Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 365 Yan Li: How did I become the boss of the Beijing circle?!

Xu Qing, Jiang Wen, Uncle Ge, and Zhang Guoli are all acquaintances.

Not counting "The Founding of a Republic", Jiang Wen and she have worked together on "The Emperor's Shadow" and "The Great Qing Dynasty", playing both Xu Qing's husband and father.

Ge You also starred in "The Emperor's Shadow," which can be considered his second collaboration with Xu Qing.

To viewers who have seen "The Emperor's Shadow," the characters and plot of this "Let the Bullets Fly" movie are basically Gao Jianli and Princess Liyang eating hotpot and singing, then being kidnapped by Ying Zheng, and then Ying Zheng and Princess Liyang...

Zhang Guoli had never acted with Xu Qing, but they were in the same industry, so his friend was her friend, and naturally they were friends as well.

The one I'm least familiar with is Yan Li.

The years during which Yan Li rose to prominence coincided with Xu Qing's semi-retirement due to unforeseen circumstances, resulting in almost no interaction between the two in official matters.

In private, Xu Qing is known as the "Princess of Beijing Circle," with a good background. Her father was once Marshal He's bodyguard, her mother's family has many diplomats, and she herself is a member of the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe.

So this guy is a genuine son of a high-ranking official from a military compound, and he gets along quite well with that group of people from high-ranking military compounds in Beijing's elite circles.

He has connections with Zhao Baogang, Ye Daying, Jiang Wen, Wang Shuo, and others. This year, he even managed to get into "The Founding of a Republic" and played an important role.

She then officially joined Huayi Brothers. The two Wangs of Huayi Brothers, who were also disciples of the same family, attached great importance to her and promoted her as a potential top star, making Xu Qing stand out.

Li Bingbing had previously complained to Yan Li that the two Wangs of Huayi Brothers were confused, still treating an old woman like a treasure.

Yes, although she is only four years younger than Xu Qing.

In contrast, although Yan Li also worked in Beijing, he had limited connections with the traditional Beijing social circle.

From the very beginning, even though he started his own business, he mainly cooperated with various television stations. Later, as his influence grew, Yi An recruited people and expanded his social circle, getting to know and cooperate with people from all circles and factions.

Some refer to the group centered around Yan Li as the Rouge Clique (Yan's name), while others call them the Yi An Clique.

Some people combine the terms "old Beijingers" and "new Beijingers" to refer to those in the entertainment industry who have made a name for themselves in Beijing since the beginning of the new century but are not registered residents of Beijing as the "new Beijing circle."

Yan Li is the biggest and even the leader of the new Beijing circle.

Even more extreme, some divide the Beijing entertainment circle into several eras, starting with the generation of Wang Shuo, Zheng Xiaolong, and Hai Yan, with Huayi Brothers barely qualifying as the previous generation's leader, while the rapidly rising Yi An will be the new leader of the Beijing entertainment circle.

How did I, a native of Shandong province, become a big shot in Beijing's elite circles?!

Yan Li neither disliked nor resented this title, nor did he particularly like it.

Forget about the "Beijing Circle" or the "new Beijing Circle." I'm an entrepreneur and a role model for young people. I don't play the role of some kind of underworld boss.

Even if he really wanted to be a boss, Yan Li wouldn't care about the Beijing entertainment circle; he wanted to be the uncrowned king of the entire entertainment industry.

Therefore, Yan Li waited until Jiang Wen exchanged pleasantries before shaking hands with Xu Qing and saying hello.

"Hello, Teacher Xu, I am Yan Li."

Xu Qing has two dimples when she smiles, which makes her look sweeter and younger than her actual age.

"Mr. Yan, I've heard so much about you. This is our first time working together, please take good care of me."

Yan Li smiled and nodded, even though he and Xu Qing didn't actually have any scenes together in the movie.

Oh, there was one, but Xu Qing played a corpse.

But then again, it's no wonder that a bunch of older men have their eyes on him.

Although she is over forty, Xu Qing looks very young in terms of her figure, skin condition, and spirit.

Compared to her slightly naive and innocent appearance when she was young, Xu Qing, now that she's older, has gained a lot of charm and exudes the alluring sexiness of a beautiful woman.

The combination of youthful charm and the allure of a beautiful woman is like a double whammy for those older men, hitting them where it hurts.

Jiang Wen was relatively honest, after all, his wife Zhou Yun was still around.

Zhang Guoli is doing alright; his son is here. He's not that close to Xu Qing, and he'll be leaving soon.

On the other hand, Uncle Ge, who had little involvement in the film crew, showed obvious enthusiasm for Xu Qing.

Yan Li was not surprised. He had eaten with Grandpa Ge and knew that the old man would occasionally have a burst of youthful exuberance.

Don't have a biased view of some veteran artists. Just because they are senior and highly skilled doesn't mean they are also good people.

It's just that their scandals didn't spread widely due to the era and their popularity, so many viewers didn't know about them. Plus, their roles added to their fame, and they were used to put down newcomers.

All three of them have their share of scandals.

Jiang Wen had the most stories, including being beaten up at the door, and Zhang Guoli was often rumored to have been caught on set by Deng Jie while filming.

All things considered, Uncle Ge is an honest man; most of the time he just flirts and tries to take advantage of others in private.

Yan Li didn't disturb their old friends' reminiscing; he went off to enjoy the scenery on his own.

His portrayal of Huang Silang, aside from a few scenes with his co-stars in the middle and later stages, mostly follows a separate storyline.

So Jiang Wen and his team filmed one line, while Yan Li filmed another, which was more efficient.

It's a bit tough for Jiang Wen, running back and forth between the two places and having to work overtime at night. But he has no choice but to keep going, since he had to pester Yan Li relentlessly.

Yan Li has limited time and needs to take some time to handle other work, so he can't follow the filming schedule of the production team at a leisurely pace.

Jiang Wen could have prioritized filming Yan Li's scenes, which would have been easier to manage, but he insisted on gathering all the actors together and dividing them into two groups to film.

In his words, it's about finding the feeling!

Regardless of whether Jiang Wen was trying to get into character or was deliberately setting a trap for himself, Yan Li gave him a 40-day window. If they couldn't finish filming by then, it wouldn't be Yan Li who would be anxious and frustrated.

After looking around the scenery, Yan Li went to try on her makeup. She had already tried it once in the capital. Now that she was on set, Jiang Wen had some new ideas.

Huang Silang's hairstyle was slicked back with a beard, and his clothing was mainly Western suits, but he also wore brocade mandarin jackets and long gowns.

There's a reason behind this blend of Chinese and Western design.

It's a blend of capitalism and feudalism, enlightenment and conservatism, a mix of East and West, authority and corruption; it speaks not only of people but also of that era.

However, after Yan Li tried on the costume, Jiang Wen felt that Yan Li was younger than the original Huang Silang, so he should be sharper and more flamboyant. Yan Li's performance and posture should also be more aggressive.

There are now more ways to style clothes. For example, Huang Silang prefers Western suits in private, but he wears Chinese clothing to project authority and for public occasions.

This metaphorically suggests that while outwardly pursuing Western styles, the underlying reality remains feudal.

Yan Li and Jiang Wen had a detailed discussion about this "new Huang Silang," and even wrote a short biography for him, giving the character some new differences and special allusions.

Yes, it was all Jiang Wen's doing. Yan Li is just a simple actor who makes movies.

Wearing a white suit and the last prop, gold-rimmed glasses, Yan Li stood there with an upright posture and a slight smile, exuding an elegant gentleman's aura, without a trace of villainous temperament.

This is a setting that Yan Li and Jiang Wen came up with after discussing it.

When bandits fight bullies, are the bandits not always true bandits, and are the bullies always going to show their bully-like behavior?
It's not scary to be bad on the surface; it's when someone is good on the surface but evil at heart that's truly evil to the core.

After changing outfits several times and taking promotional photos, Yan Li finished her work for the morning and waited for the official shoot in the afternoon.

During this time, Yan Li also met several of his subordinates from the play: martial arts instructor Jiang Wu, Hu Qian, Yao Lu, and Hu Bai, whom he did not recognize.

Hu Wan hasn't arrived yet, and Deng Chao won't join the crew for a few more days.

That's right, Deng Chao also starred in "Let the Bullets Fly". Yan Li recommended him to Jiang Wen, who met with Deng Chao once and immediately cast him.

Although it was just a minor supporting role, the cast of "Let the Bullets Fly" was so large that Deng Chao felt it wouldn't be beneath him, so he happily accepted the role and even turned down "Ip Man 2" for it.

At lunchtime, as a welcome dinner for Zhang Mo and Xu Qing who had just arrived, Jiang Wen arranged for the core members of the production team to go out to a restaurant.

Yan Li didn't isolate himself; eating anywhere was fine, so he decided to try the local dishes to avoid any trouble.

Actually, Yan Li's ambition for joining the cast of "Let the Bullets Fly" was not much smaller than that of Chow Yun-fat, who was originally planned to be cast.

Accommodation is provided separately, and the required amenities are quite high.

They need to be chauffeured around in luxury cars and have their own private RVs for rest.

They refuse to eat the crew's boxed meals, instead ordering custom-made meals from a luxury restaurant, along with some high-end fruit drinks.

There are also some other requirements, which are considered extravagant compared to most actors.

There's just one difference: Chow Yun-fat had the production team pay for it, while Yan Li and the others paid for it themselves, which, in a way, saved the production team money.

For Yan Li, this is all small change; even a small portion of his film salary could easily cover these benefits.

It's more reassuring and comfortable to do it yourself, and there's no need to be greedy for a little enjoyment and end up with a reputation for being a cheapskate.

It's his own money, and even if he uses a helicopter to roast two cows every day, it has nothing to do with the film crew. It's his own choice, and no one else can interfere or say anything about it.

Yan Li's only requirement for the production team is that the announcements be reasonable.

Don't be too busy with filming today and waste time tomorrow when there's less filming. It would be even better if you could work less overtime. Compared to Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen and Yan Li in "Let the Bullets Fly" didn't seem difficult to deal with at all; in fact, they were quite understanding and generous.

I picked up a piece of poached chicken, dipped it in the sauce, and found the skin crisp, the meat tender, and the original flavor fresh and fragrant. It wasn't tough at all; it was incredibly tender.

While they were eating, Xu Qing raised her glass to toast Yan Li: "I heard from Director Jiang that President Yan recommended me, so I must thank you and Director Jiang for giving me this opportunity."

"You're too kind. It's mainly because Professor Xu is suitable, and Director Jiang also approves. I'm just making a suggestion."

Yan Li wiped his hands: "I have a performance this afternoon, so please forgive me for serving tea instead of wine, Teacher Xu."

"It's alright, please feel free to drink it, I'll take it."

Xu Qing was very generous; he drank the two-ounce cup in one go, which drew cheers from Uncle Ge, Jiang Wen, and the others.

Yan Li also gave a perfunctory clapping. He had a lot of social interactions with these old men in Beijing's elite circles and roughly knew their tastes.

My favorite is Da Sa Mi!

The term "da sa mi" refers to someone who is beautiful, has a generous and outgoing personality, and gets along with others like buddies.

They need to be sensible, speak eloquently, give face in public, and be shrewd and reliable when things happen.

He's easygoing, broad-minded, and doesn't hold grudges. He spoils and indulges you in every way, and he'll never abandon you, no matter how well or poorly you do.

Yan Li summarized it as follows: this "big sister" is equivalent to "lover + brother + mother".

A lover's beauty and thoughtfulness, a brother's companionship and emotional support, and a mother's boundless tolerance and safety net.

Xu Cainu is a role model for many people, especially after she helped the down-on-his-luck Wang Shuo.

Goodness, she's practically a goddess in some people's eyes. Add to that the halo of being a talented woman, and Wang Shuo, Gao Xiaosong, and their ilk are showering her with praise.

In comparison, Xu Qing, the former princess of Beijing's elite circles, is somewhat past her prime, but one can still vaguely see a resemblance to her former self.

Yan Li didn't have any particular opinion on these so-called "big cool girls".

In his view, apart from a small number of truly cool and confident women, these are just some of the qualities that women must exhibit to navigate male-dominated circles.

Social situations are often like a battlefield; if you don't appear bold and capable, or if you're too delicate and gentle, you won't seem like someone who can do business and get things done.

Fan Xiaopang had a bit of a cool and sassy vibe in his early years, and now, thanks to Yan Li and his strong personality, he's become even more assertive, to the point of being a bit too cool.

However, Yan Li thought it was fine. The more assertive she was, the less people would dare to provoke her. She could keep her gentle and obedient side to herself and enjoy it in private.

There's also a contrast: a queen outside, a woman at home... cough cough...

Yan Li ate his food quietly, chatting occasionally, showing neither enthusiasm nor indifference towards Xu Qing.

This was originally a normal social distance, but the presence of Jiang Wen and a few others made Yan Li appear "aloof".

It is well known that beautiful women who are admired in various ways often have a certain degree of arrogance and a strong rebellious mentality.

She ignored those who were overly attentive to her, but took the initiative to talk to those who were indifferent to her.

Of course, Yan Li's own aura and charm also played a part; some of the supporting actors present remained silent, and she simply ignored them.

Xu Qing looked at Yan Li and suddenly smiled, "President Yan, you think a little differently from me?"

"What's the difference?"

Yan Li asked curiously, and Xu Qing smiled and said, "I heard that President Yan is a very cheerful and humorous person who is good at making women happy. But he is very quiet today. Does he think I am old and President Yan is not in the mood to talk to me?"

"What is this nonsense?"

Yan Li shook his head: "Teacher Xu is in the prime of her life, beautiful and charming, how could she be associated with the word 'old'?"

Xu Qing blinked and asked, "Then why do I feel like President Yan doesn't like talking to me?"

"I can not."

"Why wouldn't you dare?"

Yan Li put on an honest face: "Old Jiang and Uncle Ge look like they've met their dream goddess. If I were to strike up a conversation and steal their chance, they'd hate me to death."

"Hahaha."

Xu Qing laughed heartily: "They're right, President Yan really knows how to make women happy."

Yan Li shook his head: "I'm just telling the truth. Teacher Xu's words make me seem glib and insincere."

Xu Qing laughed even harder, while Old Jiang and Grandpa Ge next to her grinned.

Damn it, a master is something else. Just now, they were praising Xu Qing, and the latter was just playing along. But when Yan Li made his move, his face turned red with laughter.

If Yan Li knew what they were thinking, he would surely despise them deeply.

Nonsense, even when it comes to flattery, it depends on who is doing it.

Jiang Wen at least has some masculinity, while Ge You only has humor. Besides, they are both older men.

Yan Li is a genuine young and handsome man, and he also has various accolades. The emotional value he provides far surpasses that of Jiang Ge to Xu Qing.

After that, Xu Qing kept talking to Yan Li, but Yan Li didn't react in any particular way.

But he was experienced in social interactions and had a charming personality. Even in his normal behavior, he would flatter her every few words and tease her every eight or nine, keeping Xu Qing smiling all the time. Later, he even playfully slapped Yan Li twice.

Yan Li increasingly felt that he had gone too fast on the right path back then, wasting the opportunity to live off his older sister.

After the welcome banquet ended, Xu Qing went to the restroom, and Uncle Ge pulled Yan Li, who was about to leave.

"President Yan, do you have feelings for Xu Qing?"

"Let's just chat, don't overthink it."

Yan Li calls Jiang Wen "Old Jiang" and addresses Ge You as "Uncle Ge," but this is not a matter of seniority, but rather a nickname.

He really didn't have any special feelings for Xu Qing; she was a bit too old, and they had only just met.

Xu Qing initiated the conversation with him just now; Yan Li was merely responding politely.

If I had to find a reason, it would be that Xu Qing is a beautiful woman, and chatting with a beautiful woman is always more interesting than chatting with a bunch of men.

Yan Li explained, then asked Uncle Ge if he had fallen in love, jokingly telling him to take care of his health.

He had noticed something while chatting with Xu Qing earlier. This woman had a charming smile, watery eyes, and her cheeks would turn slightly red when she smiled more. She exuded an alluring charm, and combined with her wolfish age, she was no ordinary woman.

With Ge You's skinny frame, he probably won't even live to see the premiere of "Let the Bullets Fly".

As they were chatting, Xu Qing returned, ignoring Uncle Ge: "President Yan, can I hitch a ride back with you?"

"Uh…"

Yan Li glanced at Grandpa Ge and offered a helping hand: "Why don't we go together?"

Grandpa Ge nodded, and the three of them walked together. However, what was heartbreaking was that Xu Qing chatted with Yan Li almost the entire time.

"Don't keep calling me Teacher Xu, it makes me feel old. Just call me by my name. If you don't mind, I'll be so bold as to call you Sister Qing."

“That sounds much better. Then I’ll call you little brother. It’s so much more intimate to call someone older sister and younger brother. It sounds too formal to President Yan.”

"Haha, you don't look like you're in your early twenties at all. You're very mature. When I chat with people born in the 80s, I always feel like they're little kids."

"Are those rumors about you true? Hmph, with a mouth like yours, you must have fooled a lot of girls."

"..."

When he arrived at the film set, Ge You got out of the car looking ashen-faced.

It's hard to say whether Yan Li is interested in Xu Qing, but Xu Qing clearly has a good impression of Yan Li and has no feelings for him whatsoever.

If he hadn't been in the car, this woman would have almost touched Yan Li's muscles.

Yan Li couldn't quite hold back when he got out of the car. This woman was indeed a real sassy and outgoing person, and she was also very bold.

He wasn't afraid; he had met Yan Li, a woman even more daring than Xu Qing.

But Yan Li always felt that he was being taken advantage of by a woman, which made him very uncomfortable. He gave a few perfunctory words and then hurried off to film.

Xu Qing, however, was still quite intrigued. Before coming here, she had been very curious about Yan Li, this legendary figure, and after meeting him today, she was indeed impressed by his extraordinary abilities.

He is witty, has a generous demeanor, a cheerful yet steady personality, is young and handsome, and has a good physique. Combined with his achievements and status, he is practically perfect. No wonder he is so popular with women and is known as the model lover in the industry.

It's a pity you were born when I was already old. If I were even ten or five years younger, the people she just recognized wouldn't be her older sister and younger brother...

　I caught a cold and owe 3,000 yuan; I'll pay it back tomorrow or the day after.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)