[{"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-121":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},2260424,4411,"Chapter 121: Yan Li: You Don","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-121",121,"\u003Cp>Cao Xuan is an entertainment reporter for the Beijing Entertainment News, commonly known in the streets as a paparazzo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hasn’t been in the business long; in 2000, a fellow townsman introduced him to the field, and only last year did he barely make it into the newspaper’s staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since entering the industry, Cao Xuan has captured some scoops, but most were trivial and held little real value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most celebrated, and arguably his career-defining scoop, was earlier this year when he photographed the rumored affair between popular young actress Li Bingbing and a mysterious young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That article and its photos earned him praise from the editor, doubled his monthly bonus, and gave him minor fame within the industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Li Bingbing’s team quickly denied the rumors, significantly dampening public attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What troubled Cao Xuan even more was that he didn’t know the identity of the mysterious man at the time, so he glossed over it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only later did he learn the man was both an actor and a young billionaire—he kicked himself for missing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he known then that the man was Yan Li, a handsome, wealthy celebrity, the scandal would have exploded several times over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unwilling to let it go, Cao Xuan later tried to stake out Li Bingbing and Yan Li, hoping to catch a follow-up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had personally witnessed them playfully interacting, their rapport obvious; combined with their statuses, he believed the odds of a relationship were high and worth pursuing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Bingbing often traveled for filming, always accompanied, while Yan Li was reclusive and elusive, his residence unknown; after multiple failed attempts, Cao Xuan gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, yesterday, a mysterious source suddenly tipped him off, claiming to have seen Li Bingbing and Yan Li entering her residence together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Cao Xuan immediately rushed to the scene with his apprentice Ma Jin, sneaking into Li Bingbing’s parking lot to ambush them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the eleventh lunar month, the weather was freezing; they dared not turn on the heater or air conditioning for fear of exposure, and the parking lot was vast and empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xuan and Ma Jin huddled in the car, shivering from the cold; to distract himself, Ma Jin rubbed his hands and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Cao, who’s the one who tipped us off? Why’d they do it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably Li Bingbing’s enemy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xuan, with years in the business, had seen it all: “These stars fight dirty—backstabbing each other’s all the time. Maybe they found something and are using us to do their dirty work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be Fan Bingbing? I’ve seen online they’ve got major tensions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xuan didn’t care who tipped them off—he only cared whether he could get the shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing someone’s location didn’t guarantee a usable photo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, Li Bingbing might come home alone today, and Yan Li might not show up; or the cold might drive them to leave the parking lot quickly, and they’d miss the shot;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>or they might capture it, but poorly—just two people walking together, no shared frame, making the impact weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they’re just friends, and claim they’re going home to eat together, paparazzi twisting the truth—whether netizens believe the explanation is one thing,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but without intimate shots, the evidence lacks credibility and won’t go viral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You need at least a handhold, an embrace, or playful teasing—something physically affectionate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even something like them returning home together, changing clothes, then leaving again—indirect proof they might’ve spent the night—would work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xuan worried he wouldn’t catch them, then worried he’d capture useless footage; outwardly calm, inwardly he was frantic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here they come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, his apprentice Ma Jin let out a soft exclamation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xuan instinctively ducked, peered through the window, and readied his camera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he saw filled him with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing was linked arm-in-arm with Yan Li, who carried two shopping bags—clearly just back from shopping; they walked slowly, as if Yan Li were on the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Xuan stepped back, raised his camera, and snapped away, laughing silently inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ha ha ha, I’m rich now—see how you two deny this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Li Bingbing shivered and nudged Yan Li: “You sure those two paparazzi are here? We’re just freezing for nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My people saw them drive into the compound. It’s freezing out, your building’s security is solid—they can only shoot from the parking lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li put his phone away, glanced at Li Bingbing shivering, and couldn’t help mocking her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re named Bingbing, yet you’re so cold-sensitive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re named Yan Li, yet you’re not very polite—I’ve always hated the cold, sometimes even find showers too chilly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You might have a cold constitution—go see a TCM doctor for regulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li told her to wait, ran back to the car, fetched a scarf, and wrapped it around her neck himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A woman’s scarf? Where’d you get this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bought it for my girlfriend—borrow it as a prop. Don’t talk. Look moved. Try to tear up a little. This paparazzo has great lens sense—maybe we’ll land this year’s headline.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing sighed: “You didn’t say anything, I could’ve done it. Now you’ve ruined it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy—your crying scenes are terrible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li smoothed her hair as she smiled faintly, affectionately looping her arm through his again, yet muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Acting’s easy to cry in—real life’s too real and too fake. I can’t cry for this. Besides, it’s not my style—it’s too contrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fair point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li agreed; Li Bingbing was thirty—she wouldn’t cry over this. It’d look fake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, I’ll save this scene for Xiao Fan. She might like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be ridiculous—that girl’s even wilder than you. Even if you proposed with a ring, she wouldn’t cry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li laughed in exasperation: “Are you two even professional actors? You don’t follow the director.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing couldn’t take the cold anymore: “Enough already. Why not just stage it? Why bother with real paparazzi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t get it—this is authentic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s authentic? We’re still acting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li: “…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You make sense—but paparazzi have zero credibility. Yan Li didn’t trust them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they turned on him later, it’d ruin the hype—and he might even be accused of deceiving the public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they were staging it anyway, why not use a real paparazzo? At least it’d be secret and safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just cheap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing thought Yan Li just wanted to save money—bribing a paparazzo required hush money; using a real one cost nothing, and if he was shameless enough, he could even ask for a tip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, enough. Staying longer looks fake. Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li didn’t bother arguing with Li Bingbing; he figured it was fine. They left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After they departed, Cao Xuan exhaled deeply and slapped his apprentice: “Let’s go pick the photos, call the editor, save me the front page.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li followed Li Bingbing to her home, where her sister Li Xue was also present. Seeing them enter, she asked eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you get it done?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li gave an OK gesture and handed over the bags.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, first visit, gifts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue glanced at her sister, who immediately took the bags and opened them. Earlier, Yan Li had grabbed two bags right after getting out of the car—Li Bingbing had assumed they were props, not realizing they were gifts for the sisters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is embroidery—what’s this? Silverware?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li explained: “I was filming in Dali, Yunnan, bought some local specialties—thought I’d bring you some.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xue happily accepted them; Li Bingbing’s expression softened: “Come to think of it, when we first visited your place, we didn’t bring anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who says? Didn’t we give you a script contract? I liked it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li changed his shoes, sat on Li Bingbing’s sofa. Li Xue chatted with him, while Li Bingbing went to change clothes, then curled up beside him with a hot water bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two don’t live together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li was surprised—he’d always assumed the sisters lived together. Li Xue explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have my own apartment—my sister bought it for me. When we work together, I stay at her place; when we’re busy separately, we each go home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li understood—it made sense. Both were grown women, long out of school; they couldn’t cling together every day. Even sisters need personal space, especially when dating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing eyed Yan Li warily: “Why are you asking where my sister lives?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yan Li could answer, Li Xue protested: “Sis, he has a girlfriend. Don’t overthink it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing glared at her sister—she knew he had a girlfriend, yet still lingered, her hands rubbing the hot water bag as she looked at Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shouldn’t you be leaving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li asked Li Xue: “How long have I been here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not even half an hour.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li slumped back: “Then I’ll stay a bit longer. Half an hour? I can’t afford to look that desperate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing scoffed at him: “Don’t brag too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li ignored her, instead looking at Li Bingbing with pity: “You’ve never had it good. You’ve had it rough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing cursed, but Yan Li paid no mind—he wouldn’t leave until he’d stayed over two hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, Li Xue glanced between her sister and Yan Li, then dropped a bomb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, seriously—how long can you last?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li nearly choked on his spit. Honestly, if Li Bingbing had asked, he wouldn’t have been surprised—she was brazen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Xue had always seemed refined and reserved in his eyes—yet here she was, quiet as a mouse, roaring like a leopard—worse than her sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Privacy issue. Refuse to answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li disliked discussing bedroom matters with outsiders, but his evasiveness only piqued the interest of Li Xue and Li Bingbing, who each chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Refusing to answer—or afraid to answer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I knew you were just bluffing. Look so strong, yet turns out you're weak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you last ten minutes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might not care if questioned on other matters, but no man could tolerate this kind of doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Half an hour? That’s just warming up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing didn’t believe him, and neither did Li Xue. Yan Li was furious: \"Don’t believe me? Then let’s have a challenge—two against one, I’ll take you both. If you lose, you call me Dad. If I lose, one of you calls me Mom, the other calls me Aunt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get lost.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I knew you had something dirty up your sleeve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing hurled the hot water bottle at him. Yan Li caught it in one hand and muttered softly under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xue'er, what did he say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn’t catch it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Bingbing, standing farther away, asked again. Li Xue snatched the hot water bottle from Yan Li’s hand and glared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had heard him clearly—he’d muttered that he’d make them regret it someday…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: 10,000 words today. Requesting monthly votes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1816,"2026-06-19T16:16:52.605Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","59a434d82448d30df52fd3dfd4fc8215b674f602ec0128fff2e603709e0ddc23","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-122","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-120",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]