Chapter 141

After leaving the set of "The Number One Under Heaven," the seven women chattered excitedly from their recent victory.

Fan Xiaopang still felt aggrieved: "Third brother's just a coward—if we'd all charged together when I called out, we could've beaten that little bitch into submission."

Huo Siyan, who had feigned timidity earlier, now perked up: "I was even ready to take off my shoes—these are thick-soled today, perfect as weapons."

Wow!

Dong Xuan couldn't help glancing at her—this girl had real fighting experience.

Jiang Xin also rolled up her sleeves, loud and boastful: "Just those few guys? I could take down two by myself."

Among the Seven Fairies, she was the tallest and most curvaceous; if a full-scale brawl had broken out, she'd have been an absolute frontline warrior.

Li Bingbing, who had been dazed earlier, had finally figured out what happened on the way, and now she enthusiastically replayed the scene.

"The short girl I don't know, but the other two are probably from Xiangjiang—they won't help. Split them up, block Gao Yuanyuan and the short girl, and the rest of us can easily overwhelm them five-to-one."

At this stage, the cast of the drama isn't sharply divided between Hong Kong/Taiwan and mainland actors, but most of the time they just mind their own business.

Factors like differing habits, experiences, and language, plus some ideological clashes, contribute to this.

In the same production, examples of Hong Kong/Taiwan actors looking down on mainland actors are everywhere; meanwhile, on the mainland side, due to various reasons, groups often band together to ostracize newcomers.

In short, if coworkers on the same set can't get along, they just go their separate ways.

Plus, "The Number One Under Heaven" just started filming—these people probably don't even know each other, so they're even less likely to help.

Li Lin and Yang Xue exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Now everyone's talking big—but when it counted, who actually stepped up? You swung that slap, and the rest would've stood by and watched.

Dong Xuan didn't dampen their enthusiasm; she'd already led them in confronting Huang Shengyi, and now she felt refreshed—even Huo Siyan looked more tolerable to her.

"Thanks for your support, sisters—I'm treating everyone to dinner."

Fan Xiaopang rubbed her hands: "Rare chance to treat Lady Yan—we won't be polite."

Dong Xuan, hearing "Lady Yan," beamed: "No need to be polite—order whatever you want. After dinner, we'll go sing karaoke—I'll pay for everything."

She's rich!

Though the salary for "Huan Tian Xi Di Seven Fairies" was stingy, it wasn't trivial either, and Dong Xuan had no company or agents—after taxes, everything was hers.

Not to mention Yan Li's generosity—he'd occasionally toss her a few stacks of cash for clothes, groceries, and such.

Moreover, Dong Xuan still held onto the "backup fund" Yan Li had once entrusted her with—she hadn't touched it much, and sometimes even added a little more.

By now, scattered sums added up—Dong Xuan wasn't quite a millionairess, but she was very close.

Not just dinner and karaoke—she could easily feed and entertain all six of them for months…

Tomorrow they still had filming, so they didn't go downtown—instead, they found a good restaurant near the film studio, ate well, then went to karaoke and played until past eleven.

Yan Li, having been called, finally couldn't take it anymore and arrived at the karaoke room.

There he saw Fan Bingbing and Li Bingbing arm-in-arm singing "Jiu Gan Tang Mai Wu," while Dong Xuan, Jiang Xin, and others clapped along to the beat.

Everyone seemed fine—definitely had drunk a lot—but only Yang Xue and Li Lin, with weaker tolerance, were slightly dizzy; the rest were merely more energetic, and Dong Xuan was only slightly flushed, her eyes bright and clear.

After all, she was the one footing the bill—had she gotten drunk, they'd all be stuck paying. They'd ordered plenty of expensive liquor…

Yan Li relaxed slightly—these women weren't completely foolish; they knew their limits and had called him ahead.

But still, how bold of them—this place is full of shady characters, no men around to protect them, what if they ran into some violent types?

Three days without a beating, and they're tearing the roof off!

Yan Li pondered how to punish Dong Xuan later, but in front of the women, he said nothing—only tapped his watch.

"Sisters, shouldn't you be wrapping up?"

Normally, Producer Yan's authority carried weight, but now, drunk and emboldened, they ignored him.

"It's not even twelve yet—why rush? The night's just beginning."

"Exactly, we hardly ever get together like this—don't ruin the fun."

"Yeah, the shoot's almost over—we won't all be together like this again. This is basically a farewell party."

"…"

The women's chatter—some cooing, some whining—was starting to wear on Yan Li.

Besides, what they said wasn't without merit—the shoot was nearing its end, and some actors would leave before the final day.

For instance, the more popular Fan Bingbing, especially Li Bingbing—last month they each took two days off, and both had already said: as soon as their scenes wrapped, they'd leave immediately.

So the chance of all Seven Fairies gathering for the wrap party was slim, and future promotions were uncertain; considering their personal bonds too…

This might truly be their last private gathering.

Realizing this, Yan Li stopped urging them to leave—instead, he said: "You guys have fun—I'll just sit here and guard the door. No men around? I'm not leaving you unattended."

"Fine, fine."

The women didn't argue further—and in a way, having Yan Li there eased their worries, letting them enjoy themselves more.

He casually grabbed a bottle of Budweiser, listened to the music, drank, then pulled out his phone to play Snake.

Dong Xuan felt uneasy, worried Yan Li was angry, and wanted to explain—but Fan Xiaopang and the others pulled her back to drink.

Earlier, they'd held back because no one was paying—now that Yan Li was here, they didn't need to be polite.

"…"

While playing his phone, his beer was suddenly bumped—he looked up to see Li Bingbing.

She leaned back on the sofa, took a sip, and sighed with melancholy: "I'm getting old—I can't keep up with these girls anymore. Back in my youth, I'd dance all night in nightclubs and be fine; now, singing a few songs in karaoke leaves me exhausted."

"That's not aging—it's maturity. Your needs have upgraded, your priorities changed."

Yan Li could somewhat relate—he used to love going to internet cafes during college, pulling all-nighters more than once.

Now he was about to open his own internet cafe, yet he'd lost interest in going to one.

Sometimes, he'd even rather play Snake on his phone than dive into online games.

Li Bingbing rolled her eyes at him: "Maturity just means getting old—you're just saying I'm old and out of touch with the young."

「……」

Yan Li didn't argue with her, just praised: "Don't stress about your age—I think you look much better now than before."

Li Bingbing scoffed: "Don't try those flattery tricks meant for little girls on me."

"I'm not lying."

Yan Li's tone was sincere: "Red energy nourishes a person. Compared to last year, I truly feel your features have become more refined, and you now look more confident and more captivating."

This wasn't just Yan Li flattering Li Bingbing to cheer her up—he genuinely thought so.

Stars, especially female stars, clearly differ in presence depending on whether they're popular or not.

For someone like Li Bingbing, with her strong, masculine style, this effect is even more pronounced.

When she wasn't popular, she was just a plain girl; when she became popular, her aura surged, allowing her to rival—even overshadow—more beautiful rivals like Fan Xiaopang.

Yan Li had personally watched the ensemble scenes of The Seven Fairies. Li Bingbing wasn't the most beautiful fairy among them, but she was certainly one of the most eye-catching.

Paired with the second fairy's dominant, cold, and resilient persona, Yan Li couldn't say this role would become Li Bingbing's signature part, but it would undoubtedly stand out as a dazzling highlight in her career.

"Tsk, smooth-talker."

Li Bingbing complained aloud, but a flicker of pleasure crossed her eyes—no matter how much truth there was in Yan Li's words, she found them deeply satisfying.

She had some insecurity about her looks; she knew full well she wasn't especially beautiful in the entertainment industry. So praising her beauty alone felt shallow, while praising her aura seemed almost insulting.

But Yan Li tied his praise to her current career momentum, layering compliment upon compliment—he not only hit her sweet spot, but made it sound meaningful.

Hmph, no wonder my little sister's completely bewitched by this bastard.

Li Bingbing glanced over at Fan Xiaopang, who had started singing again, then pressed closer to Yan Li.

"Feng's 'Heaven Without Thieves' starts shooting at the end of this month."

"I heard."

Yan Li looked at Li Bingbing: "What? Didn't they already pick you?"

Last month, Huayi probably wanted to generate some buzz for the film, so they stirred up a "Two-Bing" rivalry.

Yan Li even helped promote it, making the Two-Bing competition grow fiercer.

But according to Yan Li's knowledge, 'Heaven Without Thieves' originally planned to cast an actress from Xiangjiang, with Mei Yanfang—the late one from last year—as the top choice.

After Mei Yanfang's health declined, they considered other actresses. Within Huayi, led by Wang Jinghua, someone proposed casting both Bing girls—one as lead, one as second female lead.

But after much deliberation, Huayi ultimately chose the "milk tea sister" as the lead, assigned Li Bingbing to support Liu Ruoying, and left Fan Xiaopang out in the cold.

This decision upset Li Bingbing, and Fan Xiaopang even more so—Wang Jinghua even got into a direct argument with Huayi's young boss, Xiao Wang.

Li Bingbing came to Yan Li about this: "Can you help me take the lead role from that Liu woman?"

"Cough, cough."

Yan Li nearly choked on his beer: "Sis, you really think I'm a god?"

Landing the lead in 'Mobile Phone' was a matter of perfect timing, location, and opportunity—Li Bingbing was already a top candidate, and her rivals weren't strong, so I just gave her a nudge to help her rise.

'Heaven Without Thieves' is far more complicated than 'Mobile Phone' was.

That milk tea sister isn't easy to deal with—she's backed by Hong Kong-Taiwan capital, and even Ge the Elder, their usual male lead, is playing second fiddle to Liu Tianwang. That shows how much control Feng Xiaogang and Huayi have over this project.

Li Bingbing should be grateful just to hold onto the second female lead—I originally thought they'd give it to Fan Xiaopang.

"Can't you help me and Xiao Fan? This is also Hua-jie's wish."

Li Bingbing refused to give up, invoking Fan Xiaopang and Wang Jinghua.

In this matter, all three of them shared the same interest: Li Bingbing as lead, Fan Xiaopang as second female lead, and Wang Jinghua's Two-Bing duo rising together.

"Even Hua-jie herself couldn't convince me—it's not that I won't help, I just can't."

Yan Li spoke honestly—he was pragmatic, but not purely profit-driven; the Two-Bing were his friends, and if he could help, he would.

But this time, he truly had no power to help.

Li Bingbing sighed helplessly: "Our own film, our own artist playing second fiddle to someone else—it's frustrating."

"Stop whining—you've still got a decent role. Those really suffering are over there."

Yan Li nodded toward Fan Xiaopang, who had missed two consecutive Feng Xiaogang films and hadn't even landed the second female lead—imagine how she felt.

If this keeps up, she might turn rebellious!

Yan Li was actually pleased by this—he even wanted to add more fuel. Wang Ou had good conditions, but her foundation was too thin, and her skills hadn't been honed.

This future billionaire wasn't like that—she excelled in every aspect, a clear top-tier prospect, bold and relentless, with fierce ambition.

If it weren't for Wang Jinghua treating him well, he'd have poached her long ago.

But if Fan Xiaopang firmly decided to leave Huayi, Yan Li would wield his shovel without a shred of guilt.

Though he wasn't as powerful as Huayi now, he had one advantage they lacked: he prioritized his own people.

If Fan Xiaopang earned a lot, he could give her resource priority ahead of Qin Lan and Dong Xuan.

As for Li Bingbing…

Yan Li also wanted to poach her, but his current resources couldn't satisfy her.

More importantly, even Huayi struggled to contain the Two-Bing—right now, Yan Li couldn't hold either of them back. If he brought both to Yi'an, they'd be fighting daily like a boiling cauldron.

Li Bingbing didn't know Yan Li's thoughts, but thinking of Fan Xiaopang's worse situation lifted her mood considerably.

"You said she's young—youth means enduring more hardship."

Yan Li: "…"

Just moments ago, she was hugging and singing with her, acting like a close sister—now she was gleefully gloating.

As they spoke, Dong Xuan finally broke free from the others. Seeing Li Bingbing and Yan Li chatting alone, she grew uneasy and drifted over.

"What are you talking about?"

"Private matters. Ask him."

Li Bingbing spoke ambiguously, winked at Yan Li, then floated away. Yan Li, seeing Dong Xuan's troubled expression, pulled her waist close and kissed her.

"Ignore her, she's just talking about 'No Thieves in the World'—trying to stir up trouble."

"Why does every woman want to stir up trouble?"

Dong Xuan was slightly annoyed, but Yan Li spoke with perfect confidence: "If you don't believe me, go ask her. If I've said even half a word wrong, do whatever you want to me."

Yan Li kicked the ball back and then turned the tables: "By the way, I heard you went to visit the set of 'The Number One Under Heaven.' How was it?"

At these words, Dong Xuan felt a faint twinge of guilt.

Scolding Huang Shengyi was satisfying, but it was indeed impulsive and somewhat damaged her image.

She feared that the sly Huang or the others present might stab her in the back, planting doubts or spreading rumors about her to Yan Li.

So, after a moment's hesitation, Dong Xuan decided to strike first: "It was fun at first, but then your junior sister showed up out of nowhere and started greeting me…"

Well, Huang Shengyi started the conflict—she was innocent.

Not only innocent, but calm and restrained, bearing humiliation with patience, leaving with the others who were angry, and even treating everyone just to soothe their moods.

Dong Xuan's acting had improved slightly, and Yan Li almost believed her—too bad she'd run into a system that had just triggered intelligence at dawn.

【Daily Intelligence 1: Yesterday, Dong Xuan led Jiang Xin, Fan Bingbing… and others to intimidate and scold Huang Shengyi on the set of 'The Number One Under Heaven.' The exact dialogue was as follows…】

"Really? That's too much."

Yan Li "exploded in rage," picked up the phone: "I'm calling people right now to go to 'The Number One Under Heaven' and make her apologize to you—no excuses."

Dong Xuan froze, frantically waving her hands: "No, no, I'm not going to hold a grudge against her."

"You won't hold a grudge, but I will. No one bullies my woman."

Yan Li shouted into the phone: "Tian Yuan, Tian Ye, gather all the brothers. I'll text you the address. Yes, bring the gear too…"

Dong Xuan was truly panicked now—if they confronted each other, it might be minor, but if things turned physical and Yan Li got hurt, it would be a massive disaster.

"I just lied to you—I didn't get the worse end of it…"

Dong Xuan blurted out the truth. As she spoke, she noticed Yan Li's expression remained calm, utterly devoid of his earlier fury. She wasn't stupid—she immediately realized she'd been tricked.

"You bullied someone behind my back, went out drinking with this group, and lied to me."

Yan Li listed Dong Xuan's "crimes" one by one, then crossed his legs: "So, how do you plan to fix this?"

Dong Xuan knew she couldn't get out of this without paying a price. After some hesitation, she leaned close and whispered a few words.

Yan Li nodded slightly: "Fine, but not enough."

Dong Xuan clenched her teeth and said a few more. Yan Li still wasn't satisfied: "Still short."

"That's enough."

Dong Xuan snapped: "I didn't hit her or yell at her—I just chatted! Besides, what's she got to do with you? Why are you so protective of her?"

Yan Li refused to fall into the trap: "That's not the point. The point is you lied to me and manipulated my feelings."

"Didn't you ever lie to me?"

Yan Li spoke with perfect confidence: "Don't change the subject. We're talking about your problem."

Dong Xuan glared at him fiercely, then finally gave in: "Fine, I'll play 'Three Fairies Battle Jin Zha' with you once."

Playing at home was fine, but bringing the costume back to the hotel room on set—if anyone found out, it'd be too embarrassing.

"Seven times. And I want different fairies each time."

Dong Xuan wanted to bite him to death: "You're definitely up to no good—have you been thinking about this all along?"

Yan Li smiled without answering. Dong Xuan came up with an excuse: "I won't wear costumes others have worn—they're disgusting."

"What a coincidence."

Yan Li had anticipated this—he knew using someone else's worn costume would disgust her.

"I had extra sets made just in case there weren't enough. None of them have been worn—they're brand new."

Dong Xuan stomped on his foot in anger, but didn't refuse. Yan Li chuckled, then suddenly remembered something.

"Wang Mu's probably has a new one too…"

"Pfft."

Dong Xuan spat at Yan Li, then tried to splash beer on him—he dodged and explained.

"These really are backups."

Dong Xuan refused to speak to him, leaving him to join Jiang Xin and the others singing.

Yan Li was about to carefully review today's daily intelligence when Fan Xiaopang appeared beside him, speaking in a melancholy tone.

"I just heard you mention Wang Mu—what were you talking about?"

Yan Li's expression didn't change: "Hmm, I'm not satisfied with Wang Mu's final scenes—I plan to revise them."

Fan Xiaopang stared at him for a few seconds, saw nothing unusual, raised her beer and clinked it with his.

"This collaboration has been pleasant, Yan Zong. Next time you have a project, think of little sister."

"Of course."

Yan Li nodded cheerfully, chatted a bit, then brought up 'No Thieves in the World'—the wrong topic.

"My bad, my bad."

Seeing Fan Xiaopang's face darken, Yan Li pretended to slap his own mouth, then added:

"But honestly, your company's handling of this is questionable. They gave 'Mobile' to Bingbing—now it's your turn."

"I'm not stirring up trouble, but I really think your company doesn't value you enough."

"If it were me, I'd design a project just for you."

"Oh, too much talk—let's drink, let's drink."

"…"

Watching Fan Xiaopang's shifting expression, Yan Li took a sip of beer.

If he could really lure this nine-hundred-millionaire into working for him, he'd become a multi-billionaire… maybe even a hundred-billionaire.

(End of chapter)