Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 284 The era of powerful, independent agents is coming to an end.
In early August, Yi An held a small celebration banquet for "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang".

Winning isn't just about saying it; a concrete ceremony can better demonstrate and prove it.

After all, a victory celebration banquet has already been held; even if we didn't win, we've already won.

Yan Li used to think that these were all fancy, formalistic, and a waste of money and manpower.

But after trying them out, we found that some of these forms are indeed necessary.

It doesn't cost much, but it can enhance the company's influence, which will be more beneficial for the subsequent release of the TV series. It will also give the actors some exposure and boost the confidence of the company and its investors.

Of course, everything in excess is as bad as too little. Appropriate forms are more beneficial than harmful, but too many forms become a burden.

Just like signing ceremonies for artists and directors, which are not something everyone is qualified for, similarly, celebration parties are not something that can be held for just any project.

Only when a series like "Legend of Chu Liuxiang" reaches a certain level in terms of revenue, achievements, popularity, influence, and artist benefits will a celebration party be held.

This is also the first time since 2007 that Yi An's TV series has held a celebration party.

Previously, Yi An's productions such as "The White-Haired Witch" and "The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty" did not receive this treatment.

The TV series "The Legend of Xue Rengui", starring Yan Li, was almost produced, but Yan Li later decided against it because he wanted to keep a low profile and felt it was a bit self-aggrandizing.

In the hotel banquet hall, Ju Jue Liang, the director of "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang," along with Qiao Zhenyu, Dong Xuan, and Shu Chang, opened a champagne tower and poured it into the tower.

Several reporters and employees of Yi'an were taking photos. The former need no further explanation, while the latter were keeping the photos as souvenirs and for promotion on the official website.

Yes, Yi'an does have an official website; these days, many high-end companies are creating corporate websites.

Yi'an is considered slow; it only started this year and only got on track after the company moved.

Now, Yi An's official website updates information on artists, positive news, project progress, company profiles, and so on, and it gets quite a few clicks.

One is that there is a lot of information, such as exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of many popular celebrities and hit movies and TV shows.

Secondly, there are two communication sections: [Fan Zone] and [Drama Fan Center].

Fans and viewers can leave comments here, providing their feedback and suggestions.

Sometimes the company will hold some events, during which some fans and viewers will be randomly selected to receive gifts such as autographed artists or movie CDs.

Yan Li, who was talking to Wang Decai in the audience, waved his hand when he saw the official website staff member who suddenly turned around and took a picture of him.

To be honest, Yan Li is quite vain, otherwise he wouldn't have been in the spotlight all the time.

He's willing to get some attention on the official website.

But he couldn't resist the sycophancy of his subordinates; if he cooperated, the company website could become his personal website.

Everyone loves to hear compliments, and Yan Li is no exception. He secretly enjoys being flattered by his employees.

But it's fine to take photos privately, but it's a different story when they're posted on his official website for everyone to see. Not to mention, these people used such offensive language, and he felt extremely embarrassed and ashamed after reading the previous posts about his official website.

Since then, Yan Li has become less inclined to visit the official website, and even when it's unavoidable, he insists on being more conservative and reserved.

The celebration was a small affair, without much formality or unnecessary chatter. We had a ceremony, took a picture, a few representatives gave a speech, and then we ate.

Of course, during this period, some people will also cooperate with reporters or the official website to conduct a small interview.

Yan Li naturally sat at the main table, chatting with Ju Jue Liang and Qiao Zhenyu.

Deng Chao's "Xiao Shiyi Lang" is still in the script improvement and preparation stage. The company is now going to film "Legend of Chu Liuxiang 2" first.

Basically, it's the same cast and crew from the first movie. Needless to say, the behind-the-scenes team is all Yi An's people.

The same applies to most actors and creators.

Because "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" is episodic, except for a few, all the supporting characters in the first part are written out of the story, leaving only the main characters.

As for the main characters, Dong Xuan goes without saying, while Qiao Zhenyu and Yang Xue are an artist from Yi'an and a woman who is having an affair. Wu Yue is also an old acquaintance with whom they have collaborated many times.

The only two I wasn't very familiar with were Zhao Hongfei and Shu Chang. The former didn't have that many film offers, so we reached an agreement directly.

The latter is a bit more troublesome. These past two years have been a period of rapid development for Shu Chang, and the popularity of "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" has also boosted her career.

Shu Chang not only has a tight schedule, but is also the only artist who negotiated a significant increase in her salary for the second film with Yi An.

It's quite common, and even expected, for actors to receive higher pay for the second season if the first film or TV series is a hit.

The production team makes money, shares some of the profits, and uses this to win over the main creators, ensuring continued collaboration and continued wealth.

However, this pay increase is relatively reasonable; we'll skip over the outrageous demands.

Especially when dealing with a large company like Yi'an, a win-win situation will lead to more opportunities for cooperation in the future.

The idea that one meal full means being full at every meal is easy to understand. Many actors would rather suffer a loss in pay just to get on board with a big company and seek more job opportunities.

There are too many uncertainties in the acting profession.

Most actors aren't worried about whether they'll become famous or not; they're worried about how many projects they'll be filming this year.

Of course, some people don't think that way. They believe that the higher the uncertainty, the more money they should make, and it doesn't matter if they offend a certain company, since there are more than one company in the entertainment industry.

To put it bluntly, Shu Chang is in high demand now, has no shortage of film offers, and is confident enough. Yi An's face is not as important as money.

"I'm still not doing well."

Yan Li sighed. He was used to being successful in the industry and being fawned over by everyone, which made him a little arrogant.

This time, he was humiliated and his mindset was restored.

Afterwards, Yan Li's company negotiated with Shu Chang's team, saying that a higher salary was acceptable, but it couldn't be too much higher than that of the other actors. It wasn't that he was stingy with the money, but rather that he couldn't explain it to the other main creators.

A TV series that the film and television department had originally planned to cast Shu Chang in was also canceled.

Shu Chang's side demanded a significant increase in her salary, which is perfectly reasonable, and Yan Li wasn't particularly angry about it.

However, it is only natural for Shu Chang to handle matters strictly and not involve personal feelings, and Yi An should naturally adopt the same attitude, only discussing cooperation and not other matters.

Undoubtedly, although Shu Chang is popular and has good acting skills, she is not irreplaceable.

If "Legend of Chu Liuxiang 2" wants to keep the original cast, fine. But for other projects, Yi An could have easily found actors who are close to her and whose salaries are more cost-effective.

Shu Chang also came today, and Yan Li even inquired about her schedule.

The other party is currently filming "Magic Phone," and I wonder if it will clash with "Legend of Chu Liuxiang 2," which is about to start filming.

If all else fails, some of Song Tian'er's scenes in the script can be redistributed to other actresses and new supporting actors. This way, their schedules can be coordinated, the number of scenes will be reduced, the production cycle will be shorter, and their salaries will be easier to negotiate.

Shu Chang looked a little embarrassed and mumbled, "I'm fine with anything, the production team can arrange it."

Yan Li nodded, and Shu Chang mustered her courage to raise her glass to Yan Li: "I'm sorry, Mr. Yan, for causing you trouble."

"As long as it doesn't delay the project."

Yan Li said a few words in a casual manner, ignoring the toast offered by Qiao Zhenyu, and turned to talk to him.

Not being angry doesn't mean Yan Li has to keep smiling and dealing with people.

Shu Chang pursed her lips, sat down silently, and looked somewhat aggrieved.

It's really not her fault.

Despite debuting so early, she's only 20 years old this year and hasn't even graduated from university yet. Her work is basically handled by her relative who acts as her manager.

It's not uncommon for relatives in the entertainment industry to act as agents.

Few succeed, many cause trouble. It's hard to say their intentions are bad, but due to factors such as vision, ability, and mindset, they unconsciously lead artists into trouble.

Shu Chang's father divorced and ran away when she was young, and her mother passed away early. She grew up in the homes of relatives, so she inevitably relied more on her family's opinions.

For example, she was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama, but later, on the advice of her family, she applied to a school unrelated to acting as a backup plan.

This applies to her studies, and even more so to her career, not to mention that she was a child star and her family planned everything for her from a young age, so she's used to it.

From a broader perspective, Shu Chang's relatives weren't entirely messing around.

Whether it's genuine insight or luck, Shu Chang's ability to choose roles is quite good, and her career has indeed been rapidly improving in recent years.

However, other aspects are less satisfactory. They previously broke the contract and "disappeared" after taking the deposit.

Of course, it turned out that there was more to the story than met the eye.

However, the unprofessional actions of the management team during the incident, and the fact that the incident escalated to this point and had various negative impacts on the artist, are enough to prove their incompetence.

The same applies to the salary controversy surrounding "Legend of Chu Liuxiang 2"; by then, it was too late for Shu Chang to realize it.

The relative's reasoning was quite valid. The most popular characters in "Legend of Chu Liuxiang" were Qiao Zhenyu and her, who contributed to the success of the first season and were also indispensable characters in the second season.

Qiao Zhenyu is an artist under Yi An's control, while they are not, so of course they should ask for more money.

It's not a problem to offend Yi An. After all, Yi An has many female artists, and Shu Chang might not be able to benefit from it. She might even be targeted by Yan Li. At worst, they can just stop working together in the future.

Shu Chang didn't know what to say. She felt something was off, but she didn't know how to refute it, so she just acquiesced in the end.

I was just thinking of toasting at the celebration party to ease the tension, but looking at Yan Li's expression, I've already offended him completely.

At this moment, she suddenly noticed Dong Xuan beside her, her mind raced, and she picked up her wine glass again.

"Sister Xuan, let me toast you."

They did film a drama together after all, so you can still sense something about the relationship between Yan Li and Dong Xuan.

Although Dong Xuan mostly hung out with Guan Yue, Yang Xue, and Tong Yaya on set, she got along well with them and could be considered friends.

Shu Chang wondered if she could try to get closer to her and ask her to mediate. She didn't expect things to return to normal, but at least she didn't want to be targeted.

She wasn't as optimistic as her relatives. Although she was doing well and had no shortage of acting opportunities, she didn't have any connections or powerful backers.

The premise of being relatives is that you don't care about etiquette. If someone is petty and tries something underhanded, then you'll be in trouble.

In the previous incident, the other party was just a relatively unknown film crew, yet they still made her feel like she was in heaven and hell. If Yi An were to take action, even if she didn't kill her, she would certainly find ways to make her suffer.

Dong Xuan, unaware of the situation, was somewhat bewildered as she watched Shu Chang become noticeably more enthusiastic.

However, she had just seen Yan Li's attitude towards her. Although he had a good impression of Shu Chang, she still understood who was closer to whom and who was farther away.

Regardless of whether Yan Li is right or wrong, we can discuss it privately, but publicly we must be on the same page.

As a result, Dong Xuan, who is usually friendly and kind, was noticeably cold and perfunctory in her conversation with Shu Chang, making Shu Chang even more uneasy.

It wasn't until after the celebration party ended, when Dong Xuan and Tong Yaya hitched a ride in Yan Li's car and she asked about the incident, that she finally understood what had happened.

Yan Li's perspective didn't involve any relatives instigating him; as an artist, Shu Chang took the blame.

This also changed Dong Xuan's impression of Shu Chang; the current situation didn't quite match the image of the well-behaved and cute girl she had in mind.

Yan Li didn't dwell on the matter; instead, he chatted with Dong Xuan about going on vacation abroad.

Just two days later, Tong Dawei and his wife got married and then set off for Europe for their honeymoon.

Yan Li and his group traveled together and estimated that they would be able to play for 7 to 10 days. After returning, Yan Li would be busy preparing for the filming of "Painted Skin", and Dong Xuan would also join the cast of "Legend of Chu Liuxiang 2".

“What I mean is, if they get married and go directly, we can go together. But if they have to spend a couple of days alone or have a homecoming ceremony, we can go first, wait for them in Europe, have a few more days to ourselves, and enjoy some time alone together.”

Yan Li shared his thoughts, and Dong Xuan nodded repeatedly.

Going out with your best friend is great, but it would be even better if you could have some private time together as a couple.

Tong Yaya, who was standing next to her, was a little envious, but wisely kept quiet.

They're on their honeymoon, and they've been friends for years. She's a single, new girl, so she has no right to join in.

...

Yan Li and Dong Xuan went home and first took Tong Yaya home. Although she hadn't graduated yet, she had moved out of the school to live because of her job and income.

This is the norm for art students; most art students come from wealthy families and are already earning money while still in school.

Especially for those majoring in performing arts, if they can't act in dramas, they can do odd jobs such as appearing in commercials, working as models, singing in nightclubs, hosting events, or acting as teaching assistants.

This income, plus living expenses, is enough to cover some of the rent. The comfort, convenience, privacy, and freedom are all better than those in school dormitories.

Therefore, only a minority of students in art schools actually live on campus for several years.

Even the school turns a blind eye. They might care a little during the first two years of college, but they don't care anymore after that.

Tong Yaya's residence is not far from the Central Academy of Drama, presumably for the convenience of attending classes.

After dropping the person off and saying goodbye, the car slowly drove away. Tong Yaya breathed a sigh of relief, picked up her bag, and walked towards the residential area, only to be stopped by someone.

"Senior Sister Zhang?"

Tong Yaya looked at the tall, long-legged girl in front of her, hesitated for a moment, and then remembered who she was.

Zhang Li, a student from the Central Academy of Drama's class of 03, and the two had collaborated twice before at school. She was a dancer, and he was a host. Their relationship wasn't particularly close; they were just acquaintances.

"Just got back from work?"

Zhang Li greeted her with a smile, and Tong Yaya nodded. Seeing that she also wanted to enter the community, she was somewhat surprised.

"Senior sister lives here too?"

"I've lived here for two years now."

Zhang Li smiled. She was a student in the class of 2003 and had just graduated this June. She was staying here temporarily because she hadn't found a suitable place to live yet.

Because he was a senior, he was mainly working outside and didn't go back to school often. Tong Yaya also had a job, otherwise the two of them would have run into each other long ago.

"Oh, by the way, I brought some fruit, take some."

Zhang Li enthusiastically took some fruit from the bag and gave it to Tong Yaya, who couldn't refuse and had to accept it.

"Thank you, senior sister."

"Don't be so polite. We're from the same sect and live in the same neighborhood. Let's visit each other often and take care of one another." Zhang Li acted like a kind older sister. The two entered the neighborhood together, recognized each other's doors, and then parted ways.

Watching Tong Yaya walk in, Zhang Li seemed lost in thought.

If she wasn't mistaken, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class that was given to Tong Yaya seemed to be the car driven by President Yi An Yan.

Compared to the average actor, Zhang Li was a bit luckier. Before graduating, she signed with Zhao Baogang's Xinbaoyuan and starred in Haiyan drama.

It was precisely because of this that Yan Li had some interaction with Xinbaoyuan when the TV series "Struggle" was airing, and she was fortunate enough to meet Yan Li once with the company.

She didn't know if the other party remembered her, but she remembered Yan Li's car and license plate number.

Late at night, President Yan personally drove her home. This junior sister from Xinjiang Province is quite the hidden talent.

However, I haven't heard of anyone named Tong Yaya in the industry. Is this someone I just got involved with and haven't had a chance to promote yet, or is it just a casual fling with someone who isn't really serious about it?
Meanwhile, back in her rented room, Tong Yaya threw the fruit on the coffee table, muttering to herself.

Despite Zhang Li being Tong Yaya's senior, Tong Yaya is actually a year older than Zhang Li.

She was assigned to work at the Xinjiang Provincial Song and Dance Troupe when she was a teenager. She participated in various performances and talent shows in Xinjiang and across the country. Later, she was admitted to the China National Opera and Dance Drama Troupe and then the Central Academy of Drama.

Even with its limitations and biases, her experience is far superior to that of her peers.

Her relationship with Zhang Li was just so-so, so this sudden enthusiasm from Zhang Li must be suspicious.

Thinking about the Mercedes that brought her there, Tong Yaya wondered if Zhang Li thought she was dating a rich man.
Well, this situation isn't uncommon at the Central Academy of Drama.

When a girl gets into a luxury car at the school gate or outside the school that is inconsistent with her background and income, there will inevitably be all sorts of speculations and opinions.

Some people looked down on it and mocked it, while others befriended it and even learned from it.

Thinking of this, Tong Yaya shook her head. Zhang Li was overthinking it. That "tycoon" was not someone she could just hook up with.

Ignoring the matter, Tong Yaya went to the bedroom to rummage through her clothes.

During this time, she became close friends with Dong Xuan, and naturally also got to know Guan Yue, with whom she had a good relationship. She would definitely attend Guan Yue's wedding, but she couldn't be too casual or steal the limelight.

She needs to see if there's anything suitable; if not, she'll go buy it tomorrow.

...

On August 10th, Tong Dawei and Guan Yue held their wedding at the Sofia Hotel in Beijing.

Quite a few people came to show their support!
Putting Guan Yue aside, Tong Dawei is a genuine rising star, and he hasn't been in the industry for nothing all these years.

Zhao Baogang, Hai Yan, and Wang Jinghua, these are the people who have helped me in my career, have all come.

There is actually one more person, but they can't be released right now.

Other friends in the entertainment industry include Annie Yi, Sun Nan and his wife, Vincent Zhao, and Nie Yuan.

It's worth mentioning that the entire cast and crew of "Struggle," a milestone in Tong Dawei's career and currently airing, were present, with Zhu Yuchen, who plays Hua Zi, serving as the best man.

Because Guan Yue only wants Dong Xuan as her bridesmaid, Tong Dawei can only find one as well.

After Yan Li withdrew, Wen Zhang and Zhu Yuchen had a brief competition, and Zhu Yuchen was ultimately chosen as the best man because he had known Wen Zhang for longer.

In addition, representatives from both Tong and Guan's organizations, many artists and staff from Orange Sky Entertainment, and some leaders and teachers from Beijing Film Academy also came to offer their congratulations.

As soon as Yan Li entered the wedding venue, he greeted Wang Jinghua and then chatted with several bigwigs from the Beijing Film Academy.

There was no other way; putting aside our alma mater, my wife was still under their control, so I had to give them face.

The bigwigs from Beijing Film Academy chatted and laughed with Yan Li, but they all had mixed feelings.

No one expected that a vocational high school program in performing arts would produce an entertainment tycoon whose net worth would make it onto the rich list.

In fact, there are quite a few wealthy people who graduated from the Beijing Film Academy. For example, Bona Film Group's Yu Jianlin is a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, but he studied management.

However, their fame, wealth, and legendary status cannot compare with Yan Li's, and they are intentionally or unintentionally overlooked.

To be fair, Yan Li was quite enjoying this moment.

Back then, I was just an invisible nobody at school. Now, I chat with the school's big shots and am even subtly flattered. I feel really good about it.

However, he still remained somewhat wary.

The saying goes, "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down." Being a famous and wealthy person has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, when their alma mater is short of money or support, they will be the first person they turn to for sponsorship.

Yan Li is not short of money and is willing to support his alma mater.

But there are different ways to support someone. His money didn't come from thin air. There should be give and take, and the school and students can achieve a win-win situation. That's the right way.

As one of the top art schools in the country, the Beijing Film Academy's influence in related fields should not be underestimated.

On the other side, Ma Yili waved her hand at Li Xiaolu: "What are you looking at?"

Li Xiaolu looked away: "Isn't my brother-in-law there? I'm thinking of going to say hello."

"Shhh."

Ma Yili shushed her and looked helplessly at Li Xiaolu: "Grandma, be careful today, don't make any careless remarks, this is that person's home turf."

Speaking of which, she and Li Xiaolu are considered the core members of the Teddy Sisters group, but it's unexpected that she would appear at the wedding of Dong Xuan's best friend Guan Yue.

There's no way around it; even if I'm not familiar with Guan Yue, there's still Tong Dawei.

We all get along well; if we didn't, we wouldn't have come.

Fortunately, the two of them had no direct conflict with Dong Xuan. In fact, they had even helped to break up the fight between Qin and Dong. So, on this occasion, if they kept a low profile, no one would cause them any trouble.

Ma Yili was prepared to leave after the banquet, but she was afraid that Li Xiaolu, that crazy girl, would cause trouble.

However, she was clearly overthinking it. Li Xiaolu was crazy, not stupid: "What's wrong with me calling him brother-in-law? Sister Xuan is also a sister."

Ma Yili was speechless. Although Li Xiaolu and Dong Xuan had become somewhat distant, they still shared some affection.

The two of them went to congratulate the bride just now, and Li and Dong even greeted each other and chatted for a few minutes.

"Hey, look at that one, she's a bit dark-skinned and looks a bit like Sister Xuan. She seems to be Sister Xuan's new little sister. I just saw her running errands for the bride."

Li Xiaolu pointed to Tong Yaya over there. Ma Yili looked at her, didn't recognize her, and immediately lost interest.

"They might be students or something. Didn't they say a few students came to help today?"

"student?"

Li Xiaolu was slightly taken aback, then said excitedly, "Sister Xuan is trying to recruit reserve forces."

Ma Yili remained silent. She had never been very interested in Qin Lan's palace intrigues. She would avoid trouble if she could, and if she couldn't, she would just join in and chime in, without getting involved or becoming a key player.

"Don't do anything reckless, or you'll die without even knowing how you died."

Seeing Li Xiaolu's expression, Ma Yili still offered a reminder.

She was really afraid that Li Xiaolu would be a busybody and stir things up, and if things really got out of hand, Qin Lan might do something terrible, Li Xiaolu might get killed by Yan Li, and even her group of Teddy sisters would end up getting caught up in the drama.

"You're overthinking it. I'm just watching the show."

Li Xiaolu pursed her lips, indicating that she was just gossiping. Ma Yili was skeptical, but thought she should privately inform Qin Lan and remind her.

As they chatted, it was time for the wedding to begin.

Because of Tong Dawei's celebrity status, the wedding was of a high standard, but overall it was relatively low-key, and the process mainly focused on the wedding venue.

The host was Liu Yiwei, who has a good relationship with Tong Dawei and was here to host the wedding.

Compared to wedding emcees who use formulaic phrases, Liu Yiwei uses fewer words, but he is very good at creating a lively atmosphere, and the wedding process is more relaxed and natural.

After the ceremony concluded, many people went on stage to speak, including the couple's parents, school leaders, Wang Jinghua, and Zhao Baogang.

As a bridesmaid, Dong Xuan naturally offered her blessings. When it came to the best man, Zhu Yuchen was not considered a big name, so Yan Li was invited up to speak by the host, Tong Dawei, and Guan Yue.

Unable to refuse, Yan Li had no choice but to go on stage, take the microphone and say, "I met Dawei and Guan Yue a long time ago, before they were officially dating."

"It can be said that I, along with Dong Xuan, have witnessed their journey from the beginning to the present, through thick and thin, laughter and tears, through ups and downs, and finally, a beautiful moment has arrived."

"I sincerely hope that in the future, you two will cherish each other, walk together happily ever after, and grow old together."

"..."

In terms of witnessing this relationship, Yan Li was second only to Dong Xuan, and in terms of status, he was one of the people with the highest standing in the room.

The weight of similar words is different when spoken by someone else versus when spoken by him.

Whether Tong Dawei was genuinely moved or just a good actor, he hugged Yan Li with red eyes, followed by Guan Yue, whose tears hadn't been wiped away. She had already started crying when Dong Xuan was speaking.

Then comes the much-anticipated banquet.

Yan Li declined again and again, but was still seated at the main table, where the newlyweds came over to toast, accompanied by the best man and maid of honor.

When it was Yan Li's turn, he stood up and took the wine glass. Guan Yue was already slightly pregnant and was drinking water. Tong Dawei knew what he was drinking.

Based on Yan Li's understanding, given Tong's alcohol tolerance, if he were to drink real alcohol, after this round of drinking, he would basically need to register for a stomach pump.

"I've said everything I needed to say on stage. I only have one request: Guan Yue, take good care of yourself and give birth to a daughter so I can have a daughter-in-law."

"Sure, let's make our relationship even stronger."

Guan Yue readily agreed, and Dong Xuan smiled as well. She and Guan Yue had made this arranged marriage much earlier than Yan Li, while Tong Dawei was somewhat annoyed.

"Why should my daughter have to marry your son? What if Guan Yue is carrying a son?"

“It’s okay, I can wait until the second child.”

After a few laughs and jokes, Yan Li let Tong Dawei and the other man go: "You two go ahead with your work, I'll take care of things here."

The leaders of the Beijing Film Academy, as well as several important figures like Tong Dawei, are not people that ordinary people can easily keep up with. Even if the parents of the newlyweds are of high status, they might not be able to handle it.

Yan Lituo is a big shot, practically a member of the main family, and with Wang Jinghua, who is also one of their own, the two of them can look after each other, so Tong Da doesn't need to worry about them.

"Thank you for your help. Please don't leave first. Have a drink by yourself."

Tong Dawei kept muttering to himself, and Yan Li patted him on the shoulder, saying, "You should finish this round first. There will be plenty of time to drink in a few days."

For the rest of the time, Yan Li diligently socialized with the people at the main table.

In recent years, Yan Li has been constantly attending banquets and drinking parties. Even when the situation at the main table is complicated, he can handle it with ease, not to mention that he has Wang Jinghua, his top assistant.

As the wedding ended, people gradually left, including those at the main table, until most of them had departed.

Wang Jinghua glanced at Yan Li and asked with a smile, "So, seeing Dawei get married, aren't you envious?"

Yan Li shook his head: "I'm not envious."

Wang Jinghua joked, "Are you not envious, or are you afraid to be envious?"

Wang Jinghua knew very well about Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang's affair. Judging from today's situation, Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang also had a close relationship. This kid is always attracting attention from women; he'll get his comeuppance sooner or later.

Seeing Wang Jinghua's amused expression, Yan Li stroked his chin and said, "Sister Hua, seeing how happy you are, I'd like to ask you something."

"Has the press release for Dawei's wedding been finalized?"

Have the fans been appeased?

Will this affect subsequent contract signings and advertising negotiations?

"I heard that Orange Sky Entertainment signed Chen Xiaodong. Is Dawei's position as the number one star still secure?"

"Oh, right, and what about Xia Yu? Has his scandal been resolved?"

"..."

Yan Li bombarded Wang Jinghua with a barrage of questions, silencing her completely. Her smile vanished, her lips trembled for a moment, and then she turned and left.

"Tsk tsk, he still needs to work on his mental fortitude. No wonder he got humiliated by those traitors."

Yan Li has a mole within Huayi Brothers, and he also has informants within Orange Sky Entertainment, such as Tong Dawei and Yang Xue, who are both Orange Sky artists.

However, since they all had connections with Wong Jinghua and were also concerned about certain things, the information they shared was somewhat withheld.

But not long ago, Yan Li got involved with Li Xiaolu, who became Yan Li's most capable undercover agent in Orange Sky.

This woman isn't loyal to Orange Sky Entertainment, and she's not part of Wong Jinghua's faction. Plus, she sold Orange Sky Entertainment to Yan Li once before for "The Sun Also Rises," so she has even less of a psychological burden now, even more so than Huo Siyan.

According to Li Xiaolu, as well as Yan Li's understanding from other sources, and the intelligence system.

He deduced that Wang Jinghua was likely about to be discarded by Orange Sky after being used.

At the very least, they will be kicked out, and the power of the agent will be taken back into the company's hands.

It's normal. No entertainment company would tolerate having most of its artists controlled by a powerful agent who is beyond its control.

Whether it's Huayi Brothers or Orange Sky Entertainment, their collaboration with Wong Jing-hua was about leveraging her connections and the resources of her artists to build their own artist management business and teams.

When Wong Jinghua made his move, he preemptively outmaneuvered Huayi Brothers.

However, this also made Orange Sky always wary of her cooperation, and when they felt the time was right, they would take the initiative to act.

Even though she was kicked out, Wong Jing-hua has worked with two major companies and accumulated a lot of resources and channels. She can still make a comeback by bringing in another batch of artists.

But after starting over, she, once the top agent in mainland China, no longer knows where she stands in the ever-changing entertainment industry.

Huayi Brothers, Orange Sky Entertainment, Hairun Media, including Yan Li's Yi An, as well as companies that value artist management such as Rongxinda and Tangren Media, will not wait politely for her to return and seize the market.

Even more so, Yan Li believes that simple artist management companies are very likely to become downstream industries of major giants.

The independent and powerful brokers who emerged during the early stages of the industry's rise and the lack of market transparency will return to their rightful place as times change.

Sister Hua, this title may still be well-known to most people, but for some, it might just be a respectful title signifying seniority...

　(1000/112000)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)