Chapter 207: Yi

Yi'an Cinema Chain plans to inject 320 million yuan.

China Resources contributes 20 million yuan in cash, ten years of rent-free use of its commercial assets, and multiple resources, holding 22% equity.

Yan Li and his subsidiary Yan Ye Capital plan to invest 150 million yuan; valued at a 1. x multiplier for founder status and partial resources, their combined equity stake reaches 42. %, responsible for company operations and holding strategic decision-making authority.

The remaining investors collectively contribute 150 million yuan, totaling 35. % equity.

As for the employee incentive option pool, future shareholders will relinquish shares proportionally or under other terms.

Of course, this is merely the initial equity allocation for the startup company.

Just 320 million yuan plus some resources absolutely cannot build a cinema chain from scratch.

Further rounds of financing will continuously follow, with different capital sources, investors, or resource providers entering the scene.

Not to mention, Yan Li plans to take Yi'an public and raise funds on the stock market, which will continually alter equity structures.

At present, the 42. % equity stake makes Yan Li the undisputed largest shareholder, and many major investors were brought in by him, aligning with his side.

Roughly calculated, Yan Li can exert high control over approximately 70% of the equity, including China Resources, which now also moves in step with him.

In short, Yi'an Cinema Chain is now Yan Li's personal domain, fully operated and developed under his authority.

Of course, other shareholders still retain their right to be informed; this gathering also served to notify them of upcoming plans beyond just China Resources.

"If we were to build a cinema chain from scratch, obtaining licenses would be a nightmare—not to mention all the qualifications required—but the key issue is time: if we delay two or three years, the market will have completely changed, so I've decided to focus on acquisitions."

"The company has contacted several cinema chains, mostly medium and small ones, each with different scales, advantages, disadvantages, and cooperation models."

Building out the cinema chain is more complex than Yan Li imagined: it requires not only gathering capital but also pulling in giants like China Resources to provide protection, and every other aspect presents serious hurdles, one obstacle after another.

Even with his intelligence system's assistance, Yan Li has hit many walls, but overall progress has been smooth.

Now, after research and contact, Yan Li has selected three cinema chains with potential for cooperation and introduces them one by one.

The first is a regional chain in the southwest, possessing local advantages and great potential but lacking capital, so it seeks investment.

With Yi'an's 320 million yuan combined with its inherent scale advantages, this chain could quickly become the leading force in the southwest and rank among the top nationwide.

But the problem is, this chain may not be willing to give up so much equity; its internal management team has many conflicting ideas, and even after investment, power struggles are inevitable.

The second is a state-owned chain, primarily rooted in the northeast, with an acquisition price estimated at 50 to 80 million yuan.

However, unlike cash purchases, this chain prefers equity exchange: Yi'an need only offer some shares to acquire a sizable cinema chain.

Of course, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

The chain's existing theaters are outdated, out of step with the market, and fail to meet Yi'an's standards, requiring significant investment for renovation.

Additionally, this state-owned chain is willing to sell because of poor management and financial distress, leaving behind debts, accounting irregularities, and unresolved staff and management placements—all of which Yi'an must resolve.

Most critically, Yan Li learned through his system that the chain is entangled with local conflicts and hidden risks.

Yan Li is no novice in business; he knows the waters here run deep.

These days, private enterprises acquiring state-owned firms are common; many only see the windfalls and scream about exploitation, but many others get burned.

Although Yan Li has studied it and believes he can resolve these issues at some cost, such matters are best avoided if possible.

Even without saying it outright, this chain has already been placed by Yan Li as a last-resort backup option.

The third, and Yan Li's most desired target for cooperation, is a small cinema chain.

Strictly speaking, it cannot even be called a chain—it was merely formed during the cinema chain reforms, when several theaters banded together to secure their operational rights.

In Yan Li's view, the only valuable asset here is the license itself.

Acquiring this chain is nearly identical to starting a new one from scratch—just slightly more expensive, requiring payment to convince the few theater owners to hand over the chain's license.

Although it demands substantial upfront investment and makes initial operations more difficult, it avoids many constraints.

But Yan Li is not the only one eyeing this chain.

There are three contenders in total: Yan Li, a regional chain from the Yangtze River Delta, and a foreign investment group.

Yan Li needs no introduction; the Yangtze River Delta chain wants to acquire it.

Currently, cinema chains are categorized as intra-provincial or inter-provincial; although this chain is tiny, due to its unique circumstances, it holds inter-provincial qualifications.

The Yangtze River Delta chain is powerful locally but restricted by its qualifications to operate only within its region, so it seeks expansion through acquisition.

The foreign investment group is a company backed by South Korean and Singaporean capital, intending to join the chain through capital injection.

Yan Li doesn't take the foreign group seriously.

Because national regulations cap foreign ownership in cinema chains at no more than 49%.

Under these conditions, foreigners cannot gain control of the chain; from an investment perspective, they'd naturally target medium or large chains for better returns—this small chain is likely just a casual inquiry with little real interest.

The real rival for Yi'an is the Yangtze River Delta chain.

But it's not that complicated: it's a regional chain with strong local power; Yan Li can't touch them, and they're not powerful enough to come to Beijing and confront Yan Li.

Forget any underhanded tactics—China Resources' equity isn't given for free, and Yan Li isn't without leverage in Beijing.

Then it's just a bidding war: highest bidder wins!

This is precisely why Yan Li gathered these investors today: to make them understand how much effort he's exerted, the pros and cons of each plan, and why he's willing to spend so much to acquire a chain with only a few theaters.

His collaboration with these investors isn't limited to just Yi'an Cinema Chain—he can't take their money and then ignore them.

The work must be clear; the words must be clear.

Especially in such transparent transactions, everything must be spelled out to earn greater trust from investors—so when less transparent matters arise later, there's room to cover them up.

"Boss Yan, if they dare to compete with us, they've got balls made of tiger hide. Let me send a few guys over to scare them."

A coal tycoon with a thick gold chain volunteered this solution, annoyed by the competition.

It's their old tactic: when competing for business, send over a few "big fools."

A truck accidentally crashed into the company gate, a package resembling a homemade bomb was "accidentally" left behind, a toy gun was "somehow" swapped for one that fires real bullets…

Yan Li said sternly: "Brother Mang, I've told you countless times—we run legitimate, lawful businesses. If you keep playing the violent gangster routine, don't blame me for losing face—I'll ask you to exit the equity."

Brother Mang chuckled awkwardly: "Just a joke."

Two other coal tycoons who had dealt with him before looked surprised—when had he become so docile?

"Brother Mang" isn't his real name—it's a nickname; the fact he immediately suggested sending people to cause trouble reveals his true nature.

Everyone in the circle knows he's infamous for his violent temper, yet Yan Li's single sentence shut him down.

Something's up!

Brother Mang sensed the odd glances and stayed silent—he genuinely fears Yan Li.

Many don't know that the two previously clashed; back then, he openly threatened to take care of Yan Li.

But within just two or three days, before he'd even decided how to pick a fight, two young men showed up at his door with a folder.

It contained every residence he owned in Beijing and his hometown, every car he drove, every place he liked to hang out.

Even where his parents lived, where his wives and mistresses resided, where his children—including illegitimate ones—attended school, and partial data on his key subordinates.

Oh, and one sheet listed the names and positions of his three closest protectors.

Then one of the young men said he'd won a 10-million-yuan lottery and didn't want to live anymore.

He wanted Brother Mang to join him in death—asked whether he preferred to die alone or with his whole family, and offered choices: high-speed crash, fire at Red Cliffs, or blade and axe.

Brother Mang caved.

Any coal tycoon who made it to Beijing isn't truly a "Mang"—those are just personas and styles; the genuinely reckless ones are already dead.

Maybe twenty years ago he'd have dared to bluster, but now he has wealth and family—minor disputes aren't worth dying over.

That very night, Brother Mang invited Yan Li to dinner to make peace.

Yan Li showed up as agreed, acting as if he knew nothing, chatting amiably with Brother Mang and even willing to continue cooperating with him—but when the dinner ended, Brother Mang saw with his own eyes that the driver who brought Yan Li was the very young man who'd claimed to win the lottery.

Since then, Brother Mang still cooperates with Yan Li, but never dares to act up in front of him again.

Yan Li cast a brief glance at Brother Mang—among these coal tycoon investors, even after his careful selection, there are still a few loose ends.

After all, accustomed to being arrogant and cutting corners locally, they usually get away with anything—but sometimes, when they lose their temper, their true nature surfaces.

Yan Li can only give them occasional warnings, to make them understand he's no soft target.

Though this approach doesn't quite match Yan Li's usual style, a simple scare keeps the team in line and cooperation smoother—overall, it's worth it.

…

After informing them of the acquisition targets and surplus funding issues, Yan Li briefly outlined his future vision for the cinema chain.

The planned funds will primarily serve two directions.

First, in partnership with China Resources, build three to four large, high-end cinemas in first-tier cities, with each theater costing 35 to 50 million yuan.

In second- and third-tier cities, build eight to ten standard theaters, each costing approximately 15 to 20 million yuan, totaling roughly 100 to 150 screens.

In first-tier cities, partnerships with commercial districts will be the main approach; in second- and third-tier cities, if possible, acquiring owned properties is preferable.

However, owning property consumes significant capital; whether to prioritize accumulating quality assets or capturing market share must be decided once the chain begins operations.

In the short term, Yi'an Cinema Chain will focus on mid-to-high-end markets and first- and second-tier cities.

As for expanding into fourth- and fifth-tier cities, it's still too early—the market hasn't begun to trickle down, and box office revenue from these cities remains extremely low.

Without box office revenue, internal operations and future financing become critically vulnerable.

Being half a step ahead of the market captures the trend; being one or several steps ahead may turn you into cannon fodder.

Entering the cinema chain market in 2006 is somewhat late for Yi'an, but the start isn't bad.

Wanda has only recently entered the market and hasn't yet dominated; China Film and Shanghai United, as state-owned chains, are powerful but rigid in structure and inefficient.

There remains room for Yi'an to rise.

After Yan Li's detailed presentation, the investors were highly satisfied; persuaded by him, they firmly believed China's film market was about to explode.

When that happens, Yi'an Cinema Chain will rise with the tide, growing stronger and larger.

Once listed, their shares will appreciate dozens or even hundreds of times over, bringing them enormous returns.

"Ha ha, cheers."

"First toast to Boss Yan—Boss Yan, you've worked hard."

"Let's all get rich together."

"…"

After the banquet ended, Yu Yanli was half-drunk, supported into the car by Wang Ou. Once the vehicle started moving, Yu Yanli sat up on the backseat, rubbing his eyes.

"They say Shanxi men are good at vinegar, but they're no slouches with liquor either."

Wang Ou knew Yu Yanli's drinking capacity—he wasn't drunk, but he'd had plenty—so he pulled out a thermos he'd prepared.

"I specially mixed honey water for you. Drink up, it'll sober you up."

Yu Yanli took it, sipped a few mouthfuls—the temperature was perfect, likely prepared by Wang Ou just before leaving.

A warmth spread through him; he reached out and wrapped his arm around the other's slender waist: "Missed me these past days?"

Wang Ou nuzzled against him, smiling sweetly: "I miss you every single day."

Then, with a hint of grievance, she added: "But you never call me. When I try to reach you, you ignore me."

Yu Yanli didn't blink: "I've been too busy filming."

"…"

Wang Ou wanted to retort, but held back, playing with Yu Yanli's large hand, and suggested: "It's too late tonight. Let's stay in Shanghai and head back to Hengdian tomorrow."

"... lright."

After a moment's hesitation, Yu Yanli nodded: "I'll take a day off from the set. I'll spend it all with you."

The driver, Wu Maowen, twitched his eyebrow.

If Yu Yanli hadn't told him earlier that they'd be staying overnight in Shanghai and had already booked the hotel, he'd have thought it was all for Wang Ou's sake.

Wang Ou didn't know this was the man's usual trick. Seeing Yu Yanli change his plans just for her, she felt touched and satisfied, and planted a sweet kiss on him.

At the hotel, cautious Yu Yanli went down first to "check in." Ten minutes later, Wang Ou knocked on his room door.

"Shh."

Yu Yanli gestured silently, then signaled, returning to the desk where a laptop sat—apparently in a video call.

"Hotel service."

Yu Yanli replied to the screen, and then Wang Ou heard Qin Lan's voice.

"You went to Shanghai alone?"

"No, I had the driver and assistant with me."

Yu Yanli answered calmly—he still held the position of Wang Ou's personal assistant, so he wasn't lying.

"Just calling isn't enough—you need a video call to check up on me? Don't trust me?"

Yu Yanli turned it around: "Do you even deserve trust?"

"Cough. What got into you today?"

Yu Yanli didn't answer directly, puzzled by Qin Lan's unusual behavior. She'd checked up on him before, but never this aggressively.

"Nothing. That Wang woman isn't on set—did you see her going after you?"

Yu Yanli: "..."

Wang Ou: "..."

This bitch is truly petty—she's hunting her prey!

Qin Lan spoke with righteous indignation: "If she dares challenge me on set, I'll crush her."

Yu Yanli could barely listen: "When has she ever challenged you? She's always avoided you on set."

"Avoided me? She's guilty as sin—she's lusting after my man. I've been gentle with her. Normally, I'd slap her across the face."

Because Qin Lan and Wang Ou were on the same set and had clashed before, she couldn't bear the thought of Wang Ou getting close to her man, so she constantly sabotaged and blocked her.

This was one of Qin Lan's personal principles.

Privately, what Yu Yanli did with others, she pretended not to see. But she absolutely wouldn't tolerate anyone showing up in front of her.

Whether it was The Investiture of the Gods or this Great Qing Palace, anyone sharing a set with her had to stay far away from Yu Yanli.

Sleep with Yu Yanli, then come flaunting it in front of me? No way!

So now, hearing Yu Yanli defend Wang Ou, Qin Lan's temper flared instantly—she made her stance clear.

"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. As long as I'm in Hengdian, that slut won't dare touch you. I'll drive her crazy."

Yu Yanli couldn't help glancing at Wang Ou—she was visibly furious, trembling with rage.

He could understand Qin Lan's logic, but Wang Ou couldn't.

This was too much!

She didn't believe Li Bing from The Legend of Xue Rengui or Fan Xiaopang from The White-Haired Witch were quietly filming without chasing after Yu Yanli.

But Qin Lan dared not provoke those two tough ones—so she picked on her instead.

Even a clay figure has three parts of fire.

Back during The Investiture of the Gods, Wang Ou had already been punished by Qin Lan; in Great Qing Palace, she'd suffered even more. Her resentment had long boiled over. Hearing Qin Lan's outburst now, she finally snapped.

She'd wanted to rush to the laptop and scream at her—but seeing Yu Yanli, she held back.

But today, she had to reclaim her dignity.

Wang Ou's mind raced. Suddenly, her eyes fell on the space beneath the desk—her gaze lit up. She kicked off her high heels, bent down, and crawled underneath.

"..."

Yu Yanli wanted to end the call, but Qin Lan refused—she hadn't seen him in days and wanted to talk more.

Reluctantly, Yu Yanli took a sip of water and kept listening to Qin Lan's rambling. Distracted, he didn't catch everything—something about Hu Siyan trying to recruit people.

"Why recruit so many? Sounds like a gang."

"For mutual support. More people, more fun, we help each other."

Qin Lan wasn't telling the truth—or at least not the whole truth. She'd been convinced by Hu Siyan to form a clique, primarily to counter Fan Xiaopang.

Fan Xiaopang was too powerful; she couldn't fight her alone.

But if she gathered a group of sisters, it'd be different—ants could kill an elephant. A circle of female stars rallying behind Qin Lan would create serious momentum.

Even if they couldn't crush Fan Xiaopang, they'd have leverage—and Wang Ou, Huang Shengyi, and others would be easily crushed.

Hu Siyan had already recommended two candidates to Qin Lan.

One was Xiong Naijin, also from Huayi Artists—she'd known her only briefly, but found her loyal and also owned a Pomeranian.

The other was Zhao Ke, an actress from Great Qing Palace, who had actively sought Qin Lan's favor during filming—worth investigating.

Of course, Qin Lan wasn't foolish. She didn't hand over all personnel decisions to Hu Siyan—she was also considering adding a few herself.

In private, Qin Lan had always been good at making friends. Every drama she filmed, she had a few decent connections—not necessarily close friends, but people she got along with well.

But being friendly didn't mean they were suitable for the sisterhood. Qin Lan planned to think it over.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

As Qin Lan spoke, noticing Yu Yanli's silence, she asked.

Yu Yanli snapped back: "I'm listening. But I warn you—three women make a drama. A whole group of female stars? Daily soap operas. You'll regret it."

"You're exaggerating."

Qin Lan dismissed it, but inside, she hesitated. She'd experienced female rivalry before.

Dorm life in high school, college, early modeling contests, even during The Return of the Pearl Princess 3—she'd witnessed and even participated in it.

Hmm. Maybe I should reconsider.

Qin Lan chatted idly. Wang Ou, seemingly tired, couldn't suppress two coughs.

"..."

Shit!

Yu Yanli broke into a cold sweat, turning to the screen—Qin Lan had clearly heard.

"What was that sound?"

Yu Yanli stayed calm: "QQ notification."

Qin Lan nodded, but something felt off. She stared closely at the screen.

"You bastard, pervert, you fucking—"

The call ended. Yu Yanli rubbed his temples. Qin Lan was usually so mild-mannered—this outburst meant things had gone too far.

He knew he couldn't dodge blame. If he hadn't agreed, Wang Ou wouldn't have dared force him.

But Wang Ou bore responsibility too—he had to settle this with her...

…

By dawn, exhausted Wang Ou had fallen into a deep sleep.

Refreshed, Yu Yanli sat on the room's sofa, smoking, scrolling through today's daily intelligence report.

The first item was Qin Lan—she'd truly lost it, cursed him for hours, and now couldn't sleep from anger.

He'd have to return to Hengdian separately from Wang Ou; otherwise, Qin Lan would find out it was her and go full war mode.

He skipped the second and third items. The fourth, about Yi'an Cinemas, snapped him to attention.

The cinema chain in the Yangtze River Delta had moved. They'd hired an intermediary and offered a price higher than he'd expected.

But it was meaningless now.

Every move and strategy they made was transparent to him—how could they compete? It was only a matter of cost.

Yu Yanli calculated: it was December now. The Spring Festival would be near the end of January—less than two months.

Time was sufficient. If things went smoothly, the acquisition would be complete after the Spring Festival.

Add in preparations, rebranding, and financing—by March or April next year, Yi'an Cinemas would officially appear.

In 2006, Yi'an would focus on renovating theaters and building teams. The theater scale would debut by late 2006, but the full cinema network wouldn't be operational until 2007.

In Yan Li's view, 2007 to 2008 would be a critical turning point for Yi'an and his personal development.

The 150 million yuan Yi'an had invested earlier was not all the capital Yan Li possessed.

From 2006 to 2007 was a bull market; he planned to keep substantial funds in the stock market to continue building his cash flow.

When the financial crisis hit, many theater chains or their underlying capital suffered severe damage.

By then, Yi'an's funds were likely exhausted, so Yan Li smoothly pushed for capital increase and share expansion, channeling his stock market capital into Yi'an Theater Chain.

This way, he not only achieved internal integration and secured more equity, but could also buy up struggling theater chains and cinemas at bargain prices.

If Yi'an Theater Chain followed its normal trajectory, catching up to the top tier would take considerable time.

But if he leveraged this rare "opportunity" from 2007 to 2008, development time would be drastically shortened, even propelling it into the top ranks.

It wasn't just theater chains—the financial crisis had massive repercussions; if Yan Li had enough money, he could accomplish many things.

The ember of the cigarette flickered faintly, then was crushed out by Yan Li's hand.

Resist greed!

Taking a little grease is fine, but taking too much invites hatred—especially when others bleed while you profit hugely. Hmm, human nature is unpredictable.

The next day, Yan Li stayed in Shanghai, directing his team to handle the Yangtze River Delta theater chain, while Wang Ou returned ahead to Hengdian.

Yang Rong, who had no scenes that day, stormed straight into Wang Ou's room upon hearing she was back.

"Does Qin Lan know you went to see General Yan?"

Wang Ou was startled: "What do you mean?"

Yang Rong frowned: "Today she seemed in terrible spirits, not smiling once. She barely spoke to anyone except during filming—even Hu Siyan was ignored."

"… "

Wang Ou grew nervous, grabbing Yang Rong: "You didn't blab about where I went yesterday, did you?"

"Of course not."

Yang Rong assured her she had a tight mouth; Wang Ou exhaled in relief: "Good. Don't tell anyone. If anyone asks, say you were shooting an ad."

"What happened?"

Yang Rong couldn't resist probing. Wang Ou shook her head stubbornly, refusing to speak. The more she refused, the more curious Yang Rong became—until she started tickling Wang Ou, torturing her into confession.

Normally, the two playfully wrestled, and taller Wang Ou usually had the upper hand. But yesterday's exertions left her legs weak, and she was overpowered by Yang Rong.

"Will you talk or not?"

Wang Ou turned her face away, clamping her lips shut. She could do it, but she absolutely wouldn't say it.

Yang Rong resumed tickling her. Wang Ou begged for mercy but still refused to speak.

This only intensified Yang Rong's burning curiosity, yet she couldn't truly harm Wang Ou. She pondered deeply.

"I'll trade you a secret."

Wang Ou ignored her. Yang Rong coaxed: "It's about General Yan."

"… "

Wang Ou opened her eyes: "Tell me what the secret is first."

Yang Rong hesitated: "I'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone. This is a secret I planned to take to my grave—if it leaks, trouble will follow."

Wang Ou's interest was now genuine: "If it's about General Yan, I'll keep it secret. Besides, you've got my secret too—we're even."

Yang Rong thought this made sense, leaned close to Wang Ou's ear, and whispered a few words.

"That old hag!"

Wang Ou gritted her teeth, then gave Yang Rong a strange look.

"You just stood there and listened?"

"What else could I do?"

Yang Rong rolled her eyes. She'd kept this secret locked inside, afraid to tell anyone—it had been suffocating. Now that she'd shared it with Wang Ou, her mood lifted.

"Your turn, your turn. I treat you like my closest sister—don't lie to me."

Yang Rong warned Wang Ou not to cheat. Wang Ou had planned to brush her off, but then remembered how Yang Rong had stood by her despite Qin Lan's pressure, helped strategize, and treated her as family.

Even now, she'd revealed that deadly secret—had Yan Li or Li Bing found out, Yang Rong would be in deep trouble.

After a moment's silence, Wang Ou clenched her teeth and told the truth. Yang Rong listened, stunned, staring at Wang Ou with a complex expression.

"No wonder that Hu woman called you 'Seductive Chick.'"

"Hey, which side are you on?"

Wang Ou panicked. She'd told Yang Rong that nickname to complain about Qin Lan and Hu Siyan bullying her—not to have Yang Rong join in mocking her.

"Sorry, sorry—I just blurted it out."

Yang Rong kept glancing at Wang Ou's mouth, making the latter feel uneasy.

"What?"

Yang Rong looked torn, unable to resist gossiping: "Is it really that big?"

She had some idea of Yan Li's stamina and duration, but had never seen it firsthand—she doubted Wang Ou's description.

Since she'd already revealed that, Wang Ou let go completely and gestured a rough estimate. Yang Rong tried to imagine it, but still couldn't picture it.

Seeing this, Wang Ou pulled out her phone, fiddled for a while, and produced several photos.

Yang Rong gasped: "Are you crazy? Taking pictures like this?"

"Just for keepsakes—no faces shown. I'm good to you, only you've ever seen them."

Today, Wang Ou had truly opened up, revealing many secrets to Yang Rong.

Yang Rong took the phone, flipped through the photos, and finally gained a rough impression. She sighed and patted Wang Ou.

"You've suffered."

"Suffered?"

Wang Ou blinked, scoffing at Yang Rong's naivety. Some people truly suffered because they couldn't even get this "suffering."

"Give me the phone."

"Wait, let me look again."

Yang Rong studied the photos carefully, completely unaware of Wang Ou's increasingly strange gaze. When she finally returned the phone, Wang Ou blurted out:

"If you're curious, I'll take you to try it."

Yang Rong choked, nearly suffocating, and shoved Wang Ou: "You're the one acting out—don't drag me into it."

"Pfft, your eyes were practically falling in—still calling me the one acting out."

Wang Ou hugged Yang Rong, smirking: "Be honest—after you heard that in the dressing room, did you ever feel anything stir inside?"

She knew Yan Li's prowess—even under special circumstances, with little noise, and just listening—it wasn't something an ordinary woman could handle.

Yang Rong blushed crimson, stammering: "I was terrified then—how could I think about anything else?"

"Really? I don't believe you."

Wang Ou stared at Yang Rong, waiting until the other was nearly flustered—then suddenly smiled.

"There's no shame in it. If you want to hear, I'll tell you how I got together with General Yan."

"Who cares to hear?"

Yang Rong complained aloud, yet her feet didn't move. She didn't even notice her eyes had subtly brightened.

…

Another hotel room

Hu Siyan entered, glanced cautiously at Qin Lan's gloomy aura, and reported what she'd learned.

"Sis, Wang Ou's back. Her assistant says she was shooting an ad."

The murderous glint in Qin Lan's eyes dimmed slightly: "She's lucky."

Seeing Qin Lan's rage, Hu Siyan couldn't help but advise: "Sis, calm down. Men are like this—unfaithful unless tied to the wall."

She didn't know the full situation, assuming Qin Lan was angry about Yan Li's infidelity, and thought Qin Lan was overreacting.

Everyone knew men cheated all the time—why react so strongly?

Qin Lan said nothing. This matter was too humiliating and touched on Yan Li's reputation—she couldn't tell Hu Siyan.

She wasn't angry about Yan Li cheating—she was angry he disrespected her.

You like thrills, do you?

Wait. She'd make that bastard know what true thrills really meant…

————

PS: Added yesterday's missing thousand characters

(End of Chapter)