Chapter 200: Yian Grand

Banquet hall, entrance

Yan Li warmly shook hands with the guests: "Manager Wang, Director Feng, thank you for coming."

Wang Zhonglei chuckled: "Of course, we're practically half of Bingbing's family—best to see things through properly."

Yan Li laughed heartily, internally sneering.

Bullshit family—sounds nice, but you're just here because you heard Wang Jinghua is coming, afraid he's connected to Chengtian, so you came to check things out.

Also, the record-breaking sale price of "Lu Xiaofeng Legend" and the undeniable clout of securing the distribution rights to "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" had shaken Huayi.

Their next plan is a major push into TV drama production, competing with Yan Li's Yian, but also potentially cooperating.

Who turns down money?

Huayi has plenty of upcoming dramas in the works—if Yan Li can help them sell a few more million, even more.

Then he becomes Huayi's top PR priority—even Wang Zong himself can personally attend to him.

"..."

Luckily Yan Li didn't hear that, or he'd already be kicking them out.

Compared to Wang Zhonglei, he was far warmer toward Feng Xiaogang.

This man may have many flaws, but he's undeniably the top commercial director on the mainland; over half of Huayi's achievements and influence in film rest on his shoulders.

Yan Li was somewhat envious of this man.

He had previously triggered a 2010 hit film and TV series 【Annual Intelligence】—Feng's two films together grossed over one billion, ranking first and third in that year's Mandarin-language box office.

If possible, Yan Li truly wanted to poach Feng Xiaogang to make money for him.

Feng Xiaogang had no special attitude toward Yan Li—neither cold nor overly warm, showing some respect, but not groveling.

Big directors are in high demand.

The Wang brothers fawn over him; even Han Sanye from China Film shows him respect—Feng Xiaogang's pride runs deep.

If not for Wang Zhonglei dragging him here and giving him a heads-up that Yan Li wasn't someone to underestimate, he might've treated him like a junior.

Yan Li wasn't surprised—he'd dealt with this breed before.

Especially those with ample investment and powerful backers—they're all arrogant as hell.

Feng Xiaogang is relatively decent now; there are still bigger mountains looming over him, his career hasn't peaked, and he still has some sense of reality.

Another big director Yan Li once met briefly, Chen Da, was the one with his eyes planted on his forehead.

As for the other big director, Lao Mouzi, Yan Li hadn't met him, but heard he was relatively amiable—among these directors, at least he was easy to get along with.

After a few words, Wang Zhonglei couldn't hold back his nerves and pulled Feng Xiaogang away.

He brought Feng here to show off Huayi's strength, but seeing Yan Li's excessive warmth, he got nervous.

This bastard is a master at poaching talent—he took Fan Bingbing away, nearly lost Li Bingbing.

Feng Xiaogang's a man, so seduction won't work, but who knows what new tricks Yan Li has up his sleeve.

Caution is wise!

Only then did Yan Li notice Hu Siyan trailing behind Wang and Feng.

In such a setting, Li Bingbing—the top star—should've been the one here, but with the two Bingbings now estranged, Hu Siyan seized the opportunity.

Don't forget, on paper, the Seven Fairies are still good sisters—at least the others haven't broken ties.

Not only Hu Siyan, but Li Lin and Jiang Xin also showed up; Yang Xue couldn't come but sent a video blessing, treated the same as Xiao Yanzi from "My Fair Princess" and Lin Xinru.

As for Dong Xuan, though she didn't come or send a video, she sent a gift.

No other intention—just to have an explanation ready if the media asks, to preserve some dignity.

Only Li Bingbing, who had already torn things up once and was still seething over the rivalry, made no gesture at all—even prepped media questions to ride the wave of exposure.

"Director Yan~"

Hu Siyan's gaze was tinged with resentment; since last time, Yan Li hadn't contacted him, barely reaching out on his own.

Only when she used Huayi's business to call or text him did he reply at all.

The only comfort was that Yan Li kept his word—he gave her a major role in "The Qing Dynasty Harem."

"Li Lin and Jiang Xin are here too—you should catch up. Don't forget to take the farewell gifts, they're quite nice."

Yan Li's expression was calm—it was a transaction. If he had to chat with every woman daily, he'd need eight hands and no time at all.

He'd given her what she deserved, and Hu Siyan had leveraged his influence at Huayi to secure benefits for herself—he'd tacitly cooperated.

The so-called mole was of little use to Yan Li; even if it had value, he'd just set a price later—he wouldn't shortchange her.

Seeing Yan Li show no reaction, Hu Siyan felt disappointed and was about to say more when another major guest arrived at the door—Yan Li went to greet them, forcing her to swallow her words.

It was Liu Yanming, boss of Hai Run.

Hai Run held a 20% stake in "Lu Xiaofeng Legend" and had profited greatly alongside Yan Li—they were in their honeymoon phase, naturally here to show support.

But this time, he didn't bring Sun Li; instead, he brought Hai Run's other leading actress, Li Xiaoran.

This woman had starred in several Hai Yan dramas but never truly exploded in fame—her visibility didn't even match Sun Li's single role in "Jade Goddess of Mercy."

Still, cumulatively, Li Xiaoran's name carried weight, and she was quietly shifting toward the qingyi role—currently the only one with the potential to challenge Sun Li for Hai Run's top actress title.

This was Yan Li's first time meeting Li Xiaoran; his strongest impression was her paleness.

Fan Xiaopang and Dong Xuan were pale, but this woman was even paler.

After brief pleasantries, Yan Li sharply sensed she wasn't impressed with him—indeed, there was subtle resistance.

This wasn't the first time he'd felt this emotion.

Not every woman who saw his money and good looks fell for him; on the contrary, because of his "infamous" reputation, many women had a poor first impression of him.

Some improved after contact; others grew more prejudiced—he'd long grown used to it.

If useful, he'd treat them well; if not, ignore them. He couldn't control how others saw him, so why bother?

After seating Liu Yanming and others, Yan Li welcomed many more distinguished guests.

Some were collaborators—like the bosses of Tangren, Zhou Yi, and Ciwen.

Others had previously worked with him and Fan Xiaopang—Gao Qunshu, Fan Xiaotian, Cheng Lidong.

Still others were stars close to him and Fan Xiaopang—Ren Quan, Huang Haibing, Huang Haibo, Zhou Jie, Qiao Zhenyu, Pan Yueming, and more.

Wang Jinghua also brought several artists to support her, briefly making her and Wang Zhonglei the center of attention.

But the presence of her former employer and former agent showed that Fan Xiaopang's departure was amicable—and that she had excellent connections.

This was precisely Yan Li's goal in inviting both sides: eliminate hidden tensions and ensure Fan Xiaopang's smooth transition to Yian.

Out of respect for him, mutual unwillingness to give favors freely, and some personal ties, both Huayi and Sister Hua showed up, showering the press with praise.

Yian's artists were also present—Roommates Three Brothers, mercenary Zhang Zhilin, and Second Sister Wang Ou—all arrived.

The others were fine, but Wang Ou didn't want to come—afraid Fan Xiaopang would hold a grudge and make things hard for her. Yan Li wanted to show Yian's unity, so she gritted her teeth and showed up.

Still, her only officially aired drama so far is "Survival: The Migrant Workers"—limited fame, little attention, successfully blending into the background.

…

Guests had mostly arrived, time was up—the host, Beijing TV's top anchor Chunni, announced the signing ceremony was beginning.

After a series of lavish, emotional opening remarks, Chunni gestured toward the starlit corridor and red carpet beside the hall.

"Now, let's give the warmest applause to welcome today's main star—Fan Bingbing."

At the other end of the red carpet, dry ice sprayed as Fan Xiaopang walked slowly forward.

She wore a white, off-shoulder, fitted mermaid gown—elegant yet sensual, noble yet subtly alluring; her dangling earrings were exquisite, her neck adorned with a massive gemstone necklace, fingers and wrist adorned with diamond rings and watches, radiating luxury.

This ensemble wasn't cheap—the dress was custom-made in Xiangjiang, at a steep price.

The accessories, except the watch which was borrowed, were either high-end pieces bought in Europe, others she'd saved up to buy, and one sponsored by a brand.

Altogether, it cost hundreds of thousands!

Clothes make the man, horses make the saddle—already possessing top-tier beauty and poise, with this "armor," Fan Xiaopang shone brilliantly.

Add to that it was her big day—Fan Xiaopang fully unleashed her aura: eyes resolute, steps confident, displaying a state never seen before, making her glow even more intensely, radiant as a star.

The audience erupted in applause—mostly friendly clapping, but many were stunned; the most enthusiastic, of course, were the fans.

Watching today's grand signing ceremony and the breathtaking Fan Xiaopang, these die-hard fans nearly clapped their palms raw.

Under the host's introduction, Fan Xiaopang walked through the starlit corridor and red carpet, reached the stage, thanked the guests and fans, and expressed her inner excitement.

Then came the official signing ceremony.

Yan Li, the boss, also stepped onto the stage—he was far more subdued today than Fan Xiaopang.

Slim black trousers, black shirt, leather shoes—though simple, his physique made it impossible to ignore.

Broad back, narrow waist, muscular legs—the shirt and trousers stretched taut over his frame, his posture upright and martial, his rugged face exuding maturity and authority, tinged with dominance; beside Fan Xiaopang's white, he stood in black, complementing each other perfectly, harmonious and striking.

Below, Fan's mother wore a mother-in-law's satisfied smile; reporters raised cameras, clicking away.

Others, like Wang Ou, forced smiles; two people watching the live text and image stream online even ground their teeth.

Is this a signing—or a wedding?!

Worse was yet to come—the two signed the contract with golden pens on a signing table adorned with 999 "ice bricks" of roses.

Then Yan Li presented Fan Xiaopang with her signing gift.

First, film and TV contracts: confirmed projects include the films "Mo Gong" and "Tokyo Trial," and the TV dramas "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "The White-Haired Witch."

Below, Wang Zhonglei from Huayi couldn't help cursing inwardly: shameless, poaching talent, pretending to give gifts borrowed from others—acting like "Mo Gong" was his own project for Fan Bingbing.

Yan Li didn't know his thoughts; even if he did, he wouldn't care.

The "favor" he earned through intelligence exchanges—wasn't that his own gift to Fan Xiaopang?

Besides, this is promotion—some exaggeration is inevitable.

Beyond the confirmed projects, future resource investment for Fan Xiaopang includes three to five films and three to five tailor-made TV dramas—all efforts will be made to push her into the top-tier superstar tier.

Hmm, this is also promotion—but there are similar plans; specifics to be determined.

Beyond the film and TV projects, in terms of commercial endorsements, Yi An announced seventeen endorsements and commercial ads for Fan Xiaopang all at once.

Note that endorsements and commercial ads are completely different concepts.

An endorsement is a comprehensive partnership: the brand holds exclusive rights to use the celebrity's image for a set period, the collaboration is closer, and of course, the price is higher.

An ad is different—it's simply filming a commercial or video or print ad for a single product, focused only on that product, with minimal collaboration, and the pay is much lower.

Fan Xiaopang previously had few endorsements, but her ad income wasn't small; after Yi An took over, he went all out to secure more for her.

In this area, Yi An had one advantage: his close ties with television stations.

At this stage, many ads still rely on TV; Yi An could leverage his station connections to partner with advertisers and secure commercial deals for Fan Xiaopang.

For example, when The Investiture of the Gods was sold to Hunan TV, various cooperative resources included one ad and a variety show invitation for Fan Xiaopang.

About half of those seventeen endorsements and ads were secured through this method; the rest came from the efforts of her agency team and Fan Xiaopang herself.

Yi An's Artist Management Department had previously hired a deputy director specifically to handle commercial negotiations and secure ads and endorsements for artists.

Even when Fan Xiaopang was still with Huayi, she was already considered half an ad favorite.

Before Li Bingbing took on Mobile, she was actually overshadowed by Fan Xiaopang in this area; even after Li successfully broke into film and rose in fame and status, she didn't pull far ahead of Fan Xiaopang.

Huayi valued Fan Xiaopang precisely because they saw her huge commercial potential.

Sure enough, as soon as Fan Xiaopang joined Yi An, they immediately leveraged this strength, pushing her toward the path of the Advertising Queen.

Wang Zhonglei's grip on his seat tightened until his knuckles turned white—what could be more painful than watching your own money tree become someone else's?

Other female stars, hearing that long list of film and TV projects and endorsements, felt their hearts ache with envy.

With so many film deals and ads, how much money must Fan be making?

They didn't care that Fan Xiaopang's fame, buzz, and superior conditions naturally attracted ads; Yan Li and Yi An merely used their own resources to amplify Fan's existing advantages.

These people completely ignored Fan Xiaopang herself, attributing most of the credit to Yan Li.

The film deals were secured by Yan Li, the ads were negotiated by Yan Li—Fan Xiaopang was just a seductive fox enjoying the fruits of others' labor…

Besides film and ads, Yan Li also announced that Fan Xiaopang would soon enter the music industry, with Yi An crafting a custom album for her.

At this stage, the Chinese music scene is booming, and many popular actors are eager to cross over for the trend.

The purposes and benefits are numerous.

Another career means more exposure; music awards and album sales can boost an artist's value and generate more buzz.

Crossing into music also allows for image shaping—think literary goddess, glamorous songstress, heartfelt little queen, and so on.

It consolidates and harvests fan bases; actors have fewer ways to monetize, and even if a popular actor's popularity rivals a singer's, they earn less—releasing an album or holding concerts allows them to cash in on their popularity.

Fans may spend money, but with interaction and seeing another side of their idol, their loyalty often grows stronger.

Most importantly, producing an album costs little, carries low risk, but yields high returns.

"…"

Yan Li announced a long list of future plans, growing hoarse; resources were maximized, workload was maximized.

In Fan Xiaopang's words, they were treating her like a pack animal.

But complaints aside, she herself was more than willing—this woman was absolutely a career addict, unafraid of hardship or exhaustion for fame and money.

The album plan had originally been dropped by Yan Li, but upon learning of it, Fan Xiaopang personally requested to add it—because it meant money, visibility, and a chance to fulfill her singer fantasy.

Honestly, from a boss's perspective, Yan Li adored employees like Fan Xiaopang.

She had drive, worked tirelessly; if she were held back by lack of resources, Yan Li, as her boss, would feel guilty.

So now, all of Yi An's artist resources were tilted toward Fan Xiaopang.

So much so that some inside Yi An joked the Artist Management Department should be renamed Fan Xiaopang Studio.

It was exaggerated, but not wrong—what else could you do when the others were so useless? With everyone now relying on Fan Xiaopang alone, of course everything revolved around her.

After announcing this series of resource allocations, Yan Li, as boss, gave Fan Xiaopang another gift.

A white gold crown set with gems!

Modeled after Queen Victoria's crown, though less extravagant—besides the gems and scattered diamonds, everything else was ornate white gold, yet still exquisitely magnificent.

Earlier, Yan Li had been unsure what gift to give; he'd considered many options but found none suitable.

Finally, he decided on a crown—it looked beautiful and carried a good meaning: coronation as king.

He'd originally planned a golden crown, but later thought it looked cheap and unattractive, so he switched to the more expensive white gold.

Fan Xiaopang was pleasantly surprised; she knew Yan Li had prepared a gift, but hadn't guessed it was a crown.

Though she preferred a ring, she liked this very much.

Bowing slightly, Yan Li placed the half-kilogram crown on Fan Xiaopang's head; she smiled brightly and boldly into the cameras of the reporters below.

…

The final segment had little substance: close friends and family took turns offering congratulations and speeches, then videos from absent guests were played.

After that, fans came onstage to interact and exchange gifts.

The gifts the fans gave weren't expensive, but they carried deep thought.

Especially the collective gift: each fan brought a bit of soil from their hometown, sealed in a jar, along with blessings for Fan, showing fans from all over were with Fan Xiaopang.

Yan Li also received a small gift.

A portion of that soil was molded into a tiny ceramic piece shaped like a "crystal," as thanks for his support and help for Fan Xiaopang.

Hmph~

Yan Li was a little envious—his own fans only cared which woman he was dating; they'd never given him such a thoughtful gift.

After the fan segment ended, the next part was interviews with Yan Li, Fan Xiaopang, and some guests.

Once the interviews were mostly done, the signing ceremony was essentially over.

Yan Li felt a bit disappointed—he'd originally planned a fireworks finale, but Beijing banned fireworks in the city center, so it was canceled.

There was a thank-you dinner that night, but almost no guests attended except a few staff and fans.

Those who came were all big names; who needed another meal? Most just squeezed in, gave their well-wishes, and left.

Some came just to pig out, like Hu Siyan and Wang Ou, but their intentions weren't about food.

Too bad, Yan Li was constantly surrounded by people, and Fan Xiaopang kept accompanying him—there was no chance at all.

Since no major guests showed up, Yan Li didn't stay long; he left company executives in charge and prepared to depart.

Before leaving, he specifically went to greet Fan's parents and slipped a large box into Fan Xiaopang's younger brother's hands.

Inside seemed to be some kind of remote-control car—he wasn't sure; he'd had his assistant Ding Feng buy it.

Fan's parents were elders, so that was fine; but the child was meeting him for the first time—he had to give a greeting gift.

Pinching the little fat boy's cheek, Yan Li took his leave; as soon as he left, Fan Xiaopang bid farewell to her parents and followed after him.

"Dad, Mom, I'm going to see him off."

Once they were out of sight, Fan's mother began packing up, preparing to leave too; Fan's father was puzzled.

"Aren't you waiting for Bingbing?"

"Wait for what? Do you think she's coming back?"

Fan's mother rolled her eyes at her husband—why would she bring a bag just to see someone off? Clearly they'd planned to slip away together.

"…"

Fan's father felt a complex mix of emotions—his cabbage, raised for over twenty years, had been stolen by a pig, and not just any pig, but a rich, flashy one.

Fan Chengcheng, still too young to understand his parents' words, clutched the box Yan Li had given him, eager to open and play with it.

Fan Xiaopang followed Yan Li, only to realize he wasn't heading to the parking lot; when she asked, she learned they were going to the hotel's back entrance, where a car was waiting.

Today's ceremony was livestreamed—no way to hide from paparazzi; someone was surely lying in wait, not just at the hotel parking lot, but probably near Fan Xiaopang's apartment too.

They got into the car Yan Li arranged and headed straight to Haidian Wanquan Xinxin Jiayuan—the same place where Li Bingbing had repaid her favor last time.

The Palm Spring Apartment where he'd taken Hu Siyan was a long-term hotel; this was Yan Li's private base, reserved only for trusted partners.

But since Li Bingbing wasn't an outsider, they could make do—no one else would ever be brought here.

Too many people was unsafe; if their cohabitation were discovered, it could easily blow up—after all, neither of them had gentle tempers.

He unlocked the door with the key; as Yan Li was about to change shoes, Fan Xiaopang lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

"So eager?"

Yan Li was puzzled—they'd already been intimate last night—but Fan Xiaopang ignored him, unusually bold and passionate, as if she wanted to devour him whole.

In her entire life, today was one of her most glorious, dazzling moments—the sole and absolute center of attention.

The media's awe, her peers' envy, the fans' cheers, her loved ones' praise—all rested on the perfect stage this man had built for her.

Emotions—gratitude, joy, excitement, sweetness, happiness—had already stirred her heart wildly; holding back until now, not acting in the car, had been an act of extreme restraint.

After kissing for a long while, Fan Xiaopang gasped and pulled away: "Did you bring the crown?"

"I did."

Her handbag was too small to hold the crown, so he'd been carrying it; the driver had reminded him not to forget it when they got out.

"Where is it? Get it out."

Fan Xiaopang urged him; Yan Li raised an eyebrow, intrigued: "You want to wear it?"

"No, you wear it."

Fan Xiaopang retrieved the crown, stood on tiptoe, and placed it on Yan Li's head, then clapped her hands in satisfaction.

"Now you look like a dark prince. Come on, let's go inside."

Yan Li: "..."

Shouldn't this be the brave knight rescuing the princess? How did it turn into a witch bullying the prince…

————

"Today only the husk remains, to welcome the glorious years, hold tight to freedom in the storm…"

The ringtone of "Glory Days" rang out; Fan Xiaopang blinked sleepily and found no one beside him, then extended a pale, slender arm from the thin blanket.

"Hello?"

The other end paused briefly, then continued reporting on its own: "Director Yan, the first batch of news and reports about yesterday's signing ceremony have already been sent to your email. We're still tracking updates and will compile any new coverage."

"Understood."

Fan Xiaopang said it, and the other side acted as if it hadn't heard a woman's voice—just replied and hung up.

Putting the phone down, Fan Xiaopang lay back on the bed, but couldn't sleep; she scratched her head, half-sat up, and spotted a torn formal dress beneath the bed.

"Ah?!"

Fan Xiaopang cried out in dismay—this dress had been custom-made, costing a fortune, and she'd loved it dearly, only to ruin it after one wear.

That bastard man, wasteful… uh…

After cursing, Fan Xiaopang suddenly remembered: last night, she'd been the one drunk, tearing and pulling—she couldn't blame Yan Li.

With a guilty flush, she tucked the dress away, wondering if she could repair it later; then she slipped on Yan Li's black shirt and stumbled out of the bedroom.

Hearing movement in the kitchen, she went to check—and sure enough, Yan Li was busy cooking.

Fan Xiaopang smiled sweetly and leaned over to smack a kiss on his face: "So domestic."

"What else can I do? If I'm not domestic, I'll starve."

Yan Li was speechless—Qin Lan, Dong Xuan, and even Fan Xiaopang were all hopeless in the kitchen.

Either he had to order food or go buy it himself—or cook it himself.

While boiling noodles, Yan Li gestured toward the living room: "Don't forget to take the medicine delivered this morning."

Hearing this, Fan Xiaopang angrily bit him: "You said it was all outside!"

Yan Li looked slightly guilty: "Just in case."

Fan Xiaopang pinched him twice, grumbling, then took the medicine—she was still young, and in the rise of her career, she had no intention of getting pregnant.

After taking the medicine, Fan Xiaopang wandered around the apartment; previously, they'd mostly stayed in hotels or Yan Li visited her apartment—this was the first time she'd been to his "home."

It was spotless—clearly an unoccupied house.

Fan Xiaopang felt a pang of bitterness—this bastard's doghouse probably had several others, where he'd been having fun with those other women.

"Noodles are ready."

Yan Li brought over two bowls of noodles and called out; seeing Fan Xiaopang's mood, he assumed she thought it was too humble.

"Just fill your stomach for now—there's a birthday dinner tonight."

Fan Xiaopang's peach-shaped eyes flickered; she murmured: "I thought you'd have to rush back to put out fires in your harem."

Of course he'd have to put out fires—but wasn't today Fan Xiaopang's birthday? If he left now, she'd never forgive him.

"Stop talking. Eat fast—you might not see me again when we get back."

Yan Li played up his misery a little, making Fan Xiaopang laugh: "Don't worry—I'll get revenge for you."

"No need."

They bickered back and forth, eating noodles—it was warm and pleasant.

After eating, Yan Li heard Fan Xiaopang mention the earlier call, pulled out the laptop delivered with the medicine that morning, and watched the signing ceremony reports.

The first headline made Fan Xiaopang beam; Yan Li groaned—these people were determined to kill him:

"Yi'an Holds Grand 'Wedding,' Yan Li 'Weds' Fan Bingbing."

Clicking open, aside from the sensational headline, the report was fairly normal.

It detailed highlights from yesterday's signing ceremony, emphasizing its grandeur and luxury, and subtly praised Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang as a perfectly matched pair—handsome and beautiful, made for each other.

Yan Li couldn't help glancing at Fan Xiaopang—was this her doing, paying for the puff pieces?

Many similar reports existed; some were directly arranged by Yi'an.

They emphasized Yi'an's sincerity, the ceremony's grandeur, and how much Fan Xiaopang was valued.

Terms like "number one on the mainland," "unprecedented," "millions spent," "celebrity treatment…"

In short, a mix of truth and exaggeration, subtly elevating both Fan Xiaopang and Yi'an.

Besides these bought-out media outlets, some reports took a more objective view of the signing.

"Crowning the Crown: Yan Li and Fan Bingbing's Ambitious Alliance."

This article, unusually, ignored the gossip about Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang, analyzing instead how their partnership would benefit each other's careers and their future ambitions.

The answer: mutual gain.

Fan Xiaopang, leveraging Yan Li and Yi'an's resources, would see a major leap in her career; Yan Li, in turn, gained a capable artist who could leverage her star power to boost film projects and the entire company.

But both had flaws: Yan Li lacked sufficient film resources; Fan Xiaopang lacked solid achievements and slightly weak professional skills—compared to the top leading actresses, she was more of a pretty face.

How far they'd go, whether they could truly achieve coronation, remained to be seen.

"I'm not a pretty face—you and your whole family are pretty faces!"

Fan Xiaopang was furious; Yan Li, however, remained calm and actually thought the article was well-analyzed.

He glanced at the byline: Pang Yidian. Yan Li recognized the name—but wasn't he from Southern Metropolis Daily? How did this end up as a blog repost?

Had he gone freelance?

Or been fired?!

He continued reading other articles—everything from random gossip about Fan Xiaopang and guests to outright negative attacks.

Such blatant publicity was bound to stir resentment—Yan Li didn't care, and neither did Fan Xiaopang.

She checked Tieba and Tianya—discussions were lively.

This was just the first wave; the full effect hadn't even begun to ferment—TV broadcasts and Yi'an's follow-up promotion were still coming.

Yan Li had spent over a million just on the ceremony; he didn't care about further publicity costs—he only wanted to maximize the signing's impact.

If he achieved that, the money would be worth it—Fan Xiaopang could earn back dozens of times more in the future.

The more he thought about it, the happier he became; his gaze toward Fan Xiaopang grew especially tender. She blushed, unable to help but pout.

"Why are you staring at me?"

"You remind me of a cat."

"What kind of cat?"

"A lucky cat."

Fan Xiaopang's face darkened; she flipped over and straddled Yan Li: "Let me show you what a tigress really is…"

(End of Chapter)