Chapter 177: Fan Xiaopang

"You can't possibly think she's not acting, can you?"

Fan Xiaopang didn't believe Wang Ou's mediocre skills could fool Yan Li, but then again, it wasn't that simple.

Men conquer the world; women conquer men!

Some men are sharp in every other way, yet easily fall for women's tricks, manipulated at their fingertips.

Yan Li could clearly see Wang Ou was acting.

But Fan Xiaopang had come charging in like a husband catching his wife in bed—Yan Li still felt a bit annoyed.

Even if you're going to beat a dog… well, Wang Ou was still his own person: obedient, quiet, never caused trouble, and hadn't offended Fan Xiaopang at all—yet she came in and launched a full-blown assault.

Wang Ou was acting, yes, but she was also genuinely wronged.

If not for not wanting to make a scene and tarnish Fan Xiaopang's future status as the company's top actress, and if not for worrying that Wang Ou, that little schemer, would escalate things and start fighting Fan Xiaopang—harming company unity—Yan Li would never have just stood there watching.

"Today I gave you face for the company's sake, but don't think this will happen again. Family members must unite and support each other. Don't bring Hua Yi's tactics here to Yi'an—or next time, it'll be you who leaves."

Yan Li's tone wasn't gentle—he indulged Fan Xiaopang because he valued her potential and prospects, not to take on a domineering mistress.

Fan Xiaopang had come to beg forgiveness; seeing things escalating, she immediately softened her tone.

"I didn't go looking for trouble with her. The moment she found out I was at the company, she started whispering behind my back. I just wanted to give her a warning, set some rules."

"If she behaves and listens, I'm not as petty as Li Bingbing—I'll take her along when it's appropriate."

"Director Yan, don't be angry. I'm only thinking of the company."

Fan Xiaopang had begun to understand Yan Li's patterns—whether scolding Wang Ou just now or now making amends, she always framed everything in terms of the company.

She was wrong to bully Wang Ou, but Wang Ou had provoked first; by acting for the company's greater good and disciplining the team, her actions took on a different character.

"I'll give Wang Ou a talking-to. You watch yourself too."

Yan Li knew Fan Xiaopang's words were exaggerated but not baseless—Wang Ou was indeed resentful—so he issued a warning.

At the same time, he was exhausted: managing a large group was hard, especially these artists—all eager to climb to the top, and all with some personal connection to him, making management even harder.

As the old saying goes: rabbits don't eat the grass around their burrows. He was still too young.

Luckily, he'd held back—he hadn't brought Qin Lan or Dong Xuan into the company. Otherwise, personal and professional lines would've blurred, and chaos would've deepened.

"Don't worry. If she doesn't jump, I won't touch her."

Fan Xiaopang didn't really care about Wang Ou—even after Wang Ou had just sabotaged her.

They were company artists; what mattered most was generating value and profit. As long as she made money, her standing in Yan Li's eyes would grow. Wang Ou's tricks were barely worth mentioning.

Besides, to be fair, Wang Ou's tactics weren't beyond Fan Xiaopang's own repertoire.

"Just now, I wanted to establish authority, and I was genuinely angry."

"The whole set is watching, and there might even be paparazzi outside. If she showed up out of nowhere, what if something happened?"

"Even if you don't care about her, don't you think we'll be affected? And what about Dong Xuan? She gave up everything for you—became your 'ex'—do you really want to turn her into a joke?"

"…."

Fan Xiaopang's words were meant to sting Wang Ou, but they also made Yan Li feel slightly uncomfortable.

True, he'd already given up caring about his reputation—but he still had to consider the dignity of Dong Xuan and the others.

Fan Xiaopang was still acting, tears falling one after another.

"I was only thinking of you, and you still don't understand my intentions—you just scold me… Fine, I'll leave too…"

"Leave where?"

Yan Li pulled Fan Xiaopang back, wiped away her tears, and couldn't help complaining: "You'd better not use this trick—it's too fake."

Other women were more docile around Yan Li, so this trick worked on them. But Fan Xiaopang—a fiery little brat who argued with him daily—this tactic had little effect.

Still, even if it was fake, this little woman looked pretty crying—almost as good as Qin Lan.

Of course—they both debuted in Qiong Yao dramas; crying was their birthright!

Seeing her tears didn't work, Fan Xiaopang switched tactics—she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Yan Li's waist, her expression sultry, voice crisp.

"Your Majesty, please forgive your humble servant this once. I won't dare again."

Only then did Yan Li remember—he still hadn't done what he came for.

"I'll forgive you—but you must be punished."

Fan Xiaopang wasn't afraid; her almond eyes shimmered as she cooed: "How does Your Majesty wish to punish your servant?"

Yan Li fell silent for a moment, then tentatively asked: "How about calling Feng Lai (Wang Ou) to join us?"

Fan Xiaopang's face dropped. She let go of Yan Li's hand and turned to leave—he grabbed her, and she snapped:

"What do you think I am? Last time we got drunk and acted foolishly—that was one time. Now you're throwing every Tom, Dick, and Harriet at me? Even if I left you, I wouldn't starve. Stop wasting people."

Fan Xiaopang was furious—she realized Yan Li had gone too far.

She didn't mind having a relationship beyond friendship with Yan Li. Outside of company ties, she genuinely admired him—for his ability, personality, looks, and physique.

She was a normal woman with normal needs.

When striving for her career, having a trusted, steady partner—not for love, just occasional safe, harmonious intimacy—was beneficial to body and mind.

And if that partner happened to be her boss and protector? Even better.

So for various reasons, Fan Xiaopang was willing to play along with Yan Li's antics—but there was a line.

Last time, at the Double-Bing gathering, everyone was drunk, the mood was intense and lonely, and the other party was Li Bingbing—no one lost face, it was safe, and all conditions aligned perfectly, so they'd half-heartedly gone along with the absurdity.

But if Yan Li treated this as routine—constantly piling others on top of her—then don't blame her for turning on him.

She'd signed on as a talent—not sold herself!

Yan Li knew he'd gone too far—he immediately hugged Fan Xiaopang and soothed her: "Just a joke. Let's call it even."

Fan Xiaopang insisted again, seriously: she and Yan Li could accept it—but no other games. If he crossed that line, she'd destroy him, even if it meant being blacklisted.

The entertainment industry was full of filth—some people degraded female actors and lovers. Fan Xiaopang didn't think Yan Li was like that—but better to say it plainly upfront.

"What joke? How could I ever let that happen?"

Yan Li kissed Fan Xiaopang and apologized—he meant nothing by it, just blinded by lust. If she refused, fine—he wouldn't force her.

"But…"

Yan Li still had his greedy thoughts: "Wang Ou's out. What about others?"

Fan Xiaopang was sturdy, but sometimes it wasn't enough—the memory of Double-Bing was too vivid.

"Still thinking about that Li guy? So dark, so old—how could he compare to me?"

Fan Xiaopang thought of Li Bingbing and felt annoyed. Yan Li shook his head disapprovingly.

Li Bingbing wasn't as beautiful as Fan Xiaopang, but he had his own charm—and more importantly, with Double-Bing in hand, pleasure multiplied many times over.

But now, trying to bring Double-Bing together was too difficult—he didn't insist on it.

"…."

Understanding Yan Li's implication, Fan Xiaopang suddenly widened her eyes: "You want me and Dong Xuan…"

"Cough, cough."

Yan Li's mind flooded with countless white, shimmering images—his throat felt dry.

"You sick bastard, dream on."

Fan Xiaopang sneered—she knew this bastard had no good intentions. Even if she agreed, Dong Xuan wouldn't—and he shouldn't fear being cut open one day.

Yan Li didn't push it—whether to stack them or not could wait. First, he'd deal with this little woman—he'd already said it aloud—he'd make her call him "Dad"…

…

In another hotel room, Wang Ou sat on the bed, staring at her phone—her message had vanished into silence, her expression gloomy.

She wasn't stupid. Even ignoring the rampant rumors about Double-Bing, from daily interactions, Wang Ou had sensed something off between Fan Xiaopang and Yan Li.

Just now, Fan Xiaopang's outburst confirmed it.

Company infighting? Top actress asserting dominance? That bitch was just using a flag to fight over affection—trying to drive Wang Ou away and monopolize Director Yan.

But Budebushuo, this did strike at Wang Ou's weakest point.

With no fame and no formal training, Wang Ou's only leverage in the industry was Yan Li.

Fan Xiaopang could find another home without Yan Li; Wang Ou, without him, might be thrown back to square one.

No—she had to find a way to win back her boss's favor.

But how?

Wang Ou felt lost. Though she hated to admit it, Fan Xiaopang was truly a top-tier beauty—she couldn't compete.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Wang Ou opened it to find Wu Jiani from the same drama crew, shyly asking to discuss her schedule.

She had an appointment the day after tomorrow and needed to leave the set for half a day; since they shared a scene, she wanted to film Wang Ou's part first.

This happened often on set—but big stars just gave a heads-up. For minor actors like her, she had to negotiate individually with the director and co-stars.

"No problem."

Wang Ou agreed readily. Compared to Fan Xiaopang's slightly domineering arrogance, she got along well with Wu Jiani—both were unknowns, so they could talk easily.

Actually, Fan Xiaopang wasn't arrogant—her arrogance was only directed at Wang Ou, whom she subtly resented.

Fan Xiaopang also got along fine with Wu Jiani, but due to status and screen time, Wu Jiani naturally spent more time with Wang Ou.

"Then I'll go first, Sister Ou."

Wu Jiani was one year younger and always called Wang Ou "Sister Ou." Bored and alone, Wang Ou didn't want to be stuck with her own thoughts.

"Why rush? No shooting tomorrow morning. Stay and chat with me. You mentioned that body-shaping yoga studio—how much did they charge again?"

Wu Jiani was a dancer by training, with exceptional physique; now she was into fitness and yoga. Wang Ou wanted to learn from her.

If she couldn't beat Fan Xiaopang in looks, she'd win with her body!

"Your figure's already great. Just keep it up—no need to reshape."

Wu Jiani had visited Wang Ou's room before, so she wasn't shy—she stepped right in and complimented Wang Ou's figure.

This wasn't just her blind flattery—Wang Ou had studied dance in her early years and worked as a model; her physique was excellent, tall with long legs and a balanced figure, otherwise she never would've caught Yu Yanli's eye in the first place.

"My figure's still decent, but I've practiced dance less these past few years—I've lost some flexibility, endurance, and explosive power. Didn't you say yoga helps with these? I want to try it."

Wang Ou pointed out her weaknesses. Wu Jiani looked at her strangely—she was an actress; wasn't a good figure enough? Why train for this?

"Uh… I've got a role coming up that requires fight scenes, so I thought I should train a bit."

Wang Ou's cheeks flushed slightly, then she had a sudden insight and offered a reasonable explanation. Wu Jiani understood—yes, if you're filming fight scenes, you definitely need to train your body.

"I'll introduce you to someone in Jingcheng. But if you're in a hurry, I can teach you some basics first, build a foundation."

Wu Jiani and Wang Ou got along well, and Wu Jiani was always helpful, so she offered to assist. Wang Ou naturally agreed.

The two rearranged the room's layout to clear some space, took off their outerwear, put on just their undershirts and loose pajama pants, and began practicing yoga.

After practicing for over half an hour, both were drenched in sweat. One taught, one learned, and their bond grew noticeably closer.

"That's enough for today."

Seeing Wang Ou visibly exhausted, Wu Jiani caught her breath and called a stop.

Wiping her sweat, Wu Jiani asked Wang Ou if she could wash up in her room.

She'd just taken a bath in her own room—there probably wasn't much hot water left. A quick rinse to wash off the sweat would be fine and wouldn't delay Wang Ou.

Wang Ou had no problem with it—after all, Wu Jiani had helped her break a sweat; what was a shower between friends?

Wu Jiani turned to go shower. Wang Ou stood up to tidy the room when suddenly the doorbell rang.

Wang Ou assumed it was Wu Jiani's assistant coming to look for her, so she opened the door directly—and saw Yu Yanli squeeze in.

Yu Yanli took off his hat and was about to speak when he saw Wang Ou drenched in sweat—and heard the sound of running water from the bathroom?

Yu Yanli: "???"

"No no no!"

Wang Ou was thrown into confusion by Yu Yanli's sudden appearance. When she regained her wits, she hurried to explain.

"Inside is Wu Jiani. We just finished practicing yoga together."

"Oh."

Yu Yanli believed her—he knew exactly how Wang Ou behaved when she was under pressure, and besides, she didn't have the guts to do anything reckless.

Seeing someone else was present, he prepared to leave, planning to come back later after the person was gone—or have Wang Ou come to him.

But Wang Ou grabbed his arm and wouldn't let go. She was panicked—if Yu Yanli left now, she'd never be able to explain this.

Yu Yanli laughed helplessly: "I believe you."

"Still, you can't leave."

Wang Ou refused to let go. She dared not risk it—and besides, Yu Yanli had come all this way; if she let him slip away again, she wouldn't sleep a wink tonight.

As they struggled, the bathroom door opened. Wu Jiani stepped out wrapped only in a towel, drying her hair.

"Sis Ou, your shower gel smells so good…"

Their eyes met. Wu Jiani saw Wang Ou and Yu Yanli embracing (from her perspective), and Yu Yanli got quite the view.

She hadn't noticed it before in costume—this sister had some serious curves!

"Ah!"

Perhaps because Yu Yanli's gaze was too heated, Wu Jiani finally realized her state—she shrieked and dashed back into the bathroom.

"Deal with her first, then come to me."

Seeing the scene, Yu Yanli couldn't stay. He told Wang Ou this, then left immediately.

Wang Ou regretted it down to her bones—if she'd known Yu Yanli was coming, she'd never have let Wu Jiani stay. Not only had she ruined the moment, but now the girl knew about her and Yu Yanli.

Torn and uneasy, she knocked on the bathroom door to signal that Yu Yanli had left.

Wu Jiani waited a moment, then cautiously opened the door a crack and glanced around the hotel room.

Seeing this, Wang Ou snapped: "What are you thinking? Do you think I'd sell you out?"

Huh?!

Wang Ou suddenly widened her eyes, recalling how Yu Yanli had insisted on moving in with her, driving her two roommates crazy with his antics.

Huh—she might just have an idea on how to win Yu Yanli's favor.

Compared to Fan Xiaopang, Wang Ou's boundaries were lower—or rather, she had no confidence to maintain any boundaries in front of Yu Yanli. If it meant keeping his favor, she was more willing than Qin Lan, Dong Qin, or Fan Xiaopang to go all out.

Wu Jiani didn't know what Wang Ou was thinking. Only after confirming Yu Yanli was gone did she push the door open fully, looking at Wang Ou with a complex expression.

No wonder Sister Ou wanted to build endurance—Yu Yanli's energy and that recording mic really were intense.

But Fan Xiaopang was his "girlfriend," Sister Ou was suspected of having an affair, and now she was the last one left among the Three Demons of Xuanyuan.

Wu Jiani's heart churned—she began to wonder whether Yu Yanli's actions today were truly accidental… or meant to hint at something…

(End of Chapter)