Chapter 102: Yi

August, Jingcheng

After returning, Yan Li's first order of business was to go back to the company.

Yi'an Film & Television has moved!

The original storefront was spacious enough, but it looked shabby, like a makeshift troupe.

Yan Li wanted to trick investors into putting money in, so he needed to look respectable—if a potential investor came to inspect and saw two dilapidated storefronts, they'd likely think he was a scammer.

So Yan Li stamped his foot and moved the company into an office building near the Beijing Film Studio, renting a 300-square-meter office.

After tidying up inside and out, hanging up the sign, setting up a reception desk, workstations, a conference room, and a small private office, employees bustled in and out—Yi'an Film & Television instantly transformed from a makeshift troupe into a legitimate film company.

"Bro, our company's not bad at all."

Lin Jiachuan had been grinning since he walked in—he was essentially a founding member.

Besides Yan Li, the boss, he was the company's first employee, handling every bureaucratic task himself.

Having witnessed firsthand Yi'an Film & Television grow from two people chasing solo gigs, to a few squeezed into a storefront, to now having over a dozen employees in a clean, bright office building, how could he not feel overwhelmed with pride?

Yan Li was happy too, especially now that he didn't have to share space with employees—he had his own office, and the feeling of being a real boss instantly came alive.

Before, even though he was called boss, he always felt like a lone entrepreneur.

Yet even as he was happy, Yan Li felt a twinge of pain.

The office building was great, but damn, the rent was expensive—charged per square meter per day.

A 300-square-meter office, even with the SARS impact, cost twenty to thirty thousand a month—enough to rent the storefront for half a year.

Knock-knock—

Deputy General Manager Yue Princess Zhao Yang knocked on the office door, entered after receiving permission.

"Boss, here's the financial report for this period, and a few CVs of prospective new hires—take a look."

"Chuan'er, get Old Yue a glass of water."

Yan Li called out, then reviewed the accounts—larger items had already been emailed to him; today's was a summary, and after confirming everything was fine, he signed off.

Yan Li examined the employee CVs carefully—his company was small, and he didn't want to hire freeloaders, especially for key positions.

After reviewing them, he split the CVs into two piles—one larger, one smaller—and handed them to Yue Princess Zhao Yang.

"Hire these three directly; recruit the rest later."

Deputy General Manager Yue nodded—he was primarily responsible for company operations and could organize hiring, but only Yan Li, the boss, had final say on who got hired.

If the company were bigger, this would've been HR's job—he wouldn't have been involved.

Yan Li didn't let Deputy General Manager Yue leave yet—he went over the company's next steps with him.

Since the company had relocated and was now hiring, becoming more formal, it needed clear departmental divisions and defined responsibilities.

Daily management would remain under Deputy General Manager Yue, and two new departments would be formed.

One would be the Marketing Department, in charge of distribution—all the salespeople selling dramas would be moved there, and later a Marketing Director would be promoted or hired externally.

The other would be the Film & Television Department, overseeing investment and operation of film projects—Yan Li would personally lead it, and Li Xing would be transferred in; he planned to hire a few more planners later.

After thinking, Yan Li added: "Once I finish hiring, go recruit some interns from universities or wherever—don't make them do much, just run errands. The key is low wages, and fill up all these workstations."

A 300-square-meter office could easily fit fifty people if packed tight.

Of course, Yan Li wasn't that insane—the outer employee area would hold about thirty.

But since the marketing team often worked off-site, the office looked a bit empty.

That wasn't good for Yan Li's scamming investors.

He'd rented 300 square meters precisely to make the company look bigger—he couldn't afford real employees, so he'd use interns to fill the space.

Deputy General Manager Yue was a seasoned veteran—he'd guessed Yan Li's situation the moment he moved offices, and offered a suggestion.

"Interns are too much trouble—we're right next to the Beijing Film Studio; there's always a crowd of extras waiting for jobs there. Just say a word, bring in some extras to fill seats—I've used this trick before, it works."

Yan Li: "..."

This kid's too practiced—didn't he used to work for some scam company?

But when he interviewed, Yan Li had used his system to check his background—nothing suspicious; he probably had similar experience raising investment at a previous company.

A lot of company bosses are just as good at acting as the film industry.

"I don't care if you use interns or extras—as long as nothing goes wrong."

After running the company for half a year, Yan Li had found his footing as a boss—he couldn't micromanage everything; he had to delegate.

As long as the work got done and didn't cause trouble, he didn't care how it was done—even if they skimmed a little, as long as it wasn't excessive, he'd turn a blind eye.

Water too clear has no fish; a man too strict has no followers. Sometimes, it's better to be a little blind.

Of course, when needed, he'd still give a warning—to prevent subordinates from making mistakes from overexcitement, to nip problems in the bud.

When Deputy General Manager Yue finished his report and prepared to leave, Yan Li added: "I noticed our receptionist's doing well—give her a hundred-yuan raise each month."

Deputy General Manager Yue froze, then forced a smile: "Understood. I'll thank her on your behalf."

After he left, the secretary Hu Ya entered: "Boss, here's the car info and pricing you asked me to pick out."

Yan Li took a sip of water and asked casually: "Xiao Hu, do you know if there's something going on between the receptionist and Old Yue?"

"Huh?"

Hu Ya was stunned. Yan Li shook his head: "You're supposed to be my eyes and ears—pay better attention. When I'm not here, report anything suspicious."

Saying that, Yan Li gave Lin Jiachuan a glance; the latter pulled out several bills from his bag and slipped them to the secretary, stressing:

"Xiao Hu, this is the boss's allowance—remember, we're the real insiders."

The round-faced girl clutched the money and nodded vigorously: "Got it, Boss—I'll keep constant watch on the company and report everything to you."

After Hu Ya left, Lin Jiachuan asked: "Bro, can a little girl like Xiao Hu keep tabs on those old hands?"

"She's just a decoy—I have other spies behind the scenes. Otherwise, how would I know about Old Yue and the receptionist?"

Lin Jiachuan nodded, grinning: "That old bastard turned pale just now—he thought he was the boss when you weren't around. Now he knows better. Bro, your spy's pretty sharp—knew about this already."

Yan Li smiled but said nothing.

He did have more than just Hu Ya as an informant in the company, but the real key was the intelligence system.

This intelligence system was practically the ultimate assistant for capitalists—it would regularly alert Yan Li whenever an employee slacked off, stole kickbacks, or engaged in romantic entanglements.

So despite having stayed in Hengdian for over a month, Yan Li understood certain company matters better than Deputy Director Yue.

Putting the informants out of his mind, Yan Li turned his attention with interest to buying a car.

Just as with the office, he needed a good car when going out for social engagements.

Previously, Yan Li had always rented cars—they were expensive, and since he was now negotiating long-term collaborations and had some money saved, he decided to buy a good one.

Lin Jiachuan had helped research earlier, but after the two went to Hengdian to film, the task was handed over to Hu Ya.

Honestly, this Miss had poor judgment and wasn't sharp-witted, but she made up for it with diligence and thoroughness.

Following Yan Li's requirements, she had gathered all the car models around 500,000 yuan on the market, including data on type, performance, specifications, price, and owner reviews.

She not only provided photos for reference but also made comparative recommendations, even including test-drive experiences at 4S dealerships and discount ranges.

"Look at her."

After reading the materials Hu Ya had prepared, Yan Li began scolding Lin Jiachuan.

When he had asked Lin Jiachuan to collect data, the guy had merely Googled and called a few 4S dealers to ask prices—the gap between his materials and Hu Ya's was night and day.

Lin Jiachuan mumbled agreement, feeling the pressure inside.

Previously, Yan Li had trusted only Lin Jiachuan, so he relied on him heavily; now that he had more people under him, each one was no pushover—if Lin Jiachuan didn't adjust his mindset, his job would be taken away.

"Enough. Come on, let's go look at cars."

Seeing Lin Jiachuan so cautious, Yan Li said nothing more.

After all, he was family—a brother who had followed him from the very beginning, loyal and hardworking all along.

Moreover, Lin Jiachuan's work hadn't been faulty; he was just perhaps unsuited for an assistant role.

He was trained in performing arts, had become an assistant mid-career, and had been pampered since childhood—he wasn't cut out for such delicate, servile tasks. Once Yan Li found a suitable assistant, he'd move him to another position.

…

After reviewing Hu Ya's materials, the recommended models were the domestic Audi A6 high-spec and the BMW 530i (E39), both around 500,000 yuan.

Other brands like Lexus, Cadillac, and Volvo, Yan Li dismissed outright.

Since this was a car to display status, brand came first.

In this era, only Mercedes-Benz and BMW were truly respected, so even though Yan Li thought the Audi A6 high-spec had slightly better performance, he chose the BMW.

Once decided, Yan Li wasted no time—he went straight to the 4S dealership and paid to reserve the car.

That evening, Yan Li parked a white BMW 5 Series at the gate of North Film Academy.

Though this level of car couldn't impress anyone at North Film's gate,

it still drew glances from passersby.

After all, when he used to drive a Santana, no matter how shiny he polished it, nobody even looked.

Soon, Dong Xuan, notified by phone, ran out of the campus gate, glanced around, and upon hearing Yan Li honk, excitedly opened the door and got in.

A few passersby nearby looked either heartbroken or disdainful—such a nice girl, hooked up with a rich man.

Dong Xuan, inside the car, knew nothing of that—she curiously touched the interior, feeling the leather seats.

"Is this car really yours?"

"What's yours or mine? It's ours."

Yan Li looked at Dong Xuan in the passenger seat, her face still flushed with sweat from running out, and felt a stirring urge.

He had been celibate for over a month on the set of "Emperor Wu of Han"—if not for daily horseback riding and martial training to burn off energy, he'd have suffocated.

Before Dong Xuan could even feel moved, Yan Li kissed her, his hands groping, and one of her shirt buttons popped off.

"We're on the road. Let's go home."

Dong Xuan's lips were bleeding from the biting; she pushed him hard and scrambled to the back seat.

The street was full of pedestrians, the new car's windows were transparent, and she didn't have Yan Li's thick skin.

"I'm in a good mood tonight—no home. Let's go for candlelight dinner, then book a suite at a hotel."

Home could be returned to every day; going out occasionally refreshed the mood, added some spice—absence made the heart grow fonder, the passion would be fierce, and it saved having to clean up afterward…

That night, Kempinski Hotel

After the battle, Yan Li held the exhausted Dong Xuan in the bathtub, whispering sweet nothings.

It was August; North Film Academy had already started summer vacation, but Dong Xuan remained on campus, mainly helping the professors.

After summer vacation, Dong Xuan and her classmates would be seniors; at this stage, few who stayed on campus for study remained—they all began preparing for their futures.

For example, in the Acting Department, one either went out seeking roles, applied for positions in theater troupes or cultural work units, or tried to stay on campus.

"Do you want to become a teacher?"

Yan Li was surprised—he'd never heard Dong Xuan say she wanted to be a teacher.

"I haven't decided yet, but Guan Yue really wants to stay on campus—she's been performing well all year and plans to compete for a teaching assistant position this senior year."

Guan Yue herself was originally a teacher; before entering North Film Academy, she had taught elementary school.

After entering North Film, Guan Yue once dreamed of fame, but soon realized her conditions and talent made success unlikely, so she began considering a backup plan—staying on as a teacher.

Especially after getting together with Tong Dawei, with a family member earning money, she leaned even more toward stable employment while also being able to care for the household.

If both husband and wife were actors, chasing scripts across the country, they'd barely see each other all year, inevitably straining their relationship.

One handles the outside, the other the home—that was the ideal arrangement.

Guan Yue and Dong Xuan were close friends, so Guan Yue naturally hoped they could both stay on campus together for companionship, and began urging Dong Xuan.

Dong Xuan was indeed somewhat swayed—she, like Guan Yue, had little ambition, the type suited to be a virtuous wife and devoted mother.

Yan Li handled the outside income, while she became a teacher and cared for the home—it was indeed a decent choice.

However, Dong Xuan had far better conditions than Guan Yue; she had even played a female lead, so becoming an actress wasn't out of reach—hence her hesitation.

After all, which female student in performing arts doesn't dream of a dazzling, star-studded future?

Not having strong career ambitions doesn't mean lacking them entirely—only that family is more important than career; even teachers all want to be star teachers.

"What do you think I should choose?"

Dong Xuan asked Yan Li, seeking his opinion. Yan Li held Dong Xuan close, falling silent for a moment.

From his perspective, Dong Xuan staying at school as a teacher was indeed a good option.

The entertainment industry was a mix of good and bad; Yan Li was a bit uneasy about it. School work offered a quiet, stable environment, and the title sounded respectable.

But he also had a concern: if Dong Xuan settled down as a teacher, no longer caring about fans or an acting career, would she start pushing him to marry her?

This wasn't just idle speculation—Yan Li's monthly intelligence trigger had already activated: Guan Yue and Tong Dawei got married in 2007.

If becoming a teacher was meant to serve family, then she would naturally care deeply about when to start a family.

Especially Guan Yue—today urging Dong Xuan to become a teacher might seem well-intentioned, but who knew that in time, she wouldn't also push Dong Xuan to marry him?

The pros and cons here couldn't be explained in just a few words.

So Yan Li gave no direct answer, instead letting Dong Xuan decide for herself—no matter what she chose, he would support her.

Since he couldn't make the choice from his own perspective, let Dong Xuan choose herself. Yan Li accepted reality, and would deal with whatever came next—water to stop earth, soldiers to meet soldiers.

"Uh… I'll think about it some more."

Dong Xuan was deeply torn. She had hoped to get help from Yan Li, only to find he still left it up to her…

(End of Chapter)