Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 239 Whether in career or relationships, it's the peers who make you look better [Long Chapter of 10,000 Words]

Yi An's version of "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" still maintains the style of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng".

That is, a detective drama with an episodic format.

However, compared to the fast pace of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" with its 4-5 episode storyline, "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" has far fewer episodes.

The first unit, "Fragrance of Blood," features Chu Liuxiang and Wuhua facing off against Nangong Ling of the Beggars' Sect.

The second unit, "The Great Desert," features Shi Guanyin as the villain and also includes storylines related to the Kingdom of Kucha.

The third unit, "The Thrush," features the main opponent as the Water Mother Yin Ji, the mistress of the Divine Water Palace.

There are three units, totaling 30 episodes, with an average of 10 episodes per unit. In addition to the main plot, there are also some transitional and character-related plots.

After all, TV dramas are not like novels, which can be explained in just a few sentences. Some important supporting characters need to have a certain amount of personal story development.

Those familiar with the Chu Liuxiang series know that this novel has eight units in total, but the last one, "Midnight Orchid," is suspected to be a forgery; the first seven are more widely accepted.

The three units mentioned above all refer to the plot of the first part of "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang".

Although the story is somewhat episodic, it is also quite interconnected, making it a full-length novel.

These three units are also the three most influential units in the Chu Liuxiang series.

The following units are sequels by Gu Long, titled "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang," featuring characters such as Xue Yiren, Zuo Qinghou, Bat Prince, and the Ma Yi Holy Cult.

The plot is somewhat fragmented, with a stronger episodic nature, and its quality and reviews are slightly lower than the first installment, with less impact.

When preparing for the adaptation of "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang", the screenwriting team and the production team discussed various adaptation plans.

The Legend of Chu Liuxiang is not as fast-paced as Lu Xiaofeng, and it has more supporting characters. If it is compressed into 4-5 episodes per unit, a lot of the plot will be cut.

The fast-paced segments of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" previously received a lot of praise, but also some controversy.

Many people believe that some parts of the original plot have been deleted or altered, resulting in some plots being somewhat simplistic and direct, or even abrupt.

The supporting characters were poorly developed. Even major villains like the old man and Gong Jiu, who are talked about by countless Gu Long fans, only had a small part of the plot.

It's such a pity that actresses like Fan Xiaopang, Sun Li, and An Yixuan, along with their charming characters, only appeared in a few episodes before disappearing from the show.

Based on these shortcomings, and considering the original work and the actors' roles, the production team ultimately expanded the series of "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" into 10 episodes.

Any more would be too much, it would feel padded out. Ten episodes is the perfect pace, enriching the plot and characters without being too verbose or drawn out.

Each unit consists of 10 episodes. If we filmed all the units of "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" in one go, it would probably take 60 or 70 episodes. The budget would be too high, which would increase the risk.

Ultimately, Yan Li personally made the decision that "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" would be filmed in 30 episodes.

Afterwards, depending on the results, if all parties perform well, we can combine the later episodes to film a new series called "The New Legend of Chu Liuxiang" or "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang 2".

This is an old trick in the film and television industry.

The same applies to "Investiture of the Gods"—if it couldn't be filmed in one volume, it was split into two parts to share the risk.

If the first film is good, the sequel will be worth more; if the first film is bad and nobody watches it, then there's no need to make another one.

Because it was split into two parts, the goal was to ensure that the original cast was retained as much as possible when the second part was filmed.

The casting for "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang," especially the roles that will appear in both parts, leans more towards "our own people."

To put it bluntly, I'll pay you for the first movie, but you have to make time for the second one.

This request is neither excessive nor unreasonable.

However, considering that it was the popular drama "Legend of Chu Liuxiang", most of the actors were willing to cooperate, except for a few popular artists with tight schedules.

Yan Li wasn't involved much in the casting process, but he personally decided on many of the roles.

Chu Liuxiang was one of the earliest choices; Yan Li even had the idea when filming "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng".

Many company and production team executives also made other recommendations, such as Jiao Enjun, Yan Kuan, and Chen Kun.

But Yan Li rejected them all.

Jiao Enjun has no problem with his appearance or acting skills, but he is a bit too old.

He's fine playing steady, aloof, and dignified middle-aged characters like Erlang Shen and Ye Gucheng, but he's a bit too old for Chu Liuxiang.

The same applies to Yan Kuan and Chen Kun; their images and temperaments don't quite match.

Of course, this does not mean that Yan Li's choice of Qiao Zhenyu perfectly matches the character of Chu Liuxiang.

He has a lot of flaws, such as a somewhat effeminate physique and appearance, an overly upright temperament, and a lack of acting skills, but he has three most important advantages.

Good looks, youthful appearance – join Yi'an!

No one can perfectly portray Chu Liuxiang, the perfect character in the book, further enhanced by the various filters of book fans, and with Adam Cheng's classic version as a benchmark, no one can satisfy everyone.

Yan Li was criticized a lot when casting for "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng", and he learned a lesson from that experience.

You can never please everyone.

Even if you drag Chu Liuxiang himself out of the book, some people still think it's different from what I imagined.

In that case, choose the one that is relatively suitable and best suits your interests.

Regardless, Qiao Zhenyu's face is still resilient.

It couldn't be that some fat and ugly roasted lamb skewers caused Chu Liuxiang to go from a handsome thief to a hapless one.

Therefore, Qiao Zhenyu may face some criticism and disagreement, but it hasn't reached the point where most viewers will abandon the show. This allows the show to gradually portray and fit Chu Liuxiang through other aspects of the story.

The charm of audiovisual works lies in giving your imagination an anchor point, which then becomes a tangible reality.

You might not be able to reach 100 points, 90 points, or even 80 points, but getting 70-75 points isn't bad either.

Yan Li was a businessman, not an artist.

While maintaining high quality and producing high-quality products may reflect some personal aspirations, the primary goal is still to make more money.

He can earn about the same amount of money, so there's not much difference between 70 and 80 points, not to mention that 70 points can make him money in other ways.

Jiao Enjun is perfect in every way, and Yan Kuan is incredibly handsome, but Yan Li can't make any money off them.

"The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" made Julian Cheung a star, and "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" will definitely boost the fame of its lead actors.

Qiao Zhenyu is young and handsome. Even if he lacks drive, he has potential. Even if he can't become the top male star in mainland China, he can still make a lot of money as a top-tier celebrity.

Chen Kun is Rongxinda's top star, so the possibility of him switching companies is low. Jiao Enjun is too old and has low potential for development.

If Yan Kuan were to come over, Yan Li might still hesitate, but he just signed with a new company last year.

Moreover, Yan Li has already won over Deng Chao, and Qiao Zhenyu lacks ambition, so his conflict with Deng Chao is not that big. If Yan Kuan were replaced, who knows if a battle for the top spot would break out.

Therefore, all things considered, Qiao Zhenyu is not the best choice for Chu Liuxiang, but for Yan Li, he is the most "right" one.

Don't choose the best, choose the most "right"!
Similarly, the other characters in "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" should also take into account many realistic elements, rather than simply pursuing suitability.

While the outside world criticizes Zhang Jizhong and Huayi Brothers for nepotism, Yan Li is no better, and perhaps even worse.

Zhang Jizhong and Huayi Brothers prefer to use outsiders, but Yan Li really likes to use acquaintances and his own people.

His good reputation in the industry and the loyal support he receives from his own people are not without reason. Once he caught Yan Li's eye, Yan Li would truly support him if there was a role for him.

I first met Qiao Zhenyu, the actor who plays Chu Liuxiang, on the set of "Snowflake Goddess Dragon". He also played the lover of the sixth fairy in "Happy Seven Fairies".

Wu Yue, who plays Hu Tiehua, was the lover of the fourth fairy in "Happy Seven Fairies". She also starred in "The Legend of the White-Haired Witch" and is an old acquaintance of Yan Li.

The actress who plays Ji Bingyan is a relative newcomer, Zhao Hongfei, who played Dodo in "The Secret History of Xiaozhuang" and Yelü Qi in "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

This guy is a veteran of martial arts and Qing dynasty dramas, having acted in many of these genres. His image and acting skills are both excellent, making him a perfect fit for a cold, shrewd, and slightly arrogant character like Ji Bingyan.

The female lead group includes Su Rongrong, who plays Dong Xuan.

No need for introductions, Dong Xuan wasn't cast in the previous installments, so it's her turn now.

The reason she was chosen to play Su Rongrong is because she is nominally the female lead, and the character is both strong and gentle, with both the demeanor of a chivalrous woman and the sweetness of a gentle woman, which is very suitable for Dong Xuan.

However, because of Dong Xuan, many of their own people could not be used.

The Teddy Sisters group certainly wouldn't come looking for trouble, and Wang Ou, Yang Rong, and Wu Jiani also didn't want to provoke her, while they also had other projects and dance studios to attend to.

Jiang Xin and Li Lin, who played the Seven Fairies, both went on to star in Fan Xiaopang's "The Legend of Yang Yuhuan".

Therefore, apart from Yang Xue, who played Li Hongxiu, and Guan Yue, who had a semi-guest role, "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" used some "outsiders".

For example, Shu Chang, who plays Song Tian'er.

The character Song Tian'er is innocent, cute, playful, and lively, which can be described as Shu Chang's comfort zone, where she can easily succeed.

The reason for choosing Shu Chang is simple: she is famous.

Last year's roles in "Jingwei Filling the Sea" and "The Lotus Lantern" made Shu Chang one of the most popular young actresses, bringing many benefits to the production team.

It's worth mentioning that Shu Chang actually snatched the role from "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang".

Originally, she was intended to play Princess Jianning in "The Deer and the Cauldron", but due to someone else's reasons, Huo Siyan took over the role.

Just as "The Deer and the Cauldron" was discussing with Shu Chang about changing her role or a future collaboration.

The production team of "Legend of Chu Liuxiang" took the initiative to offer Song Tian'er, a role with significant screen time, and brought Shu Chang, who was dissatisfied with "The Deer and the Cauldron," to their production team.

The main trio of Chu, Hu, and Ji, plus Chu Liuxiang's three confidantes Su, Song, and Li, make up six characters who appear throughout the series. Four of them are acquaintances or friends, while only Zhao Hongfei and Shu Chang are collaborating for the first time.

Other supporting characters also rely heavily on a large number of acquaintances or various connections.

For example, Cui Peng, who plays the monk Wuhua, is Dong Xuan's college classmate, and Dong Xuan also helped him get involved in the production.

Yuan Shanshan, who plays Shi Guanyin's disciple, also has Dong Xuan's influence behind her.

Other notable actresses include Han Xue (Gong Nanyan), Mu Tingting (Liu Wumei), Yang Tongshu (Jellyfish Yin Ji), Qiu Cixuan (Shi Guanyin), and Tong Yaya (Princess of Kucha).

Yang Tongshu and Han Xue were both people Yan Li knew before. The former was invited to act in a film, and the latter was brought in through connections.

Mu Tingting and Tong Yaya were chosen by the production team. Yan Li doesn't only use acquaintances; if the conditions are right, he'll use acquaintances, and if not, he'll choose from outside.

Moreover, aside from the main roles, he didn't participate in many supporting roles. Some acquaintances got promoted because they put in a good word for him, or because he saw them and preferred to use familiar faces instead of strangers.

As for Choo Ja-hyun, Yan Li only found out later that she was Korean and didn't understand Mandarin very well.

Yan Li wanted to replace the actor at the time, but Yu Zheng, who recommended him, came to him and showed him Qiu's appearance and audition clips. Considering that the role was not large, Yan Li made an exception and reluctantly gave Yu Zheng face.

Yan Li not only favors those he knows but also has a bit of localism, preferring to support people from inland China.

While I don't reject actors from Hong Kong, Taiwan, or overseas, I'm not particularly enthusiastic about them either. If they can't even speak Mandarin well, it's a huge turn-off for me.

...

The announcement of the casting for "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" successfully stole the limelight from "The Deer and the Cauldron".

Unsurprisingly, Qiao Zhenyu has also become embroiled in casting controversy.

However, because of his lower profile and better reputation, plus the less jarring feeling, he is somewhat better than Huang Xiaoming.

Aside from the two main characters, Joe and Huang.

The female characters in "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" are often compared to Wei Xiaobao's seven wives in "The Deer and the Cauldron".

You don't know until you compare; once you do, you can see Yan Li's aesthetic sense.

The title "Rouge Girls" wasn't given lightly; regardless of their fame or acting skills, every single one of them was unattractive.

Dong Xuan is known for her cold and beautiful goddess dragon and heroic three fairies, Yang Xue also has the sixth fairy and Jiang Yuyan as representative works, not to mention Shu Chang.

Several supporting actresses, though less famous or less successful, are all undeniably beautiful. Even newcomers like Tong Yaya, Yuan Shanshan, and Mu Tingting are prettier than Li Feier and He Zhuoyan from "The Deer and the Cauldron."

Tianya, always eager for a good laugh, organized a casting poll for two TV dramas.

"The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" won an overwhelming victory with 61% to 39%.

The longer Yan Li works in the industry, the more he feels that the famous crosstalk performer's line this year, "It's all because of the contrast with his peers," is so insightful.

Sometimes, victory doesn't require you to do exceptionally well; it simply requires you to do better than your opponent.

The two dramas, already attracting attention and automatically being compared by everyone, are now at loggerheads again after this casting controversy.
Unable to contain himself, Zhang Dahuzi stepped forward to praise the actors of "The Deer and the Cauldron" and implied that some competitors were smearing him.

Following the pattern of previous years, Yan Li should have stepped forward to refute the sarcasm at this point, and the two sides would have started another verbal battle.

However, what no one expected was that "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" was a response to Zhang Dahuzi.

But this time it wasn't Yan Li who spoke, but the show's producer, Wang Decai, who is also the new director of Yi'an Television Department.

This move was so informative that even Zhang Dahuzi was somewhat taken aback.

What the hell does this little bastard mean? Sending a lackey to argue with me, does he think he's looking down on me?!
Zhang Dahuzi was mistaken. It wasn't Yan Li who looked down on him, but Wang Decai.

Wang Decai believes that Zhang Dahuzi joined Huayi Brothers and became a subordinate of those two brothers at Huayi.

Yan Li and the Wang brothers are both bosses; how can a boss argue with the other party's subordinate?

Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals, commanders against commanders!
So Lao Wang volunteered to take on Zhang the Bearded One-on-One, leaving Yan Li to hold the fort.

Yan Li was not as simple as Lao Wang thought.

Although Zhang Dahuzi joined Huayi Brothers, the two sides preferred cooperation. The Wang brothers also had to give him some face; it couldn't be simply summarized as him being a subordinate.

Nowadays, Huayi Brothers, besides the Wang brothers, only has Feng and Zhang, and the two brothers have to support these two, which shows Zhang's status.

Moreover, Lao Zhang's influence in the industry is extraordinary. He is one of the top television producers in mainland China, with extensive experience, outstanding achievements, and is a true industry bigwig.

If an ordinary person wanted to engage in a verbal battle with him, Zhang Dahuzi would hardly pay any attention.

But Lao Wang wanted to give it a try, and Yan Li also supported his subordinate in taking charge on his own. If it really didn't work out, he would step in himself.

Sure enough, Zhang Dahuzi was on guard, but he completely ignored Wang Decai.

Not only did Zhang Dahuzi disagree, but the onlookers were also unhappy.

The battle between Jin Yong and Gu Long, a clash between two generations of producers, Yan Jinglei and Zhang Yimou, is all about the infighting between two big shots. Who does Wang Decai even stand against?
Yan Li's blog was flooded with comments from netizens stirring up trouble.

One minute they're saying young people shouldn't be so pretentious, that they should be young and energetic, and not do this kind of old-fashioned stuff.

Then he said that he had forgotten his original intention. Where is the arrogance and spirit he showed when he pointed at Zhang Dahuzi and cursed him back then?

Later, I will earnestly persuade him that one of the souls of the Jin-Gu battle was the clash between him and Zhang Dahuzi, two excellent producers, and that it would lose its appeal if the other person were replaced.

Someone suggested that Zhang Da Hu Zi should use more offensive language, or make a bet, such as whoever loses having to run naked down Chang'an Avenue.

Yan Li is young and easily provoked; he'll definitely come out and fight him.

Zhang the Bearded Man: "..."

Yan Li: "..."

However, faced with the overwhelming public outcry, Yan Li still spoke out and posted a blog.

I didn't intend to bully the elderly, but given everyone's kindness and expectations, I can only continue my exchange with Teacher Zhang...

Yan Li, who is only 25 years old, is not arrogant at all, and he needs and enjoys the limelight of public appearances.

As soon as Yan Li spoke, Zhang Dahuzi immediately chimed in.

"Bullying an elderly person? He wasn't even born when I was filming this TV series. Since he wants to have a match, I'll gladly oblige. Just don't say I'm bullying a kid."

Yan Li: "Teacher Zhang has been working for more than 20 years longer than me, yet he still has the opportunity to exchange ideas with a young person like me. Tsk tsk, his growth rate is truly impressive."

Zhang Dahuzi: "People have said this to me before, but in the past twenty years, they have all disappeared and left. The art world is full of ups and downs. Young man, you should stay for a few more years first."

"..."

Seeing the two sides exchanging barbs from afar, netizens and media were moved to tears.

They're back, they're all back, it tastes just like before!
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.

The casting controversy and the Jin Yong vs. Gu Long rivalry brought immense popularity to "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang".

The production team is scheduled to start filming in September, but TV stations are already inquiring about prices.

But such key projects certainly can't be sold so quickly; they need to be hyped up, and the more popular they become, the higher they'll sell.

Who knows, Zhang Dahuzi might hand over "The Deer and the Cauldron" to Yan Li for distribution again, and Yan Li could then release "The Deer and the Cauldron" again, solidifying his title as the king of film sales.

Compared to "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang", Yan Li now prefers to talk about "The Legend of the White-Haired Witch", "The Legend of Xue Rengui" and "The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty".

These dramas are all in post-production and will be released gradually, either as early as the end of the year or as late as next year. They are ready to enter the distribution stage.

Of the three dramas, the most popular are undoubtedly "The Legend of the White-Haired Witch" and "The Legend of Xue Rengui".

The former includes Fan Xiaopang and Ren Quan, while the latter includes Yan Li and Li Bingbing.

"The Palace of the Qing Dynasty" is slightly inferior, but the cast, including Julian Cheung, Wang Ou, Qin Lan, and Huo Siyan, is much more luxurious than when it was first filmed, so it is also a sought-after project in the industry.

Yan Li has already set KPIs for the distribution department.

The initial revenue target for the three dramas, including first-run broadcasts, some local channels, and DVD rights, is 1-1.5 million RMB.

1 million is considered the passing mark. The three dramas averaged 3300 million each. Given Yi An's current distribution channels, it won't sell for that price. The head of the distribution department should be dismissed.

Once the passing grade is reached, sell as many as you can.

Yan Li set KPIs and corresponding bonus standards. The passing score was 1 million, which was the standard commission rate. Selling 1.2 million would increase the bonus, selling 1.4 million would increase it again, and exceeding the target of 1.5 million would result in a significant bonus increase.

A generous reward will inspire brave men!
With the extensive channels they've established, the distribution elites they've cultivated, and the generous material rewards, Yan Li believes that even without him, the distribution department's performance wouldn't be bad.

Not to mention that Yan Li will still be personally in charge, providing some command and assistance.

After all, the more money he gets from those below, the more he earns. Yan Li may not be as deeply involved, but he certainly can't just let go and ignore it.

The above three dramas are just some of the projects that Yi An has invested in and produced; there are also some distribution projects.

Nearly ten dramas, such as Tangren's "Young Warriors of the Yang Clan" and "The Flying Fairy from Heaven", Zhouyi's "The Eight Diagrams of Gods and Ghosts", Hairun's "Wolf Poison Flower", Ciwen's "Seven Swordsmen of Mount Tian", and Zhonglu's "The Spring of Kapok Flowers".

Some of these dramas are nearing their end, some are still being sold, and some are in the process of being released.

Prices vary, and market acceptance also differs.

But overall, there is no shortage of buyers, and there is not a single show that loses money.

Yan Li roughly calculated that if these dramas were released smoothly, they could definitely gross 3 to 3.5 million yuan, or even more.

After all, it's only August, and there's still a possibility of taking on more work later. However, due to the already heavy workload, they probably won't take on too many jobs, or they might take on jobs for next year.

With the addition of the previous three dramas and "Detective Dee 2", Yi An's distribution business performance this year may be even stronger than last year.

Unfortunately, both "The Battle of Phoenixes" and "Investiture of the Gods" were released last year. If they were released this year, Yan Li could hold a seminar on distribution business and give a lecture.

He can even give lectures now.

If last year there were still people who disagreed with or were dissatisfied with Yi'an being the number one distributor in the TV drama industry.

This year, Yi An silenced all the doubts with her fierce performance.

The name of the "King of Selling Videos" continues to resound throughout the entire television drama industry...

In addition to the rapid growth of its distribution business, production is also a key focus for Yi An.

Besides "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" and "The Legend of Yang Yuhuan", Yi An and Yongle collaborated on the second part of "Investiture of the Gods".

Leveraging its distribution advantages, it also invested in dramas such as "Golden Wedding", "Legend of Shaolin Temple", and "The Magic Sword and the Chess Game".

Especially for the latter two dramas, Yi An's investment share was not low, both exceeding 30%, giving her considerable influence, and she planned to insert some actors into the cast.

I recently met Mr. Li from Xiaoma Benteng, who also asked if I was interested in Gao Xixi's new work "Tian Mi Mi" (Sweet Honey), suggesting I consider him a shareholder.

Oh, and I also promised Deng Chao a new drama, "The Difficult Love of a Diamond Bachelor." Once he finishes filming "Assembly," we can start preparing for it.

You won't know until you try it out, and once you do, you'll be amazed.

Yan Li was a little dizzy looking at so many book titles, and he also sighed that it was no wonder Yi An never had much spare money.

Although it makes money continuously, it also keeps flowing out.

Therefore, film and television company bosses are famous, but "poor" in terms of money.

The reason is that the money is all tied up in projects, and funds are constantly being recouped and then invested in new projects.

Successful companies have more and more projects, and can leverage more and more resources and funds. They may not have much cash on hand, but their voice is getting louder and louder.

For companies that are not doing well, if one or two projects go wrong and cash flow is disrupted, their lives become incredibly difficult.

If this triggers a chain reaction, affecting most of the company's projects, the company will be severely damaged, if not wiped out.

Yan Li is now increasingly understanding why Huayi Brothers want to go public, and why Orange Sky and Ciwen also want to go public.

Only after a film and television company goes public can its shares be converted into cash.

As long as they can cash out and exit at a high stock price, whether the company makes a profit or a loss will not affect their ability to make money.

If Yi'an weren't Yan Li's wholly-owned company, allowing him relatively free access to funds and other sources of income, not relying entirely on Yi'an for his livelihood, he probably would have already been eyeing Yi'an's IPO.

However, Yi'an is not considering going public for the time being. Yan Li is counting on going public to recoup his investment in Yi'an Cinemas.
Yan Li visits the flagship cinema in Tianjin almost every ten days or so, whenever he has time.

With an estimated investment of several hundred million, he wasn't without pressure. He desperately wanted Yi'an Cinemas to grow rapidly, go public, and rake in billions or even tens of billions from its stock price...

...

In the morning, I participated in the industry development meeting. At noon, I had lunch with a leader from a certain TV station. I also took some time to visit the stock trading team in Chaoyang District.

In the afternoon, I listened to reports from several film crew leaders and cinema managers, and then chatted with Ning Hao and several screenwriters about the script. Before leaving get off work, I met with two clients, and in the evening, I rushed to a business salon and a social engagement.

Yan Li was busy until 1 a.m. before returning to Fuli City, only to find that Qin Lan was still awake.

Not only was she awake, but several members of the Teddy Sisters were also there, seemingly comforting Liu Yun.

"what's the situation?"

Yan Li asked with some confusion, because he hadn't mentioned it beforehand and wasn't there last night. Qin Lan didn't know he was coming today, so she quickly came over to greet and explain.

The scene before him was simple: Liu Yun discovered that Nie Yuan was cheating on him.

To be precise, it wasn't her who discovered it, but rather paparazzi who photographed Nie Yuan and Gillian Chung traveling and shopping together, and entering a hotel together.

That's right, it's Gillian Chung from the Hong Kong duo Twins. The two were filming "The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain" before, and it's very likely that they developed feelings for each other and got together.

While the outside world may not have concrete evidence based solely on photos, Liu Yun has unequivocally confirmed it.

This woman somehow managed to check Nie Yuan's phone and computer, uncovering a lot of evidence and details.

It's not just Gillian Chung; there's also Hu Ke, who was rumored to be dating Nie Yuan, and Xie Na, a host of "Happy Camp"—all confirmed.

The most interesting thing is that Xie Na and Liu Yun knew each other and had a decent relationship. I never expected that the two of them would have something going on behind his back.

"Liu Yun was so good to him. In order not to affect his career, she dated him incognito for three years. But he was a scoundrel. Not only did he philander, but he also made a move on his girlfriend's friends. He's a real scoundrel."

"Cough cough."

Yan Li coughed awkwardly as he listened to Qin Lan's complaints about Nie Yuan, feeling that the words were a veiled criticism of him.

"Then what are you going to do?"

Judging from this situation, Yan Li knew that the Teddy Sisters were not going to let it go. Huo Siyan and Li Xiaolu were practically bursting with eagerness.

Sure enough, as soon as Yan Li asked, Li Xiaolu immediately replied, "Of course we should expose his treacherous behavior to the public and let everyone condemn that bastard who cheats on several women."

"Ahem, just say it, don't use so many words."

Yan Li found it somewhat jarring and corrected Li's choice of words. Only then did the latter realize that, when it came to juggling multiple relationships, this man was the real master.

Qin Lan couldn't help but pinch him secretly before saying, "The specifics of what to do depend on Liu Yun's intentions."

Because of Yan Li, Qin Lan was relatively more open-minded about the matter. Being a soft-hearted person, she preferred a harmonious solution.

Huo Siyan immediately added, "No matter what, we can't let him bully the sisters of our Teddy Sisters group."

She supports Liu Yun's actions, and when the time comes, the Teddy Sisters will swarm in and make a big splash.

However, since Qin Lan was involved and Yan Li was present, she didn't dare to say much, but insisted that the Teddy Sisters Group should participate.

It's good that they don't publicly show off, but work together to deter Chen Shimei. It demonstrates the unity, friendship, and mutual assistance among the sisterhood.

Liu Yun's eyes were slightly red, but she didn't cry. She said bitterly, "I will ruin his reputation."

She has a fiery temper, is passionate and decisive, and absolutely intolerant of injustice.

Nie Yuan and she dated for three years, even agreed to get married, met each other's parents, and renovated their house. But it turns out that this bastard cheated on her with three other women behind her back.

These are just the ones that have already been discovered; there may be others that haven't been discovered yet.

Liu Yun's trust in Nie Yuan has collapsed; her past love has been replaced by hatred, and she is filled with a desire for revenge.

Yan Li frowned. Nie Yuan was also a friend of his, and he couldn't just ignore the situation.

"Liu Yun, calm down. There might be a misunderstanding, or there might be room for reconciliation."

“Okay, I’ll arrange to meet Nie Yuan and have him apologize to you and promise not to do it again. After several years of relationship, there’s no need to go to such extremes.”

Liu Yun glanced at Yan Li: "It's too late. When I confronted him, I already gave him a chance, but he didn't want it. He even broke up with me and told me to get lost."

"..."

Yan Li couldn't help but glance at Qin Lan, who nodded and whispered a few words.

Liu Yun left Nie Yuan's house almost as if she had been completely emptied out, and Qin Lan picked her up in her car.

Otherwise, Liu Yun wouldn't be at Fuli City, and Qin Lan wouldn't have called the Teddy Sisters over.

If Liu Yun wants to reconcile, she will definitely discuss it with Qin Lan and try to resolve the matter with the least possible impact. Calling the Teddy Sisters over already means that Liu Yun is prepared to break off relations and cause a big scene.

Good guy!
Yan Li was speechless; he really didn't know how to evaluate Nie Yuan's actions.

However, considering Nie Yuan and Liu Yun's personalities, such a thing is not impossible.

Liu Yun has a fiery temper, and given this situation, he could already imagine the scene of him pointing his finger at Nie Yuan and cursing him, and he was sure he would be cursing very rudely.

Nie Yuan is proud and arrogant, and his temper is not good. Now that he is doing well in his career, he is a bit arrogant and cannot stand criticism or grievances.

The two firecrackers got more and more heated, and it wouldn't be surprising if they did something drastic.

Yan Li even suspected that if he called Nie Yuan now, the latter would dismiss him and clamor for Liu Yun to expose the truth.

People won't feel the pain until they learn their lesson!
After a moment's hesitation, Yan Li still didn't give up and analyzed the situation for Liu Yun.

"You're angry right now and all you think about is revenge, but what good will it do you to ruin his reputation after you've taken your revenge?"

"Three years of relationship just to vent your anger?"

"Here's what we'll do: I'll step in and try to get you some breakup money or something, so he'll have to pay up. You'll get your revenge and also get some benefits."

Yan Li offered a more realistic solution, which was the last thing he could do as a friend of both of them.

If they still can't reach an agreement, then he has done all he can. What Liu Yun does or what fate awaits Nie Yuan is none of his business.

Yan Li's words carry considerable weight.

Moreover, it wasn't just about siding with Nie Yuan; it also secured benefits for Liu Yun.

Qin Lan, Huo Siyan, and a few others joined in the persuasion, and Liu Yun was somewhat convinced, nodding in agreement.

"I'll listen to you."

"That's fine then. It's getting late, let's call it a day and talk about it later."

Yan Li gave the order to leave. Qin Lan originally wanted Liu Yun to stay, but the latter did not want to disturb the two of them, so Huo Siyan took Liu Yun in.

The two later joined the cast of "The Deer and the Cauldron" together, which gave them a chance to get to know each other better.

Besides Huo, Liu, and Li, there's another member of the Teddy Sisters group today: Zhao Ke.

As for Ma Yili and Xiong Naijin, they are not in Beijing at the moment, so they did not attend the meeting.

Huo and Liu went together. Li Xiaolu, who loves excitement and gossip, wanted to hear more tidbits and also said she would stay at Huo Siyan's house. There were four people in total, and three of them went. Zhao Ke also came along.

Fortunately, Huo Siyan's place, though not large, is a two-bedroom apartment, so she can still squeeze in comfortably.

At a convenience store in the neighborhood that was still open, the group bought alcohol and food, intending to help Liu Yun relieve her worries.

Alcohol is the best medium for connecting people, and in today's situation, drinking together quickly strengthens the bond.

Liu Yun began to berate Nie Yuan through gritted teeth, and the others joined in the cursing. But as they cursed, the youngest of them, Zhao Ke, couldn't help but ask a fatal question.

Both Nie Yuan and Yan Li were involved in multiple relationships, but why was Nie Yuan criticized while Yan Li was well-received?

"Can that be the same!"

Huo Siyan spoke first: "What kind of status and wealth does President Yan have? What kind of person is that guy surnamed Nie? He wants to have his cake and eat it too. Dream on."

Li Xiaolu nodded in agreement and started counting on her fingers to calculate the accounts for Zhao Ke.

Yan Li's various halos and personal charm have an attraction and control over women that far surpasses that of a popular actress like Nie Yuan.

With his superior resources, social standing, and financial strength, Yan Li could offer women something completely different.

“Your sister Yun and that guy surnamed Nie, how much money did he spend? Do you know how much President Yan spent on your sister Lan? Not to mention anything else, that apartment in Fuli City is worth millions, and it's registered under your sister Lan's name only.”

"Liu Yun, about that house you and Nie Yuan were planning to get married, I won't even ask how much it cost, but is your name on the deed?"

Li Xiaolu looked at Liu Yun and asked a probing question. The latter didn't answer and instead picked up his beer and chugged it down.

"And what kind of life do your sister Lan and President Yan lead? What kind of show are they putting on? Your sister Yun had a three-year secret relationship with that guy surnamed Nie and benefited from it a few times."

Zhao Ke fell silent. Li Xiaolu and Huo Siyan's meaning was quite clear.

Yan Li is awesome, so he has the right to juggle multiple relationships.

Nie Yuan isn't impressive, yet he tries to have his cake and eat it too. If he doesn't get criticized, who will?

"besides……"

With red eyes after drinking a can of wine, Liu Yun said, "No matter how much of a womanizer Yan Li is, it's all out in the open. There's no deception or trickery; it's all consensual."

This statement is somewhat one-sided. Yan Li also came here secretly at first, but later when it was revealed, the women all tacitly accepted it for various reasons.

But Qin Lan wouldn't tell them about this, so many people, except for a few, thought that Yan Li had been openly flaunting his wealth from the beginning.

In Liu Yun's opinion, if Nie Yuan had said before they started dating that he would be seeing multiple women at the same time, and she had been out of her mind to agree then, she deserves to complain now.

But the two were in a normal relationship and were aiming for marriage. Since Nie Yuan cheated on her, Liu Yun naturally hated him.

"If you ask me, no man is a good one. Even if they behave themselves at the time, who knows what will happen in the future?"

"Instead of gambling on the conscience of these men, it's better to find someone like President Yan, who at least treats people well, is generous, and is good-looking."

Huo Siyan explained her "twisted logic and heresies," and Liu Yun instinctively wanted to refute her, but didn't know what to refute, so he silently drank more wine.

Li Xiaolu also disagreed: "A man like President Yan is too shrewd and cold-blooded. He's fine for playing around, but if you really want to get married, you should find a man who can settle down and build a life together."

Huo Siyan curled her lips: "Is your Li Chen the kind of person who can manage a household?"

Although Li Xiaolu muttered various complaints about Li Chen to herself, she still defended him in front of outsiders.

"What's wrong with Chen'er? He's handsome, honest, and obedient to me. Although he doesn't have a lot of money, he's not poor either."

If you don't have high expectations, Li Chen is actually a good boyfriend; otherwise, Li Xiaolu wouldn't have dated him for so many years.

If you think it's good, then it's good.

Huo Siyan felt that Li Chen wasn't as honest as she thought; she had discovered that he was secretly watching her and other girls.

However, all men are like that, and she didn't have any concrete evidence. Seeing that the atmosphere was rather tense, she changed the subject to a new discussion that girls would also enjoy.

"Actually, President Yan has an advantage that most men cannot match."

"what? What?"

Zhao Ke, being of low status and young age, dared not speak or argue easily, so he automatically took on the role of the straight man.

Huo Siyan muttered a few words and then roughly gestured a length and shape, which amazed everyone present. Even Liu Yun stopped drinking in silence.

"how do you know?"

"...Of course, it was Sister Lan who told me. I didn't measure it myself."

Huo Siyan said somewhat guiltily, but fortunately Liu Yun did not press the matter.

It's normal for close friends to discuss these kinds of issues; they can talk about even more extreme and detailed topics.

Liu Yun and Qin Lan hadn't talked about it, but given the relationship between Huo Siyan and Qin Lan, it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to discuss it.

Li Xiaolu, who was more familiar with Huo Siyan, gave Huo a strange look. Based on her understanding of Huo, she felt that there was something fishy about what Huo said.

However, she didn't say much, but continued to ask questions with great interest.

Previously, Yan Li was known for his good looks, great physique, wealth, and generosity, but it turns out he has this other advantage. No wonder Sister Lan is always radiant, yet often appears somewhat tired.

Huo Siyan was not an observer, but a participant. Although she was afraid of giving herself away, she spoke rather superficially, which still drew gasps of surprise and questions from the other women.

Li Xiaolu and Liu Yun even secretly compared Li Chen and Nie Yuan.

One sighed silently, while the other gritted his teeth.

Liu Yun, in particular, showed no mercy to Nie Yuan and directly exposed himself.

"If he had half the skill of Yan Li, I would have hesitated for a long time before breaking up with him."

Zhao Ke was young and inexperienced. Hearing Huo Siyan's description, he felt it was too exaggerated and had some doubts.

Huo Siyan chuckled and said, "If you don't believe me, go and try it with him."

It's normal for girlfriends to joke around and exchange a few flirtatious remarks in private; similar things have happened before, even in front of Qin Lan. Zhao Ke wasn't afraid, she simply said...
"I'd like to try, but Mr. Yan doesn't necessarily need me."

A casual remark caused Huo Siyan to break down, and Liu Yun and Li Xiaolu also fell silent.

The more I compare, the more heartbroken I become. What's even more heartbreaking is that the good man belongs to someone else...

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.

PS: 10,000 words update (4000/8000)

(End of this chapter)