[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment":3,"chapter-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-102":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Intelligence King of Chinese Entertainment",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260405,4411,"Chapter 102: Yi","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-102",102,"\u003Cp>August, Beijing\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first thing Yan Li did after returning was go back to the company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yi’an Film & Television had moved!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original storefront was spacious enough, but it looked shabby, like a makeshift troupe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li wanted to trick investors into putting money in, so he needed to look impressive—if a potential investor came to inspect and saw two broken storefronts, they’d likely think he was a scammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yan Li stamped his foot and moved the company into an office building near Beiyingchang, renting a 300-square-meter office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After cleaning 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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bro, our company’s not bad at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jiachuan had been grinning since he walked in—he was essentially a founding member.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides Yan Li, he was the company’s first employee, handling every bureaucratic task himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Yi’an Film & Television grow from two people running solo gigs, to a few crammed into a storefront, to now having over a dozen staff in a clean, bright office—he couldn’t help but feel proud and emotional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li was happy too, especially now that he didn’t have to squeeze in with the staff—he had his own office, and the feeling of being a real boss finally came alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, even though he was called boss, he always felt like a lone trader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even as he was happy, Yan Li felt a twinge of pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The office building was great, but damn, the rent was expensive—charged by square meter per day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock knock—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy General Yue Zhaoyang knocked on the office door, received permission, and walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, here’s the financial report for this period, and a few CVs of prospective new hires—take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chuan’er, get Old Yue a glass of water.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li called out, then reviewed the accounts—major items had already been emailed to him; today’s was a summary, and he found no issues, signing off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He examined the employee CVs carefully—small company, he didn’t want to hire freeloaders, especially for key positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After scanning them, Yan Li split them into two piles—one larger, one smaller—and handed them to Yue Zhaoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hire these three directly; recruit the others later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy General Yue nodded—he was mainly responsible for company operations and could organize hiring, but Yan Li, as boss, had final say on who got hired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the company were bigger, this would’ve been HR’s job—he wouldn’t have been involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li didn’t let Deputy General Yue leave yet—he also outlined the company’s next steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the company had relocated and was hiring more staff, becoming more formal, it needed clear departmental divisions and defined responsibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daily management remained under Deputy General Yue’s charge, and two new departments would be formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was the Marketing Department, responsible for distribution—all the salespeople selling dramas would be moved in, and later a marketing director would be promoted or hired externally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was 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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking, Yan Li added: “Once I finish hiring, go recruit some interns from universities or elsewhere—don’t make them do much, just run errands. Key point: low salary, and fill up all these workstations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 300-square-meter office could squeeze in fifty people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Yan Li wasn’t that ruthless—outside the private offices, maybe thirty workstations total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since the sales team in Marketing was always out on fieldwork, the office looked empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That didn’t help Yan Li impress investors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d rented 300 square meters precisely to make the company look bigger—he couldn’t afford real employees, so he’d use interns as decoys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy General Yue was a seasoned veteran—he’d guessed Yan Li’s situation the moment he moved offices, and offered a suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interns are too much trouble—we’re right next to Beiyingchang; they have extras hanging around every day. Just say the word, bring in some extras to fill space—I’ve used this trick before, it works.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kid’s so practiced—didn’t he used to work for some scam company?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he interviewed, Yan Li had used his system to check his background—nothing suspicious; probably his old company had similar investor-pitching experiences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lot of company bosses act better than film industry actors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care if you use interns or extras—as long as nothing goes wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the work got done and didn’t cause trouble, he didn’t care how it was done—even if someone slipped in a little extra benefit for themselves, as long as it wasn’t excessive, he’d look the other way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water too clear has no fish; a man too sharp has no followers. Sometimes, it’s better to be a little blind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, when needed, he’d still give a warning—to prevent subordinates from making mistakes from overzealousness, nip problems in the bud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Deputy General Yue finished his report and was about to leave, Yan Li added: “I noticed our receptionist’s doing a good job—give her a hundred-yuan raise next month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy General Yue froze, then forced a smile: “Understood, I’ll thank her on your behalf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he left, secretary Hu Ya entered: “Boss, here’s the car info and pricing you asked me to gather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li took a sip of water and asked casually: “Xiao Hu, do you know if the receptionist and Old Yue have something going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Ya was stunned. Yan Li shook his head: “You’re supposed to be my eyes—pay better attention. When I’m not here, report anything suspicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying that, Yan Li gave Lin Jiachuan a look; the latter pulled several bills from his bag and shoved them into the secretary’s hand, stressing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Hu, this is the boss’s bonus—remember, we’re family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Hu Ya left, Lin Jiachuan asked: “Bro, can that little girl really keep tabs on those old hands?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s just a decoy—I have other informants. Otherwise, how would I know about Old Yue and the receptionist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jiachuan nodded, grinning: “That old bastard turned pale just now—he thought he was king when you weren’t around. Now he knows who’s boss. Bro, your informant’s good—he even knows this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li smiled but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did have more than just Hu Ya as informants—but the real key was the intelligence system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This system was the capitalist’s ultimate assistant—it constantly alerted Yan Li to which employees slacked off, which stole kickbacks, which were flirting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even though he’d spent over a month in Hengdian, his knowledge of company affairs was sharper than Deputy General Yue’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pushing the informant issue aside, Yan Li turned his attention to car shopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the office, he needed a good car for business networking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Yan Li had rented cars—expensive, and since he was pursuing long-term partnerships, with some cash on hand, he decided to buy a decent one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jiachuan had started researching, but after they went to Hengdian to film, the task fell to Hu Ya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, the girl wasn’t sharp or quick-witted, but she was diligent and thorough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Yan Li’s instructions, she’d gathered all car models around 500,000 yuan—details on type, performance, specs, price, owner reviews, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She included photos, comparative recommendations, even 4S dealership test-drive experiences and discount ranges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reviewing Hu Ya’s materials, Yan Li scolded Lin Jiachuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, when he’d asked Lin Jiachuan to collect data, the guy just called a few 4S dealers and browsed online—his materials were worlds apart from Hu Ya’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jiachuan mumbled agreement, feeling the pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Yan Li trusted only him, so he’d been heavily relied upon; now, with more staff under him, none were pushovers—if he didn’t adjust his attitude, his job would be taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, come on, let’s go look at cars.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lin Jiachuan so cautious, Yan Li stopped criticizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was family—had followed him since day one, loyal and hardworking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Lin Jiachuan hadn’t made any real mistakes—he just wasn’t suited for an assistant role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was trained in acting, had switched careers midstream, and had been pampered since childhood—he wasn’t cut out for menial service work. Once Yan Li found a proper assistant, he’d move him to another position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on Hu Ya’s data, the top recommendations were the domestic Audi A6 high-spec and the BMW 530i (E39), both around 500,000 yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He skipped Lexus, Cadillac, Volvo, and others outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since this was a status car, brand came first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that era, everyone recognized Mercedes and BMW—so even though the Audi A6 high-spec seemed better-performing, Yan Li chose the BMW.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once decided, Yan Li wasted no time—he went straight to the 4S dealership, paid, and ordered the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Yan Li parked a white BMW 5 Series at the gate of Beijing Film Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this car didn’t impress much at the academy gate,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it still drew glances from passersby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, when he drove a Santana, no matter how shiny he polished it, no one gave him a second look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Dong Xuan, called by phone, ran out of the gate, glanced around, and, after Yan Li honked, excitedly opened the door and got in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few passersby nearby sighed or sneered—such a nice girl, hooked up with a rich guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan didn’t care—she was curious, touching the interior, feeling the leather seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This car is really yours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s yours and mine? It’s ours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li looked at Dong Xuan in the passenger seat, her face still flushed from running, sweat glistening—he felt a stir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d 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 exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Dong Xuan could even feel moved, Yan Li kissed her, his hands groping—her blouse button popped off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re on the road—go home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan’s lips were bleeding from biting them as she shoved Yan Li away and struggled to the back seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The street was full of pedestrians, and since she’d just bought the car, all the windows were clear—she didn’t have Yan Li’s thick skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m in a good mood tonight, so we’re not going home—I’ll take you out for candlelight dinner, then book a suite at a hotel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can go home every day, but you need to get out every few days to refresh your mood, add some spice—absence makes the heart grow fonder, the passion will be fierce, and you won’t have to clean up afterward…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, at the Kempinski Hotel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After their struggle, Yan Li held the exhausted Dong Xuan in the bathtub, whispering to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was August; Beijing Film Academy had already started summer break, but Dong Xuan was still on campus, mainly helping her professors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After summer break, Dong Xuan and her classmates would be seniors; by this stage, few remained on campus to study—they were all preparing to go their separate ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take the Acting Department as an example: either go out auditioning, or take exams to join theater troupes or cultural work units, while others strive to stay on campus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want to become a teacher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li was surprised—he’d never heard Dong Xuan say she wanted to be a teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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 next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yue herself came from a teaching background; before entering Beijing Film Academy, she had taught elementary school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering Beijing Film Academy, Guan Yue once dreamed of fame and stardom, but soon realized her conditions and talent made success unlikely, so she began considering a backup plan—staying on as a teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially after getting together with Tong Dawei, with him bringing in the income, Guan Yue became even more inclined toward stable employment while still being able to care for the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If both husband and wife were actors, chasing scripts across the country, they’d barely see each other all year, inevitably straining their relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One works outside, the other manages the home—that’s the best arrangement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yue and Dong Xuan were close friends, so naturally Guan Yue hoped they could both stay on campus together for companionship, and she began nudging Dong Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan was actually swayed a little—she was much like Guan Yue, not very career-driven, the type destined to be a virtuous wife and devoted mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li brings in the money, she becomes a teacher and cares for the home—it really is a decent choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Dong Xuan had far better conditions than Guan Yue; she’d already played a female lead, so becoming an actress wasn’t out of reach, which made her hesitant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, every female student in the Acting Department has a dream of dazzling stardom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not being career-driven doesn’t mean having no ambition—it just means family outweighs career. Even if becoming a teacher, they all want to be a star teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think I should do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan asked Yan Li, wanting to hear his opinion. Yan Li held her close, silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his perspective, Dong Xuan staying on campus as a teacher was indeed a good idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entertainment industry was full of sharks and crocodiles; Yan Li was a bit uneasy about it. Campus work was quiet and stable, and the title sounded respectable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had one concern: if Dong Xuan settled down as a teacher, no longer caring about fans or acting, would she start pushing him to marry her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just scaremongering—Yan Li’s monthly intelligence triggers had already shown that Guan Yue and Tong Dawei got married in 2007.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If becoming a teacher was meant to care for the family, she’d naturally care deeply about when to start a household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Guan Yue—today she was nudging Dong Xuan to become a teacher, but who knew that someday she wouldn’t nudge Dong Xuan to marry him too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pros and cons here couldn’t be explained in a sentence or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yan Li didn’t give a direct answer—he let Dong Xuan decide for herself. Whatever she chose, he would support her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he couldn’t make the choice himself, he let Dong Xuan decide. Yan Li accepted reality, and would deal with whatever came next—brick by brick, earth by earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… I’ll think about it some more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan was deeply torn. She’d thought she could get help from Yan Li, but he’d left the decision to her again…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2521,"2026-06-19T16:16:52.605Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","73ddbe8a6d28a6d4ee1564de5f0b1fcf13e61b6d0f9f18513ca39efa9b083794","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-103","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-101",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]