Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 229 Social Interactions, Taking the Punishment in Place of His Sister, The Choice of Yi'an's Number One Brother

At a certain restaurant, Yan Li specially treated some of his trusted confidants and brothers from his hometown who had contributed to this effort.

Intelligence cannot be given out of thin air.

Therefore, Yan Li needs to send people to certain places to make a round. He will pay the money he is entitled to. It doesn't matter how much information he gets. The key is that the people go there and have channels and sources that the parties involved can trust.

A dozen or so people were scattered outwards, going around in circles, some even going twice by different people, so no one knew who had given Yan Li the information.

In addition, some of the evidence gathering for borderline cases was done by a few trusted brothers.

If things go wrong, it will be all because they acted out of righteous indignation and "on their own initiative," and it will have nothing to do with Yan Li.

Since it concerns his biggest secret and involves shady dealings, Yan Li could not be too cautious.

After finishing the meal, Yan Li asked Wu Maowen to bring two boxes. As the eldest brother and boss, he couldn't just leave his men with nothing after a meal.

"Let me make this clear from the start: I'm giving you money so you can't squander it. Save it up and settle down in the capital as soon as possible. And don't get involved with any shady stuff. Anyone who doesn't behave will be dealt with."

Before distributing the money, Yan Li gave everyone a stern warning.

In a big city like Beijing, there's a mix of all sorts of people, and there are bound to be some "dangerous" temptations. Losing money isn't the worst thing; going astray is the real problem.

The others were all people carefully selected by Yan Li, and were usually strictly managed, so they were all sensible and didn't touch things they shouldn't.

After the money was distributed and the party ended, the brothers left with smiles on their faces, leaving only a few of Yan Li's most trusted men behind.

"Brother, we still have some material, why don't we take as much as we can?"

One of the brothers expressed his confusion, saying that Yan Li had previously said he would kill the chicken to scare the monkey, so why did they reconcile halfway through the killing?

That Song De from last time, wasn't he imprisoned? Yan Li doesn't seem to be the type to be soft-hearted.

“That time was different from now.”

If possible, Yan Li would also like to kill the chicken completely, but often things are not that simple.

That Song Dazui is nothing but a piece of trash, with a lot of dirt on him, easy to handle.

But none of the people we've encountered this time are easy targets. Most importantly, the saying goes, "If the rabbit dies, the fox will feel sorry for it." If you go after one of them and destroy them, what will the others think?

Yan Li kept shouting that he would fight to the death, but he didn't really mean it. Fighting against overwhelming odds is not an easy task.

Most importantly, there are still certain forces at play here that don't want things to escalate and want to maintain stability and de-escalate the situation.

You can disregard the courtesy and respect due to others, but this is something you absolutely cannot take lightly.

He can be a thorn in the side, striving for his own interests to a certain extent when he is in the right, but if he keeps stabbing without end, even the hardest thorn can be smashed.

Therefore, whether it's acting as a thorn in someone's side or making demands, Yan Li has always understood the bottom line of the relevant parties before he can act in a targeted manner.

Although they didn't completely wipe them out, they made things difficult for all sides and caused them to bleed a lot. The effect was quite obvious; at least for a short time, no one will dare to provoke them again.

During this period, Yi'an and Yi'an can continue their rapid development.

To forge iron, one must be strong oneself. Once things have developed to a certain extent, those little devils will not dare to provoke us easily. As for the remaining big devils, we can rely on our own abilities to deal with them.

Doing business inevitably involves fighting and interpersonal relationships. Yan Li prefers the latter but is not afraid of the former.

...

After the event, Wu Maowen, who had deliberately avoided drinking, drove Yan Li home.

"Which one?"

Sitting in the driver's seat, Wu Maowen casually asked, "I watched a Qing Dynasty palace drama the day before yesterday, and I'm starting to feel that my job is somewhat similar to that of the head eunuch in the drama."

However, it seems that the manager only needs to select a nameplate, and he also has to drive the person to the destination and pick them up the next day.

Yan Li gave a somewhat unfamiliar address, which surprised Wu Maowen slightly, but he didn't ask any questions. He recalled the address and drove there.

Upon arriving at the destination, Yan Li went upstairs, took out a bunch of keys, and tried them one by one from the unfamiliar ones. When he got to the third key, he opened the door and went inside.

Li Bingbing, who was in the living room, had already heard the commotion and got up to see Yan Li opening the door.

"You're so late?"

"I have a social engagement."

Yan Li glanced around the living room: "Where's your sister?"

Li Bingbing asked warily, "What do you want with her?"

"She did it, so if I don't confront her and hold her accountable, who else should I go after?"

Since Li Bingbing didn't have any suitable sandals at home, Yan Li simply went barefoot and sat down on the sofa.

"Go, get me a glass of water."

"Whom are you ordering around?"

Despite her dissatisfaction, Li Bingbing poured him a glass of warm water and then said...

"If you're going to stand up for that guy surnamed Fan, take it out on me, don't drag my sister into it."

"You two sisters are a pair of idiots."

Yan Li looked at Li Bingbing speechlessly. To be honest, he was quite disappointed when he learned from the system that there were these two sisters behind him.

It's understandable that Li Bingbing is wary of Fan Xiaopang. It's perfectly normal for him to throw mud, expose dirt on Fan, and put him down.

The two sisters, Li Bingbing and her sister, were natural enemies. Not only did they do this, but Fan Xiaopang also used dirty tricks against them.

But the two are both enemies and partners. They are like two soldiers, fighting as one, fighting without breaking each other, using underhanded tactics but not killing each other.

If Fan Xiaopang is really trampled on, how can Li Bingbing alone compete with the Four Little Actresses and other actresses?

Therefore, no matter how fiercely they fight in normal times, when they really encounter difficulties, they should not kick each other when they are down, but instead lend a helping hand.

Yan Li and the sisters Fan Xiaopang and Li Bingbing had all explained this principle. I thought they all understood it, but at the crucial moment, they still couldn't distinguish between close and distant relatives.

Especially Li Xue, Yan Li has already figured it out, this whole thing was her doing.

Originally, Li Bingbing intended to stay out of the mess even if she didn't help, but Li Xue's various instigations and provocations led Li Bingbing to tacitly support her involvement.

Li Xue's motives for getting involved were rather complicated.

There were career considerations, jealousy and resentment towards Fan Xiaopang himself, and even a bit of taking out one's anger on Yan Li.

On the surface, Yan Li and her sister's affair was over, but deep down she still felt uneasy.

It's not so much love turning into hate, but rather love turning into resentment. Since she couldn't bring herself to hurt her own sister, she vented her anger on Yan Li or, more accurately, on her beloved Fan Xiaopang.

"stupid!"

Yan Li had called and scolded the two sisters before, and this time she came to their door to reprimand them again, which made Li Bingbing a little angry.

She and Yan Li are more like collaborators, helping each other out, and their sense of dependence is not so strong.

She was willing to listen to Yan Li on many things because Yan Li was good to her and her sister, and his advice was in their best interests. But that didn't mean she could always obediently listen to Yan Li's scolding.

"This is never going to end. We didn't start this; we just went along with it and added some fuel to the fire."

"If you insist on standing up for that vixen, you must have the dirt on me too. Just expose it, and I'll take the blame."

"..."

Yan Li glanced at her, nodded, and got up to put on his shoes and leave.

Li Bingbing watched from the side and saw that Yan Li wasn't just putting on an act. As he put on his shoes and was about to leave, Li Bingbing couldn't help but reach out and stop him.

Are you really going to expose my dirty secrets?

"We're friends, I'm not that cruel, but since you've said that, there's nothing more to talk about. From now on, we'll go our separate ways."

As he spoke, Yan Li removed the key that Li Bingbing had given him from the keychain.

"wait."

Seeing Yan Li's attitude of severing all ties, Li Bingbing panicked a little and softened her tone.

"We were indeed in the wrong. I'll give you whatever explanation you want, but you can't just keep yelling at us."

"What did I do wrong? Aren't you two stupid?"

Yan Li said sternly, "You always think I'm standing up for Fan Bingbing, but you don't know that I'm right behind her. Do you think I can get away with anything just because she's in trouble?"

"After knowing each other for so many years, ask yourself honestly, what have I ever done to wrong you two sisters? Whenever anything happens, when have I ever let you down? Well, this time when I'm in trouble, not only do you two not help me, but you stab me in the back. If you were in my shoes, wouldn't you feel heartbroken?"

Li Bingbing was so reprimanded by Yan Li that she couldn't lift her head. If Yan Li were to bring up Fan Xiaopang, she would definitely be unconvinced.

But when Yan Li shifted the blame onto himself, Li Bingbing had nothing to say.

Ultimately, it was indeed the sisters who were inconsiderate in this matter.

Seeing that Li Bingbing was convinced, Yan Li's attitude gradually softened.

Although the Li sisters made a mistake, it wasn't an irreparable one. The double pawn card is still useful, and it would be a shame to give it up.

Furthermore, Li Bingbing is Huayi Brothers' top female artist, and Li Xue is a high-ranking artist manager at Huayi Brothers.

Yan Li's closeness to the two sisters is like planting a thorn in the hearts of the Wang brothers at Huayi Brothers; whether he uses it or not, he'll feel uncomfortable. If he were to break off his relationship with Li Bingbing, it would be tantamount to pushing the two sisters towards Huayi.

Yan Li was unwilling to aid the enemy!
This time, Yan Li was sharp-tongued, but his main purpose was to give Li Bingbing and her sister a warning so that they would learn their lesson and not do it again.

Sigh, leading a team is really not easy.

Especially in complex teams where everyone has their own agenda, it's necessary to safeguard the interests of all parties, maintain unity as much as possible, constantly remind and discipline them, punish mistakes, and bring each other together when things are going well, while also paying attention to striking the right balance.

It's only because Yan Li is shrewd and has the system to cheat him that he could have managed to manipulate these women.

Under Yan Lilian's combined scolding and coaxing, Li Bingbing admitted his mistake and said he would never make a similar mistake again.

The only condition is that she educates her sister herself, so Yan Li doesn't have to worry about it.

Yan Li didn't argue with her, but since she had taken the blame for the lesson, she had to take the punishment for her sister as well.

Ice and Snow Rider Yan can only watch with envy; then let Cavalry Yan charge forward with all her might…

...

The next day, Yan Li finished taking a shower and was changing into the clothes that Wu Maowen had just brought him in the living room, preparing to go to work.

The door opened, and Li Xue entered carrying several breakfast bags. She was slightly taken aback when she saw Yan Li putting on his pants.

"Well, good morning."

Yan Li fastened his belt, gave an awkward greeting, and Li Xue nodded without saying a word.

"..."

Yan Li pretended to glance at his watch, indicating that he was going to be late, and put on his shoes to leave.

Seeing his hurried appearance, Li Xue handed him one of the breakfast bags.

"No need, you might not have enough. I'll just eat something on the way."

Yan Li waved his hand, opened the door and left. After he left, Li Xue picked up the breakfast bag and tried to put it on the dining table.

The dining table turned out to be too clean; the original cups and kettles were gone, and the table's position seemed a bit skewed.

Li Xue: "..."

After hesitating for a long time, Li Xue put the breakfast in the kitchen, then pushed open the bedroom door, wanting to see Li Bingbing.

Then I saw my sister sleeping soundly in bed, with some loose pieces of light-colored underwear and stockings under the bed.

I wanted to go out first, but I was so curious about what Yan Li and my sister had talked about that I couldn't help but wake Li Bingbing up.

"Stop messing around, I really can't do it anymore."

Li Bingbing grunted and hid under the thin blanket. Li Xue felt extremely conflicted and couldn't help but pinch her hard.

"it's me."

Li Bingbing opened his eyes groggily, saw Li Xue, was slightly taken aback, then instantly became alert, coughed lightly, and covered himself with the thin blanket.

"Xue'er, you go out first."

"It's not like we haven't seen each other before," Li Xue pouted, but seeing Li Bingbing's current appearance, she didn't feel comfortable either, so she nodded and turned to leave.

After a while, Li Bingbing came out wearing a nightgown. She looked to be in good condition, except that her knees were a little red.

Li Xue gritted her teeth: "That bastard really knows how to abuse people."

Li Bingbing felt her sister's gaze and pulled her nightgown down a bit, but it was too short to cover her completely, so she simply left it lying there.

"He came over yesterday and gave me a lecture..."

Li Bingbing shared her conversation with Yan Li last night with her younger sister.

"Let's consider this matter over. Don't let it happen again. You should also keep your mind in check in the future. If you anger him, I won't be able to protect you."

Li Bingbing tried to persuade his sister, but Li Xue retorted indignantly, "That sounds nice, but you're still siding with that vixen."

"All right."

Li Bingbing looked at Li Xue and said seriously, "I know you have grievances in your heart, but this is fate. If you really can't take it out on me, just don't go too far."

In the past, although the Li sisters valued Yan Li, they didn't feel a strong sense of dependence on him.

However, as Yan Li ventures into the cinema industry, Li Bingbing, whose career focus has shifted to films, will inevitably have more dealings with Yan Li.

The Li sisters did not want to fall out with Yan Li, and they even made their move secretly this time. They did not expect that Yan Li would find out, otherwise they would never have acted rashly.

Li Xue took a deep breath and finally nodded. Li Bingbing felt a pang of pity seeing his sister's expression.

My sister's resentment is so strong, it's inextricably linked to her.

To resolve this, she either needs to break off her relationship with Yan Li, or she needs to quickly find someone for her sister.

Li Bingbing felt that the latter option was more prudent.

My younger sister is of marriageable age now. She used to have feelings for Yan Li, but now that relationship is over, she's married and settled down. This puts a weight off her mind and saves Yan Li from threatening her with this every day.

Thinking to himself, Li Bingbing unconsciously rubbed his knees, cursing the person inhuman and vowing to ride back next time.

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.

Yi An Film and Television, Meeting Room

After Yan Li finished his meeting with the film and television department and the distribution department, he started discussing the "spoils of war" with the artist management department.

The benefits gained this time are considerable, especially since it involves many female celebrities, and a significant proportion of them are related to artist resources, including film and television, advertising, endorsements, and so on.

Among them, Fan Xiaopang, as the victim, received the most criticism but also benefited more from the revenue sharing. Most of the advertising endorsements went to her, with a smaller portion going to Wang Ou.

Fan Xiaopang didn't really want to give this slut away easily, but she was too busy and the company didn't have any other female artists, so she had no choice but to give her to her.

Besides the endorsement, there was also a TV series lead role, which Fan Xiaopang didn't want and gave to Wang Ou instead.

There are also some film and television resources, which are shared among Zhou Yiwei, Lin Jiachuan, and others. If they can't be used, they are exchanged.

This time, the two most discussed and most important film resources between Yan Li and the artist management department were the investments made by Orange Sky and Huayi Brothers respectively.

Orange Sky Entertainment has invested in and played an important role in both "Red Cliff" and Feng Xiaogang's new film "Assembly".

Let's start with "Red Cliff," a film that has recently made a major breakthrough.

With China Film Group acting as a go-between, Orange Sky Entertainment, or rather, the Japanese capital behind it, is preparing to invest $2000 million.

With such a large investment, Orange Sky Entertainment naturally has its requirements, and plans to promote its artists to star in this mega-production.

Yan Li, Cheng Tian, ​​and Han Sanye, who came out to mediate, reached an agreement, in which Yi An was given an important role.

The film "Red Cliff" is a huge investment, attracting much attention in the industry. It plans to invite a star-studded cast. Regardless of the film's quality, appearing in this film would greatly benefit an artist's status and exposure.

The same principle applies to Yan Li's casting of Fan Bingbing in "A Battle of Wits" and his subsequent casting of Fan Bingbing in "Red Cliff".

The cast of "Red Cliff" was so luxurious that other artists from Yi An Entertainment couldn't get any good roles, so they could only push the most famous actor, Fan Bingbing.

Red Cliff is a male-dominated film with few significant female characters.

Yan Li definitely wanted the role of Xiao Qiao, who was also the female lead in the movie, but the production company was determined to promote someone else, so they settled for Sun Shangxiang instead.

Coincidentally, the production company had been in contact with Xiao Yanzi as a top choice for the role of Sun Shangxiang. If Fan Xiaopang wanted her, Xiao Yanzi was willing to withdraw as part of the compensation.

With Xiao Yanzi's departure, and with China Film Group, Orange Sky Entertainment, and Yi An Entertainment joining forces, the role is practically a done deal.

As for the other film, "Assembly", the situation is a bit complicated.

Yan Li wanted to steal the male lead, but the Wang brothers weren't stupid and refused to agree, saying they could give the female lead to Yi An.

But Yan Li had already used the system to find out that Sun Shangxiang had some role in "Red Cliff" but the female lead in "Assembly" was just a supporting character. He would rather have the second male lead.

However, with the arrival of the second male lead, some trouble arises. Feng Xiaogang has high standards and doesn't look down on ordinary people.

Yi An originally wanted to recommend Zhou Yiwei, but she rejected it outright.

Recommending actors requires the director's approval; this was agreed upon beforehand, and we can't just recommend anyone haphazardly.

The combined efforts of the three parties involved in "Red Cliff" were enough to persuade Wu Yusen, while Feng Xiaogang's influence in "Assembly" was exceptionally strong.

Zhou Yiwei is out of the question, and Julian Cheung's schedule is full. Besides, he's already been given the role in "Protégé." They've given him too many resources; what if he starts complaining about being hungry again?

There is a fundamental difference between Julian Cheung and Fan Bingbing!

As for Qiao Zhenyu, whom Yi An had contacted, she recommended him, but Feng Xiaogang also didn't think highly of him.

However, he wasn't deliberately making things difficult for himself; rather, he had someone he loved—Yan Li.

However, Feng Xiaogang took a liking to Yan Li, but Yan Li rejected the idea immediately after hearing that the film would take several months to shoot and that he would have to go to Northeast China for more than a month of training beforehand.

It takes too long, and he doesn't have the time.

The situation had reached a stalemate, but Yan Li remained calm, as he already had some direction in mind.

The film "Assembly" is scheduled to start filming in September or October, with more than a month of training before filming begins. Therefore, casting is already underway, and Huayi Brothers is not without suitable candidates.

Yan Li also selected a suitable candidate from among the people at Huayi Brothers.

Speaking of artist management, Yi'an has been operating for some time now.

Among the artists under her name, Fan Xiaopang is undoubtedly the number one female artist, while Zhang Zhilin is currently the number one male artist.

Yan Li had a good impression of Julian Cheung, but his Hong Kong identity wasn't quite suitable for being the company's top star.

After all, Yi An is a mainland company, and one that wants to become the leading company in the mainland. The top female star is a popular actress in the mainland, and the top male star must also be a popular actor in the mainland.

In addition, Julian Cheung's marital status and preference for focusing on acting, coupled with his lack of idol appeal and commercial appeal, are also significant drawbacks.

Julian Cheung is currently the most popular actor, and Yi An is undoubtedly the number one male lead, but Yan Li's private plan is to promote another mainland actor.

The original plan was to have Qiao Zhenyu, but Yan Li always felt that this guy was not very ambitious and lacked drive, so he might not be able to hold the top spot.

Yan Li wants Yi An's top male star, not the top male star of Yi An's company. He wants a top male star like Fan Xiaopang, whose goal is to be the top male star in mainland China.

Ambition, ability, and drive must all be in place. You can't just be a tyrant in the company; you have to be a force to be reckoned with outside, capable of competing with or even suppressing the top executives of other companies.

Qiao Zhenyu probably can't do it, and his good friend Zhou Yiwei is also in trouble.

Yan Li searched around but didn't find many who caught his eye. It was only with the help of the system's monthly intelligence alerts that he was able to narrow down his choices.

...

A residential community in Beijing
Seeing her sullen boyfriend, Sun Li comforted him, "Don't be sad. If this project falls through, we can wait for another opportunity. After I'm done with my work, let's go to Sanya next month to relax."

Deng Chao glanced at his girlfriend and forced a smile.

He understood everything, but losing a role he was so close to getting was hard to bear for anyone.

After all, this is Feng Xiaogang's film, which will definitely play a key role in promoting his career.

At the same time, he originally wanted to use this movie as a springboard to get closer to Huayi Brothers, but that deal fell through.

Ugh!
Deng Chao couldn't help but sigh. Actually, to be honest, he wasn't particularly career-driven.

His desire to climb the ladder was partly due to his own efforts, but also partly due to pressure from his girlfriend.

Sun Li is more famous than him, and she is the top female host at Hairun Media. She surpasses him in terms of fame, connections, and resources.

A man's sense of dignity and crisis compelled Deng Chao to want to work for a larger company and pursue a better and higher career.

As they were talking, Deng Chao's phone rang. He took out his phone, opened his eyes slightly, and quickly answered it.

"Hey, Mr. Yan... You have time, you have time, okay, okay, XX Restaurant, I've got it, I'll be right there."

After hanging up the phone, Sun Li asked curiously, "President Yan, which President Yan?"

“Yan Li of Yi’an”.

"What does he want from you?"

"I don't know."

Deng Chao couldn't explain it clearly, but he figured it must be related to "Assembly". Huayi Brothers had said that Yan Li was the one who snatched his role.

Regardless, Deng Chao dared not delay the invitation from the big shot and quickly drove to the agreed location.

Upon arrival, I made a phone call and was soon led into a private room where Yan Li was the only person present.

"sit."

Yan Li spun the turntable: "I remember you're from Nanchang. The head chef of this restaurant is from your hometown. He specially ordered your local dishes. Try them and see if they're authentic."

Deng Chao was somewhat flattered as he took the menu. Although he didn't know Yan Li's purpose, this attitude shouldn't be a bad thing.

After ordering, Yan Li and Deng Chao exchanged pleasantries and reminisced about the past, and then the conversation turned to the movie "Assembly".

"Is Huayi Brothers trying to shift all the blame onto me?"

Yan Li asked with a smile. He already knew what was going on without the system triggering it. The Wang brothers had secretly set countless traps for him.

Deng Chao didn't dare to get involved in the bigwigs' dispute, so he smiled awkwardly and didn't reply.

Yan Li didn't care and then asked, "Do you know why Huayi Brothers gave me the role in 'Assembly'?"

"not sure."

Deng Chao didn't dare to tell the truth at first, but seeing Yan Li's amused expression, he finally told the truth.

"Rumors are circulating in the industry that you've gained the upper hand in your dealings with companies like Huayi Brothers..."

Without saying a word, the meaning was clear. Yan Li nodded: "You're upset that the role you were about to get is gone."

Just as Deng Chao was about to speak, Yan Li added, "It's just the two of us today, so let's have a heart-to-heart talk, no pretense, just tell the truth."

After a moment of silence, Deng Chao nodded: "You are also an actor. No actor feels comfortable when their role is taken away."

Yan Li then asked, "Do you know why you were robbed?"

"do not know."

Deng Chao shook his head: "I don't think I've offended you."

"You didn't offend me, and I didn't target you. It's just that the role we were talking about happened to be yours. Once the deal was struck, you became a pawn. It's that simple."

Yan Li told Deng Chao the truth, and Deng Chao's expression changed. He didn't know what to say, so he could only remain silent.

Do you know why you were expendable?

When Yan Li asked again, before Deng Chao could react, he said directly, "Because you're not famous enough, because you don't have a powerful backer."

“If Ge You were to play this role, no one could possibly take it from him, and no one would even try to take it from him.”

"The reason I competed for the second male lead instead of the male lead is because the male lead, Zhang Hanyu, who was originally chosen, is someone that Feng Xiaogang is protecting, and he will soon join Huayi Brothers, and the Wang brothers will also support him."

Seeing Deng Chao's ever-changing expression, Yan Li didn't say anything more, letting him process it himself.

After a few minutes, Deng Chao finally spoke: "President Yan, you didn't come to me this time to give me a lecture, did you?"

"Of course, I don't have that much free time."

Yan Li took a sip of tea: "It's a very simple question: do you want to take this role back?"

Deng Chao asked, "What are the conditions?"

Yan Li asked with some surprise, "Aren't you surprised to hear this?"

Deng Chao shook his head and said calmly, "I figured it out just now. A big boss like you, inviting me out and asking me a bunch of questions about 'Assembly,' obviously wasn't just to make fun of me, so the purpose isn't hard to guess."

"smart people."

Yan Li smiled appreciatively: "I like smart people. Are you interested in coming to Yi'an? This role is a gift for meeting you."

They stole my character and then gave it to me as a greeting gift!

Even though Deng Chao was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but take a breath and try to stay calm.

"A supporting role in a movie is not enough for me to dedicate the next few years to it."

"I already said, this is just a small gift."

Yan Li understood very well that he couldn't take down Deng Chao with just "Assembly" and even if he did, Deng Chao wouldn't be the talent he wanted.

"After you come to Yi'an, you'll have no shortage of resources. By the way, I heard about the script your teacher wanted to write. The story is pretty good, and the company can invest in it. You can play the male lead."

Deng Chao gripped his pants tightly under the table: "President Wang of Huayi Brothers admires me very much."

Yan Li glanced at him, then took out two chopsticks: "Do you know what it means to have two tigers on one mountain?"

Deng Chao didn't understand, so Yan Li explained to him: "Li Bingbing is Huayi Brothers' top female star, and now she has signed Zhou Xun, whose fame and status are even slightly better. Do you think the two of them are going to compete?"

"...Let's fight."

"Then let me tell you another secret that isn't really a secret. Huayi Brothers and Huang Xiaoming have basically reached an agreement that he will most likely be cast in 'The Deer and the Cauldron.' If you go to Huayi Brothers, you'll be competing with this currently popular mainland actor for the top spot."

Deng Chao objected: "Your Yi'an also has Julian Cheung, right?"

“That’s right. It’s not just Julian Cheung, but also Qiao Zhenyu. He’s basically the one who’s going to play Chu Liuxiang in the Legend of Chu Liuxiang. You’ve come to Yi’an, which means you’re going to compete with the two of them for the top spot.”

Deng Chao was dumbfounded. Shouldn't he be talking about Yi An's harmony to highlight Huayi's cruelty? Why did he end up doing reverse propaganda?

Yan Li saw his doubt: "It's all true, there's no need to hide it, and there's no point in hiding it. Competition is inevitable, but I'm optimistic about your victory."

Deng Chao said with a hint of surprise, "You think so highly of me."

“It’s not that I’m optimistic about you, but that I will support you. If I support you, you will definitely win. Similarly, Huayi Brothers supports Huang Xiaoming more, so you will definitely lose if you go there.”

Yan Li spoke frankly: there's no such thing as fair internal competition. If everything were fair, why would we need a number one male or female contestant?

"..."

Deng Chao had mixed feelings. He had considered signing with Yi An, but he still preferred Huayi Brothers, which was stronger. However, he was very tempted by the conditions offered by Yan Li.

Another key factor was his admiration for Yan Li's abilities and experience.

I wouldn't call myself a fanboy, but I do have a very strong liking for him.

Following such a charismatic leader was a considerable temptation for Deng Chao.
In particular, the recent incident of Yan Li protecting Fan Xiaopang has made Deng Chao's impression of Yan Li even better.

Although Fan Xiaopang and Yan Li have a close relationship, it also shows Yan Li's character. He is so protective of his girlfriend, and he won't stand idly by when his employees encounter problems.

When actors look for a company, besides looking for resources, they also look for a reliable backer. Whether they can be trusted is a very important factor.

Deng Chao was somewhat tempted, but after all, it was a matter of great importance, which could very well affect his future years or even his entire career, so he couldn't make a decision on a whim.

Besides needing to carefully consider the matter himself, he should also consult with his family, girlfriend, friends, and team members who might follow him.

Therefore, Deng Chao hoped that Yan Li would give him a few days to think it over, and Yan Li readily agreed, and also gave him a small gift as a token of their meeting.

“Paparazzi have been targeting you and Sun Li lately, so be careful. If needed, I can help you resolve this problem.”

Deng Chao looked at Yan Li in shock. He and Sun Li were in a secret relationship, unknown to the outside world, and very few people in the industry knew about it.

As it turned out, Yan Li not only knew about their relationship, but also that the paparazzi were watching them.

This method...

Deng Chao's gaze toward Yan Li unconsciously held a hint of awe. His boss was impressive; he could protect him, but he could also easily subdue him.

Yan Li calmly lit a cigarette. He was deliberately showing off to Deng Chaoliang. As a boss, you have to use both kindness and severity to let your subordinates know how powerful you are.

He wasn't worried that Deng Chao would be scared away. If he had that little courage, he wouldn't be worth training. It would be a good thing if he ran away.

However, Yan Li actually admired this kid quite a bit; he managed to poach the boss's employee from Hairun.

Mr. Liu is also particular; he gave up the company's top female star, whom he had personally promoted, without hesitation.

Well, maybe there are new people, or maybe they're just getting old and can't handle it anymore.

Yan Li was slightly smug. Among the big spenders in the entertainment industry, he was definitely not the richest, and he was certainly good-looking.

But in terms of combat prowess, Yan Li is undoubtedly the undisputed champion...

(End of this chapter)