Chapter 197

After that, Yan Li's conversation with the Wang brothers became more casual and affectionate.

They exchanged industry and business rumors, shared non-confidential company plans, and discussed potential collaborations.

In business, even between rival companies, unless they were mortal enemies with no room for coexistence, there were always some connections or collaborations.

Even Yan Li and Huayi, though determined to take down Chengtian, weren't trying to destroy them utterly.

After all, Chengtian's scale was undeniable.

You could prevent them from becoming the top dog, but killing them off completely was not only extremely difficult, it was also unnecessary.

The ideal outcome was to cripple them, knock them off the main table, and make them vanish into obscurity.

But if you could fully suppress them, drastically weaken their threat, and strip them of any ability to compete with you, that would already be a satisfying result.

Even if Yan Li and Huayi were only half-allies now, if Chengtian came to propose cooperation, as long as it didn't aid the enemy or harm competition, it wasn't out of the question.

Merchants prioritize profit above all.

One moment they curse and gnash their teeth, clutching a knife and vowing to kill the other's entire family; the next, they sit at the same table, raise glasses, and smile away their grudges.

The Wang brothers had rarely interacted with Yan Li before; today was their first private gathering.

Although they had previously held a high opinion of the young man, after detailed conversation, they were still startled.

Before meeting Yan Li, the Wang brothers had anticipated he was young and impetuous—so they shouldn't just flatter him, they should also show some intimidation.

In their view, Yan Li's biggest weakness was that he started late and lacked deep roots.

As sons of powerful families, they had been in the industry longer and had broader connections; they could demonstrate their strength in these areas to make the young upstart realize how formidable the veterans were.

But before they even began speaking, Yan Li had already given Huayi a gift—a massive favor.

The brothers barely steadied themselves, and once they started talking, instead of shocking Yan Li with insider secrets until he bowed in awe—as they'd expected—they themselves were outshone by Yan Li.

There was no help for it: in terms of connections and background, the brothers were indeed stronger than Yan Li, but when it came to gathering intelligence, even the CIA was Yan Li's younger brother.

He knew where Deng Ge was!

But such information, even if Yan Li knew it, he couldn't speak of it; he was too cautious, rarely got involved in related matters, and never falsely claimed connections.

Everything he did reveal were "ordinary" pieces of news that insiders would find surprising and impressive, but not terrifying.

Yet this was enough for the Wang brothers to reassess Yan Li—and even indulge in wild speculation—making them even warmer in their attitude toward him.

"Si Yan, you must treat General Yan well today—he's your benefactor; you must know gratitude."

"Yes, I understand. General Yan, eat this."

Huo Siyan obediently replied, carefully peeling a shrimp and feeding it to Yan Li's mouth, her eyes practically dripping with adoration.

She had just watched Yan Li's lively conversation with the Wang brothers from the side.

Though her status meant she understood only fragments of what was said, she grasped clearly that Yan Li was far more powerful than she'd imagined—even the Wang brothers treated him with great respect.

This sent Huo Siyan's heart racing—if she could attach herself to Yan Li… uh, she'd probably be ambushed and killed by Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang together.

Still, gaining some benefits wouldn't hurt—even if she gained nothing, she could accept that.

Glancing at Yan Li's heroic, upright figure and his confident, bold aura, Huo Siyan couldn't help but clench her thighs.

She was willing to become his exclusive PR officer for the company!

…

As the wine flowed and the gathering neared its end, without waiting for the Wang brothers to speak, Huo Siyan stepped forward to support Yan Li.

"General Yan has had quite a bit to drink—he's not in good shape. I'll see him off."

"?"

Yan Li, whose alcohol tolerance was excellent, his face neither flushed nor breathless, eyes clear, standing steady as a rock, glanced at the Wang brothers, now reeking of alcohol, and silently accepted Huo Siyan's claim.

Huayi had thoughtfully arranged a hotel for post-drinking rest, but Yan Li didn't go.

The first rule against the beauty trap is to guard against hidden cameras—how many men have fallen because they were too eager or too drunk?

The Wang brothers had questionable character; Yan Li didn't trust them at all.

Watching Huo Siyan and Yan Li get into the car and leave, Wang Zhonglei rubbed his face.

"Fuck, this kid can really drink—and that little bitch Huo Siyan, siding with the enemy, who the hell is she pouring drinks for?"

"Enough."

Wang Zhongjun's head was spinning; the brothers were seasoned drinkers, decent in their tolerance, yet they'd been thoroughly outmatched by Yan Li, one against two.

This had been a relatively harmonious gathering—neither side had pushed hard, they'd stopped as soon as they sensed the other was near their limit, yet Yan Li's state suggested he'd barely warmed up.

Still, overall, this drinking session had gone well.

They'd reconciled with Yan Li, formed a loose alliance, eliminated a threat, and gotten a sense of Yan Li's true strength.

Understanding him more deeply, recognizing his advantages, they could better respond in the future—and Wang Zhongjun had also spotted one of Yan Li's weaknesses.

"This kid's definitely lustful; we can exploit that."

Huayi was an entertainment company with abundant female resources—whether to woo or trap, their advantage over lustful men was immense.

"Won't that be letting him off too easy?"

Wang Zhonglei frowned; Wang Zhongjun, knowing his brother's nature, shot him a glare.

"You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. Besides, this kid eats well himself—he doesn't lack for food. Don't waste cheap, gaudy women on him; he'd probably look down on them."

Wang Zhonglei: "..."

Fan Xiaopang had been lured away by this bastard, Li Bingbing was probably also a victim, and now Huo Siyan today.

All of them were Huayi's promoted leading actresses and rising stars.

And now we're supposed to up the ante even more—not just any amount—Huayi is fucking casting a talent show for this Yan guy…

…

On the other side, the driver Wu Maowen dropped Yan Li off at Palm Spring International Apartments.

Huo Siyan clearly knew this famous Beijing neighborhood—her eyes sparkled.

"Director Yan, did you buy a house here?"

This apartment complex is touted as one of China's top ten luxury residences, equipped with high-end amenities and prices so steep they're staggering—over 20,000 yuan per square meter, with unit sizes generally large, making any single unit cost several million yuan.

"No, I'm renting."

Yan Li spoke frankly: a clever rabbit has three burrows—some places he bought outright to settle down, some he acquired for investment plus a fixed base, and some were just temporary spots for quick gains.

There's no need to buy in temporary spots; what if you get tangled up in trouble? Renting is enough—if things go wrong, you just vacate and vanish.

Since it's rented, there's no need to overthink—luxury and comfort, plus Yan Li's status, meant security and service had to be upgraded.

Palm Spring Apartments primarily cater to celebrities and business elites, offering 24-hour security, emphasizing safety and privacy, and providing concierge services to handle numerous errands, saving time and hassle.

Yan Li viewed this place as a long-term hotel; he made it clear to Huo Siyan: be grateful, and don't think of anything else.

Huo Siyan didn't know if she understood, but as soon as she stepped inside, she was stunned by the exquisite, luxurious decor.

"What a beautiful house."

Since Palm Spring is touted as one of China's top ten luxury residences, its caliber is obvious—this fully renovated unit Yan Li rented could be used directly as a set for idol dramas.

Even better, because it's a new development, it's more refined and attractive than the luxury apartments shown on today's TV shows.

Huo Siyan had only truly become famous this past year; though she'd seen some of the world before, this was her first time in a top-tier apartment.

"I wish I could live here every day."

Huo Siyan made no effort to hide her affection for the apartment; Yan Li remained calm.

"Monthly rent is 30,000 to 80,000 yuan—I have a contact at the agency who can give you a discount."

"..."

Huo Siyan felt the stark disparity of the world—after six months of exhausting work, how much had she earned? Rent of several ten thousand yuan a month? It was robbery.

And Yan Li—he rented such a place for tens of thousands and barely stayed in it. What a waste of money.

Uh...

Thinking of the rumors that Yan Li had hundreds of millions in assets, Huo Siyan said nothing more.

He's rich—he can burn money!

The more she thought, the angrier she got—why did Dong Xuan have such luck, snagging such a wealthy husband?

She wasn't any whiter or any bigger than me, maybe just a bit taller—but was she as seductive as I am?

Because of "Huan Tian Xi Di Seven Fairies," Dong Xuan had led the exclusion of Huo Siyan, making her resentment the strongest—and today, she even felt a touch of revengeful satisfaction.

Hmph, you bullied me? Now I'm giving you a bright green hat.

She pressed close to Yan Li, rubbing against him, her voice tinged with plaintive sorrow.

"Director Yan, if it weren't for some people, I was planning to sign with Yi'an."

The Wang brothers thought Yan Li was lustful—and they weren't wrong—but they misunderstood one thing.

He was lustful, but his "courage" was small.

If it weren't for Huo Siyan, an old acquaintance whose character he knew, and if he hadn't nearly become "Dong Yong" before, convinced he could handle her, he never would've brought her here so recklessly.

Thus, Yan Li didn't need to be so distant—seeing her low spirits, he kindly reached out to soothe her, lest she suffer from chest tightness and shortness of breath.

"Huayi isn't bad—I see Wang Zonglei and the others value you."

Value you by making you drink with clients, right!

Huo Siyan blushed, enduring Yan Li's wandering hands, her voice soft and pliant.

"Director Yan, I've already played your Seven Fairies—you can't favor one over another. You're always thinking of Bingbing and Yang Xue, Jiang Xin—they're all fine—but can't you find me a role too?"

"That's easy."

Yan Li had no objection to arranging a role for Huo Siyan—it was just a way to silence her; if needed, he could go through some trouble to bypass Dong and Fan, or simply use Huayi as a cover.

Fan could act in Huayi's dramas, so why couldn't Huayi's Huo act in Yi'an's?

But what role she got still depended on her own effort.

Huo Siyan was sensible—grateful, she repaid kindness with loyalty.

Later, after Yan Li triggered her secret gossip about him, she cried and begged to become his adopted sibling, calling him brother one moment, father the next.

Seven Fairies (4/7)

————

The next day, near noon, Huo Siyan left Palm Spring Apartments; she'd planned to take the afternoon off, but her agent kept pressing her to return to the company.

Helpless, Huo Siyan dragged her weary body to the office.

Wang Zhonglei received her personally and asked about Yan Li.

Huo Siyan's heart stirred—she told Wang Zonglei some things, and kept others to herself.

Director Yan had considerable power and treated her well—no need to devote herself entirely to Huayi.

In Huo Siyan's heart, she leaned more toward Yan Li—he'd made her famous, slept with her, and still offered resources; Huayi talked big but used her as a PR socialite.

If so, why not use Huayi to leverage Yan Li's name and gain some benefits?

Then turn around and feed Huayi's secrets to Yan Li—he'd be generous and wouldn't let her down.

That way, she'd benefit from both sides and maintain a lasting connection with Yan Li.

Huo Siyan now understood why Shuang Bing had fought for Yan Li—and deeply grasped the famous line from Pan Qiaoyun in "Water Margin."

Years in this circle couldn't match one night of pleasure with Yan Li!

Wang Zhonglei didn't realize Huo Siyan was lying—he thought she was obedient.

It was normal she had no useful information—Yan Li was sharp and capable; he wouldn't leave her unguarded.

Seeing this, Huo Siyan added: "Director Yan said Yi'an has a Qing palace drama coming up and wants me to play a role."

"..."

Wang Zhonglei gave her a long look, then nodded: "That's good news—it shows Director Yan has a good impression of you. Keep in touch."

I think the same way—Boss Yan has been very kind to me, even gave me the apartment key, and when I left, he had his personal driver take me specially.

Hu Siyan blew up a lot of false claims mixed with truth; seeing Wang Zhonglei seemed skeptical, she even hinted that during the filming of Huan Tian Xi Di, she and Yan Li had been together—but for some reason, she ultimately ended up being eliminated.

Now that they'd met again after a short separation, she learned from past mistakes, targeted her approach, and rekindled some of Yan Li's old feelings for her.

Wang Zhonglei believed it!

In Huan Tian Xi Di, Hu Siyan was the female lead; given Yan Li's lecherous nature, it was highly unlikely he wouldn't have pursued her.

He'd already thought last night's seduction between Hu Siyan and Yan Li was too smooth—if they'd already been involved, it all made sense.

Perfect!

He understood Hu Siyan's character well enough—her moral底线 was low; Huayi could bribe her, assign her to spy on Yan Li, and even deliver a fatal blow at the critical moment.

Thinking of this, Wang Zhonglei's attitude toward Hu improved even more; he readily agreed to her opportunistic request to reduce the drinking parties.

Come on, if you want Hu Siyan to be a mole inside Yan Li's circle and make her act as a socialite, aren't you treating Yan Li like an idiot?

After Hu Siyan left the company and saw no one around, she couldn't help but excitedly fist-pumped; then she thought better of it and called Yan Li.

"... Yes, Young Master Wang asked me nothing—I suspect he may have ill intentions toward you; you must be extremely careful."

"... If I hear anything, I'll tell you right away."

"... Don't thank me—I... I've always had my heart on you."

"..."

Yi'an Film & Television, Yan Li hung up the phone with an odd expression.

How are these Wang brothers running this company? Why are there so many moles inside Huayi?

Yan Li didn't actually need moles—his intelligence network knew far more than they could ever dig up.

Still, keeping a spare pawn didn't hurt—what if it proved useful? If this was Huayi and Hu's scheme, he wasn't afraid; he might even turn their plan against them.

Ignoring Hu Siyan's matter, Yan Li turned to Xiao Guan, the head of the marketing department, who had been reporting halfway through, and told him to continue.

The man had just stepped aside to get water while Yan Li took the call, and now, with permission granted, resumed his report.

"Currently, due to the hype surrounding The Legend of the Condor Heroes, The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng is slightly more popular than The Investiture of the Gods, with seven satellite channels offering bids, and CCTV-8 has sent representatives for direct negotiations."

"The highest bid so far is 750,000 yuan per episode, totaling 30 million yuan; CCTV-8 offered 25 million yuan plus partial advertising revenue..."

Although this wasn't long after Yan Li released The Conquest and Huan Tian Xi Di.

But due to the booming market and economy, along with the 4+x policy, competition among satellite channels has intensified, making the TV drama market increasingly prosperous.

Top-tier TV dramas now approach one million yuan per episode; it's becoming rarer for popular series to sell for just 20 million yuan.

For example, CCTV recently announced the price for Hu Mei's new drama, Qiao Family Compound: 800,000 yuan per episode, over 35 million yuan total.

The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng's rival, The Legend of the Condor Heroes, currently has no contract below 600,000 yuan per episode.

TV drama prices used to rise every few years, then annually, now every six months—or even with each season.

Private film and television companies have also entered their springtime.

Yan Li, who calls himself the King of Distribution, naturally refuses to just follow the market—he aims to lead it and break its upper limits.

Currently, no TV drama has ever sold for more than one million yuan per episode in a single transaction.

Yan Li wants to try.

If he can sell it at that price, his title as King of Distribution will be even more secure, strongly advancing his broader strategy to build a distribution-centered alliance.

"Pack up today; tomorrow, take a few key staff with me on a business trip—probably one to two weeks, we'll likely visit several provinces, so prepare thoroughly."

"Understood."

Xiao Guan was excited—Boss Yan was finally taking direct action.

He was a veteran salesperson, but every time he accompanied Yan Li on distribution, he rediscovered that long-lost adrenaline—the sense of invincibility, total control, repeated triumphs, and triumphant returns—it was addictive.

Watching Xiao Guan rush off energetically, Yan Li was speechless—the company rumors weren't baseless.

The marketing department really was a bit crazy!

While Yan Li was traveling on a distribution trip, Huayi, overwhelmed, finally announced good news: their top star, Li Bingbing, declared she was staying at Huayi.

As the universally recognized top star of Huayi and the artist who had received the most resources and the deepest public binding, Li Bingbing's public statement stabilized Huayi's situation considerably.

Huayi hadn't collapsed—Huayi still had its pillar artist!

During an interview, Wang Zhonglei downplayed the impact of Wang Jinghua's departure and instead heavily emphasized Huayi's future artist management reforms, adopting a "no destruction, no creation" posture.

Compared to the story of Wang Jinghua, Wang Zhonglei explicitly clarified when it came to Fan Xiaopang.

Huayi has no rift with Fan Xiaopang!

Regarding Fan's departure, Huayi offered blessings and understanding, and indicated they might continue cooperating in the future.

This statement drew attention from many observant people; forums like Tianya even ran multiple discussions.

Some believed Wang Jinghua was a traitor, while Fan Xiaopang merely seized the opportunity to leave—two entirely different cases; Huayi likely held little or no ill will toward Fan.

Others speculated Huayi might have reached some cooperation or exchange with Yan Li, turning a poaching into a peaceful transfer.

Even a "source" leaked that Yan Li spent tens of millions to rescue Fan Xiaopang from his sea of suffering.

Huayi: You're in a sea of suffering? Your whole family is in a sea of suffering!

But this leak was believed by many, later appearing on major portals and media reports—partly because the story was eye-catching, partly because someone was pushing it behind the scenes.

Fan Xiaopang's team had tasted the sweetness of Yan Li's "million-yuan luxury car to make a beauty smile" stunt last time, and now they particularly loved such publicity gimmicks.

It generated buzz and elevated Fan Xiaopang's image, instantly turning him into a "ten-million-yuan star," naturally raising his fees and endorsement value.

It also further whitewashed the so-called "third party" label—after all, Yan Li was throwing so much money around, proving his "true love" for Fan Xiaopang.

But while this was good for Fan Xiaopang, it made Boss Yan look like a suck-up.

Then again, it more firmly cemented Yan Li's image as wealthy and generous; the public grew increasingly "understanding" of any actress linked to him—even his promiscuous lifestyle became somewhat justified under the halo of his wealth.

If all else fails, Yan Li or Fan Xiaopang can always come out and clarify after they've milked this wave of benefits.

Compared to Yan Li, the two most restless were Dong Xuan and Qin Lan.

First a million-yuan luxury car, then company number one, now this "ten-million-redemption" stunt—Fan Xiaopang is shining brighter than ever, almost becoming the universally known golden couple with Yan Li.

What should they do!?

Dong Xuan gritted her teeth and stomped her foot—fine, if it's a show, she can put on one too—and pulled Guan Yue aside to whisper urgently.

Not long after, a blog post appeared, exposing a former student from the 2000 cohort of Beijing Film Academy.

The article mentioned many classmates, with Dong Xuan and Yan Li—the most famous and most glamorous—taking up half the space.

In third-person narration, it recounted some sweet campus romance moments between the two, revealing that Dong Xuan, as a student, landed the female lead in "Snow Goddess Dragon" solely thanks to Yan Li's help, emphasizing how deeply they cared for each other and so on.

Although it didn't say anything overtly suggesting they'd reconcile in the future, it subtly implied Dong Xuan was Yan Li's truest love.

After this blog post went public, it immediately sparked considerable controversy.

Reporters reached out to interview Dong Xuan, but she ignored them; however, her friend Guan Yue spoke with the journalists.

During the interview, Guan Yue angrily condemned this invasive exposure of privacy and urged the parties involved to apologize to Dong Xuan.

When pressed on whether the exposé was true, Guan Yue hesitated and stammered.

"It's all in the past."

This interview indirectly confirmed that the blog exposé was likely true; after the blog was deleted and the account shut down, many grew even more convinced.

So Yan Li's true love is Dong Xuan!

While Yan Li's reputation as a player grew more controversial, others believed the two still had lingering feelings and might reconcile.

Some pure-love fans, moved by the sweet memories in the article, flooded Yan Li's blog and forums with comments urging him to win Dong Xuan back—she was the good woman, while Fan Xiaopang only wanted fame and fortune, not a true partner.

"…"

Fan Xiaopang was furious—this Dong woman is insane! I'm boosting my own value, and now she's barging in to steal the spotlight.

If you're an "ex-girlfriend," then just stay an "ex-girlfriend," okay?

Qin Lan was even angrier than Fan Xiaopang.

Dong Xuan could pop up to assert her presence, subtly strike back and stake her claim.

All Qin Lan could do was watch helplessly as Yan Li's "old love" and "new flame" traded barbs from afar, like an outsider.

Finally, she couldn't hold it in anymore—Qin Lan posted a photo of her puppy on her blog, with a caption implying the little dog, raised only by its mother, missed its father.

This was practically an admission of romance, but Qin Lan had already given up—she hadn't mentioned any key terms.

Those two women were showing off; if she didn't do something, she'd suffocate from pent-up frustration.

With two blockbusters, "Huan Zhu Gege 3" and "The Great Song Inspector," Qin Lan, though less popular than top young actresses, was still a recognized star.

Her blog had a substantial following, and attention came quickly.

Her agent reacted fast, calling immediately to urge her to delete it—Qin Lan was in her ascent phase, and exposing a relationship would harm her career.

Qin Lan ignored it and refused to delete; she didn't directly call out Yan Li, but she did vent at those two women—she'd already been extremely restrained.

Not only did she refuse to delete it, but when reporters contacted her, she directly stated she was not single and had an excellent relationship with her boyfriend.

"…"

In Magu, a five-star hotel

Yan Li stared at Qin Lan's blog, lit a cigarette silently—he knew Dong and Qin were wary of Fan Xiaopang, but he hadn't expected such a fierce reaction.

Whether Dong Xuan's "old love" declaration or Qin Lan's admission of being taken, neither was a high-zhao.

But they proved they'd been stepped on.

If he didn't speak up now, Fan Xiaopang would succeed in taking over, leaving nothing for either of them; at least now there was still room left—really, it was a warning to Fan Xiaopang and a test of Yan Li's intentions.

Qin Lan, having once dated Fan Xiaopang, understood Yan Li's leanings; now she felt only the grievance of being an outsider.

Dong Xuan was uneasy—over a year had passed since filming "Huan Tian Xi Di Qi Nüxia," and she knew little about their current situation; Yan Li was growing kinder to Fan Xiaopang, and she couldn't tell what Yan Li truly felt anymore.

Don't let the "ex-girlfriend" role turn real again.

And Fan Xiaopang—her marketing kept tying herself closer to him, the gossip growing louder and louder.

She claimed it was all for career and exposure, but Yan Li, through the system, saw clearly whether she had other hidden motives.

"Troublesome~"

Yan Li lit another cigarette—dealing with this was far more troublesome than handling those veteran TV executives.

After much thought, he hesitated over his phone, then finally tossed it aside.

Let them fight it out—do whatever they want. His reputation was already ruined; they wouldn't really break up anyway. If needed, he'd just work harder when he went back…

…

Yan Li had already prepared himself for the three of them to go wild, the backstabbing to erupt, and then he'd return to Beijing to clean up the mess.

Unexpectedly, the next morning, everything was calm!

More accurately, his side was calm—the storm had all hit someone else—

Huang Shengyi

This junior sister had caused Starlight Company's fury by posing for sensual photos for "Men's Magazine"; the company vowed to punish her severely, and Huang Shengyi then naturally held a press conference to play the victim, accusing Starlight Company of exploiting her.

At two press conferences, Huang Shengyi delivered the best performances of her career.

She herself, along with Starlight Company and its backer Zhou Xingchi, became the center of attention.

Many supported Huang Shengyi; many also supported Zhou Xingchi.

Overall, due to accusations of "ingratitude" and Zhou's unbeatable public image, Huang Shengyi's public opinion position was clearly weaker.

But Huang Shengyi had prepared plenty—playing the victim, having media tilt the narrative, and even being backed by a so-called "wealthy group" making threats.

Yan Li, as her "ex-boyfriend," wasn't spared either.

Huang Shengyi told interviewers they'd spoken on the phone, that Yan Li had shown deep concern for her and even offered to lend her money to get through hard times, and she was deeply grateful for his help and so on.

This statement had exaggerated elements, but wasn't false—yet Huang Shengyi deliberately blurred the timeline and specific details.

Ultimately, he created the illusion that Yan Li was on his side, building momentum for himself.

To be honest, if it were Yan Li himself, he might not admit it, but he wouldn't deny it either—he'd just as well lend Huang Shengyi a hand.

But Huang Zheng happened to appear just as Dong, Fan, and Qin were all holding back their anger.

As soon as Huang Shengyi showed up, she immediately drew hostility from all three sides.

Dong Xuan was the angriest—she hated Huang Shengyi the most; last time she hadn't had the chance to deal with her, and now she dared to jump in again.

So someone on Tianya immediately leaked that Yan Li's only college girlfriend was Dong Xuan, and Huang Shengyi was just riding the coattails—Yan Li ignored her, that's all.

Others also leaked that perhaps the two had once been involved, but not as boyfriend and girlfriend; Huang was merely a third party.

Earlier leaks about Yan Li and Dong Xuan's sweet past had made Yan Li seem like a man who turned bad once rich, damaging his image—now this was the perfect chance to wash it clean and shift the blame onto Huang Shengyi.

Yan Li was fundamentally decent; it was really a bad woman causing trouble, ultimately leading to deep misunderstandings and a regretful breakup between Yan and Dong.

Now she dares to show up and claim she's Yan Li's ex-girlfriend? Pfft.

Fan Xiaopang also hated it—again, this "ex-girlfriend" nonsense? She's already been dumped, can't she just mind her own little life and stay out of it?

With Dong Xuan, she at least felt guilt and restraint, not daring to act recklessly, but with Huang Shengyi, she didn't care.

Fan Xiaopang directly accepted an interview, stating she hadn't heard Yan Li call anyone, then publicly launched an attack on Huang Shengyi.

"If you want to switch companies, just pay the breach penalty. Now you regret it—why didn't you cry when you were filming the movie?"

This remark was a bit excessive, since Huang Shengyi's contract did have some issues.

But the public generally understood Fan Xiaopang's fierce reaction.

Clearly, this was the "current girlfriend" being enraged by the "ex-girlfriend."

When a woman's man is dragged down by her ex's mess, which woman wouldn't be furious? Fan Xiaopang not screaming outright already showed remarkable restraint.

Dong Xuan had originally just wanted to avoid the spotlight, but seeing Fan Xiaopang speak out publicly made her look like a coward, only daring to scheme behind the scenes.

So she too accepted a phone interview, and when asked about Huang Shengyi, called her "not a sincere person."

This statement carried deep implications.

It could indirectly confirm the rumor that Huang was a third party, and directly challenge her claims of being wronged and lying about contract termination—totally undermining Huang's character.

Netizens eating the drama praised her: "No wonder she's a professor at Beijing Film Academy—kills without drawing blood."

And it was clear now: the two truly had deep grievances; Dong Xuan hated Huang Shengyi intensely.

With Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang both striking out, Qin Lan was left in a bind.

One was the "old love" with old grudges, the other the "new flame" with new hatred—both had legitimate reasons to speak out, and still, it had nothing to do with her.

Even if she stepped forward to attack Huang Shengyi, the other side wouldn't even know who she was.

"…"

After stewing for a long time, Qin Lan posted a photo of Zhou Xingchi from a drama on her blog, then wrote a short essay gushing over it.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend; since Zhou and Huang Shengyi were at odds, she supported Zhou Xingchi.

After being slapped in the face by Fan Xiaopang and still reeling, she got a sharp follow-up strike from Dong Xuan—Huang Shengyi failed to gain any momentum, and her reputation sank further.

In panic, Huang Shengyi called Yan Li, but he ignored her.

He had already given her a choice before; she didn't take it, and Yan Li felt he had done all he could.

This time, Huang used him as a banner, and Yan Li himself said nothing—but now several women couldn't stand it and came out to attack. No matter what, he couldn't possibly side with Huang Shengyi and humiliate Dong Xuan and the others.

Huang Shengyi had no choice; she had neither the time nor the strength to argue with Dong Xuan and the others, so she wearily refocused her attention on breaking her contract with Xinghui.

And after this bout of "united hostility," the three women calmed down, their mutual hostility slightly diminished, and silently laid down their arms.

Meanwhile, Wang Ou, Wu Jiani, Hu Siyan, Li Bingbing, and others watching from the sidelines trembled or fell into deep thought.

Did Dong and Fan secretly join forces to suppress her together?

Sun and Moon hanging in the sky?

Two palaces standing side by side?

Qin Lan: "…"

I'm not even human? Don't you understand the Three Palaces and Six Courtyards? Don't you know the Three Luminaries—Sun, Moon, and Star? So uncultured…

(End of Chapter)