.
"You... I... you..."
"Well played, Random Entertainment, you're giving us exactly what we like, huh?"
"[Flirty squinting eyes.jpg]"
"Hahaha, here we come with the overtaking!"
"No one's even guessing the concept, everyone's just drooling."
"I can't even imagine how amazing this concept will be."
Different from previous patterns, this preview featured Chi Qiao first, and just from the comments section, you could see how well Chi Qiao matched this concept. Chi Qiao, who had never received much attention before, suddenly topped various social media trending lists after the preview's release, causing his already expensive photo cards to skyrocket in price.
Random Entertainment's timing for releasing the preview was also well-calculated, coming just one day before the Bowen Client Awards Ceremony.
With this preview setting the stage, the already anticipated Timetrain immediately gained the spotlight, with Chi Qiao receiving the most attention while others became supporting characters.
Come to think of it, this was their first time formally attending an event. Although they had been to other ceremonies and events before, those were just as opening acts, and even when they walked the red carpet, they wore performance outfits since they had to perform right at the start with no time to change.
With Chi Qiao's preview serving as bait, the Bowen Client's First Awards Ceremony generated even more buzz than expected. Its hashtag had been hanging on Weibo since early morning, with marketing accounts closely monitoring, not wanting to miss any news.
At this moment, Timetrain was taking departure photos at the hotel. All five members were wearing suits, changing from one style to another, from super seasonal runway pieces to vintage pieces from eighteen years ago. What they were wearing now was for the red carpet.
Chi Qiao wore a highly designed leather suit that emphasized his shoulder and waist lines. The black fabric's clash with silver accessories once again aligned with their group concept. A mechanical engineering-style necklace gripped his chest and neck, with embedded LED beads, the entire outfit exuding a futuristic feel.
The stylist brought a pair of black leather gloves for Chi Qiao, decorated with water glass. The geometric glass pieces added a sense of rationality. After Chi Qiao received them, he spread his fingers and put on the gloves. The staff member holding the phone nearby recorded every moment, and even before posting, she could already imagine how fans would react in the comments.
Seeing him wearing the gloves, the stylist looked him up and down, increasingly satisfied with the styling.
The leather material had subtle textures, and the straight-leg pants on Chi Qiao's legs would create characteristic leather wrinkles when he moved, drawing attention to his thighs.
As for shoes, the stylist chose a pair of narrow-toed leather shoes with a back heel. The four-centimeter heel pushed Chi Qiao's height over 190 centimeters and enhanced the fashion-forward feel of the entire outfit.
It felt like Chi Qiao wasn't going to walk the red carpet, but rather about to step onto a fashion runway.
"Perfect!" exclaimed the stylist, glancing back at the others with growing satisfaction.
With their concept as a foundation, Timetrain's styling wasn't bound by convention. The stylist could freely exercise their creativity, and the Timetrain team wasn't overly nitpicky. After mutually confirming requirements, they quickly settled on the looks.
Each member's styling was unique yet harmoniously coordinated. Silver, grey, and black formed their red carpet color palette. Except for Chi Qiao, everyone's look had its distinct characteristics.
Ye Xing wore a black shirt with a loose, oversized fit, but the stylist paired it with a silver butterfly vest made of metalwork that framed the shirt, creating both a waist-defining silhouette and artistic effect.
Yao Shuo was similarly adorned with silver craftsmanship. He wore a smoke-grey suit covered in black metalwork that resembled veins climbing across the entire outfit. Just putting on this piece took considerable time.
The assistant stylist was still working on him, extending the fine black metalwork from his cuffs along his hand's veins, wrapping around his hands.
Their unique styling drew attention from numerous artists and staff members as soon as they left their hotel room. While waiting for the elevator, even senior celebrities expressed curiosity about their outfits.
Compared to his bandmates' restrictive outfits, Gao Xiayu's attire was relatively practical. Amid others' elaborate styling, he wore a simple black suit adorned with multiple intricate pearl necklaces, the longest reaching below his abdomen.
Since the others had limited mobility, Gao Xiayu handled all the bowing, followed by explanations to avoid misunderstandings.
Pei Luming was the only one wearing a long coat. Unlike his bandmates' fitted looks, his was looser - a floor-length black leather coat over a relaxed suit, with a silver-grey tie as the sole accent to his all-black ensemble.
Due to his bulky, heavy clothing, Pei Luming's movement was also restricted. He took up nearly as much space as two people, and any slight movement risked bumping into others or crushing the carefully crafted wrinkles in his outfit, effectively restraining his hyperactive tendencies.
When Jiang Juyou received the notice to head downstairs, he found them still at the elevator, continuously yielding to senior artists. With their large group plus staff members, they couldn't fit in one elevator, and they kept encountering more seniors emerging, resulting in a ten-minute wait without progress.
"Wow!" Upon approaching, Jiang Juyou expressed the same amazement as the other artists at their styling.
Gao Xiayu bowed again in greeting, "Hello, Producer Jiang," with the others following suit.
Just as Jiang Juyou came near, the elevator arrived. They were about to yield again when Jiang Juyou said, "Get in, you'll be late if you don't."
The five exchanged glances before inviting Jiang Juyou to join them. The five members plus Jiang Juyou and several staff members filled the elevator to capacity, traveling straight to B1 without stops.
Before getting into his car, Jiang Juyou glanced back at Timetrain's vehicle - a spacious mid-size van with plenty of standing room. Though he couldn't see them inside, he could imagine their situation.
They'd probably have to stand the whole way.
Reality matched Jiang Juyou's prediction - the five members stood in the aisle, holding onto seats, mindful of both the road conditions and their outfits.
They couldn't even spare attention for the fans lining both sides of the road.
Fans stood along the entire route from the hotel to the venue, raising their phone flashlights when they spotted the van, trying to glimpse who was inside.
Some artists would thoughtfully lower their windows to greet fans, and while Timetrain wanted to do the same, their outfits wouldn't allow it.
Meanwhile, the trio of fan photographers waited at the venue entrance for Timetrain's arrival.
Jiang Liuxing and Liu Yue held cameras while Zhou Keke watched their bags to prevent theft. The two fan site masters with their telephoto lenses noticed a particularly large van waiting outside the plaza.
The current vehicle stopping at the red carpet contained-
"Who is it?"
"When will they arrive?"
"Who's that?"
"Another nobody- Oh my god, it's Jiang Juyou!"
When the person in a suit stepped out and lifted their head, the venue erupted in screams that resembled squeaky toys.
Jiang Juyou, wearing a high-waisted suit, waved to the fans before walking forward with hands in pockets, exuding the aura of a visiting executive. The fans were so struck they forgot all their prepared compliments.
Jiang Liuxing and Liu Yue's cameras followed him from front to back until he reached the platform.
As the small van at the red carpet entrance departed, the large one approached.
"Such a big vehicle, could it be that nine-member group?"
"Let's stay quiet then, don't give them attention."
"How excessive, using such a huge van. Why not bring a bus while they're at it?"
Mid-complaint, the large van's door opened. Chestnut-brown hair appeared first, followed by that distinctive styling. When he lifted his head, the venue briefly fell into chaos before erupting in screams that drowned out the ongoing interview, causing both the host and Jiang Juyou to look over.
Chi Qiao emerged like an apocalyptic assassin, his imposing styling instantly captivating the audience. When the others followed, not a single fan or spectator could contain their excitement.
In the domestic entertainment industry, only female artists typically put significant effort into styling, while male artists tend toward conservative and uninteresting looks. Even when they vary, it's usually the familiar wealthy young master style that lacks innovation.
But Timetrain's red carpet appearance completely dominated the day's styling. Regardless of gender, they left the most profound impression.
Fashion bloggers were awaiting red carpet looks, and though the livestream had few viewers, it didn't stop them from sharing screenshots. Even before official photos or fan shots were available, Timetrain's five members trended based on video screenshots alone.
#TimetrainSlayingRedCarpet#
A cliché trending topic that anyone would assume was purchased, even prompting mockery of whoever chose such an outdated phrase.
Normally, casual observers wouldn't bother clicking, but this unremarkable phrase carried a [Viral] tag, with related trending topics featuring individual members - Chi Qiao alone occupied three spots.
#ChiQiaoTanAthleteVibe#
#ChiQiaoOnly17#
#ChiQiaoRedCarpetLook#
"Random Entertainment is really shaking things up! This power move is too much, how can other male artists compete?!"
"Raise the bar! I'm excited! Male artists better step up their game!!!"
"Who's the styling team? Which studio? They're incredible!"
"This is the red carpet content I've been waiting for!"
"So envious... seriously..."
"Time Train, if you keep this up, I might fall into your fandom!"
Ye Xing stood in the center position, and though the five members varied in height, their styling coordinated to create a uniform line. Their near-1.9-meter proportions created an unbeatable visual impact, especially following a recently-passed limited group whose members were messily dressed and appeared disheveled, making the contrast even more striking.
While their five looks differed, the consistently dark tech aesthetic provided visual satisfaction to netizens, like completing a puzzle with the final piece, bringing an intense sense of fulfillment.
The five of them stood before the display board. Media photographers were clicking their shutters faster than usual, while fans behind them had gone completely silent, rapidly capturing photos with their phones and cameras.
The message Random Entertainment wanted to convey to the public concluded with today's red carpet appearance - they would never be superficial, determined to create an industry-benchmark idol group.
Not just Timetrain, but AIcho who came after also elevated today's red carpet excitement to new heights. The four members' unified, minimalist romantic haute couture dresses gave the public a clearer understanding of Random Entertainment's resource-pulling capabilities.
Idol styling can easily look cheap, and the princess dresses beloved by Chinese female celebrities weren't suitable for four people appearing together. So the stylists chose outfits from the same brand with the same theme, with elements complementing each other, and styling appropriate for their age.
Timetrain and AIcho's red carpet styling also brought attention to the styling team behind them. Looking on Weibo, people discovered it was a newly established team that even listed itself as belonging to Random Entertainment.
"Title: Gossip Discussion/Wow! Has Random Entertainment been secretly developing all these things behind our backs?"
"Today all Random Entertainment artists' styling topped the trending searches. After digging, I found that while training trainees, they were also training their own behind-the-scenes staff."
"[KE] This studio was cultivated by Random Entertainment, mainly doing styling for their artists. All Random Entertainment artists' styling today was done by them."
"Another point is about makeup artists - Random Entertainment signed eight makeup artists, seventeen makeup assistants, ten hair stylists, ten hair styling assistants, establishing [Mek]. They were responsible for the makeup of all Random Entertainment artists today."
"These are just the ones who've shown themselves today, there are more who haven't appeared yet."
"Random Entertainment has its own dance crews - [RnC][X][Drop][Waxx], four dance teams responsible for idol groups' choreography integration and backup dancing. They also regularly compete and choreograph for other artists."
"They also have their own music label called [MixRD], which hasn't signed any artists yet but has signed many music producers."
"I had no idea until I looked into it - it's shocking! When did they prepare all this? How was there not a single piece of news about it?"
"I'm truly shocked today."
Comments section:
"I really want to dismantle my bias's studio and let them come here. That small workshop of his, I just..."
"Finally someone in the Chinese entertainment industry doing real work."
"I'm neutral about Random Entertainment's artists, but I really like Random Entertainment itself, anyone get what I mean?"
"So impressive - just this level of dedication has pulled me into their fandom."
"The styling for those five androids was absolutely perfect, never had such a feast for the eyes..."
"Finally understand what's to like about Random Entertainment - the company is as career-driven as the fans, how can any fan resist that?"
"In an industry environment where companies only move one step when pushed by fans, Random Entertainment is winning completely."
"Dang it, the day Sangmo debuts is the day I'm buried deep in this fandom!"
Random Entertainment's serious approach gave Chinese entertainment fans a small shock - so this is what it feels like when a company is even more career-driven than the fans.
After the show ended, Random Entertainment seemed different.
That humble attitude of accepting criticism disappeared, replaced by a more aggressive stance, striking the market forcefully, receiving even stronger public feedback than before.
Repeatedly trending on searches was the best proof.
Other Chinese entertainment fans: What have we been settling for all this time? Ugh!
