Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 197 It's hateful! Those obsessed with good looks are making so much money, and now another female celebrity is suffering the consequences.

"puff--"

Yan Li spat out the tea in his mouth and stared blankly at Xiao Guan, the marketing director.

"What did you say?"

The latter's expression was somewhat indescribable, but he still nodded with a hint of pride.

"That's right, Zhang Dahuzi's 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' asked us if we could handle its distribution?"

"Did that old man take the wrong medicine?"

Yan Li still couldn't quite believe that Zhang Da Hu Zi would actually ask him to publish "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

The two exchanged barbs in front of numerous media outlets. Although they both knew it was just a publicity stunt and didn't actually break off relations, the whole thing still turned ugly.

Zhang Dahuzi is a senior figure and someone who cares a lot about his reputation. It's no wonder he couldn't feel comfortable being insulted by a young man.

Therefore, the battle between the phoenix and the eagle is both hype and a real competition. Even if it doesn't escalate to a bloody confrontation, it's still full of tension.

Old Zhang was determined to teach Yan Li a lesson, to show him that experience matters.

Now, letting Yan Li issue the document is tantamount to bowing down to Yan Li.

Bowing down to young people? Have you no shame?!

Well, Yan Li thought about it and realized it was understandable. This kind of old hand had seen it all before and had made a fool of himself more than once or twice.

I'm shameless; losing once or twice is no big deal. If I can make money, then things will be much better.

Yan Li wanted to make money and wasn't afraid of being criticized, so he actively created a scandal of cheating on someone else. Zhang Dahuzi, on the other hand, was a veteran in the hype world and didn't care about such things.

"Tsk, I'm still too green."

Yan Li sighed. He wasn't afraid of being scolded, but it would be difficult for him to bow down to his rival.

That's shameless!

But Yan Li didn't plan to change. He had no shortage of opportunities to make money, so there was no need for him to be so flexible; otherwise, he would be letting the system down.

"Mr. Yan, shall we take this job?"

Xiao Guan was eager to try. "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was a well-known project in the industry, and even if the distribution revenue was only 10%, it would still be worth several million.

Not to mention, if Yi'an could release "The Return of the Condor Heroes," holding two of the best martial arts dramas in the industry and even making Zhang Dahu bow his head, it would greatly enhance the reputation and prestige of Yi'an's release.

"Let's talk."

What Xiao Guan could see, Yan Li naturally understood as well.

Making money was secondary to this collaboration; the real benefits were the increased prestige and reputation, which would greatly benefit Yan Li and Yi An. He was even willing to contribute some of his own money to it.

However, Yan Li also knew that if he could make Zhang Dahu bow his head, the appetite for "The Return of the Condor Heroes" would not be small.

Don't be fooled by the fact that he sold "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" for a million per episode; there was a lot of luck involved. Doing it again would be quite difficult.

Well, it's hard to say.

Breaking a record for the first time is always difficult, but once someone sets a precedent, the second and third times will likely follow naturally.

Moreover, Yan Li's reputation as the king of selling films not only attracts project clients, but also serves as a good excuse for TV station executives.

Everyone knows Yan Li is difficult to deal with, so people understand that buying his dramas is more expensive; it's a way to satisfy both superiors and subordinates.

If the results are good, the TV station will reap considerable profits and may even be praised for gaining an advantage over the top-selling channel, demonstrating its ability and resourcefulness.

It's like playing football against Ronaldo; losing isn't shameful, but drawing or winning by a small margin is a great achievement.

If someone else releases "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and the TV station spends 100 million yuan per episode, that's because the person in charge of purchasing the series is incompetent.

Yan Li released "The Return of the Condor Heroes," and the TV station spent 100 million per episode. He may still be dissatisfied, but he knows he did his best and will try harder next time.

This is why Yan Li is willing to be misunderstood by some as China's largest CD distributor, and even tacitly acknowledges and actively promotes the nickname "King of CD Sales".

In business, your public persona is also very important!

...

With Yan Li's permission, Yi An's marketing department began contacting "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

Somewhat surprisingly, yet also somewhat expected, it was Ciwen Media, the production company, that contacted Yi An; Zhang Dahuzi did not show up.

Doing that is like taking off your pants to fart—completely unnecessary.
Everyone knows that without Zhang Dahuzi's approval, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" would never be republished; it's pure self-deception.

But at least there's still a fig leaf, and it also leaves some room for later hype.

Yan Li had previously worried that if the two dramas were mixed up, it would be difficult to argue later.

Now, Zhang Dahuzi has simply pushed the responsibility onto the production company and is shamelessly sticking with it. At worst, he'll be ridiculed a few more times, but he probably doesn't care.

It's a bit of a pity, though. Yan Li wanted to see what Zhang Da Hu Zi's expression would be when he saw him, but the man avoided him.

Ciwen Media was founded in 2000 by Ma Zhongjun, who started as a screenwriter before leaving the company in the 90s and later founded Ciwen.

However, unlike typical private companies, Ciwen has some state-owned background, having introduced companies under CCTV and Shanghai Media Group as shareholders.

This made Ciwen one of the first private companies to obtain a license, giving it sufficient funds and resources to participate in some important projects.
The main production companies for the Jin Yong dramas that Zhang Dahuzi has filmed in recent years are Ciwen Media and Huaxia Audiovisual.

Ciwen Media participated in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "The Return of the Condor Heroes". In addition, it was also the producer of Wang Pangzi's "The Little Fish and the Flower Without Flaws". It can be regarded as a representative in the field of martial arts dramas.

After confirming that Yi'an was interested in taking over, Ciwen's boss, Ma Zhongjun, personally came to discuss cooperation with Yan Li.

Ciwen is doing well, but Yi'an is no small company anymore, and it's also involved in the multi-million dollar project, "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

If Zhang Dahuzi is no longer showing his face, and Ciwen only sends a high-ranking official, then they are showing too little respect for Yan Li.

Not only Ciwen Media, but also Huaxia Vision, another production company in the production team, came. However, their share in this production was relatively small, so Ciwen Media was the main party and only a senior executive came.

The presence of both production companies demonstrates both their commitment to this collaboration and their commitment to the project.

Although Zhang Dahuzi was the person in charge of "The Return of the Condor Heroes", he could not refuse the decision of the two production companies, not to mention that he himself had tacitly agreed to it.

Yan Li was quite satisfied with this; since Zhang Da Hu Zi wasn't coming, someone with enough influence had to take charge.

Otherwise, if they reach an agreement today but regret it tomorrow, and there's endless back-and-forth arguing, it's not worth the effort.

Cooperation is easy to discuss; the fact that they were able to approach Yan Li and that Yan Li was able to come actually demonstrates their inclination towards cooperation.

But Yan Li made three requests.

First, regarding the TV station they discussed with before for "The Return of the Condor Heroes," Yi An's side shouldn't take the blame; they'll handle the aftermath themselves.

Before coming, Yan Li had already found out that the original distribution team, which had broken up with Zhang Dahuzi and left, had already talked to several TV stations. Although no contract had been signed, they had basically reached an agreement.

If Yi An had taken over, and suddenly raised the price, the TV station definitely wouldn't have agreed. If they had partnered with another TV station, it would have been easy to offend people.

Yan Li knew that he couldn't possibly avoid any problems with this job, but the lion's share would go to Zhang Dahuzi and Ciwen.

Secondly, he hopes to use this release to establish a more comprehensive and closer collaboration between "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng".

This would not only benefit the publicity and promotion of both production teams, but also make it easier for Yan Li to distribute the films.

The TV station also understands the importance of a competitive atmosphere. The two sides are further bound together, which gives them more room to maneuver and makes many things easier to discuss.

It wasn't just about raising the price of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," but also about appeasing the TV stations that aired "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng."

Yan Li used to boast a lot about breaking records, attracting attention, and outperforming other TV stations.

It wouldn't make sense to turn around and talk to other TV stations about "The Return of the Condor Heroes" now, so we need to come up with a solution that can win as many people as possible.

Yan Lin's ability to sell films is not only due to his system, but also to his consistent cooperative philosophy of "making money for himself without letting the TV station suffer losses," and his after-sales service has an excellent reputation.

Some publishers are done with the sales and only care about the final payment.

Yan Li and Yi An would work together to follow up and try their best to make the TV series a hit. Sometimes they would even worry about the TV station's advertising revenue being too low.

Comparing the two, the TV station would naturally prefer to cooperate with Yi'an.

Thirdly, there was the issue of money. Yan Li made outrageous demands, asking for a 20% cut of the distribution rights.

Ciwen's boss, Ma Zhongjun, and senior executives from Huaxia Vision couldn't help but shake their heads.

The first two are easy to discuss. Although the first matter is difficult, it is their choice and they can accept it. The second matter goes without saying; it's a win-win situation, so they will definitely agree.

Finally, and this is the key reason why they shook their heads: the 20% distribution fee was too high.

Yan Li then calculated the figures for them: the original team sold for 6000 million, the distribution share was 15%, which was 900 million, and the production company received 5100 million.

Yi An sold it to them for 8000 million, 20% of which was 1600 million, and the production company got 6400 million. They made a huge profit.

Yan Li's words were tempting, but Ciwen and Huaxia Vision were not incapable of doing the math.

Although the previous distribution team had some external hires, they also had their own people, and the revenue sharing was not that high.

It's hard to say whether Yan Li can sell that many units, and there are also many costs involved, such as offending the TV station and having to appease Zhang Dahuzi for losing face, all of which have to be factored in.

If the returns are too low, it's not worth it; it would be better to let the original distribution team handle it.

They're all business people; one side asks for an exorbitant price, and the other tries to negotiate on the spot.

Projects involving tens of millions of dollars, contracts with profits of at least several million or even tens of millions, cannot be settled in a few words. It takes time to finalize the cooperation intention and then slowly work things out.

Yan Li hosted a meal for Mr. Ma of Ciwen Media and the people from Huaxia Vision.

If this collaboration goes well, these two companies will likely become his long-term clients.

Ciwen is doing alright, but its current scale and strength are even inferior to the rapidly rising Yi'an.

Huaxia Vision is different. Although it is not well-known, it is quite powerful. It has cooperated with many producers in film and television production and program production, and it is one of the few companies that can distribute films and television programs overseas.

Yan Li values ​​its overseas distribution capabilities and has always wanted to open up overseas channels.

The king of film sales can't just flaunt his power domestically.

Currently, Yan Li is mainly focusing on Hong Kong and Taiwan. He has already established connections in Taiwan and is paving the way in Hong Kong.

Once he has conquered the Hong Kong and Taiwan markets, his next step will be to find a way to expand overseas.

Leaving aside the culturally distant Europe and America, Chinese film and television still have a certain market in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, where considerable profits can be made.

Yan Li wasn't too clear on the specifics of Huaxia Vision's overseas channels, but he could look into it later, and if possible, they could cooperate.

Besides the mainland, one can also use Hong Kong-related companies and connections as a springboard. Hong Kong films were once rampant in Asia, and there are many old connections there.

Besides having dinner to build relationships, Yan Li also invited the two to attend Fan Xiaopang's signing ceremony.

September 15th, the day before Fan Xiaopang's birthday, was also the signing ceremony for his contract with Yi An. Inviting some celebrities and bigwigs in the industry to congratulate him is a standard practice.

Yan Li also asked the two men to pass on a message: if Zhang Da Hu Zi had any free time, he could come and support them, but Old Zhang was unlikely to pay any attention to him.

...

The negotiations between Yi An and The Return of the Condor Heroes did not last long. Both sides were in a hurry, so speed was of the essence.

Ultimately, Yi An's share of the profits was set at 16%, but the total selling price needed to reach a number that Yan Li felt was not too difficult to achieve.

After the contract was signed, Yan Li personally took charge and contacted all the TV stations that hadn't bought "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" for various reasons before. He also talked to potential partners for "The Return of the Condor Heroes," but the price was different from before.

Long live!
Yan Li has started publishing "The Return of the Condor Heroes"?!
Some television stations were bewildered by this change, but the media outlets that received the news were overjoyed.

Because of their pride, neither Zhang Dahuzi nor Ciwen announced the change of publisher to the public. Yi'an, also mindful of the cooperation, did not publicize it extensively.

Of course, contacting various TV stations is not much better than making an official announcement directly.

Media outlets began calling various parties to inquire, and under the "harassment" of reporters, Xiao Guan from Yi'an's marketing department "reluctantly" came out to respond.

"Yes, the production team of 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' took the initiative to contact us, which showed their sincerity."

"The previous controversy did not affect the cooperation. Both dramas are excellent projects, and we are doing our best to achieve a win-win situation for both parties."

"Mr. Yan is currently in talks with several television stations about cooperation. He just left Beijing yesterday. He is very busy and may not have time to give an interview for the time being."

"..."

Compared to Yi An, who seemed to be in a victorious mood, Zhang Dahuzi and Ciwen received more media attention.

Ciwen insists that it is just a normal business cooperation and that they trust Yi'an's professional distribution capabilities; nothing more.

Zhang Dahuzi himself has not made a statement. His assistant said that this was the production company's choice, and Zhang is busy with the casting of "The Sword Stained with Royal Blood" and has no time to care about other things.

Many netizens are well aware of the stances of all parties, and Tianya (a Chinese online forum) has been digging into the details and engaging in heated discussions.

They bragged like crazy, but ended up getting Yan Li to handle the distribution – what a disgrace!

[Insider information: The price per episode of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" couldn't even reach 80 yuan, while "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" sold for 100 million yuan. The investor was desperate and contacted Yan Li despite objections.]

[Haha, the Phoenix and Eagle battle has been hyped up for so long, but before it even aired, the bearded guy got slapped in the face.]

This is what smart people do, right? What's a little embarrassment if you're just trying to make money?

[But speaking of which, the King of Selling Porn is really something else. Zhang Dahuzi is a big shot in the industry, and even he bows down to him in this regard.]

[Do you really think Yan Li is some kind of sales genius? He's just a front man with a powerful backer. Everyone's just doing it for the backer's sake. He has to hand over most of the money he makes from selling dramas.]

[That's right, I'm the big boss, Yan Li is my underling, and the guy upstairs is my dog.]

[Conspiracy theories should at least have some logic, okay? Yan Li has cooperated with at least dozens of TV stations, covering at least a dozen provinces and cities. What kind of big shot would make so many TV stations give him face? Even if there really is one, he doesn't make money from this, does he? Isn't that exhausting?]

[They're just looking at how much money Yan Li makes, without considering the performance of the dramas he's produced. If you take a closer look, you'll see that the results are all quite good. This shows that he has a good eye for choosing dramas, and good dramas naturally sell well.]

[These people who prioritize looks are making so much money, and now another female celebrity is suffering the consequences. Damn it, it's infuriating!]

[Oh no, Little Dragon Girl, you surnamed Yan, if you dare touch Liu Yifei, I'll fight you to the death!]

And that little Guo Xiang, she looks pretty good in the news stills. Be careful, stay away from that bastard.

【…】

"Are these people crazy? They were talking about the bearded man, how did they end up bringing me up again?"

Yan Li stared at the post on his computer screen, somewhat speechless.

That makes sense, though. These netizens are discussing it, but in reality, they pay limited attention to the behind-the-scenes conflicts; they're much more interested in discussing entertainment gossip.

Compared to the general public, Yi An's release of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" truly caused a huge uproar within the industry.

People were amazed by Zhang Dahuzi's flexibility, impressed by Yan Li's distribution capabilities, and curious about how many copies of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" would be distributed.

If he can sell another episode for 100 million, the title of "King of Sales" will be firmly attached to Yan Li.

Yan Li himself was quite confident, but the contract wasn't so easy to negotiate. Anyway, it was only September, so there was plenty of time.

While contacting major TV stations, I would travel to work on projects that could lead to in-depth collaborations, and spend the rest of my time overseeing the preparation of several film and television productions.

"The Legend of the White-Haired Witch" was the fastest to be prepared. In mid-September, after Fan Xiaopang finished signing contracts, he went straight to the set.

The entire series is expected to have 32-36 episodes, depending on the editing, with an investment of around 2000 million yuan.

The female lead, Lian Ni Chang, needs no introduction; she is played by Fan Xiaopang.

The second female lead, Tie Shanhu, is played by Wu Jiani, while the other actress with a significant role, He Ehua, is played by Li Lin, who is making a comeback in acting.

The latter was recommended by Fan Xiaopang. Of the Seven Fairies, only this one had a relatively good relationship with Yang Xue.

Fan Xiaopang is a girl with a good personality and knows how to make friends, but she's not very good at maintaining relationships.

Especially among female friends, it might be related to her aggressive appearance. When walking together, they are often overshadowed by her beauty, so they gradually stop liking to hang out with her.

Shuangbing and her friend were really good friends before, but now they've broken up. The three beauties from Huanzhu also had a time when they were truly sincere to each other, but now their relationship has faded away.

In the first half of this year, the Seven Fairies campaigned extensively, but those in the know understand what really happened.

Wu Jiani's relationship with the three demons of Xuanyuan in "Investiture of the Gods" was only so-so. It was already a favor that Wang Ou, who was bullied by her, didn't draw little figures of her.

Yan Li even had a special talk with Fan Xiaopang about this, hoping she would try to maintain the friendship. If these good-natured friends also broke up, it would be inconvenient to find supporting roles for her later.

As for the male lead, Zhuo Yihang, Yan Li chose Ren Quan.

Not only is he a big star, but his image also fits Zhuo Zihang's gentle and indecisive style.

Moreover, Fan Xiaopang and Ren Quan have a good relationship and are old friends, so they work together more smoothly.

Of course, there's also a personal reason I don't want to share with outsiders: this sister... and brother, Yan Li feels more reliable.

Yan Li himself has a bad reputation, but he admires male actors with upright character the most. He hates scumbags and the like.

Yan Li is also willing to give opportunities to actors like Chen Kun, Ren Quan, and Hu Bing.

Of course, using them is a bit risky. If they create something like "Yan Li X Mei" one day, Boss Yan probably won't be laughing anymore.

The remaining characters in "The White-Haired Witch" are mostly familiar faces, including Zhang Songwen and Wu Yue.

Another drama starring Yan Li, "The Legend of Xue Rengui," has a larger investment due to its involvement in some war scenes, estimated at 3000-3500 million yuan.

The male lead, Xue Rengui, is played by Yan Li, and the second male lead, Zhou Qing, is played by Lin Jiachuan.

However, Zhou Qing is just an assistant. Although he has a lot of screen time, he is not particularly outstanding. Yan Li found several well-known supporting actors to fill the role.

There's nothing he can do; he's not famous enough, so he's always a little insecure.

Huang Haibing and Nie Yuan were brought in to play Qin Huaiyu and Luo Tong, who are the sons of Qin Qiong and Luo Cheng.

This was also the production team's initial plan, and it can be considered a follow-up to the first "Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties" series.

However, producer Li Silin didn't have enough influence, especially since Nie Yuan was very busy.

Yan Li personally intervened, and as a rising bigwig in the industry, the two were still willing to give him face.

However, due to scheduling conflicts, some less important scenes were cut, making it more of a cameo appearance. Tong Dawei was also brought in by Yan Li to play a villain in the storyline. The two have known each other for several years, but this was their first time working together.

Pan Yueming played Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, and Zhang Zhilin, who signed a three-year mainland agency contract with Yi An, played a general of the Bo Liao Kingdom.

The former gained popularity after "Happy Seven Fairies", while the latter, "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng", is also expected to become a big hit.

Rounding up, it's equivalent to having five popular young actors as supporting actors. Even if their roles are small, the lineup is still impressive.

Since it was Yan Li's first time playing the male lead, everyone was willing to come and support him; normally, doing so would be quite extravagant.

The male characters are extravagant, and the female characters are equally impressive.

The role of Princess Zhaoyang is played by Li Bingbing. Actually, she wasn't originally chosen, but Li Bingbing is famous and can sell the show, so they had to use her even if it meant changing the character's personality.

Meanwhile, the idea that Yan Li and Li Bingbing would team up again is no longer valid, and the controversy over the two soldiers vying for Yan Li's affections has resurfaced, making "The Legend of Xue Rengui" a must-see.

The second female lead, Liu Yinhuan, was originally considered to be played by Dong Xuan. She is a virtuous and gentle young lady, after all, she is an ex-girlfriend. It's complicated enough that two women are vying for her attention, and if she were to be involved as well, it would be too chaotic.

Other acquaintances either didn't have the time or had other plans, so we're going to hire a new person.

Yu Zheng, who was in charge of "The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty", took the initiative to recommend a candidate, who was his classmate from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, named Yang Rong, who had previously acted in "Young Emperor" and "Young Justice Bao 3".

Yan Li took a look and found that the image and temperament were quite good, and the reputation was also acceptable. Although it was not confirmed, it was pretty close.

The third female lead, Zhang Meiren, was originally intended to be played by Yang Xue, whose fame skyrocketed after "The Little Fish and the Flower Without Flaws".

However, since the other party's schedule was not available, they settled for Lin Jing, whom they had met on the set of "The Emperor Wu of Han". The latter is a professional actress who plays favored concubines, so she can handle this kind of role with ease.

The last role is Toya. Yan Li plans to find an actress from an ethnic minority group to add some exotic flair.

As a result, Jiang Xin came over to recommend herself. She was also from an ethnic minority and was born in Xinjiang Province. She was good at action scenes and horseback riding, which perfectly met the requirements.

Yan Li: "..."

He was truly speechless. Apart from lacking any exotic features in her appearance, Jiang Xin was actually quite suitable for the role.

Since no suitable candidates could be found, and Jiang Xin was an old friend, Yan Li ultimately gave her the role.

As for "The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty," Yan Li paid limited attention to it and did not inquire too much about the casting.

After learning that Qin Lan was playing the second female lead and Dong Xuan couldn't go, he decided that Wang Ou would be the female lead, and also added Huo Siyan. The rest were left to Zheng and the others to deal with.

It is said that the artist management department and Yu Zheng argued strongly and secured an important role for Julian Cheung, making him one of the two male leads.

Yu Zheng wanted to ask Yan Kuan, who was also his old classmate, to shave his head, but Yan Kuan cared about his image and refused to shave his head no matter what.

They're currently leaning towards Qiao Zhenyu. Some of the company's senior executives know this. Yan Li thinks Qiao has potential and wants to sign him to the company.

Although the project has not yet been officially launched, the copyright for "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" has already been acquired and the script has been adapted, making him one of the top candidates for the male lead.

After reviewing the projects on hand, I realized that Dong Xuan was the only one who hadn't gotten a role.

But Yan Li wasn't worried. It wasn't just Yi An's dramas. He easily found several scripts for her to choose from.

...

On September 14th, Yan Li, despite his busy schedule, visited a high-end hotel in Beijing to inspect the arrangements for Fan Xiaopang's signing ceremony.

Fan Xiaopang is here too; after all, she's the main character tomorrow, and she'll inevitably have to go over some of the procedures.

"President Yan, look at this is our signing table. It's made of glass in the shape of ice cubes, with 999 pieces in total, each inlaid with a red rose."

"It symbolizes both longevity and prosperity, and the fusion of ice and fire is also related to Bingbing himself."

"This is our star corridor. On both sides are stills and posters from Bingbing's previous films, as well as screenshots of advertisements and news reports."

"When Bingbing walks past here and arrives at the signing platform, it will signify saying goodbye to the past and starting a new chapter today. The theme of our signing ceremony is also 'Shining Stars Together, Walking Together into the Future'."

"..."

Jia Qian, head of the artist management department, and the event company responsible for designing the signing ceremony explained the meaning behind the various arrangements to Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang.

Yan Li was fairly satisfied, and Fan Xiaopang could no longer suppress his smile.

Yan Li's earlier statement about a grand welcoming ceremony was no exaggeration.

Not to mention the favors and connections made, the investment alone exceeded one million yuan, revealing sincerity and prestige in every aspect.

The thought that such a grand event was all for her alone, and that she would be the absolute star tomorrow, filled Fan Xiaopang with immense vanity. When she went to look at the gifts, she couldn't help but link arms with Yan Li.

"Hey, there are still people here."

"I do not care."

Fan Xiaopang snorted. So what if there are people around? Their affair is practically an open secret, so it's not surprising that they were caught kissing in public.

Yan Li followed her and looked at the gifts with her; besides those for the guests present, there were also gifts for her fans.

In this situation, how could Fan Xiaopang's fans be absent? Yi An invited hundreds of Fan's fans from all over the country, including some Hong Kong and Taiwan.

They not only provide clothing and other items, but also give away souvenirs. They also cover meals and accommodation, but not transportation. This is mainly to prevent too many people from coming, so they set a minimum number of attendees.

After all, those who are willing to spend money to travel a long way to attend Fan Xiaopang's signing ceremony are the most die-hard fans.

In addition to autographed posters or CDs of autographed works, the souvenirs also include some jewelry and items featuring Fan Bingbing, samples of her personal endorsements, and a photocopy of a handwritten letter from Fan Bingbing.

These items aren't expensive, but they're not cheap either. The key is that they're made with sincerity, and fans should like them.

Anyway, Fan Xiaopang liked it quite a bit and wanted to give a few more as gifts, but the quantity was limited, so he only managed to squeeze out two for her to keep as souvenirs.

While Fan Xiaopang went through the formalities, Yan Li played on her phone downstairs. After Fan Xiaopang had almost finished leaving, Yan Li checked the time, called out, and prepared to leave.

Fan Xiaopang was talking to Jia Qian when he saw Yan Li about to leave, so he quickly chased after him and grabbed him.

"Why go?"

"It's time to go home for dinner."

Fan Xiaopang grabbed his hand: "Don't go, come to my place today."

Yan Li looked at her with amusement: "Didn't you say that colleagues should handle business strictly?"

Fan Xiaopang harbored resentment ever since Yan Li showed favoritism towards Qin Lan in Hengdian.

Besides work, I often tease him, but when it comes to the real issue, I keep him in suspense, both to control him and to get revenge.

But to Fan Xiaopang's surprise, Yan Li, that scoundrel, actually held back.

He takes advantage of her when she offers him a bargain, but if she turns against him, he'll treat her strictly as a colleague.

This made Fan Xiaopang even more indignant, and he even felt that Yan Li was just lustful and greedy and didn't take her seriously.

However, seeing the signing ceremony today, and seeing how much money and effort Yan Li spent preparing for it, and hearing that he also came up with a lot of ideas in private, Fan Xiaopang was a little moved and felt that he might have misunderstood Yan Li.

Besides, after knowing him for so long, she knew that this scoundrel had a dog's temper; he wouldn't listen to reason.

The more assertive she was, the less Yan Li would back down.

If she softens her tone and acts coquettishly, Yan Li will patiently and gently coax her.

That little bitch Qin Lan did exactly that, pretending to be gentle while completely manipulating this scoundrel.

Hmph, who do you think can't do that!

Ignoring the people watching them, Fan Xiaopang hugged Yan Li, stood on tiptoe and kissed him, her voice soft and sweet.

"I was wrong, okay? It was all my fault. I'll apologize to you when we get back, brother~"

"Uh, don't try that."

Fan Xiaopang rarely acted like this, and Yan Li was a little uncomfortable, but also quite enjoying it.

The rouge tiger transforms into a kitten, and the little chili pepper becomes a sweet pepper, creating a striking contrast.

Fan Xiaopang could obviously see through this scoundrel's insincerity, so he increased his efforts to coax him, and then launched a critical attack.

"I think……"

This goblin!

Yan Li's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as he silently pried Fan Xiaopang's hand away, not waiting for her to speak.

"I'll go to the parking lot and wait for you."

Although it's a semi-public relationship, we still need to be discreet. Tomorrow is Fan Xiaopang's signing ceremony, so we shouldn't let other things steal the spotlight.

The two left one after the other, and then returned to Fan Xiaopang's apartment in his G-Wagon.

"Don't go too far, we have important business to attend to tomorrow."

Fan Xiaopang specifically warned that this scoundrel was too much, and that he shouldn't make her unable to face anyone the next day.

Yan Li was somewhat dissatisfied. Despite his act of being nonchalant, he was actually quite craving Fan Xiaopang. He had finally gotten to eat meat, but he wasn't even allowed to have his fill.

"Sweetie, once this is over, you can do whatever you want, okay?"

Fan Xiaopang coaxed Yan Li, but what could Yan Li do? He couldn't let the important business be delayed, so he could only eat some appetizers to tide him over until the big meal tomorrow.

...

The next day, Fan Xiaopang came here in the morning to prepare for costume fitting and makeup, and to do a rough rehearsal, waiting for the ceremony to begin in the afternoon.

Yan Li went to the company for a short meeting and coordinated the live broadcast arrangements with the TV station and the portal website.

That's right, the signing ceremony was recorded and broadcast by two TV stations, including a sub-channel of Beijing TV. Although it's not satellite TV, it still had quite a bit of prestige.

Several entertainment news programs, such as "Entertainment Live" and "China Movie Report," will also report on the signing ceremony in detail; these are satellite TV programs.

In addition, Sina.com provided full text and image live coverage, and several entertainment media outlets were also present.

Leaving aside Hong Kong and Taiwan, mainland artists have never had such a high-profile signing ceremony.

Fan Xiaopang may not be a top-tier celebrity, but Yi An is definitely treated like a superstar.

This is also a way of building momentum.

To gain status and fame, you have to keep promoting it. Sometimes, by constantly emphasizing and brainwashing others, you'll naturally become a superstar.

However, such superstars are rather superficial, lacking substantial achievements to back them up, making them prone to being exposed as their true selves and ridiculed.

However, Yi An's plan for Fan Xiaopang was not just about making announcements; it also involved a series of resource coordination.

By combining image building with actual achievements, one can gradually become a true superstar.

Yan Li arrived at the scene around noon. Fan Xiaopang was eating backstage, with a makeup artist and a little kid next to him.

Yan Li pinched the other's chubby cheeks, picked up a piece of meat from Fan Xiaopang's lunchbox, and asked while chewing, "Who is this chubby guy?"

Did you wash your hands?

Fan Xiaopang was a little disgusted. Given her personality, it was impossible for her to be subservient every day. After things got harmonious last night, she had reverted to her true nature.

"This is my brother."

"Your brother?"

Yan Li was somewhat surprised. He knew that Fan Xiaopang was not an only child and had heard her mention having a younger brother, but he did not know that the two sisters were so different.

This child looks to be only five or six years old?
Fan Xiaopang is almost 24 years old, and the siblings are nearly 20 years apart.

"Uncle is in good health."

Yan Li blurted out a remark that made the makeup artist laugh, while Fan Xiaopang rolled his eyes at him.

However, after the teasing, Yan Li prepared to leave, because he realized that with the chubby boy around, Fan Xiaopang's parents wouldn't be too far away.

Yan Li knew about the invitation to Fan Xiaopang's parents to attend the ceremony, but that didn't mean he wanted to have much private contact with them.

The relationship between the two was a bit awkward, and he didn't know how to get along with them.

As it turned out, Yan Li was still a step too late. Before he even reached the door, he ran into a middle-aged woman with beautiful features and an elegant demeanor. When she saw Yan Li, her eyes lit up.

"You must be President Yan. Hello, hello. I am Bingbing's mother."

"Oh, Auntie, hello, hello."

Yan Li felt bitter inside, but his face was immediately covered with a polite and warm smile.

"I was too busy this morning and couldn't get away. I just arrived here and when I heard you were here, I came to visit you as soon as possible."

Mrs. Fan said politely, "We're doing fine here. Mr. Yan should just focus on his business."

"With you here, spending time with you is my most important task."

Yan Li's words made Madam Fan overjoyed. He invited Madam Fan into the dressing room, gestured for the makeup artist to leave, and then spoke.

"Auntie, there are no outsiders here, so please don't be so polite with me. Just call me by my name."

With a touch of demureness, Fan's mother said, "Then I'll ask for your help."

"You're not a shill, you're the real big shot,"

After making Fan's mother happy again, Yan Li asked, "Why isn't Uncle here yet?"

"He's here. He's outside. He's still giving his speech, and he's memorizing his notes."

"Tell your uncle not to be nervous, to speak freely. This is our own turf, he can say whatever he wants. If there's anything inappropriate, I'll talk to the media and get it covered up."

The smile on Fan's mother's face never faded: "Thank you for your trouble."

"You're too kind. It's not right for me to do this."

Mother Fan's smile grew even brighter, her eyes filled with admiration and satisfaction as she looked at Yan Li, and she held his hand.

"Bingbing will be relying on you to take care of him from now on."

"No doubt about it. I wouldn't dare to boast in front of you. You and Uncle will see how I perform. I will make sure Bingbing is not wronged and that my future career will be very successful."

"That's fine, that's fine."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Yan Li's phone rang. He answered the call and looked at Fan's mother with a troubled expression.

"Auntie, two important guests have arrived. I need to go and greet them. What do you think?"

Mother Fan quickly replied, "You're busy, you're busy."

"Okay, I'll get back to work now. If you need anything, just contact me. Bingbing has my phone number."

Yan Li said a few words and then hurriedly left as if he had been granted a pardon.

Watching his departing figure, the lingering smile on Fan's mother's face remained as she spoke to her daughter.

"This child is good."

"..."

Fan Xiaopang knows his mother too well. She already thought Yan Li was young, rich, and a promising prospect. Today, after being sweet-talked by Yan Li, she probably already considers him her son-in-law.

You may treat someone as your son-in-law, but they may not necessarily treat you as their mother-in-law.

She was clear-headed and discerning. Yan Li spoke frankly, but he didn't admit anything. Those words would still apply to his boss and friends.

"Don't stay silent. You're not a child anymore. If you see a good man, you should make your move, or you'll regret it."

Seeing that Fan Xiaopang was silent, Fan's mother scolded him with disappointment.

From the moment Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang started publicly contacting each other, Fan's mother took notice of him.

The more I studied him, the more I realized how wonderful this young man was. He was exceptionally capable, wealthy, and had a bright future ahead of him.

These days, being a celebrity doesn't earn much money, and it's a short-lived career, so many female stars and their families dream of marrying rich men.

Yan Li, as a first-generation entrepreneur, is not greatly influenced by his family. He is young and handsome, and treats Fan Xiaopang well. He is much more comfortable than those wealthy families with a bunch of ridiculous rules.

The only downside is that she's a bit of a womanizer, but what successful man doesn't have a few flirtatious thoughts? Fan's mother trusts her daughter and believes she can keep her firmly in check.

"Did you hear that?"

"understood."

Not wanting to listen to the nagging, Fan Xiaopang gave a perfunctory reply. Fan's mother glared at her but didn't say anything, her eyes carrying a hint of amusement.

Fan Xiaopang understands her well; no one knows a daughter better than her mother, and she understands Fan Xiaopang even better.

Given her fiery temper, if she really didn't want to, she would have argued with her long ago.

Although he complains about being perfunctory, he has never said no.

Mother Fan's eyes darted around: "Isn't tomorrow your birthday? Invite him over for a meal."

Fan Xiaopang poked the lunchbox with his chopsticks, his voice a little unsteady: "I have work tomorrow, remember to celebrate my birthday next time."

"Didn't we agree..."

Suddenly realizing what was happening, Fan's mother couldn't help but glare at Fan Xiaopang again.

That brat, she's always siding with outsiders.

She had been urging Fan Xiaopang earlier, but now that she knew he wasn't even spending his birthday at home, she felt a little uneasy.

Alas, daughters are no longer under their mothers' control once they grow up...

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P.S.: 10,000 words update, please vote!

(End of this chapter)