Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 289 Knowing martial arts doesn't mean you're good at fighting.

Jiang Xin came very quickly.

It was quite a coincidence; she had just finished filming a movie in Xiangshan, which wasn't far away, so she rushed over as soon as she received the news.

Jiang Xin has made good progress over the past year.

She was one of the main creators of "The Legend of Xue Rengui" and appeared on screen as well. Her starring role in "The Legend of Yang Yuhuan" also garnered impressive ratings.

The drama "The Magic Sword and the Chess of Life and Death," in which she played the female lead, was also quite successful, especially in a few regions where its viewership ratings almost reached the level of being the best in the world.

Jiang Xin, who was already a minor celebrity, has risen to the second tier after these few dramas.

Female celebrities in this position usually don't lack acting opportunities, at least not in the short term.

Whether or not one can consistently land leading roles depends on resources and luck.

In these two aspects, Jiang Xin is not particularly good, but she is not bad either. As long as she is not too picky, the probability of her getting the female lead role is not low.

As the saying goes, the more money you have, the easier it is to make more money; similarly, the more famous you are, the easier it is to become even more popular.

In the past two years, Yi'an has become increasingly powerful, investing in and distributing numerous film crews. Even those with little to no cooperation have involved exchanges of benefits or a willingness to do favors.

It's not difficult for Yan Li to place actors, but what roles he gets depends on the actors themselves.

It's possible to promote an unknown actress with no acting skills to the lead role, but it requires Yan Li to provide resources and favors.

Resources don't matter, and I don't lack courtesy. I'm not too concerned about favors either. In business, it's all about mutual help and reciprocal exchanges.

However, while it may not be taboo to do so, it depends on whose favor it is and how big or small the favor is.

From a cost-performance perspective, it's better to just take over the projects that Yan Li owns.

Jiang Xin was not famous before, so it was difficult for Yan Li to arrange things for her. Now that she is famous, even though she is vying for leading or second leading roles, it is much easier for him to manage her. Sometimes he can even just go with the flow and make a few words of introduction.

Including this time with "Lurking," Jiang Xin herself didn't live up to expectations, and Yan Li couldn't force her to promote her.

But Jiang Xin has her own strengths, so under equal conditions, including when she's slightly inferior, Yan Li can help her even out or even surpass her.

As expected, Jiang Xin was the first to come for the interview. Her qualifications were relatively suitable, and she had Yan Li's support behind her.

This caused director Jiang Wei and the crew to begin to shift their minds. Although there was no direct pre-arrangement, judging from the situation, there was a 70-80% chance that it would be decided.

After hearing Jiang Xin's report, Yan Li decided to add another incentive for her by inviting Sun Honglei, the male lead of "Lurking," to dinner.

A private room in a restaurant in Hengdian.
Yan Li shook hands with Sun Honglei, and said with a touch of emotion, "It's been several years since we last collaborated after 'Conquest'."

When "Conquest" was filmed, Sun Honglei was the male lead, while Yan Li was just a minor supporting character.

The two had a neutral relationship, as they didn't have many scenes together and didn't actually interact much.

Later, Yan Li bought the copyright to "Conquer", made a profit from its release, and successfully started his business. The two had a honeymoon period and even had a meal together.

But there were never many opportunities to collaborate until now, with "Lurking".

As the major shareholder of the production team, Yan Li served as the producer of "Lurking".

Sun Honglei has small eyes, which become squinty when he smiles: "Yes, I feel very confident now that I heard that President Yan is involved in 'Lurking'."

As one of the first people to know Yan Li, Sun Honglei can't help but sigh every time he sees the now spirited and successful Boss Yan.

He didn't actually have a deep impression of Yan Li from when he filmed "Conquest".

In short, he has three labels: pretty boy, good at drinking, and popular with women.

Even Yan Li's later success in publishing "Conquer" and making a fortune was, in the eyes of most of the creators of "Conquer," simply a matter of good luck.

However, it turns out that he wasn't just lucky, but truly talented. He chose acting as the wrong career path, but by seizing the opportunity, he became a big shot in the industry in just a few years. Even his backer and boss, Zhao Baogang, had to address him respectfully as "President Yan" when they met.

Yan Li got up to pour wine for Sun Honglei. Sun Honglei quickly got up, said a few words of politeness, protected the cup with both hands, and waited for Yan Li to sit down before thanking him and sitting down himself.

Despite his rough exterior, Sun Honglei is actually quite emotionally intelligent; otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten to where he is today.

The entertainment industry is full of shrewd people, and there are exceptions, but someone like Sun Honglei, who has a poor family background, an unremarkable appearance, and has climbed up step by step, is definitely a smart and discerning person.

“Hong Lei’s career took off with ‘Conquest,’ and I also made my first pot of gold with this drama. This shows that our collaboration is going well. I hope ‘Lurking’ will be the same.”

"Mr. Yan is absolutely right. I'm benefiting from your kindness again. Here, let me toast you."

"..."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the atmosphere became lively, and Yan Li took the opportunity to steer the conversation towards Jiang Xin.

"I think Jiang Xin is a good fit for the role of Cui Ping, so I recommended her to Director Jiang. If you two end up working together, Hong Lei is older and more experienced, so please help me look after her."

Jiang Xin stood up at the opportune moment to offer a toast: "Brother Hong Lei, please give me your guidance."

"Oh, you're too kind. We're all friends, let's learn from each other."

Sun Honglei quickly stood up. He wasn't sure what the relationship was between Jiang Xin and Yan Li, but considering Boss Yan's reputation, he didn't dare to underestimate them.

"Mr. Yan, you just mentioned a recommendation, does that mean the role hasn't been decided yet?"

After sitting down again, Sun Honglei considered his words carefully before tentatively speaking.

Since he's a shrewd person, he should naturally listen carefully to what's being said. Yan Li specially arranged a meal for him, but asking him to take care of Jiang Xin felt like making a mountain out of a molehill.

Even with the addition of reminiscing, something still felt off. Recalling Yan Li's words, Sun Honglei vaguely grasped something.

Yan Li gave him an approving look: "It's not decided yet. I'm busy here and can't ask too many questions. Since you're in the group, you can ask around for Jiang Xin later."

This isn't asking questions; it's clearly asking him to speak on one's behalf.

As the male lead and his main co-star, the effect of Sun Honglei supporting one side is self-evident.

"Director Jiang is too cautious. I think Jiang Xin is quite suitable. I'll talk to her about it later. Changing actors at the last minute is no small matter. Let's finalize the casting quickly so the actors can prepare."

Sun Honglei thumped his chest loudly, Jiang Xin thanked him again, and Yan Li patted him on the shoulder.

"Thanks for your hard work."

After that, they reminisced about old times. Yan Li didn't take it too seriously; he only sought out Sun Honglei for more assurances.

In fact, if Yan Li hadn't wanted to avoid making things too ugly, he would have forcibly assigned the role to Jiang Xin the day she arrived.

Yan Li has shown great respect to the "Lurking" production team and helped them make "choices" from various angles. If they still don't give him a role, it would be extremely disrespectful.
He's an investor, you really think Mr. Yan has no temper?!
"I recently negotiated the copyright for a novel and we're planning to make a movie about it. We're considering having Director Gao direct it. If you're available at the time, we can collaborate."

Yan Li revealed a film project that Yi An is currently developing.

There are quite a few male actors nowadays, but there's a lack of a truly powerful and tough actor.

It's not that he has little time for acting, because that's Yan Li's style. It's just that he doesn't have that much time to act, and some of his plans conflict with this project.

Therefore, he needed to find another tough-guy actor. He admired Zhang Hanyu and Hu Jun, but one of them worked for Huayi Brothers and the other for Orange Sky Entertainment, so Yan Li was reluctant to use them.

After thinking about it, Sun Honglei was also a good choice, and the release date of that movie could be coordinated with "Lurking".

If "Lurking" becomes a hit, the movie can also benefit from it.

"no problem."

Sun Honglei was delighted. He doesn't lack acting opportunities now, but he mainly acts in TV dramas, and his film career is relatively lacking.

There was no other way; he signed with Zhao Baogang's Xinbaoyuan, a company that mainly produces TV dramas.

Although Zhao Baogang has many connections in Beijing's social circles, each group has its own people, so there aren't many projects he can secure.

Yan Li's words today have opened up a new avenue for Sun Honglei; he could totally curry favor with Boss Yan.

Regardless, the two sides had a past relationship back then, and Yan Li seemed to have a good impression of him, which was a good foundation.

It's hard to say how effective it will be, but at least it's a path, which is better than him waiting idly for an opportunity.

Therefore, at the subsequent dinner, Sun Honglei repeatedly toasted Yan, expressing his admiration for him.

When they had almost finished eating, Yan Li pulled Sun Honglei aside and gestured for Jiang Xin to go out and pay the bill. Only when the two of them were left in the private room did he speak.

“Hong Lei, you need to take Jiang Xin’s matter seriously.”

"Don't worry, I've got it covered."

Sun Honglei has a good alcohol tolerance, but he is no match for Yan Li. Moreover, Yan Li has the heroine Jiang Xin to assist him, and he is already somewhat drunk.

Yan Li pondered for a moment, then said, "Besides Jiang Xin, you should also help look after Qin Lan, who plays Zuo Lan, on set."

"Ok?"

Sun Honglei stared blankly at Yan Li. He had only mentioned one female lead, so why did Yan Li specifically greet her? It turned out that the second female lead was also one of Yan Li's people.

Won't these two get into a fight if they get together?

Sun Honglei, almost sober from the alcohol, hesitated for a moment before asking, "These two...who are they mainly taking care of?"

Wow, you're pretty good at grasping the key points!

Yan Li tapped on the table: "Qin Lan."

She then added, "I'm also in Hengdian these days. If you need anything, just contact me directly."

"Lurking" wasn't Yan Li's production team, so he didn't have anyone on board. Since it was just two women together, Yan Li, to be on the safe side, found someone with enough influence to anchor the production.

At the same time, it was also through Sun Honglei's words that some people in the crew were reminded to avoid their women being wronged or having any unpleasant incidents.

"I understand."

Sun Honglei nodded. If Yan Li is in Hengdian, then there shouldn't be any major problems.

After giving his instructions and waiting for Jiang Xin to settle the bill, Yan Li and Sun Honglei exchanged a few pleasantries before parting ways.

Have you booked a hotel?

Yan Li asked Jiang Xin, who rushed over. She had come for an interview and a meal, but accommodation might not be arranged.

"No."

Jiang Xin lied; she didn't come alone, but with an assistant who was asked to wait for news at the hotel.

Yan Li remained noncommittal; whether her words were true or false was irrelevant.

Filming for "Painted Skin" hasn't started yet, the two soldiers haven't arrived, Qin Lan and the others haven't come either, and they drank alcohol today, so the hotel Jiang Xin booked is useless.

“Perfect timing. I tidied up my house in Dongyang a couple of days ago. Come with me to see if there’s anything I need.”

"Okay."

Jiang Xin followed Yan Li into the car and sent a text message to her assistant on the way, saying that she had run into a friend and was going to his place for a while, and that he didn't need to wait for her.

……

Two days later, Jiang Xin officially confirmed her participation in "Lurking," and on the same day, "Painted Skin" began filming.

Originally, the start of filming for "Painted Skin" was supposed to be a big event, but recently, due to the chaotic battle between the four actresses and two actors, the atmosphere cooled down, and Yan Li simply decided to handle it quietly.

Hype is one thing, but everything in excess is another. The movie has only just started filming, and too much marketing could cause resistance and backlash from the audience, resulting in a counterproductive outcome.

Because of the low-key start-up, Yan Li simply let Shuang Bing, who hadn't yet joined the crew, busy with his own things.

For example, Fan Xiaopang is currently filming "Peach Blossom Luck" and is expected to join the crew in about a week. Li Bingbing may join the crew two days earlier than her.

Before the two soldiers arrive, we can film Yan Li's scenes, as well as Wu Jing, the second male lead who has already joined the cast.

He plays Pang Yong with a reduced role.

Actually, Wu Yue was originally intended for this role, but after the makeup test, it didn't feel right, so Wu Yue only played a general under the male lead.

Wu Jing has a better image, and another advantage is that he is a film actor, although he mostly plays supporting roles, but he is experienced and has some influence.

In addition, another key point is that he is cheap, at least much cheaper than Zhao Wenzhuo.

This original first choice was rejected by Yan Li after the asking price was too high. The price was even higher than Sun Li's, and almost as high as Shuangbing's.

After the script was revised, Pang Yong, the so-called second male lead, didn't actually have as much screen time and highlights as Deng Chao, the lizard demon. The production team even considered making him the third male lead.

In this situation, neither Yan Li nor the production team wanted to offer excessively high salaries, preferring Wu Jing, who was skilled but paid less.

Yan Li and Wu Jing's first scene together was a fight scene, which can be considered a flashback scene.

The story is about two comrades-in-arms who went to the battlefield together. Wang Sheng made meritorious contributions and won the heart of a beautiful woman, while Pang Yong suffered setbacks in both his career and love life. Later, he left the army and opened a small shop to make a living.

Before filming, we rehearsed the moves.

The script for "Painted Skin" didn't specify the weapons for the two characters, but the martial arts director made some designs based on the two actors.

All three actors have extensive experience in action scenes, including Yan Li, who is not an action actor but has had action scenes in most of his roles over the years, and they quickly developed a general style.

Yan Li was tall and strong, wielding a long spear and employing a wide, sweeping style, while Wu Jing was short, using two swords and employing a nimble and swift style.

This isn't fixed and may change as the story unfolds. For example, Yan Li, after becoming a general, may be able to wield a sword.

When Wu Jing fights monsters, if dual swords have low damage or a short attack range, he can use a long-handled broadsword or something similar.

After all, it's a movie, not reality. The action scenes need to be varied and exciting, with more tricks, which audiences will appreciate.

Mr. Yan held a long spear and easily twirled it, then addressed the actors he was acting with.

“I’m strong. If you feel my strength is not right, just say so and I’ll hold back.”

The actors in the scenes were from the martial arts team. For scenes involving fights, extras are unreliable; it's mostly the stunt performers.

This stuntman was working with Yan Li for the first time and didn't know much about him. He thought Yan Li was just bragging to his boss and chuckled.

"Please feel free to come, Mr. Yan. I can handle it." "Alright."

This wasn't the first time Yan Li had practiced techniques with others; he was used to it. No matter how nicely he was told, it was useless—they would know once the techniques were out.

"Caught safely."

Yan Li gave a reminder, and following the agreed-upon routine, he swung his spear. The martial artist, who had been relaxed, felt the force and blurted out, "Holy crap!"

How can he be so strong? If he hadn't held on so firmly, the thing would have slipped from his grasp.

Wu Jing, who was practicing the moves nearby, noticed this and couldn't help but purse his lips, muttering to himself.

"That's an exaggeration. That's not how you flatter someone."

He had heard that Yan Li had practiced martial arts, but it was only at a small martial arts school in a small city, so his skill level was questionable.

Most of these stuntmen have practiced martial arts for years. It's hard to say how good they are at fighting, but their physical fitness and experience in choreographing moves are undeniable. Yet they lost their composure after just one shot, making their acting seem too fake.

On the other side, Yan Li, after giving two or three reminders, began to withdraw his strength. After completing the moves, he asked about the strength of the opponent.

The martial arts performer was a little embarrassed: "It would be better if it were smaller, and it's also a bit too fast."

Wu Jing couldn't stand it anymore. This was too damn sycophantic. Was the atmosphere in the martial arts industry really this bad now?

Well, it seems it wasn't that great to begin with.

He was inwardly grumbling, but the man was a big boss, and he had to work for him for a living, so he figured it was better to avoid trouble.

After the rehearsal, we did a practice scene before officially starting filming.

Action scenes are like that, incredibly troublesome. Not only is there a lot of preparation beforehand, but the filming is also fragmented, with almost no single take; it's mostly a few moves and shots.

This is one of the reasons why Yan Li was the first to join the filming crew. Li Bingbing didn't have any action scenes, while Fan Xiaopang had some, but mostly magic.

Yan Li, Wu Jing, Deng Chao, and Sun Li have a lot of action scenes, so they joined the crew early to film in order to keep the schedule in order.

They filmed until the afternoon before finally finishing that scene. The two then moved to another location to film their respective scenes of receiving awards and feeling heartbroken.

That evening, the scene shifted to depicting Madam Wang being falsely accused of being a demon, with Pang Yong standing up for her and questioning the male lead, leading to a conflict.

This is where the shortcomings of some action actors become apparent: they excel in action scenes but lack depth in dramatic scenes.

Veteran actors like Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who spend years on film sets, have honed their acting skills over time, making the still-young Wu Jing pale in comparison.

His acting was poor, and he lacked explosive power. Even though he was the one questioning the male lead who felt guilty, Yan Li managed to suppress him with just a few words.

Director Gordon Chan, along with Yan Li, tried to help him explain and adjust.

In addition to tutoring Wu Jing, Chen Jiashang also told Yan Li to rein himself in.

Well, in this scene, the male lead was clearly making excuses and was in the wrong, but apart from a hint of complexity and guilt in his eyes, Yan Li delivered his lines frankly and openly, looking like he had no regrets. This made Wu Jing, who was in the right, seem like he was just being unreasonable.

After hearing what Gordon Chan said, Yan Li realized that he might have been a little too invested in the situation.

After all, distorting the truth and lying through one's teeth are his specialties.

In real life, Yan Li's actions were not wrong, but the male protagonist in "Painted Skin" has a rather indecisive personality when it comes to relationships. He also cares a lot about his wife, Wang Shi, so he shouldn't have acted so domineeringly.

Yan Li has his own ideas when filming, but he also respects the director. As long as you agree with him, he will readily follow his advice.

So, with Yan Li deliberately letting him have the lead, Wu Jing managed to get through the scene, albeit haltingly.

On the surface, he seemed aggressive, but upon closer observation of their performances, it became clear that Yan Li's handling of the situation was significantly smoother and more natural.

Wu Jingzhen was truly impressed!
He had previously thought that Yan Li was trying to gain attention by making "Painted Skin".

But now that he'd witnessed Yan Li's acting skills, he was speechless. Whether it was for attention or not, the man had the talent.

Thinking back to Yan Li's moves and fight scenes just now, they were quite neat and his acting skills were so good. It's a good thing he became a boss, otherwise this group of male actors would have another formidable opponent.

Wu Jing admires capable people, not to mention Yan Li's status. He may be a bit young and impetuous, but he's not stupid.

Soon, Wu Jing struck up a conversation with Yan Li under the pretext of thanking him for his guidance.

When filming, Yan Li is willing to communicate with the cast and crew whenever he has time, which not only improves their understanding of each other but also helps to unite the crew.

Filming is not an easy task; it's tiring, bitter, lonely, tedious, and tedious.

To create a positive internal atmosphere within the production crew, improve work efficiency, and mitigate some negative factors that hinder progress.

Yan Li has managed many production teams, and he understands all too well that the state of a production team with passion and the result of one without are completely different concepts.

For crews where Yan Li wasn't personally involved, he could only offer reminders and encouragement; for crews where he was personally overseeing, he would do his best to ensure these things were done well.

It's good for the whole crew, and he himself will be more comfortable and less troublesome.

Therefore, she not only accepted Wu Jing's advances, but also invited him to work out at the hotel gym that evening when she heard that he had a habit of exercising.

Yan Li loves learning, and since Wu Jing's martial arts skills are better than his, he will definitely ask him for advice when he has the chance.

Wu Jing was somewhat surprised: "You're not tired after filming all day?"

"good."

I dare not say anything else about Yan Li, but his physical strength and energy are indeed extraordinary.

Not to mention that the crew just started filming today and there was plenty of time for the workload, he had experienced shooting action scenes all day long and then having to deal with work or pay his dues back at the hotel more than once. He would only feel slightly tired, take a break, and soon be full of energy again.

"Can you do it?"

Yan Li asked Wu Jing a question, and the latter straightened his neck and said, "Of course."

He was actually a little tired, but overall he was okay. Even if he couldn't hold on, he would have to play along with Yan Li after he said that.

After finishing work, they ate dinner first. Wu Jing originally thought he could deepen his relationship with Yan Li, but it turned out he didn't get a chance at all.

The director, producer, and several department heads of the "Painted Skin" crew took the opportunity of having dinner to report some plans or issues for tomorrow and the following days to Yan Li.

This was just one film crew from "Painted Skin." At that time, several other film crews related to Yi An were also filming in Hengdian. Although they did not directly disturb Yan Li, they still gathered some information for him through Yi An Garden.

There's no way around it. It's fine when Yan Li isn't in Hengdian, but when he is, there are some things you can't do without him.

Yan Li, whose filming schedule was not heavy since "Painted Skin" had just started, did not give any instructions and simply reviewed and handled reports.

We had agreed that after dinner, we would digest our food, tidy up, and then go to the gym, but Yan Li was more than half an hour late.

"Sorry, I have some work to do."

"fine."

Wu Jing expressed his understanding and even some sympathy for Yan Li, who had to work overtime after finishing filming, and it wasn't easy for him to gain attention.

However, after being so busy, does he still have the time or inclination to work out?

Don't be fooled by the fact that you don't have to exert physical strength when you're busy at work; sometimes, the mental fatigue can be even greater than the physical exhaustion.

But Wu Jing quickly dismissed the idea. After warming up, Yan Li picked out two dumbbells and then started training step by step.

"Holy crap!"

Wu Jing kept an eye on Yan Li, noticing that the dumbbell in his hand was 30 kilograms. He silently calculated Yan Li's time and number of repetitions, becoming increasingly surprised, and finally couldn't help but swear.

He wasn't quite sure what level Yan Li was at, but he was definitely stronger than him, especially in terms of stamina. Yan Li seemed tireless, which made him swallow hard.

Distracted, Wu Jing simply walked over to Yan Li's side and watched him until he had rested for a while before he couldn't help but ask.

"How long has Mr. Yan been working out? How many squats and bench presses does he do?"

Yan Li shook his head: "I'm just practicing for fun, I don't need to test those things."

He really only trains for fun. His usual exercise consists mainly of running and boxing. He doesn't go to the gym very often and isn't particularly interested in those tests.

After all, he doesn't compete or do bodybuilding, and he doesn't want to compare his physical abilities with others; it's pointless.

They are energetic and will practice whenever they feel like it, and will rest when they don't.

He doesn't even need much body shaping; he's a natural clothes hanger, and with the help of the system or stance training, basic exercise is enough for him to maintain excellent muscle shape.

As for the more detailed muscle lines, he had neither the inclination nor the time to deal with them.

Wu Jing felt even worse!

He would rather hear that Yan Li was working hard at the gym day and night than hear such devastating words.

With such a large business, such great acting skills, and even such a gifted physique, how are we supposed to compete?!
Thinking back to his experience rehearsing the moves with the stuntman before filming the action scenes today, Wu Jing realized he had misunderstood him. Yan Li's physical abilities were indeed beyond what ordinary people could match.

However, he still wanted to experience it for himself.

It's not a physical sparring match; there's no need for that. It wouldn't be good if anyone got hurt. Besides, to be honest, he was a little uneasy after seeing Yan Li's performance just now.

Knowing martial arts doesn't mean you're good at fighting.

When it comes to fighting, putting aside fierceness and momentum, from an objective point of view, it all boils down to who is stronger, faster, and more resilient.

Technique is important, but physical condition is even more crucial. An ordinary person with great strength, agility, and thick skin can often overpower a trained fighter.

Not to mention that Yan Li himself is a trained fighter, skilled in techniques and physically strong, plus he has the aura of a powerful identity.

There is no solution!
At least that was true for Wu Jing; he wouldn't dare fight him, and he probably wouldn't be able to win either, so his experience was an arm-wrestling match.

Don't underestimate arm wrestling. It tests a person's comprehensive qualities such as arm strength, wrist strength, explosive power, and endurance, and can reflect an individual's strength to a certain extent.

Yan Li was a little confused, but after all, he was a martial arts student and quickly came to his senses.

It's understandable that martial artists, who are competitive, would be eager to challenge someone of decent skill.

He used to meet people at the gym who wanted to compete against him in a certain event, leading to a contest between men.

Yan Li often finds it hard to refuse; he enjoys victory and also loves to see the dejected losers.

"Come."

Yan Li rolled up his sleeves and found a suitable spot. Wu Jing knew he was in trouble the moment he saw Yan Li's bulging muscles.

However, there are techniques to arm wrestling. Wu Jing, who considered himself experienced, rolled up his sleeves and stretched out his hand, only to realize that under absolute strength, all techniques are useless.

Yan Li is strong, has explosive power, and most importantly, has excellent endurance.

If Wu Jing is lucky enough to withstand several rounds of attacks and drag the battle into a protracted war, then he will be completely manipulated and teased by Yan Li.

After a few rounds, Wu Jing shook his head and admitted defeat. Before Yan Li could even boast a few words, someone in the crowd issued a challenge.

The gym in this hotel is mostly filled with people from film crews, including those from the movie "Painted Skin" and other productions, mostly actors and stuntmen.

I just watched the excitement, or perhaps I joined in out of curiosity or dissatisfaction.

Yan Li crossed his arms. He wasn't someone who would challenge just anyone. Although Wu Jing had suffered a crushing defeat, he still had some strength. If you wanted to challenge him, you had to beat Wu Jing first.

The original fitness plan was interrupted, and Yan Li ended up arm wrestling for more than an hour.

Afterwards, Yan Li felt he had done something stupid, but at the time he thought it was quite interesting.

After being busy with work and sleeping with women every day, it's good to relax and have some fun occasionally.

However, this is not without its side effects.

Firstly, the gym became lively, and some people came specifically to befriend Yan Li, which annoyed Yan Li to no end. So he contacted the hotel and set up a small gym in his suite.

Secondly, Wu Jing's arm had been sore for two days, making it difficult for him to wield the sword. Yan Li was also somewhat unwell, so the two of them had to film a dialogue scene on short notice, which affected the filming schedule.

But because of this, Yan Li and Wu Jing became much closer, and when they weren't filming or Yan Li wasn't working, they often got together.

Two days later, Deng Chao also joined the group. With his outgoing personality and Yan Li's deliberate efforts to win over the new general, he quickly integrated into the group, turning from a duo into a trio.

However, before the trio could even take shape for two days, Li Bingbing arrived, joining the group around the same time as Deng Chao.

On the first night after joining the crew, Li Bingbing brazenly went to Yan Li's room to discuss the romantic scenes between the male and female leads.

Yan Li strongly suspected that this woman was taunting Fan Xiaopang.

Even though Fan Xiaopang isn't here now, there are quite a few of Yi An's people in the "Painted Skin" crew, so there must be some informants.

From a broader perspective, Yan Li should refuse Li Bingbing, control the situation, avoid conflict between the two, and ensure the smooth progress of the film crew.

But since the person has already entered his room, things become more complicated.

They kick people out after only a few minutes of meeting?
Where will Li Bingbing's reputation be? What will the outside world think of him, Boss Yan? The halo that the gym just built up might turn out to be all show and no substance.

If they stayed a little longer, they would save face, but the mud would stick to their crotches.

A man and a woman alone in a room for an hour or so. Given Yan Li's reputation and the rumors surrounding the two, even the village idiot wouldn't believe they were just talking about acting.

Since that's the case, then we won't refuse. Li Bingbing can show off if he wants; he'll just help Fan Xiaopang show off back later.

That's how things are between the two of you; you can't avoid it no matter what you do. There's no point in worrying or agonizing over it. Just face it head-on.

If you can keep them in check, then keep them in check; if you can't, then talk to them; if you can't talk to them, then dismiss them. Yan Li doesn't believe he can't handle these two women.

The next day, Li Bingbing instructed her assistant to move her luggage to Yan Li's room, preparing to stay with him.

This isn't a demonstration; this is a challenge!

It's just that Fan Xiaopang's press release mentioned a few more things about his age and how he looks like a tomboy. Is it really worth such a deep-seated grudge?

Yan Li shook his head, dismissing Li Bingbing's idea with a single sentence—there was no point in moving in; he could just book another room.

Of course, he wouldn't mind if Fan Xiaopang wanted to live with him, but he was worried that if they fell asleep at night, these women would stab each other in the back...

(End of this chapter)