Chapter 169

Late February, as public attention on Zhou Jie's romance slightly waned, Fan Xiaopang eagerly dragged Yan Li into fabricating gossip.

"Are you serious?"

Yan Li thought Fan was overly eager, though she was currently far behind Li Bingbing in her career.

But don't forget, she's still under 24 this year; many academy-trained actors have only just graduated one or two years ago. She may not be the most popular among her peers, but she's unquestionably in the top tier.

Li Bingbing is eight years older, and all four of her coveted targets—the Little Four Beauties—are also older than her.

Aside from Zhang Ziyi, born in 1979, who is only two years older, Xiao Yanzi, born in 1976, is five years older, while Zhou Young Master and Xu Caonü are both born in 1974, seven years older.

So Fan Xiaopang's position at the bottom is hard to separate from her age disadvantage, yet at the same time, her greatest advantage is her youth.

She has more than enough time to catch up, close the gap, even surpass those few.

"It's better to become famous early than late; if you wait a few years, they'll all be old hags—there's no fun in bullying them."

Fan Xiaopang spoke confidently: "Besides, if I become famous earlier, I can make more money for you."

That makes sense!

Yan Li was convinced by Fan Xiaopang's reasoning and arranged the gossip campaign.

Jingcheng, near Guomao

Yan Li saw Fan Xiaopang, wearing sunglasses, step out of a Buick and unlock the passenger door.

But the woman didn't get in; instead, she circled Yan Li's Mercedes G500, then ran to the driver's window and said with deliberate implication:

"This big G of yours is really cool."

Yan Li shook his head; this woman had been eyeing his car for days.

Previously, when he occasionally went to watch Qi Xian Women's Volleyball practice, she'd sneaked glances often—but dared not say anything with Dong Xuan around. Now she seized the chance and dropped the mask.

Unbuckling his seatbelt, Yan Li got out: "Go ahead, try it."

Fan Xiaopang didn't hesitate; she got in, adjusted the seat, gripped the steering wheel, and assumed a pose, feeling a sense of awe.

"A million-dollar car—feels completely different."

"You can afford it."

Yan Li got into the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt; although Fan Xiaopang's income didn't yet rank on Forbes' celebrity list, a few hundred thousand was no problem for her.

"It's not as simple as you make it sound."

Fan Xiaopang groaned: "I earn money, but the company takes most of it; what's left has to pay taxes—by the time it reaches me, 300,000 yuan is already a lot…"

That remaining 300,000 yuan still has to cover all kinds of expenses.

For example, team salaries and promotional marketing are technically the company's responsibility, but to motivate the team, the artist must personally spend money to win favor; to get more exposure, since the company allocates limited resources, the artist must spend her own money.

Female stars live off their looks; even though Fan Xiaopang is naturally beautiful, she still needs expensive beauty and skincare routines.

There are also miscellaneous expenses—entertaining, transportation, clothing, and so on; some are reimbursed by the company, others are borne by the artist herself.

Take transportation: many artists must rush across the country for shoots; driving or taking trains is too slow—they must become constant flyers.

Just for the artist alone, they need at least dozens of plane tickets annually, easily over a hundred; add an assistant, and the cost doubles.

Air travel isn't cheap these days; accumulated over time, it's no small sum.

A significant portion of ordinary artists are financially strained, crushed precisely by plane ticket costs.

So Fan Xiaopang earns a lot, but spends just as much.

On top of that, she had to buy a house in Jingcheng for her parents and entire family, and separately bought a small apartment for herself—she's still paying off her mortgage; how could she afford a million-dollar car?

Yan Li listened silently as Fan Xiaopang rambled, realizing this girl had her own hardships.

She left home at barely a teenager; her parents didn't rely on her for support, but she gradually became the family's pillar.

Having tasted the sweetness of success, she grew hungrier for greater success, fearful of failure and loss, desperately climbing upward—not just to fulfill her dreams, but to soothe her inner anxiety.

Not just her—Yan Li was the same, or rather, everyone who rose from the grassroots shared this psychology.

Press forward relentlessly, crave more after gaining, savor the contrast between past hardship and present comfort—but absolutely cannot return to real "hardship."

"Hey, what're you thinking about?"

Seeing Yan Li distracted, Fan Xiaopang waved her pale, slender hand in front of his face.

Yan Li snapped back, smiling: "Work hard for me, this thing's just a toy—I'll buy you one later."

"Tsk, now you sound like a boss."

Fan Xiaopang pouted; from Qiongyao Company to Huayi, she wasn't new to empty promises.

"What's that? If you want it, we can go to the vehicle office to transfer ownership, or buy a brand-new one at the 4S store—consider it your signing bonus."

Yan Li was annoyed; he made promises, but he actually delivered.

A million-yuan G-class meant nothing to him; the money he'd spent in Europe just to indulge Fan Xiaopang could've bought several.

Hearing this, Fan Xiaopang remembered Europe; though this dog of a man had some flaws, when he spent money, he never held back.

Sometimes she still dreamed of her glamorous days in Europe—and the wild final day.

"Ahem."

Fan Xiaopang awkwardly shifted her gaze to the rearview mirror: "Have the paparazzi been arranged? Shall we head over?"

"Mm."

Yan Li explained the process again—he'd told her before, now he was just reviewing it.

Shopping at Guomao, dinner together, then heading to Fan Xiaopang's place to "spend the night."

Unlike Li Bingbing's earlier, simple gossip stunt, Fan Xiaopang, aiming to "steal" a man, needed more material; later, Yi An would be added, deepening her bond and entanglement with Yan Li.

Fan Xiaopang nodded, stepped on the gas, and drove Yan Li toward Guomao.

…

Guomao, parking lot

Ma Jin pulled down his cap and called his master, Cao Xuan, on his phone.

"Master, someone else exposed Yan Li again—who do you think is targeting him this time?"

"I don't know."

At a coffee shop in Guomao, Cao Xuan fiddled with his camera; he said he didn't know, but inside he already had a suspicion.

Since the last exposé of Li Bingbing and Yan Li's scandal, Cao Xuan's fame skyrocketed.

Now he wasn't just the top paparazzo for the *Jingcheng Entertainment News*, but also a well-known figure in Jingcheng's paparazzi circle.

With his status risen and his experience broadened, Cao Xuan gradually began to harbor doubts.

Aside from that one scandal and *Huan Tian Xi Di*, Li Bingbing and Yan Li had little interaction—no other reporters had caught them, not even a whisper.

Why, when Yan Li went home with Li Bingbing just that once, did someone tip him off—and why did he capture it so easily?

And those shots—they seemed perfectly coordinated for his photography. In years as a paparazzo, that was the most comfortable shoot Cao Xuan ever had.

If before Cao Xuan had only faint suspicions, he wasn't certain.

After all, maybe they were just hiding well, or maybe they broke up after the exposé.

But now, again, someone tipped him off about Yan Li's whereabouts—and in nearly the same way. Cao Xuan couldn't help but suspect it was deliberate publicity stunt.

After Li Bingbing's scandal broke, the *Huan Tian Xi Di* cast began filming shortly after.

Yan Li made a fortune from that project; Li Bingbing gained plenty from the scandal exposure plus appearing on the Spring Festival Gala.

It's rumored that next month *Lu Xiaofeng Legend* and *Fengshen Bang* will start filming one after the other.

Both projects are backed by Yan Li, and rumors say Fan Xiaopang is also involved. Now, with their scandal surfacing again—it's chilling to think about.

But…

Cao Xuan blew on his lens. If they really were involved, or if it was just a publicity stunt—it didn't matter to him, a paparazzo.

If it was indeed a deliberate publicity stunt, he should thank Yan Li for the opportunity.

Hmm, next time, he'd make the photos look even more striking, and phrase the headlines more carefully—maybe Boss Yan would call him again for such jobs…

"Master, they're here, they're here—I saw them, heading toward XX direction!"

"Got it. Keep watching."

Cao Xuan put on his sunglasses and hat, half-concealing his camera, and headed toward the location Ma Jin described.

…

At a luxury store, Yan Li swiped his card and had the salesperson wrap up the clothes; Fan Xiaopang gasped.

"You're really buying?"

"A man and a woman come to Guomao to shop—what kind of image do they project if they buy nothing and leave empty-handed?"

Fan Xiaopang hesitated; Yan Li looked at her strangely: "You've bought before—why are you being so shy?"

In Europe, in London and Paris, this girl would go wild swiping cards on luxury streets—now it's just a few thousand yuan, is this really necessary?

"In Europe it was fun; now it's work. I'm afraid you'll deduct my salary later."

Fan Xiaopang still remembered how Yan Li threatened to deduct her salary after *Ju Bao Pen* wrapped—because she dirtied her clothes.

"That was a joke—I never actually deducted it."

Yan Li smirked; Fan Xiaopang pursed her lips. She knew perfectly well it was a joke—she was just using it as an excuse.

The things she bought in Europe—whether for fun or transaction—few people besides her and Yan Li knew about.

But buying a pile of stuff now, and having paparazzi snap it—what would Dong Xuan think? She's right in the middle of finalizing her contract with Yi'an; she doesn't want trouble.

If Dong Xuan decided to sabotage her, who knows what might happen?

"..."

Yan Li thought Fan Xiaopang was overthinking it, but after a moment's thought, he realized that buying so openly might indeed upset Dong and Qin.

"Here's an idea: pick what you like, keep one set for yourself, and I'll take the rest back for them—no one will know how much we bought."

Yan Li came up with a win-win solution: it would fool the paparazzi and soothe Dong and Qin.

The only downside was spending a bit more—but Yan Li wasn't short on cash.

Fan Xiaopang thought the idea was great and rubbed her hands together eagerly.

"Then I won't be polite."

"Go ahead, help yourself."

Yan Li didn't care—he fed his donkey hay, but sometimes threw in some beans too.

The money Fan Xiaopang spent—he'd earn it back from her eventually!

Women love shopping; Qin Lan and Dong Xuan were no exception—but they had more reservations, so they tended to buy less or nothing, chasing value.

Fan Xiaopang was far more willing to spend—she dared to spend, knew how to spend, and when it wasn't her own money, she spent even more freely.

She bought whatever caught her eye; Yan Li occasionally made suggestions, then just swiped his card.

Fan Xiaopang enjoyed shopping, but didn't forget the mission: "Shouldn't the paparazzo be here by now?"

"Don't look—five o'clock direction—he's been following us for about six or seven minutes."

Fan Xiaopang didn't turn around, but caught a glimpse of a furtive figure through the store window's reflection.

Calmly adjusting her outfit, when they stepped out of the store again, she affectionately linked arms with Yan Li, speaking to him as if intimately close.

"Is that paparazzo the same one who shot Li Bingbing's scandal? His photos were really good."

"Yeah, that's him—he's great at capturing shots. I've even considered hiring him as our company's photographer."

Fan Xiaopang looked satisfied. The photos from Li Bingbing's scandal had such atmosphere—if hers had been sloppy, how could she have outdone the other side?

Holding Yan Li's hand, she pulled him into a men's clothing store and made him try on clothes.

Yan Li was slightly confused: "What's the idea?"

Behind his sunglasses, he could feel Fan Xiaopang rolling her eyes: "You only buy things for me—am I supposed to look like a gold digger? I need to look good too."

Yan Li smiled and let Fan Xiaopang pick out clothes for him.

He visited several men's clothing stores, bought Yan Li a suit, two or three casual outfits, two sets of sportswear, totaling just over 100,000, then added a Patek Philippe 5119 worth around 200,000—all charged to Fan Xiaopang's card.

It was both for the paparazzi's camera, and, in her words, a return gift for Yan Li.

She wouldn't take Yan Li's generosity for granted!

"Fan Jie is refined."

Yan Li gave Fan Xiaopang a thumbs-up and praised him; Fan Xiaopang sniffed arrogantly, but bled internally.

Three hundred thousand!

For her, that wasn't a small sum—it was like working a whole drama for free.

Still, Yan Li had spent plenty on her in Europe, and now she'd bought a lot too; she wasn't really at a loss.

Their final stop was a gold shop; Yan Li had called ahead, and upon arrival, the manager personally greeted them and brought out Yan Li's pre-ordered 【Jin Xin】.

Ten heart-shaped gold pieces, each the size of a palm, with a matte finish, a seal-character 【Yan】 in seal script on the front, the size of a fingernail, and two lines of tiny engraving on the back corner: au9999/1000g.

Fan Xiaopang had known from Dong Xuan that Yan Li liked giving gold, but didn't know he had a wholesale habit.

Gold prices had already surpassed 100 yuan per gram in 2005, and this shop charged even more—each 【Jin Xin】 cost just over 100,000, so ten totaled over a million.

"You bought all this gold just to give to women?"

While the manager arranged the packaging, Fan Xiaopang couldn't help asking.

"Uh, no, mostly for investment."

Yan Li didn't have money to spare just to give away gold—he hoarded it because gold prices were low now; investing idle cash was like holding soft cash, easily convertible whenever needed.

Of course, he'd also thought that if needed, he could give them as gifts, which was why he had them customized into heart shapes.

For Valentine's Day, Qixi Festival, or birthdays—when he had no better gift—he could just use these, saving time and effort.

And not just for girlfriends—he could give them to his mother, or friends, or business partners too.

A heart can mean love, filial piety, sincerity, or earnestness.

"Want one? I'll give you one."

Yan Li handed Fan Xiaopang a heavy 【Jin Xin】: "This is your boss's heartfelt admiration for your talent."

Fan Xiaopang: "..."

You really are wholesale, aren't you...

(End of Chapter)