Chapter 209: The Strongest Ad on A-Share, Spring Festival Bloodbath

【Is Yan Li's claim of a net worth over 180 million yuan a publicity stunt or true?】

This is a hot post just posted on Tianya; not just Tianya, but also Douban, blogs, and BBS forums have similar discussions, with supporters and opponents arguing fiercely.

【Of course it's true—haven't you seen the news? He directed "Happy Seven Fairies" and "Sword of Light," and "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" sold for tens of millions; his net worth is definitely more than 180 million.】

【You don't know shit—he's just one of the investors, gets a small cut, and after deducting costs, how much actually lands in his hands?】

【That's right, this guy's a publicity king; he's probably riding the wave—"The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" is about to air, isn't it?】

【Idiot, check the internet before you speak—Yan Li started with stock trading, and now it's a bull market; his net worth must have skyrocketed.】

【Exactly, these people are just jealous and refuse to admit Yan Li is better than you.】

【Even if Yan Li is just hyping himself, 180 million was confirmed by Forbes—25 years old with a net worth of 180 million—isn't that a business prodigy?】

【Even if he has 18 billion, has he given you a single cent? Suck-up.】

【Envious dogs, reeking of sourness—so tough online, but do you even have 180, 00 yuan in your bankbook?】

【You're overestimating him—he might not even have 18 yuan left for his internet bill.】

【...】

Online, debates rage on, everyone holding different views.

There are many claims about Yan Li's net worth, but it's generally accepted that he is unquestionably a billionaire.

This is completely different from the public opinion half a year ago, when Yan Li himself admitted his net worth exceeded 100 million.

Back then, the so-called "king of film sales" wasn't yet widely known, and hits like "Sword of Light" hadn't aired; due to the Li Bing hype, a significant portion of people believed he was just marketing.

But throughout the second half of the year, various events continuously validated Yan Li's strength and financial power.

Forbes, a relatively authoritative source, personally confirmed his 180 million net worth, definitively cementing his wealth.

Even those who dislike Yan Li, except for extreme haters, have no choice but to accept this fact.

They've shifted to criticizing him—claiming he got rich through dumb luck or cheap tricks, or that he's acting arrogant with his money and will eventually crash.

Yan Li's supporters, meanwhile, have begun hyping his net worth based on his own statements.

The more conservative estimate is 300 million; fans put it above 500 million.

The most extreme, delusional fans or those with no concept of money have already estimated his net worth in the billions.

Hu Run, president of the Hurun Rich List, also jumped on the trend, taking the opportunity to knock Forbes.

The 2005 Hurun Rich List was released earlier than Forbes's.

But Hurun publishes the top 100 billionaires in mainland China, while Forbes lists 400, and their data often differ significantly.

For example, Hurun's top billionaire is Huang from Guomei, who ranks fourth on Forbes; Forbes's top billionaire Rong ranks sixth on Hurun's list.

Only five people appear in the top ten of both lists: Zhongxin Rong, Guomei Huang, NetEase Ding, Shengda Chen, and the less famous Hesheng Zhu.

Both lists want to prove they're more authoritative and accurate; since someone questioned Forbes, Hu Run naturally offered help.

At a business event, Hu Run stated they had also investigated and assessed Yan Li's assets, concluding that Yan Li's claims were truthful.

"... ccording to some sources, this Mr. Yan has assembled a dedicated securities team that has consistently achieved success in the stock market and has invested in several internet companies, including the currently popular Tudou. om..."

Yan Li's investments couldn't possibly be hidden from everyone, especially a well-connected financial information company like Hu Run.

That's their business—the rankings may not be perfectly accurate, but they're not baseless; they have many information channels.

As for stock trading, Yan Li has never hidden it—otherwise, he couldn't explain his funding sources.

Everyone knows he's obsessed with stocks; many things can be attributed to the market—he can make money, hide money, go from poor to rich, and retreat or advance as needed.

As for Tudou. om, Yan Li never intended to hide it; he even wanted to strengthen ties, increase his influence, and build a reputation as an "investment master," which benefits his future business moves.

Including the cinema chain, Yan Li had deliberately kept a low profile for various reasons.

But now the cinema chain is negotiating acquisitions and will soon appear publicly—there's no point hiding anymore; media exposure might even help him ride the momentum.

However, because the cinema company operates quietly, its core executives and investors are few and haven't disclosed anything publicly.

So Hu Run couldn't get specific details and, fearing exposure, vaguely brushed it off with "also has other arrangements in the film industry."

Of course, the cinema chain isn't the point—the public doesn't care about Yan Li's investments; they only care about how much money he has.

Hu Run understood this perfectly; after his rant, he gave an estimate of 300 to 350 million—nearly double Forbes's figure.

Someone went to ask Yan Li again, but this time he didn't respond.

Combined with Yan Li's previous complaints about Forbes's low valuation, many believe Hu Run's estimate is close to Yan Li's true net worth, or perhaps Yan Li realized he was too showy and decided to stay silent.

Doesn't seem particularly high—at least, the bottom 400 on Forbes's list all start at 500 million.

But to say it's low? Few have the right to say that.

In 2006, a net worth of 3 million yuan already qualifies as "rich"; many families, even after selling their homes and land, can't scrape together 300, 00 yuan, since 30, 00 yuan has changed many people's life trajectories.

Add the prefixes "working-class family," "25 years old," and "three years of entrepreneurship," and it becomes somewhat legendary.

The famous business interview program "Wealth Life," which has interviewed numerous business titans, timely aired its interview with Yan Li, recorded in Hengdian.

【...】

In a certain residential community in Jiangsu Province

He Ming carried his laptop out of his bedroom and called his roommates and partners to watch Yan Li's "Wealth Life" interview.

As a recent graduate leading a small startup team, He Ming loved watching interviews with successful tycoons to learn and motivate himself.

Later, he didn't just watch alone—he dragged his partners along, calling it "boosting morale and building team cohesion."

He Ming had been looking forward to this episode of Yan Li's interview since he saw the preview.

Although Yan Li's net worth and achievements don't match those titans, he's the same age and started from nothing—far more relatable to young people like them.

Today's Yan Li is tomorrow's them—pure adrenaline!

At He Ming's call, his two other roommates, Lü Dongliang and Shi Jing, stepped out of their rooms; the former brought his girlfriend, Zhang Xue.

They placed the laptop on the living room coffee table, arranged themselves, and He Ming clicked play.

Since it was filmed on location, the setting was a reception room in a Hengdian hotel; Yan Li sat facing the "Wealth Life" host, Lai Dandan.

"He's pretty handsome."

Zhang Xue, watching Yan Li on screen, couldn't help sighing.

Because he was filming, he wore a hairpiece and had cut his hair short; his face was handsome, features well-proportioned, dressed in a black casual suit, sitting casually on the sofa, yet every movement revealed a strong, upright physique.

Zhang Xue had previously watched several episodes of "Wealth Life" and other interviews with her boyfriend.

Purely on appearance, Yan Li was among the top-tier businessmen.

His aura was excellent too—neither lacking the confidence and composure of a business elite nor the youthful vigor.

Zhang Xue had seen Yan Li's dramas, including "Sword of Light," "Happy Seven Fairies," "Emperor Wu of Han," and "Conquest."

His characters each had distinct traits, but seeing him in person now, she realized Yan Li himself was more charismatic than almost all his roles.

"Pfft, just looks good."

Lü Dongliang, seeing his girlfriend's eyes sparkle, felt a twinge of jealousy; Shi Jing patted his shoulder.

Don't talk nonsense—you'll only embarrass yourself.

In the program, after a brief introduction of Yan Li's identity and achievements and the host's opening remarks, the interview began.

After a few simple pleasantries, host Lai Dandan asked the first question.

"Many people are curious about your first million—some media report you earned it through stock trading?"

"Sort of."

Yan Li didn't deny it but added: "Strictly speaking, before I traded stocks, my acting fees and scattered other earnings were my first income, which I used as capital to profit in the stock market."

The host asked: "What was your initial capital for stock trading?"

"Probably a few thousand yuan, maybe over ten thousand—I didn't invest it all at once, added gradually, so I don't remember exactly."

Host: "What year was that?"

"Late 2002—I'd just graduated, had no roles lined up, was barely making ends meet, so I thought I'd try stock trading to earn some extra cash."

Pfft—

Lü Dongliang couldn't help spitting out his water; Shi Jing beside him looked utterly exasperated.

"So you 'supplemented the household' and became a billionaire?"

He Ming, however, was ecstatic: "Three years after graduation, net worth in the hundreds of millions—so legendary, so awesome."

As a woman, Zhang Xue noticed something subtle; her inner gossip flame burned fiercely.

"Household" instead of "living expenses" implies he wasn't living alone back then—he likely had a girlfriend cohabiting, so it was family expenses.

At that time, Yan Li didn't know Fan Xiaopang or Li Bingbing—so it must've been one of his two ex-girlfriends.

Dong Xuan or Huang Shengyi?

The group discussed and speculated, while the interview shifted to the next topic.

Host: "We know you studied acting and started as an actor—why are you now focused on business?"

"Because acting doesn't make as much money as running a business."

Yan Li made a half-joke, then added: "Money is certainly a major factor, but my personality and certain abilities also pushed me in this direction."

Host: "Can you elaborate?"

"Well, I'm naturally more dominant, but acting often puts you in a passive position—I'm not used to that passivity, so I wanted to change, and gradually moved behind the scenes."

"Also, in terms of ability, I feel I have more talent for business than for acting."

"I'm a practical person—I choose whichever is more advantageous."

Host: "Then, from your heart, do you prefer business and entrepreneurship, or acting and filming?"

Yan Li paused briefly: "The latter—I feel more relaxed, less complicated."

Host: "So can I understand this way: acting is your ideal career, business is your practical choice?"

Yan Li nodded: "It's a bit exaggerated, but you could say that."

The host finally revealed his intent, asking the key question: "So does this choice now represent reality defeating ideal?"

"Not at all—I'm still acting."

Yan Li denied it, then added: "You're only forced to choose when you have no options. I've worked hard to keep room for choice—and of course…"

He extended a hand, gripped it tightly, his gaze confident yet tinged with arrogance.

"I want it all!"

Kids make choices. Adults want it all!

This was a "golden line" Yan Li had seen in intelligence reports—a phrase he deeply agreed with—and now he'd tweaked it slightly for use.

The line resonated with He Ming, Lü Dongliang, and others.

Exactly! Who says ideal and reality can't coexist? It's just that some people can achieve it, others can't.

He Ming imitated Yan Li's earlier gesture—hand outstretched, fist clenched—trying to capture that triumphant, all-conquering posture.

But his demeanor couldn't match it; it was like Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi, drawing laughter from Shi Jing and others.

Zhang Xue stuck to her gossip: "If you want both ideal and reality, then… girlfriends—does he think the same about them?"

Thinking this way, his double-dealing with Li Bingbing, his lingering ties with ex-girlfriend Dong Xuan, and his flirtations with other actresses suddenly made perfect sense.

This bastard is a glutton who eats from the bowl while eyeing the pot!

Zhang Xue eagerly anticipated the host asking this question—but unfortunately, "Wealth Life" was a high-end financial interview show, not one obsessed with gossip.

The later questions leaned more toward Yan Li's personal thoughts, character, and his views on enterprise operations and industry judgments.

Yan Li didn't hold back—he firmly expressed his confidence in China's entertainment industry.

He also briefly touched on one of today's key commercial trends: the internet.

Recognizing the internet as a trend wasn't new—it was already common knowledge among the public.

But Yan Li viewed the internet from the perspective of an entertainment company boss, firmly believing that the future of entertainment would involve deep, continuous integration with the internet, triggering a major transformation across the entire industry.

Later parts of the interview grew a bit dull, but all four still watched intently—especially He Ming, who later pulled out a notebook to take notes.

Lü Dongliang looked at Shi Jing: "Do you think what he said makes sense?"

He Ming, already veering toward Yan Li's fanboy mode, immediately replied: "What's his net worth and status? He sees further than we ever could."

"Exactly! Yan Li's right."

Zhang Xue also voted in agreement: "Nowadays, many young people watch TV dramas, movies, and listen to music online. As the internet improves, this trend will only grow stronger."

"Arcade games killed the arcade halls; DVDs killed the video rental shops; MP3s and Walkmans killed cassette players… Fail to keep up with the times, and you get eliminated."

Shi Jing was more level-headed—the group's de facto strategist. He saw the bigger picture.

"Yan Li is young, which means his future is promising—and it also means he understands and is more familiar with new things. That might be his greatest advantage."

He Ming, ever the adrenaline junkie, seized the moment: "That's our advantage too. The old guard is stuck in their ways—how can they match our youth, flexibility, and open-mindedness?"

This remark received universal approval.

Among them, Shi Jing was smart, Lü Dongliang had technical skill, Zhang Xue was meticulous—but it was the loud, impulsive He Ming who led them, because he had passion.

For a startup team, passion is indispensable.

Many companies succeed not because they have more advantages than competitors, but because they have that extra spark.

Of course, He Ming's family wealth was also a crucial reason—he was the team's largest shareholder.

At this point, the episode of "Wealth Life" neared its end. The host posed the final, predictable question:

"Many young people see you as an idol. What success advice would you give them?"

Yan Li shook his head: "Everyone's success is hard to replicate. My so-called secrets might be useless—or even a burden—to someone else. If I must share something, let me offer you a poem."

"Which poem?"

"There will come a time when the wind breaks the waves—I'll hoist my sail and cross the sea!"

Clap, clap~

He Ming applauded enthusiastically, already planning to change his QQ signature to this line. Lü Dongliang rolled his eyes.

This poem was written by Li Bai—now it sounded like Yan Li's original creation…

Even so, Lü Dongliang found himself wondering: Should he memorize a few poems too?

If he ever succeeded one day and got interviewed, he could drop a line like that—and instantly raise his prestige.

…

"Wealth Life" wasn't a wildly popular show—it had its own niche audience—but this episode, thanks to Yan Li, had made waves.

Yan Li had done many interviews before, mostly as an actor or producer, and they were primarily entertainment news.

This was his first time appearing on a high-end personal interview show centered on business and wealth.

After broadcast, many curious people gained fresh or deeper insight into him.

【I always thought Yan Li was arrogant, but after watching the interview, he doesn't seem that overbearing.】

【I never thought Yan Li was arrogant—I think he's just confident and proud. His few "arrogant remarks" seem more like PR stunts or media manipulation to grab attention.】

【Are we watching the same show? He turned a subsidy job into billions—isn't that arrogance?】

【I don't call it arrogance—it's Baqi. That 'I want it all' Baqi.】

【Fucking show-off. I can't stand him—I'd punch him in the face.】

【He's got the guts to show off—he's trained in martial arts. Who's gonna punch whom?】

【I'm not joking—can Chairman Yan recommend some stocks?】

【Strongest A-share ad ever—damn, the whole market went up!】

【Hmm, it did rise more than yesterday. Could this be why?】

【This bastard is so hot—my girlfriend used to Ma him for being a player, now she's switched sides.】

【Money gives courage. Confidence. Presence. And he's good-looking to boot—how could he not be hot?】

【No wonder he landed Li Bingbing—Bingbing, my Bingbing.】

【Cavalry Yan, charge!!】

【Damn, guy upstairs is a genius.】

【…】

Online buzz and concentrated media coverage had propelled Yan Li into the spotlight.

His personal Baidu Tieba followers and blog traffic surged rapidly. A promotional video he shot for Tudou. om broke 100, 00 views in a short time.

Even Hong Kong, Taiwan, and select Asian media picked up and reported on Yan Li's news.

Rumors spread that a Hong Kong film company planned to adapt his story into a movie, tentatively titled "Entertainment Young Master," reportedly aiming to cast Xie Tingfeng and Chen Guanxi.

The rumor sparked endless mockery.

This guy is an actor himself—why hire another actor to play him? That's like taking off your pants to fart.

Even Yan Li himself was speechless. He was only twenty-five—already getting a biopic made? What if he went bankrupt in two years?

Hmm, knowing these people, they'd probably hope he went bankrupt—just so they could make a sequel…

————

Aside from the "Wealth Life" interview, Yan Li ignored all other media.

A little self-promotion for business was fine; fame brought benefits—but excess was harmful. Constantly seeking the spotlight did more harm than good.

These days, Yan Li's entourage had noticeably grown. Besides his hometown brothers, he'd added two carefully selected retired soldiers.

He called home: temporarily shut down the restaurant, and sent his cousin Yan Xin with a few others to guard the place.

With his intelligence system in place, Yan Li wasn't truly afraid of gangs targeting him.

But better safe than sorry—what if someone acted on a sudden impulse?

Spring Festival was coming. Many people were short on cash and desperate. Better to be cautious.

Due to safety concerns and the recent high profile, many were watching him. Yan Li even stayed unusually quiet for a while.

He spent his days only on set and work, rarely wandering off, behaving properly on set.

His quietness upset the women.

Beyond their dissatisfaction over reduced "benefits," the key issue was their prisoner's dilemma—they didn't believe Yan Li was being honest; they suspected another woman had sabotaged them.

Especially Li Bingbing, who shared the same set as Yan Li, became the prime suspect.

But Li Bingbing was innocent.

Because Yan Li stayed put, filming "The Legend of Xue Rengui," she was indeed the one with the best opportunity.

But bad luck struck: her sister Li Xue, unwilling to let her spend the New Year alone on set, came to keep her company.

With her sister glued to her side, Li Bingbing had no chance to meet Yan Li alone.

Yan Li sensed their suspicions but didn't care much.

With the Spring Festival approaching, the theater acquisition project had made major progress—he'd been focused on that, leaving all set holiday arrangements to his subordinates.

Only when he received the set's New Year plan the day before New Year's Eve did he suddenly realize something was wrong.

The sets for "The White-Haired Witch," "The Legend of Xue Rengui," and "The Great Qing Imperial Harem" were all planning to celebrate together.

From the production teams' perspective, this made perfect sense.

All three were under Yian's control, constantly sharing resources, teams, and personnel.

For this New Year, each set contributed part of its budget—more money meant a bigger, livelier celebration.

But for Yan Li, it was a headache.

If all three sets celebrated together, those women would inevitably collide.

Yan Li asked if the plan could be changed—but venues and banquets were nearly finalized. With so many people involved and the holiday looming, changing plans was extremely complicated.

「………」

Yan Li had no choice—he arranged the banquet tables farther apart and kept himself out of sight. It was the New Year; a fight was unlikely.

Soon it was New Year's Eve. All three film crews were off, and as evening approached, people began arriving at the hotel where the reunion dinner was held.

The hotel provided not only the New Year's feast but also entertainment activities, so it wasn't boring at all.

Wang Ou arrived early, hoping to secure a good spot before the others showed up.

But when she got there, she found Yan Li wasn't present—he'd apparently been called away on urgent work.

Yang Rong, who came with her, muttered under her breath: "Is he really working, or just avoiding trouble?"

Wang Ou thought it was the former—if Yan Li were truly afraid of this, he wouldn't have organized a joint New Year for three crews.

"Still, keep your distance later. Don't stir up trouble."

She warned Yang Rong, who looked at her strangely: "What's this got to do with me? I'm not connected to Boss Yan."

Wang Ou wrapped an arm around Yang Rong and chuckled: "You're not connected to Boss Yan, but everyone knows you're mine. Watch out—you get singled out, you'll get dealt with."

Yang Rong sighed: "I've boarded the wrong ship."

"Not for free—I'll take you on a wild ride later."

Wang Ou winked suggestively at Yang Rong, making her kick her in response.

Since they'd shared secrets last time, Wang Ou and Yang Rong's relationship had grown even closer.

After sensing Yang Rong's quiet exterior hiding a secretly mischievous soul, Wang Ou couldn't resist teasing her, talking about how they were besties who shared everything.

Yang Rong was embarrassed and firmly refused—but never truly broke ties, even secretly enjoying it a little.

As they talked, Wang Ou heard someone call her name. She turned and saw Wu Jiani—she waved her over immediately.

Wu Jiani hugged Wang Ou affectionately, then couldn't help sizing up Yang Rong.

In previous projects like "Fengshenbang" and "Detective Di Renjie," she'd been closer to Wang Ou, even forming a quiet alliance.

But now, with Wang Ou filming "Great Qing Imperial Harem," Yang Rong had suddenly emerged, and their bond had skyrocketed—Wu Jiani, once Wang Ou's closest friend, now felt like an outsider.

This gave Wu Jiani a sense of crisis!

Was Wang Ou thinking of switching… partners? If Wang Ou abandoned her and allied with Yang Rong, she'd be fighting alone—and life would get harder.

Yang Rong faintly sensed Wu Jiani's hostility but paid it no mind.

Wang Ou now talked to her about everything. Wu Jiani's situation hadn't been spelled out, but hinted at—and Yang Rong had guessed Wang Ou's thoughts too.

Yang Rong didn't want to judge either side, but she was absolutely not getting involved.

Sure, she chatted happily with Wang Ou, but mostly for the thrill, to satisfy her curiosity. She might fantasize, but didn't dare act—and even if she acted, she wouldn't do it together.

Wang Ou didn't notice the undercurrents between them. She was close to Yang Rong, but no less so with Wu Jiani.

Who said you could only have one best friend? Maybe she'd caught Yan Li's habit—she liked having both arms full.

Under her guidance, Wu and Yang, who had previously interacted, each let go of their suspicions and chatted quite well.

All three had trained in dance since childhood: Wu Jiani had entered the Beijing Dance Academy, Yang Rong had gone to Shanghai Theatre Academy, and Wang Ou's path was more complex—she danced first, then modeled, and finally became an actress.

But regardless, they were all dance-trained, and now all actresses—they still had plenty in common.

As they chatted, Yang Rong suddenly tugged Wang Ou's sleeve. All three turned—and saw Qin Lan and Hu Siyan each carrying a dog inside.

"Let's go."

Wang Ou instantly decided—the three hurried off. On the other side, Hu Siyan, who'd also spotted Wang Ou and the others, warned Qin Lan.

"Sis, is that slut here too?"

Qin Lan gently stroked her dog: "Ignore her. Today's opponent isn't her."

Hu Siyan nodded, then hesitated and asked curiously: "Sis, you brought the dog—don't tell me you're planning to set it on them?"

Qin Lan: "…"

She'd raised a Teddy too long—it had gone dumb. She was overestimating these two little things. One kick would kill them. She might as well bite them herself.

As they spoke, Hu Siyan whispered: "Fan's here."

Qin Lan turned—Fan Xiaopang had arrived with Li Lin, who carried a child and walked ahead, while Fan stood nearby on the phone.

Hu Siyan stirred with excitement: "Sis, go say hi."

Qin Lan stayed silent. Hu Siyan understood and stepped forward to greet Li Lin.

Both had appeared in "The Seven Fairies," their relationship wasn't close, but neither were they enemies.

Compared to Dong Xuan's group and Shuang Bing, Li Lin was the only one among the Seven Fairies who'd treated Hu Siyan slightly better.

Li Lin held her child, glanced at Qin Lan, nodded slightly, then turned to chat with Hu Siyan.

At that moment, Fan Xiaopang finished his call and walked over. Seeing the scene, he raised an eyebrow.

"What's this? Blocking the path?"

Hu Siyan frowned: "Can you speak properly? I'm just catching up with Li Lin—why are you interfering?"

"Oh?"

Fan Xiaopang's eyes flickered with amusement: "Now that you've climbed onto someone's thigh, you've got guts to talk back to me?"

Hu Siyan couldn't stand Fan Xiaopang's condescending attitude—what was she pretending? Didn't she dig under Dong Xuan's bed too?

If she were alone, she wouldn't dare challenge Fan Xiaopang—but now with Qin Lan backing her, Hu Siyan's courage swelled.

"This place isn't yours alone—I can do whatever I want."

"Impressive."

Fan Xiaopang sneered, eyes sharp as blades: "You think having someone protect you means I can't touch you?"

Hu Siyan faltered under Fan Xiaopang's aura, growing uneasy—then Qin Lan walked over, holding the dog, voice calm.

"Try touching her once."

Hu Siyan felt like she'd been pardoned, stepping behind Qin Lan. Fan Xiaopang scoffed.

"Worthless."

Qin Lan frowned: "Watch your mouth."

"You're defending her now?"

Fan Xiaopang rolled her eyes: "You're hanging out with every trash now—no brains at all."

Qin Lan's temper flared: "Who are you calling brainless?"

"I'm talking about you—what of it?"

Fan Xiaopang didn't back down: "Still think you're in 'Fengshenbang'? Let me tell you—times have changed. Don't act tough with me."

"Got yourself a signing ceremony and think you're Mrs. Yi'an now?"

Qin Lan had once crushed Fan Xiaopang—she held psychological advantage: "Let me tell you—fox spirit is still a fox spirit. As long as I'm here, you'll never rise to the surface."

Fan Xiaopang glared, then suddenly smiled brightly: "Think hard—who's really not on the stage?"

"…"

Qin Lan's face changed slightly. Fan Xiaopang sensed her strike had landed and pressed harder.

"So what if I'm a fox spirit? Didn't Empress Jiang get played to death by Daji? Life is drama, drama is life."

"You, me, everyone—everyone outside knows I'm Yan Li's official girlfriend."

"Be quiet and behave. I'll pretend not to see. But if you push your luck, I'll kill you in the drama—and outside, I'll make you vanish."

"…"

Qin Lan was publicly humiliated, struck right at her wound—she trembled with rage, the dog in her arms nearly thrown at Fan Xiaopang's face.

Fan Xiaopang gloated, but stayed alert, ready to defend herself.

But before Qin Lan could speak, Li Bing and Li Xue, who had quietly approached, clapped softly.

Li Bing sighed: "A crow has taken over the magpie's nest—and still has the nerve to be shameless. How can someone be this shameless?"

Li Xue chimed in: "In our Northeast hometown, people like this get drowned."

Qin Lan didn't understand why the Li sisters were helping her, but she joined in immediately: "Before drowning them, strip them naked and parade them around town."

"Neighbors help neighbors."

Fan Xiaopang, facing three at once, wasn't fazed. First she lashed out at the Li sisters: "Don't play the saint—you two old hags, you don't even belong in this nest."

Then she turned on Qin Lan: "You say I'm brainless? You don't even realize your own allies will sell you and help count the money."

"I'd rather be sold—first I'll kill this shameless bitch."

Qin Lan shot back—but as she spoke, she unconsciously stepped away from the Li sisters.

It wasn't that Fan Xiaopang's words had worked—she'd always been wary of Li Bing.

Especially lately, Li Bing's behavior—she hadn't even joined Fan Xiaopang's attack was already giving face to the Li sisters' earlier support.

Li Xue was displeased by Qin Lan's betrayal: "Ungrateful. No wonder you're being pushed out."

Qin Lan had given face to the Li sisters earlier—but never considered them allies. She retorted immediately:

"Gratitude? What gratitude? You two forgot—the old hometown rule says not just her gets drowned and paraded."

Li Bing narrowed her eyes, cold: "Who the hell are you?"

"Deserved."

Fan Xiaopang, enjoying the show, mocked the Li sisters: "You kissed cold ass, didn't you? They don't even look at you."

"You're not the same girl who used to call me 'sister.' And Shuang Bing—without my sister, would you even be here today?"

Li Xue fired back. Fan Xiaopang didn't hold back: "I treated you as sisters—what did you treat me as? Don't think I don't know what happened with 'The Mobile Phone,' or that those smear articles—didn't you two have a hand in them?"

"I took advantage of you, sure—but you got plenty too. We're not fools. Don't use that to pressure me."

Qin Lan sneered: "Sounds noble—but you still leaned on their power."

"What's it to you?"

Fan Xiaopang was utterly blunt with Qin Lan, and Li Bingbing also harbored resentment over Qin Lan's earlier words, striking right at the heart.

"Double Bing was even Fan Xiaopang's idea—he's so good at marketing, why aren't you famous then?"

Fan Xiaopang chimed in seamlessly, briefly launching the Double Bing combo: "Because he can't be lifted up."

"…"

Qin Lan, Fan Xiaopang, and the Li sisters exchanged barbs in friendly banter; the atmosphere grew so heated that no one dared approach.

As a result, a large open space formed around them as the center.

Though they were too far away to hear what was being said, that didn't stop everyone from wildly imagining, more excited than watching the Spring Festival Gala.

In the corner, Wang Ou and the others peeked furtively, growing increasingly anxious, muttering to themselves.

"Don't just talk—fight!"

————

PS: Broke my promise—only wrote 9, 00+, will do 10, 00+ tomorrow.

(End of Chapter)