Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 253 Yang Xue's Dilemma, and Her Powerful Circle of Friends
The atmosphere in the living room was somewhat awkward. Yang Xue glanced at Yan Li and Jiang Xin, then stood at a certain distance opposite Yan Li and reiterated her statement.

“I definitely won’t tell anyone; it wouldn’t do me any good.”

"I don't want to offend you, nor do I want to betray Jiang Xin."

Seeing this, Jiang Xin, who was standing nearby, also assured Yang Xue that she still believed in Yang Xue's character.

Yan Li nodded. He knew Yang Xue was a smart person and wouldn't do anything foolish: "Alright, you can go now."

Yang Xue seemed somewhat bewildered, not expecting Yan Li to release the person so easily.

"That's it?"

Yan Li asked in confusion, "So what do you want? To stay for dinner?"

"Then I'll go first, goodbye?"

Yang Xue realized what was happening and left as if she had been granted a pardon. Jiang Xin got dressed and personally escorted Yang Xue downstairs. She was still worried and planned to talk to her best friend about it.

Yang Xue also had something to ask her, so the two got into Yang Xue's car, closed the door, and Yang Xue asked the question first.

When did you two start dating?

She and Jiang Xin often worked and played together, yet she never noticed anything amiss.

Jiang Xin didn't hide it from her: "It was during the filming of 'The Legend of Xue Rengui'."

Yang Xue counted on her fingers and realized that the two of them had been hiding it for more than half a year. They really hid it well.

Shuangbing, Dong Xuan, and Jiang Xin—four of the Seven Fairies are now confirmed to have a relationship with Yan Li.

Huo Siyan is close to Yan Li, and has a history of flirting with Yan Li, so Yang Xue strongly suspects that the two are having an affair.

She was certain she hadn't, but she didn't know how Li Lin was doing. She felt that since Li Lin was already married, it wouldn't be like this, but she couldn't say for sure.

After all, Li Lin, a young actress, has a constant stream of acting offers. Who can say for sure whether she is being taken care of by Fan Xiaopang or Yan Li?

Jiang Xin's exposure, and Yan Li's probing just now, have greatly stimulated Yang Xue.

Now everyone seems suspicious of Qi Heyanli!
It was only today that Jiang Xin vaguely realized that Yan Li actually cared about all seven fairies, and that her ability to get involved with him might even be related to the seven fairies' identities.

However, she didn't have time to be wary or resentful; her attention was mostly on Yang Xue.

"Xue'er, you know me. My dad, mom and grandpa are all in Beijing now. My mom is in poor health, my grandpa is old, and my dad doesn't earn money. The whole family depends on me to support them."

“I know this is my fault and I’m sorry to Dong Xuan, but I really need Yan Li’s resources.”

"How many years can an actor rely on his youth? If I don't climb up the ladder, how will I support my family? When I get older, I won't even have any savings to rely on."

"..."

As Jiang Xin's good friend, Yang Xue knew about Jiang Xin's family situation. She wouldn't make her sound so miserable, as if Jiang Xin couldn't live without her.

But Jiang Xin is indeed the pillar of the family. The Jiang family's ability to buy a house and settle down in Beijing and live a decent life is all thanks to her.

With Jiang Xin's career declining, her family's quality of life, medical support, and future security will all suffer significantly.

“But Yan Li has been good to us before, he’s asked us to help him with projects, and Dong Xuan is also helping us. There’s no need to… do this.”

Yang Xue still didn't understand Jiang Xin's actions, while Jiang Xin explained some of her previous considerations.

Yan Li used them before because he was short of people and preferred to use familiar ones rather than unfamiliar ones.

Is Yanli currently short of personnel?
Artists from Yi An's group, as well as groups like the Teddy Sisters, will pose a threat to them or even replace them.

Moreover, helping each other out between friends is very different from true support and mentorship from one's own people.

Jiang Xin cited the female lead from the drama "The Magic Sword and the Chess of Life and Death," which she had just finished filming, as an example.

If it weren't for her relationship with Yan Li, he wouldn't have used her, an artist from another company with limited fame.

Not to mention that Yan Li could also provide him with some material support and backing.

Leaving aside the former, Yang Xue, with Wang Jinghua protecting her, didn't feel deeply about the matter.

Jiang Xin debuted early and worked her way up for many years, but she understands all too well the importance of having a powerful backer for artists in the entertainment industry, especially female artists.

"But he is Dong Xuan's after all... and how can it be that they got together so inexplicably?"

Yang Xue still couldn't get past Dong Xuan and was quite worried about the future of their relationship.

Jiang Xin, however, took it all in stride, her smile slightly strained: "I can't be his mistress forever. He might get tired of me in a few years."

"Since that's the case, let's stay together for as many years as we can. Let's take advantage of these years to push our careers forward, earn more money, and even if we separate, if our careers are successful, we'll still have savings and the ability to make money."

Although Yan Li was very charming, it was impossible for all women to be determined to follow him forever, let alone treat him as a dispensable lover.

Jiang Xin initially came for the resources, and she was tempted by other ideas, which led her to challenge Fan Xiaopang.

The result was that they were suppressed in an instant, and Yan Li's attitude is also worth pondering.

From that time on, Jiang Xin became noticeably more honest, and although she and Yan Li didn't say it outright, they reached a certain level of tacit understanding.

Both parties get what they need, and when one of them no longer wants to continue, they can part ways amicably.

Upon hearing this, Yang Xue swallowed all her previous words of advice.

Jiang Xin understood everything and had thought of everything; she was perfectly clear about the benefits, the costs, and the future.

Even Yang Xue herself felt that, apart from Dong Xuan's side being hard to say, being Yan Li's lover would be more beneficial than harmful to Jiang Xin, so how could she persuade her? In the end, she could only manage to utter one sentence.

"You...you'd better watch yourself."

She couldn't control what Jiang Xin did, but she wouldn't betray her either; she would pretend she knew nothing.

As a close friend, Jiang Xin understands Yang Xue's personality; she's not one to get involved in these kinds of things. Now that she's playing the victim and explaining the whole story, using their sisterly bond to bind her, Yang Xue is unlikely to betray her.

Relieved, Jiang Xin looked at Yang Xue again and suddenly said, "Why don't you come too?"

"What's coming?"

"Don't play dumb. I wasn't the only one who had designs on Yan Li back then."

Jiang Xin looked at Yang Xue and started talking about the old days, which should have been some time after "Happy Seven Fairies" aired.

At that time, Yan Li rose to prominence rapidly. He didn't have many women, nor was he known for his promiscuity. He also had a close relationship with the Seven Fairies.

It was around that time that Yang Xue and Jiang Xin grew closer as they filmed a movie together.

At that time, their relationship with Dong Xuan was only so-so. In fact, Yang Xue was closer to Fan Xiaopang's side because of her agent and filming "The Little Fish and the Flower Without Flaws".

Although Yan Li's relationship with Dong Xuan was public, he was also involved in various scandals with Shuang Bing, so no one could say for sure who his real girlfriend was.

At that time, Jiang Xin and Yang Xue, seeing the spirited Yan Li, couldn't help but be tempted, and even secretly took some action.

Both sides knew that the other had feelings for them and had even teased and joked with each other.

Later, because Yan Li was focused on his work and his relationship with Shuang Bing and Dong Qin was not stable, he ignored or paid no attention to these actions.

Gradually, Yang Xue gave up on that idea and instead befriended Dong and Fan, focusing on her work.

Jiang Xin did not believe that Yang Xue had given up on the idea.

She hasn't been in a relationship for the past few years, but there's still some lingering affection between them.

Upon hearing this, Yang Xue couldn't help but roll her eyes at Jiang Xin.

Putting aside her own words, Jiang Xin had made it clear to her that he would never consider anything else.

Unexpectedly, despite appearing to have given up, he secretly hooked up with Yan Li. If it weren't for their good luck this time, who knows how long they would have been kept in the dark.

"Honestly, we're best friends. If you're thinking about this, I can help you." Deep down, Jiang Xin didn't want Yang Xue and Yan Li to have anything going on.

However, from a practical point of view, Yang Xue's affair with Yan Li might not be entirely without benefit to her.

First of all, Yang Xue is also involved, so there's absolutely no way she would betray her. If she were to slip up later due to other matters, Yang Xue could help her share the blame.

Secondly, she understood Yang Xue's personality: she wasn't outstanding, she didn't cause trouble, and she was definitely a trustworthy ally.

If the two form an alliance, there are many possibilities for cooperation and mutual assistance in both their relationship and career.

"...You're really obsessed."

Yang Xue didn't know if Jiang Xin was sincere or testing her, but she really couldn't accept this kind of "cooperation".

"So you want to go solo?"

Jiang Xin wanted to advise Yang Xue that it wasn't easy to fight alone. Putting aside everything else, even that beast couldn't withstand her, let alone Yang Xue's small frame.

Her search for allies may not have been without this consideration; that scoundrel was too much of a troublemaker, making her both love and fear him.

"..."

Yang Xue couldn't stand it anymore, so she kicked Jiang Xin out of the car and then quickly drove away.

Jiang Xin watched the car drive away, still unable to understand what Yang Xue was thinking.

Have you really given up?

But it doesn't quite look like it!

However, Yang Xue was gone, and she couldn't be bothered with all of this. She rolled up her sleeves and went back to settle accounts with Yan Li.

That bastard actually collected her like stamps!

However, before Jiang Xin could even ask him a few questions after returning, Yan Li forced her to apologize profusely, and she ultimately forgave him with great effort…

...

Meanwhile, back home, Yang Xue couldn't calm down for a long time after thinking about what happened today, especially what Jiang Xin said to her at the end. She decided to ask her friends for advice.

Yang Xue thought for a moment. Her best friend was Jiang Xin, so she couldn't ask.

Fan Xiaopang and Dong Xuan should not be asked, and similarly, Li Lin, who has a good relationship with her, should not be asked either.

All seven fairies are out; you should find a good friend who doesn't have much interaction with Yan Li.

You can't ask directly; you have to phrase it indirectly!
After thinking for a while, she dialed a number, which was quickly answered by a clear female voice.

"Why did you suddenly decide to call me?"

Gao Yuanyuan is a popular young actress in mainland China and a good friend of Yang Xue.

Although Yang Xue isn't ranked among the Seven Fairies, she's still quite famous, and with Wang Jinghua as her agent, she can be considered one of Orange Sky's rising stars.

Last year, some media outlets created a buzzword about the "Four Little Princesses of the Entertainment Industry," which was clearly meant to provoke or exploit others.

The term "little princess" refers to someone from a well-off family, with a pretty face, an innocent and adorable personality, and a kind of pampered status.

To put it bluntly, it's just labeling.

Among the four little princesses are Yang Xue and Gao Yuanyuan, and the other two are Liu Tianxian and Li Xiaolu.

However, Liu Tianxian doesn't really care about this label, and Gao Yuanyuan isn't very interested either. Only Yang Xue and Li Xiaolu, who are also from Orange Sky Entertainment, often use it in press releases.

Although the label of "four little princesses" doesn't really work, Yang Xue and Gao Yuanyuan have a good relationship in private.

The two knew each other a long time ago, even before the Seven Fairies, because they both debuted by shooting commercials and had met before, but they weren't very familiar with each other back then.

Later, they both entered the entertainment industry and gained fame, which brought back the familial bond they shared back then.

In addition, since they were both from Beijing and had similar experiences and personalities, they grew closer and closer.

Previously, when they were filming "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" in Hengdian, the two had a meal together, and Yang Xue even tried to introduce Gao Yuanyuan and Dong Xuan.

However, Dong Xuan had some opinions about it.

In 2005, besides the disputes involving Wang, Xie, Li, and Zhang, the rivalry between two soldiers, the breakup of the Jay Chou-Jackson relationship, there was also a multi-faceted love triangle that had a significant impact.

This refers to the entanglement between actresses Gao Yuanyuan and Xu Jinglei and music producer Zhang Yadong.

At the time, it was revealed that Gao was a mistress who forced Zhang Yadong to divorce, and that she had also been rumored to have had similar affairs with director Teng Huatao before.

After Gao and Zhang's relationship was exposed, Xu Jinglei was also dragged into it. An insider claimed that all three of them were aware of each other's existence.

Therefore, although Yan Li is a scoundrel, there are many talented people in the entertainment industry, so at least he wasn't the only one who stood out.

Because of this, Gao Yuanyuan was severely criticized, which also aroused vigilance from all sides.

Dong Xuan isn't stupid; of course she wouldn't be friends with Gao Yuanyuan, whose "battle record is verifiable."

This woman is beautiful, daring, and most importantly, willing to share; she's incredibly difficult to deal with.

Dong Xuan's ignoring of Gao Yuanyuan did not affect Yang Xue's friendship with her. This time, she wanted to ask a friend who had nothing to do with Yan Li for advice, and the first person she thought of was Gao Yuanyuan.

However, after actually making the call, Yang Xue remembered her good friend's romantic history and felt like she had asked the wrong person.

The original question turned into small talk: "What have you been up to lately?"

"I'm doing promotional tours. 'A Perfect Match' has just been released, and I've been traveling all over the country. Listen, I'm still in the car right now."

Hearing the noise from the road outside the car, Yang Xue became even less inclined to talk. Gao Yuanyuan, however, vaguely guessed what was going on and asked Yang Xue if something was wrong.

Yang Xue was conflicted, but couldn't resist Gao Yuanyuan's urging, so she said, "I have a friend, make sure you heard me right, my friend has encountered something, she has some unresolved issues and came to me for advice, I don't really know either, so I wanted to ask you."

Gao Yuanyuan immediately understood: "What happened to your friend?"

"Well, to put it another way, she has feelings for a very outstanding man, but she's unsure whether she should make a move."

"What's there to hesitate about?"

"But he has his own girlfriends, and more than one. His private life is very messy."

"Uh……"

Gao Yuanyuan pondered for a moment: "How outstanding are you talking about?"

"He's exceptionally outstanding, I think he's one in a million. He's young, handsome, and rich, his good qualities are countless, and he's also very considerate of my friend."

Yang Xue showered Gao Yuanyuan with praise, leaving her bewildered: "Such an outstanding man, what are you waiting for if you don't make a move?"

"It wasn't me, it was my friend, but he has a girlfriend, there's no future for them being together."

Yang Xue continued to be stubborn, leaving Gao Yuanyuan speechless: "If you date other people normally, you'll have a future. At least you won't lose out with a man like that."

"But……"

"Don't say 'but.' Ask yourself if you'll regret missing this opportunity, and you'll know what to do."

Gao Yuanyuan's personality is like this; she values ​​"true love above all else," regardless of the consequences, only caring about the present.

Yang Xue felt once again that she had asked the wrong person.

But then again, asking the wrong person again—is it asking the wrong person, or is it a deliberate attempt to ask the wrong question…?

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

P.S.: I got caught in the rain yesterday and am feeling a bit unwell, so I'm taking a break for 3000 words. I'll make up for it later.
(End of this chapter)