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[TRANS] 160125 Yixing 吉星高照 Interview

(Translators’ note: This is a wonderful piece about Yixing and personally one of my favourite articles/interviews ever. People who met him and worked with him personally often have so many good things to say about him, and I hope you guys will read this from the view of yet another journalist who came away from the interview with a very good impression of him.)

Translated by: laymerence and elaysium for layixingworld. Please do not repost.

Original interview here.

[Auspicious Stars Shining High] Zhang Yixing, Lay is very Lei (tired).

(Written in first person as the interviewer, Mister Ji Liang.)

When Zhang Yixing walked up in front of me, a very sincere expression surfaced on his face.

I suddenly felt, he is really just a big boy, without any idol baggage, appearing a little exhausted, but never daring to be insincere to anyone, the sort that will take responsibility for his own work all his life with a serious expression. If this weren’t a job to interview Pancoat’s spokesperson, I really wanted to let this big boy off immediately to go play ball.

I invited him to greet our readers and his fans.

“What sort of greeting?” He asked very seriously.

“Anything is okay, depending on your mood.”

“It’s almost New Year, can I send a New Years’ greeting?” He still had a timid expression, as though not very good at dealing with strangers, and yet knowing that, a determined expression of still wanting to complete the job.

“Of course.” I was nearly so tickled that I started laughing, at the aura of a child having to pretend to be a grown-up.

——-

And so he seriously recorded this voice clip:

(Audio) “Hi everyone I am Zhang Yixing. In the New Year, wishing everyone good fortune in the Year of the Monkey, Hou/great (Monkey) happiness in the Year of the Monkey.”

This very short clip of well wishes, he recorded it three times altogether. He failed twice, he suddenly started, then forgot what he wanted to say.

“Many people say I’m stupid,” he seriously told the staff on site, “Actually I’m not stupid, I just have slow reactions, that’s all.”

“Yes, slow reactions.” He emphasized it again, as though giving himself affirmation.

“You aren’t stupid either, you are adorkable.” I laughed and told him.

“Adorkable?” He slightly hesitated, “Oh, that means stupid.”

The entire place, suddenly, all burst into laughter.

——-

My impression of Zhang Yixing, still remains at the stage of him being a member of EXO, knowing that he can sing, he can dance, and he can write songs, even playing the piano accompaniment for his partners during a public performance once.

I know that he has a very good temper, and know that he is of a friendly character, and even know that many people who were originally uninterested in the Hallyu wave, became fans of his after <Go Fighting>.

But the him who sat opposite me at this moment, looked even more real.

He is polite, appearing obedient, carefully thinking before slowly replying to every question. He always says that his reactions are slow, but I feel that he is very afraid of disappointing others, and so no matter what he does, he is very careful.

I have seen many actors and singers, some are conscientious, some are grand, some are too anxious for success, some are full of themselves —— but Zhang Yixing is different from all of them.

Zhang Yixing won’t actively try to cotton up to you. But he is just really like the older or younger brother in the neighbourhood, making you feel at home, talking to him is very natural. He won’t put on airs or pretend to be distant, sometimes he will even make you feel like you want to protect him.

He is very dazzling on stage, but beside you, he dissipates his glow, changing into (someone who is) defenceless, just a clean young boy.

I suddenly understood, why Sun Hong Lei likes him so much.

“Let us relax and chat.” I was afraid he would be too exhausted if he was on edge, and so I told him he could largely relax and respond, “No need to feel restrained.”

“How relaxed?” He laughed and laid back on the chair, “Can I be this relaxed?”

I played along and laid back on my own chair: “That’s fine, we might as well chat whilst limp (on the chair) like this.”

He laughed non-stop hahaha.

——-

“These past few years you’ve tried many different types of work. To you, do you find acting difficult or singing more difficult?"

"It is difficult if you want to do anything well. To me, I want to be a good artiste, and I also want to be an artiste in the future. Now I am trying to be my own studio’s little boss, so I have to put in even more hard work, to do everything well.” He said, with a real sense of responsibility.

“Then in the year to come, do you plan to put your focus more on acting or on music?"

"Firstly, I want to have a period of reflection on the things I have acted in. In May or June, when the filming work has ended, I want to spend half a year, to look back seriously and reflect, on all the movies and TV work I have acted in."

He didn’t avoid speaking of the different judgements passed on his acting. He honestly looked at me, and spoke of the regrets he had towards all his imperfect performances. Thankfully he didn’t have any meaning of feeling discouraged, he knows that he has a lot of room for improvement, and so he felt very fortunate that he can identify the problems he has, through the criticisms of other people. He uses an optimistic mindset, to face the process of growing up. This too, is a charm that is hard to come by.

"Of course, on the music side of things, I will also definitely not be delayed,” he cautiously added.

“Your fans reminded me hundreds and thousands of times to definitely ask you —— will your solo album still be released this year?”

He appeared to have a gaze of some hesitation, and yet not giving up. But he very quickly answered my question: “This question depends on what angle you stand at to answer it. If you stand from my angle, if you ask me when it will be released, I will immediately respond ‘tomorrow I’ll release it’ —— but this involves things from many areas, so I can only leave it to fate, but I am prepared at any time.”

I know many people are waiting for his new album, and I also know that to a singer, they are filled with anticipation for the release of their own albums.

Zhang Yixing’s gaze slid to the floor, he pursed his lips, and quietly laughed, like a big boy full of worries.

“I am someone who doesn’t want to be insincere in anything I do. So I also hope that my album is of the best quality —— for example, Dragon TV’s countdown concert this time round, I rehearsed over 10 times from front to back. I am very grateful to Dragon TV for how understanding they were, giving me so many chances to rehearse. Actually I am like this towards every single performance, I view every performance like it is a new opportunity. I don’t want to waste these opportunities, I will work hard to make it the best.”

The sincerity he speaks with, even every sentence he says, he will nod again, as though corroborating the things he is saying.

——-

“Then do you have a music genre that you really want to try? For instance a music style you have never tried before.”

“I want that music style where the entire audience can be 'high’ with me. As long as the stage is dazzling enough, the music is great enough, I trust that the entirety of the audience will dance along with you, will become 'high’.” His gaze seemed to hold yearning.

“I believe too, that of the people who are 'high’ there, there will definitely be Sun Hong Lei da-ge.” I looked at him laughing.

“Maybe.” He relaxed and laughed along too.

“What are your comments on this older brother?”

“I recently worked with Hong Lei da-ge on a show, called <To Be A Better Man>. I saw how Hong Lei da-ge worked on this show seriously, professionally, his strict demands, especially towards the script, towards acting. Although I often break into laughter when acting together with Hong Lei da-ge, but at those times I would feel that Hong Lei da-ge is very cute.” Zhang Yixing entered reminiscing mode, talking non-stop about working with Sun Hong Lei.

“But we rarely see his cute side that’s all.”

“After laughing in a scene, he would instantly change back into a solemn mood within a second, to act —— but when we need to laugh we’ll still continue laughing.” When laughing loudly, he made me even more curious about what funny things they experienced when filming.

Sun Hong Lei’s image on the big screen has never been fated to be one of an “approachable” image. He has acted in traumatised roles, he has acted in arrogant roles, regardless of which type, his acting skills are always incisive, full of expression.

But every time he is in the same frame as Zhang Yixing, he will enter a “younger brother control” mode, having unlimited love and care for this young person. Many people love this sort of scene that is filled with pink bubbles flying into the sky. They feel that it is natural, warm, it is unrestrained and unreserved, and not an overly passionate way of interacting.

——-

“But in the minds of many people, Sun Hong Lei is not really a person who is easy to get close to. So we really like seeing your interactions with Sun Hong Lei, feeling that you’re both so close, really like family. Then what do you think your role in <Go Fighting> is like? Are you specifically in charge of acting cute? Or are you the tie that connects all the older brothers together?”

Zhang Yixing appeared to really like this question, starting to pour his heart out and speak to me: “Many people feel that I am just acting cute in <Go Fighting>, but I want to clarify, when you are faced with a few older brothers who are more than 20 years older than you, your role and character is just there, what can I do? Just picking up the comedic points makes me laugh uncontrollably. For example when recording the first episode, the older brothers were playing there, I was by the side uncontrollably laughing. In the second episode, Master (Huang Lei) that mastermind was too incredible, whilst I was watching I was shocked and stunned, so my reactions are all true reactions. I’m not acting cute, but under those situations, other people will feel that I am younger, and it just looks like I’m being cute."

"Why does Hong Lei da-ge really like you?"

"Hong Lei da-ge really is full of dramatic tension in terms of performance. When we worked together to film for the drama he was like that too, he would pull back when he needed to, and give his all when he needed to. In <Go Fighting> however, he showcased a different side, actually giving an intimate feeling. Hong Lei da-ge kept saying he really liked my 'true’ side, so I wanted to continue this 'true’ side forever, being my true self."

Saying this, he started laughing in a slightly silly manner, as though finding joy in his own way.

——-

Zhang Yixing’s "true”ness, is a rare resource in the entertainment industry.

More than once, I heard from his fans, about various things regarding his "true” character —— baring his heart sincerely when treating his group members; no matter what performance it is he will face it sincerely never taking shortcuts; very easily trusting others and always feeling every person is a good person…… Maybe some people say this is actually too naive. But, I feel, that being able to persevere and fight on in the entertainment industry that has all sorts of different people (a mixed lot), is originally “truly” rare and precious.

Sun Hong Lei is an old hand. He has interacted with all sorts of people. Whenever he looks at Zhang Yixing in the programme, his eyes are bright, that is a show of true emotion that can’t deceive. He understands that this boy is very good, very hard to come by, and thus he takes special care of him.

Using a true heart in exchange for another true heart. This is something only Zhang Yixing could accomplish in <Go Fighting>.

“I really look up to the older brothers, including like Huang Bo da-ge, I feel that they emanate a man’s character down to their bones. Their talent, their charisma, makes me sigh in my own inadequacies.” He laughed and said, it was clearly indoors, and yet his face shone with sunlight. “So I am really not acting cute, but in that situation, everything I do, to put it nicely is cute, to put it in a mean way is dumb right. Stupid.”

“No no no, it’s adorkable.” I quickly said.

“Aiya, I know, praising me for being adorkable, is actually saying that I am stupid.” With an expression of not minding, he, on the other hand, started laughing first.

——-

Now that he has become Pancoat’s spokesperson today, this brand can become known by more people in China. This is an interesting thing. I know that when he first arrived in Korea back then, he once longed to buy this brand’s clothes. One would have never thought that he actually became its spokesperson. To regular people, it must feel like a dream.

“Yes, it’s just like a long-destined fate, too unthinkable.” He said with gratification.

“Compared to other Korean brands, how is Pancoat different?”

He seemed to really like this brand, and so answered without having to give it much though: “Its style is very fresh —— very young, very energetic. And very comfortable. For example, this design element of the big eyes, it can actually be seen in many places, so many people may not know this brand, but they may very well have seen these big eyes.”

“And the little yellow duck.”

“Yes yes, that is a characteristic element!” He happily shouted, really looking like a little fan.

“Then, to you, in a male’s closet, what is one item of clothing that they must have?”

“They must have a cute and wearable item —— mmm, must have one item of Pancoat.”

He is really too dedicated a spokesperson.

“I really can’t imagine what Sun Hong Lei would be like wearing a cute line like Pancoat……” I closed my eyes and tried to imagine, but the image that floated to mind was simply shocking.

“He really likes it!” At the mention of the Hong Lei da-ge he respects, both his eyes shone with starlight. “Actually in private, he really likes cute things. He also really likes eating sweet things, and likes clean things. And Huang Bo-ge also likes this sort of clothing, his own clothes are very Q (cute).”

——-

“Then what item have you recently gotten into, that you feel you can bring out to brag about?”

“If I had to say, I feel that the item most worth bragging about and recommending everyone should own, is Pancoat!”

“You don’t have slow reactions! And aren’t stupid!” I laughed at his expression as he was anxious to publicise the brand he endorsed.

“Recently I’ve been working constantly, and don’t have time to shop either……” He laughed bitterly and scratched his head, “It’s quite tragic……”

“It’s alright, there’ll definitely be a chance to give yourself a holiday right.” I quickly consoled him.

“Yeah, there’ll be a chance, later I can go shop in Pancoat.” He said, relieved.

“Yes yes, buy more of those eyes and ducks and things, and bring them home, Pancoat is the best.” I helped him conclude.

“The two of us working so hard to promote (the brand), will there be a prize later?” I ended by looking towards the company’s officials with a hopeful gaze.

They walked away placidly.

<Go Fighting> allowed many people who originally were unfamiliar with Korean music, to understand it, and start liking Zhang Yixing.

He gave his all to face every challenge, sometimes that concentrated gaze, made one feel that he wasn’t actually interacting with the camera according to a script, but was really into the joys of the game.

These few years, he has always been trying things he’d never done before: being a host, going on a reality show, filming a movie, walking into a TV drama…… He isn’t quite like many celebrities ‘returning from overseas’. He doesn’t intentionally create a distance and a reserved tone, but tries to walk closer and closer to his fans.

Not liking shrines (being enshrined), but loves walking firmly with both feet on the ground.

This may be where another of his enchanting charms lies.

——-

“To you, what was hardest about <Go Fighting>? Was it the challenges? Or interacting with other people? Or the nature of the show?”

"The hardest thing should be how I was constantly changing my personality. If I felt personally that this thing should be this way, even if the directors tell me that it should be that way, I will still feel that it should be this way —— even if the geges tell me it isn’t this way, I will still be really stubborn. Maybe this is the thing I have always needed to change, but it is very hard to change.”

“How does being an idol feel? Is it similar to your image of it before you entered the profession?”

“All idols will have a day when they expire.” He said very frankly, “I too, will have a day when I am no longer popular. But as an idol, I hope that when I am liked by many people, I can bring them energy as far as possible, allowing them to see a role model and an example in me. Feeling that I work hard, and so they feel encouraged. Like this, I will feel very satisfied.”

“Fans from all over the world will go to pick you up at the airport, what do you think of this?“

“I used to have an aversion towards fans picking me up at the airport, including giving me gifts, I was worried that I would bring them trouble, and I also wished that everyone would shift their energy to better places. But now I feel, they are also trying very hard to come and see me, if seeing me makes them happy, then that is a rather good thing—but everyone must take care of their safety!”

He cares about his fans very much, even going so far as to help his fans think about whether or not what they want to do will make them happy—if it will, then he feels that no matter what, he must try his best to accommodate them.

His fans really get a sense of presence (t/n: really feel acknowledged by him).

I sincerely believe so.

——-

“What does EXO mean to you?”

“It means a team, a family.” He said with certainty, “It’s an existence I cannot be without. This group gave me the blood of rebirth, and also let me see several things with “wolf qualities”, as well as my own persistence.”

“At which point did you start sensing that you are all a family?”

“At first I didn’t have that feeling, I just felt that everyone were partners at work. Slowly, we progressed from partners to family members, and felt closer—I also started feeling their encouragement, their longing. Everyone doesn’t say it from their mouths, but when we meet we would still smile gently and hug, these small details and these small displays of affection, all tell me that with the passing of time, everyone has already become a family.” He spoke slowly, some emotional feelings arousing in him.

“Mouths don’t say it, but bodies are truthful.” I smiled and looked at him.

“Yes.” He replied honestly.

“What a tsundere family.” I laughed and said.

“Yes, we are indeed tsundere.” He raised his head in satisfaction.

“I want to give you a special question—I know a lot of celebrities have a lot that they want to share with everyone, but if the interviewer didn’t happen to ask them, then they wouldn’t have the chance to share—so I would like to hand this question to yourself: What question would you like to ask yourself most?”

He was stunned for a while, he’d never imagined that I would throw him such a difficult question.

Then he pondered for a while, his face slowly revealing a look of surprise.

“I want to ask Zhang Yixing—are you tired…” He suddenly looked at me and murmured.

——-

“Then are you tired?” I asked him.

He sighed, his gaze travelling beyond the door, a glimpse of weariness glazing over his eyes. He became quiet, deep, and it’s only at this time that a maturity beyond his age is revealed.

He was silent for a long time. I smiled and helped him ease some of his low spirits, and he complied with a few laughs, but there was some pain in it.

I know that this boy, at the age where he should be eating and drinking and fooling around heartlessly with his buddies, has put in too much hard work that ordinary people do not know of, borne too many responsibilities that outsiders do not understand.

He has no freedom, no recreation, he does not even have the chance to indulge himself and cry and laugh.

For his dreams, he persevered in walking on this road that is full of incomparable hardships but brings a sense of achievement. He never complains, in fact he celebrates in having the chance to climb even higher.

But is he tired or not?

Actually everyone knows clearly in their hearts.

It is just that he must say it himself, for those feelings of hardship to appear more real.

——-

He said not a single word, his whole body seated beneath the lamp, but he seemed to be covered by the shadows behind him.

His brightness was held back, he sat quietly.

Looking at me, yet not looking at me, his gaze slowly dissipating, like bubbles melting in the air—you could even hear the “pa pa” sounds made by the overheated lamp, yet he just sat there, asking himself the question, yet not wanting to answer himself.

“But I think, you must be blessed, because even though it’s hard work, you can gain many achievements.” I offered.

“Yes……yes……” He said softly and haltingly, letting out a slight sigh.

——-

“I hope that everyone who likes me, will not be disappointed in me.” Zhang Yixing finally said after being silent for a long time, “And I’m carrying my own dreams on my shoulders—I hope that my music can be known by more people, on the world’s stages.”

This boy who still retained a child-like air, described his dreams determinedly, like it’s a calling that he’s sworn he will not rest until he’s accomplished.

“Just like that time I danced at the NBA, a lot of Americans walked over and applauded me, and told me “You danced really well”, this made me so happy. I also hope that more people and things from our country, can gain the praise of these foreigners from the bottom of their hearts.”

“With people like you around, we will have more and more works for the whole world to marvel at.”

“I will work hard.” He replied with incomparable sincerity.

His whole face was full of vividness, earnestness, genuineness, and wholeheartedness.

He truly is a very real boy.

When our conversation ended, he stood up from his chair and gave me a bow to express his thanks.

I hurried to bow in return, and in the moment we raised our heads, I saw the look in his eyes, slightly tired yet full of pride.

“Lay is a little tired.” I smiled and said.

“Lay is not tired!”

This boy, full of confidence, puffed up his chest before me.

#cute ending #all of you that call him stupid come fight me #lay #yixing #zhang yixing

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