As a host, Lu Yu was once evaluated by interviewees as being very successful in "hiding". Now, she has begun to express herself more. Photo courtesy of interviewee
After “hiding” himself for thirty years, Lu Yu began to express himself more.
At the same time, the public is re-recognizing Lu Yu. Starting from March 2023, in a podcast program "Flowers in the Rock", Lu Yu interviewed 27 female guests, including well-known women such as Ma Yili, Mao Jian, Zhan Qingyun, and Zhang Chun. As of press time, 210,000 people have subscribed to this podcast.
Some netizens called the program their "spiritual charging station." “I feel charged by these female role models in front of me.” “Teacher Lu Yu’s reading volume is really amazing. He can pick up any works mentioned by the guests.” “I was soothed by Lu Yu again. Lu Yu in the podcast is more lively and comfortable. Real and easy”.
Someone else asked: "Is she that Lu Yu?" In many people's original impression, she was the female host who sat upright on the sofa and interviewed celebrities about their lives. She is a rare TV host on the
podcast platform. A listener named "Gai Gai" told Southern Weekend, "(Lu Yu)'s current image is very much in line with urban girls' imagination of middle-aged independent sisters." Gai Gai himself is also a podcast host, "The host She is very professional in this kind of environment, and she always shows only a little bit of opinions. "
In early July 2024, Lu Yu accepted an exclusive interview with Southern Weekend and talked about her changes and changes. At the end of the interview, she found a peach wrapped in a tissue on the table. "Did you bring me this peach?" she asked her colleague Hao Likun. After receiving a positive answer, she picked up the peach and ate it. This is one of her favorite fruits.
Lu Yu looks even thinner than on the screen, and there are always people around her who worry that she is too thin. Her diet is regular. She eats oatmeal, milk and bread in the morning, and fish, braised pork, fungus and vegetables for lunch and dinner.
Previously, there was a saying circulating on the Internet that Lu Yu only eats three grains of rice every day. In the 2022 "Talk Show Conference 5", Lu Yu herself made fun of this legend, "The key is that many people really believe it." She said there is only one way - hold a press conference and eat two bowls of rice live. meal.
The public's misunderstanding of her does not end there. In fact, little is known about her. In early 2024, before and after she interviewed Wu Zhihong, a well-known psychological counselor, in "A Date with Luyu", Wu Zhihong said her observation: Luyu has a skill. After watching Luyu's program, he can't remember anything about herself. information. "Not so many hosts can do this. Lu Yu has achieved the ultimate in this aspect."
Guests of "Flowers in the Rocks" are often curious about her. During the program, Zhang Chun asked Lu Yu: "For so many years, you have hardly been talked about, will you be lonely?" Lu Yu replied that the host is often in a service industry and always puts the guests first. As time goes by, you Will hide myself.
She admitted that she is a person who is easily restless. This kind of restlessness is inherent, and she is indeed more relaxed as a podcaster.
In the opinion of a staff member who has worked with Lu Yu for nearly ten years, this restart is more like "waiting for the wind to come." Several young colleagues have long discovered that Lu Yu's expressions in the fields of movies and books are particularly attractive, and they have been suggesting that Lu Yu try more new media. According to this staff member's observation, Lu Yu's opening up to himself was gradual. When Weibo first became popular, Lu Yu did not follow the trend and open a personal Weibo account. "Life and work still need to be separated." Starting in 2020, following his hobbies, Lu Yu released "Chen Luyu's Movie Sofa" online, talking about celebrities and movies in multiple videos. In 2022, Lu Yu appeared on the "Talk Show Conference" and laughed at himself for his previous negative reviews. In the podcast, some of the golden sentences she expressed were forwarded to various social platforms and widely circulated, such as the sentence "Men can grow freely, but women need to grow in proportion."
She keeps doing the same thing. In an era of rapid changes in media forms, Lu Yu chose to "fine-tune" in her own words. “She has always been demanding of herself with a professional attitude and has not deliberately catered to trends, but has always been prepared."For example, this staff member said that if Lu Yu wants to invite an anchor to be a guest, he will try his best to understand the other party's relevant works and interviews.
Obviously, the commercial brand has reaffirmed her influence. July 17, 2024 On the same day, a commercial brand official announced that Lu Yu has become the ambassador of Paris Olympic Games. In her promotional video, she used a self-deprecating way to play with the hot meme of "colliding with the Paris Olympic Games emblem": "Before I saw the Paris logo, was it true? ? I do not believe. After seeing the Paris logo, not only did I believe it, I was also brainwashed. "
So, has Lu Yu changed? She said that her core has never changed. But age brings experience, and experience brings some new thinking.
She is more willing to speak out for some groups, with a sharp attitude, such as being clear Opposing misogyny and anti-aging. She also became softer and more frank. She said in the latest issue of "Round Table": "I am 54 years old, and there is nothing I dare to say. "
"I have reached the stage where I allow myself to talk more"
Lu Yu has been a host for thirty years, is still working on the front line, and has tried to make podcasts since 2023. Photo provided by the interviewee
Southern Weekend: Because of podcasts program, many young listeners have become your fans. Some netizens said: "Lu Yu may be the most misunderstood host in China. "How do you feel about this?
Lu Yu: My biggest feeling is that they need these things, and I have always had these things. After working for a while, I found that they like to listen to me share the books I have read, Movies, reflections on certain dilemmas in life or criticism of certain phenomena. This program helped me a lot. It allowed me to express things that I had not had the opportunity to express in the program in the past. It can be said that I have not expressed them since the beginning. . I have accumulated this desire for expression for many years. When I know that someone is listening attentively, I still feel very fulfilled.
Southern Weekend: You are a rare TV media host. Lu Yu: No matter what new programs I participated in before, I was still the same Lu Yu. But doing podcasts forced me to complete a certain kind of change. It's different. I record for two hours and have space to express myself. There must be an element of "water" in it. "Water" can also bring rhythm and become soothing. But if your professional ability is not strong enough, it may be too much. Song.
Southern Weekend: When you interviewed the psychological counselor Wu Zhihong, he said that you have been very successful in hiding yourself. What do you think of his statement? Yes, I have been very successful in hiding. That's right, but it's so funny. Why do you want to hide it so successfully? This result may not be a good thing.
I have reached the stage where I allow myself to speak more. This was a hindrance to me when I was a child. In my professional education, it was scary and shameful for a reporter to become a news event (protagonist). When I was in school, my teacher told us that you should report the news, not become the news. I was still studying international news. You need to hide behind the microphone. When you don't speak, you will get used to it, and others will get used to it. What's more terrible is that you have nothing to express. You will think that you have nothing to express. Because if you keep silent, you will no longer see yourself objectively. This is a subtle process of change. Your character is very cautious? Lu Yu: I am a person who is particularly afraid of making mistakes. I am particularly afraid of offending others. Now I will allow myself to say more. I think people still have to allow themselves to be seen sometimes, especially now that aesthetics have changed. . After people have experienced a lot, they will become freer, softer and more confident about many things.
Southern Weekend: Will this kind of podcast give you more security?
Lu Yu: Indeed. Unlike TV, I feel more secure. I used to resist chatting in the same space as the guests.Later we recorded one or two (online conversations), and it was a very wonderful chemical reaction. This sense of distance makes you bolder. I am a person with a strong sense of proportion. But too much sense of proportion can become a constraint.
Southern Weekend: In this program, what are the common portraits of these female guests?
Lu Yu: They all have power.
Southern Weekend: They are also very curious about you. You will often be interviewed the other way around.
Lu Yu: We are all women, some of us are similar in age, and the difficulties we face are basically similar. Zhang Chun really shocked me. She had a feeling of risking her own life to survive. Faced with her sincerity, I could only repay her with the same sincerity.
Southern Weekend: The Chinese media world has changed rapidly in recent years. For someone who values career as much as you do, have you ever worried that one day you will become unimportant?
Lu Yu: I know in my heart: one day you will become unimportant. I still hold that point of view, I can accept it to the extent that I can accept it. Finally, one day I cannot accept it, and that is the time to say goodbye to each other. Before that, I can do my best.
I interviewed many athletes a long time ago. There are two ways for athletes to leave the sports field. One is to leave after winning the championship at the most glorious moment and hang up your boots and shoot. The second is to have to fight again and leave sadly.
When you said that I would never love to fight and leave calmly, it was because you still had a chance at that time. I understand that one day people will become irrelevant, and of course people are afraid, especially if you are still doing this. You need to make yourself as calm as possible and accept the final result.
Southern Weekend: In the new season of "Round Table", you and Dou Wentao, Ma Jiahui and others talked about "the train of the times should not leave behind the elderly." Over the years, there are always some people who will "get off". Will you feel sad because your friends in the same industry leave?
Lu Yu: There are indeed fewer colleagues who are still around . But in this day and age, many people come back occasionally. In this marathon life, we should not be too absolute until the last moment, both to ourselves and to others. Someone might get off the bus and get on again, and you don’t know the ending. I'm an optimistic pessimist.
"You are always here, this is very important"
Lu Yu wiped away tears for Zhang Yingying's mother when interviewing her. Picture provided by the interviewee
Southern Weekend: Compared with then, everyone seems to be getting to know a new you now. Do you think you are really different?
Lu Yu: is no different. I'm more relaxed than I used to be, but at the core it's still me.
Southern Weekend: You said that when you were working on "Phoenix Morning Bus" in Hong Kong, you would hug the tree tightly during a typhoon on the way to work, worried that you would be late. How do you feel when you think of Lu Yu now?
Lu Yu: was my personal choice at that time. For a newbie, this is my chance and I'm going to grab it. At that time, I just wanted to avoid being blown down by the wind. You need to find the next tree before moving forward. That scene was very funny and a memory of that era.
Southern Weekend: How stressful was the work at that time?
Lu Yu: You have to do all the work alone. Because of time constraints, no one could help me. I mean news not broadcast news. I can only read all the morning newspapers in Hong Kong and record all the information in a short period of time. Television is a group project, but once the presenter is alone in front of the camera, no one else can help you. I always anticipate everything that could go wrong. I don't trust anything but my brain. If I remember it wrong, I deserve it. If something went wrong because the teleprompter suddenly stopped moving, I couldn't accept that. As long as it is a machine, it seems to me that something is bound to go wrong.
People who work in the news have news anxiety. They are afraid that others will ask you and you will not know. Not knowing is a serious problem. But in the process of interviewing people, if you know everything, you will lack a little curiosity.
Southern Weekend: Do you know those memes that received negative reviews on the Internet in the past few years? In those "memes", are you pretending not to know?
Lu Yu: knows. This requires a dedicated section to talk about this content, because this is a very professional content. Pretending not to know, I later realized, was a very dangerous thing. Because there are people who really think you don't know, and there are people who will interpret that.
Southern Weekend: Did you feel uncomfortable at that time? What did you choose to do or not do?
Lu Yu: can, of course. But you need to look at it more calmly, which ones are true and should be listened to, and which ones are not valid and should not be taken to heart. However, we are usually emotionally influenced by these voices.
People may not know the full story. You can't blame others for not being able to see you. It's really hidden too deeply and you need to show more. So it's important that you always be there, express it. How can others see more of you if you are gone?
Southern Weekend: After , you went on a talk show to laugh at yourself. Is this also an attempt to solve the problem?
Lu Yu: I am more old-school. The way I deal with it, it won't do that. My previous teacher told me not to complain or explain. Ultimately, your explanation doesn't work. People still believe what they believe. Of course, people should not pretend to be reconciled. They should wait until they can talk comfortably and don't force it. When the outside world does not meet the conditions, teasing is meaningless. Timing is very important and I will wait.
Southern Weekend: You have been doing the same thing these years. You said in a speech program: "It is important to stay at the poker table, but it is more important not to let yourself become completely different one day just to keep playing. When I think about this, it seems that I will Become relieved." What does "change beyond recognition" mean?
Lu Yu: The content of has changed too much. I can do some content, but if I can't adapt to some content at all, then I will leave the poker table. If everyone wants to live broadcast to bring goods, and it all needs to be specialized as a variety show, then it will be completely different to me.
Southern Weekend: In 2019, you also did "See What Happens Later", where you interviewed ordinary people involved in various news events. Unlike previous interviews with celebrities, what impact did this program have on you?
Lu Yu: Many ordinary people have a very difficult life, but they are still very resilient. The tenacity of life is beyond our imagination. Many times, you will think about why life is so difficult and why is it worth the effort?
I remember our interview with Zhang Yingying’s parents. The biggest feeling they gave me was that someone can never stop suffering in a day. I can clearly feel that when I met Zhang Yingying's parents for more than a day, they were free of pain for only about 10 seconds. When we finished eating, Zhang Yingying's father said he wanted to go out and smoke a cigarette. It was winter and we said it was too cold outside. Zhang Yingying's mother said that she liked to smoke. In just 10 seconds, the two of them felt no pain and seemed to relax a little. I was very emotional, what day is this? But you will find that they are still alive. This will make you more humble about life, and you will realize that you are living in some kind of luxury.
Southern Weekend: Tolerance is also one of your worldviews in the podcast. Some of your views have given many women the power of comfort, such as the sentence "Life is difficult, important and complicated, and women are not encouraged to be revolutionaries all the time in their lives."
Lu Yu: Regarding the topic of female independence, my thoughts when I was young were more radical than now. But then I changed again, let’s not tell women “what to do”. Because I have always hated arrogance. What is arrogance? For example, I live in a big city and the educational environment is superior to others, which I didn't realize before. On one show, the guest was my school girl Chen Jingfei. We both graduated from one of the best middle schools in Beijing. When we talked about the excellence of the school, someone left a message below saying, "I suddenly realized the unfairness of education." At that time, I was instantly shocked by this passage.
People who have stayed in a relatively superior environment for a long time will think that this is the norm. This is very scary. I used to hate it when people were arrogant to me. After reaching this age, I discovered that "don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you", and you don't have to do to others what you want to do to others.
Southern Weekend: Is this one of your important changes?
Lu Yu: is not easy for everyone. I ask myself to make progress and be more tolerant of others. I understand that I am gradually changing, I don’t ask others, and I hate strict regulations on others.
I seem to be helping others obtain certain rights. In fact, helping others is helping myself. I also hope that I have such rights, and do not want to fall into such a predicament one day. If one day I'm going to lie down, don't blame me "Why don't I take a step forward?" I hope we can forgive each other. I help others fight, ultimately to help myself expand some kind of life boundary. This is my important development direction in recent years.
"I am a calm and internally conflicted person"
Southern Weekend: You once wrote in your book that you are not as brave as the outside world thinks.
Lu Yu: I am a relatively internal person. I look calm, but calm can also be internally consumed. This is a rather terrifying combination. I have always looked at myself, and I have always had uneasiness, which is something I was born with. For example, every time after participating in an event, I would ask my colleagues around me how effective the event was. In fact, you know rationally what is going on.
Southern Weekend: What generally makes you feel internally consumed?
Lu Yu: Sometimes there is no specific thing. I have experienced several inexplicable and unexplained situations. I may have an anxious personality, which is relatively mild anxiety. I don’t know why, but there is a restless atmosphere that will last for a while.
Southern Weekend: What would you do when you encounter this kind of moment?
Lu Yu: will not work, I will wait for it to pass. You may not be able to read books at all at this point.
Southern Weekend: You talked about aging with Dou Wentao in the new season of "Round Table". When you mentioned that you were 54 years old, everyone on the barrage was quite surprised. Some people said they thought you were 40 years old. Do you have fears about aging?
Lu Yu: Now that you are talking about the number 54, it will take me a while to realize its relationship with me. Just looking at 54 years old, I would think this person is quite old and has nothing to do with me. In my heart, I still feel like a child, but when others see you, they will project their age-group prejudices onto you, and you can feel all the cold, warm, and pain.
Southern Weekend: Are we in an age-weary environment?
Lu Yu: We still have to comment on the appearance of a 70-year-old Hollywood female star. She is already over 70, and she still uses such a narrow standard to judge her. When a person is young and has a face full of collagen, such a face looks better than an aging face, which is called "easy on the eyes" in English. But all the benefits behind getting older are hidden. For example, I become more tolerant, gentler, lovelier and wiser than before. You can't see all this.
If someone ridicules an aunt for taking photos wearing a silk scarf, I think why do you say she doesn’t look good? She has the right to wear it that way. They were offending her and to some extent me. I won't hold up a scarf for a photo, but I want to retain that right. I wish I had the right to make choices without being laughed at by you.
Before, I felt that I could not represent anyone, so I should just be alone. But you know you have more opportunities to be heard than many of your peers, so you still have to speak more.
Southern Weekend: Will you feel the changes in your body? For example, worrying about being too thin.
Lu Yu: People are always worried about me losing weight. My biggest worry is that my memory is not as good as before. It can also be said to be my only worry. I can accept everything else, I can accept wrinkles and gray hair. But now when I forget something, I worry about my memory loss. Fortunately, this has not happened yet.
Southern Weekend: Many people marvel at your memory. You remember all kinds of past events about old friends. Dou Wentao calls you "the most powerful brain".
Lu Yu: For me, memory is particularly important. Being in this industry has helped me a lot, and I will also add some unnecessary requirements to myself. When I read books or watch movies, I instinctively record something.
Southern Weekend: Did your father's memory deteriorate before his death? I heard he would tell the same thing over and over again.
Lu Yu: My father suffered from Alzheimer's disease. This is a huge fear of mine. I also went to the hospital for a check-up, but the doctor said it was of no use.
My father used to learn Swahili. The highlight of his life must be his career. During the epidemic, we went to Shanghai to interview teacher Xu Bing. He had a work called "Monkey Catching the Moon", which contains many languages and I was very happy to see Swahili on it. I took a photo and went back to show it to my dad. As a result, I can clearly feel that my father is no longer familiar with those words. I am not sure whether he has forgotten these words, but when people get older, they will instinctively hide it, and at that moment he will still pretend to know it. I felt a little sad in my heart at that time. I think people may be like this in the end, and you still have to accept it. People's fear of aging is not external, it is the fear of losing dignity and self-control.
Southern Weekend: You often talk about aging with female guests on your podcast. What kind of inspiration do these women bring to you?
Lu Yu: Like Zhou Xun, she said that she wears reading glasses, which is particularly refreshing and good for me. There is also teacher Zhao Dongmei. She no longer dyes her hair, and her head is full of gray and white, which is very beautiful. When people first start to have gray hair, their hair will be very thick and branchy, and then it will become soft and cool. There are many people ahead of you, which is especially important. Everyone moves forward a little, everyone relaxes a little.
Southern Weekend: Have you exercised or done anything else to fight aging?
Lu Yu: I can accomplish (some things) to the best of my ability without too much trouble. But besides beauty and youth, there are many interesting things in life. Ten years ago, we went to Greece to shoot. At that time, I was obsessed with sun protection, so I held an umbrella on the beach. Later I thought this was particularly ridiculous. I missed out on a lot of feelings trying to protect myself from the sun. It's not worth it. Kimura Takuya's wife Kudo Shizuka is keen on snowboarding and is tanned. But compared with the thrill of surfing, aging is something she can accept.
"Anxiety is not necessary, but it is okay"
Southern Weekend: You said that vitality is the most important thing. What is happening right now that makes you feel alive?
Lu Yu: I am a very quiet person and like reading. I am particularly afraid of dramas. I was very scared when I was startled. I don't think it's necessary. It would be better to have some relaxation. For example, I work for two days and take one or two days off. Pausing is important and I’m still learning how to pause. If I take a day off and do not read or watch a movie, I will feel particularly uncomfortable and feel like a waste.
Southern Weekend: Is it difficult for you to stop completely?
Lu Yu: yes. I don't have many hobbies either. Sitting still every day is not something I can accept. I think people would be stupid if they stayed still.
Southern Weekend: Will make your body and mind tired?
Lu Yu: is quite tiring. But I'm used to it, this is the only way. I have completely accepted myself as I am and there is nothing I can do to change myself.
Southern Weekend: Do you like yourself more now?
Lu Yu: needs to distinguish between age groups. I have talked with female friends around me, and none of them want to go back to their youth. If you’re in your teens or 20s, you don’t want to go back, but if you’re in your thirties, you can.
Southern Weekend: You often talk about fertility topics with other guests on the podcast.
Lu Yu: I think people should feel the world well when they come to the world.There are many ways to participate in this world. This is what Yang Liping inspired me. She came to this world to see flowers. There are times when I go home after a show at night and I lie on the sofa with my legs crossed to rest. If I have children, I have to take care of them. But there is also a subtle change. When you see a particularly cute child in a video, you will also feel very cute. This feeling has never existed before.
Southern Weekend: Zhang Chun lamented that you still have the enthusiasm of the sun for interviews. What do you think of her statement?
Lu Yu: I don’t have as much energy as the sun. I can keep outputting. I don't have explosive power, but it has strong durability and stamina. It is terrifying for people to always have extreme love for anything. Burning is just a momentary thing. You definitely like it, and the external environment allows you to do so. But if I encounter huge resistance, I probably won’t give in.
Southern Weekend: How do you think you have been deeply involved in one thing?
Lu Yu: Many people may think that if you keep doing one thing, you will not make progress, but I think the comfort zone is the professional zone, the area where you are suitable and good at.
Southern Weekend: Will you still be ambitious in ?
Lu Yu: When you reach a certain stage, it is not so much that your career needs you, but that you need this career. People have to find their own meaning in the end, and some people may find meaning and happiness in life and family. I need to find out from some work.
Southern Weekend: When you were chatting with Siwen, you mentioned that you are not averse to love. How do you view the importance of love to women?
Lu Yu: People are at different stages, and many things in life are arranged differently, such as studies, career, family, children, emotions, and friendships. No matter what kind of life plan you make, I will pay for it in the end. There may be times when something bad happens, but it's not the turn of others to laugh at you. I believe that no matter the outcome is good or bad, everyone can bear it. Even though there will be times when you are particularly hurtful, you will eventually be able to come out of it.
Southern Weekend: Diana Asier, a British female editor, mentioned in "Twilight" that she also pursued romantic love when she was young, but she no longer pursued it when she got older. Will you also experience this change?
Lu Yu: I also really hate saying that you should be what you are at your age, what you should be when you are 30, and what you should be when you are 50. In fact, life is a state of flow. Everyone is different.
Southern Weekend: If you had to give one piece of advice to young girls, what would you say?
Lu Yu: time is the only valid answer. We need to be able to endure time. Maybe the environment I was in back then was different from now. But the nature of life is not that different. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and get through it.
No matter who you are, the total amount of joy, anger, sorrow and joy we endure in our lives will not vary greatly. This is something I am very determined and optimistic about. As long as I live, good things will happen to me. The paradox of life is that when you are young you don’t quite believe these things. We all looked back, and it was only when I looked back that I realized that I didn’t need to be anxious back then. But I'm still anxious. I want to tell you that anxiety is not necessary, but it is okay.
Southern Weekend staff writer Zhong Yuting
editor-in-chief Liu Youxiang
