Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 200: The New Entertainment Tycoon at 24 Years, 11 Months, and 5 Days

Yan Li had always believed that the most important thing when dealing with several women was to treat them all equally.

However, with the system's assistance, Yan Li was able to understand the thoughts and ideas of the women more directly and accurately, and gradually realized that his thinking was still somewhat narrow-minded.

Treating everyone equally is a sound strategy, but it's not perfect.

If Yan Li's behavior is too obvious, it may even cause dissatisfaction.

Because no matter which woman it is, what she wants is not to be on equal footing with another woman, but to become Yan Li's most beloved, most important, and most special woman.

Dong Xuan felt that she had been dating Yan Li since college, starting from humble beginnings and supporting each other through thick and thin. How could those other women compare to her?

Qin Lan also felt that she and Yan Li had been in love since Yan Li was a small actor, and their relationship was very deep. They had been through life and death together (SARS, an exaggeration), and other women had to step aside.

Even Fan Xiaopang believed that he and Yan Li had struggled and fought together, and were soulmates and partners, so how could he be like those women?

If you treat everyone equally, people won't accept it!

So you can do that in terms of treatment, but you must show favoritism in terms of emotional expression.

They need to feel that Yan Li loves them the most, and that she is the most special and important woman in their hearts.

As for those slutty and cheap women, they're just putting on an act, or staying by Yan Li's side for some reason.

Men are bound to be philanderers, but their hearts are still with her.

After Yan Li figured out this technique, he found that it was indeed very effective, much better than simply treating everyone the same.

Of course, there is also a hidden danger and drawback, that is, each one is eager to become the empress, suppressing or even driving away the other women, which may not be as harmonious as treating everyone equally.

Well, even if we treat everyone equally, we probably won't achieve harmony; we still have to fight for what we need to fight for.

Since that's the case, Yan Li didn't care about anything else, especially in special circumstances; he would just get through this first.

After Yan Li used his persuasive skills and practical methods to coax Dong Xuan for two days, Dong Xuan felt that she had enough of him and finally "reluctantly forgave" Yan Li.

Yan Li counted on her fingers and realized she had lasted more than ten hours longer than Qin Lan.

Shui Lan is easier to coax!
Forgiveness is not enough; compensation is also required. Otherwise, Yan Li would not have stayed at Qin Lan's place for several days. And now, he spends his free time with Dong Xuan these days.

bedroom
Dong Xuan looked in the mirror and her worries from the past few days vanished. She was radiant and full of energy, and even felt that her originally fair skin was much smoother and more hydrated.

With a little bit of dressing up, walking on the Beijing Film Academy campus, she made those female students feel ashamed of themselves.

"I wonder if that Ms. Xu can still rank ahead of me as this year's Most Beautiful Teacher?"

Dong Xuan was full of ambition. Last year, at the Beijing Film Academy forum, the students held an event to select the most beautiful teacher. The so-called most beautiful refers to physical appearance, and the selection is based purely on the female teachers' looks, figure and temperament.

As a result, Dong Xuan was a new employee and some students might not know her, and she was not as well-known as Xu Cainu, so she ultimately lost.

This result left Dong Xuan extremely dissatisfied!
It's not that she can't accept defeat; she's not the only beautiful teacher at the Beijing Film Academy. If she really lost in a beauty contest, she might feel uncomfortable, but she could accept it.

However, Xu Cainu's beauty is not outstanding at the Beijing Film Academy; she won purely because of her fame, which is considered "cheating," so Dong Xuan would definitely not accept it.

This year marks Dong Xuan's first year on the job, and she is now known to the entire school's faculty and students.
With the added boost from the Spring Festival Gala and "Happy Seven Fairies," her fame and popularity are not low, and she is determined to regain her former glory.

Yan Li was replying to a text message when he heard this and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"She's a talented woman. If you compare your beauty to hers, it's like asking Yao Ming and Pan Changjiang to play basketball."

"It's not that exaggerated."

Dong Xuan demurely brushed a stray hair from her temple, but couldn't help but smile.

No matter what, Xu is one of the four little actresses. Being able to outshine her in some aspects made Dong Xuan feel a little proud. And with Yan Li's praise, she was even more delighted.

"Alright, we're going to be late."

Yan Li glanced at his phone and gave a reminder. Dong Xuan checked the time and quickly grabbed her bag.

"Hurry up and go."

After locking the door and going downstairs, Yan Li started his BMW, drove Dong Xuan to the school gate, and then went to the company.

Dong Xuan really enjoyed Yan Li picking her up and dropping her off at get off work. She felt valued and cared for by Yan Li, and there was a sense of warmth and tacit understanding in their daily life as a happy couple.

Yan Li catered to her preferences, giving her little surprises from time to time, such as waiting for her at the school gate after he returned from a business trip.

These past few days have been unusual, so Yan Li has been driving her to work every morning, and if time allows, he'll even leave his company early to pick her up.

According to system feedback, the results are very good, second only to that platinum crown that is bigger than Fan Xiaopang and his hard work.

"Slow down on the road."

After getting out of the car and giving a few words of advice, Dong Xuan watched the BMW drive away, then picked up her bag and stepped into the school.

"Teacher Dong."

Good morning, Teacher Dong.

Along the way, many people greeted Dong Xuan. Although she was just a teaching assistant, her reputation was undeniable; she was definitely one of the most well-known teachers in the school.

Instead of going to the office, Dong Xuan contacted Guan Yue, who was already waiting for her, and then habitually took a walk around the dormitory.

Their work mainly involves taking care of students' daily lives, and they visit student dormitories more often than classrooms.

It's inconvenient to go to the boys' dormitory, so usually several teachers go together. If it's just Dong Xuan and Guan Yue, they usually go to the girls' dormitory.

The 2005 undergraduate class of performing arts had 30 students, including 12 girls. They shared a dormitory with 4 students each, which consisted of three dorm rooms.

There were no classes this morning, and the students were all in their dormitories. Guan Yue and Dong Xuan went into one of the dormitories. Two of them were sleeping, one was listening to music, and the other was not in the dormitory.

"Zhang Xiaofei, where's XX?"

"Teacher, she went to do her morning practice."

Guan Yue and Dong Xuan remained noncommittal. They had also been students themselves, and back then, Dong Xuan and Yan Li went out to fool around, and it was Guan Yue who covered for them.

It's nighttime and nobody's around, so I take a shower and use the toilet.

With no one around in the morning, I can get some morning exercise.

However, the two of them were too lazy to argue. University is not like high school. As long as nothing serious happens, teachers often turn a blind eye. If they interfere too much, they will only be blamed.

In another dormitory, there was also a girl named Jiao Junyan who went to do morning exercises.

This time, Dong Xuan and the others were more convinced because Jiao's art exam scores were among the best in their class.

Unless someone is exceptionally gifted, it's easy to tell if someone who studies acting has been putting in the effort behind the scenes.

In the last dormitory, everyone was there, but three people were lying in bed, either sleeping or playing on their phones, while Yang Mi was sitting at the table reading a book. Dong Xuan glanced at her.

What are some books about Wang Zhaojun?

Is this young girl auditioning for the CCTV production of "Wang Zhaojun"?

They were quite confident. The drama was a historical drama, produced by CCTV, with a large investment, and the female lead was the lead actress. There were quite a few actresses eyeing it.

It is said that Shuang Bing, Gao Yuanyuan, Li Xiaoran, Zhang Jingchu, Chen Hao, and Mei Ting have all taken action.

By the way, Dong Xuan herself was also one of the candidates listed by the media.

However, because filming was to take place in Mongolia and the process would be lengthy, Dong Xuan only looked into it briefly and then ignored it, not going for an audition. It's likely that the production team used this to create hype.

"Teacher Dong, Teacher Guan."

Yang Mi stood up in surprise and invited the two of them to sit down, then poured them water attentively.

"No need to bother, we can just take a look."

Dong Xuan waved her hand, but her impression of Yang Mi inevitably improved somewhat.

She didn't need the water, but compared to other students, Yang Mi's respect for her teacher was a big plus in her eyes.

Dong Xuan had always had a good impression of Yang Mi. Not only was Yang Mi the most promising student in their class, but she was also close to and obedient to her. If Yang Mi hadn't been so often absent, Dong Xuan would have recommended her to be the class monitor.

Seeing Dong Xuan staring at the book in her hand, Yang Mi didn't hide it from her, since she might need to ask for leave later, so she revealed the situation.

She did indeed audition for "Wang Zhaojun," and with her own efforts and the company's support, she has made it to the second round of auditions.

Theoretically speaking, she has a one in several hundred chance of getting the role.

Dong Xuan didn't dampen Yang Mi's spirits. As a newcomer, Yang Mi had already done well to get this far, and even if she didn't make the cut, it wouldn't be shameful.

Seeing that Dong Xuan was quite supportive of her interview, Yang Mi had an idea: "Teacher Dong, there are still some things I'm not sure about. I lack experience in lines, body language, and blocking. Could you please give me some pointers later?"

"no problem."

Dong Xuan readily agreed; as a teacher, she certainly had to support her student's ambition.

Although she wasn't an elite teacher or a veteran actress, she had at least a few more years of schooling, acted in movies, played the lead role, worked as a teaching assistant for a year, and assisted regular teachers, guiding and helping students rehearse skits.

Therefore, Dong Xuan believed that she could still teach Yang Mi, who had just entered the Beijing Film Academy, some things.

I wouldn't say it significantly improved Yang Mi's acting skills, but it should at least have helped her with her audition.

"Thank you, Teacher Dong, you've been a great help to me."

Yang Mi was overjoyed. Even if she didn't get the role of Wang Zhaojun, she would still be very happy to have gotten in touch with Dong Xuan through this opportunity.

After setting a time and offering a few words of encouragement, Dong Xuan and Guan Yue left.

Yang Mi saw him to the door, humming a little tune as she looked at the books she had pulled out earlier when she heard the room check. She'd already taken them all out, so she might as well take a look.

Yuan Shanshan, her roommate who was lying next to her playing on her phone, secretly rolled her eyes in disdain.

Pshaw, what's with the act of being a good student? Asking for advice in private? Isn't it just showing off that you got into the second round of the "Wang Zhaojun" competition?

Yang Mi had no idea what her roommate was thinking, and even if she did, she wouldn't care.

Because she had signed with a company before enrolling in school and had even acted in "The Return of the Condor Heroes," many of her classmates were outwardly enthusiastic towards her but inwardly jealous and ostracized her.

Yang Mi thought this was a good idea. At first, she was wondering whether to reveal something about Dong Xuan, but now she could keep it a secret with a clear conscience and get on Dong Xuan's good side without others knowing.

Even if Dong Xuan and Yan Li's relationship is exposed later, and others try to curry favor, she will have already become Teacher Dong's favorite student... ————

Meanwhile, Yan Li arrived at the company and saw that a morning meeting had been held and a few things had been discussed.

The release of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" is progressing a bit slower than expected, mainly because we took over halfway through the project and had to sort out many things from the beginning.

Although negotiations with satellite TV stations were relatively slow, local channels sold very well, as did "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng".

The "Phoenix and Eagle Battle" was not just hype; now, with the joint release, the effect is even better.

Several TV stations have acquired two dramas at once, preparing to broadcast them consecutively or on the same day, creating a "Phoenix and Eagle Battle" on their own channels.

The fate of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" is still uncertain, but the marketing department believes that "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" has a chance to sell for 8000 million if it is broadcast well enough.

In addition, there are several projects that Yi An will be producing.

Filming for "The Legend of the White-Haired Witch" has already begun, while "The Legend of Xue Rengui" and "Crazy Stone" are expected to begin filming next month.

"The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty" is still in preparation, and the specific start date for filming is yet to be determined, but it will definitely be before the end of the year.

The construction of the Yi'an Garden base in Hengdian has accelerated considerably, with many functions and facilities already in place.

Because several of Yi'an's production crews are mainly filming in Hengdian, the company plans to temporarily relocate some employees to Hengdian, especially the film and television department, where nearly half of the staff will be going.

Actually, quite a few people have already moved into Yi'an Garden.

Many staff members are present at the filming of "The Legend of the White-Haired Witch" and the pre-production of "The Legend of Xue Rengui". There are also a small number of location scouting personnel for "The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty".

Yan Li had seen the photos; the once deserted and empty base now truly resembled a headquarters.

Besides the progress of the above projects, another key point of discussion is the popularity of the TV series "Bright Sword".

This drama premiered in mid-September and quickly dominated the television drama market for the entire month.

With ratings steadily rising, and now that more than half of the episodes have aired, the average ratings are approaching 10%, making it the top-rated show in its time slot and crushing a host of other popular dramas such as "The Great Song Dynasty Judge", "Emperor Wu of Han", and "Happy Seven Fairies".

Li Yunlong has become the most popular film and television character!

Li Youbin, whose original acting style was more refined and elite, suddenly became a representative of the rough and tough guy and became popular all over the country.

Other supporting characters in the drama also received assistance to varying degrees.

Including Yan Li, although he didn't have many scenes, his highlight moments were really outstanding. In the episode where the cavalry company charged, he stole the limelight from the main characters such as Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang.

On Douban, Baidu Tieba, blogs, and Tianya, Yan Li's performance has received countless praises and recognitions.

My previous impression of Yan Li was that of a womanizing businessman, but this drama truly showcased the talent of an excellent actor.

Yes, Yan Li's portrayal of Sun Desheng's final charge was very "realistic." His eyes conveyed fear, despair, helplessness, and exhaustion, making the character more relatable to "ordinary people." It is precisely because of this that the anger and decisiveness that erupted during the final charge, and the overwhelming tragic and shocking atmosphere, sent chills down one's spine.

I'm a fan of Yan Li. I first noticed him when he was in "The Emperor Wu of Han". His youthful spirit and heroic demeanor as Huo Qubing still make me feel very fond of him.

After watching Huo Qubing, I saw him play Yuwen Chengdu, and for a moment I couldn't believe that the two roles were played by the same person.

What impressed me most was Pigsy's role as the Sky-Swallowing Rat; it was so creepy that my little nephew cried.

[I watched an interview with the crew, and Yan Li said that he actively sought out the role of Sun Desheng. He grew a beard, practiced horseback riding diligently, wrote a character biography of several thousand words, and even added a dialect to his lines to match the character. Although he had few scenes, he acted very seriously.]

Among young actors, Yan Li is considered to have good acting skills, and his appearance, physique, and temperament are all good, much better than Chen Kun and Huang Xiaoming, it's just that he hasn't acted much.

Actually, quite a few. I've seen him in several dramas, but mostly in supporting roles with few scenes.

[Haha, I saw a post on Tianya saying that a potential movie star was ruined by his business acumen.]

【…】

This was the first time Yan Li had ever seen so many people praising him and commending his acting skills.

I even have a feeling that Sun Desheng, this minor supporting character, is more popular than his roles as Huo Qubing and Jinzha.

However, this is partly due to his outstanding performance and the popularity of "Bright Sword," but also to the significant increase in his popularity over the past year.

Previously, Yan Li himself wasn't famous enough, so no matter how well he acted as a supporting actor, it was difficult for him to steal the spotlight from the lead actor.

But in the TV series "Bright Sword", aside from Li Youbin, who was almost inseparable from the character, and Sun Li, who had a cameo role, he was arguably the "most popular actor" in the cast.

When a drama becomes a hit, star actors and outstanding characters will definitely receive more attention. Yan Li has both, so he naturally becomes a hot commodity.

Not to mention the interview invitations, he also received film offers and even brand endorsement requests.

Yan Li himself was bewildered. He hadn't been approached much by commercial shooters before, but now he had an endorsement deal?
Which brand?

"Hengshui Laobaigan, a liquor group from Hebei Province."

"Baijiu (Chinese liquor)."

Yan Li vaguely understood why the other party wanted to find him. "Bright Sword" is a tough guy drama, and there are many scenes involving alcohol. His character, Sun Desheng, who charges forward with one arm and a single sword, is the toughest of the tough guys.

Lao Baigan, along with Erguotou and Shaodaozi, is a well-known domestic liquor brand, and his image does indeed fit its brand image to a certain extent.

Moreover, Yan Li is not only a tough guy, but his business acumen is also noteworthy, which may open up some new markets for Laobaigan.

How much is the endorsement fee?

Yan Li was curious about this, and his assistant Hu Ya showed him the quote: 500 million for two years.

"Wow, that's not cheap."

Yan Li understands the market. The current advertising market is in a period of rapid growth, and top-tier and first-tier celebrities are in high demand, but those below the top are relatively less popular.

For example, the price for second-tier artists is about 50 to 200 million yuan per year, depending on their popularity, commercial value and brand fit.

Yan Li didn't know if he was considered a second-tier artist, but given his fame as an actor, he certainly wouldn't be able to get this price.

It's likely that the manufacturer added his other reputation and added value, and also took Yan Li's wealth into account.

Other celebrities can name their prices, and if you're not satisfied, you can negotiate.

Given Yan Li's situation, even a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand wouldn't be considered a waste of time for either side; it would even be seen as somewhat insulting and provocative.

So Lao Baigan has shown a lot of sincerity, offering 250 million yuan a year. Although the number doesn't sound great, it's still the price for a top-tier celebrity.

"Boss, should I answer?"

Hu Ya was eager to try. Now, all of Yan Li's invitations came through her. If she could secure this endorsement, she could also experience being Yan Li's spokesperson.

"Uh……"

Yan Li hesitated. 500 million was not a small amount, but it wasn't enough to tempt him.

Lao Bai Gan is a well-known brand, so he wasn't worried about any problems arising from the endorsement, but Yan Li was unsure whether it would affect his business image.

In Yan Li's mind, this was far more valuable than 500 million.

"Push it."

Yan Li ultimately chose a conservative strategy and declined the endorsement offer, since he wasn't short of money anyway.

With more and more positive news coming from the stock market, when the market is doing well, you can make 500 million in just ten days or half a month.

Hu Ya felt a little regretful, but she didn't dare to say much about what her boss had decided, and continued to report.

"People magazine has invited you for an exclusive interview, which may include a photoshoot. CCTV also has an interview with you, but it's for the 'Bright Sword' production team. We hope you can attend. Here are some invitations to industry events and award ceremonies..."

Yan Li rubbed his temples. With fame comes trouble. Whether you're an actor or a businessman, once you become famous, all sorts of miscellaneous things come rushing in.

Even if you decline most invitations, you still have to give face to some occasions.

Compared to dealing with these matters, Yan Li prefers managing the company or filming, even though it's not always easy, it brings him peace of mind.

After careful consideration, Yan Li selected a few places she absolutely had to go to and made reservations.

It will be inconvenient to deal with these things once he enters Hengdian, so it's better to get them done before he joins the crew.

Afterwards, Yan Li discussed with the marketing department the second and third runs of "Bright Sword" and its distribution on local channels.

The initial distribution plan for this drama was a joint effort between Hairun and Yi'an.

However, as Yi'an gained a strong foothold in distribution, Hairun found that its efficiency and profits were far inferior to Yi'an's. After communication, they left a nominal relationship, and Yi'an was actually responsible for all the distribution business of "Bright Sword".

Now that "Bright Sword" has become a huge hit with its premiere, it's the perfect time to strike while the iron is hot and rake in the profits.

To this end, Yan Li even transferred some people from several projects, including "Investiture of the Gods," to fully promote "Bright Sword," in addition to the two dramas, "Phoenix Carving."

In terms of performance, "Bright Sword" is the most popular of all the works invested and produced by Yi An.

Rather than making money, Yan Li hopes that "Bright Sword" will have a greater impact and further enhance Yi An's reputation for creating hit shows.

Throughout 2005, Yi An not only shone brightly in distribution, but also achieved remarkable success in investment and production.

The dramas that have already aired so far, produced by Yi Anzhu, are "Happy Seven Fairies" and "Migrant Workers' Survival," one of which is very popular and the other has received excellent reviews.

The co-produced dramas "Chinese Paladin" and "Railway Guerrilla" have also performed well, and the currently popular "Bright Sword" is even expected to compete for the title of best drama of the year.

The quality of this output surpasses that of well-known companies such as Rongxinda, Jinyingma, Oriental Pearl, and Zhouyi.

If it weren't for the contributions of companies like Shandong Film & Television, Hairun Media, and Tangren Media, the media would probably have crowned Yi An as the top TV drama production company of 2005.

Regardless, with several blockbuster productions and investments over the years, and its distribution capabilities becoming increasingly prominent in the industry, coupled with the recent addition of rising star Fan Xiaopang, Yi'an's momentum is growing stronger, and its status and strength in the industry have gained considerable recognition.

Yan Li, the founder and leader, is praised by many for his celebrity status, reputation for womanizing, and astonishing age.

People magazine featured him on its cover, with a headline that was incredibly prestigious.

"The New Entertainment Tycoon at 24 Years, 11 Months, and 5 Days"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: I'm not feeling well today, I'll make up for it with a 10,000-word

(End of this chapter)