Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 219 The Sisterhood, Yi'an Cinema Line Launches, Shocking the Film Industry [10,000-word Chapter]

In mid-April, Shuangjing Fuli City

The doorbell rang, and Qin Lan opened the door. Huo Siyan stood outside, holding a bottle of champagne tied with colorful ribbons.

"Congratulations on your new house, Sister Lan."

Qin Lan smiled and said, "Don't rush to congratulate me. I called you here today to help out."

"I know."

Huo Siyan nodded and pulled someone aside: "So, I also brought a helper."

Holding a bouquet of flowers, Xiong Naijin smiled slightly and said, "Sister Lan, congratulations on moving."

"Naijin is here too, come in quickly, come in quickly."

After returning from Hengdian, Qin Lan met Xiong Naijin twice, thanks to Huo Siyan's matchmaking. They even cooked a meal together, and Qin Lan had a good impression of this straightforward girl from Chongqing.

Huo Siyan understood this as well, otherwise she wouldn't have brought him over so rashly. After entering the house, she boasted to Qin Lan about her success.

"Sis, I think I found a good laborer."

"And you're telling me, Naijin is visiting for the first time, and we have nothing at home. We've been neglecting her."

"Sister Lan, you're being too forward."

Xiong Naijin shook her head: "I only came to help because I knew you were moving. It's the same no matter when you're a guest. Just treat me like Sister Yan's little sister and order me around as you please."

Huo Siyan chimed in, "I told you this younger sister is so loyal!"

Her friendship with Xiong Naijin was simple.

This woman is naturally inclined to form cliques, especially after being isolated during the filming of "Happy Seven Fairies." As soon as she joined Huayi Brothers, she tried to get to know a few fellow members and expand her network.

Xiong Naijin and Huo Siyan joined Huayi Brothers around the same time. Huo Siyan thought Xiong Naijin looked good and had acted before, so she thought she might have potential and took the initiative to befriend her.

When the two went out for dinner for the first time, Huo felt that he was famous and old, so he planned to treat everyone and ordered more expensive dishes. However, he did not expect that Xiong Naijin would pay for the meal without saying a word.

At the time, Xiong was a minor entertainer with a low income. Although a single meal wouldn't bankrupt her, her willingness to pay the bill showed her sincerity.

Huo Siyan felt that Xiong Naijin was righteous and generous, and could also be described as well-behaved and sensible, and thought she was worth befriending.

It was a good start, and since the two really got along well in many areas, their relationship gradually grew closer and their feelings for each other improved. Xiong was even introduced to Qin Lan by Huo Siyan, which was considered a promotion and a boost for Xiong's fame and status.

Xiong Naijin was also very sensible, and she placed herself in the right position as her younger sister, treating Qin Lan as the eldest sister and Huo Siyan as the second sister.

This time, it was said that Huo Siyan brought her along as a laborer, but in reality, she had heard that Qin Lan was moving and took the initiative to ask Huo Siyan to bring her along to help and show off.

"Sister, just tell me what to do."

Huo Siyan rolled up her sleeves and struck a pose, while Qin Lan pointed to the various boxes piled up in the living room, entryway, and hallway.

"The moving company has finished moving all the large items. Now we mainly need to sort out the small and medium-sized items and arrange them neatly in our home."

Because she had a lot of personal belongings, Qin Lan was not comfortable hiring outsiders such as cleaners, so she decided to do it herself with her friends.

It's not a particularly strenuous job, just a bit tedious and troublesome. Once we're done, we'll have a meal together, which will give our friends a reason to get together and also celebrate moving.

"okay."

Huo Siyan and her companion, who were well prepared to put in the effort, readily agreed. However, after working for a while, they realized that there was quite a lot of work to be done, and even the three of them might not be able to finish it today.

"Don't worry, I also invited other friends, they'll be here soon. And my assistant, she went shopping, she'll be back soon too."

Qin Lan wouldn't treat Huo Siyan and Huo Siyan like livestock; she called in other people as well.

Huo Siyan, who was tidying up the puppy's toys, looked up and said, "Did you call Zhao Ke? She can come and help too."

Zhao Ke is a close friend of hers and Qin Lan, whom she met while filming "The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty". They have a pretty good relationship.

Although she's still in the evaluation period, we need to get her to perform well now that we're getting the job done.

"Zhao Ke is filming out of town and is not in Beijing."

Qin Lan explained, clearly having already made contact; Huo Siyan didn't know whether Zhao Ke was lucky or not.

He missed out on a hard-earned meal, but also a chance to get closer to Qin Lan.

As they were talking, the doorbell rang. Qin Lan went to open the door and then led in a short, pretty girl.

"Liu Yun?"

Xiong Naijin was slightly taken aback. She recognized the other person; he had acted in "The Emperor of Han Dynasty 2," and she herself had acted in "The Emperor of Han Dynasty 3," so they had met at related gatherings before.

Huo Siyan was even more familiar with him; she had met with Qin Lan before and knew that he was also a friend of Qin Lan, so she spoke casually.

"Sister Lan said she invited other people too, and I knew you would be one of them."

Liu Yun and Qin Lan have known each other for quite some time; they met in 2003.

However, the two weren't very close at that time; they had just met briefly and knew each other's names.

In the following two years, the two did not communicate much, but they never lost contact and even had a meal together once or twice.

Although they don't keep in close contact, Qin Lan admires Liu Yun for his straightforwardness and fiery temper.

Perhaps because she has a soft temper and craves what she lacks, Qin Lan prefers to make friends with straightforward and strong-willed people, finding them unpretentious and easy to get along with.

Because of her outwardly strong but inwardly gentle nature, she can get along well with these people and be both delicate and tolerant, which makes her very popular with people of this personality. Therefore, Liu Yun has a very good impression of Qin Lan.

Last year, in order to ease the minor unpleasantness of the casting for "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng", Nie Yuan took the initiative to invite Yan Li for a small gathering.

Because Qin Lan and Nie Yuan knew each other, and he was even a witness to Yan and Qin's meeting and falling in love, he went along and ended up meeting Liu Yun.

The latter was actually Nie Yuan's secret girlfriend!
The two met while filming "The Blood-Sweating Horse" in 2004. However, because Nie Yuan's career was booming and it was not appropriate for a popular young actor to go public with their relationship, it was kept secret.

Liu Yun, who was unaware of Qin Lan's situation at the time, only learned then that Qin Lan was Yan Li's secret girlfriend.

Although Yan Li seems to have quite a few "girlfriends," the fact that he was able to bring Qin Lan out, and that Nie Yuan later admitted that the two had been together before Yan Li became successful and that they had a very deep relationship, makes her the "official girlfriend" among his "girlfriends."

They already knew each other and had a good impression of each other. They had a good relationship with their boyfriends and were even in the same boat, both having secret relationships.

From then on, Liu Yun and Qin Lan's relationship progressed rapidly.

When Hengdian was urged by Huo Siyan to form a group, Qin Lan's first choice was Liu Yun, which even made Huang Yi consider giving up.

When filming "My Fair Princess III" and during its later promotion, Qin Lan didn't have many friends at first. Later, because Yan Li and Nie Yuan became friends, she became closer to Huang Yi, who was Nie Yuan's girlfriend at the time.

Her relationship with Huang Yi continued afterward, but since Huang and Nie broke up, their careers have not intersected much in the past two years, so their relationship has become increasingly distant.

On the contrary, Ma Yili, who was just an ordinary colleague on the set of "My Fair Princess III", has grown closer to Qin Lan in the past two years due to both work and personal matters, and has gradually become one of Qin Lan's best friends.

Although Huang Yi and Nie Yuan broke up amicably, they still have a good relationship and can even be considered friends.

However, since one is an ex and the other is a current boyfriend, it's easy for them to feel awkward together.

Huang Yi is famous but not very affectionate, while Liu Yun is less famous but they get along well. Qin Lan prefers the latter.

"I guess I'm just unlucky. She dragged me into doing the hard work during the initial renovation, so I still ended up having to move."

Liu Yun outwardly complained, but inwardly he was subtly showing off his relationship and seniority with Qin Lan.

When she had a gathering with Huo Siyan and Qin Lan before, she felt that this Huo was a bit pretentious, acting as if she were Qin Lan's best friend.

Nonsense! When I met Qin Lan, you were still fawning over that guy surnamed Dong in "Happy Seven Fairies".

Huo Siyan paused for a moment, then smiled brightly: "Well, I'm different from you. I'm willing to work for Sister Lan."

Liu Yun: "..."

To curry favor, they've lost all sense of shame...

Qin Lan sensed that the atmosphere was not right and stepped in to smooth things over: "Hurry up and get to work, tidy up the bedroom first, otherwise there will be no place to sleep tonight."

After a while of tidying up, Qin Lan's assistant returned. Everyone finished cleaning the bedroom, and then the doorbell rang.

Qin Lan opened the door, and Ma Yili said apologetically, "I'm sorry, something came up and I'm late."

"It's not too late, there's still plenty of work to be done."

Qin Lan let Ma Yili in, and everyone greeted each other, so that everyone was present.

In particular, Ma, Liu, and Huo are Qin Lan's three closest friends within her personal circle, and she intends to let everyone get to know them better.

Xiong Naijin felt somewhat fortunate that she had come to the right place today. Her good performance today meant she had one foot in Qin Lan's inner circle of social connections.

She was also somewhat surprised by Qin Lan's social circle.

Liu Yun is nothing special, just a minor celebrity, not much better than her. Huo Siyan and Ma Yili are both quite famous.

Of course, Qin Lan herself is also famous, a well-known young actress in the circle, not to mention that she has a powerful backer.

Looking at it this way, this configuration is actually a bit low; it would be acceptable if at least a few more popular young actresses were added.

Including the assistant, there were six people in total, so it was quick to pack up.

However, there were some heavier items that were difficult for the girls to handle, so Qin Lan took the initiative to stop them.

"Okay, that's settled then. I'll find someone else to do it later."

Ma Yili took out her phone: "Let's finish today's work today, and get it done quickly. Wen Zhang is free at home anyway, let him come over."

"Okay."

Qin Lan looked at Ma Yili and said, "Your little boyfriend has done a good job of training you."

Not long ago, while filming "14 Blades", Ma Yili met Wen Zhang, an actor eight years younger than her.

Wen Zhang pursued Ma Yili intensely. At the time, Ma Yili was entangled with another young actor, Zhang Bo, but she couldn't resist Wen Zhang's pursuit and chose Wen over Zhang.

Qin Lan once made a cameo appearance in "The Embroidered Uniform Guard" and knew about the relationship between the two. At the time, she even joked that the old man was eating young grass.

Unexpectedly, Ma Yili is getting more and more into this young man, and having him help out on this occasion clearly shows that she officially acknowledges this young boyfriend.

With Qin Lan's consent, Ma Yili made a phone call, finalized the deal in a few words, and shook her phone with a hint of smugness.

"I've figured it out now: men should find younger women who are obedient."

"Not only are they obedient, but they're also energetic."

Liu Yun uttered some outrageous words, which made the women present burst into laughter. Ma Yili even dragged Qin Lan into the fray, making sarcastic remarks.

"You and Yan Li are practically siblings, right? Is he obedient? Is he energetic?"

Huo Siyan said leisurely, "It's hard to say whether she'll listen or not, but she'll definitely have energy. Sister Lan is always radiant."

Besides Qin Lan, she is the most qualified to speak on this matter.

The issue with Yan Li wasn't whether he was energetic or not; he was a complete virile donkey. She still sometimes secretly reminisces about that one night.

"..."

The women's private conversations were surprisingly risqué. Although Qin Lan was no longer a shy girl who would blush at the slightest dirty joke, she was still teased until she blushed.

It wasn't until Wen Zhang arrived that they escaped a disaster, and everyone's attention shifted to his relationship with Ma Yili, a couple with an age gap.

Ma Yili fared relatively well, but Wen Zhang, who was in his early twenties, was clearly too inexperienced and couldn't withstand the onslaught from the group of women, leaving him in a sorry state.

In the end, it was Ma Yili who stepped in to protect her own, which sparked another round of commotion from the others.

After a while of laughing and joking, Wen Zhang finally started working under Qin Lan's direction.

"These are cigarettes, alcohol, and stuff like that. The storage room was full before, so these were temporarily placed in the study. Now that there's space over there, could you help me move them over?"

"Don't touch the ones that have been opened. We'll put them in the wine cabinet later. You can just move the ones that haven't been opened yet."

Wen Zhang looked at the twenty or thirty cases of liquor piled up in the room, all of them Moutai or Wuliangye, and couldn't help but gasp in amazement.

A case of Moutai costs at least three to five thousand yuan, and Wuliangye isn't much cheaper either. Moreover, it seems there are a few premium cases that are even more expensive.

Besides alcohol, there were also cigarettes; a large box was full of unopened Zhonghua cigarettes, as well as high-end brands like Furongwang and Huanghelou, and another box contained tea, which he didn't know much about.

As for the wines that Qin Lan said she wanted to put in the wine cabinet, there were foreign wines, red wines, and white wines. The ones he recognized were not cheap, and the ones he didn't recognize seemed even more expensive.

Unable to see the whole picture, Wen Zhang made a rough estimate based on his own knowledge: these things were worth at least two or three hundred thousand.

Who has nothing better to do than hoard so much cigarettes, alcohol, and tea at home!
Xiong Naijin also raised a question, and Qin Lan glanced at Wen Zhang: "He takes them all home. I don't know anything about them. They just leave them at home when there's no time."

High-end cigarettes, alcohol, and tea are indispensable for social occasions and gift-giving. Yanli even has a dedicated small warehouse for this purpose.

Most of these things at home are leftovers from social engagements and gifts. I was too lazy to take them to the storage room, so I just left them lying around when I got home.

After all, there are bound to be times when you need to entertain guests or receive a return gift. Having something at home is convenient and saves you the trouble.

A few items are relatively rare and precious wines and teas, which are not safe to store in warehouses, so they are kept at home.

Ma Yili joked, "We can't let Wen Zhang's efforts go to waste. We'll carry a whole box with us later."

"Sure, feel free to take any of the unopened ones."

Qin Lan was very straightforward; a case of wine worth 10,000 or 8,000 yuan was no problem at all, and she could send one case to each person without any issue.

...

It has to be said that having a man around makes moving much easier. Wen Zhang also put in a lot of effort, taking on the heavy and dirty work, which earned him unanimous praise from Huo Siyan and others.

The outspoken Liu Yun also criticized Yan Li, saying to Qin Lan, "You're the only one who's doing the moving. What's he doing all day?"

"He's busy, and besides, I told him not to worry about it."

Qin Lan spoke up for Yan Li, saying that Yan Li had indeed inquired about the move, even though he was busy, he could send someone over.

However, Qin Lan was a bit optimistic, thinking that she could handle it by asking a few friends. She underestimated the difficulty and that's why she asked Wen Zhang for help at the last minute.

"President Yan makes hundreds of thousands of dollars in business every minute, we can't let him do manual labor."

Huo Siyan also sided with Yan Li. It was just a matter of moving things around. Yan Li could call a bunch of people with just one phone call. Letting Wen Zhang do it was giving him a chance to prove himself.

Ma Yili, standing to the side, was a little unhappy. "Can't you speak properly? What kind of laborer is that? He's her boyfriend."

However, she didn't dare offend Yan Li, so she kept her thoughts to herself.

As they were talking, Qin Lan's phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, shushed him, and walked to the side.

"Yes, we've almost finished moving everything."

"Okay, you go ahead with your work, fine."

After saying a few words, Qin Lan returned: "Yan Li said everyone has worked hard. He has reserved seats at the Chang'an Club to treat everyone."

"Chang'an Club?"

Huo Siyan and Xiong Naijin were pleasantly surprised. Liu Yun didn't quite understand, so the two of them explained it to her.

The Chang'an Club is considered one of the top private clubs in Beijing, catering to political and business elites and social celebrities.

Most importantly, this club is membership-based with extremely high entry requirements. It is said that you need to verify your assets or social status to reach a certain level to become a member. If you are not a member, no matter how much money you spend, they will not let you in.

This so-called "high-class" atmosphere made the Chang'an Club highly sought after, and at one time it was an honor to become a member or even just have a meal there.

After learning about it, Liu Yun quietly pulled Qin Lan aside and whispered, "Your husband is making you look good."

For celebrities like Huo Siyan and Ma Yili, who are somewhat famous, although they are not very rich, they have some wealth and have seen a lot of the world. A meal at a five-star hotel or Michelin-starred restaurant is nothing special for them.

However, the Chang'an Club, a top-tier members-only club, is not a place that ordinary celebrities can easily get into.

You can't get in by yourself, but Qin Lan can take you in. Doesn't that save face?

Qin Lan understood what was going on, her eyes showing a hint of happiness, and she even refuted Liu Yun's earlier doubts.

"Now you know what my man has been up to."

"cut."

Liu Yun pursed his lips, but he had to admit that money could move mountains.

Wen Zhang had worked hard all day and finally received a few words of praise.

Yan Li casually arranged a meal, which completely stole the limelight, and Huo Siyan and the others all turned their attention to him.

Even Ma Yili forgot about her young boyfriend and started showing off and discussing how she had been to Chang'an Club once and knew which cuisine was good and which leisure and entertainment were fun, and how they would eat and play later.

Since they were dining at a top-tier private club, their current attire for work was somewhat inappropriate, and they all said they needed to go home and change.

Qin Lan followed their lead, agreeing on a time limit before meeting them at her house to go to the Chang'an Club together.

Because Wen Zhang worked so hard, it wouldn't be good to leave him behind after we were done using him, so we took him along as well.

Upon arriving at the Chang'an Club, Yan Li had already made arrangements, and a special person led them inside and arranged a private room.

Chang'an Club specializes in imperial and Cantonese cuisine, featuring exquisite and luxurious dishes. High-end red and white wines are also available to accompany the meals, and a spa and other leisure and entertainment facilities are offered afterward.

During the event, the staff kept saying things like "Mr. Yan has made arrangements" or "Ms. Qin, what do you think?"

Feeling the envious and sour glances from Huo Siyan, Xiong Naijin, and others around her, Qin Lan secretly rejoiced.

After their spa treatment, a few people who were reluctant to leave decided to play mahjong and chat together.

"Is President Yan not coming today?"

Huo Siyan thought she would see Yan Li when she arrived at the Chang'an Club, but he never showed up.

"You think I'm kidding you? He's really busy. It should be in the news by now. You can find out by searching when you get back."

"News? What news?"

Huo Siyan was slightly taken aback: "What film crew has Yi An started yet? I haven't heard anything about it?"

Ma Yili, however, had a more acute sense of smell: "It should be a cinema chain. I saw in the news that President Yan seems to have acquired a cinema chain."

Yi'an Cinemas has been acquired for some time now, and with the name change, site selection, and the involvement of the influential figure Yan Li, it's impossible for any word to have leaked out.

However, the outside world only knows that Yan Li is involved in the cinema business, but most people are not very clear about the specifics.

Even whether it was an acquisition, a takeover, or a clone collaboration, the outside world has limited knowledge.

Moreover, besides the celebrities on the surface, many people behind the scenes of film and television productions don't care about the entertainment industry, let alone the theaters further away.

Many people who have seen the news don't even know what a movie theater chain is.

Even minor actors like Xiong Naijin, Wen Zhang, and Liu Yun, who are not well-known, have little connection with the film industry, and have little understanding of the industry, only have a superficial understanding of the cinema industry.

Qin Lan had never talked about Yi'an Cinemas before, but now that Yan Li has made it public, there's no need to keep it a secret anymore.

"Yes, he's been busy with this lately, with meetings and social engagements every day, so I don't want to bother him."

Qin Lan seized the opportunity to clear Yan Li's name, which was also to vindicate her relationship with him.

It wasn't that Yan Li didn't help her or didn't love her; it was just that he was genuinely too busy.

"This cinema chain needs to build theaters, it must be a huge investment, right?" Ma Yili did know a bit about the industry, after all, her ex-boyfriend Guan Hu was a child of the Beijing Film Studio.

"I don't know much about it either, but he said he invested several hundred million."

Qin Lan casually played a "Fortune" card, and when she looked up, she saw that everyone was staring at her.

"Several...hundreds of millions?"

Wen Zhang, who had been sitting behind Ma Yili, spoke with a strained voice.

It is now 2006, and the entertainment industry is still relatively small.

An investment of tens of millions can be called a big production, and a movie that grosses over 100 million is considered a major event in the industry for the whole year.

Many top-tier celebrities don't even earn eight figures a year. Aside from a few international or sports superstars like Jackie Chan and Yao Ming, the number "hundred million" is practically legendary for most actors in the entertainment industry.

"Uh...it wasn't just him who voted, there were others too."

Seeing that everyone's reaction was too strong, Qin Lan added a comment to the situation.

There was no way around it; she was always by Yan Li's side, and through constant exposure, her horizons broadened.

In particular, Yan Li had been preparing for Yi An Cinema for a long time, and she had heard a lot of bits and pieces about it. At first, she was shocked, but over time she became numb to it.

It was mentioned casually in a chat today, but the impact on others who heard this number for the first time was overlooked.

"Mr. Yan is indeed doing big business."

This time, even Ma Yili was convinced.

Whether it's a sole proprietorship or a joint venture, it's still a business worth hundreds of millions. Compared to that, Wen Zhang, her young boyfriend, is indeed just a "laborer."

Liu Yun also fell silent.

Yan Li arranged for the Chang'an Club to make Qin Lan look good. Although she felt that Yan Li still cared about Qin Lan and her impression of him had improved, she was not as excited as Huo Siyan and the others, and did not completely side with Yan Li.

Having money is great, but she felt that sometimes women still need companionship.

But now that he knows Yan Li has gone to such great lengths, Liu Yun is wavering. Money may not be as important as companionship, but this guy is just too damn rich.

She felt she should slap herself for making someone abandon a business worth hundreds of millions to come and work as a mover.

Needless to say, Huo Siyan and Xiong Naijin could only hear those three words repeating in their minds.

Hundreds of millions!
Wen Zhang was somewhat uneasy. He knew he was no match for Yan Li, and he accepted that.

But today, he was the only man among the women, and he was doing all the hard work, drinking, and entertaining.

Men, who wouldn't have some thoughts in this situation? Ma Yili was there too. He didn't think about anything, but just showing his face and getting a few women to flatter him was enough to make him feel good.

Unexpectedly, Yan Li didn't even show his face, yet he still managed to suffocate him.

That's too cruel, starting with hundreds of millions.

Not to mention that those women don't even notice him, he's starting to feel a bit flustered when he looks at Ma Yili now.

...

Although Qin Lan tried her best to salvage the situation, the atmosphere had changed too much, and everyone's attention was no longer on playing games.

Just as she was pondering whether to arrange other projects or call it a day, Qin Lan's phone rang, and she answered the call.

"It's okay, uh-huh, come on over, I'll wait for you, okay."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Lan said, "Yan Li has finished his social engagements and is coming to pick me up. You guys continue having fun; just put it on my tab."

To be honest, with Qin Lan, the main character, gone, the event was pretty much over.

If Yan Li hadn't come to pick up Qin Lan, perhaps some people would have been shameless enough to stay a little longer, but now everyone was excited and wanted to see Yan Li, so no one stayed behind.

After leaving the private room, there was a designated waiting area at the Chang'an Club. After waiting for a few minutes, a black Toyota Alphard arrived.

Seeing that Qin Lan wasn't alone, Yan Li also got out of the car to greet her.

Today, because he was attending a formal occasion, Yan Li dressed quite formally in a fitted black suit. His strong and upright figure, combined with his powerful aura, gave him the air of an elite who had conquered the business world.

"Wow~"

Xiong Naijin couldn't help but gasp softly, Huo Siyan's eyes also sparkled, and even Ma Yili, who had a boyfriend, Liu Yun, and Qin Lan's assistant all cast admiring glances at her.

It is said that good fortune is good for people, but wealth is even better!

Especially for men, when their careers are going well, they exude a sense of high spirits and unconsciously possess an indescribable yet exceptionally attractive charm.

Even if someone looks like an alien, their charm makes them seem handsome. If they are already good-looking, they are even more unforgettable.

Qin Lan deliberately brought this group of people to wait for Yan Li, her intention being to show off her man.

But seeing the women's expressions, he panicked a little and quickly stepped forward to take Yan Li's arm to assert his dominance.

Yan Li knew Qin Lan well, so he took her hand and expressed his gratitude as the male host.

"Thank you all for your hard work moving today..."

The group quickly offered polite greetings. They knew Huo, Ma, and Liu Yanli, but Xiong Naijin and Wen Zhang were meeting for the first time. He asked Qin Lan to introduce them separately and thanked her.

Xiong Naijin was alright; she was just a young girl who politely exchanged a few pleasantries and that was it—a very normal scene.

When Wen Zhang and Yan Li are placed together, they look rather "unbearable" to others.

Well, Wen Zhang isn't exactly known for his looks; at best, he's a bit handsome.

In addition, he is young, just over twenty years old, and has not yet graduated from university, so he looks rather immature, even a bit childish. Influenced by Yan Li's aura, he is also somewhat reserved and nervous.

So much so that when the two shook hands, Wen Zhang was made to look like an insignificant doorman by Yan Li.

Even Ma Yili couldn't help but cover her face a little.

Although she wasn't attracted to Wen Zhang because of his good looks and temperament, nor did she expect him to be able to compete with Yan Li, a rising business tycoon, she still hoped he wouldn't be so completely suppressed.

Those women must have felt that she had found a man who was not presentable.

Ma Yili was absolutely right. Although Yan Li's absence made Wen Zhang feel suffocated, at least he could still leave some impression on everyone.

Now that the two have met, the stark contrast in their appearances is striking. Wen Zhang is completely outmatched, utterly crushed, leaving everyone with the impression of either a "laborer" or a "doorman."

Unlike the women's disdain for Wen Zhang, Yan Li paid more attention to him.

He remembered this person; every year, intelligence reports would trigger a list of the top ten "good men" in the entertainment industry whose personas collapsed, and Wen Zhang was the first one.

To be honest, Yan Li didn't know if Ma Yili wasn't picky about food, or if she felt that handsome men with many admirers were unsafe.

In any case, neither Guan Hu nor Wen Zhang can be considered a handsome man in the traditional sense.

Guan Hu is a director, after all. Ma wasn't famous back then, so it's understandable that he would be climbing the social ladder by seeking out Guan Hu.

But now, compared to Wen, Ma is definitely more famous. Even if he wanted to find an obedient younger brother, there are plenty of handsome younger brothers in the entertainment industry.

What's even more frustrating is that neither Guan Hu nor Wen Zhang, who came later, were exactly honest.

It's better to be yourself; at least you can be a scumbag openly and honestly.

Moreover, this guy is a kept man, using his money to play around and has no manners.

Yan Li found a sense of moral superiority, but he didn't say anything, let alone try to persuade Ma Yili.

They're in the throes of a passionate romance, the younger brother is completely devoted to his older sister, and he's questioning her character based on things that haven't happened yet, advising them to break up. You can't help but call him crazy.

If they were particularly close, Yan Li might subtly remind them that Ma Yili and he weren't actually that familiar with each other.

Moreover, Yan Li has an intelligence network, knows a lot of gossip and secrets, and has some insights.

Love is a complicated matter; only the person experiencing it truly knows the joys and sorrows. Outsiders should stay out of it if possible; what you think is a good intention might backfire…

...

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Yan Li and Qin Lan left by car, while the rest of the group either drove themselves or took the club's car home.

Ma Yili and Wen Zhang drove there, and the atmosphere was somewhat tense on their way home.

As expected of an older sister, Ma Yili took the initiative to comfort her younger boyfriend: "Don't take it too seriously. He's a big boss, and we're actors. Just focus on making your own films. You'll still be the best in my heart."

One of the main reasons she chose Wen Zhang was that she thought he had good professional skills and that he had great potential for future development.

Therefore, in her opinion, Wen Zhang didn't need to compare himself to Yan Li, since they weren't on the same path.

"I know."

Wen Zhang said that, but he was filled with mixed feelings inside.

He's been outshone by his peers before, but this is the first time he's been so thoroughly crushed in every way.

Even in acting, as Ma Yili mentioned, he wouldn't dare say he was Yan Li's match.

Wen Zhang had seen Yan Li's performances; his acting in "The Emperor Wu of Han" and "Bright Sword" was commendable, even outstanding.

And now he's nothing, and the few roles he plays all have a bit of his own personality about them.

If you were to post online saying that his acting skills surpass Yan Li's, you'd probably get mostly ridicule, and quite a few people would even ask about it.

Who is Wen Zhang?

Seeing Wen Zhang's appearance, Ma Yili didn't try to persuade him further. He had just suffered a heavy blow and was having trouble adjusting.

Once you calm down and seriously consider the differences between you, you won't feel sorry for yourself anymore.

Compared to Wen Zhang's feelings, Ma Yili was more concerned about the cinema chain that Yan Li was busy with.

As soon as she got home, she immediately took out her computer and searched for related news online.

The news is quite popular; a quick search reveals numerous articles, and there are even special reports on it that made the front page.

Yi'an Cinema Line Established, Yan Li Invests 5 Million Yuan, Aiming at the Film Market

Upon clicking through, you'll find a lot of information about Yi'an Cinemas, as well as some interviews.

Yan Li was the most numerous, followed by relevant personnel from China Resources, Han Sanping and related leaders, as well as senior executives from other cinema chains.

Ma Yili clicked on a few news articles and became increasingly alarmed as she read them.

Qin Lan wasn't exaggerating at all; it really is a large-scale project, with an estimated investment of 3 to 5 million yuan. The first batch of cinemas has already been selected, and construction has begun in two cities.

The various publicly disclosed plans are quite clear.

First- and second-tier cities will build mid- to high-end cinemas, and 10 to 20 cinemas will be opened within the next two years, with the number of screens exceeding 100 to 150.

The medium-term plan is to double the number of cinemas and screens within the next three to five years and break into the top ten in box office revenue.

Moreover, this isn't just Yan Li boasting; relevant departments have endorsed it, so its authenticity is quite high.

If Yi'an Cinema really comes to this point, coupled with Yi'an's continuous rise in the TV drama field, Ma Yili imagined it.

From now on, Yan Li will be a force to be reckoned with in the industry...

Ma Yili felt she needed to pay even closer attention to Qin Lan.

Coincidentally, Huo Siyan, who had returned home, thought the same thing.

She also searched for related news, but she didn't know much about the business of cinema chains and couldn't see it clearly. But even if she couldn't understand it, there were knowledgeable people online.

On Tianya, blogs, and Tieba, you can always find some related discussions, which is much better than her guesswork.

[Haha, many people look down on Yan Li for selling films, thinking he's just a good salesman and that his business acumen is exaggerated. But you can see from his cinema chain strategy that Yan Li's business acumen is absolutely accurate. He directly controls the core terminals of the film market and seizes the industry's discourse power.]

[That's right, Yan Li is definitely not an ordinary person. In a normal TV drama market, there are only buyers and sellers, but he managed to seize the power between them through his distribution business.]

With industry influence, business is booming; without it, you're just an employee. That's the difference in mindset between ordinary businesspeople and business elites.

[First, secure the theatrical market and control a certain number of screenings, then force distribution and production companies to easily squeeze into the film market. If Yi'an develops strongly, all major film companies will have to defer to it.]

Why is China Film Group so powerful? Besides its official backing, its control of China's largest cinema chain is also key. Any film company that doesn't obey its orders can be driven to despair by just a matter of scheduling.

I don't think it's about having precise foresight. Anyone with a brain knows how powerful cinemas are. The key is whether you have the courage to invest and the ability to do it.

[Exactly, those two guys from Huayi Brothers, and Yu Zheng from Bona Film Group, I don't believe they don't know that theaters are good, but they just don't have the guts and ability to do it.]

I see China Resources is among the shareholders. Is Yan Li really from some small place in Shandong Province? Could he be some illegitimate child who was lost to the common people?

It's hard to say whose son-in-law he is; he's capable, young, and quite popular.

[The person upstairs doesn't read entertainment news. This guy is a playboy; which family would want him as a son-in-law?]

[That's hard to say. Yan Li is undeniably outstanding. He may be a bit of a spendthrift, but women love a man who's a little bad. Maybe there's someone who likes that.]

[Those upstairs are overthinking it. Maybe Yan Li is just a puppet, and the real boss is someone else. This kind of situation happens all the time.]

[Your brain must be fried from jealousy, Yi'an, Yan. You didn't learn pinyin when you were little, so you're a puppet who even knows the company name.]

[He's not a puppet. If you watch the interviews carefully, you'll see that Yan Li is the ringleader and the company's largest shareholder, wielding real power.]

I don't understand what you're saying. I just want to know how many Yan Li people there are now.

[With an investment of 5 million, he is the major shareholder; even if it's half, that's still 2.5 million.]

[Yi An has made a lot of money too. Feng Diao is incredibly popular right now, and there's also Tudou.com. Didn't they say he has shares in it? I think it must be worth at least 5 million+.]

【…】

Huo Siyan stared at the last "5 million+" figure, her eyes practically bulging into the computer screen.

She remembered the first time she met Yan Li. Although he was doing well, he was just a small boss of a newly established film and television company with a net worth of only tens of millions.

It's only been a short time, and his net worth is already approaching 5 million. In a few more years, he'll definitely be the richest person in the entertainment industry.

Huo Siyan was extremely agitated; she could no longer suppress her desire to rebel against Qin Lan.

She knew she couldn't climb the social ladder, but with this kind of exceptional man, sometimes sleeping with him even once was a bonus.

Women also have a desire to conquer!
They may not be as outwardly assertive as some men, but the essence is the same: to win over high-quality women, prove their charm, and satisfy their inner vanity.

As Yan Li's status and position rose higher and higher.

Some women might be after him as a person, some after his money, some after his resources, and some might simply be collecting him like stamps...

...

Qin Lan had also thought of this.

The intense gazes those women occasionally gave Yan Li today completely aroused her vigilance.

From the road to home, Qin Lan kept instilling ideas in Yan Li.

Women outside the home can be very wicked. Men must protect themselves when they are out and about and not let them take advantage of them.

Yan Li: "..."

He used to scoff at this, but now he thinks there's some truth to it.

Normally, when men and women get together, the man seems to have the advantage, but if the man is too outstanding, it's hard to say who will benefit.

"Who do you think is getting the better deal between us?"

Yan Li posed a crucial question to Qin Lan, who pondered it for a moment.

"It looks like...it's me."

It was hard to say before, but now Yan Li is definitely more sought after than her. So, whoever is more sought after will benefit the other.

"So you'd better treat me better in the future, otherwise someone else will snatch this huge advantage away."

Yan Li seized the opportunity to brainwash Qin Lan, but Qin Lan wasn't stupid and rolled her eyes.

"I've been so good to you, what other woman could tolerate all your messes?"

"Yes, outsiders don't understand, and you yourself are not confident. Actually, when the two of us are together, I am the one who got the biggest advantage."

When brainwashing failed, Yan Li smoothly switched to sweet talk, coaxing Qin Lan, who outwardly appeared disdainful, but slowly leaned into Yan Li's arms.

After lingering for a while, Yan Li decided to get up and take a shower. It was getting hot, and while a suit and trousers with a shirt might look handsome, it was far less comfortable than a T-shirt and shorts.

"No, don't change it."

Qin Lan stopped Yan Li. The other women couldn't help but have their eyes light up when they saw Yan Li's outfit, not to mention Qin Lan herself.

If she hadn't been preoccupied with important business, she might have already started touching him in the car.
Yan Li raised an eyebrow: "I can't just wear clothes, can I? This outfit was specially ordered, it cost tens of thousands."

"I'll wash it for you. If it's not clean enough, I'll buy you a new set."

Qin Lan waved her hand domineeringly, then grabbed Yan Li's tie and led him into the bedroom, demanding that President Yan cooperate with her in every way possible…

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.

While Yan Li was busy reporting, more and more people noticed the matter as news about Yi'an gained traction.

However, since the cinema chain is behind the scenes and it's just an officially announced plan, most ordinary people aren't very interested.

This incident truly sparked a widespread reaction within the entertainment industry.

Ordinary actors are fine with it; they just watch the show. This matter is too far removed from their lives. At most, they might gossip about Yan Li, this rapidly rising big shot.

Those in the upper and middle echelons of the film industry are the ones most concerned about this matter.

They are highly perceptive, had noticed something beforehand, and had heard some rumors, so they remained relatively calm.

Those who were slow to react and didn't pay much attention to this matter are now so bothered by it that they can't sleep well.

In particular, Orange Sky, which is also preparing to establish a cinema chain, has been unable to obtain a cinema chain license for a long time.

Upon hearing that Yan Li was investing 3-5 million yuan to seize the opportunity to enter the cinema market, the top management held a meeting that lasted all day, and it is said that Boss Wu even slammed his fist on the table in anger.

Huayi Brothers was also surprised, having known for a long time that Yan Li was no pushover and would eventually make his way from the television drama industry to the film industry.

They had considered having Yan Li participate in film production and to handle distribution, which was his forte, but they never expected that this kid would directly invest in cinema chains at rock-bottom prices and actually make it a success.

The Wang brothers were both wary and envious, and at the same time, they were considering further efforts to win them over.

Huayi Brothers currently has no cinema chain operations and mainly focuses on production and distribution, so there is an opportunity for cooperation with Yan Li.

Bona's Fatty Yu thought so too, and because of his connection with China Film Group, he was one of the first to know about Yi'an Cinemas, and had even met and talked with Yan Li before.

Besides mainland film companies, other cinema chains, as well as many Hong Kong and Taiwan film company owners, directors, and top stars, have also remembered the name "Yan Li".

Especially in Hong Kong, their film market commercialized much earlier than the mainland's, and no one knows the strength of the cinema chains better than them.

Golden Harvest, Shaw Brothers, Golden Princess… these are the inescapable shadows that haunt countless Hong Kong filmmakers…

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.: (9000/9000), accounts will be settled at the end of the month.
(End of this chapter)