Chapter 182: Petty Clowns, Thunderous Suppression

Late April, the cast and crew of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng"

On media open day, Zhang Zhilin and his wife who came to visit, Yuan Yonglin, showed off their affection.

Ren Quan pulled his fellow student and classmate Yang Xue for an interview, Yan Kuan posed solo in cool detachment, and Huang Haibo hugged Zhang Songwen, who played Zhu Ting, chatting about campus friendship.

As the executive producer, Yan Li naturally faced a barrage of questions from reporters.

He explained the rumors circulating about the two productions "clashing over shooting schedules."

"Most are just cameos with limited lines; they can be filmed in one or two days."

"For those with major roles, both crews coordinate schedules and aim for concentrated blocks of shooting to avoid alternating days between productions, preserving the actors' momentum."

An actor filming two dramas simultaneously is, strictly speaking, clashing schedules.

But due to the relationship between "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" and "The Investiture of the Gods," actor schedules can be arranged smoothly—more like overlapping shoots.

Yan Li's explanation was meant to prevent public misunderstanding about the quality of either drama.

After finishing the official business, Yan Li noticed Wu Jiani and Zeng Li, who were being ignored by reporters, and called them over to introduce them.

"This is Zeng Li; she previously appeared in 'Male Talent, Female Beauty.' In our drama, she plays Sha Man, and in the neighboring 'Investiture of the Gods,' she makes a cameo as Jin Guang Shengmu of the Ten Absolute Array."

"This is Wu Jiani, an outstanding young actress. In our drama, she plays Beef Soup; in the neighboring one, she portrays Pipa Jing, one of the Three Demons of Xuanyuan. Both delivered excellent performances."

Yan Li didn't lack exposure, nor was he especially eager for it; given his position, he preferred to support other actors in such situations.

Thanks to Yan Li's influence, reporters interviewed Zeng Li and Wu Jiani on several questions, likely securing a few articles or a few camera moments.

At the end of the interview, a reporter asked what he thought of Song Zhude's criticism of his chaotic love life.

"Who is Song Zhude?"

Yan Li wasn't being sarcastic—he genuinely didn't know who the man was, and had never heard of anyone in the industry by that name.

After the reporter gave a brief introduction, Yan Li finally understood—he was now so famous he was being used for opportunistic hype.

"I don't know him, and I don't intend to respond to him."

Yan Li was skilled at publicity stunts and enjoyed them, but always with purpose—he didn't engage in them with just anyone.

He once rode the coattails of Zhang Dahuizi during "The Conquest," but this time, during the Phoenix vs. Eagle clash, it benefited Zhang Dahuizi's side too—there was mutual understanding between both parties.

This Song Zhude was purely taking advantage for attention, offering Yan Li no benefit whatsoever—just replying was more than enough.

After the interview, an executive producer arranged dinner for the reporters and prepared some "ink fees."

In truth, for a high-profile drama like "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," reporters would come even without payment, since it meant sales and clicks.

But Yan Li deeply understood that the pen could kill.

Many big productions looked down on the media, even bullying them.

For example, the crews of "The Thousand Changes 2" and "Ten Facing Ambush" clashed with the press, turning into "mob attacks on reporters," "shocking brutality," and "tyrannical cruelty," and were vilified by media for months.

Last year's "The Promise" also failed to appease these crownless kings, and was dug up for every scandal.

From disputes among leads, to extras complaining about boxed meals, to location damage and more—its reputation was utterly ruined.

Yan Li had thought the producers of "The Promise" were insane.

After "Ten Facing Ambush" faced backlash, they actively fixed things—apologizing, explaining, doing everything possible to salvage their reputation.

But "The Promise"? Its PR was a complete mess—almost no clear or useful actions taken—and was overwhelmingly condemned by media and netizens alike.

No one knew whether Director Chen was too aloof to argue, or if rumors were true—that the beautiful Director Chen was so stingy she wouldn't even buy off the press.

Affected by these negative examples, Yan Li never skimped in this area.

As long as reporters cooperated, he gave them some transportation and ink fees, ensuring coverage of his productions leaned positive.

After the reporters left, Wu Jiani and Zeng Li came to thank him; Yan Li waved them off, telling them not to bother.

Zeng Li didn't know Yan Li well; after a few words, she left. Wu Jiani noticed Yan Li watching Zeng Li's departure and snorted.

"Director Yan, she's gone—snap out of it."

Yan Li turned his gaze back; Wu Jiani looked at him: "Director Yan, Bingbing and Ou are both here—how could you be so fired up?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Yan Li saw Wu Jiani pouting, cheeks slightly puffed, like a fluffed-up rabbit—adorable—and couldn't resist pinching her cheek.

"She has a boyfriend, and I know him too."

Wu Jiani felt his gesture was intimate, but didn't pull away, asking softly.

"Then why were you staring at her?"

"Uh, listen, don't go spreading this around—I'm just curious how she ended up with my friend."

Zeng Li's boyfriend was Li Yixiang, who played Jin Bao in "The Conquest." Yan Li had known about this since then and still couldn't understand what Zeng Li saw in him.

Though his face was a bit long, Zeng Li was still a beauty with good poise.

Li Yixiang wasn't ugly, but in the entertainment industry, he was hardly impressive. He was rumored to have previously dated Fu Dalong, another powerhouse actor.

All one could say was this girl valued talent above all!

Wu Jiani realized she'd misunderstood and felt slightly embarrassed.

But considering Yan Li's reputation, she cautiously gave him a few roundabout warnings, summed up in six words:

Don't touch a friend's wife!

Yan Li would never do such a thing—and Zeng Li didn't match his taste anyway; her facial features were too sharp. He preferred softer, gentler women.

Qin Lan, Dong Jie, Fan Wei, and Wang Ou all fit this mold. The only exception was Li Bingbing, who had once been half a sweet girl but recently shifted toward a cold, elegant, and spirited image.

Yan Li wasn't particularly drawn to it, but didn't reject it either—switching tastes occasionally wasn't bad, especially with the added benefits of fame and the "dual Bing" advantage.

There was no need to explain this to Wu Jiani.

Sensing her attitude had softened and grown closer, and recalling earlier intelligence, Yan Li understood her likely intentions and began testing the waters.

"I don't want to bother her, but you know—I'm naturally fiery?"

Wu Jiani lowered her head slightly: "Aren't Bingbing and Ou there?"

"They can't hold me back."

Yan Li glanced around the set, then pulled Wu Jiani toward a secluded spot: "Last time at KTV you got drunk—now I have a favor to ask you."

Wu Jiani hesitated, reluctant, but never pulled her hand free from his grip.

…

That night, Yan Li had a dinner engagement and wasn't at the hotel. Wang Ou had no scenes, so she came to Wu Jiani's room to practice yoga.

But Wu Jiani took a long time to open the door—and when she did, she was wearing a mask.

"What's wrong?"

Wang Ou asked in surprise. Wu Jiani's voice was hoarse: "I caught a cold. My throat hurts."

"Have you seen a doctor? You still have scenes—can't afford delays."

Compared to other actors, Wang Ou showed a sense of responsibility—she worried not only about Wu Jiani's health but also about production delays.

"It's fine—just a bit inflamed. I took medicine, I'll be fine tomorrow. Let's postpone yoga for a couple days—I don't want to infect you."

"Can you manage alone?"

"No problem. It's just minor."

"..."

Wang Ou chatted a while longer, noticing Wu Jiani's eyes avoiding hers, reluctant to meet her gaze. She also recalled how slowly Wu Jiani had opened the door earlier—and something clicked.

Since that KTV night, Wu Jiani had been growing closer to Yan Li behind the scenes.

Once, she'd casually mentioned Yan Li in conversation, and afterward, Wang Ou had sensed Wu Jiani was subtly probing for information.

Wang Ou had tested Wu Jiani before, but the girl played dumb and gave nothing away.

These past two days, both had been filming next door—and today, her behavior was odd…

The more Wang Ou thought, the more suspicious it became. She forced her way into the room.

"We're good sisters. If you're sick, I can't just stand by—I have to take care of you."

Wu Jiani couldn't stop her. Wang Ou stepped inside, her beautiful eyes scanning the room.

The room held only the two of them. The bed was flat. The wardrobe was half-open. Nothing could be hidden elsewhere. Her gaze settled on the bathroom, while she spoke.

"You're sick, don't mind me—rest. I'll just use the bathroom."

Before she finished speaking, Wang Ou suddenly flung open the bathroom door—nothing inside. A quick search revealed no anomalies.

Misunderstanding!

Wang Ou thought she might have imagined things—perhaps Wu Jiani was just feeling unwell and acting differently.

Given her personality, even if she had hidden feelings, she'd never act boldly—no need to over-worry.

After Wang Ou finished checking, Wu Jiani suggested again: "Sister Ou, you should go. I'm fine on my own. If I infect you, the production will suffer even more."

"Alright then. I'll buy you some sick-day meals and send them over with my assistant. Don't forget to take your medicine."

Wang Ou gave a few final instructions and left. Wu Jiani closed the door, her eyes flickering with a touch of guilt.

Setting aside her attempt to pull her down, Wang Ou had always been kind to her—and even if she'd tried to involve her, it wasn't out of malice. At least, Wu Jiani believed she was sincere.

She picked up the mirror, removed the mask, touched her slightly swollen lips, and remembered Yan Li's dominance that afternoon—her palm warmed, her cheeks flushed…

————

After his dinner engagement, Yan Li went directly to Fan Xiaopang's room.

Though he never said it aloud, he clearly preferred visiting Fan Xiaopang over Wang Ou on set.

Of course, this was also because, publicly, he and Fan Xiaopang were a "couple," so no caution was needed.

And because Fan Xiaopang drew most attention, only a very few knew—or even suspected—Yan Li's relationship with Wang Ou.

He assumed Fan Xiaopang had already gone to sleep, but found her wearing a face mask, foot mask, and hand mask, watching TV.

After traveling to Europe with Yan Li and following his advice on persona packaging to emphasize "beauty," Fan Xiaopang had become obsessed with skincare.

If conditions permit, use two face masks daily—morning and night—and never stop using foot masks, hand masks, and body lotion to keep your skin white and soft every day.

Yan Li strongly supported this—even the foot and hand masks were specially ordered by him from Xiangjiang, paid for out of his own pocket.

After all, he was also a beneficiary; Fan Xiaopang worked tirelessly every day to maintain him, so he just had to pay.

The other women had them too—since he was the one enjoying the benefits, Yan Li was very generous in this regard…

Seeing Yan Li return, Fan Xiaopang stretched out arms and legs to prevent the masks from falling off, then leaned in and sniffed him.

"Today was a drinking party—no brothels."

Yan Li was used to this dog-like inspection; Qin Lan and Fan Xiaopang loved doing this the most.

But Qin Lan did it out of jealousy, checking whether Yan Li had done anything wrong, while Fan Xiaopang never interfered in Yan Li's private life.

Still, if she found traces of other women on him—especially from brothels—he wouldn't be allowed to touch her that night, or even for the next two or three days.

She thought it was dirty!

Only then did Fan Xiaopang return to normal, then added with a hint of malicious delight:

"Have you seen the news? Someone's insulting you."

"Who isn't insulting me every day?"

Yan Li remained calm; since his playboy image was exposed, public controversy had never stopped—occasional moralists and experts would criticize him every few days, and he was long accustomed to it.

"This time it's especially vicious—they say you're shameless, playing with women, juggling multiple relationships, and even claim you worked as a stripper in college for a fee of five hundred."

Yan Li frowned slightly—who was behind this low blow?

Given his current reputation and persona, this wouldn't affect him much, and few would believe it—it was just pure harassment.

"By the way, they also say you used to be gay and had a singer boyfriend."

"Fuck that bullshit."

Yan Li finally lost his temper; stripper rumors he could tolerate—even male escorts—he could endure, but this was blatant defamation and degradation.

"Who the hell wrote this?"

"Song Zhude—didn't you just respond to him?"

Seeing Yan Li curse, Fan Xiaopang softened her expression and gently advised: "Ignore him—he's just a clown. Everyone's laughing at him now; the more you react, the more he thrives."

Yan Li said nothing, pulled out his laptop, browsed online, and his already grim expression turned chillingly cold.

Fan Xiaopang sensed something was wrong, leaned over to look—and her face paled.

Song Zhude had hinted on his blog that Yan Li once had an ex-girlfriend who had an abortion for him; though unnamed, references to "Beidian's campus beauty" and "wuxia drama heroine" clearly pointed to Dong Xuan.

Shit.

Fan Xiaopang knew trouble was coming; she'd known Yan Li long enough to understand him.

Though Yan Li could be petty at times, he often showed considerable tolerance.

But he fiercely protected his own women and family.

Insulting Yan Li himself might anger him and provoke a response—but likely not an extreme one; if it touched his women or family, all bets were off.

Sure enough, Yan Li stared at the screen, expressionless, then pulled out his phone: "Tianye, get your brother. Cancel everything you're doing. Wait for my call."

Fan Xiaopang hurried to urge: "Don't act impulsively—it's not worth it for a fool."

"I won't act rashly."

Though furious, Yan Li hadn't lost his reason—he wouldn't risk his bright future to destroy himself alongside such trash.

But that didn't mean he'd let the offender off.

There were countless ways to ruin someone; this fool was so arrogant and flashy—Yan Li didn't believe his record was clean. Once he found leverage, he'd make the bastard wish he'd never been born.

Seeing this, Fan Xiaopang still felt uneasy—she truly feared Yan Li would smash his jade against a potsherd, not worth it.

Since the scandal had broken, she'd cut off contact with Dong Xuan—and even called her specifically that night.

Dong Xuan, too preoccupied to ask why they were together at this hour, urgently begged Fan Xiaopang to hand the phone to Yan Li and plead with him—but Yan Li only repeated: "I won't act rashly."

The next day, aside from filming, Fan Xiaopang kept constant watch on Yan Li, terrified he'd run off to confront Song Zhude.

But Yan Li took no action—even when questioned by the media, he gave no reply—until that night, when the intelligence system updated, he pulled out his phone again.

"Tianye, you and your brother head straight to Jiangsu Province. I'll send you the exact address. Find a man named xxx. Tell him: the grudge from five years ago—you'll settle it for him."

After hanging up, Yan Li sent the message, then continued reviewing intelligence and called Hu Ya.

"Find a lawyer. Ask about the specific clauses on tax evasion. Also, what are the penalties for serious bodily harm and sexual harassment? And send me the data on illegal fundraising and fraud."

After hanging up, Yan Li stared at the last intelligence item, lost in thought.

【Daily Intelligence 6: xxx Prison has the highest incidence of violence and assault incidents…】

What did this system intelligence mean?

(End of Chapter)