Chapter 159: Becoming a Business Idol for Post-80s and Post-90s Youth

Ma Yili used to live with Guan Hu, but after they broke up, she moved into a small apartment.

When Qin Lan saw her, she found the other woman's condition much better than she'd expected.

At least she wasn't wailing or begging to die—just clearly down in spirits, and a bit unkempt in appearance.

After letting Qin Lan in, Ma Yili sat on a messy sofa and handed her a can of beer.

"Wanna have a drink with me?"

"Uh…"

Qin Lan had wanted to say she'd driven, but seeing Ma Yili's state, she silently popped the tab, clinked cans with her, and spoke up.

"There's no room for reconciliation—you two were together for years."

Ma Yili gave a self-deprecating laugh: "How do you reconcile? Do you even know how we broke up?"

Qin Lan shook her head; Ma Yili had only said they broke up, so she had no idea—but immediately, Qin Lan perked up, sensing this was going to be explosive.

Sure enough, Ma Yili crushed the aluminum can: "I saw him sleeping in bed with my best 'girlfriend'."

"Tsk~"

Qin Lan bit her lip—she'd guessed it'd be bad, but not this bad.

"Who's this 'best girlfriend' of yours?"

"Liang Jing—you know her?"

Qin Lan thought for a moment, then shook her head; the name meant nothing to her.

"She used to be a host, then starred in that bastard's 'Black Hole.' We hit it off back then—I treated her like a close friend, told her everything. And what did she do? She lusted after my man."

Ma Yili's tone wasn't loud, but the emotion inside was incredibly complex, and she squeezed the can tighter and tighter.

Qin Lan didn't know how to comfort her; she'd known friends betrayed by lovers before, but never by a best friend.

Luckily, Ma Yili didn't need her to comfort—she just needed someone to vent to.

She talked about how hard this relationship had been, and how vile and shameless that couple had been.

Qin Lan arrived at noon and didn't leave until near dusk, taking a taxi home; when Yan Li got back that night, she began sharing what she'd learned.

"... Can you believe how shameless those two are?"

Listening to Qin Lan's righteous outrage, Yan Li ate fruit while indulging in gossip, then delivered a sharp assessment.

"Ma Yili's real anger isn't about her best friend stealing her man—it's about being abandoned by Guan Hu."

"Huh?"

Qin Lan was stunned; Yan Li slipped a grape into her mouth and gave a detailed explanation.

After "Huanzhu Gege 3" became a hit, Ma Yili gained some fame, but nowhere near the nationwide stardom of Xiao Yanzi or Lin Xinru back then—she was far behind Huang Yi, who also played a lead.

Guan Hu isn't as promising as he was during the "Black Hole" era, but he's doing fine, with plenty of industry connections.

The entertainment industry is fiercely competitive for young actresses—many explode in fame within two years, then fade just as fast, and Ma hadn't even exploded yet.

Having a director boyfriend with solid career prospects could reliably provide resources and connections—Guan Hu was a good match for Ma Yili right now.

Most importantly, Ma Yili had grown up alongside Guan Hu and invested a great deal in him.

These sunk costs matter deeply in relationships—the more you invest, the harder it is to let go.

So if Guan Hu sincerely apologized, made promises and guarantees, Ma Yili might not have been so determined to break up.

But now that they've split, it's likely not just Ma who wanted out—Guan Hu wanted out too.

Ma Yili suffered double betrayal and abandonment by both her best friend and her boyfriend, but it was the latter that truly fueled her rage and sorrow.

Qin Lan couldn't understand Guan Hu's actions at all.

"Why? Ma Yili isn't bad-looking, she treated him well—when 'Survival: The Migrant Workers' was short on funds, she ran around helping with connections, and she'd been with him since the beginning. So what's so special about that Liang something?"

"Who knows."

He said that aloud, but based on his past dealings with both of them and some related clues, he made a rough judgment—

Ma Yili had a strong-willed personality, while Guan Hu had a touch of machismo; she was pragmatic in her thinking, he carried the pretentiousness of an artist and a literary youth.

During the "Survival: The Migrant Workers" project, they clashed often, and only because of practical pressures did Guan Hu finally back down.

But backing down didn't mean he didn't harbor resentment—he probably held many grievances against Ma Yili.

Then along came a woman who obeyed him blindly, worshipped him, put him first in everything—creating a stark contrast to Ma Yili.

The outcome was inevitable!

Yan Li looked down on men like Guan Hu, but then he thought of his own two-timing and constant affairs—and realized he wasn't much better.

Still, he couldn't help despising Guan Hu—at least he hadn't slept with his woman's best friend, nor abandoned the woman who stood by him in obscurity.

Pfft!

Scumbag. No—scumbag among scumbags!

As a woman herself, and one with a close relationship and similar circumstances, Qin Lan felt a sense of shared sorrow for Ma Yili.

"Should I visit her more often these days? I'm afraid she might do something desperate."

"Probably not necessary, but if you're really worried, I'm going on a business trip in a couple days—have her stay at our place, help her get through it."

Yan Li didn't think Ma Yili was that type, but since Qin Lan was kind-hearted, he didn't object.

Besides, he was due to "switch shifts" to the Beijing Film Studio compound—having someone keep Qin Lan company wouldn't hurt.

"Alright."

Qin Lan thought it was a good idea; whenever Yan Li was away on trips, she felt lonely at home. If Ma Yili moved in, she'd help her get over the breakup, and Qin Lan would have someone to talk to.

"Have her sleep in the guest room—don't let her sleep in our bed. What if I come home and accidentally touch the wrong person? That'd be a disaster."

Yan Li specifically warned her, to avoid any "surprises"—this woman wasn't his type at all.

"What are you dreaming about?"

Qin Lan rolled her eyes at Yan Li, but internally decided Ma Yili would definitely sleep in the guest room.

The original plan was to help her let go of the heartache over her best friend sleeping with her boyfriend, but if she ended up sleeping with his boyfriend instead, the drama would be huge.

————

Since entering November, Yan Li felt he had suddenly become much busier.

The production of "Huan Tian Xi Di Seven Fairies" was completed, and discussions began on scheduling its broadcast, with promotional efforts needing to follow suit.

Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang's gossip had paused; now they were fully focused on PR for the Spring Festival Gala crew, hoping to secure a "Seven Fairies" New Year's greeting segment.

The pre-production of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" involved a pile of tasks, with casting progress fluctuating between fast and slow.

Huamanlou and Ximen Chuixue were confirmed: Ren Quan and Yan Kuan; Sikong Zhaixing was almost certainly Huang Haibo.

Only Lu Xiaofeng remained undecided, and Yan Li and the crew still had no clear direction.

Chen Kun, Huang Haibing, and Zhang Zhilin made it to the final round.

Huang's advantage was his lack of obvious weaknesses; Chen Kun's advantages were his greater fame, certain distinctive qualities, and the fact that Renxida agreed to cast Chen Kun, with their company's top actress, Young Master Zhou, willing to take on a supporting role.

As for Zhang Zhilin, his fame didn't match the other two, and he was a Xiangjiang actor.

But he had one advantage: after makeup and costume tests, his appearance and aura best matched the character of Lu Xiaofeng, earning support from directors Ju Jueliang and Wang Xinmin.

Yet Yan Li felt uneasy about casting a Xiangjiang actor as the male lead in such a major investment, and Zhang offered no exchangeable benefits, so the decision stalled.

"Emperor Wu of Han" was scheduled to premiere on CCTV in early January next year, and the crew had contacted Yan Li to participate in several interviews.

"Liang Jian" was set to begin filming in December; if Yan Li wanted a role, he needed to confirm it with the crew soon.

Yan Li also had to step in to facilitate the investment for "The Legend of the Condor Heroes."

Additionally, for several distribution projects, Yan Li couldn't completely wash his hands of them—he had to occasionally pay attention and offer guidance, especially for "Xian Jian Qi Xia Zhuan."

This project, in which Yi'an participated in investment, was temporarily unable to air on satellite channels due to related gaming policies.

Cai Yinong was extremely relieved she had played it safe, giving Yan Li roughly one-third of the shares; otherwise, Tang Ren might have been dragged down—or at least been left with a massive headache.

Yan Li didn't feel cheated; it wasn't a total ban on satellite broadcast—just delay it a bit. Air it on local channels, let it trickle along slowly. Since it was marketed as a 2005 hit, it couldn't possibly lose money.

With so many tasks piling up, Yan Li wished he could split himself into eight people.

Aside from celebrating Dong Xuan's birthday, he hadn't even celebrated his own twenty-fourth.

Of course, there were too many people who wanted to celebrate it for him.

Leaving aside Qin Lan and Dong Xuan, Wang Ou was quietly trying to lure him to her home, and even Huang Shengyi, his little sister-in-the-dao whose contact had dwindled, suddenly said she wanted to give him a birthday gift.

Other friends also proposed numerous birthday gatherings—some sincere, others with ulterior motives—so Yan Li simply rejected them all.

He called his parents at home, then left on a business trip.

Yes, a real business trip: negotiating an important distribution contract, and conveniently visiting several locations to scout for "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng."

With a 30-million-investment, filming couldn't possibly be limited to studio sets; the crew, emulating Jin Yong, planned to add natural scenery to elevate the production's quality.

This was also the suggestion of both directors.

Ju Jueliang had worked on "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils"; some of the classic outdoor scenes from Jin Yong's dramas came from his hand.

Director Wang Xinmin also preferred shooting on location, though cost constraints often held him back.

Even so, "The Sword of the Knight-Errant" featured a bamboo forest battle and dual water-boat fights; "The Linking Blade" even went specifically to Xiling Snow Mountain for filming.

This time, "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" had relatively sufficient funding, so if conditions allowed, they naturally wanted to shoot some real locations, making Gu Long's martial world more magnificent.

In Jiuzhaigou, Yan Li ran into the "The Return of the Condor" crew, which had just started filming.

It was said that scenes like the Ancient Tomb and others—including training the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra and Xiao Longnü losing her virginity—were all filmed there.

Yan Li had wanted to watch the spectacle, but the crew was wary of outsiders and refused entry; Yan Li didn't insist, wandered around other parts of Jiuzhaigou, took some photos, and left.

Before he even returned to Jingcheng, reporters broke the story, claiming Yan Li had gone to spy on them.

Jin Yong himself even gave a proper interview.

He said he wasn't afraid of competition or spying, but there was no need to steal techniques—just call him, and he'd gladly welcome Yan Li to visit the set anytime.

"Damn, just stick to your own stick."

Yan Li shook his head, strongly suspecting Jin Yong's people had spotted him and then used the media to drag him down.

If he went to steal techniques, it proved he lacked confidence in "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng."

But this played right into Yan Li's hands; previously, whenever he made moves that indirectly targeted "The Return of the Condor," Jin Yong had stayed silent—he'd thought the man had changed.

Perfect.

I'm not afraid of him yelling—I'm afraid he won't speak at all. A solo act can't be exciting.

Yan Li immediately contacted the media to clarify that his trip to Jiuzhaigou was for location scouting, and admitted he had indeed seen some filming scenes from "The Return of the Condor."

But how to put it? It wasn't quite what he imagined—he was somewhat disappointed.

You say I'm stealing techniques? Fine, I went to steal—but unfortunately, you're not worth stealing from.

You trample me? Then I'll trample you back!

Jin Yong was very dissatisfied with Yan Li's response, accusing him of disrespecting seniors.

He criticized Yan Li to the media for being dishonest, warning the young man to be grounded, avoid crooked paths, and not rely on hype—his work should come first.

Yan Li retorted, accusing Jin Yong of using his seniority to slap on labels.

The person most skilled at hype in the film industry was Jin Yong himself—he allowed himself to set fires but forbade commoners to light lamps; how could he dare criticize others?

As for works, Yi'an, though newly established, already had achievements.

Don't you forget how "The Conquest" clashed with "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" last year?

And "Detective Dee," one of the highest-rated TV dramas this year.

Yan Li spoke with complete confidence.

Whether or not he directed these two dramas, one was acquired with rights as Main Producer, the other was a co-investor and co-producer—no matter how you spin it, "The Conquest" and "Detective Dee" were Yi'an's dramas.

One spoke, the other replied—they fought a war of words through the media.

One was a veteran producer with an illustrious record; the other, a rising new power in the industry.

The clash of new and old, Jin Gu's two dramas, a martial arts showdown—topics and hype are maximized.

Some questioned whether it was all a publicity stunt.

Since the development of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," the plagiarism of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" has been obvious to the naked eye.

After "The Return of the Condor Heroes" responded, it took on the air of a young, overconfident upstart eager to topple his elders—barely stopping short of openly declaring that the two dramas should fight it out.

When the casting controversy ended and attention toward "The Return of the Condor Heroes" declined, Big Hu Zi suddenly emerged to verbally brawl with a junior, showing none of the dignity expected of a senior figure in the industry.

He's old enough to be Yan Li's father; after decades of storms in the circle, he shouldn't lack this much tolerance.

Whether it was a stunt or not, most netizens, aside from a few, didn't care—they just wanted to watch the spectacle.

This wave of "Big Hu Zi vs. Yan Li" caused Yan Li's fame on the internet and in the entertainment industry to skyrocket.

Public opinion about him was sharply divided!

Some disliked his behavior, thinking he was too showy, too young to understand how to behave, arrogant with success, and destined to fail.

Others admired and envied him, especially younger people, who felt a self-made young tycoon should be bold and unrestrained, bravely challenging so-called elders and demonstrating the spirit of the new generation of post-80s.

Honestly, Yan Li had prepared himself to be criticized, willing to sacrifice his reputation for a fuller wallet—he thought it was worth it, but now he had no regrets.

As always: if you want to make money, don't fear criticism!

But he hadn't expected that his verbal brawl with Big Hu Zi would earn him so much support and encouragement—even that many people now saw him as… a role model.

Yan Li scratched his head, studied it closely, and realized that today's youth truly loved this kind of vibe.

The rags-to-riches story of hard work and perseverance.

The rebellion against authority in favor of individuality.

And it was cool—and he had the ability.

Aside from falling slightly short in "prodigious talent" and "setting trends," he perfectly matched what post-80s youth now idolized.

Yan Li pondered: for post-80s and post-90s, Han Han was the literary idol, Jay Chou the musical idol, Yao Ming and Liu Xiang the sports idols, Xie Tingfeng and F4 the entertainment idols.

Could he, then, become the business idol of post-80s and post-90s…?

(End of Chapter)