Chapter 182: Petty Clowns, Thunderous Suppression

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

During the media open day, Zhang Zhilin and his wife visiting on set, Yuan Yonglin, displayed affection.

Ren Quan pulled his fellow student Yang Xue for an interview, Yan Kuan stood alone posing coolly, Huang Haibo hugged Zhang Songwen, who played Zhu Ting, chatting about campus friendship.

Yan Li, as the overall producer, naturally faced a barrage of questions from reporters.

He explained the rumors circulating about the two productions "clashing on 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 shooting blocks to avoid alternating days between productions, preserving the actors' performance states."

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

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

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

After finishing the official topics, Yan Li noticed Wu Jiani and Zeng Li standing apart, ignored by most 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 'The 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; she plays Beef Soup in our drama and the Pipa Jing, one of the Three Demons of Xuanyuan, in the neighboring production—both roles delivered outstanding performances."

Yan Li didn't lack exposure, nor was he especially eager for it; given his status, 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 shots.

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 person was, 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 famous enough to be targeted for fake scandals.

"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 stir up drama with just anyone.

He once provoked "Big Hu Zi Zhang"; back then with "Conquest," it was fine, but this time with the Phoenix vs. Feng Diao battle, it also benefited Big Hu Zi Zhang's side—there was mutual understanding between both parties.

This Song Zhude is purely freeloaders seeking attention, offering Yan Li zero benefit—just replying was more than enough.

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

In truth, for a high-profile production like "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," reporters would show up even without payment, since it meant sales and click rates.

But Yan Li deeply understood that pens could kill.

Many big productions looked down on the media, even engaging in "big crew bullying reporters."

For example, the crews of "The Thousand Changes 2" and "Ten Facing Ambush" clashed with the media, escalating into "mob attacks on reporters," "shocking brutality," and "tyrannical cruelty," and were vilified by media outlets 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 scenic site 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, with almost no clear or useful actions, and was overwhelmingly condemned by media and netizens alike.

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

Influenced by these negative examples, Yan Li never cut corners on this front.

As long as reporters cooperated, he gave them some transportation and ink fees, ensuring coverage from his crew was generally positive.

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

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

"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 can 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 is Li Yixiang, who played Jin Bao in "Conquest." Since learning this, Yan Li still couldn't understand what Zeng Li saw in Li.

Though his face is a bit long, Zeng Li is still a beauty with decent aura.

Li Yixiang isn't ugly, but in the entertainment industry, he's utterly unremarkable; rumor says his ex-boyfriend was Fu Dalong, also a powerhouse actor.

All one can say is this woman values talent above all!

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

But given Yan Li's reputation, she cautiously offered 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 women with softer features.

Qin, Dong, Fan, Wang—all fit this mold; the only exception, Li Bingbing, 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 her fame and the "dual Bing" advantage.

There was no need to explain this to Wu Jiani.

Sensing her attitude had softened and grown closer, Yan Li, combining prior information, roughly understood her intentions and began testing the waters.

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

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

They can't hold out.

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

Wu Jiani hesitated, shy and reluctant, but her hand never pulled free from Yan Li's grip.

…

That night, Yan Li had a business dinner and wasn't at the hotel; Wang Ou had no chance, so she came to Wu Jiani to practice yoga.

But when she arrived, Wu Jiani took forever to open the door—and when she finally did, she was wearing a mask.

"What's wrong?"

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

"Have you seen a doctor? You've still got scenes to shoot—you can't afford delays."

Compared to the other actors, Wang Ou still had a sense of responsibility; she worried about Wu Jiani, but also feared it might disrupt filming.

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

"Can you manage alone?"

"No problem. It's all minor."

"…"

Wang Ou chatted for a few more minutes, noticing Wu Jiani's eyes avoiding hers, reluctant to meet her gaze. She recalled how slowly Wu Jiani had opened the door—and something stirred in her mind.

Since that KTV night, Wu Jiani had been growing subtly closer to Yan Li in private.

Once, Wang Ou had casually mentioned Yan Li in conversation—and afterward, she always felt Wu Jiani was probing for information.

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

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

The more Wang Ou thought about it, 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 stood half-open. Nothing could be hidden elsewhere—her gaze turned to the bathroom, even as she spoke.

"You're sick, don't worry about me. Rest. I'm just going to the bathroom."

Before she could finish, Wang Ou suddenly flung open the bathroom door—empty inside. A quick search revealed nothing unusual.

Misunderstanding!

Wang Ou thought she might have imagined things—perhaps Wu Jiani was just feeling off, acting unlike herself.

Given her personality, even if she had hidden feelings, she'd never take the initiative. No need to overthink it.

After Wang Ou finished checking, Wu Jiani suggested again: "Sister Ou, you should go. I'm fine alone. If I infect you, it'll hurt the production more."

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

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

Aside from trying to pull her into this mess, Wang Ou had always been kind to her—and she wasn't dragging her down out of malice. At least, that's what she truly believed.

Picking up the mirror, Wu Jiani removed her mask, touching her slightly swollen lips. She remembered Yan Li's dominance that afternoon—her palm warmed, her cheeks flushed…

————

After his business dinner ended, Yan Li went straight 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 also had to do with the fact that, publicly, he and Fan Xiaopang were a "couple," so no caution was needed.

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

He'd assumed Fan Xiaopang was already asleep, but she was watching TV with a face mask on—and foot masks and hand masks too.

After traveling to Europe with Yan Li and seeing the world, she'd followed his persona-building advice to emphasize her 【beauty】—and since then, Fan Xiaopang had become obsessed with skincare.

If possible, she applied two face masks daily—morning and night—along with continuous foot masks, hand masks, and body lotion, making herself soft and pale every day.

Yan Li fully supported this—even the foot and hand masks were high-end products he'd specially ordered from Xiangjiang, paying for them himself.

After all, he was the beneficiary. Fan Xiaopang worked hard every day to maintain herself—he just had to pay.

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

Seeing Yan Li return, Fan Xiaopang stretched out her limbs to prevent the masks from slipping, then leaned in and sniffed him.

"Tonight was just a drinking dinner—no brothels."

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

But Qin Lan did it out of jealousy, checking whether Yan Li had done anything wrong. Fan Xiaopang didn't interfere in his private life.

Still—if she found traces of another woman on him, especially from a brothel, he wouldn't be allowed to touch her that night—or for the next two or three days.

She thought it was dirty!

Satisfied, Fan Xiaopang returned to her original position, then added with a hint of malicious glee:

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

"Which day isn't someone insulting me?"

Yan Li remained calm. Since his playboy persona was exposed, public controversy had never stopped—every few days, some moralist or expert would criticize him. He was used to it.

"This time it's especially harsh. They say you're shameless, playing with women, juggling multiple relationships—and that you used to be a stripper in college, charging 500 per show."

Yan Li frowned. Who was pulling this low blow?

Given his current reputation and persona, this wouldn't affect him much—few would believe it. It was just meant to disgust.

"Oh, and they also claim you used to be gay, with a singer boyfriend."

"Fuck that bullshit."

Yan Li snapped. Stripper? Fine—he could tolerate being called a gigolo. But this was outright slander and degradation.

Who the fuck wrote this?

Song Zhude, didn't you just respond to him?

Fan Xiaopang saw Yan Li cursing, softened his expression, and gently advised: "Ignore him—he's just a clown. Everyone's laughing at him now. The more you pay attention, the more he'll thrive."

Yan Li said nothing, pulled out his laptop, browsed online, and his already grim face turned icy with rage.

Fan Xiaopang sensed something was wrong, leaned over to take a look, and paled instantly.

The post implied, without naming names, that Yan Li once had an ex-girlfriend who had an abortion for him—but references to the Beijing Film Academy's campus beauty and the female lead of a Wu Xia drama 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, he often had a measure of tolerance.

But he was fiercely protective—especially of his women and family.

Insulting Yan Li himself might make him angry and prompt a response, but probably not an extreme one. But if it touched his woman or family, all bets were off.

Sure enough, Yan Li stared at the screen, expressionless, and pulled out his phone: "Tian Ye, get your brother. Drop everything. Wait for my call."

Fan Xiaopang hurried to dissuade him: "Don't act rashly. It's not worth it for some idiot."

"I won't act rashly."

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

But that didn't mean he'd let it go.

There were countless ways to ruin someone. This fool had been so loud and arrogant—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 pot—no value in it.

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

Dong Xuan didn't bother asking why the two of them were talking at this hour; she urgently begged Fan Xiaopang to hand the phone to Yan Li and reason with him. But Yan Li only repeated: "I won't act rashly."

The next day, Fan Xiaopang watched Yan Li nonstop—except when filming—afraid he'd slip away and confront Song Zhude.

But Yan Li did nothing. Even when questioned by the media, he gave no reply—until that night, when the intelligence system refreshed, and he pulled out his phone again.

"Tian Ye, 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 a message, continued reviewing intelligence, and called Hu Ya.

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

After hanging up, Yan Li stared at the last piece of intelligence, 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)