Talent: He Qiu Shi. Photographer: Jamie Jason. Shirt, Trend True. Suit and trousers, Vitale Barberis Canonico. Shoes, Stuart Weitzman. Crown, Yunshang. Scepter, Pasotti.
Soft studio light cascades in layers, gently wrapping around He Qiu Shi’s delicate profile. This marks his first photoshoot for the Vietnamese edition of Harper’s Bazaar. Two seemingly contradictory temperaments blend seamlessly within him.
On screen, his song White-Haired Pineapple Curse burst into public view – his delicate, youthful features paired with a powerful, resonant shouting-vocal style, creating an extreme contrast that unleashed a tidal wave of popularity. Off-screen, he focuses quietly on making his own music.
Shirt, Trend True. Suit and trousers, Vitale Barberis Canonico. Shoes, Stuart Weitzman. Crown, Yunshang. Scepter, Pasotti.
With millions of eyes upon him, He Qiu Shi has experienced both the momentum of sudden fame and the scrutiny that comes with it. Rather than retreat from those difficult moments, he appears to have turned them inward – becoming more reflective about his work, his choices, and the kind of artist he hopes to become.
Journey into the World
Eight years ago, at fifteen, He Qiu Shi left school and stepped alone into the working world. Moving through different industries, he experienced the realities of earning a living at an unusually young age. With no clear path ahead, he remembers that period as one of uncertainty and loneliness.
“In those early days after leaving home, I had no idea which industry I would end up in. I only had one simple wish – to achieve something of my own someday.” At the time, he could never have imagined that his future would bring recognition and an audience who would follow his journey through a screen.
Years of working in different fields taught him resilience and an early understanding of people. Rather than dwelling on difficulties, he accepted his choices and kept moving forward. Those experiences stayed with him as his public profile grew, reminding him of the challenges of ordinary life and encouraging him to approach others with empathy.
Shirt, Trend True. Suit and trousers, Vitale Barberis Canonico. Shoes, Stuart Weitzman. Crown, Yunshang. Scepter, Pasotti.
When he first began livestreaming, his audience often numbered only a few dozen. As the singing-and-dancing idol industry gained momentum, many streamers pursued faster routes to popularity and commercial success. He Qiu Shi chose a different pace. He devoted himself to each livestream, valued every viewer, and resisted chasing short-lived fame, gradually developing a style and identity of his own.
When the Tide Rises
In 2023, a short video, White-Haired Pineapple Curse, changed the course of He Qiu Shi’s life. His soft, clean appearance contrasted sharply with his powerful, resonant vocal style, creating an unexpected tension that quickly captured attention online. Viewers flooded into his livestream, bringing him into the public eye.
Looking back, he says the video was simply a natural expression of how he felt at the time. “I was really surprised. Since starting social media, I’ve explored different styles and looked for ways to make people remember me. I’m just happy to be seen”. Going viral was never part of the plan; his immediate response was simply joy.
Shirt, Purity Ring. Jacket, Ordúdíordú. Trousers, Feng Chen Wang. Belt, Not Boring Boreboi. Hat, Tokokkino. Ring, Enyuless.
Although the public associates him with “contrast”, he does not want to be defined by a single characteristic. While that quality initially attracted viewers, he has expanded into singing, dancing, and acting, hoping audiences will discover more sides of him.
“I don’t want everyone to REMEMBER ONLY ONE IMAGE of me. Contrast is just one form of EXPRESSION. By trying DIFFERENT stages and CONTENT, people can see more DIVERSE SIDES of me.”
That desire to keep evolving eventually led him beyond the familiar world of livestreaming and into new creative territory.
Voyage Beyond
Staying in the livestream room where he was already proficient would have been a smooth, stable path, but He Qiu Shi chose to venture outward instead. He has successively released singles, participated in variety show recordings, and acted in web dramas, diving headfirst into the brand-new arenas of music and film.
Shirt, Purity Ring. Jacket, Ordúdíordú. Trousers, Feng Chen Wang. Belt, Not Boring Boreboi. Hat, Tokokkino. Ring, Enyuless.
The hardest barrier in any transition is finding the courage to leave one’s comfort zone. After years in livestreaming, camera interaction and emotional delivery had become second nature. Switching to recording studios, variety show sets, and film crews instantly turned him back into a beginner. Staying too long in a familiar environment breeds complacency; stepping beyond one’s established circle means adapting to entirely new rhythms and methods of expression – and this gap is the most trying test of character.
When people face unknown territory, they inevitably feel timid and hesitate to move forward. He, however, has always carried a passion for exploration, never retreating. “I just want to try all kinds of different things, to enrich my life as much as possible. Otherwise, lingering in the comfort zone all the time would be so boring”.
The Weight of Expectations
From just a few dozen viewers in his livestream room to millions of fans following him, years of shifting popularity have brought a profound change in He Qiu Shi – one reflected in the restraint and thoughtfulness of his every word and action.
In the early days, when his livestream room was quiet, he expressed himself freely, saying whatever was on his mind without carefully weighing his words. As his fan base grew, a mother at an offline event shared that her young child spent one to two hours every night watching his livestream. That moment stayed with him. On the other side of the screen were countless growing teenagers, and his every word and action could influence them. This realization made him more conscious of how he expressed himself.
Top & trousers, Valleyouth. Necklace, Tokkokino. Ring, Houjade.
For He Qiu Shi, the constraints brought by public attention have never been shackles, but a responsibility. Since he started streaming, he has held a clear aspiration: he hopes his livestream can convey ease and warmth, letting viewers see a version of himself that keeps improving. If someone going through a low point – academic setbacks, career disappointments, or the like – can find comfort and the strength to move forward, then this persistence has its own value.
Livestreaming takes up most of his day, often lasting late into the night. Sustaining such emotional output inevitably brings exhaustion. He never wants to show his low spirits or fatigue to viewers. Once he senses his energy declining, he temporarily stops streaming to rest alone, settling his emotions and gathering enough positive energy before returning to meet his fans.
“When I’m not in a GOOD STATE, I first turn INWARD to reflect. Once I’ve RECHARGED MY ENERGY, I’ll come back and share my EMOTIONS with everyone”.
Top & trousers, Valleyouth. Necklace, Tokkokino. Ring, Houjade.
A brief pause is never escapism – it allows him to return in a better state. He refuses to stream while consumed by low spirits, which could drain the affection his fans have built over time. This thoughtfulness is reflected in his choice to step back, reflect, and renew himself.
Flecks of Light
When talking about the fans who have accompanied him all the way, his tone unconsciously becomes soft and affectionate. In his heart, every viewer who has come to him across the screen is a small, warm speck of light scattered along the long road ahead. These tiny lights gather together, illuminating all the turbulent paths he has traveled.
At offline events, fans called “Qiushuye” hand him handwritten letters filled with companionship and encouragement. He carefully keeps and treasures every letter. Whenever he feels low and exhausted, he takes out these letters and reads them quietly. The sincere love between the lines soothes the frustration in his heart and restores his confidence to keep moving forward.
Top & trousers, Valleyouth. Necklace, Tokkokino. Ring, Houjade.
“I think EVERY FAN is like a gentle little BEAM OF LIGHT, illuminating the PATH ahead of me”.
At offline events, he firmly remembers every gesture of kindness from fans, willing to set aside ample time to respond to everyone’s enthusiasm, mindful of every viewer who has made a special trip to see him. He often says that he and everyone in front of the screen are fellow travelers who heal and support each other. He also gently reminds everyone to take care of their real lives first, and not to fall into unnecessary emotional exhaustion because of him.
Heart Bound for Mountains & Seas
He Qiu Shi has not confined himself to short videos and stage performances. While deepening his work in familiar territory, he is also looking toward broader creative horizons.
He plans to create content around intangible cultural heritage and traditional culture, using his platform to introduce young people to the beauty of crafts passed down through generations.
Knitwear, Feng Chen Wang. Trousers & jacket, The Yians. Detachable collar, Valleyouth. Necklace, Pandora. Shoes, Camper.
China is home to countless forms of intangible cultural heritage, yet many traditional crafts have faded from the view of younger generations, while the artisans preserving them often lack opportunities to share their work. He hopes to use music, livestreaming, and short videos to reveal the spirit behind these ancient techniques and bring traditional culture closer to a new generation.
“My personal power is modest, but every presentation on camera means one more young person may notice these long-preserved crafts. If someone is inspired to understand and appreciate intangible cultural heritage, that is already meaningful”.
Shirt & trousers, Feng Chen Wang. Waist corset, Al’Emoti. Shoes, Both. Brooch, Sentients. Ring, Enyuless.
A New Journey Unfolds
Beyond this work, his musical plans continue, with new singles and albums in preparation. Rather than chasing fleeting exposure, he focuses on quality content and balancing popularity with personal passion. Alongside livestreaming, he continues to explore new paths in culture, music, and film – maintaining his own rhythm amid changing tides.
Internet waves keep changing, and popularity rises and falls. Too many creators drift with the moment, vanishing from public view in the blink of an eye. He Qiu Shi has maintained his own pace of progress, refusing to blindly chase instant fame, not letting a single label tie him down, daring to step out of his comfort zone to embrace new challenges, steadily shouldering the responsibility that comes with popularity, and balancing the value of both himself and his content.
At fifteen, he stepped alone into the secular world, tasting all the rises and falls of human life; at twenty-three, he stands with a clear path ahead, accompanied by the warmth of millions. Having walked through the noisy wave of viral fame through contrast, and traversed the rugged road of cross-disciplinary transformation, in a life woven with cameras and interwoven light and shadow, he has from beginning to end kept a softness and enthusiasm in his heart.
Áo, Senseaweek. Quần, găng tay và mũ, Barkin.
From the naivety of venturing out alone in his youth to the calm self-possession under the sweep of fame, having walked through the noise and ups and downs, music has always been the foundation rooted in his heart. The road ahead is vast and long, and every choice is a wilderness he is willing to bend down and run toward. Having seen crowds gather and disperse, having experienced a thousand sails rise and fall, he still holds fast to his warm aspiration, not swept away by popularity, not diverted by outside voices.
Let the storms of the world come and go; he follows the mighty wind, holds fast to his passion, and freely journeys toward the countless experiences that await him.
And we, too, after the storm, quietly listen to the voice that belongs to him.
Additional information: If you would like to purchase the magazine issue featuring He Qiushi on the cover, you can place your order via the following link: He Qiu Shi on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Việt Nam.
Áo, Senseaweek. Quần, găng tay và mũ, Barkin.
Talent: Singer He Qiushi @heqius.hi
Producer: Nan Zhang.
Photographer: Jamie Jason.
Creative & Styling: Tree Mom.
Hair & Makeup: Yiran Zhang.
Text & Video Coordination: Yunqi Zhang @estheryunki.
Video Cameraman: Ken.
Video Editor: Flemish Chan @fletleman.
Fashion Assistant: Annie | Lele.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
