Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 353 Confident Tudou.com, Tudou.com Gets a Crushing Blow
Tudou.com, among today's video websites, exists at two extremes, vying with Youku for the top spot.

In fact, a few years ago, thanks to its earlier establishment and resource advantages such as Yi'an, Tudou.com held the absolute top position in the industry.

However, in the past two years, although it has maintained its lead, it has been caught up by Youku, and even surpassed Youku in some areas.

There are many reasons why both sides acted this way.

For example, Tudou.com insists on diversified development, encourages user-generated content, and builds a community, which is essentially creating a video version of Weibo.

While this certainly garnered Tudou.com a large number of loyal users and video creators, and was quite creative, it also resulted in a lack of strategic focus and a dispersion of resources and energy.

Youku, on the other hand, is simpler. From the beginning, its goal has been to become a video playback platform, sparing no expense to improve user experience and invest in technology to satisfy users' viewing experience.

It's fair to say that, with the same content, Youku offers a significantly better viewing experience than Tudou.

Even though Tudou has many exclusive resources, it can't withstand the rampant piracy and Youku's various borderline practices, which allow it to quickly attract and retain users by leveraging its technological advantages.

Another aspect is financing ability. Wang Wei's performance in this area can only be described as adequate, and he also had to be wary of shareholders for various reasons.

In contrast, Gu, the founder of Youku, comes from the financial investment field and has a wealth of capital and connections, which makes him very successful in fundraising and gives him more resources.

Another issue is copyright; Tudou.com made a fundamental error in its judgment.

Success and failure both stemmed from Yan Li!
Yan Li's Yi An provides a large number of exclusive hit content resources. At the same time, his subordinate Yi An, who is in charge of copyright operations, has contributed a huge copyright library to Tudou.com.

This results in Tudou.com having a lower awareness and intensity of copyright competition than Youku.com, and often choosing to give up if they feel the cost-effectiveness is not high.

On the other hand, Youku, due to the large-scale acquisition of copyrights by Yanli and LeTV, had few copyrights left to fight for. Therefore, Youku was more eager and willing to bear the cost, and it fought desperately to acquire copyrights.

Yi'an Media's copyrights mainly consist of older dramas and inexpensive films and television shows from lower-tier audiences, primarily aimed at increasing its content volume and filling its library.

Yi An's leading role in the popular film and television resources only occupies a portion of the current market. As for the other part of the copyrights, Tudou.com cannot compete with Youku, which is also the reason for Youku's rapid rise.

Another crucial element is the founder.

Gu, the boss of Youku, is a typical professional manager with a capitalist mindset. He is highly goal-oriented, has strong execution capabilities, is well-versed in market rules, and is good at integrating resources to fight tough battles.

In contrast, Wang Wei of Tudou.com has been described by internet industry leaders as a very good product manager, but not a very good boss.

This person has considerable literary traits, being overly idealistic, but at the same time, he values ​​money and power highly. He often acts contradictorily and inconsistently, which makes Tudou.com feel very unstable.

For example, Tudou.com strongly supports user-generated content and the establishment of a video community, partly due to its own positioning, and partly to break free from its resource dependence on Yi'an.

Wang Wei was well aware that Tudou.com couldn't do without Yi'an, so he wanted to use this method to enhance content diversification and avoid being controlled.

But knowing full well that they can't do without Yi'an, they still rely on Yi'an's resources as a safety net, unwilling to go head-to-head with Youku, thus wasting their own advantages.

Furthermore, under these circumstances, they refused further binding with Yan Li, hoping to maintain Tudou.com's independence and high standing.

It can be said that Wang Wei has various problems in decision-making, execution, capital operation, strategic decision-making, and interpersonal communication and cooperation.

Yan Li's recent targeting and outburst against Tudou.com is not solely due to Tudou.com's refusal to exchange shares; it's also because he has long harbored dissatisfaction with Wang Wei.

Yan Li had previously hesitated about planning to acquire Tudou.com, feeling it was unethical, and even considered having Wang Wei manage it after acquiring the shares.

But he has now abandoned that idea; handing Tudou.com over to Wang Wei would definitely not end well.

Once they gain absolute control of Tudou.com, Wang Wei will have to leave or be marginalized.

This incident was not only meant to make an example of someone, but also to demonstrate Yan Li's importance to Tudou.com, build momentum for himself, and simultaneously gain more influence and control over Tudou.com, paving the way for a power grab.

...

Shanghai, Tudou.com headquarters
After Yan Li made a series of arrangements, Tudou.com quickly realized that it was in trouble.

First, Weibo's traffic acquisition has been drastically reduced!
For Tudou.com, Weibo is very important. It allows them to advertise Tudou.com and its content in various ways, attracting users.

To put it simply, since the rise of Weibo, Tudou's user growth and related traffic have consistently outpaced Youku, saving a lot of money compared to Tudou's previous advertising-driven traffic strategies.

The fact that Weibo stopped supporting Tudou.com with traffic has immediately shown its effects.

Tudou.com contacted Weibo, and the latter's reply was simple: Tudou.com used to be a strategic ally of Weibo, so naturally it received various benefits and support.

The two sides are no longer the same. Apart from some existing contracts and cooperation, everything else is handled officially.

Tudou.com wants to drive traffic and advertise, and they're paying according to the rules.

By the way, spending money doesn't necessarily work. Too many people are trying to collaborate with Weibo, but Weibo has limited advertising space, so it's first-come, first-served, and the highest bidder wins.

Previously, Tudou.com had a priority system, but now you either have to wait in line or pay extra.

Secondly, the halting of all of Yi'an's ongoing projects was also extremely detrimental.

Many of the projects produced, distributed, and operated by Yi An are currently popular. Without the support of these popular TV dramas, Tudou.com's monthly active users and traffic have plummeted.

Unless Tudou.com tries to grab other non-Yi'an projects, but how many can they grab in a short time, and how much more money will it cost?
Yi'an's project was sold to Tudou.com at a price that wasn't exactly low; it was more like the market price plus exclusivity, with occasional discounts.

The conditions seem average, but we have to consider how fierce the competition is among video websites these days.

When companies like Youku buy dramas, they not only have to compete fiercely, but it's also very difficult to get popular dramas. There's practically no market price; they almost always buy at a premium, which leads to the continuous increase in the price of online drama broadcasts.

Why does Tudou.com rely on Yi'an? They simply can't compete with them, and the prices are too high. It's better to cooperate comfortably with Yi'an; there's no need to compete, and the prices are reasonable.

However, now that Yi'an has stopped cooperating, Tudou.com is in just as much pain as it was before.

Furthermore, what's even more critical is that Yi'an Media has suspended the renewal of its copyright library contract.

Yian Media's copyright has always been leased to Tudou.com for 3 to 5 years, with renewal upon expiration.

These copyrights are numerous, providing over 75% of Tudou.com's film and television resources, and the annual rental fees alone amount to a considerable sum.

Tudou.com is aware that outsourcing its copyright library is too risky and has been trying to resolve this potential problem, but Yi'an Media only rents and does not sell.

With Yan Li behind Yi'an Media, Tudou.com couldn't use any coercive measures and could only grit its teeth and rent the content while trying to replenish its own film library.

However, due to limited funding and the fact that most copyrights on the market have been acquired, Tudou's own film library has not performed well, and it still has to rely on Yi'an's copyright library.

The hidden dangers have now surfaced, but because there are still contracts in place, Tudou.com is not in immediate danger.

However, if the contract is not renewed for a long time, a large amount of Tudou.com's film library resources will disappear, and within 1 to 3 years, it may decrease by half.

This is the root of the potato-digging net!
Inside the office, Wang Wei was so annoyed by the executives that she couldn't speak, and finally couldn't help but yell.

"stop fighting."

"What's there to panic about? It's not like the world is about to collapse yet."

Wang Wei looked at the executives who had calmed down and said calmly with a frown.

"Don't rush, he's putting pressure on me. I realized that when I rejected him."

"Especially at times like these, we must remain calm and composed."

“As soon as he put pressure on us, we compromised, and from then on, Tudou.com became a worker for Weibo and Yi An.”

One executive questioned, "Can we just not compromise and confront them head-on?"

"What's not allowed?"

Wang Wei said confidently, "Weibo and Yi'an were originally part of the cooperation benefits. Canceling them just puts us on the same starting line as other websites. Our losses are not as great as we imagine."

"Although the copyright database is fatal, there is still time, and we have a chance to make amends."

"In this way, we should try to keep Yan Li calm and avoid escalating the conflict or provoking him to retaliate. We should try to deceive him as much as possible and drag things out."

"You can tell from Yan Li's attitude that he still has room for maneuver and doesn't want things to fall apart, which leaves room for negotiation."

“If this drags on, Yan Li will also suffer losses and will worry that our tough stance will harm his interests. At this point, if we soften our stance appropriately, we can resolve this crisis at the lowest possible cost.”

"This matter is also a test for us. Perhaps it can help us reduce our dependence on Yi'an, reduce related controls, and gain more autonomy."

Some executives also lacked confidence: "Will this work? There are rumors that Yan Li is leaving Tudou, and some shareholders have already called to inquire."

Anyone with eyes to see understands Yan Li's importance to Tudou.com; his many accolades are also a crucial part of Tudou.com's success.

If Yan Li leaves Tudou.com, it will be a devastating blow to the company, and may even trigger a mass exodus of investors. In that case, Tudou.com will be in dire straits.

"It's just a pressure technique, don't panic."

Wang Wei believes that Yan Li will not leave Tudou.com. Tudou.com is currently the industry leader, and Yan Li himself is a major shareholder who has invested countless resources and effort. Moreover, Tudou.com complements and supports his business empire.

This situation is simply due to some disagreements with Tudou.com. It's something that can be resolved through negotiation, and there's no need for such a heated response.

“I will call him personally to ease the tension between the two sides. President Xiong and President Xu will also put in a good word for him. I don’t think he will refuse to give me face.”

Wang Wei kept encouraging his team: "We can't back down. If we back down once, we won't be able to get back up. We're called potatoes, but we're not real potatoes that can be arbitrarily molded into round or flat shapes by others."

...

Hengdian, Yi'an Garden
Yan Li brushed his teeth while looking at the Tudou.com plan triggered by today's intelligence.

"Pretending to bow your head to buy time?"

"It seems the approach was too gentle; the pressure wasn't enough."

Yan Li rinsed his mouth, not too surprised. Although he had some opinions about Wang Wei, he was no fool who could have built Tudou.com to where it is today.

Given Tudou.com's size, even without the support and assistance of Weibo and Yi'an, it's unlikely to fall into complete disarray immediately.

Well, it seems we need to let Tudou.com experience the bitterness of leaving Yi'an and becoming her enemy before applying maximum pressure.

After brushing his teeth, Yan Li shaved, changed his clothes, and then went to the gym.

There are many people and a lot of gossip in Hengdian, and Yi'an Garden has a ready-made gym, so Yan Li often chooses to exercise indoors.

When the workout was over, Qin Lan was already up and putting on makeup. Seeing his grief and indignation, she said in a hoarse voice.

"It's all your fault. No matter how I film today, people will judge me based on that."

"You can't blame me for this. I told you to take a break before, but you kept talking."

Qin Lan, perhaps due to her age, has become increasingly talkative, talking non-stop all day long.

With so many members of the "Beauty's Rival in Palace" Teddy Sisters group present this time, she finally found someone to chat with. She kept talking about her lines in the drama and off-screen as well.

These past two days, Yan Li visited the set in Hengdian, and she kept sharing her experiences, her voice hoarse from talking so much.

Of course, Yan Li must also admit that he bears some responsibility for using too much force.

But Qin Lan pinned all the blame on him, and he absolutely refused to admit it.

Qin Lan rolled her eyes at him and texted her assistant, asking her to get her some throat-soothing medicine.

Yan Li took a shower, then turned on his computer to make some arrangements for Tudou.com.

He instructed Yi'an Distribution Department to sell the online broadcasting rights of the drama "Lurking" to Yi'an Media, and then Yi'an Media would negotiate a cooperation with Youku or Ku6.

Then, we arranged for Weibo to follow up and coordinate with a series of promotional and marketing activities for "Lurking".

This drama was Yi An's key project in April. It was originally a major weapon for Tudou.com, but now it has become a weapon to counter Tudou.com.

Wang Wei thought that Yan Li would consider the equity interests of Tudou.com and would only suspend cooperation, but would not support the enemy.

Yan Li did have concerns, but once he knew Wang Wei's thoughts, he wouldn't follow his plan.

Instead, they need to project a more assertive stance, making people feel that Tudou.com will either obey or become Yan Li's enemy.

Yi An's cooperation with Youku and other competitors of Tudou.com is the first step; other stunts, such as those on Weibo, may follow at any time.

Yan Li thought for a moment and then leaked the information to Weibo.

They could leak relevant information to the public, revealing that Yi An and Tudou.com had started to fall out, and then shift the blame onto Wang Wei and Tudou.com.

Wang Wei acted unilaterally, and Tudou.com, ungrateful and disregarding the interests of Yi An and Weibo, refused to cooperate, only demanding without giving back. Yan Li could no longer tolerate this and completely severed ties with Tudou.com.

Seize the moral high ground!

Information warfare!
Yan Li has the power of Weibo, a platform for public opinion, and is also more popular with the general public. If he doesn't play these two cards well, he will lose face.

"Let's leave it at that for now and see how things develop."

Yan Li did not take drastic measures against Tudou.com, but focused on deterrence and pressure.

Otherwise, Weibo would never have acted so gently. As the largest public opinion platform, Weibo has far too many tricks up its sleeve.

Putting aside other issues, Tudou.com has inevitably engaged in various questionable practices over the years, directly stirring up controversy and plunging Tudou.com into a negative vortex.

At the same time, leveraging Yi An's influence and influence in the entertainment industry, they launched a coordinated attack on Tudou.com.

Even if it doesn't prevent Tudou.com from buying resources, it can still increase the difficulty and price, thus draining their funds.

This doesn't even take into account the fact that many of Tudou.com's shareholders are on good terms with Yan Li, or the official policies that have dealt a blow to them. If the two sides were truly irreconcilable enemies, Yan Li could either destroy Tudou.com or leave it half-dead.

"Who made you angry again?"

At some point, Qin Lan came over and placed her hands on Yan Li's forehead, rubbing them gently.

"Don't frown too much, it makes you look old."

Having followed Yan Li for so long, Qin Lan was still sensitive to Yan Li's emotions, and could easily detect even the stronger ones.

Just by looking at Yan Li's state, I knew he was up to no good again.

"A little incident."

Yan Li didn't want to elaborate, and glanced at the time: "It's almost 7:30. Didn't you have a show this morning?"

Qin Lan is the female lead with many scenes. In the past, she often got up at four or five o'clock to get her makeup done, and the other day she was rushing to the dressing room at six or seven o'clock.

"Yu Zheng said the set design didn't work out, so the play was rescheduled for the afternoon."

Yan Li immediately understood what was going on: "Instead of focusing on filming, you're thinking about this."

What set design didn't work out? It was clearly an attempt to please the boss and his wife. If the schedule hadn't been fixed a couple of days ago and difficult to adjust, Qin Lan would probably have been relieved by now.

"Don't say that, they were just trying to be kind."

But the film crew delayed shooting, and it cost me money. I also owe them a favor!?

Yan Li complained, but didn't say anything. Qin Lan had indeed been busy these past two days, and he didn't dare to bother her much at night.

Since she rarely had a half-day off, Qin Lan didn't want to stay idle at home, so she dragged Yan Li out for a stroll and even went to visit the grove where they first met.

This is a routine she and Yan Li do every time they come to Hengdian together; they even take photos to commemorate the occasion.

Hengdian is developing rapidly and changing every day. Who knows, this little grove might be gone one day. At least we'll have photos to remember it by.

After wandering around for a long time, I almost ran into a group of paparazzi.

Yan Li watched the paparazzi's departing figures and said, "These people aren't from the mainland, are they? They seem to be from Hong Kong."

He has dealt with paparazzi from both mainland China and Hong Kong. They tend to be more low-key on the mainland, while they are much more arrogant in Hong Kong, and their clothing and demeanor are also slightly different.

"There have indeed been a lot more paparazzi these past two days. After Stephen Chow's 'big shot scandal,' there have been all sorts of reporters interviewing him. Before that, a reporter even came to our film set to interview Lao Ba (Cherrie Ying)."

Yan Li understood that in March, Xiang Tai, the wife of the boss of China Star, suddenly attacked Stephen Chow, which sparked a heated discussion.

The media hype and netizens' discussions were intense. Artists who had worked with Zhou spoke out for various reasons, dividing themselves into anti-Zhou factions, pro-Zhou factions, ambiguous factions, and those who remained neutral. Netizens were also in an uproar. Zhou's divorce and custody battle with Alyssa Chia became the biggest hot topic in March and April.

Zhou Xingchi and Jia Jingwen's experiences and situations had nothing to do with Yan Li, but he was involved in them to some extent.

There's no way around it; these are huge topics, and Weibo can't avoid them or give them up.

As for whether Yan Li or Weibo is on one side, it's not difficult to choose. Whoever the users and the public support more, that's who they will support.

Therefore, in response to Zhou's incident, several influential Weibo users and online celebrities took the lead in launching a campaign on Weibo to refute the rumors about Zhou Xingchi and to show their support.

Unfortunately, Stephen Chow didn't respond, probably wanting to let it go, otherwise Weibo might have wanted to do an exclusive interview with him or something.

Alyssa Chia was much more cooperative; she wanted to regain custody of her daughter and needed the advantage of public opinion.

Weibo not only provided her with exclusive interviews and public opinion support, but also gave her a platform to voice her opinions. Now she has far more supporters in mainland China than in Taiwan.

Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages. Alyssa Chia gained public support, but aside from her "good mother" persona, her personal halo filter has shattered.

Taiwanese media may have a thousand faults, but their intelligence capabilities are truly formidable; they've even dug up details of people's private lives.

She endured humiliation and hardship to marry into a wealthy family, but her mother-in-law was difficult, her husband was unfaithful, and she forced a smile and swallowed her anger. As a result, she was kicked out of the house a few years later. Not only did she leave with nothing, but if she wanted her daughter back, she also had to pay her husband's family 2600 million yuan and was not allowed to remarry for five years.

Previously, Alyssa Chia was a beloved goddess of period dramas, one of the very few actresses from Taiwan who could rival the most popular actresses from mainland China. She made it into the top 32 of the Weibo Goddess competition for two consecutive years, and her marriage into a wealthy family was the envy of many. She herself also frequently released press releases promoting herself as a wealthy socialite.

Now the goddess and wealthy wife aura is gone, leaving only a pathetic state and public sympathy. Don't think this is a good thing; this is no longer the era of divorced, single, child-bearing, successful women exploiting others.

Nowadays, celebrities don't have direct monetization capabilities, so they need various personas to raise their value in order to make money through acting and endorsements.

However, her public image has been affected, her commercial value has declined, and factors such as lawsuits, age, and raising children have created risks and uncertainties. Who would dare to easily ask her to act in a film or television production?

"Women, if you meet an unreliable man, half your life will be ruined."

When Yan Li and Qin Lan returned, they talked about Jia Jingwen and started trying to get her attention again.

Compared to Jia's ex-husband, his image is much more impressive.

Qin Lan was speechless: "Why do you always compare yourself to bad people? Can't you compare yourself to good people too?"

"Sorry, I can't find it."

Yan Li looked arrogant, and Qin Lan retorted, "Wen Zhang from the Ma family practically dotes on Old Ma. He never listens to anyone, and he never criticizes anyone."

"He's just a pretty boy. If he doesn't act like a pushover, who will? Just watch, this kind of person is very good at hiding his true colors. The day he gains power, he'll become arrogant and domineering."

Others may not know, but I do know a bit about Wen Zhangyanli. There used to be an annual list of the top ten scumbags.

The Teddy Sisters all thought he was a good man and a good father, and Yan Li was just waiting to see what would happen.

"Zheng Jun, whom Liu Yun is dating, is talented and has good taste."

Yan Li complained, "He's also old, has a bad temper, and is a divorcee."

Putting aside everything else, Wen Zhang has indeed been considerate and devoted so far, and in terms of taking care of and being attentive to his wife, he can somewhat surpass Yan Li.

But when Zheng Jun compared him to Yan Li, Yan Li felt it was somewhat insulting.

Zheng has some musical talent, but Yan Li's business acumen is lacking. Putting aside his status, wealth, and age, which would be bullying, Yan Li is far superior to Zheng in terms of temperament and caring.

Aside from being a bit busy, Yan Li was incredibly kind to Qin Lan.

Qin Lan had also talked to Zheng Jun about his relationship with Liu Yun. The two would argue every few days. Zheng Jun had all sorts of bad habits. Even if Yan Li had half his emotional intelligence, he would still be better at coaxing people.

Qin Lan also realized that this example was wrong; Liu Yun was a negative example, and she didn't know why Liu was so determined to be with Zheng.

"Well... well, what about Lao Jiu's boss, Mr. Jia? His private life is very clean, and his net worth is not low either."

Yan Li flicked his hair: "Is he as handsome as me?"

Qin Lan: "..."

To be honest, even though this bastard is narcissistic, after considering everyone, he's still the best.

With that thought, Qin Lan was satisfied. She took Yan Li's hand and strolled over to the hotel where "Beauty's Rival in Palace" was being filmed.

From the day Yan Li came to visit the set, the sisters kept urging their brother-in-law to treat them to a meal.

Everyone was busy filming before, so some people were able to gather at noon today. Yan Li ordered a big meal and we had a small get-together at the hotel.

Zhao Ke, Ying Cai'er, Liu Yun, Huo Siyan, Li Xiaolu, and Xiong Naijin were all there. Huo Siyan, Liu Yun, and Ying Cai'er were even wearing their costumes. They gathered during a break from filming. Yu Zheng, that shameless guy, also came.

After filming "Beauty's Rival in Palace", he almost became an unofficial member of the Teddy Sisters group, and he was always present at every gathering.

This time was no exception; it was a rare opportunity to meet with the big boss and build connections, and he wouldn't leave even when we told him to.

Yan Li, of course, wouldn't chase him away, and they even started talking about Yu Zheng's next film.

As a screenwriter and producer, Yu Zheng may have various flaws, but in terms of overall quality, output, and profitability, he is definitely a rare talent.

While "Beauty's Rival in Palace" is still filming, Yu Zheng has already submitted his filming plans for his next project to Yan Li.

Moreover, it's not one, but two: one is a period drama set in the Republican era, and the other is a family comedy.

Yan Li approved of the family comedy, but felt that the other Republican-era drama was not promising, or rather, not very promising.

Yu Zheng's main audience is currently housewives and teenagers. His dramas all have some melodramatic elements, which are most loved by these two groups.

That period drama took a tragic approach, probably because Yu Zheng wanted to try something different.

However, his style has become fixed, which has led to this drama trying to explore some depth while being melodramatic, but also revealing various melodramatic flaws within that depth, resulting in a hodgepodge that Yan Li didn't even have the patience to finish reading the script outline.

"Idol dramas are becoming increasingly popular, and teenagers are gradually becoming the main audience for viewership and online discussions. I think you can put more effort into this area."

Yan Li offered Zheng advice: "The entertainment industry changes very quickly; we're fast, and the audience's tastes change just as fast."

"In the next few years, the largest audience for film and television may be the growing post-90s generation. Whoever can grasp their tastes will be the trendsetter in the industry."

"Those of us in the film and television industry must be sensitive to changes in trends. Following and leading the trend will yield twice the results with half the effort, while going against the current will only lead to half the results with twice the effort. Being washed away on the beach is the fate of most people."

"..."

Yu Zheng seemed to be deep in thought. Usually, he would think more from the perspective of a screenwriter, figuring out how to write a story that the audience would like to watch.

Or, from a producer's perspective, consider things like how to make it better, what actors to use, what audiences like, how to promote and attract viewers, and so on.

Now Yan Li is leading him to a higher-dimensional perspective to study and judge the future of the entire industry and the changes in the user base.

Clear the clouds and see the sun!

Daigo empowerment!

Mouth open!

Seriously, don't be fooled by how simple Yan Li's words sound. It's because he has a high enough position, abundant information resources, a deeper understanding of the market, and some future intelligence that he can see the situation so clearly.

For most people, being caught up in the situation, the future is shrouded in mist, making it difficult to discern the path forward.

Being able to grasp the market trends and follow the market is considered a sign of intelligence, let alone accurately predicting the future of the market. Apart from a few elite talents, many people who stand at the forefront of trends are actually just lucky.

Yan Li and Yu Zheng were chatting animatedly, and the other members of the Teddy Sisters group originally wanted to join in and say a few words.

As the conversation progressed, they gradually became hesitant to interrupt or lost interest.

Huo Siyan and the others whispered among themselves for a while, then set up the mahjong table again. Some ate, some chatted, and some played cards, all quite relaxed.

Yu Zheng didn't stay long; he still had work to do.

Qin Lan finished her meal, played two rounds of games, and then left. She had a scene to film in the afternoon and needed to get her makeup done beforehand. Liu Yun, Ying Cai'er, and Xiong Naijin, who also had filming commitments, left one after another.

Yan Li also wanted to leave, but Huo Siyan used the excuse that there was no one else available and begged him to join in.

Having dealt with this young woman for so many years, Yan Li knew her well enough. The gathering was just a pretense; her true intention was to impress people.

However, Yan Li glanced at the people who remained. Li Xiaolu was no exception, as she was no different from Huo Siyan, but there was also Zhao Ke, an outsider.

"It's alright, we'll figure out how to deal with it later."

Huo Siyan had been itching to make a move ever since Yan Li arrived, but Yan Li usually stayed at Yi'an Garden, which was always crowded with people, including Qin Lan. She was afraid of being exposed, so she didn't dare to go to his door.

Taking advantage of the gathering, Qin Lan went to film a movie, and Yan Li was finally left alone. She definitely wanted to give it her all.

Li Xiaolu's eyes were filled with spring-like affection, which she made no attempt to conceal.

As soon as Qin Lan and the others left, Yan Li sat down and began to take off her shoes and rub one foot under the table.

"cough."

Huo Siyan was somewhat displeased and glared at Li Xiaolu, saying, "Don't be reckless. If Zhao Ke finds out, things will get really bad."

Under Huo Siyan's coercion, Li Xiaolu finally quieted down, but she soon realized something was wrong.

Damn it, you want me to behave? You want me to do it myself?!

Not to be outdone, Li Xiaolu started acting up again, even dropping a mahjong tile every now and then and going down to pick it up.

Yan Li was completely dumbfounded. Did these two women think Zhao Ke was blind?

He was facing Zhao Ke directly, and he could clearly see that the girl had realized something was wrong. She was now too scared to move and was staring at the mahjong tiles in front of her, her ears burning red.

With a sigh, Yan Li played a red ball, looked at Zhao Ke, and took the initiative to speak: "I remember you and Huang Shengyi were classmates, right?"

"Yes, I met you back in college, you... senior."

Zhao Ke usually calls his brother-in-law "brother-in-law," but in today's situation, it's hard to say which sister's brother-in-law he is. Plus, Yan Li mentioned his classmates from the Beijing Film Academy, so he started calling him "senior."

"Yes, I remember. Your class has quite a few talented people, such as Huang Shengyi, Wang Luodan, and a few others who seem to be in the entertainment industry as well. It's a star class."

Zhao Ke didn't understand Yan Li's intentions and exchanged a few polite words. Yan Li didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Now that you've signed with your sister Lan's company, you're practically one of us. You're quite capable, so I'll introduce you to some resources later. With proper development, you might become the most successful person in your class."

Zhao Ke's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly wanted to thank her, but when she looked up, she saw that Li Xiaolu next door had gone down to pick up the mahjong tiles again. Her face turned slightly red, and she quickly thanked her.

"Thank you, brother-in-law."

Huo Siyan was more particular. She helped Li Xiaolu draw a tile, then took a "one of bamboo" tile, and then said to Zhao Ke.

"Seventh brother, you are a good kid. Focus on filming and work. Don't worry about anything or know anything. Brother-in-law, Sister Lan, your fourth sister (Li Xiaolu) and I will help you."

Zhao Ke understood what she meant and nodded: "I understand, I played a game of mahjong here today."

Huo Siyan nodded in satisfaction, but was still a little worried. After thinking for a moment, she took a platinum necklace out of her bag and handed it to Zhao Ke.

"You like this necklace of mine, so here it is."

Zhao Ke hesitated to accept the gift, but Yan Li spoke up: "Take it. If you need anything, you can call me. I'll help you as much as I can."

Yan Li's weight was clearly greater than Zhao Ke's; the latter put away the necklace and emphasized it again.

"I do not know anything."

Even if Yan Li and Huo Siyan didn't keep quiet, Zhao Ke wouldn't dare to expose this matter.

If word gets out, Yan, Li, and Huo won't let her off the hook, and even if Qin Lan finds out, she might not be grateful. On the other hand, pretending not to know and staying out of it will still bring her benefits.

Choosing the right option isn't a difficult problem!
Huo Siyan and Li Xiaolu weren't out of their minds. The reason they dared to do this was because they were confident in Zhao Ke's timid nature. They knew that if she encountered this situation, she would definitely protect herself and not dare to say a word.

If Liu Yun or Ying Cai'er were here, they would definitely behave themselves and wouldn't dare to cause any trouble.

If it were Xiong Naijin, she might dare, but covering her mouth wouldn't be enough; she might end up dragging Xiong Naijin down with her.

"Brother-in-law, third sister, I'll be going now."

Zhao Ke felt a little uncomfortable and didn't dare to stay there. Just as she got up, a sound came from under the table.

"Don't leave."

Li Xiaolu stood up and wiped her mouth blatantly: "It'll be hard to explain if you leave. Stay a little longer."

Besides, there's another reason: having an outsider present, who happens to be their close friend, makes it even more exciting.

She herself didn't say anything, but Yan Li, that bastard, seemed calm on the surface, while her jaw was practically dislocated.

"what."

Zhao Ke was speechless, wondering how she could stay there. Li Xiaolu, however, didn't care about that and pulled her to sit down.

"Don't worry, we won't touch you. Just keep playing mahjong in peace. Didn't your third sister give you a necklace? Your fourth sister will give you an even better one."

As she spoke, she looked at Yan Li and said, "You'll reimburse me for this."

When it came to the matter of Chaoyan asking for money, the other women, including Fan Xiaopang and Huo Siyan, all had some reservations.

Li Xiaolu and Wang Ou were the only ones who never showed any politeness, but the latter was only being polite because he was doing Yan Li a favor, while the former considered it all as payment for his labor.

Anyone who drives aggressively every day needs some maintenance.

Zhao Ke was initially very embarrassed and restless, but as time passed, her embarrassment turned into curiosity, and then slowly into amazement and a slight longing.

Can two people really spend half an hour picking up mahjong tiles?!

The group of girlfriends occasionally chatted about private topics, and Qin Lan had mentioned some of them, but she thought it was just bragging.

She knew Yan Jupao's reputation and had even seen that classic photo, but big cannon and durability are two different things.

Now that she saw it for herself, she vaguely understood why Huo Siyan and the other woman were so attentive, and why the two of them had joined forces.

"Well……"

After finally picking up the mahjong tiles, Li Xiaolu got up and went to the bathroom. Huo Siyan took a water glass to rinse her mouth, and then Yan Li glanced at her before she went downstairs to pick up the dice.

Zhao Ke: "..."

Just as she was lost in thought, Li Xiaolu returned and started shooing her away: "You go back first, and we'll go to your room to watch Korean dramas later. Yeah, if anyone asks you, just say that after we finished playing mahjong, the three of us just watched Korean dramas, and that you don't know anything else."

"understood."

Zhao Ke lingered when he left. How could he do that? He was secretive in the first half, and then he simply didn't show us anything in the second half, leaving us feeling stuck.

He locked the door, turned to look at Yan Li, and said, "If you have any ideas, I'll call her back. Don't worry, I bet she'll definitely agree."

Although Zhao Ke doesn't usually have a high profile in the group of girlfriends, it's clear from her words that she has a mix of admiration, respect, and gratitude towards Yan Li, her behind-the-scenes supporter.

The fact that she had been obedient and didn't show any aversion or resistance shows that she had a very high level of affection for Yan Li.

Based on the previous groundwork, she and Huo Siyan subtly encouraged each other, and she reluctantly agreed.

"No, he's a good kid, don't let the two of you corrupt him."

Yan Li might be being a bit dramatic, but he really didn't want to provoke the Teddy Sisters anymore. If he really left Qin Lan all alone, it wouldn't end well.

"Oh, good boy, good boy, you've been watching this for almost half an hour."

Li Xiaolu muttered something to herself, then said nothing more. She'd just filled up the gas tank; now it was time to speed off…

...

Just as Yan Li was enjoying the speed and passion, the topic of the conflict between Yan Li and Tudou.com successfully became a trending topic and sparked heated discussions from all sides.

Honestly, Yan Li probably underestimated how important he was to Tudou.com.

In fact, because Yan Li has been used as a promotional figurehead for Tudou.com for the past few years, the media likes to link Tudou and Yan Li together in order to increase clicks, and Yan Li also conducts some related promotions for various purposes.

As a result, most people believe that Yan Li is the real boss of Tudou.com.

Whether it's speculation that Yan Li abandoned Tudou.com or pointing the finger at Tudou.com's management for ostracizing Yan Li, this incident is undoubtedly a major upheaval for Tudou.com.

Various media outlets and influential figures have analyzed the significant losses this incident has caused to Tudou.com, and many Tudou.com users have also expressed their discontent.

As a representative figure of the post-80s generation, Yan Li has a large following, and many users of Tudou.com come specifically for him.

Yan Li parted ways with Tudou.com, and many people are now clamoring to leave Tudou.com as well.

Many Tudou.com users and video creators have long been dissatisfied with some of Tudou.com's shortcomings and are using this opportunity to criticize it, vent their dissatisfaction, or try to push for reforms. Some have even proposed that Wang Wei should be fired and Yan Lilai should become CEO.

Judging from both his commercial reputation and his achievements on Weibo, Yan Li seems to be a better fit to lead Tudou.com than Wang Wei.

This voice directly impacted Tudou.com's internal operations and its shareholders.

There are also admirers of Yan Li within Tudou.com, or those who are dissatisfied with the management or hope that the company will develop better. If Yan Li is stronger, then of course it is better for the stronger to rise to the top.

However, Wang Wei's authority as the boss, accumulated over many years, remains, and the rumors only circulate among employees in small circles and privately.

However, the shareholders were not so polite. Some directly questioned Wang Wei about why she had fallen out with Yan Li.

Do you realize that if Yan Li leaves, it will be a major blow to Tudou.com's reputation and corporate image?
Tudou.com is now planning to go public. Before the IPO, its core shareholders and its largest traffic and content partners had a falling out. What exactly does Tudou.com mean by going public, and how will it face the market after the IPO?

Some radicals even proposed convening a board meeting to remove Wang Wei from his position and appoint someone else in his place.

Of course, there are also those who support Wang Wei, believing that Wang Wei is acting from the perspective of the company's interests, and that Yan Li's actions, by making the conflict public, are worthy of condemnation.

But this explanation was immediately met with criticism.

If Yan Li tries to poach talent from Tudou.com, that's definitely not going to work; everyone supports Wang Wei.

Yan Li's goal is to get Tudou.com, Yi An, and Weibo to swap shares and become a partnership. While this would be very beneficial for Yan Li, it would also be very beneficial for Tudou.com.

The Tudou.com shareholders' meeting was in an uproar, but more people supported Yan Li. The remaining neutral parties, regardless of whether they agreed to the share swap, strongly demanded that Wang Wei and Yan Li reach an agreement quickly to stabilize public opinion and the situation, and to prevent Tudou.com's interests from being harmed.

The pressure from the shareholders made Wang Wei feel very uncomfortable, but soon something even more uncomfortable was about to happen.

Two days later, "Lurking" aired and quickly became a hit. Youku, which acquired the online streaming rights, raked in a huge amount of traffic, completely crushing Tudou.com...

　I still owe a few hundred words from yesterday, but I didn't have time to write them, so I'll make up for it tomorrow, owing a thousand words.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)