Huang Bai
Chinese Entertainment: Now That I'm a Director, Of Course I Have to Live It Up
- Original Name:
- 黄柏 (huáng bǎi)
- Gender:
- Masculine
- Kind:
- Character
- Scope:
- Novel-specific
- Status:
- Active
- Source:
- AI
- Occurrences:
- 121
- Chapters:
- 14
- Context Up To:
- Ch. 50
- Wiki Model:
- GPT-6.1 Terra
- Updated:
Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Huang Bai (黄柏) |
| Alias(es) | King of Heartbreak Songs; King of Ringback Tones 15 44 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Wei Jin Fengliu Studio; its first signed artist 13 |
| Occupation/Role | Singer and actor 13 48 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 9 9 |
Background
Huang Bai performed in bars to make a living and earned over 10,000 yuan a month from gigs in southern China during the 1990s. He repeatedly applied to the Beijing Film Academy because he still wanted to become an actor. When Wei Jin met him, he was studying dubbing in the academy’s vocational program and had appeared mostly in minor screen roles 9 13.
Appearance
When Wei Jin first approached him, Huang Bai had medium-length hair parted in a three-to-seven style, giving him an artistic air 9.
- After becoming famous, he wore a black wool coat, wide-brimmed hat, scarf and sunglasses as a disguise against paparazzi 15.
Personality
Huang Bai is modest about his singing, describing himself as self-taught and initially worrying that he might spoil Wei Jin’s song. He is also sociable and quick to joke; his first conversation with Wei Jin over tea ended with the two calling each other brothers 9.
He is candid about needing help with his career and approached Wei Jin about joining his studio. Even after Wei Jin became more prominent, Huang Bai continued to tease him as a friend 13 44.
Career
Singing
Wei Jin recruited Huang Bai to record “Who Do You Really Love.” Huang Bai received 10,000 yuan for recording it and another 10,000 for finding a distribution channel. Wei Jin retained the copyright, while commercial performance income was split equally. Huang Bai used his contacts to help secure distribution through Tianyu Records 9 10.
The song’s popularity brought Huang Bai a surge of offers. After he asked whether to pursue singing or acting, Wei Jin encouraged him to do both. Huang Bai became the first artist signed to Wei Jin Fengliu Studio on a five-year management contract, initially splitting proceeds 30–70 in Wei Jin’s favor, with the split to be revised annually 13.
His December release For Love topped major music charts and earned him the title King of Heartbreak Songs. His commercial appearance fee rose to 200,000 yuan at the album’s peak, then settled at 150,000 yuan as its popularity faded. Wei Jin also arranged a dedicated vocal coach for him 15 21 24.
| Release | Details |
|---|---|
| “Who Do You Really Love” | Huang Bai’s breakthrough recording with Wei Jin 9 13 |
| For Love | Five-song EP featuring “Ten Thousand Reasons,” “There’s a Kind of Love Called Letting Go,” “Don’t Say You Don’t Care About My Tears,” “Wait One Minute” and “Seeking Buddha” 15 |
| Second album | Included “Damn Tenderness,” “Autumn Won’t Come Back,” “Don’t Hurt Me Again,” “Angel’s Wings” and “The Wolf Falls in Love with the Sheep”; its market response was good 44 |
Huang Bai also used his music-industry contacts to introduce Wei Jin to Li Jian. Wei Jin considered Huang Bai’s voice too deep for the companion song to You Are the Apple of My Eye 23.
Acting
| Film | Role or involvement |
|---|---|
| You Are the Apple of My Eye | Cameo as the man the female lead ultimately marries 30 |
| Crazy Stone | Acted in Ning Hao’s film after helping bring its script to Wei Jin; later promoted it at commercial appearances 37 50 |
| Painted Skin | Cast as the Lizard Spirit for a fee of 500,000 yuan 48 |
Huang Bai enjoyed working on Crazy Stone and found that he preferred acting to singing. During its production, a sewer scene nearly made him vomit 44.
Relationships
- Wei Jin — Friend, songwriter and studio boss. Wei Jin launched Huang Bai’s breakthrough song, signed him as his first artist and gave him further acting opportunities 9 13 48.
- Xiao Ou — Huang Bai introduced her as his wife; they had been together for nearly ten years by early 2004. Paparazzi attention prompted him to bring her to Beijing and buy a home there 15.
- Zhang Xu — Huang Bai’s manager, who promoted For Love and commissioned music videos to increase his exposure 15.
- Ning Hao — Director of Crazy Stone. Huang Bai supported the script, appeared in the film and promoted it extensively; Ning Hao said he would remember Huang Bai when making future films 37 50.
- Li Jian — A music-industry contact whom Huang Bai introduced to Wei Jin 23.