Chapter 111: Last night you praised her beauty beyond compare, but today after waking up

Hotel room

"I already said last time—we have no grudge, just a little misunderstanding. Even if I did something wrong, I already apologized to you before."

Fan Xiaopang nodded; the feud between them over The Ju Bao Pen had been settled since Yan Li approached her for reconciliation at the bar.

At the very least, regardless of what they truly felt inside, publicly they had put it all behind them.

Considering Yan Li had apologized first, Fan Xiaopang even added an extra line this time.

"I had my own faults too—I apologize to you."

"Good, I accept. This matter is settled. No fight, no friendship; being able to collaborate on two dramas together is fate—we're friends from now on."

Yan Li set the tone: first resolve the conflict, then build closeness, before continuing to discuss collaboration.

Fan Xiaopang's lips twitched slightly, as if wanting to say something, then swallowed the words back.

She still had one unresolved matter in her mind: Yan Li had helped Li Bingbing snatch the female lead role in Mobile Phone from her.

But objectively speaking, there was no real grounds to blame Yan Li.

Even when Fan Xiaopang had been angry back then, she never directed her anger at Yan Li—she simply felt they were fundamentally incompatible and hoped to drift farther apart in the future.

But she hadn't expected this guy to have some real ability—he'd stirred up quite a bit of noise, even prompting Hua Jie to personally advise her to at least avoid antagonizing Yan Li.

Fan Xiaopang was the type who could pick up and let go easily.

If Yan Li were just a minor actor, she'd never cross paths with him again. But since Yan Li could bring benefits to her career, Fan Xiaopang was willing to bow her head, apologize, turn swords into plowshares, and see if she could forge a connection.

To be honest, Fan Xiaopang had even prepared herself mentally for Yan Li to put on a superior attitude.

As long as it wasn't too extreme, she planned to endure it.

But Yan Li's friendly attitude—even the warmth and overtures of closeness—left Fan Xiaopang surprised, impressed, and utterly on guard.

She hadn't forgotten: this man was a smiling tiger and a schemer.

During The Ju Bao Pen, he'd appeared the perfect gentleman, then turned right around and dug traps for her.

So if Yan Li had mocked or given her a hard time a few times, she'd have been annoyed but found it reasonable.

But now, with Yan Li acting so warm and amiable, Fan Xiaopang couldn't shake the feeling he was trying to trick her.

Unable to bear Yan Li's constant attempts to draw her closer, Fan Xiaopang spoke directly.

"Since we're friends, just say what's on your mind."

"Good, straight to the point—I like that."

Yan Li gave his usual compliment, then launched into Huan Tian Xi Di Seven Fairies, speaking fluently as he began to persuade… cough, convince.

"Bingbing, I'm a year older than you—I'll take the liberty of calling myself big brother."

"Big brother won't play games with you—our drama's budget is definitely among the top in the industry, and the character designs are outstanding, extremely role-enhancing."

"As for the Fifth Fairy role, she's set as the most beautiful woman in Heaven—seriously, when I first saw this character, the first person I thought of was you."

"Though we've had misunderstandings, I absolutely recognize your looks and beauty—you're a top-tier beauty in the entertainment circle, and this Fifth Fairy role was made for you."

"I've always felt that with your condition, you should be playing fairies, goddesses, or beauties—otherwise, you'd be wasting that face of yours, one that can topple nations and captivate cities."

"You were just young before, hadn't fully matured, took some setbacks—but if you had, there'd be no such thing as the Four Little Flowers; even bundled together, none of them could match your beauty."

"…."

Yan Li went on and on, praising her so extravagantly that even Xi Shi or Diaochan would have bowed humbly before Fan Xiaopang, and Su Daji or Bao Si would have stood at attention.

Fan Xiaopang remained alert and knew Yan Li's words were flattery, wildly exaggerated.

But the compliments were just so pleasing to hear!

Fan Xiaopang's cheeks flushed, her heart warmed, and despite desperately pressing her lips together, she couldn't stop the slow curve of her smile—she kept waving her hands in modesty, yet made not the slightest effort to stop Yan Li.

Only when Yan Li's throat ran dry and he paused to drink water did she reluctantly speak up, saying she didn't deserve such praise.

This little woman really liked being flattered!

Yan Li felt he'd met his match today—ordinary girls would've been dazzled and dazed by now.

But Fan Xiaopang had strong endurance; though slightly intoxicated, she remained clear-headed and still refused to take the bait on the Fifth Fairy role.

If that's the case, it's time to get down to real business.

Yan Li stopped the flattery and instead gave a straightforward rundown of Huan Tian Xi Di Seven Fairies.

"... So although the Fifth Fairy's screen time is slightly less, our drama is an ensemble piece with no clear male or female lead—if you need it, I can absolutely put your name first on the cast list."

At this point, Fan Xiaopang couldn't stay silent—she still wanted to cultivate a good relationship with Yan Li.

Whether she'd take the role was secondary; she had to speak in the right tone.

"Big brother, technically, this is your first time asking me, and it's your company's first major production—I should help you out. But you know, we have to follow our company's decisions; Hua Jie is truly hard to deal with."

"..."

Yan Li didn't say anything foolish like "I'll go negotiate with Hua Jie"—Fan Xiaopang was clearly negotiating, and Hua Jie would stand firmly with her.

If the deal was profitable,

Fan Xiaopang would use "loyalty" to strongly urge Hua Jie to agree, and Hua Jie, in turn, would honor Yan Li's "face," ignore opposition, and clear all obstacles.

But if Yan Li truly treated her like a naive girl, used her without offering anything—not even an empty promise—

then Fan Xiaopang and Hua Jie could do nothing; despite their best efforts, they couldn't overcome the internal resistance from Huayi, and could only wait for the next collaboration.

Yan Li understood this perfectly, and he responded plainly.

"... Bingbing, if you help me this time, I owe you a favor. Next time I make a new drama, I'll definitely think of you."

"That's too far off."

Fan Xiaopang knew when to stop—her main goal was still to get close to Yan Li, so stretching it a little to secure his attitude was enough.

Demanding a favor outright would sound like holding something over him, leaving a lingering resentment.

So if Yan Li didn't speak up, she wouldn't yield—but once she had his promise, she stepped back, offering help out of loyalty, with no expectation of return.

"With you saying that, it proves you see me as family—so if you have a need, I can't just stand by. I'll talk to Hua Jie—I'll give it my all."

"Straightforward."

At first, Yan Li truly thought Fan Xiaopang was trying to leverage this for better terms, but after her concession, he finally understood—his eyes filled with admiration.

No wonder she's a nine-hundred-millionaire; she really knows how to play the game.

This back-and-forth, tight then loose, achieved the goal without making her resentful.

Though her technique was still a bit awkward and unnatural, it was far superior to the usual clueless types or those who only know how to strip.

Yan Li thought for a moment, then added: "Besides you, I've also invited Li Bingbing. No problem on your end?"

Fan Xiaopang paused, then smiled: "No problem. I get along great with her."

"I knew it—just a little thing like 'Cellphone' won't affect your friendship?"

Fan Xiaopang: "..."

Enough already. Are you deliberately stabbing me in the heart?!

Yan Li sensed the remark went too far and backtracked: "I just worried you two might misunderstand each other—I wanted to help smooth things over. We're all friends; unity matters most."

Fan Xiaopang gave him a sidelong glance. Unity? Pfft. More likely she's causing trouble on set or looking for an excuse to quit.

She couldn't help letting out a huff: "I don't care—I'm doing this for your face."

"Good. Generous."

Yan Li gave a thumbs-up in praise, but Fan Xiaopang didn't respond—instead, she asked who Li Bingbing was playing.

"The Second Fairy. Fewer scenes than you."

Hearing Li Bingbing had fewer scenes than her, Fan Xiaopang felt slightly pleased, yet also surprised.

"With so few scenes, how did you even get her?"

Li Bingbing was already more famous than her, and now she'd starred in 'Cellphone,' already showing signs of being Hua Yi's top actress—yet Yan Li had somehow convinced her to take a supporting role.

Yan Li smiled without answering. What could he say? That Li Bingbing was grateful he'd helped her snatch the female lead in 'Cellphone,' so she was returning the favor?

Fan Xiaopang misinterpreted Yan Li's expression, her eyes widening in shock.

"Is your gossip with her real?"

If those two were really involved, why was she wasting effort courting Yan Li? Wasn't filming 'Huan Tian Xi Di' just helping Li's family pay the bride price?

Yan Li nearly choked. He glanced at Fan Xiaopang's face and guessed her thoughts—irritated, he explained.

"You're imagining things. I have a girlfriend."

"Who's she playing?"

Fan Xiaopang instantly understood. Yan Li would never neglect his own people—among the Seven Fairies, one must be his woman.

"Your third sister."

Curious which poor girl this scheming man had tricked, Fan Xiaopang also wondered why Li Bingbing was helping him so much—if they weren't involved.

She wasn't stupid; the gossip had misled her into assuming a couple dynamic.

Now that the false assumption was removed, and remembering what Hua Jie had said earlier, the truth wasn't hard to guess—soon, Fan Xiaopang's face darkened.

"Correct."

Seeing this, Yan Li sighed and admitted: "She just believes in my potential, so she's making a big bet. But I'm not the type to favor one over another—I'll remember both your favors."

Fan Xiaopang fought hard not to roll her eyes. This guy was shameless—and treated her like an idiot.

Still, she had to admit, Yan Li's words weren't entirely baseless. Li Bingbing might genuinely be placing a bet.

Looks like I made the right move!

Otherwise, Li Bingbing would've gained a strategist and a promising resource channel—I'd stand no chance against her.

Watching Fan Xiaopang's shifting expression, Yan Li nodded inwardly.

He'd said it before: Li Bingbing's participation was both an obstacle to inviting Fan Xiaopang—and a powerful weapon.

Conversely, with Fan Xiaopang's alliance, he could use the same tactic against Li Bingbing.

The Li sisters knew his strength—they'd fear him being swayed by Fan Xiaopang into becoming a major rival, so they'd court him.

Then, no matter how tight Li Bingbing's schedule, she'd have to carve out two months for Yan Li.

And the Li sisters' attention toward him would further stir Fan Xiaopang's thoughts—perhaps even prompt her to invest more.

Then Yan Li could play both sides, kill two birds with one stone, trick both women into earning money for him, and practice his skill at walking the tightrope—ready to face Dong Xuan and Qin Lan.

I'm a genius!

Yan Li felt pride inside, yet outwardly chatted casually with Fan Xiaopang as if nothing mattered.

Fan Xiaopang nodded along, mentally replaying whether she'd fallen into Yan Li's trap—she thought not, yet something felt subtly off.

————

The next day, Yan Li met Director Meng Ji, and learned from Fan Xiaotian what role he'd play—

The Brother of Jinmao Rat: Tiantian Rat

In the original script, Jinmao Rat had three older brothers, none of whom appeared on screen—just draped in cloaks, faces covered in black cloth for mystery.

Most other roles were already cast; Fan Xiaotian wasn't satisfied with tiny parts, so he dug this one out.

Three brothers became one; hidden face became visible!

Slight plot changes: originally, after the three brothers were captured, two were eaten by the third, who then escaped.

Now, the script changed it: he ate himself—devoured his own arm, grew thin from it, and barely escaped.

After this revision, the plot became even crazier than before—Yan Li hesitated just reading the script.

"Isn't this role a bit deranged?"

"That's exactly what makes it compelling—audiences will remember it."

Fan Xiaotian offered his view: Yan Li had few scenes; to stand out and not waste his time, he had to play an outrageous role.

Yan Li thought it over—true enough. Though the role was a bit deranged, it was ruthless and badass.

He ate and ate all the way, consuming gods and demons alike, even the Buddha himself was rumored to be on his menu.

Yan Li never rejected playing villains—he rejected the nauseating, sleazy plots like those involving Yuwen Chengdu. This "Devouring Rat," though insane, promised to be thrilling to portray.

"Fine, we'll do this one."

Yan Li nodded, then went to try on makeup. Since it was a newly revised script, no prior preparations had been made, so everything was discussed on the spot with Yan Li.

The costume remained black robe + cloak + hood—he only needed to show his face.

After discussion, the skin was painted pale, blood-red contact lenses were added to the eyes, and black fur tufts were placed beside the ears to reveal his demonic identity.

The makeup team had everything ready and quickly assembled it.

Yan Li stared into the mirror, found the right feeling, realized standing upright made him too tall to be a rat spirit, so he hunched over, his expression dark and tinged with madness.

The feeling was there, but still lacking something.

Yan Li pondered a moment, asked for a blood pack, bit into it, blood staining his lips and teeth, then bared his teeth in a cold, chilling smile at the mirror.

Hmm, this time it's right!

He went straight to the set with the makeup on, just as Fan Xiaopang was waiting in the wings. Fan Xiaopang jumped back several steps, shrieking.

"What the hell is that?"

"Your brother."

Yan Li lowered his hood, revealing his face. Fan Xiaopang patted her chest, still shaken.

"Isn't this a comedy? Why'd you make yourself so terrifying?"

"Contrast is what makes it thrilling. Think about all those kids watching TV, seeing Zhu Bajie fall in love, then suddenly seeing me—wouldn't they piss themselves?"

Yan Li had found the joy of this role: he was determined to become the childhood nightmare of all those kids watching TV dramas.

"What kind of person are you?"

Fan Xiaopang was speechless. She'd been right all along—this guy was no good. Even acting, he was scheming to scare children. So low.

Just as she was thinking of subtly insulting him, she saw Yan Li staring at her, smugly turning a small circle.

"How's this? Pretty, right?"

Of all the roles in "Fortune Star Shines on Zhu Bajie," Fan Xiaopang was most satisfied with the Golden-Furred Rat's appearance—pure, delicate, lively, radiant, having stunned countless old men.

"Not bad."

Yan Li withdrew his gaze. She was truly beautiful—even after the casting process for "Huan Tian Xi Di Qi Xian," he'd been stunned by Fan Xiaopang.

But the roles were already locked in; he had no interest in flattery.

"Send me a still later. Your furry look is great—could serve as reference for the Fifth Fairy's costume."

Fan Xiaopang scowled as Yan Li praised the makeup but not her.

Yesterday he'd been so sweet; she'd still been craving more praise, expecting compliments today on the Golden-Furred Rat's look.

But this guy had called her "a beauty that topples cities" last night, slept a night, and now it was "not bad."

Hmph, men!

Yan Li remained unmoved. I slept, but I didn't sleep with you—say whatever you want…

(End of Chapter)